Murder on an Italian Island by T A Williams Book Review

About the Book:

A holiday island…

When private investigator, Dan Armstrong, and his girlfriend, Anna, are invited to the gorgeous island of Elba for a much-needed break, he jumps at the chance. The thought of sun-drenched shores makes Dan promise Anna he won't “play detective” for a whole week…

A luxury hotel…

Their luxurious hotel, with its wonderful food and picturesque seaside views, seems the perfect escape, especially with Dan's best friend Virgilio and his wife joining them. But the calm shatters with a sinister encounter and a sudden, suspicious death...

A decades old case…

Virgilio’s past connection to the victim casts a long shadow, pulling Dan into a decades-old case. But beneath Elba’s beauty lie secrets and resentments. The victim was universally hated, but was his death the result of foul play or just a tragic accident?

With his faithful canine companion, Oscar, Dan must unravel the island's mysteries, a task that soon takes a decidedly personal and unsettling turn.

My Review:

This is a very low key mystery. There is practically no suspense unless you figure in the spills Armstrong takes as he is learning to wind surf. His female traveling partner does experience some threat but that happens off stage. The plot moves at a steady if slow pace. The strength of the novel is the setting so this mystery is for readers who like an emphasis on the setting more than the action of solving the mystery.

This novel is part of a series and quite a ways down the line. I thought it read well as a stand alone. Williams is good at describing the setting of an Italian island and that was the best part of the book.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

About the Author:

I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing romance and whodunnits. I'm having a lot of fun writing the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series set in sunny Italy. I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. 

Boldwood Books, 232 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)