I kept my hopes high on this book and I am disappointed that it didn't live up to my expectations. First is the mystery. The murder doesn't happen till halfway through the book. And when it does, the conclusion comes sooner than expected. I also noted that there wasn't much of sleuthing involved either. Secondly, the limelight is on Fiona's disguises and her romantic liaisons with Fredericks.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I expected because the mystery and sleuthing elements were not as prominent as in previous installments. It also seemed like Fiona was running around, looking for clues and whatnot where none existed.

Having said that, I hope things get better in the next installment. Fiona's next stop is Moscow and I wonder how things are going to play out between Frederick, Archie, and Fiona.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood for a copy of "Arsenic at Ascot in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 4th book in the Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery series. While it reads well on it's own, it would make more sense if the previous books were read because there are many references to places and people that otherwise are hard to follow.

Fiona Figg is a 25 year-old head file clerk at the War Office. She was recalled to London from her one and only mission. She works with codebreakers and when she realizes that a new telegram that arrived is meant for her. Why is mysterious German spy Frederick Fredericks sending her a message in code that he knows the entire office will see?

Fiona has an invitation to a party pushed under her door and it's address to Lady Tabitha Kentworthy.

She is entrusted with a couple of new missions and she's thrilled because she is never happier than when she can dress up in her disguises and use her acting skills. They don't really seem to appreciate her talents at the War Office. She ends up with 3 cover stories - Frank Hightower (a name she picked off a sign), Rear Admiral Arbuthnot and Lady Tabitha Kentworthy. Fiona is also blessed with a photographic memory. Any document she sees, she can reproduce.

There is a lot of the story devoted to animal experimentations - with both the pro and con sides addressed. Still it is worth noting to readers to expect this.

Here's another Fiona Figg special. She's a woman of many disguises who sleuthes her way through yet another mystery and murder. She'll certainly lead you on a merry chase in pursuit of the culprits. Oh and if only she can decide which suitor suits her! Lots of fun especially for those who like some light and quick reading, and a laugh here and there, I'd say. I enjoyed it.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

This was a well crafted novel. The storyline is whimsical and slightly unlikely but that light sense of humour pervades the whole book. I like the main character, a slightly scatty heroine who worries about her abilities but who is really perceptive and relentless in her pursuit of her goal. Her love life is suitabl6 complicated and keeps you guessing. All in all, a worthwhile read

Agent Fiona Figg is back in London and filing papers for the war office’s codebreakers when she is summoned to attend a house party that will be attended by – and animal defense advocates. There is suspicion that one of the is . Fiona is tasked with finding the leak and infiltrating the group of activists. When one of the guests—a veterinarian who is working for the government—in murdered, Fiona teams up with her arch-nemesis Frederick Fredricks to uncover the killer.

ARSENIC AT ASCOT is a solid addition to the Fiona Figg Mystery series. Fiona may not be the best undercover agent, but she is dedicated to her job and ferreting out the truth. For once, her supervisor encourages her to dress up in her costumes—including her favored mustaches—and assume different identities while attending the house party and infiltrating a military base to get a closer look at the experiments being conducted on animals. Fiona and her compatriots—Frederick, Archie, Kitty, and Clifford—are all solid and (mostly) likeable main characters. Fiona’s blunders are always good for a laugh, but her wavering feelings for both Archie and Fredricks are growing a bit tedious. Her hormone level is on par with a teenage girl opposed to a widowed woman in her mid-twenties. That being said, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

'Arsenic at Ascot' by Kelly Oliver.
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 main event, but the odds are against her when both her arch nemesis, dark-horse Fredrick Fredricks, and would-be fiance Lieutenant Archie Somersby arrive unexpectedly and mess up 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 pipped to the post and put out to pasture by the killer?
I loved this book. I'm a big fan of the previous books so I knew before reading this I would be in for a treat. I'm a big fan of Fiona and especially when Fredricks is involved, they have amazing chemistry. But I would of loved this book even more if Kitty had been involved from the start because I think her and Fiona have a fantastic dynamic between them. They work together so well. This book didn't disappoint, it had me guessing right up to the last minute and I can't wait for the next one. For anyone who is a fan of mysteries and adventure give these books a read.
Thankyou to NetGallery, the publishers and the author for letting me read the book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve become a fan of these historical cosy mysteries and look forward to each new instalment, so was excited to be given a chance to review this book ahead of its publication. But you don’t need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy this book but I would definitely recommend reading the others.
This serious is humorous and while touching upon the horrors of World War One always manages to leave feeling optimistic and content when I finish reading the last page.
Fiona Rigg continues to be a hilarious mix of modern womanhood and old-fashioned values. The book picks up soon after the events of the Mayhem in the Mountains (review here). She finally receives the recognition she deserves for being an effective spy and is on her first undercover mission with two new identities. But of course, the two men in her life Archie and Frederick, crash her mission with hilarious consequences.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.


