Rated 4.5/5

The writing was light, with some dark undertones. There was a lot going on with plenty to think about. When I thought that the case had been solved, there were a couple of twists that popped up that I didn't see coming.

I liked that we are walked through the mystery bit by bit and cleverly reminded what had happened so far. It meant that you didn't have to worry about getting lost and could focus on enjoying the mystery.

The chapters were fairly long and sometimes split. This meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. Whilst the chapters were quite meaty, there was a good pace to the book. It was cleverly done, with lots of wonderful description plus the recapping meaning that it could have easily felt overwhelming, but it wasn't. You felt as if you were making good progress the whole time. I actually read this book within a couple of days, which for me is very good! I was quite happy to pick it back up at each reading session and read it for long periods of time.

There was a good flow between the chapters, which also helped you to get through the story well. This was especially important because of the recapping and evolving storyline. You kept looping round, but each time a little bit more progress was made. You were given the information as the main character was which created the suspense and kept you guessing.

To ground the story and to give you some perspective of time, each chapter was titled with the date.

The characters were excellent. I enjoyed following the main character around and seeing how he gathered all the information and walked us through his theories. I also enjoyed his canine companion. That added a lighter, fun side to the story.

There were a lot of other side characters, each with suspicious backgrounds. It was this that kept up the suspense and kept you guessing. Despite all the different options, everything was tied up well by the end.

Lastly the settings. I loved the Italian setting. As I mentioned above, there was some wonderful descriptions of the surrounding area and the food. I particularly enjoy it when authors include descriptions of food. It adds an extra layer to the story.

Overall an enjoyable mystery, with wonderful descriptions that made you feel as if you were really there. The perfect book for an armchair holiday!

Vacation! What vacation?!🏖

4.5🌟 stars
Another enjoyable murder mystery to investigate for expat Dan and his trusty Lab companion Oscar, but this time Dan's curse of never escaping the work of solving a murder even in leisure time is also passed on to his Italian police inspector friend Virgilio! A week's relaxing vacation on Elba is hijacked by death on the beach near their hotel. I love how their put-upon better halves Anna and Lina just resign themselves to going with the flow and not criticizing their guys for spending so much time on the case, especially since neither Dan nor Virgilio have any official role in the investigation.

Also great: no easy guess as to the killer, a bit of excitement for Anna, inimitable mooching from Oscar (who once again proves a hero!) and a surprise Dan move at the end.

Never a dull moment! This series never misses for me!

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

Review shared on 7/28/25 on Waterstones, Goodreads and Bookbub, and with Barnes & Noble and BAM. To be shared on Google Play and with kobo upon publication.

Dan, Anna and Oscar have been invited to accompany their friends Virgillio and Lina, to the island of Elba. As always Anna and Dan hope for a relaxing trip, although Dan is a bit concerned about the windsurfing lessons Anna has signed up for. Windsurfing turns out to be the least of his problems when a local resident is found dead at the foot of a cliff. The same fate happens to the resident's brother shortly thereafter. The first victim was a pariah in the village and had just been released from a twenty-year prison sentence. His brother, the owner of a luxury campground, was suspected of nefarious business practices . Dan and Virgillio are drawn into the investigation and discover motives for both deaths. This is the 12th Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery and while the series could be called formulaic, it continues to delight. The settings are fascinating, the mysteries always keep the reader guessing and the characters are well-drawn - and did I mention the descriptions of the food? There's bit of ancient Italian history too and an exciting finale. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book, the descriptions and the food.

The story had some funny moments as well as mystery. It was lovely to see Virgilio and Lina had more involvement in in the story.

The story kept me hooked from the beginning.

I recommend this book.

A great mystery book with lots of twists taking you on the journey through the investigation. Plenty to keep you gripped and some nice surprises too.

Another great addition to this brilliant series featuring Private Investigator Dan Armstrong and his trusty sidekick Labrador Oscar. When Dan and girlfriend Anna go in holiday with their close friends, Virgilio and his wife, they find themselves caught up in a suspicious death. However the victim is linked to a case that Virgilio was involved in years before which puts another perspective on the case. I love how these books just flow and how the ending isn’t obvious. Well researched locations and characters that are described sin a way that I feel I know them. A great read and a series that I highly recommend. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

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

I’ve read most of this series and they get better with every book. Dan and Anna take a holiday this time with Virgilio and his partner, hoping to all get away with nothing but sun, sea and good food. But as normal, crime has a habit of finding them and even on this small island - there it is!

When one of the guests is found at the bottom of a cliff, and Virgilio recognises them, his past comes back to greet him but not in a nice way. As the police investigate, Dan tries to help his friend and starts to enquire a little here and there. Of course, Oscar is there to help too and soon the trio are well into the investigation, and the bodies are stacking up.

I really enjoy these books, quick easy reads that keep you guessing to the end. And as always, good food and glorious scenery described throughout.

Dan, Anna and of course Oscar are invited to join Vigillio and Lena for a weeks break on the Island of Elba to relax and enjoy the sun.

The peace is shattered when a body is found and Dan and Oscar once again look for the answers.

Another great read that will transport you along, with the characters, to another part of beautiful Italy!

Although Murder on an Italian Island is book 12 in T. A. Williams's Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series it is easily read as a standalone novel, in fact this was my first book in the series and I found it quite enjoyable.

The main character, Dan, is a former police officer with the London Metropolitan Police turned author and private investigator now living in Tuscany. When he and his partner, and their friends take a vacation on Elba, they are drawn into solving two mysterious murders that occur while they are there.

I found the mystery of the murders in this book to be interesting. I think the author could have played up the connection between one of the victims and Dan's friend Virgilio a bit more, to make the story a bit more suspenseful. I felt like the police cleared him pretty quickly and didn't really put much effort into determining the cause of death of the first victim.

My favourite character in the book was Dan's dog Oscar. I loved that they included Oscar in their vacation plans, and it was a good thing they did because he became very important to the story.

A lot of the story was not focused on the mystery, but more on Dan's relationship with his partner Anna, and how he had been neglecting her. His efforts to stay out of the mystery in order to spend more time with her were not very successful, but Anna seemed to be very understanding for the most part.

This book was on the shorter side compared to a lot of books I've read lately, but I found it was fairly slow paced at times, so I did struggle a bit to stay involved with it. Still, I did enjoy the book overall, and am interested in reading other books in the series.

I would recommend this book to mystery lovers, especially if you have a lazy summer afternoon for reading.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ah, time to slip back into an old friend...that's how it feels to be back with Armstrong and Oscar. I especially love this adventure as much is shared with his Italian Police friend, Virgilio and his wife. As always, though on holiday, murder follows the twosome everywhere. A decades old incident leads to murder and in between learning to windsurf (Armstrong, not Oscar, though our favourite dog does love the water), we are treated to the most beautifully descriptive of novels., plus a plethora of wonderful clues to unfathom, misdirection's, a simply wonderful story.
My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood for the reading copy.

I really like this enjoyable and entertaining crime series of books by Trevor, with each story set in a different town in Italy. Wherever Dan goes, even on holiday, a murder occurs. There’s plenty of intrigue, and some lively windsurfing. Elba, known for it’s Etruscan past, is where ancient art treasures re-surface and are being trafficked. Can Dan and Virgilio piece together what has happened and why?

Another very enjoyable read from T.A.Williams, set on the beautiful island of Elba featuring Dan and his faithful sidekick Cocoa. Very well written, interesting storyline, with good characters & descriptions of places and people. Recommended.

T.A. Williams returns with another enjoyable murder mystery in the Armstrong and Oscar series this time set on the island of Elba, the island that was once the home of the exiled Napolean Bonaparte but is now a most desirable place to have a holiday when in Italy.
Dan is facing writers block having found his victim at the base of the tower with no plausible reason as to how they got there no matter ow hard he tries to find one that will work.
When Virgilio, his best friend in Tuscany also a Commissario in the Police Department, asks whether he and Anna would like to join he and his wife Lina for a week’s holiday on Elba he decides this is the answer to his writer’s block.
Unfortunately, they are only one day into their holiday, enjoying their first delicious meal when an incident occurs, a man is later found dead, and Virgilio is being held as the man most likely to have committed the murder.
Between eating wonderful food, Oscar naturally getting his share, learning to kite surf, trying not to be a detective or even a Private Investigator, Dan and Oscar manage to become embroiled in the investigation into the death of Ignazio Graziani, a thoroughly despicable man.
It is not until the unpleasant truth begins to surface, they all realise that there is more than one party invested in what is definitely looking like murder especially when a second, highly suspicious death occurs, that of Ignazio’s brother. Aldo.
Murder on an Italian Island is the perfect cozy murder, to while away an afternoon practicing amateur sleuthing skills, as Dan and Oscar once again make solving a murder or two somewhat of an adventure Italian style. Even though this is a part of a series it is also a stand-alone book.

Murder on an Italian Island, the twelfth entry in T.A. Williams’ Armstrong and Oscar cosy crime series, is a sun-drenched whodunit set amid the charm and beauty of Elba. As someone new to the series, I began reading without realising its place in a larger collection, but this book stands confidently on its own, welcoming newcomers as easily as it must please long-time fans.

The authors evocative descriptions of Elba—the sparkling sea, lemon-scented air, and sunlit piazzas—transport the reader straight to the heart of the island. The local colour isn’t just background; it weaves seamlessly into the story, creating a lively, atmospheric backdrop for murder and mayhem.

Armstrong and his canine companion Oscar make for an engaging detective duo, with plenty of warmth and wit between all the characters involved. Even without prior knowledge of backstories, I found the relationships natural.

This is a classic puzzle filled with red herrings and unexpected twists, all set against a leisurely Italian pace. I also enjoyed the laugh-out-loud moments—particularly Dan’s misadventures in windsurfing lessons, which provided comic relief without ever undermining the suspense.

If you love your crime with a side of sunshine, authentic Italian atmosphere, and a dash of humour, Murder on an Italian Island is a great read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I absolutely love this series and I can't believe we've reached Book 12! Murder On An Italian Island is just as wonderful as the previous books in the series, with fabulously detailed descriptions of the scenery, food and characters that take me to Italy straight away and keep me immersed in the lifestyle there.

Although Dan and his partner, Anna, and their friends, Virgilio and Lina, are supposed to be relaxing on holiday, Dan and Virgilio cannot help but be drawn into the investigation when a man is found dead in the sea. I love Dan's determination to find answers and his instinct for trouble, which makes the investigation really intriguing. I must also mention Oscar, Dan's canine companion, who is extremely emotionally intelligent and often responds to difficult situations almost as if he were human. It's impossible not to love him!

As the novel is set in a hotel, we are faced with a group of suspects that appears quite closed, although it quickly becomes clear that no one is above suspicion. I enjoyed digging into the backgrounds of all these characters and trying to work out who the perpetrator of the murder was. TA Williams brings the investigation together really well, and at times, there is a definite sense of jeopardy and there are also a few surprises along the way.

TA Williams addresses some sensitive issues in Murder On An Italian Island which does make the story slightly darker than some of the others in the series, but it is handled with a lot of care and adds an extra layer to the story.

I was so happy with the ending of Murder On An Italian Island and I can't wait to see what happens next!

This was my first Armstrong and Oscar mystery and I found it to be a fun summer read.

Former investigator Dan has traveled to Elba with his partner, Anna and his doting black lab Oscar for what they expect to be a peaceful escape and windsurfing adventure at a luxurious hotel. But their dreams of relaxation quickly shatter when a man's body washes ashore.

As Dan delves into the unfolding mystery, he discovers the victim not only had a sinister past, he was not a welcomed visitor in the tiny close-knit community. What else will he discover?

This quick read whisks you away to the sandy shores of Italy, promising sun, suspense of of course, the love of a Labrador.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to join the blog tour for book 12 in the Dan Armstrong and Oscar cosy mystery series, Murder on an Italian Island by TA Williams. I’ve enjoyed reading the first 11 books over the past few years and you can read my last review here: https://mentoringmumof2bookreviews.home.blog/2025/05/10/murder-at-the-ponte-vecchio-by-ta-williams-tawilliamsbooks-boldwoodbooks-rararesources/

Book 12 sees Dan, Anna, Oscar, Virgilio and Lina travel to Elba hoping for a relaxing week of holiday – but as regular readers of this series know, wherever Dan goes, then a murder or two will always happen.

This is another enjoyable cosy mystery book in my favourite series. Elba is famous as a place where Napoleon lived but it was nice to hear more about other history related to the island.

You don’t need to read the other 11 books in the series to enjoy this book, but I’m happy to recommend them. This is another enjoyable book – full of mystery, murder, delicious sounding food and Oscar the Labrador.

Dan a private investigator has been invited to stay on Elba along with his girlfriend Anna. His friend Virgilio who's an Italian police officer has invited them but Dan's determined that he won't be doing any investigating but things don't always got to plan

The twelfth book in Armstrong and Oscar Cozy mystery series which is set in Tuscany, featuring ex Police officer and now author and PI Dan Armstrong and his black Labrador Oscar. I have read the first in the series and jumped right in again with this one and was able to follow along with no problems. Moving from their usual location to the island of Elba. Dan, his partner Anna
and best friend police officer Virgilio and his wife Lina go away to a luxurious resort. Dan promised Anna there will be no playing police detective for the whole week. Not long after they arrive a body is found at the bottom off a cliff. It turns out to be Ignazio Graziani who has a sordid past. Virgilio was the last to see him alive and the two have a connection and he and Dan set out to clear his name.

The mystery element turned out to have quite a number of suspects, another body and ends up being quite personal for Dan. I enjoyed the gorgeous scenery complete with windsurfing, Vineyards and Etruscan antiques and mines. Filled with fun characters and self-deprecating humour
I can’t wait to catch up on the others in the series.

Murder on an Italian Island by T. A. Williams
Virgillio an Italian police detective invites Dan Armstrong and his girlfriend Anna to join him and his wife for a trip to Elba Island. Dan is a former London police officer. He is currently a private investigator who also writes murder mysteries. His labrador, Oscar, always accompanies them.
When two brothers die within a short time of each other. Dan and Virgillio get involved with the investigation. Luckily Oscar always inserts himself into the mysteries.
With the first death, the local police quickly decide it was either an accident because the victim had been drinking, or it was suicide. Dan and Virgillio question this.
Because they are supposed to be on vacation, Anna encourages Dan to take wind surfing lessons with her.
Oscar gives everyone the poor-me dog look and gets plenty of attention as well as snacks while Dan and Anna are busy.
When the second brother is found dead, Dan and Virgillio find it difficult to step away from the investigation.
Both men were not well liked and seemed involved in plenty of sketchy stuff and there are several suspects.
This is a well plotted novel, and I loved the interaction between Dan and Oscar. He often reads Oscar’s mind for us. Oscar plays an integral part in the investigation.
This is part of a series, and a perfect beach read.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.
This book will be released on August 5th.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced readers copy for my honest opinion.