The indomitable and ever-practical Fiona Figg is trousseau shopping for her upcoming marriage to Lieutenant Archie Somersby. She's feeling a little ambivalent about her nuptials, as she knows there are too many secrets in Archie's life, and Fiona wants to clear the air.

Taking a break from shopping, she heads to the jiujitsu dojo where Kitty Lane, her partner in espionage, is practicing for an upcoming competition. There, Fiona meets a number of Suffragettes learning jiujitsu.

In the changing room, Fiona is shocked to discover an unconscious Kitty with a big goose egg-sized bump on the young woman's head. When Kitty wakes up at the hospital, she remembers nothing about herself or anyone else, except that she works for MI-5, which Fiona dismisses as the product of an addled head. But, Fiona knows someone tried to kill Kitty, and she is determined to identify the perpetrator.

This takes her to the home of one of the Suffragettes, where Fiona stumbles upon the dead body of one of the group's women, with one of Fiona's new hatpins in the woman's neck. Naturally, the police arrest Fiona, but thank goodness Captain Hall of the War Office can get her out, and Fiona is even more determined to identify the killer, especially because if she doesn't, Fiona's the police's only suspect.

At the same time, Fiona is realizing that Archie and she have a number of vital things to establish before their marriage, such as the fact that Fiona intends to continue her espionage work, costumes and all, and that she cannot have children. Archie has assumed Fiona will simply retire to their new home and manage their household and family. So….serious potential points of dispute unless the two can find the time for a talk.

This, of course, never happens, as Fiona, and a recovering Kitty, are each investigating, with Fiona even heading to Ireland at one point.

There are secret identities to put on, moles to reveal, memories to recover, and an upcoming marriage that the closer they get to the date, the less Fiona is sure she wants to go through. And Frederick Fredericks is ever present, urging Fiona to be careful as Archie is lying to her about multiple things.

I enjoyed this latest entry is this silly, cozy, funny, and satisfying series. Kitty was less active in this latest, but Fiona is figuring out new costumes and identities, meeting Suffragettes and their not always supportive husbands, and wondering what to do with her own muddled feelings and life full of adventure and danger, both of which have given her much needed confidence and personal and professional satisfaction.

I liked how Kitty's injury caused her to question things she had been told about her life, and how she does an about face in her feelings about a situation involving Fiona. I have totally come around on this character, after initially being a little irritated when she first walked into this series, as it took focus from the wonderful Fiona, but the two women and their respective skills and abilities have proven a good match, and an effective investigative team.

And the team wouldn't be complete without another appearance by the ridiculous Clifford. The best thing about him is how unquestioningly supportive he is of the two women, despite some of his less than enlightened views on big game hunting and women's rights. Clifford consistently comes when called, is up for driving Fiona wherever she needs or playing along with her schemes, and will take care of Poppy at the drop of a hat. He's constantly silly, but a constant friend. Who would have thought that I would feel this way when he first appeared in the series?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the ending leaves the story to go in some really interesting directions with Fiona taking charge of life in a way I had not anticipated. No matter how it plays out, I'm looking forward to it!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This was a good jolly read that was a lot of fun. I loved it being set int eh 20’s and her use of dressing up to disguise her as a man to get stuff done.
The friendships were really fun and the liked the history being weaved through. It was very enola homes like. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

1918, Fiona Figg is all set to marry her beau Archie but she still doesn't fully trust him. Her suspicions are further raised when her 'niece' Kitty is attacked and Archie could be responsible...
Poison in Piccadilly is the 6th book to feature secret agents Fiona and Kitty as they strive to support the war effort but become embroiled in murders as well.
The mistrust that Fiona feels towards Archie and Kitty is exacerbated in this book. Kitty is attacked early on and suffers from amnesia. In her confusion she reveals some secrets which prove she has previously been economic with the truth. Archie is photographed with another woman and is never where he claims to be. The wedding seems like a big mistake...
There is also a murder to investigate although the police are baffled. Ellen dies at a dinner party, apparently from a heart attack but with Fiona's hatpin stabbed in her. I was waiting to see where the poison in the title comes from and it doesn't feature until the second half of the book.
As usual for this series of books, there is great attention to the historical and geographical detail which underpins the plot. This book features suffragettes and characters based on real life people from the era.
I liked seeing a more vulnerable side to Kitty as well as more information about her hidden past. Added to wedding woes, worries about Kitty's memory and the murder investigation, Fiona is also reunited with the notorious German spy Fredrick Fredricks. I love their 'will they, won't they' relationship and the ending was a real cliffhanger so I can't wait for the next book.
Poison in Piccadilly is a very enjoyable cosy historical murder mystery.

In the latest installment of the Fiona Figg cozy mystery series, readers join Fiona as she prepares to hang up her detective hat and replace it with a wedding veil in 1918. In the days before her wedding to Archie Somersby, Fiona is ready for a happy marriage when Kitty Lane and some suffragettes are in a bit of a tight spot. Kitty, found unconscious in the jiu jitsu studio, has lost her short-term memory and is in the middle of an operation that no one else is familiar with. Besides having to watch Kitty and figure out her case, Fiona must also deal with a mysterious death at a wealthy woman’s luncheon and deal with Fredrick Fredricks’ usual shenanigans. With a lot going on and many demands on her time and attention, readers join Fiona in these chaotic times and help her solve two cases and deal with the sudden messiness of her love life just in time for her wedding day. With the usual cast of characters in full form, readers will love the new twists and turns and historical moments Oliver drops into the novel, and the new characters and mysteries are complex and unique. Readers have many threads to pull and follow in this novel and will love Kelly Oliver’s latest Fiona Figg mystery.

This is a fun light mystery novel. It is fun to read Fiona's thoughts and brings a smile most of the time. The real life character comparison is interesting to read as well.

At this point, I am just continuing to read this series because I want to know who Archie really is. I cannot stand Fiona, who doesn’t seem to learn anything during each of her adventures. For someone who is supposed to be a spy, she cannot seem to remember how to actually be one. And then there is her wishy-washy feelings for Fredericks and Archie. It's all very soap opera-esque to me, and I just don’t care for it.

I enjoyed the chapters in Kitty’s perspective, as they were more investigatory for a cozy mystery.

Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't realise that this book was part of a previous series however I felt like I was able to still enjoy this book and will now be going back to read some of the other adventures that these characters get up to.

This was a really fun quick read and would recommend to anyone who loves a nice cozy mystery. This isn't my go to genre but was a great introduction and will be looking for more cozy mysteries to add to my TBR pile.

Poison in Piccadilly is the 9th book in the Fiona Figg series, but only the 6th in the Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery series. I have only read two of these books and suggest that you can read them as standalone stories, but you will miss some of the personal back stories and growth. This book opens with Kitty being found unconscious in the locker room at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club. She was there with a group of suffragettes and was attacked. When she comes to, she has amnesia and doesn't remember Fiona at all. Although Fiona is busy planning her wedding to Archie, she leaves it and tries to find out who attacked her friend and why. It leads her to a fancy luncheon, where another women ends up dead. Does this have to do with the suffragettes, or is there a spying network involved. Will she figure out what is happening before someone else dies? Will she be ready for her upcoming wedding?

I really enjoy reading about Fiona's and Kitty's adventures. Kitty was out of the picture for much of this book, but Fiona was in disguise and in danger more than once in this book. The story is set near the end of WW1, but there is still a lot of spying going on. While trying to solve the mystery of who tried to kill Kitty, she stumbles upon secrets involving M5 that she was not privy to. There are lots of twists as both Kitty and Fiona try to figure out why Kitty is a target. And then there is the suffragette movement that also comes into play in this one. The one thing that I am not a fan of is the possible love triangle. Spy, Fredrick Fredricks and fiancé Captain Archie Somersby both have her attention, but it is Archie that seems to have won her hand. In this book, Fiona has to decide if she really wants to marry him. Is this marriage the one that will tie her hands and have her sitting home being a good wife? Will Archie allow her to work for the war office? Does she love him enough, or are her feelings for Fredrick stronger. She has decisions to make in her personal life. This is another mystery with some humour, disguises, secrets, danger, twists and suspense. I enjoy this series, and recommend it to those who enjoy historical mysteries with great characters.

Wow!!! I am now waiting with bated breath for the next Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane mystery. The latest installment, Poison in Piccadilly, knocked me off my feet! Oliver is particularly adept at building suspense and tension - who is spying on whom and for which country? Who can be trusted? I absolutely love the way this series has developed, weaving in historical events with aplomb. I cannot wait to see what happens next!!

Kelly Oliver’s Poison in Piccadilly is a delightful mix of humor, mystery, and historical intrigue set against the backdrop of post-WWI London. Fiona Figg, ready to exchange her detective skills for a bridal veil, is thrown back into sleuthing when her sidekick, Kitty Lane, is found unconscious under suspicious circumstances. As Fiona digs deeper, she uncovers more than just a mystery at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club—it’s a high-society scandal that could derail her wedding plans entirely.

Oliver balances a sharp wit with thrilling suspense, making this historical mystery a real page-turner. The vibrant setting of 1918 London, combined with a cast of charming and eccentric characters, makes Poison in Piccadilly a perfect read for fans of cozy mysteries like those by Rhys Bowen or Jacqueline Winspear. With plenty of twists, a touch of romance, and a dose of girl-power judo, this novel keeps readers engaged right up to the last punch!

Loved this book couldn't put it down, well and truly gripped from the start, brilliant storyline and a good cast of characters, a fab who dun it would rate higher if I could

You can enjoy this book as a standalone story, however you might miss out on some of the personal backstories and character growth. This installment begins with Kitty being found unconscious in the locker room of the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club, while there with a group of suffragettes. After being attacked, she suffers from amnesia and doesn’t remember Fiona at all. Even though Fiona is in the middle of planning her wedding to Archie, she drops everything to find out who hurt her friend and why. The investigation takes her to a fancy luncheon, where another woman is found dead. Are the suffragettes involved, or could this be linked to a spying network? Fiona must solve the mystery before more lives are lost—all while preparing for her upcoming wedding.

As before I enjoyed the adventures of Fiona and Kitty, though Kitty is sidelined for much of this book. Fiona, however, is front and center, often in disguise and frequently in danger. I love that it is set near the end of WWI which fills the story with intrigue, including espionage and secrets that even Fiona wasn’t aware of. As both women try to uncover why Kitty was targeted, they unravel numerous twists, including the involvement of the suffragette movement.

Fiona’s attention is divided in this book between spy Frederick Fredricks and her fiancé, Captain Archie Somersby. I am an Archie fan so I wasn’t sure about this aspect. It does seem she has to decide whether or not to marry Archie and this personal dilemma adds another layer of complexity to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and if you are a fan of cozy mystery then I highly recommend it.

Fiona Figg is back in all her gloriousness, fake beards and moustaches as well. I hadn’t read any of the previous ones so had to read them first and I’m so glad I did as I knew everybody associated with her her ‘niece’ Kitty Lane and dog Poppy, Frederick Fredericks. Her on/off love interest Archie Somersby and of course Clifford who’s got a story gif every occasion even if you didn’t want to hear it.
The murder mystery this time concerns Kitty who gets attacked and suffers memory loss. Someone else gets murdered because she sat at the wrong table setting.
I love all these books and can’t wait for the next instalment

Fiona Figg should be planning her wedding to Archie Somersby, but in the world of espionage things never go quite to plan. When Kitty Lane is knocked out in a jujitsu club for suffragettes, Fiona finds her wedding arrangement will have to wait. A death amongst the group leads her into a perplexing investigation. When the charming but dangerous Frederick Fredericks turns up, she knows something is afoot. Can she still make it down the aisle in time? Or will secrets and lies scupper her plans?

The story is set in 1918 and the suffragette movement is in full swing again. As the women campaign, they become experts in martial arts. To fight the unfair and cruel tactics of the ‘cat and mouse’ scheme of the government, they see no other way. But someone is determined to stop them. As Kitty slowly recovers her memory, the case opens up in surprising ways.

This is a cracking mystery, with strong women and a fascinating link to historical events. I loved the fact that real life characters were part of the story. Sylvia Pankhurst and Countess Markiewitz, stalwarts of the suffragette movement play prominent roles, and add to the excitement.

The growing attraction between Fiona and Fredericks plays a vital part in the story, and is itself plagued with uncertainty and mystery. Can she trust him? Is he right about her fiancee - or is it just another line from a foreign agent? I never know who to trust. As Fiona and Kitty’s story develops, we may be one step forward in finding out the truth, but there is plenty of mystery left. A great read.

A series of cozy mysteries but this is good reading as a stand alone.

Kitty and Fiona are friends and when Kitty suffers a attack and subsequently has amnesia not remembering who Fiona is, it prompts Fiona to try to find who attacked Kitty, especially when another woman is found dead at a lunch attended by Fiona.

Set at the end of WWII Fiona has to figure out many things. Is this connected to a spy ring or is it a means of stopping the suffragette movement which is gaining momentum. On A personal level Fiona has to decide between Archie and Fredrick - is she willing to take on the role of stay at home wife after marriage. That is quite apparent if she chooses Archie.

Many elements made this story interesting. Humour, plenty of secrets, hard to make decisions, distrust.
Altogether a fun read.

Favorite Quotes:

The affair, the divorce, my husband— ex-husband— dying in my arms from mustard gas, rather put me off matrimony.

My chest expanded with pride, and I felt like the buttons might pop off my blouse I was so chuffed.

The limbo of waiting always put my mind in an awkward state of relaxed agitation.

My Review:

This was an entertaining, fun, and amusing tale to unwind with between tenser thrillers. I always come away with several interesting bits of history while perusing Ms. Oliver's cleverly conjured mysteries.

The story threads were cleverly woven with an ample supply of amusing humor and were well-researched and well-nuanced to snag my gray matter and keep me guessing. I reveled in learning more about Kitty while she unraveled the perplexing mysteries of herself. No one was as they appeared, especially a bearded and bewigged Fiona.

Poison in Piccadilly is a quick and witty read! There are wedding preparations, a groom full of secrets, a young woman with amnesia, lots of espionage and subterfuges, and the suffragette movement in the background that kept me quite entertained.

As I haven’t yet read the first books in the series, I can confirm that this sixth book in the Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery series can easily be read as a stand-alone. We are in London in 1918 and the story starts with its protagonist, Fiona Figg, right in the middle of her wedding preparations to the dashing Captain Archie Somersby. Clever and determined, Fiona is a young woman working for the British War Office where she’s been known to do a bit of spying and undercover jobs and chasing traitors. As her friend Kitty is attacked during a class at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club, Fiona launches herself in the investigation and the wedding takes second place, especially as her fiancé’s mystery job starts giving her doubts. Can she marry someone with so many secrets? And as someone who craves not only independence, but also the thrill of chasing spies across the globe, can Fiona really be expected to give up her job once she is married?

This was such a fun and intriguing read. There is so much going on: mystery and espionage, a charming opponent (who I am really rooting for), a fantastic strong-willed heroine, accurate historical details, and much more. Poison in Piccadilly is a riveting and action-packed cozy mystery novel, full of twists and turns, and with an unexpected ending that leaves the reader looking forward to Fiona’s next adventure!

Another great instalment in this series. The mystery this time involves Kitty and the suffragette movement. The drawback with this is that Kitty is actually not involved a great deal in this one as she has amnesia, so it is left to Fiona. The plot moves along at a fast pace with plenty of action and disguises and danger to keep you turning the pages. While things do get resolved as you would expect that are some thing left dangling that make me look forward to the next instalment. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I always look forward to a new mystery featuring Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane, and this might just be my favourite to date. As is the case with each instalment in this series, this book can be read as a standalone too. The experience, however, is undoubtedly more complete if you are already familiar with the characters and can witness and enjoy the way they evolve.

What makes Poison in Piccadilly my favourite (so far) is that the mystery that our heroines are trying to solve is directly linked to them, as Kitty was the victim of an attack and the apparent target of a murder that claimed another life. Also, the love triangle involving Fiona and the two men in her life seems to finally find some sort of resolution… although I expect we haven’t heard the last of it.

As usual, I loved the period details and all the references to the suffragette movement. In particular, I had never heard the term ‘suffrajitsu’ – used to describe the application of martial arts or self-defence techniques by members of the Women's Social and Political Union – and I found this new opportunity for learning fascinating.

I am definitely hoping for another adventure to be published soon!

Fiona has had an eventful few months- I have to keep reminding myself that the events of the first book were 6 months from when Poison in Piccadilly is set. In that time, Fiona has become a valuable agent for the War Office ( finally acknowledged by her boss), falls out with the love of her life, Archie, runs away to be with her nemesis Fredick, gets engaged to Archie and becomes a surrogate aunt to hardass teenage spy, Kitty. So for Fiona planning a wedding seems a little tame, especially, if she has to give up her career after becoming a wife.
But as with the other books in the series, Fiona finds herself investigating a murder, if only to clear her name but without Kitty, who has amnesia after being hit on the head at suffragette Jitsu!
The plot moves quickly with plenty of action and disguises, and a good dose of humour, I enjoyed the developing relationship between Fredricks and Fiona, but we do learn a little more about the mysterious Archie.
The main plot resolves neatly but so many subplots are tantalisingly left unfinished- I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens next