A great cozy mystery which although I hadn't read the others in this series, this read as a standalone book. Twisty with great clues and in a beautiful setting I really enjoyed this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Atalanta has inherited a fortune and also a sleuthing business for the elite which provides her with travel opportunities around Europe. For her birthday though she has a surprise trip planned that doesn’t involve work, organised by Renard, her butler. Although determined to enjoy herself she is distracted by an ongoing case and also by the recent arrival in Paris of M. Gispot who had set up a rival detective agency.

Raoul, a racing car driver and close friend of Atalanta, makes a surprise appearance on her birthday tour. Despite a mutual attraction there is a tension between them and true feelings and concerns that remain unspoken. Atalanta’s anguish over her uncertain relationship with Raoul and her own holiday plans are interrupted when she is persuaded to join a cruise on the Rhine where murder and mystery quickly unfold. The scenery and places of interest on the cruise prove an interesting backdrop to this period murder mystery. The characters are well developed and the relationship between Atalanta and Renard and Raoul provides the basis for some interesting dialogue. Overall an enjoyable mystery in a delightful setting.

An exciting, fast paced who done it read. Set mostly on a cruise on the Rhine. It’s an atmospheric read with characters, all of whom appear to have their own agenda.

I love this series! Atalanta Ashford has natural detective instincts and can solve any complex case. I enjoyed the complex plot of this mystery. The Robenhorst family was full of drama and everyone had a plausible motive so it was hard to pinpoint who the killer was. It was like putting together an intricate puzzle. I got lost in the story and the landscape descriptions along the Rhine River. I also enjoyed all the historical facts and myths about the region. The book ended with a cliffhanger so I can’t wait to read the next book coming out in the Autumn of 2025!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Atalanta is in Bonn, Germany, on a birthday holiday break organised by her faithful butler, Renard, who she inherited from her grandfather, along with his high-class sleuthing business. Raoul, her glamorous racing driver friend, makes an appearance, but it does not end well. Her fragile emotional state forces her to accept an unusual invitation to prevent a possible death at the request of a man she hardly knows. What follows is a river trip with unpleasant characters, who all have secrets and motivations for what happens. Atalanta questions her abilities in such a toxic ethos, but her sleuthing skills prevail. It's an immersive, cosy mystery with vivid characters, a lovely setting and a complex and courageous amateur sleuth.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Death in the Rhine is a solid entry in the Miss Ashford Investigates series. This entry finds Atalanta visiting Bonn to celebrate her birthday. Despite how they parted, Raoul surprises her to spend the weekend with her. While visiting a museum, Atalanta runs into Otto Rabenhorst, the older brother of a girl she taught with at the girls' school she worked at prior to becoming a detective. They had one conversation together several years prior that had stuck with her so she readily agrees to attend a dinner at the hotel where he and his family is staying. When Atlanta and Raoul arrive, they quickly experience the tension that exists between members of the family including Otto, his sister Gertrude, his precious daughter Lisl, and his grandmother, the family matriarch who raised the siblings after the tragic death of their parents years ago. Otto confides in Atalanta his fears that his daughter may be trying to kill his grandmother and convinces her to come on a boat trip down the Rhine that has been arranged to celebrate his grandmother's birthday and determine if there is actually any danger. Unfortunately, death follows and Atalanta must figure out the murder's identity before it is too late.

I really enjoyed the mystery even though I was able to guess the identity of the murderer as well as a key piece of the puzzle. Atalanta is such a fun character and I love the secondary characters in the series such as her butler Renard and Raoul. There has been a side storyline related to Raoul and his racing that sees development in this one that will carry over into the next book. I really appreciate how the locations in Europe are almost a character in the book and the author does a great job of describing the locations in every book. The only downside is that my pocketbook isn't big enough for me to take a river cruise down the Rhine to see the places mentioned in this book. Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC of this title.

Atalanta is having a break in Bonn to celebrate her birthday. Raoul surprises her there and has a day planned. The day is spoiled in a couple of ways, the first being the appearance of Otto, whom she had met once as he is the brother of one of her colleagues at the school. She doesn't reveal that her circumstances have changed and he invites her to join his family for dinner that evening as he is worried that someone is trying to kill his Grandmother.. Raoul returns to his commitments and Atalanta is asked to join the family on a cruise on the Rhine.
Various things happen and all of it makes her question her abilities.
I went to the area when I was at school and the descriptions of the places mentioned are what I remember. A nice story with a twist or two.

A birthday trip to Bonn sees amateur detective Atalanta Ashford drawn into the scandalous will of a wealthy grandmother during a scenic cruise down along the Rhine. But growing tensions lead to a sudden and shocking death. Facing suspicion all around, Atalanta must unravel a deadly web of family secrets as treacherous as the river they voyage on, to find the killer.
The fifth book in the series & it could easily be read on its own. I do like Atalanta who became an heiress when she inherited her Grandfather’s fortunes also she has his sleuthing abilities. This time we see her enjoying a birthday treat. Another well written entertaining cosy mystery with twists, turns & red herrings & a river cruise as the location
voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I do not read too many mysteries so despite this being part of a series, it was great non-committal murder mystery for a beginner like me! It was a bit predictable though. I would recommend this to my friends who are just getting into mysteries as well but someone who is more well-seasoned in the genre may not like it.

