Murder at the Matterhorn (Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery #5) by T.A. Williams

Murder at the Matterhorn (Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery #5) Reviews

• 
  Srivalli Rekha

  Publication Date: 24th Nov 2023
  
  4 Stars
  
  One Liner: A compact cozy mystery
  
  Dan Armstrong gets a call from his former colleague asking for help. It seems a team of ufologists (UFO enthusiasts) are camping on an isolated mountain cap. There’s been a death, which looks much like murder. Dan agrees to help and joins the group as a fellow enthusiast.
  
  Even though they think aliens are involved, Dan is sure the murder is the handiwork of a human and someone from the group or in the region. With Oscar by his side, Dan now has to play the interpreter and solve the crime with the local police. Can they find the killer before more deaths occur?
  
  The story comes in Dan Armstrong’s first-person POV and works as a standalone.
  
  My Thoughts:
  
  As a reader of the series, I enjoyed this book as much as the previous ones. I’m also a believer in UFOs, though not like the characters here.
  
  Being a cozy mystery, the focus is more on the crime and suspects rather than the technicalities of UFOs and science. Most of the content tends to be of a nonbeliever since it comes from Dan’s POV. However, he does his best to keep an open mind, which proves to be helpful.
  
  Of course, a book set in Italy has to have a lovely setting and good food. This time, we tour the snow-capped mountains, the surrounding forest, and the autonomous village in the foothills. There is enough tea to satisfy a British reader and enough wine and food for the Italian reader.
  
  The mystery is just right- neither simple nor complicated. One part is easy to solve, the other needs a bit of work but has a logical conclusion. We can guess who the killer is despite not knowing the reason.
  
  Anna (Dan’s girlfriend), Virgilio and his wife, etc., have very minor roles. Dan and Oscar work with a different police team. And as Dan says, this one is indeed teamwork. Many people contribute, creating a more balanced approach. Inspector Costey is impressive. I hope we get to meet again.
  
  Oscar does what he always does – makes puppy eyes at everyone, becomes popular with ladies, eats as much as he can get, and helps solve the case in his own way. No one can resist a cute lab, right?
  
  The pacing is on the slower side, as it is with the series. However, the chapters are of moderate length and provide some sort of progress to keep the plot moving.
  
  To summarize, Murder at the Matterhorn is an entertaining mystery and a good continuation of the series. Does it have aliens? Well, read the book to find out. ;)
  
  Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
  
  #NetGalley #MurderattheMatterhorn
  
• 
  Alison

  Three and a half stars.
  
  Dan Armstrong and his trusty canine companion Oscar are asked by an old friend in Scotland Yard to assist his sister, she's been attending a two-week Ufologists camp near to Matterhorn looking for evidence of extraterrestrials but a fellow camp mate has died in suspicious circumstances and she thinks there is something weird going on. Dan agrees to pretend to have an interest in UFOs and at the same time offers his services to translate for the local police force as a bilingual native English speaker with the ufologists who are all British/American.
  
  I thoroughly enjoyed this, I had my suspicions about the murderer almost from the start (well maybe midway through) but it came together well.
  
  I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
  
  Available on Kindle Unlimited.
• 
  John Lee

  What a delightful series this is. One man and his dog but not a crime solving wonderdog, just a friendly companion black Labrador. We have recently been pet sitting one and can confirm everything that ex Met. Detective Chief Inspector now Private Investigator Dan says about his friend, is correct.
  
  This story takes Dan and Oscar off to the mountains to the north at the request of his friend and still Met Inspector who is worried about his little sister who is currently camped out there with a group of Ufologists.
  
  Dan and Oscar join the group under cover just after the body of one of the group is found.
  
  This, like the others before it in the series, makes for very easy reading with Oscar and his relationship with his owner giving it an almost feel good factor as well as some humour. That and all the deliciously described food certainly won me over and even though there wasn't much for the armchair detective to get his teeth into, that didn't really matter.
• 
  Pam Robertson

  This cosy crime story takes us to the north of Italy, to the Matterhorn where out of this world happenings are on the agenda. Looking at the night sky is a group of varied characters who all have their own eccentricities. Dan Armstrong is drawn there because of a suspicious death. Welcomed by the local police, he is able to infiltrate the group and aid the police as a translator. There are lots of clues to follow and some colourful characters to investigate.
  
  As usual, Oscar steals the show with his meaningful looks and ability to charm. There are some great descriptions of the local area and the delicacies which are available at the nearby eateries. There is a lot to discover about the backgrounds of the characters and how they may or may not know each other. Dan lets us in on his thoughts on the case, as he practises his investigative skills. There is a surprising denouement which makes for a satisfying read.
  Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book
• 
  Pietro

  I love this series more with every installment! This is T.A. Williams’ fifth mystery featuring retired police commissioner Dan Armstrong and his faithful dog Oscar. Here Dan travels north from his home in Tuscany, to the Alps, to help an old friend, whose sister is camping with a group of UFOlogists. When their search for extraterrestrial life at the Matterhorn is interrupted by murder Dan agrees to infiltrate the group and aid as a translator. The unusual setting and events make for a great story. Dan meets some very interesting characters and the descriptions of food and the beauty of Italy are as vivid as in the previous books. Plus, Oscar is as charming as always! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
• 
  Jan

  Not an unbiased review. Love the series and Oscar in particular!
  Dan Armstrong retired after 30 years in the Murder Squad where his "pals" gave him the "gift" of a writers' retreat in Tuscany. Since then, he has become divorced, settled in to stay in Italy, made friends with some men in the local Polizia, adopted a Black Lab (Oscar), written a mystery that's recently been published, and made the acquaintance of a bilingual professor who seems to understand that you can take the man out of The Job but you can't take The Job out of the man.
  While this is a cozy mystery, it is also something of a procedural because of personal involvement with the local police where they make use of his Italian/English translation abilities and he gathers information from his colleagues back in England. Fun, twisty, surprising, and definitely unputdownable! Great characters, good worldbuilding, very relatable, and no problem as a standalone.
  I requested and received an EARC from Boldwood Books courtesy of NetGalley. Thank you!
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Emmalynn

  Love this series, Dan and Oscar are the perfect investigating pair. This time between murder and UFO’s they are off on a jaunt to bring a killer or killers to justice.
• 
  Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey

  Dan and Oscar make such a wonderful team and it’s been great being back in Italy with them. Murder at the Matterhorn is one of those cosy mysteries everyone needs to enjoy once in a while - fun characters, a beautiful if not harsh environment for a setting and enough of a mystery to keep you guessing. It’s an easy, read in one sitting kind of book but don’t let that put you off. It’s just what I needed after a long day at work.
• 
  Avril Hemingway

  Another fun Dan and Oliver book, this time set in the shadow of the Matterhorn. There is a murder and a brazen attack to solve, lots of beautiful scenery and a new cast of police character's and very wacky suspects. It was well written and usual and went along at a good pace. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
• 
  Katherine

  This one was very dull.
• 
  Annie

  Originally posted on my blog
  Nonstop Reader.
  
  Murder at the Matterhorn is the fifth
  Armstrong and Oscar cozy destination mystery by
  T.A. Williams. Released 24th Nov 2023 by
  Boldwood Books, it's 234 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.
  
  This is a beautifully descriptive and well written destination mystery mostly set in and around Tuscany involving a group of UFO enthusiasts. Expat former policeman Dan Armstrong and his trusty canine sidekick Oscar are again called on to untangle a local murder/accident, which soon escalates into danger for the intrepid duo. Dan's ostensibly along to facilitate translations in English for the police and witnesses, but his insights are valuable and he and the local official investigation work well together.
  
  The plotting is solid and the dialogue and characterizations are believable. The mystery, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this volume, so it works well enough as a standalone, but the writing is so engaging and immersive, that it would make an excellent weekend binge or buddy read. The author is exceptionally good at weaving (seemingly) extraneous information into the text. There's a lot of humor as well.
  
  It's not derivative at all, but it reminded me in a lot of good ways of Leon's exceptional Brunetti books as well as Walker's lovely Bruno, chief of police books. Fans of those authors will find a lot to enjoy here.
  
  Four and a half stars. Highly recommended. All of the books are exceptionally well written and fun. The author seems to be on a twice a year output schedule at the moment without sacrificing quality or length. Definitely one to pick up as they come out. There's an 8th book due out in Aug 2024 from the same publisher.
  Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
• 
  Anne

  A call from an ex-colleague worried about his daughter, part of a group of UFO enthusiasts camping in the Alps where a body has been found, sees Dan and Oscar leaving Tuscany for a while and going undercover, providing translation help (and, as always, a little more) to the local police. Although some of the group might believe it was the work of extra-terrestrials – fire at the site where the body was found, signs of a spaceship having landed, and plenty of lights in the night sky to excite the ufologists – the perpetrator is far more likely to be human.
  
