Death of an Obnoxious Tourist

A Dotsy Lamb Travel Mystery, Book 1

De: Maria Hudgins

Narrado por: Connie Terwilliger

Dotsy Lamb, history professor and recently divorced empty nester, is ready for culture, culinary delights and sun-drenched piazzas on her group tour of Italy - but murder wasn't part of the package. Snide, cruel Meg Bauer was loathed by everyone, but even an obnoxious tourist deserves justice after being stabbed to death with a souvenir knife purchased by her sister.

When a local gypsy is arrested, Dotsy believes he's an innocent scapegoat. Suspecting that the killer lurks among them, she discovers that within the twenty-odd mix of tourists and guides, there are a few dark secrets, and even more things to hide. When another member of the tour plunges off a balcony to her death, Dotsy unravels a tangle of vengeance, scandal, and lies. Still, the pieces don't quite add up--until she's drawn close enough to the truth to get in the way of a clever and determined killer.

©2006 Maria Hudgins (P)2012 Maria Hudgins

Pretty good

In Death of an Obnoxious Tourist, Dotsy Lamb, a recently divorced woman from Virginia, traveling with her friend Lettie in Italy. The tour group includes a very annoying woman who manages to alienate everyone in the group. The annoying woman is killed and we quickly killed and we learn that there are many people on the tour who had motive.

This is an entertaining story. The characters are likeable and believable. I like the idea of a mystery taking place on a group tour in Italy. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. It was a bit clumsy. Otherwise it was a good read and a good buy.

Where is book 2

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I enjoyed the read, a quite good plot and for a murder it was light and fluffy with a bit of gossip and romance

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

just enjoyed

What about Connie Terwilliger’s performance did you like?

a very good reader

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

maybe

Any additional comments?

I will download book 2 when it comes

Decent start to a series

Dotsy works for me as an amateur sleuth, though the theme of being dumped by a spouse in middle age (another character suffers the same fate, only worse) is rather overdone. Also, I had trouble keeping track of the many characters on the tour, but that might've been easier reading the print edition. Connie Terwilliger did a good job with the narration, so I'm sorry that she doesn't read the rest of the series.

Performance

Italia n voice of the chief sounds Scandinavian. Will try to avoid this narrator.. Very distracting!

flat-

Would you try another book from Maria Hudgins and/or Connie Terwilliger?

no

What could Maria Hudgins have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

develope better characters, describe the food,senery,musuems, the cities better. Anything to enliven this pittiful book. I wonder if the author ever went to Italy. Seems not.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

horrible accents-the Italian ones were so phoney, the Americans were whiney and nasal, made it hard to pay attention to the story, which was boring.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

no

Any additional comments?

I never finished the book. Lost all interest even as they began to solve the murders.

A Pleasant Surprise

This is a pleasant cozy mystery. I was surprised by how delightful the characters and plot seem to be. I also like the back drop Milan, Venice, Florence, and Capri. I have been on a tour similar to the one the characters enjoyed and found the story to be very realistic. This is worth the credit and time.