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Amy's Travel Mystery #3
Death on the Patagonian Express
>Fanny and Amy's new blog is attracting first-class opportunities for the mother-and-daughter team and their NYC travel agency. It's too bad this ride leads to murder . . .
Upon the breakout success of the TrippyGirl blog, Amy Abel and her mother, Fanny, are asked to join a group of other prominent travel writers on a scenic train tour of Patagonia. Fanny welcomes the extra publicity, but it takes coaxing from suave tour owner Jorge O'Bannion to win Amy's commitment. Once in Argentina, their South American expedition seems to chug along smoothly--despite Fanny drinking way too much yerba mate tea.
But while out snapping photos for TrippyGirl, Fanny makes a dreadful discovery--a body scavenged by condors in the wilderness. Even more unsettling, the corpse mysteriously disappears before the others arrive. Some question Fanny's sanity, but doubt becomes horror when Jorge's angel investor is found dead in a similar position. As a number of "accidents" validate Amy's suspicion of foul play, the Abels must outsmart one very conniving killer . . . or they'll soon be en route to their final destination--six feet under.
Upon the breakout success of the TrippyGirl blog, Amy Abel and her mother, Fanny, are asked to join a group of other prominent travel writers on a scenic train tour of Patagonia. Fanny welcomes the extra publicity, but it takes coaxing from suave tour owner Jorge O'Bannion to win Amy's commitment. Once in Argentina, their South American expedition seems to chug along smoothly--despite Fanny drinking way too much yerba mate tea.
But while out snapping photos for TrippyGirl, Fanny makes a dreadful discovery--a body scavenged by condors in the wilderness. Even more unsettling, the corpse mysteriously disappears before the others arrive. Some question Fanny's sanity, but doubt becomes horror when Jorge's angel investor is found dead in a similar position. As a number of "accidents" validate Amy's suspicion of foul play, the Abels must outsmart one very conniving killer . . . or they'll soon be en route to their final destination--six feet under.
295 pages, Hardcover
Published December 27, 2016
21 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Hy Conrad
46 books166 followersHY CONRAD has made a career out of murder, earning the 2022 Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (“The Fixer’s Daughter”) and 2022 NYC Big Book Awards for Best Mystery Series (“The Fixer’s Daughter,” “Sins of the Family”), a Scribe Award for Best Novel (“Mr. Monk Helps Himself”) and garnering three Edgar nominations from the Mystery Writers of America (for the “Monk” TV series). Along the way, he developed a horde of popular games and interactive films, hundreds of short stories and a dozen books of solvable mysteries, published in over 15 languages. Hy is best known for his eight seasons as writer/co-executive producer for the ground-breaking TV series, “Monk.” Other shows include “White Collar” and “The Good Cop.”
As a novelist, Hy authored the final four books in the Monk series, the Amy Travel Mysteries (“Toured to Death,” “Dearly Departed” and “Death on the Patagonian Express”) and the Callie McFee Mysteries (“The Fixer’s Daughter,” a Barnes & Noble bestseller and “Sins of the Family”).
In the world of theatre, his produced works consist of “Home Exchange” (a mystery), “Ta-Dah!” (a musical), and “Quarantine for Two” (a socially distanced dark comedy about the pandemic).
When he looks up from his keyboard, Hy sees either the hills of Vermont or the palm trees of Key West, depending on the time of year. He also sees Jeff Johnson, his partner of 43 years, now his husband, plus Nelson and Stella, the latest in a dynasty of mini-schnauzers.
www.hyconrad.com
Facebook: hyconrad
Instagram: hyconrad1
As a novelist, Hy authored the final four books in the Monk series, the Amy Travel Mysteries (“Toured to Death,” “Dearly Departed” and “Death on the Patagonian Express”) and the Callie McFee Mysteries (“The Fixer’s Daughter,” a Barnes & Noble bestseller and “Sins of the Family”).
In the world of theatre, his produced works consist of “Home Exchange” (a mystery), “Ta-Dah!” (a musical), and “Quarantine for Two” (a socially distanced dark comedy about the pandemic).
When he looks up from his keyboard, Hy sees either the hills of Vermont or the palm trees of Key West, depending on the time of year. He also sees Jeff Johnson, his partner of 43 years, now his husband, plus Nelson and Stella, the latest in a dynasty of mini-schnauzers.
www.hyconrad.com
Facebook: hyconrad
Instagram: hyconrad1
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 17, 2018
When Amy and her mom Fanny leave their New York travel agency to accommpany a group of other travel agents on a new tour through Chile and Patagonia, little do they know that there will be another murder, lots of secrets, several suspects, and that they will have to solve the murder.
