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 like the main characters of Dan and his dog, Oscar, in this series, and the different police individuals make for variety. This book takes them to a new area of Italy and there are atmospheric descriptions of the alpine region. The case is unusual with the inclusion of 'other world' beings, and there are interesting twists and turns before the investigation is complete.

Murder at the Matterhorn is the fifth Armstrong and Oscar cozy destination mystery by T.A. Williams. Released 24th Nov 2023 by Boldwood Books, it's 234 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.

This is a beautifully descriptive and well written destination mystery mostly set in and around Tuscany involving a group of UFO enthusiasts. Expat former policeman Dan Armstrong and his trusty canine sidekick Oscar are again called on to untangle a local murder/accident, which soon escalates into danger for the intrepid duo. Dan's ostensibly along to facilitate translations in English for the police and witnesses, but his insights are valuable and he and the local official investigation work well together.

The plotting is solid and the dialogue and characterizations are believable. The mystery, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this volume, so it works well enough as a standalone, but the writing is so engaging and immersive, that it would make an excellent weekend binge or buddy read. The author is exceptionally good at weaving (seemingly) extraneous information into the text. There's a lot of humor as well.

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. All of the books are exceptionally well written and fun. The author seems to be on a twice a year output schedule at the moment without sacrificing quality or length. Definitely one to pick up as they come out. There's an 8th book due out in Aug 2024 from the same publisher.

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

It’s always a pleasure to spend time with retired inspector and now private investigator in Florence, Italy, Dan Armstrong and his black Lab, Oscar. Murder at the Matterhorn is no exception. This is the fifth book in the cozy series by T.A. Williams and Dan and Oscar are helping investigate the death of a man who was with a group of UFO aficionados near the Matterhorn in the Italian Alps.

The setting of this book is stellar and I found myself salivating as the author described many of the meals Dan and Oscar enjoy. As you can imagine, the characters are varied and the plot is solid. Plus, Oscar gives this series added flair and light humor.

It is rare for me to be able to discern the guilty party but this time I did have a pretty good idea of who was involved. Murder at the Matterhorn is, for the most part, a well-written police procedural, rather than an overly complicated mystery.

I’ve enjoyed all of the books in this series, but this particular book isn’t my favorite. I think it’s probably due to the subject matter. I don’t find UFO-related stories all that compelling. Nevertheless, it’s definitely an enjoyable book and I’m looking forward to more adventures with Dan and Oscar. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

Dan Armstrong, retired Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, now private detective/writer in Tuscany, is prevailed upon by a former colleague to go the Italian Alps to check on the colleague's sister who is involved in a mysterious death this side of the Matterhorn. The crew he is to infiltrate are alien hunters and are trying to pass the death off as a Extra-Terrestrial visitation gone wrong. Dan with his faithful black lab, Oscar, soon learn of the disagreements among the crew.

I found this series about a year ago and fell in love with the mysteries but especially the characters. The descriptions of the areas visited as well as the plot are great!

This cosy crime story takes us to the north of Italy, to the Matterhorn where out of this world happenings are on the agenda. Looking at the night sky is a group of varied characters who all have their own eccentricities. Dan Armstrong is drawn there because of a suspicious death. Welcomed by the local police, he is able to infiltrate the group and aid the police as a translator. There are lots of clues to follow and some colourful characters to investigate.

As usual, Oscar steals the show with his meaningful looks and ability to charm. There are some great descriptions of the local area and the delicacies which are available at the nearby eateries. There is a lot to discover about the backgrounds of the characters and how they may or may not know each other. Dan lets us in on his thoughts on the case, as he practises his investigative skills. There is a surprising denouement which makes for a satisfying read.

In short: Dan and Oscar strike again!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Murder At The Matterhorn' by T. A. Williams .

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for T. A. Williams, Book And Tonic, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Tours.

Publication date 24th November 2023.

This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the fifth book in the 'Armstrong And Oscar Cosy Mystery' series but can be read as a standalone. I have also read third book in the 'Armstrong And Oscar Cosy Mystery 'Murder In Florence' which I would highly recommend. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.

This novel consists of 25 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

The storyline had me hooked immediately and I love the way that Dan goes about his detective work. There was so much going on that it kept me entertained thoroughly throughout with mystery after mystery and clue after clue. It was filled with mystery, laughter, murder, clues, romance, doggy treats, tension, suspense and so much more!! It is absolutely perfect to read either curled in front of the fire or lying on a beach which not many books can achieve. I never did work out who the killer was and was completely shocked when they were discovered. A great achievement as I am a huge crime fan and tend to work out who did what quite early on. The atmosphere was perfectly suited to the mystery and I loved that it was set in the Alps. I also enjoyed the paranormal parts where stories of sightings of UFO's are being told and I also enjoyed the Italian to English translation aspects. I would definitely say that the author has done his research which is always a bonus as there's nothing worse than a book littered with errors which could have been avoided by doing research on the topics. TA Williams evocative writing skills made me feel like I had been swept away to the Alps and was walking along trying to solve the crime and mystery along with Dan and Oscar. I enjoyed getting deeper into this series and managed to read this book in one sitting. I wont say anymore about that as I don't want to spoil anything for future readers by giving too much away. I also enjoyed how everything weaved together nicely towards the end and there wasn't any loose threads as another pet hate is ending a book with unsolved mysteries. A fantastic addition to this brilliant series!!

