Murder in Portofino is a gripping addition to the Armstrong and Oscar series. T.A. Williams masterfully blends cozy mystery elements with the allure of a Mediterranean setting, creating a story that’s both thrilling and charming. Dan’s sharp intellect and Oscar’s endearing presence make for a delightful pairing that fans of the genre will love. While the mystery itself is compelling, it’s the vivid depiction of Portofino and the colorful cast of characters that truly make this book shine.

Overall, Murder in Portofino earns a solid 4 stars. It’s a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, offering a perfect blend of suspense, humor, and a touch of romance. If you’re looking for an escape to the Italian Riviera with a side of intrigue, this is the book for you.

A highly enjoyable mystery with beautiful scenery, good characters and lots of suspects. Oh, plus the adorable dog. What more do you want? Definitely read this and the rest of the series as I will soon do.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Another fabulous novel in a favourite series!

Dan Armstrong's 'retirement' has turned into a very busy time since he opened his private detective agency, so a leisurely trip to Portofino with girlfirend Anna and, of course, labrador Oscar, is a chance to spent some quality time together. However, as these things tend to happen - especially to Dan - a body is found in the water and he soon finds himself helping the police in his unofficial capacity. Well aware that it's eating into his time with Anna, Dan is concerned about the effect on their relationship...
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I love this series! Not only is each novel a mystery, they also strongly feature Oscar who has all the traits of a labrador of which we have two - one also named Oscar. As well as trying to work out who the guilty party is, I smile and giggle throughout especially, I admit, at the antics of Oscar. Such a fabulous series, so enjoyable, and one I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending and giving all five sparkling stars! *****

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

First things first, I can't believe this is the eighth book in the series! It feels like just yesterday when this series began. As a devoted fan who has read every installment upon release, I feel a strong connection to Dan and his loyal black Labrador, Oscar.

I was instantly transported to Portofino along with Dan and Anna. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was right there, investigating the murder with them. Besides the picturesque scenery, the story offers an intriguing glimpse into the TV industry, revealing the personalities of actors, managers, and CEOs both on and off-screen.

I was hooked from start to finish, unable to put the book down. I even stayed up late to read half of it and finished the rest in one sitting the next day. Murder in Portofino is a new favorite installment in this captivating series.

I enjoyed the clever scene setting in his entertaining, cosy mystery. It moves from a music festival in Lucca, where Dan overhears something disturbing, to a weekend on the glamorous Portofino coast, the destination of celebrities and, as it turns out, the infamous. A suspicious death forms a connection in Dan's detective brain, and soon, his holiday is more work than play. I like the combination of holiday fiction with cultural, food and scenic descriptions that evoke your senses and a twisty mystery that is fun to solve. Oscar is lovely and exhibits a few of his detective skills, too. It's an unputdownable and engaging read, the perfect escape on a Summer afternoon.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Three and a half stars.

Dan Armstrong, his girlfriend Anna, and his dog Oscar have gone to Portofino for a long weekend of sightseeing, walking, Bob Dylan, and gastronomy. Eating dinner at a restaurant after the Bob Dylan concert Dan and Anna's meal is overshadowed by the loud and drunken activities of a large group of people in the private dining room. Imagine Dan's surprise when some of the rowdy crowd turn out to be famous British comedians and TV presenters. Dan also overhears a conversation between two men who seem very unhappy about a third man, with threats of violence being made.

Their mini-break is progressing well, until Dan discovers that one of the rowdy crowd has been murdered. Thinking that the conversation he overheard might be important he explains the discussion to the detective in charge of the case, and promptly gets roped into the investigation, much to Anna's chagrin.

Oh, and Dan has also been roped into investigating the disappearance of a young British woman who has been teaching English as a foreign language, she hasn't answered her phone in days and her parents back in England are frantic with worry, although her older sister just suspects she has lost her charger and has gone off with her latest boyfriend.

A previous gripe was that everything got way too complicated (I think there was one book where one person killed someone, then they were killed by someone else in revenge and so on). Luckily this one was relatively straightforward and although there were numerous suspects there were sufficient doubts to keep you guessing.

Overall, you know where you are with these books. Cosy retired copper and his trusty dog solve mysteries against the backdrop of the gorgeous Italian countryside, with copious luscious descriptions of delicious-sounding food.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the best mystery in this series as there’s a growing suspense, undercurrent tensions, and a group of people who’s new to Dan as he should be on holiday.
The description of the places, and the attention to the details are as good as usual: you could use this mystery as a guide for Lucca, Rapallo and Portofino as I learned something new about these places even if I was there.
Oscar as lovely as usual and I was rooting for Dan and Anna but their relationship is strong and she’s a clever woman.
The mystery is solid, I was surprised by the twists and the liked the solution.
It’s a fast paced and tightly knitted story, a perfect summer read or the perfect book when you want to read a compelling book that will keep you late in the night or turning pages as fast as you can.
Have fun, read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Dan Armstrong and his trusty sidekick Oscar the black Labrador are back for another case .
Armstrong is a private investigator and has decided to take a break in Portofino with his partner Anna.
Portofino is a playground for the rich and famous and a nearby yacht is hosting a group of infamous media stars .
When one of the party is found dead it looks like Dan’s holiday must be put on hold again.
Can he help the local police find the perpetrator?
An easy to read cosy mystery in a beautiful setting an all round enjoyable read .
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

In this murder mystery story, private investigator Dan and his black lab, Oscar, outsmart local authorities amidst a backdrop of extortion, theft, gun running, and the misdeeds of British TV executives and stars on a luxury yacht. The narrative keeps readers guessing with numerous suspects and complex connections between them and the victims, some of whom aren't even on the yacht.

Dan's investigation is complicated by his desire to work during a vacation with his love interest, Anna, adding personal tension to the story. While the Italian authorities' cooperation with Dan may seem unrealistic, the plot remains engaging, especially with Oscar playing a crucial role.

The series, which travels through Italy, highlights the Tuscan walled city of Lucca and small towns along the Ligurian coast, leaving readers eager for Dan and Oscar's next adventure.

These adventures with Dan and Oscar keep getting better and better. Entertaining and fun, T.A.Williams has established a brilliant series of mysteries in the beautiful Italian countryside.
The descriptions of the Portofino sunshine are so vivid, I could just imagine myself sitting down for a light lunch with Dan and Anna in the shade.
The twists and turns of the mystery are really entertaining, and I was totally engrossed with the story and learning about the characters.
As in previous stories it doesn’t take Dan too long to get drawn back into solving a crime. The relationships Dan is able to form with the local law enforcement are easier in this book, but that doesn’t detract from the investigation at all, and him and Oscar certainly have their work cut out for them this time.

Another delightful read from T A Williams. The beautiful Italian setting is so strong it is a character in its own right, which makes this book a perfect holiday read. I really love how the relationship between Dan and his girlfriend is developing, and Oscar is a star! This series of murder mysteries is going from strength to strength, I hope there are many more to come.

The 8th instalment of Armstrong and Oscar cosy crime thrillers featuring ex DCI but now PI Dan Armstrong and his beautiful black lab Oscar. This time he is treating girl friend Anna to a crime free weekend in Portofino. But this is Dan and very quickly and to Anna’s consternation he is asked to hunt for a missing girl. As always this works well as a stand-alone but it’s good to read the series in order to follow the main characters personal lives.

Briefly, before you know it Dan and Oscar are knee deep in a gun smuggling gang, a group of celebrity TV stars and executives on their extremely smart and very expensive yacht and of course a body in the water! Working with the local police Dan spends the few days exploring the town, helping the police and of course making sure Oscar is suitably fed and watered. That dog loves fillet steak!

I love how the author is gradually taking us around the beautiful country of Italy, this time the Ligurian Coast, it’s like a mini travelogue and it’s certainly made me want to visit some of these places. Its great that the gorgeous Oscar has a starring role this time. A fun book with some great twists and turns and the killer is well hidden until the reveal. A very entertaining and amusing read.

4.5 ⭐️

Unpredictable, great setting👍

4.5🌟 stars
Dan the private investigator and his black lab companion once again out detective the local authorities in this murder mystery that brings in extortion, theft, gun running and generally bad behavior by British tv execs and stars on a luxury yacht. I certainly could not guess the killer; the author kept me guessing with all of the animosity, back biting and threads connecting the victims to the many suspects, some not even on the yacht. I liked the unpredictability offered by a sizeable slate of suspects and I also thought it was clever how author T.A. Williams tied elements of a local missing person case to the murder investigation.

Dan's personal life brings just a touch of a conundrum that he has to cross his fingers to negotiate, what with him wanting to jump in work mode in the midst of his vacation with his love interest Anna. It adds some tension and a realistic edge as he tries to find an acceptable balance.

I won't say I find it extremely realistic that the Italian authorities give Dan so much access to their investigation and suspects, but it's a good mystery plot otherwise. And Dan's dog Oscar gets a key role (as well as more than his share of treats) as they zero in on the killer.

I really enjoy this series that moves throughout Italy and, here, highlights the Tuscan walled city of Lucca and several small towns along the Italian Ligurian coast. Can't wait to see where Dan and Oscar's sleuthing take them next.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This is a new instalment in the series, and although I haven’t read previous novels, I felt I received enough of a back story so I could enjoy this book. It follows retired police detective, now private investigator, Dan Armstrong and his trusty four legged sidekick, Oscar. Whilst on holiday in Portofino, they unwittingly become embroiled in a murder case and use all their experience to help the local police solve the case. It’s warm and witty and set against a Mediterranean backdrop. I enjoyed this novel and would rate it 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

With every book in this series I grow to love PI Dan Armstrong and his faithful canine companion Oscar a bit more! I like that each is a standalone mystery, but that the personal aspects, such as the relationship between Armstrong and girlfriend Anna, continue from the previous book. In the latest installment, the couple goes to Portofino for a long weekend. Anna is still encouraging Armstrong to take time off and not ignore her when a dead body washes ashore. Of course, Armstrong suspects that he knows who it is and contacts the police. Anna once again tries to be a good sport, and Dan wrestles with his commitment to Anna and his strong desire to help solve this case. As in the previous books, there is marvelous scenery (I’ve never been to Portofino but feel like I have after reading this book), and amazing food and drink to describe. Dan Armstrong is a likeable and competent protagonist, and the supporting cast is excellent (both regulars in the series and the new friends he meets in every book). I see that the next book is set in Verona and I cannot wait for it! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book in this series, Dan, Anna and Oscar on holiday but, as usual, things didn’t quite go to plan. Dan’s supposed to be paying all his attention to Anna but a missing person case finds him and takes some of that attention away.

There’s a British TV company on a luxury yacht in the harbour where they’re staying and one of them ends up dead on the beach, not sure who did it or what the motive was, but Dan ends getting suckered in by his own curiosity and assisted the police with their enquiries.

I really like these stories and enjoy the descriptions of the Italian countryside and the amazing food that they always seem to find! Anna is a really lovely, patient woman who does to really love Dan and Oscar, and does put up with a lot. They make a great couple, and really bring something to the whole series.

In this book, Dan and Oscar find themselves in Portofino with Anna, Dan's girlfriend for a few days on sun and fun. Unfortunately murder is just around the corner once again to spoil this getaway.

A luxury cruise ship has docked in Portofino and a body has been found. Dan seems to have overheard a conversation the previous night in a local restaurant, which may lead him to the murder or murders being discovered.

Follow along as Dan with the help of his trusted Labrador, Oscar discover the lies and deceit with the passengers and crew on the superyacht.

Another great read in the series! I can not wait for the next instalment!!

Dan is fulfilling his promise to Anna - they're taking a weekend away and his focus will be on their relationship rather than solving a crime. The couple is spending time in Portofino, a coastal town filled with wealthy tourists and big yachts. A heated over heard conversation in a restaurant is the first clue that plans won't go as expected. An invitation from Anna's friend to dine on a yacht puts Dan in the middle of a group of high profile media executives and stars. When a body washes up on shore Dan's resolve goes south. He's soon involved assisting the local police in solving the murders.of two people on the yacht.
This is #8 in the Dan and Oscar series and it's as strong as the previous seven. Williams is skilled at describing setting and readers get a real sense of place. That, coupled with interesting characters and an intriguing mystery make for a fun read.
P.S. Oscar eats well and gets to swim in the bay making him a happy dog.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This is an eighth book in this series but every book is a standalone.
In this book Dan, and his dog sidekick spend some time with Anna, who is close to Portofino.
But it seems for some reason mystery and crimes just seem to follow them.
If you’re a mystery reader like me you’ll enjoy your time in Portofino solving this murder with Dan and Anna.
We visited Portofino last September so it was fun reading this book which took place there.



#MurderinPortofino #NetGalley

Thank you for the opportunity to read book 8 in the series for the blog tour.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this series and think this is my new favourite. Loved the secrets and settings.