May 23, 2017
How could a former travel agent, especially one who has been to Patagonia, not love this? Hy Conrad knows the destination, knows travel and knows how to spin a plot. I love the "competitive travelers" Todd and Edgar, I know their type well.
I'm looking forward to reading the previous books, and to more of Hy Conrad's intrigue in the future.
I'm looking forward to reading the previous books, and to more of Hy Conrad's intrigue in the future.
July 27, 2017
Why was there such focus on the type of frames for Amy's glasses? Weird....
November 7, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.
Amy and her mother, Fanny, run and write a highly successful trendy travel blog, TrippyGirl. Because of this, they are invited to ride on the New Patagonian Express, and blog about their experiences on a trip through South America. But when Fanny spies a corpse, that then disappears, and then possibly reappears, Amy and Fanny must prove there is a murder to solve, and find the answers.
Fanny and Amy make a fun and unique duo, both as mother and daughter, and as crime solvers. They bring originality and humor to the story.
The setting was a great one, factual and fascinating, described in great detail. The traveling aspect allows readers to feel like they're seeing so much of South America.
The ending felt a little out of character for who the murderer was revealed to be. It took me by surprise, which is always good, but didn't really ring true to what had come before.
I liked, but didn't love this book. I felt like the mystery sometimes got lost in the characters and settings. This was a fun read, but I won't be rushing to get the rest of the series read.
Amy and her mother, Fanny, run and write a highly successful trendy travel blog, TrippyGirl. Because of this, they are invited to ride on the New Patagonian Express, and blog about their experiences on a trip through South America. But when Fanny spies a corpse, that then disappears, and then possibly reappears, Amy and Fanny must prove there is a murder to solve, and find the answers.
Fanny and Amy make a fun and unique duo, both as mother and daughter, and as crime solvers. They bring originality and humor to the story.
The setting was a great one, factual and fascinating, described in great detail. The traveling aspect allows readers to feel like they're seeing so much of South America.
The ending felt a little out of character for who the murderer was revealed to be. It took me by surprise, which is always good, but didn't really ring true to what had come before.
I liked, but didn't love this book. I felt like the mystery sometimes got lost in the characters and settings. This was a fun read, but I won't be rushing to get the rest of the series read.
July 24, 2018
Quando ho visto questo libro, avrei voluto leggerlo subito perché quello in Patagonia è uno di miei viaggi dei sogni. Purtroppo l'ebook era carissimo, quindi ho dovuto aspettare un'offerta per poterlo fare, anche se è il terzo di una serie.
La parte che riguarda il viaggio in sé stesso e la storia gialla sono buone, il problema è costituito dalla madre della protagonista, che qui assurge a vera e propria coprotagonista. Quella donna è assolutamente odiosa! Non c'è stanto un solo istante in cui mi sia piaciuta... E' un'egocentrica senza cervello, per definirla in poche parole.
Ho già comprato di due ebooks precedenti, approfittando di un'offerta, quindi prima o poi li leggerò. Oltrettutto mi è parso di capire che in essi questa tizia svolga un ruolo leggermente meno centrale. Speriamo...
Una cosa mi pare appurata: decisamente non sono fortunata con le serie cozy mysteries a tema "viaggio". Peccato perché sarebbero fra le mie preferite solo per l'argomento...
La parte che riguarda il viaggio in sé stesso e la storia gialla sono buone, il problema è costituito dalla madre della protagonista, che qui assurge a vera e propria coprotagonista. Quella donna è assolutamente odiosa! Non c'è stanto un solo istante in cui mi sia piaciuta... E' un'egocentrica senza cervello, per definirla in poche parole.
Ho già comprato di due ebooks precedenti, approfittando di un'offerta, quindi prima o poi li leggerò. Oltrettutto mi è parso di capire che in essi questa tizia svolga un ruolo leggermente meno centrale. Speriamo...
Una cosa mi pare appurata: decisamente non sono fortunata con le serie cozy mysteries a tema "viaggio". Peccato perché sarebbero fra le mie preferite solo per l'argomento...
December 18, 2018
#130
Amy's mother writes a very popular travel blog "Trippy.Girl" recounting Amy's travels & her encounters w/ murderers & near death experiences.
When Jorge O'Bannion offers them a trip to Argentina, so they may help resurrect his father's dream of reviving the family's estancia (estate) & the New Patagonia Express, which he hopes will become the newest tourist destination; they have no idea they will stumble into a murderous situation.
The plot/premise was a good one, however (you knew there had to be a however), I didn't like the characters; Amy's mother was manipulative, her boyfriend was a serial liar, and she was rather bumbling.
I skipped most of the book after the 3rd chapter to read the finale.... I didn't find it well written but I did find it almost as boring as the rest of the book.
Amy's mother writes a very popular travel blog "Trippy.Girl" recounting Amy's travels & her encounters w/ murderers & near death experiences.
When Jorge O'Bannion offers them a trip to Argentina, so they may help resurrect his father's dream of reviving the family's estancia (estate) & the New Patagonia Express, which he hopes will become the newest tourist destination; they have no idea they will stumble into a murderous situation.
The plot/premise was a good one, however (you knew there had to be a however), I didn't like the characters; Amy's mother was manipulative, her boyfriend was a serial liar, and she was rather bumbling.
I skipped most of the book after the 3rd chapter to read the finale.... I didn't find it well written but I did find it almost as boring as the rest of the book.
February 24, 2017
This is a new series about Amy and her mother Fanny who write a travel blog called Trippy girl along with running a small travel agency. They run in murders and accidents but are sure when they are asked to go on a trip on a trail between Argentina and Chile that nothing will happen. Of course someone is murdered and they get mixed up in it. A fairly good story, think the series will get better as it goes.
January 21, 2021
This book is the third in a series that needs to be read in order.
Amy and her mother jointly run a travel agency that would not have survived internet alternatives but for the mother's perils-of-Pauline description of Amy's travels and magnetism for murder.
Together they travel to Patagonia, with other travel agents, to review a newly established dude-type ranch. When the mother finds a body that no one else can find, their investigation begins.
Amy and her mother jointly run a travel agency that would not have survived internet alternatives but for the mother's perils-of-Pauline description of Amy's travels and magnetism for murder.
Together they travel to Patagonia, with other travel agents, to review a newly established dude-type ranch. When the mother finds a body that no one else can find, their investigation begins.
October 29, 2021
By far my favorite in the Amy’s Travel Mystery series because Amy and Fanny travel together on Familiarization (FAM) trip for travel advisors and media. The location of Patagonia reminded me of the cruise I took along the Chilean Fjords on Azamara. I would love to do “adventure travel that looks dangerous but is not” and travel on a luxury train ride from Buenos Aires to Puerto Natales. Train travel is a great way to see the country.
September 5, 2017
The story contrives to put mother and daughter Fanny and Amy Abel on a free luxury tour of Patagonia. The descriptions of the tour and the Patagonian landscapes are very enticing. However, Fanny is an appallingly callous character and the plot is entirely destructive. I would not read another of the series.
August 20, 2018
The mystery was interesting as it took place on South Amaerica, but I was not keen on the main characters. Fanny, the Mom was a bit of a scatterbrained and Amy had no depth . Maybe I would have thought more of them if I had read the first 2 novels in the series. Amy just didn't catch my interest at all.
The descriptions of the country were well done and that is what kept me reading!
The descriptions of the country were well done and that is what kept me reading!
March 8, 2017
I didn't like this one as much as I did the first two in the series. In the first two, when the murderer is revealed I felt very surprised. In this one it seemed very obvious. Even the little plot twist was not a surprise at all. Hopefully the next one will be better.
March 1, 2023
What an incredibly boring book. I enjoyed the setting since I haven't read anything about that part of the world. However, I didn't like the characters. Amy and her mother Fanny were irritating. I would not recommend this book or this series.
February 7, 2017
These are fun. Love the mamma. Guess if you really want educating, you could find all the spots that Amy's tour visits, but the story is fun alone.
June 18, 2017
The plot felt overly contrived. The characters and relationships not realistic. Travel and destination content was only surface level.
September 15, 2017
No bad, an easy read pretty light
November 15, 2017
Shallow and silly. Not my kind of book and I won't be looking to read the rest of them.
August 25, 2018
Just not in the right mood for reading this mystery.
April 4, 2021
A fun travel adventure.
April 9, 2021
Of coarse the characters get them selves in outlandish situations. Shame it is the last in the series.
September 25, 2022
Great entertaining book, some twists in the plot.
May 9, 2023
…This book is not for me… ☹️
May 17, 2025
This was a fun read
December 26, 2016
Death on the Patagonian Express is an excellent book for the Armchair traveller and the hardcore traveller alike. It blends murder mystery with travel in delightful passion. The book takes you to Patagonia on a majestic luxury train line where not is all as it seems. A wonderful story with great characters.
March 14, 2024
Good book loved the story. HATED the ending. I felt like the author’s pen ran out of ink or something. I was left with so many questions. I wanted closure but I was denied and felt like the book was missing pages or something. What a waste, if there was closure this would’ve been a 5 star for me but because of the lack of answers I’m giving 3. I’m salty about the end lol.
