A somewhat flat, disappointing mystery novel that started off alright but was a chore to finish. Multi dimensional characters might have saved it.

I think this might be the best one yet.

Dan is riding high professionally, when he is called in to assist the Italian police talk to the family of an elderly jeweller found hanged from the Ponte Vecchio. His family are Dutch and speak fluent English but no Italian. Although initially thought to be suicide the post-mortem shows it was murder.

Meanwhile the Mayor, also a writer, has asked Dan to investigate his daughter's boyfriend. They've been dating for a while but, unlike her previous boyfriends, she hasn't introduced him to her parents or even divulged his name.

Finally, Dan old friend Virgilio is acting distracted, his wife Lina, Dan's assistant is concerned and asks Dan if he can winkle out what is troubling him.

I'd say there are lots of red herrings, but actually there is just speculation (as with any mystery) about various characters' possible motives which get discounted over time.

I loved it - my only gripe is that the food descriptions weren't quite as delectable as usual.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

I always enjoy revisiting this cozy mystery series that take place in Italy with a retired police detective turned private investigator. I love books that take place all over the world.

This is the second book I’ve read featuring Dan , Anna & Oscar , and I enjoyed this just as much as the first one that I read. Easy to read , not too complex to follow with excellent characters.. I do enjoy books which are character led and Murder at the Ponte Vecchio most definitely was. Good storytelling, excellently written. Recommended.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I chose this as I was going to Florence and this seemed a great choice

I absolutely loved this
I am really familiar with Florence and so the descriptives were all totally familiar to me and so was able to picture scenes

I can highly recommend this

The writing was descriptive, with little thoughts from the main character that, whilst seeming random, ended up linking back to the main story and embellishing it.

The chapters were fairly long which meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. Each chapter was clearly labelled with the day that you were reading about, which grounded the story well and gave the story a good pace.

There was a good flow to the story. Whilst there were the little embellishments, they balanced well with what was happening and you moved through the story well.

The characters were great. There were different groups of characters with their own things going on that cleverly all came together at the end. Whilst a lot of different things were going on, I was able to keep up and enjoyed reading about them all.

I particularly liked the canine sidekick and the behaviours of the other characters around him that came with that. It added something different to the story by making it feel more real and relatable.

There were a few different options as to who the murderer could be and which characters were related to which crimes. It kept me engaged and I liked how everything tied together at the end.

Lastly the settings. There were some lovely descriptions of Florence and the food that the characters enjoyed. I like it when food is involved, again I felt that it added a layer of realism and relatability to the story, fleshing it out and bringing it to life.

Overall a good story with lots of different offshoots and layers.

A Cunning Trap..
The eleventh outing in the Oscar and Armstrong series of cosy mysteries finds our intrepid investigator and trusty sidekick at the scene of another unexplained death - Florence, the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Dan is not anticipating a quick and easy assignment this time - it soon transpires that the victim is universally disliked - so Dan decides to lay a trap. Can he tempt a killer to out in plain sight? Let the investigations commence! Another enjoyable and entertaining mystery with a deftly drawn cast, a well imagined and beautiful setting and an engaging plot.

This is the first book from the author, that I read, but it was a great reading. I enjoyed the plot and the characters, and of course Oscar. Such an interesting ideea, a P.I. and a dog solving mysteriouses cases.
In this story I liked how the events are described, it gived me the feeling of being there present. And I enjoyed that I didn't guess the culprit until the end.
So the suspense and the mystery of the murder kept me going through the pages faster to see who did it and why.

For sure I will be reading other stories from the author.

Murder at the Porte Vecchio is the 11th novel in the Dan Armstrong and Oscar, (a totally sweet Labrador) mystery novel series. The setting in Florence is a big selling point but so are the novels themselves, which flow well and keep the reader interested. Oscar is big draw for dog lovers, both he and Dan work well together and even insert some humor. Dan, who is a retired Scotland Yard detective, is now a P. I. Murder at the Porte Vecchio is a nice cozy mystery, and while part of a series, also works well as a stand-alone novel.

Thank you to Boldwood Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review. I am recommending Murder at the Porte Vecchio, which is a short, quick read that still provides a punch.
4 stars.

Another clever mystery and more unexpected aspects of Italy. I loved the way that this book merged such different aspects of Florence—the jewelry shops on the Ponte Vecchio frequented by tourists and a theater on the outskirts just trying to keep the stage lights on. Dan and Oscar have their work cut out for them when some unsavory things come to light, but they manage to figure it all out. I enjoyed every minute of this book; this is a fantastic series that I hope does not end anytime soon! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

This is a great series. Dan Armstrong was in the Murder Squad at Scotland Yard. When he retired he was given a writing class in Tuscany as a gift, and near the end of the class, there is a murder and Dan helps the police and then adopts the leader's Chocolate Labrador, Oscar. He decides to buy a house and continues to help the police. Now, in the 11th book, Dan has his own detective agency and a companian, Anna, who teaches in Florence.

In this book, we have 2 murders for Dan plus a few other things to look into. When Dan is giving a talk to introduce his first book which is now coming out in Italian, he meets two men. The mayor wants his help, and so does a man with a jewelry shop on the Ponto Vecchio. The mayor wants to find out who his college daughter is dating, and the jewelry man won't name his problem until they meetat his store the next day. However, when Dan gets to the bridge the next day, he finds that the man appears to have hung himself. When the family arrive, they don't seem to like their father very much and it gradually appears that his business is pretty shady. Since they don't speak Italian, Dan is the interpreter for the police with the family. When the man's business colleague arrives to collect his money for the VERY valuable cigar box in the safe, he is also killed shortly after arrival. Meanwhile, Virgilio, Dan's friend in the police also has a problem with records of police cases dissappearing. Dan has his work cut out to keep track of all the cases. Even with Oscar's help, can he solve all the problems?

This is a great addition to the series, and I can't wait for the next book. I thank Netgalley and boldwood books for the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

Another cozy mystery from one of my favorite authors of that genre, T.A. Williams! I’m so glad I picked up the first book in this series on a whim, because the adventures of Armstrong and Oscar continue to be quietly satisfying and perfect to escape into during times of stress or anxiety. These books never fail to provide exactly what I’m looking for- a low stakes mystery, lovable characters, and plenty of references to Oscar, one of my favorite literary pets.

In The Murder at Ponte Vecchio, we are introduced to a number of characters at the start of the book, and the layered mysteries come together in a very pleasing way as the book moves along. I particularly enjoyed seeing Dan’s success with his writing, his increasingly important role in helping the Italian detectives, and his unexpected involvement in the theater. As always, the descriptions of the landscapes and cuisines of Italy provide a lovely texture to the narrative and I just adore the way that Williams includes the mundane details of Armstrong and Oscar’s day to day movements and interactions with all the various people in their circle. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for providing an e-galley in exchange for my honest thoughts!

After a death is discovered on the Ponte Vecchio, the identity is confirmed as a jeweller who owns a store on the bridge.

Dan and Oscar are called to help when the murdered man's children arrive which he hasn't seen in many years.

Suspicions arise and suspects interviewed but when another victim is found Dan is concerned that they are connected and why?

Another witty and fun read with all the characters they we have enjoyed in each book.

Another book not to miss!

Another really great read.

Dan (the retired DCI, PI and author) and Oscar (his best mate and Labrador) are both so likeable. Once again, the story unfolds in an easy to read, easy to follow style. It's intriguing and a little complicated. Just the way I like it. It makes for an interesting murder mystery read whilst still managing to be a relatively gentle one.

Dan and Oscar are always part of a team, who work together (including the Italian police) and have a great sense of comradré. I enjoy the very special combination; an interesting murder mystery, some smaller ancillary storylines and ongoing exploration of Tuscany, the history, the food and the culture and the evolving personal relationships.

Once again, I've no sooner finished this one that I'm looking forward to the next. I recommend each one, and have read each one numerous times
Well done again to TA Williams and Boldwood Books.

It's five out of five for me (or maybe that's six out of five)

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

Book 11 in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy mystery Series and in this latest instalment Dan Armstrong and his ever hungry and lovable black Labrador Oscar are asked to help the local police when the body of a jeweller is found hanging from the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Is it suicide or murder? I’ve been to Ponte Vecchio and the jewellery shops there are to dies for! Pun intended.

Briefly, with the dead jeweller case ongoing Dan is trying to help his friend Commissario Virgilio Pisano, who believes there is a traitor within the ranks of the police force. Then the middle of his investigations, as if he had nothing else to do, Dan talks himself into a part in an amateur theatre production.