There was more romance in this book, I could really feel the attraction Fiona had for Fredericks in this book, an attraction that has been slowly building over the last few books and I loved the softer side of Fredericks. Clifford and Kitty and not forgetting Poppy play their parts in helping Fiona.

The book is set in wartime Ascot and London which is definitely less exotic than the previous setting of Fiona’s adventures, but the author describes this world perfectly. I never knew about the conscription of animals on the frontline and that the animal rights movement had started around this time.

As always, I love reading any author’s note and I was fascinated to find out that one of the main characters is based on a real-life spy!

I can’t wait to read Fiona’s next adventure.

Content Warning

References to animal experimentation

Fiona finds herself back at her file clerk job at the War Office, even after successfully completing her last mission in Italy. She is given the assignment of trying to find a mole in a war-effort laboratory and also attending a weekend party in Ascot. The best part is she gets to wear disguises and use her acting skills.

During the house party there is a murder of a doctor from the laboratory. Could there be a connection between the mole and the murder? Fiona is determined to solve both. She is once again aided by Clifford and Kitty (the niece of her boss and a foot fighting forensics expert), and Poppy that cute Pomeranian who also has some handy skills.

If that isn't enough, she is also dealing with a love triangle between her beau Lt. Archie Somersby and the German spy Frederick Fredericks.

This is a mystery that has it all, spying, secrets, murder, romance and action and some comedy. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next and could not put it down.

I love Fiona and her feisty determination. In my opinion Archie was bit stuffy and Fredericks seems to accept and like Fiona just like she is.

This is a great read! I loved the epilogue and also the teaser chapter included for the next book. I can't wait to catch up with Fiona again. Please let it be soon!!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity read this and give my honest review,

ARC Review

Arsenic at Ascot by Kelly Oliver is a cozy mystery. It's the fourth book from the Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane mystery series.

Our lovely Fiona Figg was back at her desk doing boring work when she was assigned the simple task of finding a mole. Soon that assignment turned out to be more serious and dangerous. With the help of her flirtatious Fredrick, her "niece" Kitty, and the mysterious Archie managed to solve the mystery and live another day.

This book is definitely a page-turner. It has everything you need, a little bit of flirting, lots of mystery, and
of course near death experiences. The plot is quite engaging with all the funny moments, the suspense, and the fact that you can't easily figure out who the murderer is. The characters are amazing. My favorite is Fiona with her quirkiness and her idgaf attitude. My second favorite is Fredrick, I think they would be a great couple.

It is a very enjoyable read that I recommend to everyone. I will rate it with 4,5 stars.

The book opens with Fiona Figg, fresh from a successful mission for the War Office, back in the file room. She's chaffing at being what surely amounts to being demoted back into the office where her main job is to file and, grr, be expected to make coffee for the male dominated decoding staff. She also, much to her annoyance, finds she rather misses Kitty, her "niece" and partner on assignments that allow her to use her love of disguises to ferret out spies. That soon changes, however, when she is elated to not only get a new assignment but one that allows her to use her disguises and acting abilities to portray both a male admiral and female aristocrat. It also puts her into contact with the males vying for her favor, one with the British service, Archie, the other, well, we're never quite sure where Fredrick Fredricks' loyalty rests.

Unfortunately, Fiona is alternately attracted to both of them. To be honest, her wildly fluctuating hormones seemed to guide her actions more than usual even in this book, becoming rather tedious when I was ready to get on with the story. Fredricks seems the more interesting of the pair, however, and does have the knack of disappearing and reappearing regularly. Too bad Archie wants to kill him and, in fact, has tried to in a previous book. Both say the other isn't to be trusted although Fredrick claims to have changed and is searching for peace now, not looking to blow things up or kill. Fiona isn't sure she believes him but, then, she just plain seems unsure about her own heart, let alone the men who want to claim it.