November 30, 2016
Amy Abel and her mother, Fanny, combine to create the TrippyGirl travel blog. Fanny is truly the adventurous one, Amy more staid & traditional. She's the owner of Amy's Travel, a store in New York City where the women live together. Fanny, a master of hyperbole, takes Amy's travels and exaggerates them while writing their hit blog. One morning Amy comes into breakfast to find an elegant gentleman at the table with her mom. Jorge O'Bannion, the Chilean gentleman, has contacted TrippyGirl to offer them a trip on his new upscale travel venture, the Patagonian Express. His family's sheep ranches, called estancias, have been remodeled to accommodate wealthy adventure-travelers with a luxury 'dude ranch' sort of experience. Of course, many side trips are planned as well. In order to get to the estancias, O'Bannion and his silent, wealthy widow partner, have financed the restoration of antique railcars, which will travel along tracks built by the Chilean & Argentinian governments years ago. The Abel women would be attending along with other well-known travel writers & agency owners for a 'soft-opening' of the Patagonian Express.
Being the third installment in the Amy's Travels series, readers familiar with it will expect murder & arrests to occur when Amy is involved. Those of us who are new to the series quickly learn that Amy's Travel is often in the international news having brought killers to justice after her investigations.
Often wild & crazy, Fanny's 'no filter' behavior & speech leave Amy scrabbling to clean up behind her mother; but they serve as wonderful co-stars in this installment. From a meeting with their book editor to Amy's love relationship with Marcus, and actually travelling (& investigating together) oh my, nothing is off limits to Fanny. It all comes together with lucious descriptions of places, food and people. An intriguing read for cozy mystery readers & travel fans, I recommend Death on the Patagonian Express.
Many thanks to Kensington, publishers and Netgalley for providing this reader with an advance copy in exchange for my opinions and review.
Being the third installment in the Amy's Travels series, readers familiar with it will expect murder & arrests to occur when Amy is involved. Those of us who are new to the series quickly learn that Amy's Travel is often in the international news having brought killers to justice after her investigations.
Often wild & crazy, Fanny's 'no filter' behavior & speech leave Amy scrabbling to clean up behind her mother; but they serve as wonderful co-stars in this installment. From a meeting with their book editor to Amy's love relationship with Marcus, and actually travelling (& investigating together) oh my, nothing is off limits to Fanny. It all comes together with lucious descriptions of places, food and people. An intriguing read for cozy mystery readers & travel fans, I recommend Death on the Patagonian Express.
Many thanks to Kensington, publishers and Netgalley for providing this reader with an advance copy in exchange for my opinions and review.
December 29, 2016
Seeing the world through the pages of a book has been my method of travel so far and is the reason I am always keen to discover a promising plot situated in a place rather different from my home. I spotted this one and knew from the title that there would be a trip to the very southern end of South America. I hoped the author would spend some time on the setting and culture while crafting his mystery and was delighted to find that he did. Music, touring, food, and life in Patagonian Argentina and Chile hit the spot.
This was a cozy mystery and I've not always been attracted to those because I lean toward darker, grittier mystery, but lately my taste has allowed for me to appreciate them a bit more. The murder mystery was a good challenge. I figured out the who and the why easily enough, but it was the how that stumped me. Always fun when I'm still guessing at things to the end.
What I wasn't paying attention to when I picked up Death on the Patagonian Express was that this was the third book in the Amy's Travel series. Fortunately for me, it stood alone just fine. There was mention of previous murder cases and there is an obvious series arc for Amy, her mother Fanny, and her boyfriend Marcus, but it was just a minor layer to the story so I was fine to read the present adventure for Amy and Fanny.
And that brings me to Amy and Fanny. Whew boy! This mother-daughter pair were a riot. Fanny is flamboyant and never subtle though she is rather clever while Amy is considering and reserved while observing and experiencing the world around her. They rub each other raw, but make a good amateur detecting team. Though, I do feel that Fanny got pretty lucky since she poked and provoked the bear (murderer) without considering her own- or Amy's- vulnerability to the danger.
All in all, I had a great time and most particularly due to the setting and the mother-daughter interaction. I think cozy mystery lovers who enjoy exotic settings would appreciate this one.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
This was a cozy mystery and I've not always been attracted to those because I lean toward darker, grittier mystery, but lately my taste has allowed for me to appreciate them a bit more. The murder mystery was a good challenge. I figured out the who and the why easily enough, but it was the how that stumped me. Always fun when I'm still guessing at things to the end.
What I wasn't paying attention to when I picked up Death on the Patagonian Express was that this was the third book in the Amy's Travel series. Fortunately for me, it stood alone just fine. There was mention of previous murder cases and there is an obvious series arc for Amy, her mother Fanny, and her boyfriend Marcus, but it was just a minor layer to the story so I was fine to read the present adventure for Amy and Fanny.
And that brings me to Amy and Fanny. Whew boy! This mother-daughter pair were a riot. Fanny is flamboyant and never subtle though she is rather clever while Amy is considering and reserved while observing and experiencing the world around her. They rub each other raw, but make a good amateur detecting team. Though, I do feel that Fanny got pretty lucky since she poked and provoked the bear (murderer) without considering her own- or Amy's- vulnerability to the danger.
All in all, I had a great time and most particularly due to the setting and the mother-daughter interaction. I think cozy mystery lovers who enjoy exotic settings would appreciate this one.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
November 21, 2016
I gave the first two books in this series an OK and a like rating. I'm going with like here because I clipped along to the 75% mark and looked forward the next morning to finishing it.
The author seems to have a trend of sitting out one of the three main characters in each book, only sending two out on the trip "du book" and experiencing the murders. In this one, Marcus is the character who stays home and has a very minimal role. This makes sense since he does have a full time job as a concierge.
The author had spent three weeks in the area this book is set in and he does sprinkle in some local facts and tidbits (some to excess like the many, many references to mate), but not as many I thought as the previous books. This one's setting felt more generic to me.
What I didn't like:
Fanny is supposed to be a bit of a wild card in contrast to Amy's common sense and unadventurousness. However, in this story she's really extreme to the point of being dangerously stupid. I was able to accept it and roll with it until near the end when it started to really irritate me. It crossed the line from the author using absurdity to add some humor to just stupid.
I also question the author using a character like Marcus. To me, he doesn't seem the type of person Amy would get involved with. His morals are "flexible" and Amy isn't. Since he plays a small role it's not really bothersome. It just doesn't ring true for me.
Also what happens to Amy at the very end left a bad taste in my mouth. It wasn't funny and served no purpose that I could see.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The author seems to have a trend of sitting out one of the three main characters in each book, only sending two out on the trip "du book" and experiencing the murders. In this one, Marcus is the character who stays home and has a very minimal role. This makes sense since he does have a full time job as a concierge.
The author had spent three weeks in the area this book is set in and he does sprinkle in some local facts and tidbits (some to excess like the many, many references to mate), but not as many I thought as the previous books. This one's setting felt more generic to me.
What I didn't like:
Fanny is supposed to be a bit of a wild card in contrast to Amy's common sense and unadventurousness. However, in this story she's really extreme to the point of being dangerously stupid. I was able to accept it and roll with it until near the end when it started to really irritate me. It crossed the line from the author using absurdity to add some humor to just stupid.
I also question the author using a character like Marcus. To me, he doesn't seem the type of person Amy would get involved with. His morals are "flexible" and Amy isn't. Since he plays a small role it's not really bothersome. It just doesn't ring true for me.
Also what happens to Amy at the very end left a bad taste in my mouth. It wasn't funny and served no purpose that I could see.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 23, 2022
This is the third in the Amy and Fanny series. It continues the high standard set by the first two books. Conrad writes well. In addition, he has created two terrific characters in this mother/daughter travel agent team who just happen to encounter murders whenever they set out. Their roles are reversed in that mom is the impulsive adventurous soul and daughter is the more cautious and mature. On this familiarization trip to Patagonia the description of the geography along the Argentinian/Chilean border was informative for me. But it was the plot and characters which kept me reading fast. The hosts and fellow travelers are interesting characters, well drawn. Could one of them be the evil deed doer? I thought so. But as in any good yarn as the tale spins out you suspect one and then another of the characters. I was a bit surprised to learn who was the real villain, but then you want that in a good mystery. There are characters you can really like. The young girl wanting to go to a school was one for me. If you've read the first two books you'll find the romance with Marcus moving along nicely. But what of the Canadian helicopter pilot? Read and know. This is truly a good read. Don't miss it.
February 4, 2017
This by far, is the best of the bunch. I think the fact that Amy's mom Fanny (and partner in their travel business), got to hit the road and experience things just like on her Trippy Girl blog, really added a fresh aspect to this mystery. I liked the Argentinian setting. There were wonderful descriptions of an area that I now feel like I know a bit about. When Jorge O'Bannion (who knew so many Irish and Welsh settled in that area of South America?) invited several tour operators to experience the maiden voyage of his luxury Patagonian Express, it was only a matter of time before something went awry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews