The Lion of Anjou by David Field (Medieval Saga Series Book 4)

Publication Date:

August 26, 2022

Genre: 

Historical Fiction, Medieval Fiction

Length:  

226 pages

Series:

Medieval Saga

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

When one war ends, another begins…

England, 1154

With King Henry II taking the throne, the long civil war that has ravaged England has finally come to an end. But conflict is now coming from overseas. Henry has inherited territories over the English Channel that are being contested by King Louis VII of France. And the new king’s marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine is strained – and becomes even more so when he threatens the Church of England and Thomas Becket.

The people of England once more find their loyalties divided as they struggle over whether to defend church or state. Will the conflict in the royal household influence Henry’s reign? Will Louis wage war on England? Will England ever find peace?

My Thoughts: 

I read this book out of the normal order. I enjoyed the whole saga but had skipped over this book and the next one because I already knew quite a bit about Henry II and Richard I's reigns. Then when I went to start the next series of Field's about the reigns of the three Edwards, I decided to finish this series first. I'm glad I did as the fictional characters continue generationally into the next set of books. Although I didn't learn a lot of new information about Henry, Eleanor, and their struggles, it was still a great read and I highly recommend it for those especially who are starting without a good base for this time period. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Corpse on the Bristol Train by Edward Marston (The Railway Detective Series Book 25)

 For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Corpse on the Bristol Train, by Edward Marston. It says this is the "grand finale" of the series. The cover reminds me of an old fashioned mystery novel like those in the British Classic Crime series. Set in Victorian England with a male detective lead it also sounds a lot like the Anne Perry books I love.

In this story, a young woman is found dead on a train when it stops in Bristol and the detectives must untangle who she is, why she died, and who she was traveling with.

Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

October 22, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

On the last train of the day London Paddington to Bristol, a young woman drifts into what appears to be a peaceful sleep - only to be discovered dead on arrival. With no sign of violence and no clue to her identity, the case threatens scandal for the Great Western Railway. Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming are sent to uncover the truth behind the silent corpse. 

All witnesses agree on one she travelled with a devoted husband who vanished into the night. As the trail leads through railway stations, theatres and dark deception, Colbeck must expose a killer who hides behind superficial charm.

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book 36)

 

Publication Date:

November 1, 1969

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery, Holiday Mystery, Historical Mystery

Length:  

336 pages

Series:

Hercule Poirot Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

A teenage murder witness is drowned in a tub of apples at a Hallowe'en party.

Joyce, a hostile thirteen-year-old, had boasted that she once witnessed a murder. When no-one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub.

That night, Hercule Poirot is called in to find the 'evil presence.' But first he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double-murderer!

It's Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot at their finest.

My Thoughts: 

Of course October is the perfect time for a Halloween mystery and what better author to read than Agatha Christie! The story begins not with Poirot, but rather with his friend, mystery author Adriane Oliver having an unsettling encounter at a children's Halloween party. I absolutely love Oliver's character and so I knew I'd like this one just from her being in it. She is witty and funny and always up for giving Poirot her two  cents worth about his cases. 

The victim had confided in Oliver that she'd witnessed a murder and then was herself murdered at the party. As Oliver and Poirot set out to interview potential suspects and piece together random clues they discover that not everyone is telling the truth about who they are, what they saw, or even where they'd been. Poirot rightly wants to know who else has died recently in the area and under what circumstances. 

Further inquiries reveal a scheme involving a will, a forgery, more murders, and even possible Satanic rituals. There is one part of the mystery that I feel makes it almost impossible to figure things out on your own. I give Christie a lot of credit for this one as the twists and turns are very difficult to follow or guess outright. While the ending was interesting as always and I love it when Poirot is explaining things to everyone, I found the initial reason behind it all a little far fetched and unlikely. Still, this was a good one and I certainly give her points for creativity. It's a good one to read in October for sure!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets by Sharon Bennett Connolly

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Princesses of the Later Middle Ages, by Sharon Bennett Connolly. She is one of my favorite history authors and I always look forward to promoting her newest book. I love to listen to her podcast, A Slice of Medieval, where she examines the lives of many important medieval figures. 

It shows this book has already been released in the UK but is set to release here on October 30th. It should be wonderful with meticulous research as all her works are. Check out her amazing blog if you are into history, History....the interesting bits!

History, Medieval History

October 30, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

England’s princesses emerge as diplomats who shape alliances through transformative marriages.

‘My daughter wanted me to treat her more like a princess. So, I married her to a stranger to strengthen the alliance with Poland!’

The medieval princess has often been portrayed as a pawn in the political machinations of her father or brother, married off to distant lands for the sake of peace, or land, or both. Never to be seen or thought of again.

But was that really her fate?

Princesses of the Later Middle Ages examines the lives and experiences of England’s princesses, from the treasured daughters of Henry III to the children of Edward IV, whose lives were turned upside down when they were declared illegitimate.

What we see is a very different story, where a foreign marriage does not mean eternal exile, but a purpose in life, where a princess is a diplomat, an ambassador for England in her new country. She is the bond between allies – most of the time.

Princesses of the Later Middle Ages shines a light on the lives and experiences of these remarkable women.

Highgate Rise by Anne Perry (Thomas Pitt Book Eleven)

Publication Date:

January 1, 1991

Genre: 

Historical Mystery

Length:  

352 pages

Series:

Thomas Pitt Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

Clemency Shaw, the wife of a prominent doctor, has died in a tragic fire. But whether the blaze was set by an arsonist aiming for the doctor, or set by the doctor himself, Inspector Thomas Pitt isn't certain. With the scarcity of clues, Pitt turns to Clemency's stuffy, but distinguished, relatives. Meanwhile, Pitt's wellborn wife, Charlotte, retraces the dangerous path that Clemency walked the last months of her life, and finds herself enmeshed in a sinister web that stretches from the lowest slums to the loftiest centers of power.

My Thoughts: 

Anne Perry is my go to when I'm in a reading slump. So I was disappointed that this one just didn't do it for me. I guess I'm 0-2 these last couple of weeks with my mysteries! This story started out great as all of her books do and honestly there isn't one I just completely dislike, but while I felt that excitement of a good mystery along with Pitt's no nonsense investigating ahead, it fizzled out pretty quickly. 

After the initial opening pages concerning the fire and suspicions as to who would have wanted the doctor's wife killed, the plot moved to the religious and personal relatives available to shed insight into the reasons they believed it happened. And while this is a normal part of Perry's mysteries, Charlotte investigating via drawing rooms and afternoon teas along with her sister Emily and Aunt Vespasia, I felt like we just kept hearing from the same people over and over again. The stories didn't change except for maybe a small tidbit here and there and I found myself growing bored with it all. 

By the time we figured out who had done it I wasn't very surprised. It seemed pretty obvious to me. And that was disappointing because one of the things I can usually count on with Perry's books is not knowing the full story and being shocked by something in the ending. I am not giving up on her books but unfortunately this one was just a bridge to the next. Sometimes that happens and that is okay, after all, there are 32 books just in the Pitt series alone!

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Seeds of War by David Field (The Wars of the Roses Saga Book 3)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Seeds of War, by David Field. I have so many of his books to catch up on and I'm feeling a bit guilty that I was one of the fans who asked him to tackle the "three Edwards" and he did and I'm behind on his books! I have already pre-ordered the next book in this series so I'm all ready when I can get back to them. This is book three in his Wars of the Roses series and follows the reign of Edward III. 

Historical Fiction, Medieval Historical Fiction

October 9, 2026

Book description courtesy of Amazon Books

England goes to war with France…

England, 1327

After years of turmoil, England is once again at peace as Edward III takes the throne.

But warlike Edward has ambitions to finally rule Scotland, in addition to pursuing his claim to the crown of France in right of his mother, Isabella.

He needs men about him he can trust, and no-one answers that description better than Sir Henry Bywater, whose only ambition is to fight for the interests of the nation, declining all offers of advancement in return.

While fighting in both Scotland and France, Henry forms a friendship with Edmund Albrighton, a skilled master of the longbow.

The friendship deepens into a tight family bond when Edmund marries Henry’s sister, Eleanor.

As the Hundred Years War with France grinds on, the nation suffers through the Black Death and it looks like England could once more be thrown into disarray…

But can the Bywater family make it through unscathed?

The Harlot of St. Cecelia's by Darcy Graves (An Inspector Garrett Mystery Book One)

 

Publication Date:

October 1, 2026

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

Length:  

312 pages

Series:

An Inspector Garrett Mystery

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

England, 1923. The war is over but not forgotten, and in the cloistered corridors of a university town just outside London, life has resumed its careful performance of normality, with faculty politics, reading circles, and theatre productions.

Into this world comes Eden Brior: an American librarian, sharp-eyed and perpetually out of step, who came to England looking for her lost brother but has made her quiet life among the stacks of St. Cecelia's.

A trying evening becomes considerably worse when she and the charming, impossible Simon Cross are accidentally locked in the bookvault, and a French actress turns up dead in the nave upstairs.

Eden is a witness. She may also be a suspect. And Inspector William Garrett, who has seen everything, has not quite seen anything like her.

Witty, vivid, and steeped in the textures of postwar English life, The Harlot of St. Cecelia's is a mystery that earns its place on your shelf through character: the people who loved the victim, the ones who didn't, and the ones who aren't quite sure.

My Thoughts:

First in a series is always tricky....you want to give the author a chance to develop the characters and so I always go in with an open mind, ready to try book two. This story was not super exciting for me though and I haven't committed to continuing with it yet. But I do like to give things a chance so maybe eventually. The premise sounded interesting, murder in a library, love triangle, set in the 1920's. I usually love these types of mysteries. 

Unfortunately, I found myself just trying so hard to care about the characters and I just didn't. They felt flat to me. Part of me had an impression of Inspector Garrett that didn't bear out (can't say without spoilers!) and I found that the book started strong with the librarian Eden as the main focus only to kind of let her go towards the end of the first half. I kept thinking, "why did we quit talking about her, she was very interesting!" After continuing I decided I enjoyed the mystery part of the story, just not the character development. No one really stood out to me like in some books where you might have the quirky sidekick or someone with a loveable pet. 

The writing was good and I thought the setting was portrayed accurately so this was not a total loss of reading time. I just don't think I'm invested enough with the characters to continue though. 

Death From High Places by Benedict Brown (Lord Edgington Investigates Book 1.5)

 

Publication Date:

January 24, 2022

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

Length:  

84 pages

Series:

Lord Edgington Investigates

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall has some living to do. The next item to cross off on his list of grand ambitions is a serene balloon flight above his palatial estate. But, after a man falls to his death, the pleasant pursuit is interrupted, and the esteemed detective suspects foul play.

With the help of his hapless grandson, their loyal golden retriever and a couple of parachutes, Lord Edgington must solve the murder before the meddlesome police arrive to take control of the case. But, when all of the suspects seem like such nice chaps, it's awfully difficult to spot a killer.

My Thoughts: 

This was the perfect book for me this week. I have been in a bit of a reading slump lately. Overthinking my choices, feeling guilty I'm not reading or blogging as much. But I've just returned to teaching after a very long ten month medical leave and so it's been a lot. So this short, cute novella featuring some characters I love was the perfect way to jump start myself. 

Lord Edgington just wants to take a nice, quiet balloon ride but thanks to his grandson Albert's friends it doesn't quite turn out that way. Luckily, his other grandson, Christopher is there to help when a man falls to his death the day of the balloon ride. It appears his parachute did not open when he jumped from the balloon and Lord Edgington wants to know why before the pesky local police arrive. Being a former high ranking police official himself, he knows a thing or two about investigations and Christopher is a great assistant.

They interview the usual suspects and discover love triangles and resentments along with a killer that didn't fit their initial expectations. Throughout the story, Brown inserts his usual humor and sarcasm, especially within Christopher's thoughts, and he accurately portrays the way an awkward teen would feel around his older brother's much more beautiful, sophisticated friends. Brown also does a great job in his stories with setting. I do feel like I'm in England in the 1920's on holiday at a great country house, which is where most of his stories take place. The relationship between grandfather and grandson is sweet and subtle and very English. Lord Edgington does not suffer fools and secretly likes how Christopher is the only family member willing to take risks and come along for the ride with him- this time literally in a balloon. 

I will be continuing with this series. In some respects it is your typical 1920's cozy English mystery but I find it to be a bit more unique and authentic than some of the others. If you like your books clean with charming characters and challenging mysteries you will enjoy these books!

Poison in Piccadilly by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Book Six)

Publication Date:

September 14, 2024

Genre: 

Historical Fiction

Length:  

256 pages

Series:

Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane

Book description courtesy of Amazon:

1918 London

Is Fiona Figg ready to exchange her sleuthing cap for a bridal veil? 

Fiona is set to tie the knot with her dashing flyboy, Archie Somersby. But, while Fiona is busy planning her happily ever after, side-kick Kitty Lane and a group of judo-chopping suffragettes are kicking up trouble at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club. 

When Kitty is found unconscious in the locker room during a high-stakes competition, Fiona must forsake her bouquets and bridal gown to investigate. Her sleuthing leads to a posh lady's luncheon where a mysterious death crashes Fiona's wedding plans. 

To make matters worse, the arch-nemesis of all things matrimonial, Fredrick Fredricks is up to his old tricks, attempting to put the brakes on Fiona's journey down the aisle. Will he succeed in tripping up Fiona's wedding vows? Or will she finally say "I don't" to the charming devil?

With humor as sharp as a judo chop and suspense as tight as a wedding corset, Poison in Piccadilly invites you to matrimonial mayhem that will have you saying "I do" to laughter and "forever more" to page-turning suspense. 

The book features real life suffragettes Sylvia Pankhurst and her bodyguards trained by Edith Garrud, who taught them jujitsu, which became known as Suffrajitsu.

My Thoughts:

This is the final book in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane mystery series. It was a lot of fun and although it's not deep reading I don't care....these stories are just fun and light and I'm such a fan of the covers. On audiobook they are especially great driving to and from work for a lightheartedness to get you through your day. I am going to miss Fiona, Kitty, Archie, Clifford, Fredricks, and the little dog, Poppy, but something tells me Oliver left the door open for another sequel some day.

In this story we stay in England which wasn't as much fun for me but that's okay, I think she wanted to end up where the story started. Fiona is shocked when her friend Kitty is found unconscious at the Piccadilly jujitsu club and is determined to find out what happened. Then a second murder occurs and she knows there is more to the story. As she investigates while also planning her wedding to Archie, Fiona realizes she might not be as sure of her commitment to him as she once thought. Then Fredricks shows up to confuse her even more. We spend the whole book wondering which man she will end up with and start to see more of Archie's secretive activities. She does her best to find out who would want her friend harmed and another woman killed and to fight her feelings for Fredricks. 

I thought the mystery part of the story was a bit slow and truth be told I wasn't terribly interested in the whole jujitsu thing. But that's a personal preference, the story was still entertaining. The ending made up for it and I thought she did a great job of wrapping up the series. I would like to start her newest one starring THE Agatha Christie solving crimes of her own. 

Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon (Lord John Grey Book One)

 

Publication Date:

September 30, 2003

Genre: 

Historical Fiction

Length:  

368 pages

Series:

Lord John Grey

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

The year is 1757. On a clear morning in mid-June, Lord John Grey emerges from London’s Beefsteak Club, his mind in turmoil. A nobleman and a high-ranking officer in His Majesty’s Army, Grey has just witnessed something shocking. But his efforts to avoid a scandal that might destroy his family are interrupted by something more.... the Crown appoints him to investigate the brutal murder of a comrade in arms, who may have been a traitor.

Obliged to pursue two inquiries at once, Major Grey finds himself ensnared in a web of treachery and betrayal that touches every stratum of English society — and threatens all he holds dear. From the bawdy houses of London’s night-world to the stately drawing rooms of the nobility, and from the blood of a murdered corpse to the thundering seas ruled by the majestic fleet of the East India Company, Lord John pursues the elusive trails of a vanishing footman and a woman in green velvet, who may hold the key to everything — or nothing.

The early days of the Seven Years War come brilliantly to life in this historical mystery by an author whose unique and compelling storytelling has engrossed millions of readers worldwide.

My Thoughts:

This is the second read of this book for me. I read it years ago before I had my blog and my goal is to review all of Gabaldon's books eventually. I thought I really needed to re-read it to make sure I remembered it. I absolutely love the character of Lord John from the big Outlander books and am anxiously awaiting STARZ to get on it and give him a spinoff show already based on these books!! If you've not read any Outlander books I would not start with the Lord John ones. At least try to read the first three Outlander books because I just don't think I'd have appreciated these spinoffs without the background knowledge provided in the "originals." But if you are like me, you will fall in love with Lord John and want to know what he is up to in his own personal and military life.

A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain by Marc Morris

 

Publication Date:

May 6, 2008

Genre: 

History

Length:  

480 pages

Series:

None

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

This is the first major biography for a generation of a truly formidable king – a man born to rule England, who believed that it was his right to rule all of Britain. His reign was one of the most dramatic and important of the entire Middle Ages, leading to war and conquest on an unprecedented scale, and leaving a legacy of division between the peoples of Britain that has lasted from his day to our own.

Edward I is familiar to millions as ‘Longshanks’, conqueror of Scotland and nemesis of Sir William Wallace (‘Braveheart’). Yet this story forms only the final chapter of the king’s astonishingly action-packed life. Earlier Edward had defeated and killed the famous Simon de Montfort in battle; travelled across Europe to the Holy Land on crusade; conquered Wales, extinguishing forever its native rulers, and constructing – at Conwy, Harlech, Beaumaris and Caernarfon – the most magnificent chain of castles ever created. He raised the greatest armies of the English Middle Ages, and summoned the largest parliaments; notoriously, he expelled all the Jews from his kingdom. The longest-lived of all England’s medieval kings, he fathered no fewer than fifteen children with his first wife, Eleanor of Castile, and after her death he erected the Eleanor Crosses – the grandest funeral monuments ever fashioned for an English monarch.

In this book, Marc Morris examines afresh the forces that drove Edward.  His relentless character, his Christian faith, and his sense of England’s destiny; a sense shaped in particular by the tales of the legendary King Arthur. He also explores the competing reasons that led Edward’s opponents (including Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Robert Bruce) to resist him, and the very different societies that then existed in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The result is a sweeping story, immaculately researched yet compellingly told, and a vivid picture of medieval Britain at the moment when its future was decided.

My Thoughts:

I've been on a mission the last couple of years to learn more about the 1200's. It just interested me because it seemed like there wasn't much in the way of history or historical fiction about those years and I wondered why. Sharon Penman's Welsh princes trilogy and Jean Plaidy's Plantagenet saga covers the time period but I'd never even heard of Simon de Montfort prior to those books. I'm an American so that is probably not unusual but still....once I started reading about that whole time of him and Henry III, I wondered how on earth there wasn't more written about them. Their stories are fascinating. 

So after I'd exhausted all I could find on Henry and Simon, I moved on to Edward, the next King in line. And his life is incredible too. Marc Morris does a great job of telling his story and including all the details of his early life, friction with his parents and relatives, involvement with battles as a young prince, and his reign while conquering Wales and Scotland (basically). It it a well researched, interesting story but at times it did get super detailed on some things I wasn't as interested in. In order to write a thorough biography of a King you have to discuss battles in detail to some degree and cover all aspects of the subject's life. Morris definitely does that. I was glad I'd read Plaidy's more fictional, yet historically accurate account prior to this book so I was more invested and understood what was happening. 

Morris's book felt like I was taking a history class with a narrative style. Sometimes I just want the facts, without fictional characters or dialogue, but it has to have a personal touch as well or it becomes too dry. I think he did a great job with this. 

I enjoyed this book on a topic that is rarely given the attention it deserves. Morris has clearly done his time covering all the parts of Edward's life. He has other biographies on Kings John and William I that I'm sure are good as well. It is worth your time if you want to know more about this period. 

Trouble On a Country Lane by Isabella Bassett (Lady Caroline Murder Mysteries Book 4)

 

Publication Date:

June 15, 2023

Genre: 

Cozy Mysteries, Historical Mysteries

Length:  

240 pages

Series:

Lady Caroline Murder Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

Beautiful, rich and young, for Lady Caroline, life is an easy road trip full of adventure. But when the road ends with a dead body, things quickly get complicated.

England, 1925 It’s summertime in England, and for Lady Caroline and her nimble roadster, life is as breezy and full of promise as a winding country road. Unfortunately, on the way to the latest party, the road ends with a body. And when a guest at the party dies next, Lady Caroline finds herself at a dead end. Now, devious mothers with grand designs, mysterious American busybodies, and unhelpful uncles all seem to conspire to keep Lady Caroline from uncovering the truth. With a befuddled police force, Lady Caroline must take the investigation into her own hands and unravel this frustrating tangle of events, lest the course of her life be changed forever. 

