How have I missed this series until now? I'm delighted to add it to my favorites list. Not only is main character Dan Armstrong quite likable and believable, but his dog Oscar's personality shines through, too. Dan, a retired investigator from Scotland Yard, now lives in Italy but is making his first visit to Venice in this installment and does an excellent job in setting the scene. I've never been there, alas, but found his real world assessments made me feel like I was not only tagging along for the trip to movie legend Alice Graceland's luxury villa but enjoying the waterways that serve as roads in most of the area. I liked that the author took a short moment to explain that boat traffic speeds were strictly enforced and why. The speeds are kept to 5 km, about 3 mph, to control not just the heavy boat traffic but to limit wave wear and tear on the buildings that line the canals. You'll be able to visualize the homes alongside and the many bridges that cross the canals. Just don't follow Dan's example of, uh, taking a shortcut, let's say. Oscar followed right along, I might add.

The various characters were well-fleshed out albeit not all were likable. There are plenty of secrets hidden amongst this odd grouping that Alice has brought together for a murder mystery party. Why a murder mystery party? Oh, she has her reasons but, nope, not telling. Although this was my first dive into this series, it worked well as a standalone. We even got to meet Dan's soon to be bride, Anna, and his visiting parents before he sets out on his trip to Venice. Heck, we even spend a few moments with a former collegue, Virgilio, who asks Dan to retrieve a Murano vase for him while in Venice. That's the easy part as he enters a web of past secrets that have raised the atmosphere there to an uncomfortable level. As Dan notes, the only one that seems to be happy to be there is Oscar and that's probably because people by, uh, accident keep dropping tidbits from the table that he gobbles up. Alice is a particular favorite. Dan's least favorite part is the costumes Alice asks her guests to don for the mystery game. Can't say that I blamed him.

I won't detail the plot further except to say that the atmosphere is already weird when one of the guests is found dead. Who did it? Why this particular victim? Could it have been an accidental overdose? How did the vibe of the mystery game complicate matters? How is this odd group of characters connected and why did Alice invite them in the first place? Will Oscar get his walks despite the complications? Grin. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for this early peek at a delightful series that I'll not only be looking forward to in the future but playing catch-up reading on asap. Virtual treats, okay, sirloin for Oscar!

If you’re in the mood for a cozy mystery with a splash of glamour and a dash of canine charm, Murder in Venice is a delightful escape. Set against the dreamy backdrop of Venice, this latest installment in the Armstrong & Oscar series feels like a holiday with a twist of murder.

Private investigator Dan Armstrong is invited to a luxurious villa owned by none other than Alice Graceland—a silver screen legend with secrets simmering beneath the surface. What starts as a glamorous murder mystery party quickly turns into the real thing, and Dan, along with his loyal Labrador Oscar, must untangle a web of grudges, glitz, and old Hollywood drama.

The vibe is light but suspenseful, with just enough intrigue to keep you flipping pages. Dan is charmingly understated, and Oscar steals every scene he’s in (seriously, who doesn’t love a mystery-solving dog?). The Venice setting adds a romantic, slightly eerie atmosphere that’s perfect for a whodunit.

It’s not gritty or gruesome—just good old-fashioned fun with a clever twist. Think Agatha Christie meets The Grand Budapest Hotel, with a Labrador sidekick.

With thanks to TA Williams, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I’ve read the whole of this series and love the characters and the setting. The main characters are Dan Armstrong, a retired Scotland Yard detective and his black labrador, Oscar. The setting for this story is Venice, specifically a small private island In Venice.
It starts off as a dinner with a murder-mystery theme but quickly turns into an actual murder and then two murders. It’s quite fast moving, especially in reaching the conclusion. I was only 30 pages from the end and the murder still hadn’t been solved, so as you can see the denouement happens very quickly. That’s my only criticism about this story.
I love the Labrador quirks and Oscar always makes me laugh and I’m nodding my head as I read about some of his mannerisms comparing him with my own Labrador.
A great summery read and highly recommended. Can’t wait for the next one.

Lovely to have an early opportunity to read the latest Dan and Oscar cosy crime book. Pleased to say this is another enjoyable book in the series as Dan and Oscar travel to Venice for a fictional murder mystery weekend. Lots of secrets for the guests to discover and a host looking for apologies.

Retired British Detective Inspector Dan and his dog Oscar are invited to play detective at a murder mystery party hosted by a famous Hollywood leading lady. The costume party is supposed to be fun, but the weekend quickly turns lethal — and Dan is asked to help the Venetian police figure it all out. 

As usual, author T A Williams evocatively describes the beauty of Venice, its canals, sights, and food creating a mini-vacation in book form.

Murder in Venice is a fun, engaging read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.