The Fiona Figg Mysteries by Kelly Oliver (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

It's a little different this week for me since I'm doing three-in-one ... but since they all go together and I've been reading them back to back (to back), it works for my brain. I started the first book, Betrayal at Ravenswick, on New Year's Eve. 

We're introduced to newly divorced Fiona who works as a filing clerk for the British Intelligence War Office's Room 40 (which later becomes MI-5 ... and then MI-6). She's amongst code-breakers and espionage planners and when one of the men undercover gets injured, she volunteers to step in ... disguised as a man. She had always wanted to be an actress growing up but was told by a drama teacher that "with that face, you'll never make it as an actress. You'd be better off putting on trousers and passing yourself off as a man." 

So she does.

She travels to to Ravenswick disguised as a male doctor (and occasionally a maid) to find out whatever she can about a Fredrick Fredricks -- huntsman, journalist, possible spy and possible murderer. Of course, she also gets involved in a murder investigation and more than one tricky situation that she is absolutely unprepared for. She does well enough, though, that they let her continue to trail Fredricks to Paris .... and the second book, High Treason at the Grand Hotel.

In the second book we get to see Paris in 1917, more of Fiona's disguises (which she isn't supposed to be using), and further witness Fiona's knack for sticking her nose in to mysteries unrelated to her mission. We do see quite a bit of Fredricks and even Mata Hari. And then the chase continues to Villainy in Vienna. 

Right now I'm only just past the half-way point of the book but we've already met Emperor Charles and Empress Zita, Albert Einstein's first wife, and Anna Sacher of the famed Hotel Sacher (and daughter-in-law of the creator of the amazing Sacher Torte). Fiona has actually been invited to Vienna by Fredricks for the Emperor's birthday ball. The War Office sends her with Clifford Douglas as a bodyguard/fake husband/sidekick/nuisance. He has appeared in each book and is actually old friends with Fredricks which makes things a bit awkward.

And someone was just killed at the ball so I'm going to hit publish and continue reading and I highly recommend that you do the same. It's a fun series full of history and intrigue and my beloved snark. I do so love some added snark.

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"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.