  And there are certainly plenty of suspects at the camp – the victim turns out to be known by several of them, and there are plenty who might have their reasons to be glad to see his end. And it’s quite a substantial cast of characters yielding those suspects – many of them distinctly quirky, others with hidden secrets, all quite wonderfully drawn individuals moving in and out of the frame in turn.
  
  The police team is led by a heavily pregnant inspector who’s initially none too keen on Dan and Oscar’s involvement – but won over as they work more closely together, and she appreciates the advantages of having them on her side if she’s going to bring the investigation to a necessary early conclusion. Oscar, of course, sets about charming all the ladies in turn – while Dan, as always, usually has to work rather harder. And there’s also a part to be played by the supporting characters we’ve become familiar with in the earlier books in the series – paving the way, doing some background digging, helping piece the facts together.
  
  The mountain setting is just wonderful – so vividly described, with its villages and landscape (with plenty of pine cones and sticks for Oscar), the nearby hotel and convent-cum-eatery extending the focus of the investigation and providing places to convene and regroup out of sight from the group (and also providing Oscar with opportunities to stave off any possibility of starvation – the local police chief ensuring Dan is frequently well fed too).
  
  There are, as you’d expect, plenty of red herrings – some skullduggery and surprises along the way, but the expected satisfactory conclusion with identification of the villain I’d entirely failed to spot. And without spoiling the story, I really have to mention how very much I loved the scene at the book’s ending – the quite perfect touch!
  
  Every book in this lovely series becomes my new favourite – and this one is certainly no exception. Sheer enjoyment from beginning to end, but with plenty of substance to the investigation to keep more dedicated mystery aficionados happy and make it a wholly compelling read – I really loved it, and hope we have many more books to come.
• 
  Penelope

  MY RATING GUIDE: 4.5 Stars.
  The Armstrong & Oscar Mysteries has been a favorite series since I first discovered it. I am pleased that bk5, MURDER AT THE MATTERHORN, kept me guessing and fully kept my interest until the end. I look forward to the next book.
  
  1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I LOVED THIS; IT WAS GREAT! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
  
  The Italian Alps ~
  Paul, Dan’s longtime friend and former partner from London’s Homicide Police Dept, calls Dan in Tuscany asking if he will look into a death which just occurred in the IT Alps - several hours distance away. Paul’s younger sister is at the location along with a UFO group. She notified Paul of what she believes is a suspicious death. Paul is concerned for his sister’s safety. Between cases at the time, Dan agrees to check out the situation and he and his dog, Oscar, head up into the Italian Alps to join the UFO gathering.
  
  Comments ~
  1) MURDER AT THE MATTERHORN is bk5 in William’s Armstrong & Oscar Italian Mystery series. Although certain characters and relationships have been developed in the earlier books, MATTERHORN could still be enjoyed as a standalone title. Armstrong & Oscar Mysteries are in the Cozy Mystery category but not silly. Since I discovered it, I have been enjoying this series immensely. It includes interesting commentary on the area & foods. It’s now among my favorite.
  2) I love Simon Mattacks’ performances. He uses wonderful accents and a narrating style that rises this interesting series to a higher level (with good food, local interests, novel crimes and Oscar - the dog).
  3) I highly recommend the Dan Armstrong mystery series to Cozy mystery readers and those who enjoy:
  > British (English, Scottish or Wales) mystery series
  > Character driven mysteries
  > Clean mysteries (no profanity, on screen sexuality or graphic violence).
  
  READER CAUTION ~
  PROFANITY - Minimal, if any.
  VIOLENCE - Minimal for a murder mystery.
  SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Joanne Lewis

  I’m always eager to read any new release from this author and this was no exception.
  
  One of the things I love most about any T A Williams book, regardless of genre, is his ability to immerse you fully in the storyline and the location from the outset.
  
  In this cozy crime mystery, the fifth in the series (although easily read as a stand-alone) and featuring former detective Dan Armstrong and his lovable Labrador Oscar, the action is set in the north of Italy where a murder has taken place during a ufologist convention in the mountains.
  
  Despite the somewhat obscure alien theme, Williams expertly blends this naturally into the narrative. From Dan’s scepticism to the details of supposed sightings over the Matterhorn , the storyline is never overwhelmed by it, yet it lends a unique take on the murder and its suspects.
  
  I think this is my favourite book of the series so far, perhaps because of its more unique setting and a part of Italy I am less familiar with. As always, the descriptions of the local dishes are tantalising and always make me want to try them for myself!
  
  Oscar cannot help but steal the limelight in his own inimitable way and I especially loved the descriptions of Dan struggling to get him to sleep in his own bed, both in the camper-van and at the hotel.
  
  I also particularly liked the character of Inspector Costey, from her hardened indifference at the outset on meeting Dan, to discovering not only her incredible work ethic but also her softer side as she got closer to the birth of her first child.
  
  The great thing about this series is it keeps you second guessing about the possible motives and suspects. The twist at the end of this one was certainly unexpected!
  
  A truly satisfying read.
  
  With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.
• 
  Lynsey

  ‘Murder at the Matterhorn’ is the fifth book in the series and was a thoroughly engaging read that was out of this world! Although this is the fifth book in the Armstrong and Oscar mysteries it can be very easily read as a standalone. I do recommend reading the whole series though as I love them! Plus, you get swept away to Italy and there is a cute dog - what isn't there to love?!
  
  Dan Armstrong is a retired Chief Inspector from the Met police but now resides in Tuscany Italy, where he runs a private investigative agency. When an old colleague and friend gets in touch saying his sister has been involved with a suspicious death whilst, on holiday in northern Italy, Dan jumps at the chance to help out. She is currently camped with a bunch of UFO enthusiasts, one of who has sadly died. Dan inserts himself into the group as a fellow enthusiast and then offers to translate for the police. Dan doesn't believe in aliens but he believes one of the group is responsible for the death. Will he find out who is it before anyone is killed?
  
  I really like Dan being out of his comfort zone a wee bit and the change of location to the Alps in Northern Italy injected some freshness into the series! Not that is needed it though. But a change of scene is always lovely. The wackiness of the storyline was brilliant and I laughed a lot throughout the book! But when you boil it down to the bare bones you are really getting the classics of a crime investigation - lies, secrets and deception.
  
  Once again I got very hungry reading this book as the author likes to throw in a lot of references to the local cuisine and it really whets the appetite! It was really easy to visualise what was occurring during this tale as the author thoroughly managed to encapsulate the location in his writing!
  
  Let me know if you pick this one up!
• 
  Chitra Iyer

  I had just finished reviewing a book by T. A. Williams and didn’t realise that I was reading another one by the same author. This is a compliment because these back-to-back readings were entirely different from each other. The previous one was a romance and this one is straight up who-dun-it. One thing is common though; the author’s hold on the reader’s attention through his narration.
  
  The story is about a retired police officer, Dan Armstrong, who is now settled in Tuscany. He is called to help out in a murder investigation up in the Alps, right in the vicinity of the Matterhorn. A man, who was part of a UFO enthusiast group, has been murdered. Dan decides to do his bit and takes his dog, Oscar, along with him and together they set out to find more information about the dead man.
  
  The story has a good pace and details are unravelled little by little but not once did I get bored. I love who-dun-its and I would categorise this as a casual police procedural. The beautiful descriptions of the place surrounding the Matterhorn instantly transported me there. That’s the highlight of the author’s narration – brilliant storytelling skills!
  
  Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Amongst the beautiful writing and the scenic backdrop, one simply gets lost and is in a trance even after the book is done being read. An absolute must-read.
• 
  Rachel Gilbey

  Like Dan, I had to contain my scepticism for a fair amount of this book, as he helps the police investigate a murder at an encampment of UFO enthusiasts. For those at the camp are utterly convinced that it was an accidental killing, caused by an alien rocket ship backfiring, and the dead person just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
  
  Thankfully the evidence doesn't support that theory but instead leads us to meeting a whole group of rather interesting folk, of which I could of obvious looking suspects emerge fairly fast.
  
  Was nice seeing Dan and Oscar away from their beloved Tuscany and instead up in the mountains this time, with a new police team being helped too.
  
  And Oscar is as fabulous as always, able to put especially the ladies at ease, allowing Dan to try to get to know the truth.
  
  I am loving how every book so far in this series feels quite different and seeing Dan and Oscar being able to travel and be in new situations will help keep this fresh for books to come. Of course the series regulars are present too, just not front and centre.
  
  This is another fabulous addition to the series, and one I hope keeps going for a long while.
  
  Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
• 
  Annarella

  I love Dan&Oscar mysteries as I always have a lot of fun and they keep me guessing.
  This time we are far from Tuscany, in Valle d’Aosta and I love the attention to the details and the realistic descriptions of the places.
  This is an intriguing case and, trust me, there’s a lot of ufologists on the North West Alps. The characters are quirky, one of the most interesting parts is how Dan can communicate with them and learn what he need to solve the case.
  The mystery is full of surprises, and I loved the solution. It’s a well plotted, tightly knitted, and fast paced story I read in one sitting.
  I remain of the opinion that Mr Williams’ book should be marketed by the Tourist Offices as they’re an entertaining and compelling way to learn about different part of Italy.
  I would suggest Langhe for the next mystery as I would be curious to read about Oscar searching truffles (joking)
  If you are new to this series go and read the rest even if this one can be read as a stand-alone.
  Highly recommended.
  Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.
• 
  Elaine - Splashes Into Books

  What a different murder mystery complete with UFOs
  Are the UFOs occupants the killers - no one knows!
  A campsite with UFO enthusiasts hoping they're true
  Who knows just what any of them might be getting up to.
  
  A brilliant setting, near the Matterhorn, this time
  With a different group of police investigating the crime.
  More delicious sounding food and brilliant sights to see
  And a clever investigation that definitely appeals to me.
  
  Dan and Oscar are called to help a friend
  Who is worried how his sister's holiday will end!
  Someone with her has apparently been killed
  By aliens, perhaps - she's definitely not thrilled.
  
  The writing is engaging, keeping me turning pages all the time
  And endeavouring as I'm reading to solve this deadly crime.
  The food, the settings, the people - everything feels like it's true!
  I'm really enjoying this series and my virtual visits to Italy, too,
  
  Another great read with Dan and Oscar on the case
  Set in a glorious area with so much taking place.
  For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
  As I share with you this, my honest review.
• 
  M.J.

  Murder at the Matterhorn is an 'out of this world' addition to the Armstrong and Oscar detective series.
  
  This new case sees our trusty duo involved in a murder case that involves UFOligists on the side of one of Italy's most iconic mountains, the Matterhorn. While Dan does his best to convince a group of fanatics that he, too, believes in aliens, he's trying to get to the bottom of a suspicious death.
  
  As with all of the Armstrong and Oscar cases, there is no end of suspicious activity, and while Dan and Oscar might be sampling the local fare, they are also busy at work, helping the local police through the language barriers of a group of British people in Italy, while using Dan's British contacts as well.
  
  Another fabulous addition to the series of well-thought-out mysteries. As ever, the eventual resolution is not at all what the reader is expecting.
  
  My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.
• 
  Lynda

  Book 5 in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series featuring ex Detective and now PI Dan Armstrong and his best mate Oscar his black labrador. Settled in Tuscany he is asked by Virgilio if he could help with an investigation into a death in the Matterhorn region. It involved a group of English people and the local police needed help with translation.
  
  Briefly, Dan finds himself amongst a group of ufologists. A body has been found and the group believe the victim was caught in the blast of a UFO taking off. The police and Dan investigate although to be fair an awful lot of time is taken up sampling the local good and wine!
  
  Some hilarious moments from UFO the group believing there are aliens living amongst them. Yes it is that sort of story! An hilariously clever cozy murder mystery and a very enjoyable read.
  
• 
  Kitty McIntosh

  Retired Scotland Yard detective, Dan Armstrong is contented with the slower pace and quiet life in Tuscany. But an urgent request from an old colleague sends him to the Alps, with his trusted canine companionOscar. A mysterious death at a camp of UFO enthusiasts has the local police puzzled. The fact that the suspects are all English speakers doesn’t help. Dan infiltrates the camp and offers his translation services to the police, hoping to solve the case and help out a friend. But can he do it before the killer strikes again?
  
  I liked Dan and found him to be an intelligent and caring investigator. He took time to get to know the people at the camp, and his gentle probing proved effective. His adorable dog, Oscar, put the suspects at ease, making his job easier.
  
  The mystery was compelling and I found myself immersed in the story. The setting was unusual and beautifully described.