As for the mystery, it happens relatively late in the story. A man is murdered in the room next to where Fiona is staying. Both Fredricks and Kitty manage to show up soon after. Fiona more or less abandons her guise as a society Lady to ask questions but it isn't easy. Even the murder investigation is tinged by the war effort, something always just on the edge of the story, especially as it impacts the rich vrs. poor. You'll meet some characters who turned out to be based on real-life people, too. Be sure to read the Notes From the Author at the end for a fascinating look at those who inspired them. It is such fun to watch Fiona investigate, even when she's forced to admit Kitty's skills at forensics and the men's muscle are helpful.

To be honest, the murder seemed the side-story in this book, interestingly enough, as I found myself more invested in keeping track of which way Fiona's heart was leaning from scene to scene and being appalled at the "monkey gland" experiment and such. As a result, I wound up going with a 4 star rating but will still highly recommend the book. It's a quick, full of action read, with characters that will intrigue you. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for allowing me to catch up on Fiona's world. That teaser chapter at the end, though. Whew, that next book is going to be super exciting, too.

This is the fourth book in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery Books I've read. I confess, what I really enjoyed about book 3, Mayhem in the Mountains, was Fiona's lack of dressing up in costume and, therefore, no mention of her favourite fake moustache. So I was somewhat alarmed when, only a few chapters in, Fiona was once more masquerading in one of her many costumes. However, I needn't have feared. Kitty has not forgotten about her costumes, and she certainly puts them to good use in Arsenic at Ascot, but much of the time, Fiona is either herself or Lady Tabitha. Not that I object to her masquerading, but I'd much rather hear about her favourite wig than her suitcase full of fake moustaches and beards.

Fiona has been grounded in Arsenic at Ascot. Somewhat depressed and out of sorts at finding herself once more a 'mere' file clerk, all is doom and gloom and complaints about washing up after the codebreakers when she's summoned by none other than her boss and told to don one of her many costumes. What ensues is a, at times, somewhat uncomfortable look at the world of vivisectionists and antivivisectionists and the use animals were put to during the war. As Fiona has no clear idea about what she thinks about either side of the argument, the exploration into what we now think of as animal cruelty is somewhat distressing, although it's never laboured. And readers will be quite astounded at some of the experiments, which, according to the end notes, are based on natural experiments of the time.

While all this is happening, Fiona is once more caught in the love triangle between Archie and Frederick Fredericks and has a hole to climb out of with Archie, thanks to Kitty Lane. It will not stop her from solving who killed the latest body she's found at a country estate.

As with the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane books, the mysteries and conspiracies are well thought out, and the conclusion is satisfying. I also enjoy knowing this is not the last of the series, as book 5 gets a great set-up in the final chapters.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with a dash of humour and a little frisson of romance, then the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane books are sure to appeal to you, with their knowledge of the 'of their time' investigative techniques, all combined with the intrigue of our spies, Archie and Fredericks and dotted with either real historical characters or creations based on them—a delightful mystery.

Absolutely loved this book! Amazing read. Love the characters, plot and era in which the mystery takes place. An absolute must read.

I was really torn on this latest entry in the Fiona Figg series. On the positive side, this book, like the others, is a fun, entertaining romp with Fiona getting into character and into her usual scrapes at a house party back in England. The mystery is entertaining and the story is well written. On the negative side, I feel like the last couple of books in the series have essentially replayed the same dynamic in Fiona’s personal life. Her attraction to both Archie and her supposed nemesis continues, and the lack of movement on that front feels frustrating. On the whole, the positives certainly outweigh the negatives, and this is a very fun, enjoyable series. I hope there is some sort of movement on the personal issues in the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

disguises, espionage, historical-novel, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, situational-humor, verbal-humor, series, war-experiences, codes, widow, amateur-sleuth, 1917-18, undercover, photographic-memory, romantic, house-party, unputdownable, activism, poisons, murder-investigation, frenemy, England*****

The Great War in Europe brings all manner of spies and dishonest scientists into the mix, but none are as funny and effective as Britisher Fiona Figg. Fiona is a real character who loves to wear costumes such as clothing requiring mustaches and more. The plot is solid and always in motion, the red herrings are truly inventive, and the plot twists are more than hilarious with humor on a par with a G-rated Mel Brooks! This episode stars Fiona, her frenemy Frederick and only some of her regular crew with a house party, antivivisectionists, and other madness. And then one of them is poisoned!
Loved the story and laughed my sox off!
I requested and received an EARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you!