Picturesque Piacenza in Italy is the venue for Nick Morris’s next murder mystery. For those who are not acquainted with the art of Murder series, Nick is an artist who when needed turns his hand to sleuthing. He has accepted a stint as art teacher at a retreat at a request from his friend Ross. Nick was hoping it would be a delightful gig. Painting and romance in Italy with a murder or two thrown in. What’s not to like. Of course that would largely depend on the budding artist tourists. Piacenza proved to be as delightful as Nick had hoped. But unfortunately, the group ranged from cantankerous, heartbroken or dying. Furthermore, the well-known author Gregory Stone happened to be at Piacenza at the same time. Sadly, he upset those he met resulting in being despised by all and sundry. Nick only wants a relaxing break while doing his bit instructing his students. The death of the author Stone causes Nick to wonder if the mans anti-social behaviour resulted in his death. While this investigation carries on another body is found and this time it is one of Nicks students. He is unwittingly drawn into the investigation and is compelled to do his own sleuthing.

This latest novel told in first person POV is in Jeck’s signature witty style. He is however in a particularly philosophical mood. Or is that merely a trope to move the plotline. Nick the main protagonist frequently lapses into long interesting soliloquys which are insights into the other characters be they suspects or otherwise. Though I didn’t mind too much some readers may find this inconvenient. As usual Nick is keenly observant of the folks around him but is not always right. As he bumbles along, I was drawn into the plot. The characters were interesting, and the story was well plotted. Yet another great whodunit.

Are you looking for a very affordable holiday to Italy with visits to historic sites, meals at local restaurants, unlimited wine, and art lessons thrown in, all with a lively and entertaining group of people?
Good!
You don’t mind if a few of them get murdered, do you?
Just to be clear—these are all fictional people (fictional wine as well—sorry!), and the artist leading the tour is none other than the well-meaning but somewhat clueless Nick Morris. He didn’t come on the tour to be a detective, but his naturally chatty and inquisitive nature enables him to find out information that is not always available to the official police force. He is also unexpectedly (and unnecessarily) courageous at a certain point in the story, which was endearing. You get the feeling of a trip to Piacenza and an entertaining mystery narrated with Nick’s wry wit, and you don’t even have to pack a suitcase.

Delicious Romp..
The third outing in The Art of Murder series finds Nick Morris, artist come amateur sleuth, in Italy with a commission to teach at an art retreat. Idyllic?…umm, probably not. It’s not long before he realises that his teaching group err on the overly dramatic - but, that’s nowhere near the tip of the iceberg and the worst is yet to come! With dead bodies, eclectic and eccentric students, literal fires and a baffling investigation, what on earth can a man do? Another madcap outing with a well drawn cast of characters populating a fast moving plot laced with humour and dry wit. A delicious romp.

This is first non-historical Michel Jecks novel I have read. The setting is interesting and well-described and the characters are well-drawn. However, there were almost too many characters for me and my attention started wander towards the end.

This story took a long time to get going. Plenty of twists and turns and a main character who keeps getting it wrong.