Murder at the Leaning Tower (Armstrong and Oscar #6) by T.A. Williams

Murder at the Leaning Tower (Armstrong and Oscar #6) Reviews

• 
  Julie

  Once again a well plotted story that keeps the reader engaged. Add in the wonderful Italian ambiance, the stunning food and a murderer on the loose that is a bit too close to home for our retired detective, then you have a winning combination. With all the suspects confined to the villa, in an Agatha Christiesque denouement, Dan has to eliminate them one by one. With time running out, his desperate plan puts his own life at risk. Excellent read.
  
• 
  Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey

  Another clever murder mystery with the cracking team of Dan and Oscar. As with the other books in the series, this combines the wonderful humour of the relationship between Dan and his lab, with the intrigue of murder in the beautiful setting of the Italian countryside. The mystery this time surrounds the meeting of the great and rich - none of whom sound particularly likeable - at a secure country villa. Why are they meeting there, what are the business discussions about and who thought to bring these different characters together under the same roof?
  A thoroughly enjoyable read and I’m looking forward again to seeing what Dan and Oscar get up to next.
• 
  Grace J Reviewerlady

  I love this series more and more with every one I read!
  
  Dan Armstrong, Private Investigator, is fully settled in his new life in Italy. Approached to provide security at a top secret meeting at a private villa close to Pisa, he sets off with his labrador, Oscar, to do a full search of the house and grounds. The arrival of the guests reveals some of the major players in high finance and Dan redoubles his efforts to keep everything and everyone safe and protected. However, someone is murdered and the local police don't appreciate Dan's offer of help. The inspector's ineptitude goes from bad to worse and it's left to Dan - and Oscar - to pick up the pieces . . .
  
  I've been a fan of Trevor Williams' writing for a good number of years, none more so than this mystery series. As a fellow labrador lover, the inclusion of Oscar is the icing on the cake for me. He eases the path for Dan in so many ways and, delightfully, exhibits all the best lab traits. Filled with an array of characters which give much food for thought, this is an enigmatic mystery with several laugh-out-loud moments and fabulous descriptions of Italian food! I had no idea 'whodunnit' until they were revealed on the page. A great read, one I thoroughly enjoyed and, as always, I look forward to reading more about Dan and Oscar's exploits. My highest recommendation and a full five shining stars!
• 
  Srivalli Rekha

  Publication Date: 06th Feb 2024
  
  4 Stars
  
  One Liner: Entertaining as always
  
  Dan Armstrong is asked to provide security for a private villa on the outskirts of Pisa. Villa Gregory is beautiful and large. Still, Dan thinks it should be easy enough to handle the situation. What could go wrong when the ultra-rich meet?
  
  Everything.
  
  His girlfriend’s daughter works for one of the guests and isn’t too keen about Dan. Moreover, one of the guests is murdered. With pressure mounting, Dan (and Oscar) need to solve the case and try to prevent more murders while staying alive.
  
  The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV.
  
  My Thoughts:
  
  This is one of my comfort-read cozy mystery series. This time, Dan and Oscar go to a villa on the outskirts of Pisa. While the tower makes an appearance only once, the setting is beautiful enough to make me happy.
  
  Despite being the sixth book in the series, it works as a standalone. There is a necessary backstory without too much info dump. The connections between characters are mentioned in a couple of lines without distracting the reader from the plot.
  
  Ocsar is his best again. This cute black Lab dons many hats. He has to impress people, explore the surroundings, comfort people when they feel sad, and save lives if necessary. He manages it all and more while doing more than full justice to his love for food.
  
  The mystery is compact. While I could guess the killer, it was fun to know how the reveal would happen. There are enough clues and a couple of red herrings, along with a list of suspects, to keep guessing.
  
  The pacing is better, too! This one is slightly faster than the previous books. I won’t call it fast, but it is steady and not slow.
  
  Virginia, Anna’s daughter, is an interesting character. I hope we get to meet her occasionally in the coming books. I missed Trisha in this one.
  
  Naturally, we are introduced to new police characters in this one. The one in charge of the case is a specimen, but the other is smart, sweet, and efficient. Of course, justice is served, so all ends well!
  
  To summarize, Murder at the Leaning Tower is entertaining. It ensures the series continues its momentum. Enjoy the setting, food, and the mystery!
  
  Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
  
  #NetGalley #MurderAtTheLeaningTower
  
• 
  MaryAnne

  Murder at the Leaning Tower is the 6th book in T.A.Williams' Armstrong and Oscar series of cozy mysteries. These are, for me, the coziest of cozy mysteries. There is, of course, always a murder to be solved, and figuring out who is the killer is always fun; but it's the other elements of the series that make these books especially pleasurable: the lovely Tuscan setting, the many descriptions of delicious food, the excellent narration by Simon Mattacks, and an irresistible Labrador retriever named Oscar. Oscar is a worthy sidekick to private detective Dan Armstrong, who has traded in the hectic life of a homicide DCI with Scotland Yard for what he expects to be a peaceful semi-retirement in beautiful Tuscany, only to find himself still tracking down murderers. One of the things I like most about the series is Armstrong's character. There's a kind of humility to him that is unusual in the genre; he just seems like a decent guy who is aware of his shortcomings and the mistakes he's made in the past and is trying to be a better and more thoughtful man.
  In Murder at the Leaning Tower Dan is hired to do basic security for a secret meeting of high-powered financiers, only to have one of them end up dead. Although this is a pretty basic formula for a whodunit, Dan has a personal concern in addition to his professional role of solving the murder: one of the people attending the conference is the daughter of Ana, the woman Dan has been dating for several months. Dan has never met Virginia, but knows that she strongly disapproves of his relationship with her mother, and the conference feels like a very awkward place for them to meet for the first time--it gets even more awkward when her boss is murdered!
  One final element of this book and the series as a whole that I really enjoy is the humor, particularly in Dan's descriptions and observations about some of the other characters. Dan's main antagonist in this book is Adolfo Vinci, the police detective in charge of solving the case. Vinci is a buffoon-like combination of Dirty Harry swagger and utter incompetence. I literally laughed out loud when he finally gets his comeuppance in the most comical and absurdly fitting way possible.
  This was a quick, fun read. I have a few other, more serious books that I'm currently reading, but the moment I saw this brand-new T.A.Williams' title show up on Hoopla, I gladly put everything else aside to spend a few charming hours with Oscar and Armstrong in Tuscany.
• 
  Annie

  Originally posted on my blog
  Nonstop Reader.
  
  Murder at the Leaning Tower is the sixth
  Armstrong and Oscar cozy destination mystery by
  T.A. Williams. Released 6th Feb 2024 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 set in Tuscany. Expat former policeman Dan Armstrong and his trusty canine sidekick Oscar are assisting with security at a stately home in a picture perfect setting near Pisa (what could possibly go wrong?). He's soon drawn into investigating a murder and at definite loggerheads with the local police who are determined to be obstructive and unhelpful.
  
  The plotting is solid and the dialogue and characterizations are three dimensional and 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 well planned and executed, that it would make an excellent long weekend binge or buddy read. It would also fit really well in a longer term project for a mystery book club "destination mystery" type project. The overall quality of the entire series remains entertaining and engaging throughout.
  
  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.
  Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
• 
  Alison

  Three and a half stars.
  
  Former Metropolitan Police DCI Dan Armstrong moved to Italy after his wife left him and he retired. Now he lives just outside Florence and has carved out a niche for himself as a private detective, alongside his Labrador Oscar.
  
  Dan is approached in a very cloak-and-dagger way by a young man, his boss is hosting a meeting with some very influential and wealthy people at a villa outside Pisa and they want Dan to provide security - of the not-being-bugged kind rather than the black suit and sunglasses variety. Anyway, after assuring himself that there is nothing shady going on, Dan agrees, only to discover that his girlfriend Anna's grown-up daughter Virginia will also be at the meeting, as assistant to one of the guests. Virginia has already said she doesn't want to meet Dan when she visits Anna so this could be very awkward!
  
  When Virginia's handsy boss is found on the first morning, murdered in his bed by one of the antique daggers that are on display in the villa there is no shortage of suspects, almost all the other guests seemed shocked and or horrified when they saw him arrive. The local police detective thinks he's a New York homicide detective and likes to throw his weight around first arresting one person then another for no very good reason, but when he arrests Virginia Dan knows he has to find the real killer.
  
  In one of the other books I thought everything got way too complicated, there appeared to be multiple murderers in a tit-for-tat series of murders. This time things are much more straightforward, and I am pleased that the motive wasn't handed to Dan by his friend in the Met Police.
  
  Overall, you know where you are with these books. Cosy retired copper and his trusty dog solve mysteries against the backdrop of the gorgeous Italian countryside, with copious luscious descriptions of delicious-sounding food.
  
  Also available on Kindle Unlimited.
  
  I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
• 
  Lynsey

  ‘Murder at the Leaning Tower’ is book 6 in the ‘Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries’ and it was a cracking read! I adore this series and it's both Dan and Oscar I have fallen for, Dan in a father/uncle type way though. These books have become a comfort read for me as they are brilliant mysteries but they also transport you to the sun, which radiates off the pages! This may be a series but each book can easily be read as a standalone, however, I do recommend reading the whole series as they are brilliant books!
  
  Dan Armstrong, former DCI at the Met, now lives in beautiful Tuscany and runs a detective agency. He has been asked to provide security for a meeting taking place in a luxury villa in Pisa, as it is top secret and no one can find out about it. Dan thinks it will be an easy job and is looking forward to it. When one of the group is found murdered Dan finds himself in a strange situation as one of the suspects is his girlfriend, Anna’s daughter. He then has to deal with an infuriating incompetent detective, so it's up to him to solve the murder…
  
  I have a soft spot for ‘big house’ mysteries and this book definitely ticked all those boxes for me - luxury house, entitled guests/owners, red herrings aplenty and a well-plotted mystery! Once again ‘Murder at the Leaning Tower’ is packed full of rich details that really does bring the location to life and this time round it is Pisa. The nuggets of history, local culture and of course the food makes for an authentic feel to the book.
  
  This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and the humour and writing were top-notch! I flew through it in one day and I'm already looking forward to the next book! It was well-paced, packed full of intriguing characters and the tension ramps up right at the end.
  
  Let me know if you pick this one up!
• 
  Anne

  There’s serious money involved in the secret meeting being held at a private villa near Pisa, and more than a few less than likeable key players. Dan (and, of course, labrador Oscar) are brought in to provide security for the week, at first checking the boundaries and sweeping for listening devices, but with things taking a turn for the worse when one of the guests – the most universally disliked – is found dead with an antique dagger in his chest. And this time, there’s a particular personal dimension to the story – the daughter of Dan’s lady friend Anna, disapproving of their relationship and having resisted any attempts at an introduction, is attending the meeting with the man who was murdered, and finds herself centrally in the frame as the prime suspect. The local police arrive – led by a distinctly hostile inspector who steadfastly refuses any assistance, with a misplaced confidence that a series of random arrests will bring the perpetrator to light. In time (thank goodness…), he’s no longer on the scene, replaced by a rather more amenable female officer, willing to work with Dan – but it soon becomes apparent that the only way of making the killer show their hand is for him to make himself a target and await the outcome.
  
  With our hero in danger, there’s perhaps a slightly darker edge to this one – but Oscar’s interventions are always guaranteed to lift the mood, charming the ladies, enjoying hanging out in the kitchen, providing sympathy when needed, and always watching Dan’s back. Along with the perfectly drawn setting and the mouthwatering descriptions of food and drink, there’s plenty of the series’ trademark humour, with some moments that really made me laugh out loud – but also a fascinating investigation that reveals undercurrents and layers of complexity to the various relationships between the book’s wonderfully drawn cast of characters. There’s a distinctly Agatha Christie vibe once Dan gets into his stride, able to interview everyone individually, trying to catch them out – but it’s only when he puts his own life at risk that the pace dramatically increases and the pieces really begin to fall into place, leaving me (as always…) looking in entirely the wrong direction.
  
  Sheer entertainment from beginning to end, but with some really clever plotting, moments that had me on the edge of my seat, and an outcome I really didn’t see coming – this was another wonderful addition to a series I’m thoroughly enjoying from an author who really can’t put a foot wrong for me. I’m looking forward to Dan and Oscar’s next outing already – but this one’s a particularly strong recommendation from me!
• 
  Suja

  One Liner : Wonderful cozy mystery.
  
  This is one of the book in the series Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries. I read this as a standalone after Sri's review here in RF and GR. I was not confused or did not need any prior introductions. The author takes care of that rather real quick and without much of a drag. As the series name suggests, it really is a cozy mystery. This is a story of Whodunnit with no unnecessary psychological twists. The Italian background adds a delight to the book. Of course the black lab Oscar steals all the spotlight. He is such a sweet heart.
  
  Retired Scotland yard officer Dan Armstrong now has a private detective agency in Italy. One summer day, he is approached by a young man asking to provide security at Villa Gregory on the outskirts of Pisa for a high profile business meeting. This seems like a easy task for Dan. What exactly can go wrong when snobbish business tycoons meet up? Unfortunately for Dan, one of the guests is killed and his girlfriend's daughter who is also at the meet in the capacity of a secretary is arrested for the murder. Dan has to prove her innocence while getting the real killer arrested before more people are murdered.
  
  I loved this book. It was such a breezy read. The gorgeous setting and delectable food scene added to the coziness of the book. The writing is simple and good. The pace of the book seems adequate and the book is of the right size. Its a wonderful read for a rainy day/evening or a cool summer day. Dan's character is etched well with right amount of emotions for a retired Cop. This is a HEA story which has been executed well. Pick it up for a breezy read.
  
  My rating 4.25 rounded to 4*
• 
  Lynda

  Welcome back to book 6 in the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mysteries series with ex DCI and now private investigator Dan Armstrong and his beautiful black Labrador Oscar. Yes I’m a bit in love with Oscar - sorry Dan. This time the scene moves to Pisa when Dan is asked to work as private security for a high powered meeting at a villa owned by a multimillionaire.
  
  Briefly, the cast of characters include a classical singer, various media personalities and other financiers including the loathsome Jonathan Farmer and his PA and Dan’s girlfriend Anna’s daughter Virginia. Dan had not met her yet and was very anxious to make a good impression. Of course it isn’t long before one of the party is found murdered and suspects abound. Even Dan is faced with an evening in gaol thanks to the most incompetent Italian detective but then someone is charged with the murder. Dan thinks the police have the wrong person and finds himself racing against time to find the real killer.
  
  Great story and descriptions of Pisa are lovely, I’ve been there and it brought it right back to me. I was also salivating as Dan (and Oscar) sample the best of Italian cuisine. A good, well written and entertaining read.
• 
  Annarella

  Let’s start with a clarification: Oscar will never be able to answer to any question about Italian politics but I am not able to answer in a simple way even if I studied Political Sciences at the university. Italian politics has been complicated for centuries and was already complicated during the Roman times.
  That said I love this series and I consider Dan, Oscar and the other characters as friends I’m always happy to meet.
  This is a complex story, a bit darker and twisty than usual. The world of high finance, secrets, intrigues.
  Dan is expecting an easy job but he also knows that his fiancee’s daughter will be present and she doesn’t want to meet him. Oscar is the usual good boy, charming and friendly.
  Even if it’s set in Pisa and the local commissario is a piace of work Dan, with the support of some new friends, will be able to solve the mystery.
  A gripping and highly entertaining story that I thoroughly enjoyed and kept me hooked. I read it in one sitting and was a very pleasant way to read till late in the night.
  Even if it can be read as a stand-alone it’s better to read the rest of this enjoyable series.
  Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.
  
• 
  Kitty McIntosh

  Ex-Scotland Yard detective Dan Armstrong is called in to provide security for the rich and famous at a villa near Pisa. What seems like an easy job at first turns into anything but. The murder of one of the guests means Dan will have to investigate - especially when the daughter of his girlfriend is one of the suspects. A thoroughly disagreeable local Inspector is in charge of the case, and Dan is unable to find a way to work with him. With his faithful friend Oscar at his side, he rushes to find the culprit before it is too late.
  
  I like Dan and Oscar and thoroughly enjoy following their escapades. Dan is an upright and tenacious man, with a strong moral code. His background in policing helps in his investigations - and he usually finds a decent local police officer, even if those in charge are belligerent.
  
  The story felt very up-to-date, as it dealt with media tycoons and the world of high risk investments. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of their wealth and privilege with the normal, everyday persona of the detective. His unassuming nature manages to break through social barriers and allows him to get to the solution.
  
  ‘Murder At The Leaning Tower’ was a pleasure to read. It was well written and engaging throughout.
  
• 
  Elaine - Splashes Into Books

  So happy to read this Armstrong and Oscar cosy crime
  They're off working near Pisa this time.
  He's not usually involved in security
  But makes an exception this time you'll see.
  
  Another brilliant read, I have to say,
  Kept me guessing all the way.
  The tasty sounding food had my mouth watering once more
  And had me wanting to visit the setting again to explore.
  
  Secrets, plans, money and mystery,
  An isolated villa that looks like a place full of history...
  A group of strangers considering working together
  But a storm is brewing - and it isn't the weather!
  
  A disliked guest murdered, lying in his bed,
  But too many folks could have wished him to be dead.
  A detective arresting more than one of them, too,
  Has Dan wondering if he knows what to do.
  
  With family drama, suspects and danger,
  Was the killer a guest or an unknown stranger?
  Dan and Oscar are on the case, looking for clues,
  So Inspector Vinci the actual killer can accuse!
  
  Another engaging, enthralling read,
  If you enjoy cosy murder mystery, I hope it is one you need!
  For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
  As I share with you this, my honest review.
• 
  Rachel Gilbey

  What a star Oscar is, I mean Dan is pretty good too, but Oscar is clearly the brains of their operations at times. Or at least it feels like Dan's investigative career wouldn't bee half as strong without my favourite labrador sidekick!
  
  So good to be back with this pair, and in this latest story we get yet another head scratching murder to solve. There are loads of possible suspects and I honestly had no idea who to believe.
  
  The local Pisan inspector though was completely incompetent, and at least one of his wrongful arrests really made me laugh and gasp.
  
  What I really liked was we got to see a bit of Anna's daughter, and see a slightly different side to Dan as a result. And I am still deadly curious as to exactly what the big meeting that has being held in Pisa was really all about,
  
  I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this and already can't wait for the next book in this excellent book.
  
  Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
• 
  Karren Hodgkins

  This man and this dog have so much appeal. Another most enjoyable read, in an enjoyable series. It's a great cozy mystery.
  
  The protagonist has a lovely, balanced approach to every problem he encounters and, even when things get tough, manages to stay calm and keep the investigation moving forward. The combination of Dan being an ex-policeman, now novelist turned investigator gives a great deal of scope for each story, keeping it interesting. This time he's the security consultant. Unsurprisingly things don't go to plan, and this time it's personal, but Dan and Oscar (with a little help from their friends) get to the bottom of things in due course.
  
  PS: As a bonus, the author takes the reader on a tour of Italy, with each story - this time we're in Pisa..
  
  I highly recommend this episode and the series if you like a gentle, flowing interesting story. and look forward to the further escapades of Dan and Oscar.
  
  It's four out of five for me
  
  With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Pietro

  I grow to love the adventures of PI Dan Armstrong and his adorable sidekick, Oscar (a black lab) more with every book. Here they find themselves in Pisa, overseeing security for a gathering of high finance/media moguls in a luxurious villa—complete with its own miniature leaning tower! The week-long meeting is barely underway when one of the guests is murdered and Dan needs to step into action to solve the crime, as the local police have sent an over-confident and bumbling inspector who immediately (and repeatedly) arrests the wrong person. As always, the setting and descriptions of food, wine, and culture make this mystery come alive, and Oscar shines once again. This is a great series for lovers of cozy mysteries, Italy, and dogs; I’m already looking forward to the next installment! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this latest adventure.
• 
  Jane Hunt

  Dan and Oscar are hired to provide security to a secret meeting in Pisa with high-profile attendees. When there is a suspicious death, he is faced with numerous suspects, all with secrets and a hostile police investigator. There is a personal connection, too, for Dan that makes the situation increasingly volatile. Oscar has a starring role in this investigation, which makes for an entertaining read. The iconic setting is well described, and there are vibrant characters with motives for murder. It's a suspenseful story full of false leads and more than one unlikeable character. I enjoyed the investigation, the lovable labrador and Dan's easy-going expertise.
  
  I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
• 
  Jan

  Former DCI (early retirement) and now PI Dan Armstrong and the beautiful Oscar are away from home (but not his police contacts) this time. They are there for security reasons for a group of moneyed entrepreneurs. The sticky wicket is provided by Dan's girlfriend's disapproving daughter (really! get over it at nearly thirty!). So guess who's boss turns up stoned and stabbed. Right. Add in the obligatory incompetent local cop and you've got the basics.
  Fun, twisty, surprising, and definitely unputdownable! Great characters, good worldbuilding, very relatable, and little or no problem as a standalone.
  I requested and received an EARC from Boldwood Books courtesy of NetGalley. Thank you!
• 
  Kim

  Dan and Oscar are hired to provide private security for a high level business meeting in a private Villa. After a murder happens Dan has to try and find the murderer before someone is wrongly accused. I loved the setting, the villa and staff sounded lovely. Oscar is such a cute character, loves his stomach and has perfected the starving dog face to his advantage. I look out eagerly for the next book in the series
• 
  Avril Hemingway

  Nice to be back with Dan and of course most of all Oscar. The usual fun and shenanigan's ensue. The mystery is twisty with lots of red herrings and no real proof of the murderer. The answer is surprising and has to be drawn out by Dan and Oscar. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
• 
  LA

  Another great book by T A Williams
  
  Read the book in one day - guess you can say I enjoyed reading the book. It is another great book by T A Williams. I get a kick out of Oscar the dog and enjoy the other characters in this series that have been in several books. The mystery kept me guessing. Looking forward to the next book.