Murder at Christmas: A BRAND NEW cozy Christmas mystery for 2026 from T A Williams, set in the snowy Italian alps

by T A Williams, Simon Mattacks (Reader)

A festive gathering...

Private investigator Dan Armstrong, accompanied by his wife and his canine sidekick, Oscar, are spending the days before Christmas in a luxurious Alpine chalet tucked away in a hidden valley. It should be the perfect escape, except the owner is in fear for his life.

A house full of secrets...

Amid perfect winter wonderland scenery, the more Dan discovers about his host and the other guests, he realises that all is not as it seems. What should be a happy family party is riddled with rancour, mistrust and hatred.

A killer in the snow?

Then the snow falls – fast and heavy – and within moments, someone is dead. Accident, suicide, or murder? As the snow closes in, Dan has to work out if he's looking for a killer, or whether he and Oscar are barking up the wrong tree.

Praise for T.A.Williams

'A fun mystery and a good read with descriptions that made me want to go book a flight. Dan and Oscar are a great team and kept me guessing!' Bestselling author Anita Davison

'T A Williams whisked me away in the company of an ex-pat private investigator and his gorgeous doggy sidekick on the case of a missing teacher. What a team, and what an adventure!!' Bestselling author Kate Wells

'The perfect combination of character, setting and plot, heralding an addictive new cozy mystery series!' Bestselling author Debbie Young

Audio CD

Expected publication August 5, 2026

Reviews

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at Christmas is a wonderfully atmospheric cosy mystery that captures all the charm of a festive escape while weaving in a delicious thread of tension. The snowy Alpine setting is irresistible — crisp air, crackling fires, and a luxurious chalet tucked away from the world — yet it quickly becomes clear that this holiday retreat is anything but peaceful.

Dan Armstrong makes for an engaging lead. His calm, observant nature and easy rapport with Oscar bring a gentle humour to the story, and the dynamic between the two adds warmth even as the mystery deepens. What begins as a simple pre‑Christmas getaway turns into something far more complicated once Dan starts noticing the cracks beneath the chalet’s glossy surface. The family gathering is full of simmering resentment and long‑buried secrets, creating a wonderfully claustrophobic tension as the snow begins to fall.

When one of the guests ends up dead, the isolation of the setting really comes into play. With the weather closing in and no way out, the question of whether this was an accident, a desperate act, or something far more sinister keeps the pages turning. The story balances cosy charm with a steadily building sense of unease, making it perfect for readers who enjoy mysteries that feel both comforting and cleverly plotted.

A snowy, engaging whodunnit with a great sense of place and a likeable sleuthing duo. Ideal for curling up with on a winter evening.

With thanks to TA Williams, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Joan Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan, along with his trusty canine, Oscar, heads to a mountainous, remote area of Italy at the request of his friend, Selena, a movie star. The host of the villa, Bartolomeo, recently lost his business partner in an accident, but he believes that it was murder and not an accident. And, Bartolomeo believes that his life is in danger as well. He asks Dan to investigate who might want to kill him. When Bartolomeo dies under suspicious circumstances, Dan keeps asking questions, even though the Italian police have deemed the death to have been an accident.

I enjoy cozy mysteries, but I want them to have a complex, believable plot and engaging characters. Mr. Williams' books have all this and more, especially considering that one of most engaging characters is Oscar, the black lab. The story moves along at a good clip, and the reader has no trouble picturing the remote, snowy, locale. The answer to the mystery is not revealed until the very end, and there are no loose threads. This is a satisfying read and I can't wait to meet Oscar again in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sixteenth novel in the Armstrong and Oscar cosy mystery series featuring Dan Armstrong, a retired British DCI and now novelist and PI who lives in Italy and his black Labrador Oscar. In the lead up to Christmas movie star and ex- client invites Dan, Oscar and wife Anna to the luxurious Villa Delle Coppelle in Turino. Owner Bartolomeo Viviani is the head of the Aquila sports empire, his partner was recently in a car accident that Viviani is sure isn’t the case and he’s the next victim. He hires Dan to his investigate and it’s not long before Bartolomeo is found dead too in what looks like another accident.

I enjoyed the move into the Italian Alps. The descriptions of the mountains, mansion, markets, mines, wildlife and Piedmontese food kept me captivated. I always enjoy Oscar’s comic relief. The muster kept me guessing, between warring family and business associates there was a huge list of suspects and red herrings. I definitely didn’t pick the ending. Another great installment to the series.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Armstrong and Oscar Cosy Mystery Book 16

Private Investigator Dan Armstrong , accompanied by his wife and canine sidekick, Oscar, are spending the days before Christmas in a luxurious Alpine chalet tucked away in a hidden valley. It should be the perfect escape, except the owner is in fear of his life.

With the perfect setting for this Christmas murder mystery, you can almost feel its tranquility. Dan Armstrong, his wife and Oscar are in Italy. Selena, a movie star, had requested Dan to come. The host of the villa, Bartolomeo, has recently lost his business partner in an accident, he now thinks that he is in danger too. But who would want to kill him?

I'm loving this series and this book is a great addition to it. The plot is complex, the characters are well-developed. The story has been descriptively written. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Published 5th August 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #TAWilliams for my ARC of #MurderAtChristmas in exchange for an honest review.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan and Oscar find themselves in a remote part of the Italian Alps and, predictably, it is not long before death comes a-knocking. What started as an easy pre-Christmas job turns into a murder enquiry. In a closed room scenario, Dan has to try to find out who in the family and guests could be responsible. Of course there are several suspects who would have the motivation. Oscar is as indispensable as ever and you always have to pay attention to his reactions towards people and events . He can sniff out a wrong 'un!

In this beautiful, luxurious setting, family ties are shown to be complicated and Dan has a difficult decision to make towards the end of the story. This is a perfect read for the months before Christmas before the festivities become huge. Wealth and power are powerful motivations but make for an intriguing situation in which to unravel a murder mystery.

In short: a cliffhanger of a snowy tale
Thanks to the publisher

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books. I love the scrapes that they find themself in. I love Oscar and his tendency to help solve the case. I love Anna and her honesty and intelligence. These are such a good series and they would be great if they were filmed and made into a series.
I look forward to the next one.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.