Covert in Cairo by Kelly Oliver

April 24 – May 19, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

1917 Cairo.

Ancient mummies aren’t the only bodies buried in the tombs of Cairo. The notorious Fredrick Fredricks has lured Fiona to Egypt with a cryptic threat on the Suez Canal. But when a cheeky French archeologist is murdered, and an undercover British agent goes missing, the threat moves closer to home. Is the notorious Fredrick Fredricks behind the murders? Or is the plot even more sinister?

Competing excavators, jealous husbands, secret lovers, and belligerent spies are the leading suspects. As they dig deeper, soon Fiona and Kitty are up to their donkeys in dead bodies. If they can’t unwind the clues and catch the killer, they might end up sharing a sarcophagus with Nefertiti. With humor as dry as the Arabian desert, and pacing as fast as a spitting camel, Fiona and Kitty are back in another sparkling adventure, this time in WW1 Egypt.

My Thoughts

Fifth in the Fiona Figg series by Kelly Oliver, Covert in Cairo finds our clever Ms. Figg applying her razor-sharp mind to mysterious activities in Egypt and around the Suez Canal, all the while wearing her collection of clever disguises and trying to maintain her (somewhat) orderly existence as a proper English lady.

Here, Fiona and her protégé Kitty (or is it the other way around?) tackle multiple villains, but most importantly Frederick Fredericks, Fiona’s constant nemesis. There’s the usual madcap run of show with plenty of action, witty dialog, and ridiculous situations which test the limits of Fiona’s expertise as a spy and as a file clerk!

Covert in Cairo was my first Fiona Figg mystery and I did struggle a bit to understand some of the action and characters that refer to previous entries in the series. I tracked down a couple of the earlier books and read those, then went back to Cairo. I was able to follow *this* plotline just fine and found it enjoyable reading.

Fans of the Phryne Fisher series will enjoy this one.

PRAISE FOR FIONA FIGG:

“Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Maisie Dobbs.”
BookTrib

“Tantalizing and riveting with a good dose of humor while keeping the heartbreaking reality of war in the mix.”
The Los Angeles Post

“A clever mix of humor and espionage that will keep you turning the pages and laughing all the way!”
Dianne Freeman, author the Countess of Harleigh mysteries.

“A perfect blend of wit, fun, and intrigue.”
Debra Goldstein, Author of the Sarah Blair Cozy Mysteries

“The perfect wartime spy: Fiona Figg. Smart, sneaky, and full of surprises… A fun whodunit that will keep you turning the pages!”
Cathi Stoler, author of The Murder On The Rocks Mysteries

“Fun, easy-to-read, witty mystery that had me happily turning the pages.”
Melissa’s Bookshelf

“Humor, action, and intrigue. I found myself thoroughly entertained.”
Urban Book Reviews

Book Details

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: April 2023
Number of Pages: 300
ISBN: Coming Soon
Series: A Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery, 2 (These are Stand-Alone Mysteries)
Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Book Trailer

Author Bio

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of three mystery series: the seven-book suspense series, The Jessica James Mysteries; the three-book middle grade kids’ series, Pet Detective Mysteries; and the four-book historical cozy series, The Fiona Figg Mysteries, inspired by those trips to the Green Hills Library.

Currently, Kelly is the Vice President of Sisters in Crime.

When she’s not writing novels, Kelly is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.