Trouble on a Country Lane is Book 4 of the Lady Caroline Murder Mysteries series. In the glamorous world of 1920s Europe, money and privilege rub shoulders, and greed, envy, and murder are never far behind. Follow Lady Caroline, intelligent and witty, with a fondness for breaking rules, on a fun romp through the golden age of murder mysteries. Each book contains the requisite eccentric characters, fun historical tidbits, and puzzling murders with no gore or gloom.

My Thoughts:

One of the reasons I have loved this series was the character of Uncle Albert. Early on I started realizing he wouldn't factor in much in this story and was disappointed. But it turned out to be a really fun read anyway! I also had put off reading this one because it takes place in England and part of the enjoyment of the series has been the exotic locations. But again, it was a fun story and included some history that intrigued me enough to look up more information about it. 

Lady Caroline spends most of the story at a country manor house trying to figure out why an American family is so keen on buying it and marrying their daughter off to one of the English sons residing there. In doing so she finds two murders to solve and has to do so while agonizing over her encounters with her love interest, James. She uses her skills honed in cases past solved with her loveable, bumbling Uncle who happens to play a very small role here but she visits him in one chapter. While the premise and time period are a common theme in these cozies, I thought this one was a lot of fun. I enjoy this series and plan on continuing with it. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Rivals at Ashmore Castle by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (Ashmore Castle Book Five)

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Rivals at Ashmore Castle, by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. I've read the first book in this series, The Secrets of Ashmore Castle, and enjoyed it and she has written another more famous series detailing British history from medieval times to World War II. This book set at the beginning of the 20th century looks like the perfect read for Downton Abbey fans like me! I need to continue with the series soon.

Historical Fiction

August 13, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

England, 1905

At Ashmore Castle, scandal is never far away...

When a train crash rocks Ashmore, unlikely heroes emerge - and old secrets begin to stir. Kitty is still finding her feet at the castle, though her sharp-tongued mother-in-law and the old earl's dark secret threaten her newfound confidence. Richard is certain he'll never love again now that Molly has sailed for America - until a new arrival catches his eye.

Downstairs, hearts and tempers are just as tested. Mr Moss nurses a quiet heartbreak, new footman Frederick isn't all he seems, and someone from Afton's past returns with unfinished business.

Meanwhile, Nina is facing motherhood and marriage with mixed feelings, Rachel's love life is teetering on disaster, and Alice's artistic ambitions lead her into dangerous territory.

From whispered secrets to forbidden passions, life at Ashmore Castle is full of surprises - but as rivalries flare and loyalties shift, the harmony of the castle is more fragile than ever.

 

Murder in Moscow by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Book Five)

 

Publication Date:

March 19, 2024

Genre: 

Cozy Mysteries, Historical Mysteries

Length:  

242 pages

Series:

Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

1918 Moscow

Will following her heart mean losing her head? It could mean losing her job.

Fiona Figg trails her nemesis Fredrick Fredricks to Moscow. But when she arrives at the grand Metropol Hotel, the bounder has vanished.

After Fiona doesn’t show up for work at the War Office, Kitty Lane raises a red flag and tracks her to Russia. Seeking haven at the British Embassy, Kitty and Fiona become embroiled in a plot to overthrow the Bolshevik government.

But the plot turns deadly when Fiona goes undercover as a governess in the household of Iron Viktor, the Bolsheviks’ Head of Secret Police. And when Viktor turns up dead in his study, Fiona finds herself wanted for murder and on the lam.

Can Fiona and Kitty find the real killer and escape the Kremlin before it’s too late? Or will this dangerous game of Russian roulette be their last?

My Thoughts:

I was looking forward to this book in the series because I enjoy those set in World War I Russia. The story of the Imperial family and the revolution has always fascinated me. If someone knew nothing about it this would be a fun way to learn a few main points and players. Within the mystery we find Fiona, Kitty, Archie, and Clifford once again battling Fredrick Fredricks, the German spy, sometimes savior, and a host of Russian characters who might be killers. 

Fiona becomes mixed up in the politics of the time and it lands her in hot water with the Russian government. Counting on the charity of the women she is imprisoned with, Fiona tries to escape her situation only to find herself in another perilous one.