Wonderful. Another book about Fiona and Kitty is like seeing old friends after a period of absence. Such an easy, and enjoyable read and lots of laughs along the way

Prepare for an avalanche of laughter and suspense in Kelly Oliver's "Mayhem in the Mountains." Set in the winter wonderland of 1918 Italy, this cozy mystery takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of wit, intrigue, and unexpected twists.

The story follows Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane, two spirited and resourceful women whose plans for a mountain getaway take a treacherous turn. Trapped by a deadly blizzard in their snowed-in hotel in the Dolomite Mountains, Fiona and Kitty are thrust into a chilling predicament. When a man is discovered dead in his locked hotel room, panic grips the guests as they realize the killer is among them. With no clear murder weapon and a cast of suspicious characters, Fiona and Kitty must navigate through a maze of clues on treacherous terrain.

Kelly Oliver's writing is a breath of fresh air, blending suspense with humor in a way that keeps readers engaged from the first page to the last. The wit and banter between Fiona and Kitty inject a delightful sense of camaraderie, making them an irresistible duo. Fiona's quick thinking and sharp tongue, coupled with Kitty's intelligence and charm, create a dynamic partnership that is both endearing and entertaining.

The setting itself becomes a character in the story, with the snow-covered Dolomite Mountains serving as a backdrop that enhances the tension and isolation of the situation. The confined space of the snowed-in hotel intensifies the suspense, making every encounter and revelation more electrifying.

The mystery at the heart of the novel is as intricate as a downhill slalom course, filled with unexpected turns and red herrings that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Oliver skillfully weaves together a web of motives, alibis, and secrets, ensuring that no one is above suspicion.

Beyond the mystery, the novel explores interpersonal relationships and human nature. Fiona's interactions with both her beloved Archie and her nemesis Fredricks add depth to her character, showcasing her vulnerabilities and strengths. The romantic and competitive elements add a layer of complexity to the plot, giving it an emotional depth that resonates.

"Mayhem in the Mountains" is a delightful blend of mystery, humor, and heart. Kelly Oliver's storytelling prowess shines as she masterfully combines suspenseful elements with laugh-out-loud moments. With its rapid pace and unexpected twists, the book keeps readers hooked until the final page.

In this cozy mystery, the temperature isn't the only thing dropping; readers will find themselves melting into puddles of laughter as they join Fiona and Kitty on a thrilling ride of sleuthing and sledding. So snap in, embrace the adventure, and let "Mayhem in the Mountains" take you on an unforgettable journey through a winter wonderland of mystery and mirth.

Mayhem in the Mountains picks up where Covert in Cairo ends; only our intrepid file clerk-turned-spy has exchanged the heat of the desert for the cold of Italy in January. And it is very cold and quite miserable and were it not for tea, toast (and marmalade), and a few trusty Sherlock Holmes stories, Fiona would be quite bored.

But never fear, when Fredricks finally arrives (late, don’t you know) a chain of events starts, beginning with an avalanche that culminates in the need to investigate a perplexing murder case, and one that becomes increasingly perplexing as we learn more and more about probable events.

Interwoven with fictional portrayals of real people, including Mussolini, Mayhem in the Mountains is a fine mystery that only Fiona seems eager to solve. At the same time, other characters are more concerned with the war effort and a few shady shenanigans between MI5 and sister organisations.

There is a real vibrancy to these tales. Fiona might on occasion seem a little too focused on only one thing -proving to her boss that she deserves to escape from Room 40 at the War Office – but that doesn’t stop her from being determined to do the right thing, even if others don’t always agree with her. Her morality means she often stands slightly to the side of her supposed allies and fellow spies.

A vibrant, entertaining read, sure to appeal to fans of historical mysteries, and with just the right amount of historical detail.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

I have read all the books in this series and enjoyed them. Fiona continues to get into scrapes-complete with her beloved disguises- in a variety of exotic locales. This one sees Fiona and team in Italy, solving a mystery involving real life characters like a young Mussolini. The mystery and writing are good as always. I enjoyed this one a little less just because it felt like the same almost-love-triangle and relationship drama was getting dragged on. Again, still a very good book, but the love triangle is just not one of my favorite plot developments. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another fab cosy mystery in the Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane series, this one set in the mountains in Italy. There is so much going on during this one, poison, murder, espionage, skiing!

Fiona is chasing Fredrick Fredricks again, trying to work out what he knows about the war and stop him from passing on secrets. Then all hell breaks loose and she’s caught in the middle of a murder hunt during a snowstorm that cuts off the hotel from civilisation. Some great characters again, and the cute Poppy too. Clifford seems to start every sentence with “I say” which is amusing in itself.

Can’t wait for the next one, fast becoming one of my favourite easy cosy series reads.

Set in the Italian Dolomites in 1918, this is the third instalment in the Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane mystery series. While the references to the duo's previous missions have made me curious about the two other books, however, this can be thoroughly enjoyed as a standalone novel.

In this adventure, the two British agents find themselves in a snowed in hotel in the company of a colourful cast of both fictional and non-fictional characters. Murder, mystery, espionage and a touch of romance ensue, keeping the reader amused and guessing.

The story is 100% entertaining but I also loved that it taught me something about the history of my own country, and it made me reach out for my school books to brush up on knowledge that had been forgotten.

A cozy mystery to snuggle up with, preferably with a good cup of tea and a good reading buddy.

Fiona and Kitty are in Italy. Fiona keeping an eye on Fredrick Fredricks. Kitty doing her things with her dog until the murder. Then everything changes. Fiona trails the murderer. Kitty and Maria leave for who knows where. Archie, Fiona's love interest, takes Fiona to see the real Mussolini. More twists in the story. The action keeps going.
I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley and leaving a review by my own accord.

Italy, historical-research, historical-places-events, historical-setting, disguises, historical-novel, locked-room-mystery, snow-season, espionage, situational-humor, verbal-humor, series, ski-season, 1917-18, war-experiences, famous-persons, amateur-sleuth, murder-investigation, widower, attempted-murder, codes, early-forensics, avalanche, poisons*****

The Great War in Europe brings all manner of spies into the mix.
More fun in spydom with Fiona, Kitty, and Clifford. This time they are in a hotel in the Dolomite mountains of Italy trying to foil enemy spies who intend harm, and one of the characters is Mussolini, himself . The humor is on a par with a G-rated Mel Brooks! Fiona is a real character who loves to wear costumes such as clothing requiring mustaches and more. Kitty has had a much more pedestrian education and knows a lot about locks, codes, and even some early forensics.
The plot is solid and always in motion, the red herrings are truly creative, and the plot twists are more than sneaky. Loved the story and laughed my sox off!
I requested and received an EARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Another great entry in this series that gets better as you go along. ?I wasn't sure about Fiona in the first book as she just seemed silly and incompetent where as she's grown along the series and the humour is more quirky now than silly. The Dolomites was a great back drop to the action and the attention to historic details is great. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this cozy historical murder/spy mystery and Fiona; Clifford and Kitty have gelled to form a vaguely competent team. Although the book is the third book in Fiona Rigg and Kitty Lane, historical fiction series, it can be read and enjoyed without having read the other two.

I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion,
I love Fiona’s character- she remains a combination of contradictions- a woman attracted to two men but silently disapproves of Kitty forth-rightness’s, modern yet old fashioned but her withering thoughts highlights the ridiculousness and brutality of war.
The story focusses on Fiona’s ongoing task of tracking Fredericks but becomes in embroiled in solving a murder involving Mussolini. Fiona’s attraction to both Archie and Fredicks take more of a centre-stage here but not in the way I expected (in a good way) but does not become the focus of the story.
The Dolomites provide a dramatic landscape for the several of the fast-paced action scenes.
I love the attention to historical detail, for example the little nugget that the only women who wore red lipstick prior to 1914 were actresses and ladies of the night but that had all changed by 1918!
The book continues to be funny despite the dark themes of war and I would love to read about the adventures Fiona refers too (when she had to shave her hair and how she first met Fredericks).

I'm hooked. It took me awhile to warm up to Fiona Figg but this book definitely put me on her team. She's smart, not to mention smarts under the thumb of the male dominated espionage career she aspires to, and while she makes some mistakes, she's also full of heart and compassion. I'm not sure the latter is a good trait for a wannabe spy but, well, it is what it is. Moral dilemmas are the worst, even in the middle of a war, it seems, for Fiona. She's also not particularly patient but, then, neither is the somewhat mysterious Kitty whose spy talents are formidable.

I also liked Clifford, who Fiona calls her chaperone, so to speak, but is surely more. I mean, he's friends with Fredrick Fredricks, the master spy that Fiona and Kitty are rather obsessed with capturing. Kitty because, well, it's her job, at least that's what we're meant to think, and Fiona because....well, uh, because he makes her blush and her heart pound when he's near. We get to see more of the human side of him this go-round, too, I'll note.

The mystery itself is fun, full of interesting characters and quirky humor. Like what? Well, how about Fiona being barely aware of a than new author, Agatha "Crispy". That's the sort of subtle humor the author excels at, some of which is almost past you before you suddenly come to a pause, re-read, and grin. Toss in Kelly Oliver's talent for sprinkling historical events and characters about in her stories -- we've even got an arrogant Benito Mussolini this go-round - and this history lover was in her element reading. Oliver sent me to Google, too, when I wondered if the amazing female aviator introduced rather dramatically into the story, Marie Marvingt was a real person or not. Oh, she was real and what an amazing person she must have been. That said, I'll simply say do a search on her as I don't want to take up this entire review gushing about her many, many accomplishments, among them being the force behind the creation of air ambulances.

But, oh, yeah, back to the mystery. Well, there are several. Who will ultimately win Fiona's heart. Let's just say her "official" beau, Archie, didn't exactly help himself this go-round. How many times can Conti die, only to suddenly come alive again? That was a bit of a stretch, yes, but added to the mystery. Could Mussolini be the killer? If not, why did someone identify him as the killer? Why can't they find the weapon? Who is that quiet, subdued lady who basically says nothing? How good are you at deciphering codes? Not as good as Fiona, probably. I know I wasn't. And, will Fiona manage to find an excuse to don a disguise? I mean, even Marie seems to appreciated her array of disguises.

In other words, there is a ton of stuff going on. And, I haven't even mentioned the rock throwing, poisonings, wolverine, and the dilemma of trying to catagorize what is good and bad in wartime service. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, that's for sure, and was ready for the next even before peeking at the teaser chapter at the end. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for letting me tag along on Fiona's last assignment.

Mayhem in the Mountains by Kelly Oliver is a new favorite in Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mysteries. I have been following this series from the beginning and with each installment, it keeps getting better and better.

Kelly Oliver is a master storyteller. With a dash of humor and quirky characters, Mayhem in the Murder keeps one hooked on to the story till the end. What's more is that this is a perfect read for those who love snowed-in and locked room mysteries. As a cherry on top, we have a unique murder weapon - Fiona has a hard time finding it!!

Wait, I am not done yet. With the impending doom of the war and its atrocities, Fiona, Kitty and Clifford (Fiona's 'caretaker'), are sent on a secret mission by the British. At the hotel, they meet another guest - quite a famous personality in Italian politics.

The mystery behind the murder kept me guessing till the end. Fiona might be new to the spy game but she's certainly proving to be quite good at it. Her sleuthing skills are excellent.

Apart from the murder mystery and dirty politics, the story also emphasizes on how ruthless men in power misuse their authority to abuse others - and get away with it.

If you are looking for a gripping and completely engrossing historical mystery, look no further. Mayhem in the Mountains by Kelly Oliver is THE book for you.