Arsenic at Ascot by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Book 4)

 

Publication Date:

November 28, 2023

Genre: 

Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery

Length:  

282 pages

Series:

Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

London, 1918 Fiona Figg finds herself back in Old Blighty saddled with shuffling papers for the war office. Then a mysterious card arrives, inviting her to a fancy house party at Mentmore Castle. This year's Ascot themed do will play host to a stable of animal defense advocates, and Fiona is tasked with infiltrating the activists and uncovering possible anti-war activity.

Disguised as the Lady Tabitha Kenworthy, Fiona is more than ready for the "mane" event, but the odds are against her when both her arch nemesis, dark-horse Fredrick Fredricks, and would-be fiancé Lieutenant Archie Somersby arrive unexpectedly and "stirrup" her plans. And when a horse doctor thuds to the floor in the next guest room, Fiona finds herself investigating a mysterious poisoning with some very hairy clues. Can Fiona overcome the hurdles and solve both cases, or will she be put out to pasture by the killer?

My Thoughts:

I have to admit I wasn't excited about this book even though I've really enjoyed the series so far. The location was not an exotic one and the plot about animal activism looked like a bit of a snooze. But I don't like to read series out of order or skip a book because I always miss something important. I listened to this on audiobook so that made it a bit more fun and bearable. Unfortunately, I was right in that this was my least favorite, but seemed to be a bridge to the next few books that are set in fun locations. So I'm glad I read it.

Fiona is excited to have her own case to work on and gets to disguise herself again as a man and infiltrate places she wouldn't normally go. She is not a super duper animal person but feels that there is value to protecting them and is sympathetic to the activists' cause. When the horse doctor at the country house she is visiting dies she has to shift her focus to that instead of just simply infiltrating the activist group. Fredricks is of course always lurking around, Archie shows up unexpectedly and Fiona is once again caught in the middle between the two.

This time she really starts to fall more for Fredricks charms. And that is the part of the book that is fun and necessary to read up on. Their relationship is next level in this book and hers and Archie's is a little back burner now. I had always thought Fredricks might not be the villain he's portrayed as and we will see how that unfolds in the next couple of books.

What I found slow was the mystery plot. There just wasn't enough there. Finding the doctor's murderer involved the usual questions and red herrings, yes, but I didn't find myself all that interested in the characters or their back stories. And the ending whoodunit wasn't super exciting or complicated I thought. 

This was still a good book. Fiona is funny and self deprecating and Kitty comes in about halfway through (with her doggie as usual) and helps to solve the case. Clifford from the war office is there as well with his overbearing personality and "know it allness." And there is the fun of dressing for Ascot and the country house scene. I have grown to really enjoy these characters and so I will be continuing with the series. 

The next book is set in Moscow and involves the Kremlin and the Bolshevik government circa 1918 so it should be exciting! 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Vanished in the Crowd by Rhys Bowen (A Molly Murphy Mystery Book 22)

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Vanished in the Crowd, by Rhys Bowen. I have only read the first book in this series but I enjoyed it. So I know many people are loving them and want to know about the latest book. 

Molly investigates the case of a missing female scientist in 1909 New York. Taking place during the 300th celebration of the discovery of the Hudson River, it includes some historical elements that sound interesting. I know fans of the series will be excited for it! 

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! 

Historical Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries

March 10, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

New York is busier than ever as two million visitors come to the city to witness the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909, marking the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River. Parades, exhibitions, carnivals, and a marvelous display of the wonders of the latest invention, electricity, across the city make for two straight weeks of celebrations, which Molly and her family, along with their friends Sid and Gus, are excited to enjoy. But Molly is secretly dealing with financial troubles. She is too proud to ask her friends for a loan, but when they want to hire her as a detective she jumps at the chance.

Sid and Gus are hosting fellow Vassar graduates to take part in one of the parades but one of the women, a brilliant scientist, never shows up. It seems nobody knows where she is, including her husband. Is she trying to run away from her life or is it something more sinister? Why have the Vassar women really come to New York City? When Daniel asks Molly to spy on her friends and find out just what they are planning she finds her loyalties horribly divided. Then the parade turns deadly and only Molly has the tools to find out the truth.

 

Top Ten Tuesday: New Authors I Discovered in 2025

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is "Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025." I am going to list 10 authors that I hadn't heard of before or ones I now know about that would be added to my TBR pile. I have either read one of their books or own one to read this year. The link will take you to their Goodreads page if you want to see a full book list and bio. Happy reading!

1. Michael Jecks- Focusing on the first crusade, historical fiction on a subject that is hard to find

2. Abigail Keam- She runs a Facebook cozy mystery page I love and has written some cute cozies herself. 

3. Vanessa Kelly- Her cozy country house mysteries have a Jane Austen feel to them and look cute.

4. Michael Livingston- Non-fiction author focusing on medieval history...my favorite!

5. C.W. Gortner- His novels about more obscure queens intrigue me enough to start collecting them...Juana of Castile and Isabella of Castile are two that I want to read more about.

6. Raymond Wemmlinger- His novels also feature historical subjects less known....Queen Anne of Scotland is one I'd like to read about.

7. Beth Cowan-Erskine- she writes 1930's country house murder mysteries set in Scotland....and there are only two books so far so this might be a series I can actually stay caught up with.

8. Katherine Kurtz- She has written several novels about The Knights Templar and their origins. These books were written in the 1990's so they are becoming classics.

9. Jenny Telfer Chaplain- She writes "sweeping, historical family sagas" and the box set I have is set in Ireland and Scotland around the late Victorian era. 

10. Myra Hargrave McIlvain- Her novels and specialty is Texas historical fiction set in the mid-1800's.  I am from Texas so they looked intriguing. 

Do you know any of these great authors? Which of their books are you familiar with and would you recommend them?

Stacking the Shelves #84

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. Happy reading y'all!

Murder On the Village Green by Rosie Hunt (Lady Felicity Mystery Book One)

Free with Rosie Hunt newsletter subscription

Rosie Hunt sends out her newsletter each week and it's really cute. She suggests other cozy mystery authors too and really shares some fun personal and book information. This week she gave away her first book in this series on Kindle. 

Lady Felicity is caught up in an English country mystery murder and it's the 1920's, everyone's favorite cozy historical time period. No, I don't need another series to start (10 books total) but i can't help myself when the author is so charming. And of course, the beautiful cover :) 

The Winter List by S.G. MacLean (Damian Seeker Book 6)

Kindle purchase: 99 cents this week

I bought this because it was on sale so cheap but I still haven't read this series. I keep trying to start but I get distracted by other books. I don't know why. Maybe I just haven't been in the mood for dark mysteries lately. This is the latest one so at least I'll have it when I want it. I own The Seeker, the first book and I've read and reviewed another S.G. MacLean book, The Bookseller of Inverness, and enjoyed it. 

This story takes place in 1660 right at the time of the restoration of Charles Stuart, something I know almost nothing about. It focuses on Damian Seeker's daughter, Manon, and her fear that her father will be found to be a traitor and spy to the former government, appearing on The Winter List of those who are being hunted down for execution. 

Westward To Freedom by David Field (The New World Nautical Saga Book Three)

Free with my Kindle Unlimited trial

I'm loving that Kindle Unlimited has all the David Field books but running out of time to read them all on the free trial I have. It ends mid February. So since I have read book one in this series, I need to try to read the other two before my membership expires. 

This book covers the adventure of the Pilgrims and The Mayflower voyage. I know a lot about this subject but Field always manages to add things I'd never heard before. I'm sure it will be a great read.

The Bastard by John Jakes (Kent Family Chronicles Book One)

 

Publication Date:

September 1, 1974

Genre: 

Historical Fiction

Length:  

528 pages

Series:

Kent Family Chronicles

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Meet Phillipe Charboneau: the illegitimate son and unrecognized heir of the Duke of Kentland. Upon the Duke's death, Phillipe is denied his birthright and left to build a life of his own. Seeking all that the New World promises, he leaves London for America, shedding his past and preparing for the future by changing his name to Philip Kent. He arrives at the brink of the American Revolution, which tests his allegiances in ways he never imagined. The first volume of John Jakes's wildly successful and highly addictive Kent Family Chronicles, The Bastard is a triumph of historical fiction.

My Thoughts:

I had forgotten how much I love John Jakes. And for most people their favorite series is his trilogy about the Civil War, North and South. I think the Kent Family Chronicles are far better and am wondering why on earth I have not finished them? I still have to read books 7 and 8. So they are definitely on my TBR list for this year. The Bastard I read years ago so this was a re-read for me but I'll admit I didn't read it super thoroughly the second time around. I am going back through them and reviewing them in preparation for the last two books. 

In this story we are introduced to Phillip Kent who has changed his very English name for a more American one. He is the patriarch of the subsequent stories and his family along with others will be followed throughout the series. Jakes does a great job of showing messy character flaws in his protagonists while also making you want to see them succeed. With Kent, we get to see the how and why of the American rebellion unfold and how it wasn't as easily had as we like to think today looking back in hindsight. 

There are multiple side stories, romance, battles....just about everyone will find something they like. It isn't just war focused but also focuses on the politics of how things came about. The emphasis on the family allows for drama as well, meaning you won't be bored if you are like me and don't want just military focused content. 

I loved knowing that it was just the beginning of the story of America, the Kent family, and historical accuracy. With this series I know Jakes wanted to honor American history and teach people about it in an entertaining way. He does a great job and the reading is easy enough for younger people, although there are some racy parts so I'd say older teens are fine but not any younger for a target audience. 

If you want to dive into a family saga with many twists and turns and learn some wonderful history along the way you will love this first book in a long series story. Jakes takes you all the way to the end of the 19th century.

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Vengeance in Venice by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book Seven)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Vengeance in Venice, by Erica Ruth Neubauer. This is another cozy mystery series I'm wanting to catch up on and I've read the first four books. I love the locations and the character development. The covers are pretty awesome too! In this one, Jane and Redvers are finally married but of course their honeymoon has to contain drama and murder. 

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading y'all!

Historical Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries

March 31, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

At long last, Jane and Redvers have arrived in Venice, the famed city of love, for their honeymoon. But behind a mask at a costume ball on the Grand Canal hides the gaze of a heartless killer.

Venice, 1927: As romantic as it is mysterious, the Floating City is a dream destination for the newlyweds, but they’ll soon discover the twisting canals hide more mystery than they expected. It begins when they are invited to an elaborate party at Clara Morton’s stunning palazzo on the Grand Canal. The affair is as eccentric as the hostess, who is dressed as Medusa, and features everything from snakes to her pet cheetah to tarot card readings.

The fete also features a fresh corpse—Clara’s ex-husband, found dead in the garden with marks around his neck. The hostess accuses the tarot card reader, who happens to be an acquaintance of Jane, claiming the woman foretold the death of someone close to her. Jane and Redvers come to the young woman’s aid as they learn she was far from the only partygoer with a motive. As the couple follows a labyrinthine trail of scandalous affairs, brazen blackmail, and people who are not who they say they are, they hope that Venice will disclose her secrets before they both end up in over their heads.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish and Personal Goals for 2026

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is "goals for 2026." I really wasn't feeling this post until tonight so I'm of course late posting but....it's been a rough 2024 and 2025 and I'm feeling a bit discouraged about listing goals and expectations. Even typing is tough due to my medical issues so blog posts can be stressful. But I think goals are good no matter where you are in life so here are mine! Maybe this year will pleasantly surprise me. 

What are your goals for this year?

Bookish Goals:

1. Create a TBR list and work hard at it. I have too many books that I keep saying I want to finish. I know, this is one all book lovers share.

2. Join Sample Saturday and post about it. I absolutely love samples but again, way too many that I don't go back and try out. Then, delete them if I know I don't like the book.

3. Continue to read what I like and not what I think I should read. Life is too short. 

4. Find books and authors to promote for Can't Wait Wednesday. I really enjoy this post each week but feel so limited about resources for it. I don't often find what I need on NetGalley so I'm looking for more places to find upcoming releases.

5. Read physical books. I love my Kindle but this is a goal I always set for myself and don't do much with. Some of it is laziness and eyesight and some is that I just honestly forget. I do love holding books though so I'm going to try to go through my bookshelf this year.

Personal Goals:

1. Get my surgery I need and get better so I can return to work. It has been a long, depressing fall and winter in a wheelchair and dealing with my Cushing Disease diagnosis. I'm ready to be healthy and out of the house living a normal life again. 

2. Get my youngest ready for college. My oldest is already a college Freshman and now in August I'll be an empty nester. I have mixed feelings about this as I am very excited for him and for my husband and I to have a new life together but it is definitely bittersweet.

3. Get outside more. I really need to work on this one as I'm not naturally an outdoor person. But when I do go out I'm always glad I did.

4. Go on a family vacation this summer. We have not been able to do this the last two summers and it is time. We are planning a cruise and I could not be more excited!

5. List the things I'd like to improve around the house cosmetically. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile. Go room by room and list everything I'd do if I had unlimited time and money and just start....no matter how big or small. 

Stacking the Shelves #83

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. Happy reading y'all!

The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham (Albert Campion Book One)

Free today on Amazon Kindle

I see this author a lot as a Golden Age mystery writer. And I have heard about this series with Albert Campion. So it's worth a shot, especially since it is free to buy on Kindle this weekend. It looks like your typical country house murder mystery, guests caught inside with the killer. But I'm a sucker for these kinds of Golden Age books. And I prefer to start with book one in series reads too.

An Uncivil War by David Field (The Medieval Saga Book Three)

Free with my Kindle Unlimited Trial

I love David Field's books, especially the history based ones. I have read most of this series but not the ones on The Anarchy (this one), Henry II, or Richard I. I skipped them because I knew so much already about those subjects and wanted to focus on the Norman Conquest and Simon de Montfort books. But I saw this one this weekend and just for kicks started it and can't put it down. It's really good and I've actually learned some new things. Looking forward to continuing with these three I've missed. 

The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick (Eleanor of Aquitaine Book One)

Libby borrow: Free

As if I don't have enough books about Eleanor....I impulsively borrowed this from Libby Friday night and started it. I will probably take awhile to read it but I just wanted to start as it is a goal of mine to read this series and the Chadwick Marshal books as well. I never get tired of Henry, Eleanor, and her family and love the way different authors take the same material and make it their own.

 

Mary, Queen of France by Jean Plaidy (Tudor Saga Book Nine)

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1964

Genre: 

Historical Fiction

Length:  

305 pages

Series:

Tudor Saga/Tudor Princesses

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy brings to life the story of Princess Mary Tudor, a celebrated beauty and born rebel who would defy the most powerful king in Europe--her older brother.

Princess Mary Rose is the youngest sister of Henry VIII, and one of the few people whom he adores unconditionally. Known throughout Europe for her charm and good looks, Mary is the golden child of the Tudor family and is granted her every wish.

Except when it comes to marriage. Henry VIII, locked in a political showdown with France, decides to offer up his pampered baby sister to secure peace between the two mighty kingdoms. Innocent, teenage Mary must become the wife of the elderly King Louis, a toothless, ailing man in his sixties. Horrified and furious, Mary has no choice but to sail for France. There she hones her political skills, bides her time, and remains secretly in love with Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk. When King Louis dies after only two years of marriage, Mary is determined not to be sold into another unhappy union. She must act quickly; if she wants to be with the man she truly loves, she must defy the laws of church and state by marrying without her brother's permission. Together, Mary and Charles devise a scheme to outwit the most ruthless king in Europe and gain their hearts' desire, not knowing if it will lead to marital bliss or certain death.

My Thoughts

Anyone who reads my blog knows I'm a huge Jean Plaidy fan. She takes historical figures and stories and presents them in a straightforward, entertaining way that gets to the point while humanizing the subject. This story about Mary Tudor, (not Queen Mary Tudor) sister of Henry VIII is a great example of her including people that rarely get their own story told. It is a short book because Mary is overshadowed by others of that era but her story is fascinating in its own right and worth reading about.

I knew very little about Mary except that she was very beautiful, was much beloved by her older brother, King Henry VIII and that despite that she was forced into marriage with the very old King of France for political reasons. Her story was very compelling though due to the fact that she went against Henry to later marry her true love, Charles Brandon. Considering all we know about her brother that was a true act of bravery. 

I had forgotten she was also the grandmother of Lady Jane Grey, the tragic nine days queen and that she supported the Catherine of Aragon camp, disliking Anne Boleyn.

The book is very straightforward and no secret information you couldn't find online but Plaidy always finds a way to make it feel like a special, exciting novel. That is what I love....learning history in a personal way. If you want to learn about medieval royalty in a romantic, storylike way you will love this book. The one about her sister Margaret is similiar and another favorite of mine. It is called The Thistle and the Rose. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Belle of Chatham, by Laura Frantz. I have not read anything by her before and normally this isn't my genre but I liked the cover, and the storyline reminds me of a favorite childhood novel I used to love. Also, it is set in New Jersey and New York and being Southern I like reading about the North for a change in historical fiction. Hopefully it also covers a little of the history of the American Revolution.

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading y'all!

Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

January 20, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

In 1777, caught in the crossroads of the American Revolution, sisters Maebel and Coralie Bohannon's quaint New Jersey village becomes a battleground as they house American officers in their home. Rebellion ripples through their family as members take opposing sides--Patriots and Loyalists--causing a deep chasm that fractures their once-unbreakable bond.

As Mae's friendship grows with the American general Rhys Harlow, Coralie continues her liaison with her childhood sweetheart, a British officer stationed in New York. Torn between her growing love for the general and suspicion that her sister is a British spy, Mae leaves the only home she's ever known for the New York frontier. When betrayal strikes in the heart of the wilderness, she's forced to take a perilous journey that tests her very survival and those she loves, all in the name of liberty.

Proclaimed "wordsmith extraordinaire" by Library Journal, Laura Frantz delivers a stirring tale of divided loyalties, sisterhood, and love.

Stacking the Shelves #82

 

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. Happy reading y'all!

Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart by Tim Butcher 

Free with Kindle points

I used to read lots of books like this one. The documentary type stories about other countries and reporters who bravely venture through dangerous territory. I got tired of the genre and hadn't read any for many years. But this story caught my eye and I started it and found it was hard to put down. This daring author retraces the famous Livingstone/Stanley journey into the Congo in the early 2000's. He has an obsession with completing the journey despite everyone warning him not to. 

I'm on chapter 3 and already full of anxiety for him! Not my usual book to post about but I consider it history (he starts with an account of the Congo's long internal conflict and Livingstone and Stanley's journeys), adventure, and current events. It is also a bit of a mystery in that you are kept wondering what scary event will befall him next. I am really enjoying it. 

Mirage: Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt by Nina Burleigh

Library borrow: Free

Loving all things Egypt and the Napoleonic Era this book looked interesting, combining both. I had absolutely no idea that Napoleon took a group of scientific explorers and intellectuals into the Middle East to investigate, explore, and catalog everything in the surrounding country of the pyramids. 

I am honestly surprised I'd not heard about this as it seems like a pretty amazing undertaking. It took them three years and created a huge written account of the pyramid treasures. 

Trouble On a Country Lane by Isabella Bassett

Free with Kindle Unlimited trial

Of course no Sunday Stacking the Shelves would be complete for me without a cozy mystery! This is book 4 in one of my favorite series about an English socialite turned assistant who keeps getting involved in....you guessed it....murders. Along with her adorable, eccentric Uncle Albert (who she works for), she and her love interest, James, work to find out whoodunit. 

I love the locations for these books, Uncle Albert's quirkiness and affiliation with the Royal Society, and Lady Caroline's humor. It's one series I will continue to stick with.