Death on the Rhine is the fifth book in the Miss Ashford Investigates series but the first I have read. There is sufficient background information is provided to follow along but I did find this mystery a bit easy to follow and the character's didn't really grab me. Not sure if this is down to not having read the earlier books buts that's how I felt. Enjoyable and pleasant enough but a bit forgettable for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Miss Ashford Investigates #5

A birthday trip to Bonn sees amateur detective Atlanta Ashford drawn into the scandalous will of a wealthy grandmother during a scenic cruise down along the Rhine.But growing tensions lead to a sudden and shocking death forcing suspicion all around. Atlanta must unravel a deadly web of family secrets as treacherous as the river they voyage on to find the killer.

This time Atlanta is investigating a sudden and shocking death as she travels down the Rhine. She was on holiday with Raoul when she saw Otto, the brother of a former friend and teacher associate.

I really quite like this series and the love interest between Atlanta and Raoul. Everyone seems to have a secret. The characters are well-developed, and I like the how the murder mystery played out.

Published 4th April 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #ViaianConroy for my ARC of #DeathOnTheRhine in exchange for an honest review.

This time we find Atalanta on a river cruise on the Rhine with an old school colleague. As usual she finds herself caught up in a murder and the detective on board had previously known her grandfather who via letters which he has written before his death, tries to help Atalanta. I love how she tries to be this independent woman of means however still would love to have a relationship with her friend Raoul. The story goes to and fro making the reader work to guess who the culprit is !!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

The setting and genre of this novel was what appealed to me, and it didn't disappoint. I would definitely reread this book, especially if I was going on a Rhine cruise. I liked the lead character Atalanta, and was pleased to see that this is in fact the fifth book in a series. Good plot and characters, I didn't see the plot twists at the end.

I’ve read most of the books in this series and love seeing what Miss Ashford is up to. She asks to go on a river cruise this time, she’s asked to be companion to an 11 year who might want to kill her grandmother. When the grandmothers nurse turns up dead, who’s the killer. Love this twisty mystery reads, it keeps you guessing throughout and the author keeps you engaged. A great 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I realize that this is a book in a series, so perhaps reading the previous books in the series would have given more context, but I have no interest in reading a book about a woman who tried to buy a husband, he refused, then she continues to chase him. No thanks.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Calling all mystery lovers, this one’s for you! Death on the Rhine is the kind of whodunit that’ll keep you guessing until the very last page. Atalanta Ashford, our sharp, clever sleuth, is ready for a relaxing birthday getaway on the beautiful Rhine River. But when a wealthy family’s secrets start spilling into the open, what was supposed to be a peaceful cruise turns into a full-on investigation. Cue the intrigue, the twists, and a whole lot of suspense.

A luxury cruise

Hidden family secrets

A body on board…

Pick up this novel and you will find it hard to put it down again, and when you have read it, you will find it easy to believe that you have actually been there experiencing the story yourself.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Net Galley for this ARC. This is a nice cozy read, a little predictable but perfect as a light read.

A charming mystery with delightful characters, but lacking the twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.
Death on the Rhine by Vivian Conroy is a cozy mystery that offers a charming setting, but unfortunately, it falls short in the plot department. If you’re a fan of the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters or The Maid by Nita Prose, this book will feel somewhat familiar, with its quirky characters and historical backdrop. While Death on the Rhine has its moments, it ultimately doesn’t offer much in terms of surprises or suspense.

The story follows Atalanta, a sharp-witted heroine, as she embarks on a journey through Germany, where she becomes entangled in a mystery involving an old friend and a plot to murder his controlling grandmother. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Atalanta and Raoul, the dashing race car driver. Their relationship added a delightful layer to the story, with banter and chemistry that kept things entertaining.

That said, the novel's biggest drawback for me was its predictability. I found myself solving the mystery almost immediately. In fact, I had figured out who the culprit was before any crime was even committed, which significantly dampened the intrigue. The lack of twists and turns made it hard to stay invested in the investigation, and by the time the reveal came, it felt almost anticlimactic.

Overall, Death on the Rhine was just fine. It has some charm and a likable lead character, but the predictable plot left me wanting more. If you’re looking for a light, easy read with some historical flair, this book might suit your tastes, but if you’re after a truly gripping mystery, it may not meet your expectations.

I adore these Golden Age mysreries and Atalanta Ashford is for me a brilliant character.

This cozy mystery is filled with drama, a lot of glamour and an intriguing thrilling mystery

I loved working out the facts, the twists and the setting..