The second in the series has all the hallmarks we saw in the first. The gorgeous Tuscan scenery dominates and Dan Armstrong is the Englishman abroad. He observes, charms, judges and deduces. Oscar, the lovely Labrador, plays a part in the story and I love their partnership.

You are presented with a whole range of suspects as to who is behind Hunter’s death. Right up until the very end, you are deducting alongside Armstrong. I enjoy a cozy crime story and find this series to be so appealing. As Armstrong settles into his new life, you can’t help but wonder what he will do next and who he will befriend.

In short: a Tuscan whodunnit

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I hadn't read the first book in this series but apart from becoming more familiar with the main characters I don't feel I missed anything. Oscar the dog is a fun addition to the characters, and Dan is interesting with an ex-wife and daughter in the background. There are quite a lot of characters in this book but there are several repetitions about who is who and what they do; this detracted from the flow of the book so I have reduced my rating by one star. I thought the plot was intricate, although some parts were predictable, but this is a pleasant, quick read nonetheless.

This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. The plot is engaging. There are a lot of characters but it is easy to follow. This is an entertaining cosy mystery.

Apologies for the delay in this review, i have been battling ill health.

I have read all the authors books and i have always enjoyed them, and this was no different.

Great story, lovely setting, enjoyed the charcters and the story very much. I thought it flowed really well and it was a really good read.

Mystery, mayhem and murder abound in T A Williams second delightful Italian-set Armstrong and Oscar whodunnit, Murder in Chianti.

Millionaire magnate Rex Hunter has been found with his head bashed in on the eighth hole of his country club in Chianti. Rich, successful and admired and reviled in equal measure, retired DCI Dan Armstrong and his trusty sidekick Oscar think this will be a hole in one to solve, however, as they begin to dig deeper, they discover a man with a long list of enemies who all had their reasons for wanting him dead. A renowned womanizer despised by his family and his employees, it seems easier to find someone who did not want Rex Hunter dead. Can Armstrong and Oscar get to the bottom of this case? Or will finding out whodunnit prove to be even more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack?

Armstrong doesn’t give up easily and he vows to catch Rex Hunter’s clever killer – even though he seems to be going down one dead end after another. Armstrong is going to need all his tenacity if he is to find out who murdered the despised magnate. But as the case gets more and more tangled and the killer continues to remain at large, will this redoubtable duo manage to solve this case? Or will a killer in Chianti end up getting away with murder?

A fabulously enjoyable cozy mystery perfect for readers looking for some sun-drenched escapism on a cold winter afternoon, Death in Paradise fans are not going to want to miss this fun, witty and nail-biting instalment of T A Williams’ Armstrong and Miller series, Murder in Chianti. Brilliantly plotted, delightful and packed with red herrings aplenty, readers will want to devour this cozy mystery in one sitting.

Murder in Chianti is the second book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series by T.A. Williams. I did not read the first book and had no issue following this story. Retired DCI Dan Armstrong is living the good life in Italy along his trusty sidekick Oscar. He is now a writer and enjoying his time in Italy. When millionaire Rex Hunter is found murdered on the 8th hole of the golf course, it is obvious it is murder. Dan is enlisted by the Italian police to help solve the case but, with a victim despised by many, it might be harder than they think to find the killer.

Murder in Chianti was a wonderful mystery. There were so many suspects, but Dan is sure he will figure out who the murderer is. I love the inclusion of Oscar as Dan's partner. He also adds some humor to the story with his antics around female dogs. Dan is a talented investigator with great interrogation skills getting people to tell him things they hadn't planned on, including information that is surprising. With this twist, will there be another murder? With family drama and secrets in play, I was kept guessing until the final reveal. As in his romcoms, I love the Italian setting in this book. For an armchair traveler, his descriptions make me feel like I am in the Italian countryside. I am looking forward to the next outing where Dan and Oscar are in Florence.

