Betrayal at Ravenswick by Kelly Oliver (Fiona Figg Mystery Book One)

Publication Date:

March 10, 2020

Length:

 208 pages

Summary:

I jumped into this series out of order because I wanted to read the one set in Cairo. It was book three so when I finished it, I wanted to go back to see how the original plot and character development unfolded. This book one is part of a series with just the main character, Fiona Figg and later she is joined in the second series by her sidekick, Kitty. Covert in Cairo was the one I read as part of series two. 

Fiona Figg's cheating husband has forced her to strike out on her own. Set during World War I, she and her spouse have been apart and when she realizes he has taken up with another woman she decides to throw herself into the war effort as a spy for British Intelligence. She is asked to go undercover, posing as a male doctor, to Ravenswick Abbey estate, with the hopes of exposing a suspected traitor, one Fredrick Fredricks. When she finally meets the notorious South African hunter, she is not impressed and thinks he is full of himself and a first rate snob. Not sure whether he is an actual traitor on the side of the Germans though, she treads lightly, trying to keep up her disguise while befriending one of the ladies there, Mary, who takes a bit to much interest in Fiona, thinking of course, she is a man.

Juggling all the moving parts around her is difficult as she is in fear of being discovered and when the matriarch of Ravenswick is murdered she finds herself in the unique position of being able to investigate as a male doctor, giving her more access and perspective to the crime. Trying desperately to make sure her disguise isn't uncovered (and often hilariously forgetting to remove all the spirit gum holding her beard on when she dresses back as her female self) Fiona must convince her bosses at the intelligence office to let her sleuth just a bit longer. She also must decide is Fredricks friend or foe?

My Thoughts:

I admit when I started this story I found it a little silly. And it is. But it grew on me. And now I am reading book two. It's funny, and Fiona has a sensitive side (not telling how because that requires spoilers and I try not to do that) as well as a sarcastic tone to her voice. I realize some of the things she is able to do are a bit 21st Century but I was willing to go with it a bit because this author added enough accurate history and social norms of the time to make it overall a believable story. Fiona being a help in the war efforst is something some women did and dressing as a man undercover isn't unheard of . 

There are some touching moments with her unfaithful husband which humanize him, bone chilling stories about nerve gas used in WWI which I didn't realize the extent of, and a whole other set of interactions with men she she is trying to fend off that make the story one which will have more depth going into sequel books. I would like to read them all eventually and see how she acquires her sidekick, Kitty in the second series. 

This is a fun cozy mystery with some serious moments but with the right mix of humor and mayhem. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Last Dance in Salzburg by Vivian Conroy (Miss Ashford Investigates Book Four)

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm  featuring, Last Dance in Salzburg, by Vivian Conroy. I am reading book one of this series right now and loving it. This is her new one coming out in November. So far it is a series I am interested in continuing with so I'm sure this one will be good too. Hope you've found something you can't wait for this week. Happy Reading ya'll!

November 8, 2024

Cozy Mysteries/Historical Mysteries

Description courtesy of Amazon

November 1930.

After accepting an invitation to attend the ballet in snowy Salzburg, Miss Atalanta Ashford is shocked when a convicted jewel thief is found dead in the concert hall where the theft occurred a decade ago.

Did he return to the scene of the crime because he wanted to prove his innocence? Is the real culprit among the high-society guests? In her quest for the truth, Atalanta uncovers dangerous secrets about the European elite that put her own life in mortal danger…

The smell of Glühwein and spiced Lebkuchen from the Austrian winter markets fill the air, but for Atalanta there’s an intriguing puzzle to be solved in this cosy historical mystery for 2024.

Valley of the Kings: A Novel of Tutankhamun by Cecelia Holland

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1978

Length:

231 pages

Summary:

I have heard about Holland's books for years and finally have read one. I love all things Egypt, pyramids, etc. so this was the place to start. Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon's unearthing of King Tut's tomb in 1922 is a fascinating story and I have read Holland stays true to history when writing her historical fiction. That is a must for me as I read these kinds of novels.

I know there are already many reviews for this book over the years. It is interesting that you don't know going in the book is divided into two parts: Howard Carter's story and King Tut's time period story. The first half details Carter's search for the tomb. Carter is an experienced archaeologist drawn to Egypt and its history and the search for the elusive tomb of King Tut. His frustration with the Egyptian government's slow pace and bureaucracy in allowing for the digs he wishes to conduct, not to mention the lack of funding leads to constant frustration. He teams up with a British aristocrat, Lord Carnarvon who shares an interest, although he is not obsessed to the degree Carter is. But willing to finance Carter's dream and work alongside him is enough to make the reality come true. Carter accepts the assistance and dodging local government regulations and resistance he doggedly pursues the tomb. 

Stacking the Shelves #38

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

On sale this week for Kindle: $1.99 

I ran across this in my Early Bird Books daily email I get listing on sale books I might like. The premise looked unique and it won the Edgar Award in 1965. A Rabbi from Boston is the actual author so he will definitely know his background for this story. The main character lives in a small New England town and although he wants nothing more than to lay low and minister to his flock, he is often involved in helping with the typical cozy mystery small town murders that seem to just pop up everywhere in these books! It says it's a lot like Father Brown, one of my favorites. 

Kindle price: $2.99

I have already started this novella and am loving it! I started to read Death Below Stairs by this author, the first mystery novel in the Below Stairs Mysteries. Then I discovered this book is the prequel to the series so I bought it and decided to stop and read it first. It definitely was the right choice....much more is making sense in Book 1 of the actual series. I am loving this author's historical knowledge of the time period. It is set in a Downton Abbey type house and the characters are well drawn. Looking forward to more from these books. 

Kindle audiobook:  Waiting on it to arrive in Libby (second in line!)

This is the October Read Christie book. I put it in for audiobook on Libby over a month ago and am still waiting. I have found I really enjoy listening to the Christie books in the car. It is so relaxing to do this on my way to work. But I may have to cave and actually get this book somewhere because apparently it is very popular right now! I'm hoping to get it this week and be able to finish in October right on time. And it's Miss Marple, I have grown fond of her :) 

The Pyramid Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith (The Miss Clara Vale Mysteries Book Three)

 

Publication Date:

June 13, 2024

Length:

293 pages

Summary:

This was the first book in the series that I have read. I skipped to book three because I liked the premise and location. It worked as a stand alone just fine, although starting at the beginning is usually better I agree. 

Clara Vale is an independent woman for 1930. She studied chemistry but began working as a detective of sorts which is unusual for women in her time. She attends a party at the Hancock Museum's opening exhibit of Egyptian artifacts and her good friend Daphne is counting on her support as it is her job to display and present the show. When the mummy inside the grand display sarcophagus turns out to be a fake, obviously replaced and the real mummy stolen, everyone is shocked and wonders where the real mummy might be. Clara wants to help, knowing her friend's reputation is on the line as well as wanting to catch the person who committed this theft. 

As she begins to investigate further, Clara finds that the mummy in the case is a person who has not been dead long. And she starts to suspect this is connected with a secret society and artifact smuggling ring. Traveling many miles across England and eventually led to Cairo in her search, Clara plays detective and walks a line between trying to find out the identify of the corpse without alerting the murderer and thieves. She is joined in her search by dashing men and her sidekick Bella who keeps her secrets well and is always there for her support and sleuthing.