Amateur detective and bookshop owner Flora Steele, and her dashing new husband Jack Carrington, are finally embarking on the honeymoon of a lifetime. But will gorgeous gondola rides be ruined by their most heart-stopping case ever?
Venice, 1959: As Flora and Jack step onto the beautiful, historic streets of Venice, they vow to put sleuthing aside to finally enjoy their honeymoon. But on their very first sun-soaked morning, whilst enjoying sparkling wine and mouthwatering pastries, they’re interrupted when hotel receptionist, Franco Massi, is discovered floating face-down in the Grand Canal.
Remembering poor Franco’s kind demeanour when they checked into the Cipriani Hotel, Flora quickly realises her honeymoon phase is over: she must solve the case. She saw a hot-headed restaurant owner arguing with Franco the night he died. Could their mysterious argument have gone too far? Or could it have been Franco’s jilted ex-fiancée Bianca, who acted so coldly at news of his death? Was it a crime of passion that sent him tumbling into the waters?
When Flora learns from a priest that a priceless painting has disappeared from his church along with his elderly housekeeper, she begins to marry together the clues that will lead her to a dangerous family that will stop at nothing to get their revenge. Will Flora and Jack crack the case before the killer claims another victim? Or will it be ‘death do us part’ for this crime-solving couple?
A completely gripping and totally charming cozy murder mystery novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and J.R. Ellis!
It's my pleasure to be a Books on Tour host for The Venice Murders by Merryn Allingham today. Many thanks to Sarah Hardy from Bookouture for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the novel.
The Venice Murders is the eleventh book in Merryn Allingham's Flora Steele Mystery series and although each novel features a new case for the indomitable Flora and her devoted husband, Jack Carrington, I would recommend reading the series in order, if possible. Although the mysteries are always intriguing, it's really the characters who keep me returning and to fully appreciate their development, it's necessary to have followed them from the start.
Flora and Jack are finally on their long-awaited honeymoon in Venice but trouble is never far from this couple, and as the title of the book makes clear, they can't avoid murder even away from Abbeymead. While most of the series takes place in and around the Sussex village, a few instalments have been set elsewhere and it's always fun to see how they still end up on one of their sleuthing missions.
When hotel receptionist, Franco Massi is discovered drowned in the canal, Flora immediately suspects foul play, despite the official line being that he most likely fell in and drowned. She and Jack had witnessed Franco embroiled in a furious argument with a restaurant owner the night before – could he have murdered Franco?
Poor Jack just wants to enjoy their honeymoon but Flora has an insatiable need to uncover the truth and then some familiar faces turn up to complicate matters still further. They are asked to look into the disappearance of a priest's housekeeper who went missing at the same time as a precious painting and it quickly becomes apparent that the two investigations may be linked. In another strange twist, Bianca, Franco's jilted ex-fiancée, has ties to Abbeymead which makes their investigation even more personal. The coincidences here are perhaps a little unlikely and require the reader to accept some surprising twists but the result is an engaging murder mystery in a beautiful, atmospheric setting.
As with all the books in the series, The Venice Murders is a character-led novel but the rich descriptions of Venice are a delight too. Merryn Allingham brings the area vividly to life and the book is redolent with the sights, sounds and smells of the city. The investigation itself is intriguing but it's really the dynamic between Flora and Jack which drives the story, rather than the mystery. It's inevitable of course that the pair should find themselves in danger and Flora in particular has to endure a terrifying ordeal.
As the series heads towards the 1960s, it will be fascinating to see how Flora responds to social change; her unspoken resentment at the way Jack's words are taken more seriously than her own, as well as the looming questions arising over whether they start a family, suggest she has some big choices ahead of her.
The Venice Murders is an immersive, entertaining read and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys a cosy mystery. I'm looking forward to seeing where Merryn Allingham takes the series next.
The Venice Murders is published by Bookouture, it can be purchased here.
Check out the other Books on Tour posts, details are below.
About the Author
Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.
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