Without giving too much away I found this to be a fast paced, absorbing and compelling read. The story flowed really well, there were lots of plot twists to keep my attention. The further I read with this book, the better it got and I enjoyed it more. I think the author has set the bar high here. Will look forward to the next book and hope it is as good as this one. Overall 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Regular readers of my blog will know I’m a huge fan of this author’s work and have regularly reviewed his previous ‘Dreaming of…’ and ‘Escape to Tuscany’ series.

I was also privileged to be part of the blog tour for ‘Murder in Tuscany’; the first book in this cozy mystery series.

Despite the shift in genre, there is still plenty of trademark T A Williams to be found in this mystery series. An easy, but thoroughly engaging read from the outset, in ‘Murder in Chianti, we are once again reacquainted with Dan and his trusty Labrador Oscar as they find themselves embroiled in helping to solve another local murder.

The relaxed writing style allows Williams to inject plenty of dry humour into the storyline and I often found myself chuckling at some of Dan’s observations as he narrates in the first person. Oscar, as always is delightful! ( A T A Williams novel is never complete without a dog who is the star of the show!)

The mystery element maintains a good pace with many characters leaving themselves open as suspects and with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the end.

And, as always, the description of Chianti makes me yearn to revisit!

Another triumph and most definitely recommended!

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

I love this new series of cosy mystery from T A Williams.
Dan is enjoying using his detective skills to help the local force in Chianti, when the local golf club has a murder on it's golf course. The owner isn't a popular man and there are no end of possible suspects. Is everyone who they claim to be and just who is hiding secrets?
Oscar is a wonderful canine character and an adorable part of T A Williams books, it's great to look out for the labrador making an appearance.
I'm looking forward to the new direction Dan may take in the next book in the series. You are always guaranteed a great read.

Here is a mystery for those who like cozies. There is a murder in beautiful Chianti. The victim had many enemies but who disliked him enough to kill him right there on the golf course? It is up to Dan, along with Oscar, to figure out who took Rex’s life.

This book is a quick, enjoyable read. It will be liked by those who read IItalian set stories by authors like Donna Leon and Camilla Trinchieri. I will look for the first in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Murder in Chianti is the second Armstrong and Oscar cozy destination mystery by T.A. Williams. Released 27th Jan 2023 by Boldwood books, it's 264 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series, Murder in Tuscany, is also currently available on KU.

This is a beautifully descriptive and well written destination mystery set in Tuscany. Expat former policeman Dan Armstrong and his trusty canine sidekick Oscar are assisting the local constabulary in solving the violent murder of a local in the expat community, resort owner Rex Hunter. Dan's ostensibly along to facilitate translations in English for the police and witnesses, but his insights are valuable and he and the lead detective have a good rapport and friendship.

The plotting is solid and the dialogue and characterizations are well controlled and believable. The mystery, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this volume, so it works well enough as a standalone, but the writing and mystery are so well planned and executed, that it would make an excellent weekend mini binge or buddy read.

It's not derivative at all, but it reminded me in a lot of good ways of Leon's exceptional Brunetti books as well as Walker's lovely Bruno, chief of police books. Fans of those authors will find a lot to enjoy here.

Four and a half stars. Highly recommended.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Like eating a favourite chocolate bar, these cozy mystery/crime stories are becoming addictive. Although there was no love lost for the murder victim, it was great fun trying to work out who killed him and why.

Of course TA Williams always satisfies the reader's desire for the authentic italian touch and we are not disappointed - from the lovely Italian countryside to the delicious tasty treats, this book is a delight.

I also enjoyed catching up with our retired policeman and his Italian counterpart. There were more developments on the marriage front too which made for interesting reading.

All in all, a lovely read.

I’ll be joining the blog tour next month. Thrilled to return back to Tuscany to find out how Daniel and Oscar are doing. Another enjoyable Murder mystery

Having enjoyed reading Murder in Tuscany earlier this year, I was pleased to return to Italy, to find out how Daniel Armstrong and his four legged best friend Oscar have settled into the area.

