Review of COVERT IN CAIRO by Kelly Oliver

COVERT IN CAIRO (A Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery #2) by Kelly Oliver will be released on April 25, 2023 by Boldwood Books.

Hot on the trail of a German spy, Fiona Figg and her associates from the British Intelligence Office travel undercover to Egypt to stop Fredrick Fredricks and his furtive cohorts before they can commit whatever act of sabotage or nefarious undertakings that he is planning. Upon arrival, they learn that another undercover British officer has gone missing. While searching for the missing agent—and tracking suspicious people through the desert—Fiona and her partner, Kitty Lane, come across the dead body of a French archeologist in the tomb that he was excavating. When another British agent dies under suspicious circumstances while in the hospital, Fiona finds herself at the top of the suspect list. Even though she is instructed by headquarters to focus on Fredericks, Fiona takes it upon herself to continue the search for the missing agent as well as solving the murder of the archeologist and the other British agent. Fiona is convinced that Fredericks is somehow involved in all this, but who are his cohorts and what are they planning?

I have read the three novels in the Fiona Figg Mystery series as well as the first novel in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery series. For anyone new to Fiona Figg, I recommend starting from the beginning. Each novel has its own plot and mystery, but there is an overall storyline that runs through all of the novels and COVERT IN CAIRO’s plot will be easier to follow if you read the books in order.

COVERT IN CAIRO is a fun historical mystery that is full of plot twists, red herrings, and intrigue. With only two weeks of training, Fiona Figg isn’t the most competent spy. No one seems to take Fiona seriously—except for Frederick Fredericks—yet she always comes through in the end. No, she hasn’t yet captured Fredericks yet. But she has foiled many of his plots. And her disguises and investigating tactics are always a good laugh. I really enjoy the introduction of Kitty Lane to the series. The young woman has clearly been better trained that Fiona, but the totality of her skills and her official task remain a mystery. As always, Fredericks is a delightful villain who may or may not be the true bad guy of the series. COVERT IN CAIRO takes the reader from the illustrious Shepherd’s Hotel, to the streets of Cairo, and even out to the Giza pyramids and tombs. Famous characters such as Lord Carnarvon and his daughter Evelyn, Howard Carter, Gertrude Bell, and Lawrence of Arabia make appearances throughout the novel and add to the atmosphere of Cairo and to the time period. I’m looking forward to Fiona’s next adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.