A Fatal Encounter in Tuscany by Vivian Conroy

I hadn't read the first two books in this series and I regret that. While Conroy is an adept writer and put some information in to catch us up on characters without info dumping, I really wish I had known more about Atalanta Ashford and her sleuthing abilities. 

But we meet her in this book as she is solving the mystery of a missing ring. Having read Sherlock Holmes, she is very easily able to find where the ring went, riling Inspector Deriot who seems to be a rival of sorts. Or maybe she is more accurately a thorn in his side. 

But she won't be a thorn for long as her friend (?) Raoul is "abducting" her for a grand adventure, a ride on the Orient Express. It is there that she and Raoul meet Catharina Lanetti who is going back to Italy to celebrate her father's birthday. Her family is... interesting, to say the least. The patriarch worships the Machiavellis and his schemes are no less convoluted. Catharina invites Atalanta and Raoul to join the celebration. While Atalanta wonders whether this is a set up, she is still drawn to the Lanettie compound where, as predicted, Catharina's father is killed. She, as the person who has come back the most recently is blamed. But is she really the killer?
There is a LOT of drama and untold secrets in this book. I think, having read the first two books, I might be more invested in the story but I do feel like Conroy is setting up Atalanta and Raoul to be more than friends but the chemistry isn't there yet. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 13, 2023

Follows Last Seen in Santorini

Followed by Last Dance in Salzburg

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

Opinions are my own

Stiff News by Catherine Aird, Derek Perkins

There's been a death at the Manor. That's not particularly a surprise as it is a nursing home. This one is unusual in the fact that all of the residents had either been stationed in Egypt a long time ago or were the widows of such. One son, Lionel Powell, is particularly worried about his mother's death. 

It seems that Gertie was something of a popular girl who liked the good life. Does it matter? Well, maybe since her will implies there may be other children that could inherit. So DC Sloane is brought in to discover why there seems to be unrest. Does it have anything to do with old grudges? 

Three and a half stars
This book came out in 1999

Follows Injury Time

Followed by Little Knell

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Glitterland by Alexis Hall

I adore Hall but this was a challenging book for me. We are so much in the head of Ash Winters who is so in the midst of upheaval that it was hard to read. 

Ash is in the midst of a self-destructive spiral when he meets Darian Taylor. It begins as a one night stand. Ash doesn't even remember Darian's name. But the two meet again, accidentally, and start to realize that they just might be perfect for each other. 

Three stars
This book came out May 15, 2013

Followed by Aftermath

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll by Erle Stanley Gardner

Mildred Crest is shocked when her fiance, Bob, calls her up at her job and tells her that he has lost a bundle of money on the horses, has been siphoning money from his work, and is going to clean out his office and take off. Oh, by the way, their engagement is over. In shock, she completes her work for the day and then takes off. 

While on the way, she picks up a hitchhiker named Fern Driscoll who says that she's burned her bridges and is now a footloose doll. At the end of her rope, Fern pulls on the wheel and causes a car accident. Mildred survives... or does she? Maybe she can become Fern and leave her life behind. Too bad Fern left an even bigger mess behind and Mildred is about to be wrapped up in blackmail and murder. Good thing she had the foresight to hire Perry Mason as her attorney.

This was a pretty good story though the sexism of the times definitely come through and the ending was a little more convoluted than it needed to be.

Three and a half stars
This book came out in 1958

Follows The Case of the Daring Decoy

Followed by The Case of the Long-Legged Models

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Injury Time by Catherine Aird

A collection of short stories featuring Inspector Sloan. There is a confusing story about a woman killed in a sauna when the heat was turned up too high. A scientific group's alarm is dismantled with ease but how could someone have cracked the code that was only recently implemented. There are 14 other stories; some aren't quite mysteries but all are entertaining. 

Four stars

This book came out August 1, 1995

Follows After Effects
Followed by Stiff News

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Heads You Lose by Christianna Brand

Grace Morland is a painter and she's been using that excuse to come and sit on Stephen Pendock's terrace at Pigeonsford Estate. Venetia Gold is a golden woman and she is mirrored by her twin Fran whose mien is rather darker. Grace is jealous of Fran who is young and vivacious and whom she assumes is after Mr. Pendock. When Fran gets a new hat, Pen shows his favor and Grace bites back that she wouldn't be caught dead in that hat. 

Well, it turns out that she IS found dead in that hat. Then, while the house guests are mour
ning Grace, another person is murdered. It's a twisty tale that is definitely a product of its time.

People familiar with Agatha Christie will probably figure out early who the killer is. I'm usually terrible and I figured it out. The problem is that Brand's sensibilities are jarring to read in a more enlightened time. Lots of sweeping generalizations that are racially based. 

Three stars
This book came out in 1941

Inspector Cockrill #1

Followed by Green for Danger

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Reread as Audible Plus borrow August 2025

A Body at a Boarding School by Benedict Brown

"So nobody really liked the man," said Grandfather (aka Lord Edgeley, aka Inspector Edgeley). Christopher has discovered his headmaster, dead, in his office. Just the night before, the headmaster had caught Christopher (reluctantly) sneaking around the school with Marmalade (his tormentor from the first book has decided that Christopher saved him from at least jail and probably death and the two are now friends.) The man almost whipped Marmalade and Christopher over and above what might be expected for a spot of mischief. 

Of course, this whole thing happened on Parents' Day when there are the maximum number of suspects on the school grounds. However, also visiting are Christopher's mother, his grandfather, and his grandfather's dog, Dahlia (sp?). The dream team is assembled and it will be up to them to determine if it's the headmaster's wife, the man who was in love with her, the man who would step into the headmaster's position, the thieving sisters, or the mysteriously missing prefect who committed the murder.

This book felt a little disjointed between the beginning and the end but was still enjoyable. 

Four stars
This book came out May 30, 2021

Follows Murder at the Spring Ball

Followed by  Death on a Summer's Day

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own