Dan finds himself helping in a murder case where the list of potential suspects seemed never ending because no one appeared to have a good word to say about Rex Hunter.

Dan works with the local police to find out who committed the murder, enjoying delicious sounding meals, local outings and dog walks during the time.

I enjoyed how the author has created an excellent mix of secrets, humour, new beginnings and family issues into this cosy mystery book and I’m happy to recommend it.

I’m also pleased to see that book 3 in the series, Murder in Florence, will be published by Boldwood Books on 7th April 2023

Retired DCI Dan Armstrong (56) and his black Labrador dog Oscar live in Italy. They have made a new life in a new country, Dan now being divorced with a grown up daughter and he has settled well into a new community. His best friend in Tuscany is Inspector Virgilio Pisano, who works as a detective in the murder squad.
One day, Virgilio rings Dan to tell him some news – the millionaire Rex Hunter has been found dead on a golf course at the Acquarossa Country Club he owned, apparently murdered. As Rex was Australian, Virgilio asks Dan to help as interpreter for Rex’s family. And possibly do a bit of undercover work for him too…
It seems Rex has plenty of enemies and few people seem to be mourning his loss. The area is filled with family, employees and apparent sexual conquests! These characters are all well-drawn and authentic too. I especially loved the neighbouring farmer Luigi Signese and would love to try his wines and olive oils!
Will Inspector Virgilio and his colleague Sergeant Innocenti find out who actually committed the crime? Helped by Dan, we follow them as they do their interviews, make their enquiries and pick up clues. It is rather like Agatha Christie in that we try to work it out alongside them and I do enjoy that aspect of the book.
I really enjoy T A Williams’s writing style. It’s easy to read, chatty, warm and I was interested in the characters and the story straight away. The novel is well-paced too, it doesn’t ever become boring and is the perfect novel to escape into. We have the Italian climate, the food, the drink, the scenery… what more could you ask for? Cute dog? Yes, that too! I’ll look forward to reading more in this series.

The first mystery in in this series was compelling and entertaining, this one kept me turning pages and guessing.
T.A. Williams knows the are and when he talks about weather, food, or way of living I know that he’s talking about something he experienced.
There’s plenty of stories set in Tuscany in July, I don’t remember a realistic description of the weather like those in this story. Yes, Tuscany in July is very ho, trust I’m Italian.
The mystery is well plotted: there’s plenty of twists, a very nasty victim and his dysfunctional menagerie, plenty of culprit.
I like how Dan and Virgilio are collaborating and the plot kept me guessing.
Oscar is a great dog, I love his antics and I think it’s a great canine companion.
As I thoroughly enjoy this series I hope there’s going to be a lot more instalment.
This one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this arc, all opinions are mine

When Australian country club owner Rex Hunter is found battered to death in a bunker on his own golf course, it seems it might be difficult to find anyone who’ll mourn his passing. When Dan goes in undercover at the request of his police chief friend Virgilio – rather regretting signing up for tennis lessons in the scorching Tuscan sun – he finds there is a whole slew of individuals who are credible suspects in his murder, all with their own good reasons to be glad he’s dead. He was a notorious bully and womaniser – and with a distinctly dysfunctional family, the many women in his life, his dodgy business partners, his disgruntled employees, and a local vineyard owner involved in a bitter dispute over some land, the problem looks like it might be finding out which one of them got there first. But when other deaths follow, and a number of other unexpected secrets are uncovered, things get even more complicated – and Dan’s in his element, helping with the investigation while continuing to settle into his new life in Italy.

This book was just wonderful – a complex story that would certainly satisfy hard-core fans of murder mysteries, but with all the charm we’ve come to expect from the author’s writing. There’s a strong cast of characters – some distinctly sympathetic (and you hope they won’t turn out to have been wielding the golf club that delivered the final blow) and others you rather hope might get the comeuppance they deserve. And then there’s Dan’s own relationships – his marriage that’s not quite in the past yet, the police team he helps out with his “translation” skills, the community he’s now part of – and his life with Oscar, the endearing labrador who’s become his faithful companion.

