Arsenic at Ascot is number seven in Kelly Oliver’s Fiona Figg series. However, if you check Fantastic Fiction, it is number 4 in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane series. I have read a few of these, but apparently missed some others. In number 7 Fiona is back to shuffling papers for the War Office. Just as she is thinking that her espionage career is over, Fiona receives a mysterious card inviting Lady Tabitha Kentworthy to a house party theme based on Ascot. At the party, Fiona is joined by Lieutenant Archie Somersby and together they discover a murder. Fiona starts investigating when Frederick Fredericks also arrives on the scene. Now Fiona is meant to infiltrate an animal activists' group, solve a murder, and figure out what Fredericks is up to.
I do not like Archie, and I am not fond of Fiona either. It really does not seem like Fiona learns anything from each assignment. She lets her heart rule her head and then seems upset when it doesn’t work out. I also am not fond of this love triangle with Archie and Fredericks. Archie seems to be a “quick to anger” type who believes one person over Fiona. Quite honestly that would bother me, so I’m not understanding Fiona’s preference. The love triangle between Fiona, Archie, and Fredericks is also very distracting. Can Fiona please be developed away from this somehow?
The mystery for me seems to be pushed aside more than once for the sake of Fiona’s romances, but this plot was still one of my favorites. I always love to read what authors come up with in regard to the locked room mystery. This one was interesting, to say the least.
I also enjoy the fact that the author clearly does her homework in referencing real people during this era. It is another one of my favorite reasons for continuing this series.
Overall, I rate this novel 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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