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A Year in Europe #3
Vengeance in Vienna
Diana Hope, 55, is still adjusting to her recent separation when she discovers her ex-husband has just proposed to a woman 30 years younger. Secretly hoping they would reunite, Diana is devastated. She realizes the time has come to reimagine life without him—in fact, to reimagine her life, period.
Devoting the last 30 years of her life to being a dutiful wife and mother and to climbing the corporate ladder, Diana has been relentlessly driven, and has not taken a moment to do anything for herself. Now, the time has come.
Diana never forgot her first boyfriend, who begged her to join him for a year in Europe after college. She had wanted to go so badly, but it had seemed like a wild, romantic idea, and a gap year, she’d thought, would hinder her resume and career. But now, with her daughters grown, her husband gone, and her career no longer fulfilling, Diana realizes it’s time for herself—and to take that romantic year in Europe she’d always dreamed of.
Diana prepares to embark on the year of her life, finally turning to her bucket list, hoping to tour the most beautiful sights and sample the most scrumptious cuisines—and maybe, even, to fall in love again. But a year in Europe may have different plans in store for her. Can A-type Diana learn to go with the flow, to be spontaneous, to let down her guard and to learn to truly enjoy life again?
In VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3), Diana travels to Vienna, hoping to fulfill her bucket list dream of being moved to tears by music. She is overwhelmed by the beauty, history and culture of the city and wonders if she’s finally settling into her trip in Europe—when an unforeseen catastrophe turns her plans upside down. Can Diana investigate her way out of this one?
A YEAR IN EUROPE is a charming and laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series, packed with food and travel, with mysteries that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and with experiences that will leave you with a sense of wonder. As Diana embarks on her quixotic quest for love and meaning, you will find yourself falling in love and rooting for her. You will be in shock at the twists and turns her journey takes as she somehow finds herself at the center of a mystery, and must play amateur sleuth to solve it. Fans of books like Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun have finally found the cozy mystery series they’ve been hoping for!
Devoting the last 30 years of her life to being a dutiful wife and mother and to climbing the corporate ladder, Diana has been relentlessly driven, and has not taken a moment to do anything for herself. Now, the time has come.
Diana never forgot her first boyfriend, who begged her to join him for a year in Europe after college. She had wanted to go so badly, but it had seemed like a wild, romantic idea, and a gap year, she’d thought, would hinder her resume and career. But now, with her daughters grown, her husband gone, and her career no longer fulfilling, Diana realizes it’s time for herself—and to take that romantic year in Europe she’d always dreamed of.
Diana prepares to embark on the year of her life, finally turning to her bucket list, hoping to tour the most beautiful sights and sample the most scrumptious cuisines—and maybe, even, to fall in love again. But a year in Europe may have different plans in store for her. Can A-type Diana learn to go with the flow, to be spontaneous, to let down her guard and to learn to truly enjoy life again?
In VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3), Diana travels to Vienna, hoping to fulfill her bucket list dream of being moved to tears by music. She is overwhelmed by the beauty, history and culture of the city and wonders if she’s finally settling into her trip in Europe—when an unforeseen catastrophe turns her plans upside down. Can Diana investigate her way out of this one?
A YEAR IN EUROPE is a charming and laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series, packed with food and travel, with mysteries that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and with experiences that will leave you with a sense of wonder. As Diana embarks on her quixotic quest for love and meaning, you will find yourself falling in love and rooting for her. You will be in shock at the twists and turns her journey takes as she somehow finds herself at the center of a mystery, and must play amateur sleuth to solve it. Fans of books like Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun have finally found the cozy mystery series they’ve been hoping for!
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2021
About the author
Blake Pierce
2,096 books6,277 followersBlake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 8, 2021
In VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3) by Blake Pierce, Diana Hope travels to Vienna, hoping to fulfill her bucket list dream of being moved to tears by music. She is overwhelmed by the beauty, history and culture of the city and wonders if she’s finally settling into her year-long trip in Europe—when an unforeseen catastrophe once again turns her plans upside down. Can Diana investigate her way out of this one? Beginning to see a pattern here but the writing style and story still kept my interest as with the earlier books in this series.
A YEAR IN EUROPE is a charming and laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series, packed with food and travel, with mysteries that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and with experiences that will leave you with a sense of wonder. And as the first three books are no where near a year, I anticipate that more installments are coming in the series with more mysterious deaths anticipated! You will be in shock at the twists and turns her journey takes as she somehow finds herself at the center of a mystery, and must play amateur sleuth to solve it.
A YEAR IN EUROPE is a charming and laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series, packed with food and travel, with mysteries that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and with experiences that will leave you with a sense of wonder. And as the first three books are no where near a year, I anticipate that more installments are coming in the series with more mysterious deaths anticipated! You will be in shock at the twists and turns her journey takes as she somehow finds herself at the center of a mystery, and must play amateur sleuth to solve it.
November 2, 2021
I have read, and enjoyed, other series by this author. This series is not one of them. I don’t care for any of the characters. Diana is a twit, her grown daughters are spoiled brats, and her ex-husband is a fool if he thinks he could be happy with the bird brained Tilda. I don’t know why I read the 3rd book after suffering through these annoying characters in the second book!