The voice of the book is Dan’s, and he’s such a likeable character, with a wonderful self-deprecating sense of humour – and there are plenty more laughs provided by a badly behaving Oscar, who turns out to be quite a womaniser too. The Chianti setting is beautifully done – with all the food and drink and detailed descriptions readers of the author’s romances have come to expect. And the story telling is just superb, laced with red herrings as the many suspects move into and out of the frame, on the way to a conclusion – with more than a little heart-in-mouth drama – that was totally unexpected but always in plain sight amid the many twists and turns and clever misdirection.

At the story’s end, Dan is contemplating his future, with a few interesting choices and opportunities – and I’m really looking forward to seeing the direction his life takes (with Oscar at his side, of course). I loved this one – and if all cozy mysteries were this good, I’d read them far more often than I do. Highly recommended!

I'd been waiting for this book ever since reviewing the first book in the series, Murder in Tuscany. Once again, the reader is transported to Italy and gets to experience life there through retired Detective Inspector Dan Armstrong. The thing is, even as Dan has settled into retired life and even sent off his first manuscript to publishers; the urge to solve crimes hasn't left him. Commissario Pisano has become one of Dan's good friends, and when an Australian golf course resort owner is murdered, he invites Dan to help with the case.


What happens next has to be one of the stickiest Gordian Knots of a mystery. There are dozens of suspects as the victim is nearly universally hated, and just when you think that you know who might have motive; the author throws the reader a curve-ball! On top of the murder mystery, Dan has to contend with his grown daughter attempting to reconcile him with his ex-wife; and there is a local festival where Oscar creates an unforgettable scene!

Full of humor and pathos, TA Williams has outdone himself. This is an absolute delightful read that kept me guessing right up to the very end! Murder in Chianti is full of tiny details, lush in descriptions and memorable characters. Dan grows as a character in this book and circumstances point to where the series will go. I cannot wait to read the next book!

Murder in Chianti is a delightful cosy mystery, with a stunning backdrop of the Tuscan countryside and plethora of memorable supporting characters, drawn vividly with a few master strokes.

As with the previous book in the series, you will revel in the descriptions of the beautiful Tuscan landscapes and the most delectable food. Dog lovers will be smitten with the sweet, albeit rather uncontrolled Oscar.

I can't wait to read the next instalment in the enjoyable series.

Full review is published on the blog, see link below. #BlogTour with Rachel's Random Resources

I'm absolutely loving this new mystery series from a favourite author!

When a local millionaire magnate is found dead on the golf course, it's a clear case of murder. Thing is, there is a lack of potential suspects. Once more aiding the local police, Dan Armstrong, retired detective, along with his dog, Oscar, begin to look into the life of the deceased. With plenty to discover, and some of it quite disturbing, the intrepid duo have their work cut out for them.

I have been a fan of Trevor Williams' writing for quite a while now, and have enjoyed visiting lots of Italian locations thanks to his romances. This new series is quite terrific. The first novel was very much an introduction to the series (with a great mystery) and this second one was like meeting up with an old friend. I have always loved that each of his books includes a labrador as we have two of these wonderful breed, and one of ours is also named Oscar. The Italian way of life is very appealing but at the heart of this series is a gripping mystery in each one. With great characters and plenty of twists and turns, this is a story to keep the reader firmly glued to the pages until the very end. Absolutely superb, and definitely an author and a series I shall be following. A well-deserved five sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and my apologies for the lateness of my review; due completely to an eye problem which cancelled out my screen time for more than a week and is now limiting it.

This is the second book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery seies by T A Williams and easily read as a stand-alone. Dan Armstrong, a recently retired and divorced Metropolitan Police DCI, is living in Italy. In this novel, an Australian millionaire, Rex Hunter is found dead on his golf course. Can Dan and his Labrador, Oscar solve the mystery?

There's reason for plenty of chuckles in this delightful cosy mystery and the plotting is great. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Boldwood Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.