As Dan works his way through the plot lines and learns his last minute role for the play we follow the clues which are presented alongside some extremely tasty sounding Tuscan food dishes! And talking of food did I ever mention I love Oscar! A good storyline and written in the usual easy read style. A delight to read as always.

This series goes from strength to strength. This latest book is a very enjoyable read, Oscar the Labrador is an absolute star. Set in Florence, it would make a perfect holiday read, and having visited there myself it has inspired me to find out more about the history of the city. The various strands of the story are skilfully interwoven, and the plot is well paced. I highly recommend this book.

4.2 Stars
One Liner: Three-in-one mysteries!

Dan and Oscar are happy solving cases as private investigators in Florence. As a resident, Dan is familiar with the iconic bridge, Ponte Vecchio, and walks across it often. However, when an old diamond merchant who was as hard as the stones he sold is found dead on the bridge and the case is ruled a murder, Dan once again has to help the police find the killer.
Soon, it’s clear that nothing easy as it seemed to be. The motive could be something they hadn’t considered so far! Can Dan and his adorable black Lab solve the case?
The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
That’s book 11 in the series, but it works as a standalone since there isn’t any disturbance in the personal track.
This book has not one but three (or is it four) mysteries that start at various points. While there’s a decently long cast, it is easy to track the cases separately.
I like that the books are short (200-270 pages) and ideal for reading in a couple of sittings. I’m used to the author’s style by now, so the pacing is good too! I’m no longer worried about chapter lengths.
Every book takes us on a virtual tour of a different place in Italy. This time, we remain in Florence but read about Ponte Vecchio. I googled it to see the pictures (love the ones during sunset and night). It’s not just a bridge. It is a three-storied structure with tiny stores packed tight from one end to another!
We also get descriptions of delicious food (never mind that I’m a vegetarian and eat none of it in real life) and the generous quantities they serve. This is something I relate to. Apart from a few places, Indians love to serve large portions of food. We’ll feed you until your tummy bursts open. ;)
The mystery starts like every other case, but it becomes a bit more complex as new details emerge. Things start to come together in the last quarter, and finally, we have the reveal and showdown!
Oscar is his usual best, obviously! Everyone falls in love with him, and he is delighted with all the attention (and food). Can there be a better life than that? I don’t think so!

To summarize, Murder at the Ponte Vecchio is a steady-paced and entertaining book. It continues the series’ momentum and takes us on a virtual tour of Florence with a dead body or two!
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A jeweler is murdered in what appears to be a random robbery, but the Florence police and Dan, a former British police investigator now settled in Florence and working as a PI, believe the jeweler was specifically targeted. As other murders are connected, Dan helps his friends in the Florence police uncover internal corruption. Florence is a lovely setting (some of the books are set in other cities in Italy, but I prefer the ones that take place in Dan's new hometown), the descriptions of meals are mouthwatering, and Oscar the Labrador is both best friend and comic relief. Dan simultaneously handles a few other investigations, and the author does a good time tying all the strands together. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.

Dan Armstrong spent years on the Murder Squad in London and it cost him his marriage. Now he has relocated to Italy and is a PI in addition to working with local police by helping with translations for English speakers among other things. Oscar is his Black Labrador clue collector and calmer of witnesses (and bottomless pit when it comes to food). Not an unbiased review as I love Oscar and the whole series. Murders and smuggling are the main theme of this episode and of course the wonderful travelogue that goes with everything. Great read!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley from Boldwood Books courtesy of NetGalley.
#MurderAtThePonteVecchio by #tawilliamsbooks #ArmstrongAndOscarCozyMysteryBk11 #theboldbookclub #NetGalley #goodreads #bookbub #librarythingofficial #barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #privateDetective #MurderInvestigations #exMurderSquad #expat #FlorenceItaly #excop #familydrama #foodie #blooddiamonds Pub date May 04, 2025

First book I've read in the series and I'll definitely go back and read the others.

Retired DCI Dan has moved to Florence to be with the woman he loves, and now works as a private investigator. When a jeweller asks him for help, but is found dead before he can make the appointment, Dan has to help his friends in the Florence police force solve the crime.

Good storyline, covering inequality, immigration, difficult family relationships and corruption - and there are quite a few red herrings. Fabulous descriptions of Florence (including the food). And Oscar the Labrador is just perfect :)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.