April 6, 2022
Diana St. James is once again off to visit another country in her year long tour of Europe. This time she will head to Vienna Austria in search of all the sounds of the classical composers. But once again, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and is suspected of murder. Will she sleuth her way out of this one.
So far the mysteries have been enjoyable, but they are very formulaic. The saving grace is the wonderful descriptions of the town of Vienna.
So far the mysteries have been enjoyable, but they are very formulaic. The saving grace is the wonderful descriptions of the town of Vienna.
October 27, 2025
I have enjoyed Diana's tour through Europe on her year long sabbatical. How she manages to find herself mixed up in all these murders is crazy, but that is what makes the series. She also stumbles her way through uncovering the killers.
November 24, 2021
Too formulaic !
Enjoyed Book 1 and 2, Paris and Florence/Verona but the third book is like the previous ones, fill in the blanks with Austrian names. Same story, does this woman never learn anything, it is impossible to imagine her as a highly paid executive.
Enjoyed Book 1 and 2, Paris and Florence/Verona but the third book is like the previous ones, fill in the blanks with Austrian names. Same story, does this woman never learn anything, it is impossible to imagine her as a highly paid executive.
June 24, 2021
Diana St. James
Wow 😲 what another crazy adventure with Diana St. James. Vienna Austria will never be the same. The home of Mozart and Bach and Beethoven of course, the "City of Music" 🎵🎶 what do kind of trouble could befall this mother of two. Diana has two daughters, Lily her oldest daughter who is married to her High school sweetheart and is expecting a child. She also has her baby daughter Bea who had moved to Japan to finish the rest of her schooling and now is engaged to Hai a young man ♂️ from Japan 🗾. Diana had quit her job as an executive at Addict a cosmetic company to spend a year in Europe. She first went to Paris France hoping to find her college sweetheart who was from France. When she went on to Verona Italy her family ended up joining her, even her ex husband with his young fiancee Tilda. Both places held more suspense than she was looking for. So here we are in Vienna Austria looking to hear music 🎵🎶 that moved her to tears 😭. This is a Blake Pierce book 📚📖 so I knew it would be good. I would tell you about the plot but I don't want to spoil your fun 😉🙂. I highly recommend this Book.
Wow 😲 what another crazy adventure with Diana St. James. Vienna Austria will never be the same. The home of Mozart and Bach and Beethoven of course, the "City of Music" 🎵🎶 what do kind of trouble could befall this mother of two. Diana has two daughters, Lily her oldest daughter who is married to her High school sweetheart and is expecting a child. She also has her baby daughter Bea who had moved to Japan to finish the rest of her schooling and now is engaged to Hai a young man ♂️ from Japan 🗾. Diana had quit her job as an executive at Addict a cosmetic company to spend a year in Europe. She first went to Paris France hoping to find her college sweetheart who was from France. When she went on to Verona Italy her family ended up joining her, even her ex husband with his young fiancee Tilda. Both places held more suspense than she was looking for. So here we are in Vienna Austria looking to hear music 🎵🎶 that moved her to tears 😭. This is a Blake Pierce book 📚📖 so I knew it would be good. I would tell you about the plot but I don't want to spoil your fun 😉🙂. I highly recommend this Book.
April 10, 2023
I am continuing the series and really enjoy it. It is more light-hearted than the other ones (like Jesse Hunt) and not as gory. I enjoy getting to know more about the cities/countries that Dianna visits. She is definitely in the wrong places at the wrong times, and I feel badly for her because she is not getting to see as much as she could in Europe. But she is getting to be a stronger independent woman and standing up for herself more.
I enjoyed this book a lot because she gets to experience so much music. I love Liszt. I love his music. I wish my fingers were longer and stronger. As a passionate pianist who has played for years (and definitely past my prime/glory days), I enjoyed hearing how much Diana knew about music, and how much she appreciated it. Dieter at his young age loved the music and taught himself, which was inspiring, and the book really just made me want to go home and practice the piano today!
Can't wait to see what happens in Spain. I really hoped she would end up at the beach though instead of the big city.
I enjoyed this book a lot because she gets to experience so much music. I love Liszt. I love his music. I wish my fingers were longer and stronger. As a passionate pianist who has played for years (and definitely past my prime/glory days), I enjoyed hearing how much Diana knew about music, and how much she appreciated it. Dieter at his young age loved the music and taught himself, which was inspiring, and the book really just made me want to go home and practice the piano today!
Can't wait to see what happens in Spain. I really hoped she would end up at the beach though instead of the big city.
August 10, 2026
No entiendo al autor, Blake Pierce con esta serie de libros, la serie se llama un año en Europa, Diane ha visitado 3 países (los libros que he leído, me falta el cuarto) pero, para pasar un año en Europa, estar una o dos semanas en cada país, involucrándose en investigaciones sobre asesinatos, le impiden visitar lugares emblemáticos, todo lo deja para después, ni come, y cuando el asesino es atrapado, ella en lugar de relajarse se va. No me parece que eso sea gratificante.
August 18, 2021
Can’t wait to listen to your next book.
October 28, 2021
I usually love this author. Wasn’t crazy about this story
May 5, 2025
no notes.
September 29, 2025
Narrator very good at accents which makes listening enjoyable.
January 9, 2026
Is good reeding but a little predictable
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews