Last Seen in Santorini: The most unputdownable new cozy mystery series – perfect for fans of Miss Fisher! (Miss Ashford Investigates, Book 2)

I enjoyed this book, very much. Miss Ashford seems to be settling into her new lifestyle quite well and her detective instincts are getting exercised even on her vacation. The plot is easily followed, the characters are fascinating, and the premise of the story is quite interesting. I definitely recommend this book.

Santorini 1930I have fallen in love with historical mysteries (Ok, I am obsessed!) and when I saw this title, I was anxious to read the story.Atalanta is new to her investigative skills, but after solving one case, she is happy to be on to the next!This one will take all her skill and then some to solve, especially with another murder occurring!Descriptive scenes bring you into the setting and make you want to be there. Interesting characters and a few red herrings make this an excellent tale that only makes me want to read more!

“Last Seen in Santorini” (Miss Ashford #2) by Vivian Conroy ⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery. Location: Venice, Italy and Santorini Island, Greece. Time: August 1930.THE SERIES: Atalanta Ashford taught at a Swiss boarding school until she inherited her grandfather’s fortune. With her new fortune comes a legacy passed down from grandfather to granddaughter…discreet private detective for Europe’s elite.THIS BOOK: Atalanta is sightseeing near Venice when a veiled lady asks her to look into her 19-year-old daughter Leticia’s death. Leticia fell from Santorini’s cliffs while working as a companion to the prominent Bacardi family. Atalanta sails to Santorini, goes undercover as the new companion, and discovers her client didn’t tell her the full truth. The seductively mysterious Raoul from book 1 surfaces, and follows her to the island to help investigate. A 2nd victim is killed, and Atalanta worries there will be more unless she quickly solves the case.This is book 2 in the series. It’s common to find a previous events summary or a cast of characters at the beginning of a 2nd book. Instead, author Conroy spends the 1st chapter describing events in book 1 and reintroducing characters.There’s a great deal of description, but overall it works. Descriptions would be more meaningful if there was a map of Santorini and a floor plan of the burg.Conroy writes Atalanta as quite naive, which fits her backstory. She writes her with a need to have men, Raoul in particular, think well of her. This also fits 1930’s attitudes and beliefs. Atalanta debates the possibilities of everything in her head instead of letting readers do that on their own. The questions she considers are often repeated several times. Both techniques slow down the action.This is definitely an armchair travel mystery. If you like your cozy mysteries with lots of local description, and don’t mind reading the same thoughts and questions more than once, this may be a book for you. It’s 3 stars from me.

I rarely give 5 stars.First, I found some issues with the book. For example, Atalanta does tend to go over & over in great length her thoughts on everything - Raoul & the other characters, the case, her grandfather & father. These can get tedious & found myself skipping paragraphs & even pages sometimes. The edit could be tighter and these rambles can be boring.Despite this, I kept finding the need to get back to reading the book - squeezing in 15 minutes here and 10 minutes there.... It kept my interest & I wanted to know the ending to the mystery. I had the same desire with the first book in the series. That is why it is 5 Stars.I technically guessed the murderer but actually I was only hoping they did the deed because I did not like them. 😁 I did not have any solid proof or thoughts.I am enjoying the characters of Atalanta & Raoul. I look forward to them growing past of their insecurities & fears in future stories. They both need to find how to trust in others. This is part of each character's journey in the story. I think one character is beginning to realize this need while the other is still too closed off.I look forward to the next book in the series. I plan to check out other works by this author.

This is the second volume in a series of historic cozy mysteries featuring amateur detective Atalanta Ashford who inherited both her grandfather’s fortune and his discrete investigation service. Will most readers enjoy this book? Do you like cozy mysteries with clever but occasionally dithering heroines? And what about Italy? Have you been to Venice or Santorini or would you at least enjoy the vicarious travel through the pages of the book? And then there is romance. How do you feel about a touch of is there or isn’t there romantic attraction that is woven into the narrative with constant questioning of whether Raoul is trustworthy? Are you irritated by the string of questions, yet? If so, this might not be the book for you. Much of the narrative is told in internal questioning as Atalanta tries to solve the puzzles presented in her investigation of the disappearance of a young Venetian woman working as a companion to a Venetian family living in a compound on the Greek Island of Santorini. The setting and the historic aspects of Venetians in Santorini both add interest. I did enjoy reading the book, but the strings of questions began to become irritating. The price is reasonable for the book so the ratio of price to entertainment value is also good. These books are not literary mysteries like those by Jane Harper, Elly Griffiths, Louise Penny, Iona Wishaw, Martin Walker, Paul Doiron, or Ann Cleeves, but not many mysteries are of that caliber.

Fabulous story. I couldn't put it down. Suspenseful to the very end, with so many suspects and hundreds of questions by the investigator.

Great read unputdownable

For her second case, Miss Atalanta Ashford, heiress of her grandfather's secret sleuthing business, travels to Greece to pose as an old lady's companion and investigate the possible murder of the young woman who previously held that position. I really enjoyed following her there and trying to untangle the mystery as members of the household gave her contradictory information.This book could be read by itself if you're particularly interested in Santorini as a setting or have any other reason not to read book 1 (Mystery in Provence) first but, in case you want to read it later, be aware that, although this story doesn't reveal much about the previous one's plot, it features a character that was among the suspects.

Atalanta is a private detective on holiday in 1930s Venice when she is hired by a mystery woman to investigate the death of a young girl in Santorini, where she was employed as a companion to an older lady.This is the second book in the series, I haven't read the first one (yet) but this didn't spoil the story for me. The characters include a very strict man of the house, his wife and their young son through to a wild friend. Atalanta is helped by a friend, Raoul, a racing driver, to try to get to the bottom of the mystery. The clues are very convoluted and kept me guessing all the way to the end. More complex than some cosy mysteries, think Agatha Christie, and evokes other stories set at that time set in what sounds to be a glorious location.I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influenced my review of the book and I subsequently purchased it upon release.

I liked the characters and loved the setting but the plot was pretty obvious and I guessed it fairly early on. I found the device of questioning and dithering about every plot development somewhat irritating. I enjoyed the first book in the series much more.

I'd recommend this book full, intrigue, with twists & turns. Throughly enjoyable arm chair mystery. Great characters. I love a good who done it.