Although this is the fifth book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

There was another fantastic selection of characters that I met in this book along with the brilliant characters I have previously met in the third book in this series 'Murder In Florence' including our main protagonist Dan and of course Oscar. I was fascinated watching the character development from that back to the end of this book and I'm looking forward to how Dan started right at the beginning and to continuing to read this series to watch his character continue to grow, especially after reading the first chapter of book one which has me even more intrigued!! I have to admit though that my favourite character just had to be Oscar!! As a huge animal lover myself any books that include animals gets bonus points for me and this one got mega points as Oscar played a main part!! He is such a sweet but mischievous boy and absolutely adorable!! I also enjoyed meeting all the different characters that we meet on throughout the book and each of them had their own unique personality and part to play which they played perfectly. They were all well rounded, strong, realistic with their own quirks and personalities. There was the perfect amount of characters to keep you guessing who the killer is and I enjoyed trying to work out who was hiding what even though I kept getting it wrong!! I'm looking forward to meeting Dan and Oscar again in previous and future books in this series!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue of T.A William's 'Murder In Tuscany' which is the first book in the Armstrong And Oscar Cozy Mystery Series and which promises to be just as gripping as this book and is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!!

Overall a fun and easy to read page turning cosy murder mystery with the perfect amount of crime, history and humour that will keep you turning the pages.

256 pages.

This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle and £9.99 on paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Dan is asked by an old colleague to check on a sister who is at a camp looking for UFO's where a murder has been commited. He manages to help out the local police with interpretation. Another brilliant book set in a wonderful setting, that makes you want to visit. I really love this series and always look forward to a new TA Williams book.

Ah the return of Dan and Oscar, our favourite private detectives in their best adventure yet. In the shadow of the Matterhorn, the iconic mountain btw, we find ourselves immersed in aliens, murder and excellent food, together with a top notch murder mystery.
I love this author's romance's but, if anything, these stories are even better and long may they continue. More, please!
My thanks to Boldwood and Netgalley for the reading proof.

I’m so pleased to be back with Chief Inspector turned Private Investigator, Dan Armstrong, and his trusty labrador, Oscar. I love the way they are both intuitive, and Oscar is absolutely adorable.

I’ve had a difficult time over the last few weeks so it was lovely to be able to immerse myself in Murder At The Matterhorn. It’s easy to read and the author’s descriptions of the surroundings, culture and food are so clear that it is impossible not to be lost in the environment. This time, we are in the mountains, so it’s a slightly different setting to the other books in the series and I love that TA Williams is able to do this to keep the stories fresh.

The murder in this novel takes place at a convention for ufologists – people who are convinced by the existence of other life forms. This gives the story an interesting premise, although these beliefs are not really something I ascribe to. Thankfully, Dan doesn’t either, so there’s much more crime than science, which suits me fine!

There are a limited number of participants in the search for aliens, therefore everyone is a suspect. I really enjoyed trying to figure out what happened. As usual, TA Williams has created interesting back stories for his characters so there are several people with motives! There are lots of twists and turns until the perpetrator is revealed and this made it difficult to guess.

I do hope Dan and Oscar return for another investigation very soon!

I do enjoy this series, So far the author has managed to come up with the most interesting of storylines and while Dan is active in resolving the mystery, he generally manages to rub along well with the authorities. Lots of intrigue and several red herrings made for an enjoyable read.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series of cozy mysteries and look forward to the further escapades of Dan and Oscar.

Its four out of five for me

With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Murder at the Matterhorn is an 'out of this world' addition to the Armstrong and Oscar detective series.

This new case sees our trusty duo involved in a murder case that involves UFOligists on the side of one of Italy's most iconic mountains, the Matterhorn. While Dan does his best to convince a group of fanatics that he, too, believes in aliens, he's trying to get to the bottom of a suspicious death.

As with all of the Armstrong and Oscar cases, there is no end of suspicious activity, and while Dan and Oscar might be sampling the local fare, they are also busy at work, helping the local police through the language barriers of a group of British people in Italy, while using Dan's British contacts as well.

Another fabulous addition to the series of well-thought-out mysteries. As ever, the eventual resolution is not at all what the reader is expecting.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

‘Murder at the Matterhorn’ is the fifth book in the series and was a thoroughly engaging read that was out of this world! Although this is the fifth book in the Armstrong and Oscar mysteries it can be very easily read as a standalone. I do recommend reading the whole series though as I love them! Plus, you get swept away to Italy and there is a cute dog - what isn't there to love?!

Dan Armstrong is a retired Chief Inspector from the Met police but now resides in Tuscany Italy, where he runs a private investigative agency. When an old colleague and friend gets in touch saying his sister has been involved with a suspicious death whilst, on holiday in northern Italy, Dan jumps at the chance to help out. She is currently camped with a bunch of UFO enthusiasts, one of who has sadly died. Dan inserts himself into the group as a fellow enthusiast and then offers to translate for the police. Dan doesn't believe in aliens but he believes one of the group is responsible for the death. Will he find out who is it before anyone is killed?

I really like Dan being out of his comfort zone a wee bit and the change of location to the Alps in Northern Italy injected some freshness into the series! Not that is needed it though. But a change of scene is always lovely. The wackiness of the storyline was brilliant and I laughed a lot throughout the book! But when you boil it down to the bare bones you are really getting the classics of a crime investigation - lies, secrets and deception.

Once again I got very hungry reading this book as the author likes to throw in a lot of references to the local cuisine and it really whets the appetite! It was really easy to visualise what was occurring during this tale as the author thoroughly managed to encapsulate the location in his writing!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

Dan Armstrong, a retired Scotland Yard detective, finds solace in the tranquillity of Tuscany, enjoying a quieter life. However, an urgent plea from an old colleague disrupts his peaceful routine, leading him to the picturesque Alps alongside his loyal canine companion, Oscar. The local police are baffled by a mysterious death at a camp of UFO enthusiasts, complicated by the fact that all suspects speak English. Intrigued and compelled to assist, Dan infiltrates the camp, offering his translation skills to the perplexed police in hopes of unravelling the case and aiding a friend. The question that looms over him: can he solve the mystery before the killer strikes again?

The narrative unfolds with a compelling mystery that captivates readers, drawing them into the story. The unusual setting of the Alps, coupled with the beautiful descriptions, adds an extra layer of intrigue and ambience to the tale. As Dan navigates the world of UFO enthusiasts and delves into the complexities of the case, the reader becomes immersed in the unfolding mystery, eagerly anticipating the resolution.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

What a different murder mystery complete with UFOs
Are the UFOs occupants the killers - no one knows!
A campsite with UFO enthusiasts hoping they're true
Who knows just what any of them might be getting up to.

A brilliant setting, near the Matterhorn, this time
With a different group of police investigating the crime.
More delicious sounding food and brilliant sights to see
And a clever investigation that definitely appeals to me.

Dan and Oscar are called to help a friend
Who is worried how his sister's holiday will end!
Someone with her has apparently been killed
By aliens, perhaps - she's definitely not thrilled.

The writing is engaging, keeping me turning pages all the time
And endeavouring as I'm reading to solve this deadly crime.
The food, the settings, the people - everything feels like it's true!
I'm really enjoying this series and my virtual visits to Italy, too,

Another great read with Dan and Oscar on the case
Set in a glorious area with so much taking place.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Retired Scotland Yard detective, Dan Armstrong is contented with the slower pace and quiet life in Tuscany. But an urgent request from an old colleague sends him to the Alps, with his trusted canine companionOscar. A mysterious death at a camp of UFO enthusiasts has the local police puzzled. The fact that the suspects are all English speakers doesn’t help. Dan infiltrates the camp and offers his translation services to the police, hoping to solve the case and help out a friend. But can he do it before the killer strikes again?

I liked Dan and found him to be an intelligent and caring investigator. He took time to get to know the people at the camp, and his gentle probing proved effective. His adorable dog, Oscar, put the suspects at ease, making his job easier.

The mystery was compelling and I found myself immersed in the story. The setting was unusual and beautifully described.

(An Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery Book 5)

Having read several of T A Williams’ books by now, both in the romance and cosy mystery genres – I know I will always enjoy anything he writes. He has such a lovely, flowing writing style and well-rounded characters you are interested in.

This series follows retired British police officer Dan Armstrong who now lives in Italy with his trusty black Labrador Oscar. He is now solving crimes as a private investigator, after setting up his own agency the previous year. In this book, we find out he has been dating girlfriend Anna for six months.

The action begins in this story when Inspector Paul Wilson rings Dan from London. His sister Sandra is in trouble. She went on holiday to Italy with a group of ufologists and one of them got killed. They are in the Italian Alps and, with assistance from various contacts he has, Dan goes undercover, posing as a ufologist himself to see if he can assist the police in investigating the murder.

As soon as you meet them all the group of suspects on the mountain, like the best Agatha Christie novel, you are assessing them all to try to work out whodunnit! They are all great characters and I love T A Williams’ observations and gentle humour.

As always, the setting is an important part of the book. The novel is very atmospheric and really describes the surroundings well, so you feel as if you are there. Everything about the book feels authentic and well-researched and I loved the UFO angle, which brought a different dimension (pun intended) into the story.

Another triumph from T. A Williams and I look forward to his next novel.

Murder at Matterhorn gives a lovely blend of a good story told against a picturesque background of Italy, a likeable protagonist with an adorable sidekick, and a compelling murder mystery. A five-star page-turner from the first pages.

Full review is published on my blog (see link below) as part of the #BlogTour with Rachel's Random Resources.

4 Stars
One Liner: A compact cozy mystery

Dan Armstrong gets a call from his former colleague asking for help. It seems a team of ufologists (UFO enthusiasts) are camping on an isolated mountain cap. There’s been a death, which looks much like murder. Dan agrees to help and joins the group as a fellow enthusiast.
Even though they think aliens are involved, Dan is sure the murder is the handiwork of a human and someone from the group or in the region. With Oscar by his side, Dan now has to play the interpreter and solve the crime with the local police. Can they find the killer before more deaths occur?
The story comes in Dan Armstrong’s first-person POV and works as a standalone.

My Thoughts:
As a reader of the series, I enjoyed this book as much as the previous ones. I’m also a believer in UFOs, though not like the characters here.
Being a cozy mystery, the focus is more on the crime and suspects rather than the technicalities of UFOs and science. Most of the content tends to be of a nonbeliever since it comes from Dan’s POV. However, he does his best to keep an open mind, which proves to be helpful.
Of course, a book set in Italy has to have a lovely setting and good food. This time, we tour the snow-capped mountains, the surrounding forest, and the autonomous village in the foothills. There is enough tea to satisfy a British reader and enough wine and food for the Italian reader.
The mystery is just right- neither simple nor complicated. One part is easy to solve, the other needs a bit of work but has a logical conclusion. We can guess who the killer is despite not knowing the reason.
Anna (Dan’s girlfriend), Virgilio and his wife, etc., have very minor roles. Dan and Oscar work with a different police team. And as Dan says, this one is indeed teamwork. Many people contribute, creating a more balanced approach. Inspector Costey is impressive. I hope we get to meet again.
Oscar does what he always does – makes puppy eyes at everyone, becomes popular with ladies, eats as much as he can get, and helps solve the case in his own way. No one can resist a cute lab, right?
The pacing is on the slower side, as it is with the series. However, the chapters are of moderate length and provide some sort of progress to keep the plot moving.

To summarize, Murder at the Matterhorn is an entertaining mystery and a good continuation of the series. Does it have aliens? Well, read the book to find out. ;)
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Dan and Oscar make such a wonderful team and it’s been great being back in Italy with them. Murder at the Matterhorn is one of those cosy mysteries everyone needs to enjoy once in a while - fun characters, a beautiful if not harsh environment for a setting and enough of a mystery to keep you guessing. It’s an easy, read in one sitting kind of book but don’t let that put you off. It’s just what I needed after a long day at work.

Murder at the Matterhorn is the fifth book in the Dan and Oscar series. Dan Armstrong is a retired Scotland Yard detective, now living in Italy as a writer and PI. Oscar is a 60-ish pound black lab, and a ladies’ man (pup?), charming all the women in the book.

An old pal / former colleague back of Dan calls; his little sister and her friend are part of a group of ufologists, camping at the Matterhorn, investigating mysterious lights. Unfortunately, one member of the group has died. She doesn’t call it murder, but something feels off. Dan immediately volunteers to check it out - his pal has given him lots of tips, plus he’s got some free time. Dan’s lady love declines to accompany him as she has work to do, and doesn’t find the idea of camping with a large dog with some digestive issues all that appealing.

A local contact with the Italian police gives the investigators at the site the heads up; Dan’s willing to help, but doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. He arrives at the site, finds the head detective 9 months pregnant, and volunteers to translate, assist with questioning, or do nothing - whatever they need. He starts just translating, but slowly charms them (along with Oscar’s help) and becomes more and more involved with the investigation.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but I, too, was charmed by Oliver! My high school English teacher might complain there are a number of technical issues - Dan’s almost a Marty Stu (charming everyone, being sort of seduced by a woman half his age (at least, she invites him to use her shower), a best selling author), there’s some repetition, and the writing feels uncomplicated - but it was very entertaining - light and fluffy, but very entertaining. Perfect for the beach or sitting next to the fire with your favorite warm beverage. There was a excerpt from the first book in the series, Murder in Tuscany, which I’ve already down loaded and started to read.

Highly recommended! I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com and that I voluntarily chose to review.