Fatal Facade
by Wendy Tyson
Fatal Facade (An Allison Campbell Mystery Book 4)
Cozy Mystery/Suspense
4th in Series
Setting – Italy
Henery Press (June 13, 2017)
Paperback: 278 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635112238
E-BOOK ASIN: B06XP2QG4P
Allison Campbell accepted a dream assignment: a visit to the Italian Dolomites to help Hollywood socialite Elle Rose reinvent herself. A guest cottage on the grounds of Elle’s historic castle promises to be a much-needed respite from Allison’s harried life on the Philadelphia Main Line, and the picturesque region, with its sharp peaks, rolling pastures, and medieval churches, is the perfect spot from which to plan her upcoming wedding.
Only this idyllic retreat is anything but peaceful. There are the other visitors—an entourage of back-biting expats and Hollywood VIPs. There’s Elle’s famous rock star father, now a shadowy recluse hovering behind the castle’s closed doors. And then there’s Elle’s erratic behavior. Nothing is as it seems. After a guest plummets to her death from a cliff on the castle grounds, Allison’s trip of a lifetime turns nightmarish—but before she can journey home, Allison must catch a killer.
This story takes us off to Italy when Image Consultant Allison Campbell takes on Elle Rose as a client. Elle lives in a castle near the Italian Dolomites and has offered Allison, Jason and Grace, Allison’s niece, a guest cottage on the property. Since Jason needs to go to Austria for his new job it seems like an ideal assignment. She never imagined the castle would be crowded with so many people all there supposedly to work with Elle’s father. A father who is apparently very ill and who is rarely seen.
Allison is dismayed by her clients behavior and unwillingness to put in the work to upgrade her image. In fact she is thinking about quitting. Then one of the guests is found dead at the bottom of a sheer cliff. The death looks suspicious and the authorities demand Allison not leave town. She decides to do a little investigating herself with Vaughan and Jamie’s help. Everything they uncover leads them in several directions but they all know there is a killer in the castle.
I must first address the setting – a castle and vast grounds that include several cottages, a spa, a pool, woods with hiking trails up and down and around the Dolomites. A picturesque place that for me would be a very hard place to leave. But then with a killer on the lost, probably not so idyllic, right now.
All the characters I loved from previous stories are back. Not everyone is in Italy though. Mia and Vaughn arrive a few days after Allison, Jason and Grace. They relationship is still a little rocky and Allison and Jason may take the plunge into marriage again. Jamie has stayed home but he uses his skills pretty well from there. I really enjoy the way the characters continue to grow in each book in this series. They are very engaging and believable.
The search for the killer was much like a closed room mystery. It has to be someone staying on the property. Between the guests and the staff there are plenty of suspects. The motive for the murder was very hard to determine and it could be connected to another recent death. Seriously at one time or another throughout the story I had then all pegged as the murderer. Heck, one of the goats could have pushed her off the cliff. It is only when some key information is discovered that things start to make sense. Tyson had us on a twisty trail to figure out this mystery and I loved it.
This trip to Italy was a Perfect Escape! You should book your trip today!
About The Author
Wendy Tyson’s background in law and psychology has provided inspiration for her mysteries and thrillers. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Wendy has returned to her roots and lives there again on a micro-farm with her husband, three sons and three dogs. Wendy’s short fiction has appeared in literary journals, and she’s a contributing editor and columnist for The Big Thrill and The Thrill Begins, International Thriller Writers’ online magazines. Wendy is the author of the Allison Campbell Mystery Series
Author Links
Author website Facebook Goodreads
Twitter: @WendyTyson
Purchase Links
Books in the Allison Campbell Mystery Series:
- KILLER IMAGE
(#1)
- DEADLY ASSETS
(#2)
- DYING BRAND
(#3)
- FATAL FAÇADE
(#4)
Tour Participants
June 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT
June 13 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW
June 14 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW
June 15 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
June 16 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 17 – Nadaness In Motion – INTERVIEW
June 18 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
June 19 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
June 20 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 21 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW
June 22 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT
June 23 – Books,Dreams,Life – INTERVIEW
June 24 – Lori’s Reading Corner – SPOTLIGHT
June 25 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
That story sounds like a book that is hard to put down.
The Dolomites–those must be full of escarpments! Thank you for the post!
This book was awesome — the story drew me in and wouldn’t let go until the end. I highly recommend this book!
Apparently I have been missing out. I have never read this author. Great review and I just ordered the 1st title so I can get started!!
I love Wendy Tyson’s Greenhouse series but don’t think I’ve ever read anything under this series. It will be one for my want to read list. Thank you for hosting Wendy’s book on your blog.
I don’t know how I missed this series. Sounds like my kind of book. Adding series to my TBR list.
Law and psychology is a perfect background for a mystery writer.
Hi everyone! Lori, thank you for the thoughtful review; I’m thrilled you enjoyed Fatal Facade! And thanks to everyone here who posted. (Celia, I’ so glad you enjoyed FF, too!)
I’m not sure that setting could be more appealing! This sounds like such an entertaining read. I read an earlier book in this series and have been wanting to go back to it. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
This author is new to me and her books sound like a lot of fun. Thank you for the chance.