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Cressida Fawcett #1
Death Among the Diamonds
Everyone in 1920s London knows the Honourable Cressida fiercely independent (though never apart from her little pug Ruby), lover of martinis and interior designer extraordinaire. She’s solved many crimes of fashion… so how about murder?
Cressida Fawcett is heading to the English countryside for a weekend of cocktails and partying at her friend’s glamorous mansion, the location of a recent diamond heist. But just hours after her arrival, Cressida is woken by an almighty scream. Rushing to the landing, she looks down into the great hall to find a trembling maid standing next to the body of Harry, the friendly young chandelier cleaner.
Everyone believes Harry’s death was an accident. But as Cressida examines the opulent hall and the beautiful grounds, she thinks something darker is afoot. Why clean a chandelier in the early hours of the morning? And who overheard Harry boasting about coming into unexpected wealth? A small piece of torn silk found near the body has Cressida looking at the guests’ elegant clothes with fresh eyes…
The short-tempered Detective insists that she keeps her curious nose out of the investigation, but it’s Cressida who realises the stolen diamonds were hidden in the sparkling chandelier. Convinced there is a connection between the theft and the murder, the case takes a sinister turn when a guest is killed in his sleep after a brandy-fuelled night of cards. With everyone unable to leave, can Cressida’s sharp eye for detail catch the killer before another life is taken?
Cressida Fawcett is heading to the English countryside for a weekend of cocktails and partying at her friend’s glamorous mansion, the location of a recent diamond heist. But just hours after her arrival, Cressida is woken by an almighty scream. Rushing to the landing, she looks down into the great hall to find a trembling maid standing next to the body of Harry, the friendly young chandelier cleaner.
Everyone believes Harry’s death was an accident. But as Cressida examines the opulent hall and the beautiful grounds, she thinks something darker is afoot. Why clean a chandelier in the early hours of the morning? And who overheard Harry boasting about coming into unexpected wealth? A small piece of torn silk found near the body has Cressida looking at the guests’ elegant clothes with fresh eyes…
The short-tempered Detective insists that she keeps her curious nose out of the investigation, but it’s Cressida who realises the stolen diamonds were hidden in the sparkling chandelier. Convinced there is a connection between the theft and the murder, the case takes a sinister turn when a guest is killed in his sleep after a brandy-fuelled night of cards. With everyone unable to leave, can Cressida’s sharp eye for detail catch the killer before another life is taken?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2022
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745 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
September 12, 2022
A good first entry in this new series by Fliss Chester. I am a fan of cosy mysteries set in the 1920s, so this one suited me admirably.
The main character is Cressida Fawcett, an independent spirit enjoying her single life with a fast car and an adorable pug called Ruby. A normal weekend visit to her friend Dorothy at her family's country house is disrupted by the theft of some diamonds, quickly followed by a death. Cressida is a curious lady and she begins her own search for the diamonds and the murderer.
I enjoyed the setting and the crazy lifestyle of the young and rich. There is a very sensible Detective Inspector with a sense of humour, and lots of "bright young things" out to have a good time. There is also Ruby with her penchant for sausages and cuddles, and lots of mystery and entertainment. I look forward to more in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The main character is Cressida Fawcett, an independent spirit enjoying her single life with a fast car and an adorable pug called Ruby. A normal weekend visit to her friend Dorothy at her family's country house is disrupted by the theft of some diamonds, quickly followed by a death. Cressida is a curious lady and she begins her own search for the diamonds and the murderer.
I enjoyed the setting and the crazy lifestyle of the young and rich. There is a very sensible Detective Inspector with a sense of humour, and lots of "bright young things" out to have a good time. There is also Ruby with her penchant for sausages and cuddles, and lots of mystery and entertainment. I look forward to more in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 19, 2022
Cressida Fawcett was heading to the countryside out of London in her little red Bugatti with her pug Ruby by her side, to spend the weekend with her friend Dorothy at their country estate. On arrival she heard about the diamonds which had been stolen the night before with the local police attempting to see what had happened. But the following morning Cressida was woken by a scream and the body of a man was discovered at the base of scaffolding in the great hall.
Although Inspector Andrews from Scotland Yard had been called in, Cressida and Ruby set about investigating both the diamond heist and the death. With a second death following on from the first, Cressida knew she needed to find the answers before another body was found. Would she discover who the killer was and would the Inspector appreciate her help?
Death Among the Diamonds is the first in A Cressida Fawcett Mystery by Fliss Chester, which is set in 1920s London. The lifestyles of the rich, their inheritances and the young women all needing a husband (although Cressida isn't interested in that), the opulence of the food, cocktails and stiff drinks - the way the other half lived! An enjoyable historical cosy mystery, Death Among the Diamonds is one I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Although Inspector Andrews from Scotland Yard had been called in, Cressida and Ruby set about investigating both the diamond heist and the death. With a second death following on from the first, Cressida knew she needed to find the answers before another body was found. Would she discover who the killer was and would the Inspector appreciate her help?
Death Among the Diamonds is the first in A Cressida Fawcett Mystery by Fliss Chester, which is set in 1920s London. The lifestyles of the rich, their inheritances and the young women all needing a husband (although Cressida isn't interested in that), the opulence of the food, cocktails and stiff drinks - the way the other half lived! An enjoyable historical cosy mystery, Death Among the Diamonds is one I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2022
Fliss Chester's book Death Among the Diamonds (A Cressida Fawcett Mystery Book 1) is set in London in the 1920s. Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this clean, light read.
Synopsis:
Cressida Fawcett enjoys life to the fullest. As a vivacious single woman, she enjoys designing the latest interiors for her high society friends. Cressida always brings her adorable Pug Ruby when she comes calling. Cressida fancies herself as something of an amateur detective, but can she solve a murder when presented with the clues in the English countryside?
Death Among the Diamonds is reminiscent of a delightful game of Clue. Through Fliss Chester's descriptive writing, readers can imagine the elite setting and characters. Ruby the Pug's antics provide an entertaining and fun element to the winsome storyline. This novel is suitable for those looking for a cute story without graphic violence or sexual content.
Death Among the Diamonds (A Cressida Fawcett Mystery Book 1) by Fliss Chester is available on September 21st.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for sharing this charming book with me. I am looking forward to the second book in the series.
Synopsis:
Cressida Fawcett enjoys life to the fullest. As a vivacious single woman, she enjoys designing the latest interiors for her high society friends. Cressida always brings her adorable Pug Ruby when she comes calling. Cressida fancies herself as something of an amateur detective, but can she solve a murder when presented with the clues in the English countryside?
Death Among the Diamonds is reminiscent of a delightful game of Clue. Through Fliss Chester's descriptive writing, readers can imagine the elite setting and characters. Ruby the Pug's antics provide an entertaining and fun element to the winsome storyline. This novel is suitable for those looking for a cute story without graphic violence or sexual content.
Death Among the Diamonds (A Cressida Fawcett Mystery Book 1) by Fliss Chester is available on September 21st.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for sharing this charming book with me. I am looking forward to the second book in the series.
May 29, 2023
Even the pug couldn’t save this 😢
As a fan of both cozy historical mysteries and pugs you’d think this would be a slam dunk for me, but it was utterly boring.
A bland version of so many other books I’ve read in this genre, I’d call the writing style here meandering ramblings. This author needs a lesson in punctuation and succinctness. As I was reading this I felt like something was missing and then it occurred to me that there was no romantic element to this at all. Its entire premise relied on a pretty conventional house party murder mystery and some very lacklustre detecting on the part of the main using her interior design skills to solve the case, of all things. This needed to be shorter, faster paced and less of a yawn fest.
As a fan of both cozy historical mysteries and pugs you’d think this would be a slam dunk for me, but it was utterly boring.
A bland version of so many other books I’ve read in this genre, I’d call the writing style here meandering ramblings. This author needs a lesson in punctuation and succinctness. As I was reading this I felt like something was missing and then it occurred to me that there was no romantic element to this at all. Its entire premise relied on a pretty conventional house party murder mystery and some very lacklustre detecting on the part of the main using her interior design skills to solve the case, of all things. This needed to be shorter, faster paced and less of a yawn fest.
September 17, 2022
Cressida Fawcett is enjoying the life of a young woman in 1920s London. Not really concerned about making her society debut as she longs to be as independent as possible. A weekend on her friend's estate is something she was very much looking forward to. While the weekend seemed to get off to a good start, Cressida and the rest of the household awaken to an unearthly scream. One of the maids is standing next to the body of the chandelier cleaner. His name was Harry and he has come to an untimely death.
Perhaps it was an accident. However, Cressida's curious nature immediately kicks in. She walks about the house and its grounds and starts to make deductions. It doesn't take Cressida long to realize that Harry's death was no accident and with a limited number of people at the estate, that one of them is the killer. Also, Cressida had a few precious moments with the dead body and a small item she found on his person lends credence to her assumptions about the nature of his death.
What a delightful cozy mystery story and a great start to a new series. Cressida is an enjoyable protagonist and I adore her attitude. I also love the typical friction she has with the detective responsible for the investigation. Her strong will clearly shows and I can't wait to see what else she gets up to in this series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Perhaps it was an accident. However, Cressida's curious nature immediately kicks in. She walks about the house and its grounds and starts to make deductions. It doesn't take Cressida long to realize that Harry's death was no accident and with a limited number of people at the estate, that one of them is the killer. Also, Cressida had a few precious moments with the dead body and a small item she found on his person lends credence to her assumptions about the nature of his death.
What a delightful cozy mystery story and a great start to a new series. Cressida is an enjoyable protagonist and I adore her attitude. I also love the typical friction she has with the detective responsible for the investigation. Her strong will clearly shows and I can't wait to see what else she gets up to in this series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
November 20, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one!
I love cozy mysteries that take place in the 1920s! This was a solid first book in a new series by Fliss Chester. The writing was excellent. It was well paced. The setting was grand. The plot engaging and kept me guessing. There was an adorable dog, and Cressida was a likable (mostly) lead. I am a little on the fence about Cressida. She could be a bit annoying at times. We'll see how she is in the next book! 😉
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I love cozy mysteries that take place in the 1920s! This was a solid first book in a new series by Fliss Chester. The writing was excellent. It was well paced. The setting was grand. The plot engaging and kept me guessing. There was an adorable dog, and Cressida was a likable (mostly) lead. I am a little on the fence about Cressida. She could be a bit annoying at times. We'll see how she is in the next book! 😉
**ARC Via NetGalley**
September 25, 2022
A terrifically good start to a new cosy crime series, Death Among the Diamonds features a jewellery theft, suspicious deaths, a huge country mansion - Chatterton Court, dubious characters including a strong lead and a pug dog called Ruby.
The Honorable Cressida (Cressy) Fawcett, an interior design dab hand, bright red Bugatti driver and martini drinker, is not a typical lady. She has her own flat in Chelsea, although her parents live on a sprawling estate - Mydenhyrst Place, and despite having a title, Cressida is down-to-earth with a knack for solving mysteries. When Harry Smith dies at her good friend, Lady Dorothy (Dotty) Chatterton's weekend get-together, found on a marble floor in a pool of blood, Cressy can't help becoming involved.
Set in the 1920s and written in a highly amusing style, I really enjoyed this historical mystery and I am eagerly anticipating Cressy and Ruby's next adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The Honorable Cressida (Cressy) Fawcett, an interior design dab hand, bright red Bugatti driver and martini drinker, is not a typical lady. She has her own flat in Chelsea, although her parents live on a sprawling estate - Mydenhyrst Place, and despite having a title, Cressida is down-to-earth with a knack for solving mysteries. When Harry Smith dies at her good friend, Lady Dorothy (Dotty) Chatterton's weekend get-together, found on a marble floor in a pool of blood, Cressy can't help becoming involved.
Set in the 1920s and written in a highly amusing style, I really enjoyed this historical mystery and I am eagerly anticipating Cressy and Ruby's next adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
September 22, 2022
“She’s solved many crimes of fashion… so how about murder?”
I do so enjoy these ‘Golden Age’ 1920s murder/mysteries, and the format of this particular story is so very Agatha Christie-esque in style, that I was doubly excited, as for me, the aforementioned lady is definitely the Queen of Crime. A carefully garnered group of characters are gathered together in a single location, all of them are suspects and each of them have a motive for the crime(s) which have been committed. An amateur sleuth is added to the guest list, who manages to outsmart the hapless detectives sent to investigate. Despite all the red herrings and attempts to thwart the fledgling crime buster, even down to trying to silence them permanently, they prevail in unmasking the real villain with a flourish, drawing gasps of disbelief and admiration.
‘Spoilers’ are so easy to sneak their way into any premise of my reading of this book, so I’ll keep things deliberately vague…
…
The Right Honourable Cressida Fawcett, together with Ruby, her equally aloof and opinionated four-legged bundle of fur, is relaxing at her Chelsea pied-a-terre, overlooking the Thames, prior to spending the weekend as a guest at Chatterton Court, near Newbury, the country estate of her dearest friend Lady Dorothy Chatterton, where she lives with her parents and two brothers. The visit is twofold; to meet with some of Dorothy’s circle of friends, including her fiancé, Basil, in the hope that they can get better acquainted with him before their imminent wedding. Also, Cressida has something of a reputation as an interior design whizz and Dorothy’s mother Lady Honoria, has recently made a terrible purchase of some particularly unattractive curtains and badly needs Cressida’s advice.
True to form, Cressida gets side-tracked in London, although in her defence, part of that time is spent with her good friend Maurice Sauvage, in the fabric department of Liberty’s, on Lady Honoria’s behalf, and she is terribly late arriving at Chatterton Court, only to find the place in great disarray, as there has been a robbery and Lady Honoria’s heirloom diamond collection has been stolen, although they have been removed from their purpose made box, which was left in her Ladyship’s bedroom. On top of that, the new company Honoria used to carry out the annual clean of her entrance hall crystal chandelier, have over-run on the job, so the place is full of scaffolding.
Strange things begin to happen almost before Cressida has had the time to unpack her suitcase and retire for the night. The body count commences, with the at first, seemingly accidental death, of someone from outside the intimate gathering. The intended party atmosphere of the weekend is immediately overshadowed by the arrival of DCI Max Andrews and his assistant Quintin Kirby, from Scotland Yard. In that short intervening time, almost before even Cressida has begun poking her nose in where it is not wanted, following through on a few of her own theories about the loss of the diamonds and the ensuing demise of the potentially guilty party, which she now believes to be murder rather than accident; another body is discovered and death by fair play or foul, is again called into question. For Cressida, trying to convince DCI Andrews of her own innocence is of paramount importance, so that she can get stuck into working out just who is the rotten apple in their midst. She therefore can’t understand why Andrews is so cold and stand-offish towards her, until he shows his true concern when seemingly random ‘accidents’ begin to happen to Cressida herself and it is clearly obvious that someone is warning her off. Cressida has now also worked out Andrews rather gruff show of antipathy towards her, all stems back to the relationship he had with her own father, back in the days of the Boer War, and he is being very deliberately protective of her, whilst trying to maintain a professional distance.
Quite quickly though, Max realises that forbidding Cressida to put herself in any more danger, is a pointless and very painful venture, so reluctantly he agrees to them pooling resources and collaborating in a bid to solve the case and apprehend the perpetrator, before anyone else gets hurt, or winds up dead. So far, an astute Cressida has discovered all the evidence, now all she needs to do is piece the jigsaw together. It is now that she recalls one of Maurice’s favourite tailoring adages “measure twice, cut once”, so she, Dorothy, Max and Quintin, spend some valuable time retracing every event in chronological order, matching up the evidence as they progress. Finally, Cressida is happy to have Max assemble the family and guests together, where she presents her evidence and outs her suspect, all the while making it sound as though DCI Andrews had actually named the perpetrator.
Cressida not only solves the multiple murders, but also the robbery of those all-important family diamonds (although it was actually a very ‘dogged’ Ruby, who with her belly full of leftovers, really put her nose to the ground), all whilst managing to save Dorothy from a fate worse than death and keeping her reputation intact.
…
This multi-layered, highly textured, traditional murder/mystery storyline was well structured and fluently written over many concise and well signposted chapters, which kept the action fast paced and seamlessly evolving, with literally never a dull moment. The suspect list was lengthy, as it included the names of all the family and staff of the household, plus their many visiting weekend guests. The twists and turns just kept on coming right until the final scene and I simply couldn’t avoid being tripped up by the red herrings, liberally spread along the way to put myself, The Honourable Cressida and indeed the police of Scotland Yard, off the scent. In fact, although I had followed and agreed with many of Cressida’s deducements about the order and nature of events, I would never have been in a position to point the finger at the correct guilty party, as she inevitably did.
The physical footprint this story occupied, was quite finely focussed, however the narrative and dialogue were crisp and visually descriptive, affording a genuine sense of time and place. Enough for any avid ‘armchair traveller’, depends on just how immersed you want to become in the 1920s era, with all its associated social mores, but personally, I was more than satisfied.
The Right Honourable Cressida Fawcett is a bit of an enigma within her social class and amongst her circle of friends and family. She is a progressive and independent female of the times and has no intentions of following Dorothy, or any of her other friends, down the aisle anytime soon, most firmly shunning all attempts at getting her to make a ‘suitable’ liaison and marriage. However, she does not entirely deny all the protocols and privileges her title endows her with, but rather uses them to their full advantage in gaining favours and opening doors for her, and her reputation for making the most of her freedoms, partying long and hard, is legendary. She has her dog, her car and a great network of friends, what more could a thoroughly modern girl want!!
A large, sprawling cast of guest characters occupied this storyline, none of which, including Cressida’s hosts are particularly likeable, with the possible exception of the rather hapless Dorothy, although even she was on my suspect list at one point. Selfish, demanding, manipulative and duplicitous, are all words which come readily to mind, to describe this eclectic mix of the upper classes, who all seem to be jostling for some unspoken recognition or position, which made for a very unreliable, volatile and toxic atmosphere whenever they were around, meaning I was always on the edge of my seat and alert for their sudden changes in demeanour and temperament, which might indicate their guilt.
Any future relationship between Max and Cressida, isn’t really even off the starting blocks just yet, although there are definitely sparks of mutual respect and attraction simmering away beneath the surface. Notwithstanding the quite large age disparity between them, the rather unpredictable nature of Max’s job and given the past history between Max and Cressida’s father, I’m sure that everything is not going to be plain sailing for them. However, I am equally certain that Cressida will fight tooth and nail, by fair means or foul, to get her own way if she so desires, especially as Ruby’s all important affirmative, deciding vote has already been cast.
This story definitely ticked all the right boxes for the reasons I read this particular genre of book every now and then, and how I want to feel when I have finished the last word and closed that final page. Part of what always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new series, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by authors who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses, even though I’m sure I won’t have felt the same way about it as the last reader, nor probably the next. So why 4.5* rather than 5*? There were just a couple of small niggles for me, that I wasn’t able to block out. The way that Cressida constantly called everyone (but mostly Dorothy) ‘chum’, really grated. And the fact that a dead body could be removed from the premises and all physical signs of the incident have been thoroughly cleaned, before the police arrived. Therefore, I recommend that you read “Death Among The Diamonds” for yourself, to see where your journey leads you! It certainly isn’t going to deter me from following Cressida’s adventures, whenever I have the opportunity.
I do so enjoy these ‘Golden Age’ 1920s murder/mysteries, and the format of this particular story is so very Agatha Christie-esque in style, that I was doubly excited, as for me, the aforementioned lady is definitely the Queen of Crime. A carefully garnered group of characters are gathered together in a single location, all of them are suspects and each of them have a motive for the crime(s) which have been committed. An amateur sleuth is added to the guest list, who manages to outsmart the hapless detectives sent to investigate. Despite all the red herrings and attempts to thwart the fledgling crime buster, even down to trying to silence them permanently, they prevail in unmasking the real villain with a flourish, drawing gasps of disbelief and admiration.
‘Spoilers’ are so easy to sneak their way into any premise of my reading of this book, so I’ll keep things deliberately vague…
…
The Right Honourable Cressida Fawcett, together with Ruby, her equally aloof and opinionated four-legged bundle of fur, is relaxing at her Chelsea pied-a-terre, overlooking the Thames, prior to spending the weekend as a guest at Chatterton Court, near Newbury, the country estate of her dearest friend Lady Dorothy Chatterton, where she lives with her parents and two brothers. The visit is twofold; to meet with some of Dorothy’s circle of friends, including her fiancé, Basil, in the hope that they can get better acquainted with him before their imminent wedding. Also, Cressida has something of a reputation as an interior design whizz and Dorothy’s mother Lady Honoria, has recently made a terrible purchase of some particularly unattractive curtains and badly needs Cressida’s advice.
True to form, Cressida gets side-tracked in London, although in her defence, part of that time is spent with her good friend Maurice Sauvage, in the fabric department of Liberty’s, on Lady Honoria’s behalf, and she is terribly late arriving at Chatterton Court, only to find the place in great disarray, as there has been a robbery and Lady Honoria’s heirloom diamond collection has been stolen, although they have been removed from their purpose made box, which was left in her Ladyship’s bedroom. On top of that, the new company Honoria used to carry out the annual clean of her entrance hall crystal chandelier, have over-run on the job, so the place is full of scaffolding.
Strange things begin to happen almost before Cressida has had the time to unpack her suitcase and retire for the night. The body count commences, with the at first, seemingly accidental death, of someone from outside the intimate gathering. The intended party atmosphere of the weekend is immediately overshadowed by the arrival of DCI Max Andrews and his assistant Quintin Kirby, from Scotland Yard. In that short intervening time, almost before even Cressida has begun poking her nose in where it is not wanted, following through on a few of her own theories about the loss of the diamonds and the ensuing demise of the potentially guilty party, which she now believes to be murder rather than accident; another body is discovered and death by fair play or foul, is again called into question. For Cressida, trying to convince DCI Andrews of her own innocence is of paramount importance, so that she can get stuck into working out just who is the rotten apple in their midst. She therefore can’t understand why Andrews is so cold and stand-offish towards her, until he shows his true concern when seemingly random ‘accidents’ begin to happen to Cressida herself and it is clearly obvious that someone is warning her off. Cressida has now also worked out Andrews rather gruff show of antipathy towards her, all stems back to the relationship he had with her own father, back in the days of the Boer War, and he is being very deliberately protective of her, whilst trying to maintain a professional distance.
Quite quickly though, Max realises that forbidding Cressida to put herself in any more danger, is a pointless and very painful venture, so reluctantly he agrees to them pooling resources and collaborating in a bid to solve the case and apprehend the perpetrator, before anyone else gets hurt, or winds up dead. So far, an astute Cressida has discovered all the evidence, now all she needs to do is piece the jigsaw together. It is now that she recalls one of Maurice’s favourite tailoring adages “measure twice, cut once”, so she, Dorothy, Max and Quintin, spend some valuable time retracing every event in chronological order, matching up the evidence as they progress. Finally, Cressida is happy to have Max assemble the family and guests together, where she presents her evidence and outs her suspect, all the while making it sound as though DCI Andrews had actually named the perpetrator.
Cressida not only solves the multiple murders, but also the robbery of those all-important family diamonds (although it was actually a very ‘dogged’ Ruby, who with her belly full of leftovers, really put her nose to the ground), all whilst managing to save Dorothy from a fate worse than death and keeping her reputation intact.
…
This multi-layered, highly textured, traditional murder/mystery storyline was well structured and fluently written over many concise and well signposted chapters, which kept the action fast paced and seamlessly evolving, with literally never a dull moment. The suspect list was lengthy, as it included the names of all the family and staff of the household, plus their many visiting weekend guests. The twists and turns just kept on coming right until the final scene and I simply couldn’t avoid being tripped up by the red herrings, liberally spread along the way to put myself, The Honourable Cressida and indeed the police of Scotland Yard, off the scent. In fact, although I had followed and agreed with many of Cressida’s deducements about the order and nature of events, I would never have been in a position to point the finger at the correct guilty party, as she inevitably did.
The physical footprint this story occupied, was quite finely focussed, however the narrative and dialogue were crisp and visually descriptive, affording a genuine sense of time and place. Enough for any avid ‘armchair traveller’, depends on just how immersed you want to become in the 1920s era, with all its associated social mores, but personally, I was more than satisfied.
The Right Honourable Cressida Fawcett is a bit of an enigma within her social class and amongst her circle of friends and family. She is a progressive and independent female of the times and has no intentions of following Dorothy, or any of her other friends, down the aisle anytime soon, most firmly shunning all attempts at getting her to make a ‘suitable’ liaison and marriage. However, she does not entirely deny all the protocols and privileges her title endows her with, but rather uses them to their full advantage in gaining favours and opening doors for her, and her reputation for making the most of her freedoms, partying long and hard, is legendary. She has her dog, her car and a great network of friends, what more could a thoroughly modern girl want!!
A large, sprawling cast of guest characters occupied this storyline, none of which, including Cressida’s hosts are particularly likeable, with the possible exception of the rather hapless Dorothy, although even she was on my suspect list at one point. Selfish, demanding, manipulative and duplicitous, are all words which come readily to mind, to describe this eclectic mix of the upper classes, who all seem to be jostling for some unspoken recognition or position, which made for a very unreliable, volatile and toxic atmosphere whenever they were around, meaning I was always on the edge of my seat and alert for their sudden changes in demeanour and temperament, which might indicate their guilt.
Any future relationship between Max and Cressida, isn’t really even off the starting blocks just yet, although there are definitely sparks of mutual respect and attraction simmering away beneath the surface. Notwithstanding the quite large age disparity between them, the rather unpredictable nature of Max’s job and given the past history between Max and Cressida’s father, I’m sure that everything is not going to be plain sailing for them. However, I am equally certain that Cressida will fight tooth and nail, by fair means or foul, to get her own way if she so desires, especially as Ruby’s all important affirmative, deciding vote has already been cast.
This story definitely ticked all the right boxes for the reasons I read this particular genre of book every now and then, and how I want to feel when I have finished the last word and closed that final page. Part of what always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new series, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by authors who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses, even though I’m sure I won’t have felt the same way about it as the last reader, nor probably the next. So why 4.5* rather than 5*? There were just a couple of small niggles for me, that I wasn’t able to block out. The way that Cressida constantly called everyone (but mostly Dorothy) ‘chum’, really grated. And the fact that a dead body could be removed from the premises and all physical signs of the incident have been thoroughly cleaned, before the police arrived. Therefore, I recommend that you read “Death Among The Diamonds” for yourself, to see where your journey leads you! It certainly isn’t going to deter me from following Cressida’s adventures, whenever I have the opportunity.
August 29, 2022
The author's writing style will quickly transport you back in time but protagonist Hon. Cressida Fawcett is not your typical 1920's woman. A theft and murder have Cressida looking all over for suspects and not a husband which is what others think she should be doing.
An enjoyable historical mystery and first in the Cressida Fawcett Mystery series. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
An enjoyable historical mystery and first in the Cressida Fawcett Mystery series. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 8, 2022
1925 Hon Cressida Fawcett solver of crimes against fashion tries her hand in murder solving. A weekend party at her friend Lady Dorothy Chatterton's family home results in an accident or is it murder. This after diamond jewellery has been stolen previously. Cressida investigates along side DCI Andrews of Scotland Yard. A pity the police didn't notice a clue which would have shown them in a better light.
Overall an enjoyable well-written cozy historical mystery but I am not sure that I really took to the character of Cressida.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall an enjoyable well-written cozy historical mystery but I am not sure that I really took to the character of Cressida.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2022
Rounded up from 3.5
This is the first in the Cressida Fawcett historical mysteries set back in the 1920s. I always love a mystery set around the interwar era, so I was excited to see what this book had to offer.
Cressida is a thoroughly modern woman, for the times. She doesn't want to be tied down to a husband, much to her mother's annoyance, and would rather spend her time out socialising or zipping around in her car.
When she's invited by her best friend Dotty, invites her to her family's mansion to meet her fiance, she finds herself mixed up in a murder investigation. With her nosy nature and determination, she wants to get to the bottom of it, even the protests from her friend and the detective in charge.
What a fun first outing Death Among The Diamonds was! There was plenty of murder, mayhem, and peril for Cressida along the way.
I loved Cressida as a character. Bold, headstrong, with an eye for interior design and snooping out clues. It was so entertaining to watch her get herself in and out of scrapes.
I felt that it could have done with being a little shorter. It dragged a little for me in the middle, but of course that's just my opinion.
An enjoyable start to the series. I wonder what predicament Cressida will get herself into next!
This is the first in the Cressida Fawcett historical mysteries set back in the 1920s. I always love a mystery set around the interwar era, so I was excited to see what this book had to offer.
Cressida is a thoroughly modern woman, for the times. She doesn't want to be tied down to a husband, much to her mother's annoyance, and would rather spend her time out socialising or zipping around in her car.
When she's invited by her best friend Dotty, invites her to her family's mansion to meet her fiance, she finds herself mixed up in a murder investigation. With her nosy nature and determination, she wants to get to the bottom of it, even the protests from her friend and the detective in charge.
What a fun first outing Death Among The Diamonds was! There was plenty of murder, mayhem, and peril for Cressida along the way.
I loved Cressida as a character. Bold, headstrong, with an eye for interior design and snooping out clues. It was so entertaining to watch her get herself in and out of scrapes.
I felt that it could have done with being a little shorter. It dragged a little for me in the middle, but of course that's just my opinion.
An enjoyable start to the series. I wonder what predicament Cressida will get herself into next!
September 22, 2022
Death Among the Diamonds is a new Historical Cozy Mystery series set in the 1920s. Cressida Fawcett is a well to do young lady who has no intentions of getting married. She seems to be a woman before her time and her parents indulge her. She has been invited to the home of her oldest and dearest friend, Dorothy Chatterton, for the weekend. She is eager to go, especially since there was just a robbery at the house, and she wants to help solve the crime. Dorothy wants her to get to know her fiance better, but Cressida doesn't like him and doesn't understand what Dotty sees in him. The day after arriving a young workman is found dead under the scaffolding he was using to clean the huge chandelier and things go from bad to worse. As the bodies pile up, Cressida seems to find more clues than the detectives from Scotland Yard. Will they find the murderer before someone else ends up dead?
This was a great start to a new series. Cressida Fawcett is an independent woman enjoying her single life with a fast car, her own apartment and an adorable pug called Ruby. Ruby is wonderful and actually helps Cressida in her investigations, as well as being a comfort to both Cressida and Dotty when needed. Her antics provide an entertaining and fun element to the story. The setting of the Chatterton Estate was interesting, a bit like being at Downton Abbey with all the servants, upstairs and downstairs as well as the large grounds. The lifestyle of the young people kept them partying, drinking and gambling, all while trying to find a decent match. I had no idea what Dotty saw in Basil, I thought he was a creep. The Detective Inspector was an interesting chap, seemed to be smart, but wanted Cressida to keep out of the investigation, especially because he wants her to be safe with a murderer on the loose. I'm glad she shared her evidence with him. Even thought this was a locked room type mystery, there were a lot of suspects, clues and red herrings. Fliss Chester does a good job with the mystery, doling out clues sparingly, but when needed. I enjoyed the story, the characters and the mystery. If you are looking for a fun, clean mystery, I recommend you pick up Death Among the Diamonds. I will be waiting for the next installment to see what Cressida gets up to next time.
This was a great start to a new series. Cressida Fawcett is an independent woman enjoying her single life with a fast car, her own apartment and an adorable pug called Ruby. Ruby is wonderful and actually helps Cressida in her investigations, as well as being a comfort to both Cressida and Dotty when needed. Her antics provide an entertaining and fun element to the story. The setting of the Chatterton Estate was interesting, a bit like being at Downton Abbey with all the servants, upstairs and downstairs as well as the large grounds. The lifestyle of the young people kept them partying, drinking and gambling, all while trying to find a decent match. I had no idea what Dotty saw in Basil, I thought he was a creep. The Detective Inspector was an interesting chap, seemed to be smart, but wanted Cressida to keep out of the investigation, especially because he wants her to be safe with a murderer on the loose. I'm glad she shared her evidence with him. Even thought this was a locked room type mystery, there were a lot of suspects, clues and red herrings. Fliss Chester does a good job with the mystery, doling out clues sparingly, but when needed. I enjoyed the story, the characters and the mystery. If you are looking for a fun, clean mystery, I recommend you pick up Death Among the Diamonds. I will be waiting for the next installment to see what Cressida gets up to next time.
September 25, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Death Among The Diamonds' by Fliss Chester.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Fliss Chester, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 21st September 2022.
This is the third book I have read by this author and it is also the first book in the 'Cressida Fawcett' series. I have also read 'A Dangerous Goodbye' (Book 1 in the 'Fen Churche Mystery' series) and 'The Moonlit Murders' (Book 3 in the 'Fen Churche Mystery' series) which I recommend!!
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I enjoyed Fliss Chester's 'A Dangerous Goodbye' and 'The Moonlit Murders' and am hoping this will be just as good. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'The perfect whodunnit for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Downton Abbey!', I am a fan of Agatha Christie so am looking forward to see if it loves up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 45 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Berkshire, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Cressida Fawcett. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is very well written with vivid descriptions. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly. Although this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone with no problems at all, any previous cases/information is described in just the right amount of detail, enough for those reading as a standalone to work out what happened but not too much so those who have read previous books in the series get fed up of repetitions.
I love the fact that the protagonist is female, being one myself, and that she has a strong personality and will not back down no matter what is thrown at her, including 2 Murders, a theft and so much more!!! I devoured it in one sitting.
The plot is intriguing and filled with mystery, thefts, lies, betrayal, secrets, murder and more!!! It has plenty to keep the reader interested and is rammed full of red herrings. I loved the fact that it was a historical cozy crime and Fliss did an absolutely fantastic job with both the era and the beautiful settings. Chatterton Court definitely had a Downton Abbey vibe to it so fans of the series will definitely enjoy this one! I must say I was absolutely shocked when the killer and thief was revealed so a huge WELL done Fliss!! I have read many crime books, hundreds in fact, and it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but you definitely managed it!! There were so many potential suspects that I completely guessed wrong several times!! There is nothing worse than working out the killer less than half way through a book. I thoroughly enjoyed all the clues that were left behind and along with a Downton Abbey vibe I would also say it felt very similar to the came Cluedo!! It was actually quite fun trying to solve the clues and guess who the criminal was!!! Although this book is primarily a cozy mystery I enjoyed the fact that there was several humorous moments which helped to lighten up the atmosphere on occasions and definitely had me giggling away!! The vivid descriptions throughout really helped to set the scene and it really placed me next to Cressida throughout.
This is one of the few books that I also listened to on Audiobook. I read about 50% of the book on kindle and listened to the other 50% on Audiobook. I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Daphne Kouma who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. She put alot of feeling into the reading and helped pass those emotions onto the reader with her fantastic expressions and voicing of the storyline. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Daphne did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I especially loved her portrayal of Detective Inspector Andrews. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Fliss but also to listening to more books narrated by Daphne!
The characters were all very intriguing with their own personalities, strengths and flaws. I wasn't sure what I thought of Cressida at first but I wasn't a massive fan and thought her to be a bit too posh for my liking. However I quickly warmed to her independence, love of sporty cars and her headstrong boldness. I became completely invested in her and am looking forward to seeing what she gets up to next. When it comes to DI Andrews I was again not an. Immediate fan but grew to like him when I discovered his link to Cressida and seen the other side of him. It will be interesting to see if anything happens between them in the future!! I am certainly looking forward to seeing what they get up to, we'll hopefully he will be in the next book too but if not I'm sure Cressida will keep us on our toes on her own!! I wont say how I felt about any of the other characters as now that I know who the culprit was I don't want to give anything away by accident. However, I will say that they all worked perfectly well together to make this an action packed cozy murder mystery! I'm looking forward to the next novel in this series and finding out what Cressida will get wrapped up in next and where she will be when she does.
Overall an action packed cozy murder mystery that will keep you turning the pages and guessing right up until the end!!
Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Cozy Culinary Mystery, Historical Mystery, Cozy Murder Mystery amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey, Jacqueline Winspear, 'Downton Abbey' and anyone who enjoys a page turning who dunnit.
310 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#DeathAmongTheDiamonds #Bookouture #FlissChester #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
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Review for 'Death Among The Diamonds' by Fliss Chester.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Fliss Chester, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 21st September 2022.
This is the third book I have read by this author and it is also the first book in the 'Cressida Fawcett' series. I have also read 'A Dangerous Goodbye' (Book 1 in the 'Fen Churche Mystery' series) and 'The Moonlit Murders' (Book 3 in the 'Fen Churche Mystery' series) which I recommend!!
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I enjoyed Fliss Chester's 'A Dangerous Goodbye' and 'The Moonlit Murders' and am hoping this will be just as good. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'The perfect whodunnit for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Downton Abbey!', I am a fan of Agatha Christie so am looking forward to see if it loves up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 45 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Berkshire, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Cressida Fawcett. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is very well written with vivid descriptions. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly. Although this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone with no problems at all, any previous cases/information is described in just the right amount of detail, enough for those reading as a standalone to work out what happened but not too much so those who have read previous books in the series get fed up of repetitions.
I love the fact that the protagonist is female, being one myself, and that she has a strong personality and will not back down no matter what is thrown at her, including 2 Murders, a theft and so much more!!! I devoured it in one sitting.
The plot is intriguing and filled with mystery, thefts, lies, betrayal, secrets, murder and more!!! It has plenty to keep the reader interested and is rammed full of red herrings. I loved the fact that it was a historical cozy crime and Fliss did an absolutely fantastic job with both the era and the beautiful settings. Chatterton Court definitely had a Downton Abbey vibe to it so fans of the series will definitely enjoy this one! I must say I was absolutely shocked when the killer and thief was revealed so a huge WELL done Fliss!! I have read many crime books, hundreds in fact, and it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but you definitely managed it!! There were so many potential suspects that I completely guessed wrong several times!! There is nothing worse than working out the killer less than half way through a book. I thoroughly enjoyed all the clues that were left behind and along with a Downton Abbey vibe I would also say it felt very similar to the came Cluedo!! It was actually quite fun trying to solve the clues and guess who the criminal was!!! Although this book is primarily a cozy mystery I enjoyed the fact that there was several humorous moments which helped to lighten up the atmosphere on occasions and definitely had me giggling away!! The vivid descriptions throughout really helped to set the scene and it really placed me next to Cressida throughout.
This is one of the few books that I also listened to on Audiobook. I read about 50% of the book on kindle and listened to the other 50% on Audiobook. I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Daphne Kouma who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. She put alot of feeling into the reading and helped pass those emotions onto the reader with her fantastic expressions and voicing of the storyline. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Daphne did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I especially loved her portrayal of Detective Inspector Andrews. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Fliss but also to listening to more books narrated by Daphne!
The characters were all very intriguing with their own personalities, strengths and flaws. I wasn't sure what I thought of Cressida at first but I wasn't a massive fan and thought her to be a bit too posh for my liking. However I quickly warmed to her independence, love of sporty cars and her headstrong boldness. I became completely invested in her and am looking forward to seeing what she gets up to next. When it comes to DI Andrews I was again not an. Immediate fan but grew to like him when I discovered his link to Cressida and seen the other side of him. It will be interesting to see if anything happens between them in the future!! I am certainly looking forward to seeing what they get up to, we'll hopefully he will be in the next book too but if not I'm sure Cressida will keep us on our toes on her own!! I wont say how I felt about any of the other characters as now that I know who the culprit was I don't want to give anything away by accident. However, I will say that they all worked perfectly well together to make this an action packed cozy murder mystery! I'm looking forward to the next novel in this series and finding out what Cressida will get wrapped up in next and where she will be when she does.
Overall an action packed cozy murder mystery that will keep you turning the pages and guessing right up until the end!!
Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Cozy Culinary Mystery, Historical Mystery, Cozy Murder Mystery amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey, Jacqueline Winspear, 'Downton Abbey' and anyone who enjoys a page turning who dunnit.
310 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#DeathAmongTheDiamonds #Bookouture #FlissChester #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@FlissChester @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
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September 22, 2022
Cressida Fawcett is enjoying life to the fullest in 1920s London. She is very well known as the Honourable Cressida Fawcett and interior designer extraordinaire. Cressida has been invited to her friend’s estate for a weekend getaway. She is looking forward to the time away, and especially her favorite martini cocktails. The weekend begins quiet and uneventful, but it is soon interrupted by a frightening scream. Cressida runs to the landing and looks down at the grand hall below, to find one of the estate’s maids standing over the body of Harry, the chandelier cleaner. Although everyone thinks that Harry’s death was an accident, Cressida isn’t so sure. She begins to poke around the great hall and soon she finds a small piece of torn silk next to the body. Cressida discovers that stolen diamonds were hidden in the chandelier which shines a new light on the situation at hand. Just when the detective tells Cressida to stay out of the investigation, another guest is found dead in their bed. With all the guests not allowed to leave the estate, Cressida must find the killer before another body is found.
Oh my, this was such a great and charming cozy mystery. I was so entertained by the storyline of this book. Cressida was such a likable character, I loved everything about her. She was witty, independent, and was so sure of herself. She is also a great party guest and I also loved her little Pug, Ruby that never left her side. What an amazing duo they are. This awesome whodunnit kept my interest and had me stumped all the way to the end. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Thank you Fliss Chester for such a wonderful beginning to a new cozy mystery series…I truly loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I absolutely recommend it.
Oh my, this was such a great and charming cozy mystery. I was so entertained by the storyline of this book. Cressida was such a likable character, I loved everything about her. She was witty, independent, and was so sure of herself. She is also a great party guest and I also loved her little Pug, Ruby that never left her side. What an amazing duo they are. This awesome whodunnit kept my interest and had me stumped all the way to the end. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Thank you Fliss Chester for such a wonderful beginning to a new cozy mystery series…I truly loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I absolutely recommend it.
September 21, 2022
I adore the Lady Eleanor Swift series by Verity Bright, so when I had the chance to read and review Death Among the Diamonds, the first in a new cozy series set in 1920s England, I jumped at it. I’m so glad I did!
The Hon. Cressida Fawcett is a young woman ahead of her time. Single and well to do, she’s enjoying her life, not looking to make a good marriage match as so many young women are. She lives with her pug, Ruby, and she’s quite happy that way.
When she travels to the countryside for a weekend at the home of her friend Dorothy, she certainly never expects to be caught up in a crime scene. But diamonds have been stolen, and the young, affable chandelier cleaner is found dead. Suddenly anyone there on the estate is a suspect, and no one is free to leave.
This book is simply enchanting! Cressida’s world of money and the high life is far from my own middle-aged mom existence, but it’s a lot of fun to read about. Cressida herself is refreshing, a woman not afraid to buck expectations and do what makes her happy. Ruby is a fun addition to the story, and often a help to Cressida. (And now I want a pug.)
Fliss Chester creates characters that are a joy to read about. (Basil really came off as a creep, though. I think Dorothy can do better.) The story moves along at a nice clip, and there were twists and turns enough to hold my interest. She does a nice job with the locked-room mystery, and I look forward to reading more in the series.
I highly recommend Death Among the Diamonds if you love clean historical cozies. I think I’ve found a new author to add to my favorites!
The Hon. Cressida Fawcett is a young woman ahead of her time. Single and well to do, she’s enjoying her life, not looking to make a good marriage match as so many young women are. She lives with her pug, Ruby, and she’s quite happy that way.
When she travels to the countryside for a weekend at the home of her friend Dorothy, she certainly never expects to be caught up in a crime scene. But diamonds have been stolen, and the young, affable chandelier cleaner is found dead. Suddenly anyone there on the estate is a suspect, and no one is free to leave.
This book is simply enchanting! Cressida’s world of money and the high life is far from my own middle-aged mom existence, but it’s a lot of fun to read about. Cressida herself is refreshing, a woman not afraid to buck expectations and do what makes her happy. Ruby is a fun addition to the story, and often a help to Cressida. (And now I want a pug.)
Fliss Chester creates characters that are a joy to read about. (Basil really came off as a creep, though. I think Dorothy can do better.) The story moves along at a nice clip, and there were twists and turns enough to hold my interest. She does a nice job with the locked-room mystery, and I look forward to reading more in the series.
I highly recommend Death Among the Diamonds if you love clean historical cozies. I think I’ve found a new author to add to my favorites!
September 10, 2022
Death among the diamonds was a little gem of a book (or audiobook in my case. Brilliantly narrated and so easy to listen to. It was super entertaining and the book was brought to life, springing you into the lives of the 1920’s). I love a historical fiction, and a whodunnit paired with a strong female lead made it for an instant success.
The honourable lady Fawcett finds herself thrown into a tales of diamond robberies, murders and mysteries. Despite being told to stop interfering by the constabulary, she continues to be on the case, with her trusty dog Ruby by her side.
Being the first in the series, it was a great introduction into the characters and the series going forward. I can’t wait to read more and will definitely continue on to rejoin Cressida on her adventures and find myself totally hooked after finishing this one. I’m definitely left wanting more.
If you love a good murder mystery and historical fiction (1920’s is such a good era to set a book in), then this is the book for you!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this audiobook on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
The honourable lady Fawcett finds herself thrown into a tales of diamond robberies, murders and mysteries. Despite being told to stop interfering by the constabulary, she continues to be on the case, with her trusty dog Ruby by her side.
Being the first in the series, it was a great introduction into the characters and the series going forward. I can’t wait to read more and will definitely continue on to rejoin Cressida on her adventures and find myself totally hooked after finishing this one. I’m definitely left wanting more.
If you love a good murder mystery and historical fiction (1920’s is such a good era to set a book in), then this is the book for you!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this audiobook on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
December 27, 2022
Bookouture is one of my favorite imprints and the publisher of my favorite historical mystery series (Verity Bright), so I was really excited to see this new series show up.
Fliss Chester’s Cressida Fawcett series is a little different than Verity Bright’s Lady Eleanor books, but it’s certainly of the same spirit, and the first offering of the series was a delight.
The book is a good mix of historical tidbits, amusing characters, and a really solid mystery. I don’t necessarily need a flawlessly structured plot in a historical mystery if the atmosphere and characters are excellent, but I got one here anyway.
I did guess the Who and Why pretty early on, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book or my opinion that it’s a well-structured, clever mystery with a good solve and loads of clever elements that play on the heroine’s hobbies and interests.
Very much looking forward to the next book in this delightful series.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Fliss Chester’s Cressida Fawcett series is a little different than Verity Bright’s Lady Eleanor books, but it’s certainly of the same spirit, and the first offering of the series was a delight.
The book is a good mix of historical tidbits, amusing characters, and a really solid mystery. I don’t necessarily need a flawlessly structured plot in a historical mystery if the atmosphere and characters are excellent, but I got one here anyway.
I did guess the Who and Why pretty early on, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book or my opinion that it’s a well-structured, clever mystery with a good solve and loads of clever elements that play on the heroine’s hobbies and interests.
Very much looking forward to the next book in this delightful series.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
September 14, 2022
Thank you netgalley and bookouture for the ARC.
Sincerely, Death among the diamonds does not go in line with the perceived meaning of the title, ateast for me. I thought it must be death during some girls vacation, who knew! I'm happily surprised.😁
Set in the 1920's, Fliss Chester did a marvelous job in making Cressida, a self made spinster, a fashion expert and solver of all mysteries related to fashion, extending her claw into the mysteries😳, yes, surrounding the theft and murder in Chatterton Court. You would wonder if she won't lose her life what with all her nosiness. You must read to find out.
I don't usually enjoy mysteries much but this one is definitely a great find for me. And interestingly, this is the first ever audiobook and I must say, I love the narrator as much as I loved the book. It was excellent and I look forward to more.
Definitely recommend it
Sincerely, Death among the diamonds does not go in line with the perceived meaning of the title, ateast for me. I thought it must be death during some girls vacation, who knew! I'm happily surprised.😁
Set in the 1920's, Fliss Chester did a marvelous job in making Cressida, a self made spinster, a fashion expert and solver of all mysteries related to fashion, extending her claw into the mysteries😳, yes, surrounding the theft and murder in Chatterton Court. You would wonder if she won't lose her life what with all her nosiness. You must read to find out.
I don't usually enjoy mysteries much but this one is definitely a great find for me. And interestingly, this is the first ever audiobook and I must say, I love the narrator as much as I loved the book. It was excellent and I look forward to more.
Definitely recommend it
September 12, 2022
What a brilliant book, it is like The Thursday Murder Club meets Bridgerton and since I like both this was the perfect book for me.
I really enjoyed Cressida's character from the start of the book I enjoyed how she used her eye for design to figure out what happened during the robbery and the murders. During the story you learn that there are more secrets than the book started out with but Cressida and her loyal pug Ruby have no trouble sniffing out the truth of what happened.
This was my first book by Fliss Chester and will not be my last especially not my last Cressida Fawcett book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Fliss Chester and the publishers for an ARC before release.
I really enjoyed Cressida's character from the start of the book I enjoyed how she used her eye for design to figure out what happened during the robbery and the murders. During the story you learn that there are more secrets than the book started out with but Cressida and her loyal pug Ruby have no trouble sniffing out the truth of what happened.
This was my first book by Fliss Chester and will not be my last especially not my last Cressida Fawcett book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Fliss Chester and the publishers for an ARC before release.
September 21, 2022
It's 1920s in London & a countryside weekend chilling plans are on the cards for Cressida. But soon after she arrives there is a "Theft and a Death". Although known for her immense sense of fashion & an eternal love for Ruby (her pet Dog), an unhinging feeling inside Cressida tells her this isn't just a normal death but a MURDER.
I read the book for my #cuteandcozy #autumntbrprompt
It's a detective mystery that makes readers a part of their puzzle-solving activity. It can be consumed in 1-2 sittings for sure and the good part is that it's light enough not to give you a headache. I loved her dog - Ruby who was such an adorable character in itself.
The book reminded me so much of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot - particularly towards the end when things are unwinding. The best part for me in this book was that there was no unnecessary story dragging. Everything was to the point and fast-paced.
Hence a 4/5
Thank you @netgalley @flisschester @bookouture for the digital ARC copy. Happy to review it
I read the book for my #cuteandcozy #autumntbrprompt
It's a detective mystery that makes readers a part of their puzzle-solving activity. It can be consumed in 1-2 sittings for sure and the good part is that it's light enough not to give you a headache. I loved her dog - Ruby who was such an adorable character in itself.
The book reminded me so much of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot - particularly towards the end when things are unwinding. The best part for me in this book was that there was no unnecessary story dragging. Everything was to the point and fast-paced.
Hence a 4/5
Thank you @netgalley @flisschester @bookouture for the digital ARC copy. Happy to review it
September 15, 2022
Solid mystery with an interesting setting. I like the characters but there’s nothing really different with this series than many other historical mysteries. Cressida is an independent single woman with a good head on her shoulders. She is observant and finds clues that help solve the mystery but there’s no real hook that sets this one apart. Well-paced and the writing flows well. Enjoyable and I will continue with the series but hope for something a little different to make this series stand out.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
January 16, 2023
Thoroughly entertaining read. I found the story and the style captivating. A fabulously cosy read! The era is portrayed completely spot on, with engaging characters, who wouldn’t love Ruby?! Can’t wait to read the next one.
Thank you Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley
November 21, 2024
Was ok but I didn’t love it
August 15, 2022
If you are fan of Agatha Christie, then I would strongly recommend you try reading Death Among the Diamonds, the first book of A Cressida Fawcett mystery set in 1920's London.
Everyone in London knows Honorable Cressida Fawcett. So one day, when Cressida is at a party at her friend Lady DottyChatterton, an accident happens inside the house which results in the death of a person. Soon the accident turned out to be a murder. Not to mention that a few days before the accident happened, Lady Chatterton's diamonds went missing.Together with DCI Andrews, Cressida works to solve the mystery of the stolen diamonds and murder.
I do like the setting of the story and reading this story reminds me of those Agatha Christie novels I used to read. The story is also set in the elite circle as well, the 1920's being the era of jazz and fashion. Besides the setting which I really enjoyed the most, I do like the writing as well and Cressida's character is an amicable and likable character in my opinion. Truly enjoyed reading this and cannot wait for the second book! Worth four stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Everyone in London knows Honorable Cressida Fawcett. So one day, when Cressida is at a party at her friend Lady DottyChatterton, an accident happens inside the house which results in the death of a person. Soon the accident turned out to be a murder. Not to mention that a few days before the accident happened, Lady Chatterton's diamonds went missing.Together with DCI Andrews, Cressida works to solve the mystery of the stolen diamonds and murder.
I do like the setting of the story and reading this story reminds me of those Agatha Christie novels I used to read. The story is also set in the elite circle as well, the 1920's being the era of jazz and fashion. Besides the setting which I really enjoyed the most, I do like the writing as well and Cressida's character is an amicable and likable character in my opinion. Truly enjoyed reading this and cannot wait for the second book! Worth four stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
August 18, 2022
Cressida Fawcett is an independently wealthy British socialite in this historical cozy. She and her obnoxiously ill-behaved pug swash through a weekend house party where a couple of mysterious deaths occur. Cressida is smart, if more than a tad entitled. The investigating constabulary put up with her because of an old family tie and because Cressida is good at uncovering clues and figuring things out.
A light, pleasant, undemanding read for fans of cozy and British historical mysteries. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A light, pleasant, undemanding read for fans of cozy and British historical mysteries. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 19, 2022
"Everyone in 1920s London knows the Honourable Cressida Fawcett: fiercely independent (though never apart from her little pug Ruby), lover of martinis and interior designer extraordinaire. She’s solved many crimes of fashion… so how about murder?"
Cressida is a character who grew on me during this story.
Always fun and fascinated by design her investigation of a suspicious death(s) at her friend's home made her come alive for me.
A good cozy mystery with lots of development over the story.
Cressida is a character who grew on me during this story.
Always fun and fascinated by design her investigation of a suspicious death(s) at her friend's home made her come alive for me.
A good cozy mystery with lots of development over the story.
November 13, 2023
Death Among the Diamonds by Fliss Chester is typical of the rash of 1920s-set murder mysteries filling our shelves these days. Cressida is a likeable bright young thing surrounded by others of her ilk. I started out enjoying the book very much. The scene-setting is good and Fliss Chester evokes the period well. I began to lose patience with Cressida fairly quickly though. Why do all these sprigs of the aristocracy think they know better than the police, and why are they annoyed with the Inspector/Chief Inspector for not sharing confidential information with them? In this book, DCI Andrews, in spite of being one of Scotland Yard's finest, is bumbling and ultimately deferential. The plot revolves around the theft of diamonds followed by two deaths and a number of accidents. It's a good plot with a manageable number of characters and, as I said, set believably in the 1920s.
But the editing is terrible, both in terms of factual inaccuracies and stylistic infidelities. Worst is the reference to penicillin being used in one of the Boer Wars. Alexander Fleming would certainly have been disconcerted by that as he didn't discover it until 1928. Cressida lays herself open to a charge of perverting the course (not cause) of justice. And in 1925 all books were hardbacks so there was no need to specify that. I was stunned to read the middle-aged Countess telling Cressida that one of her relatives had died of a good dose of the clap, and I'm not sure that money laundering and tax evasion were commonly used terms in the 1920s.
However, I enjoyed the story and I think I warmed to Cressida and her friend Dotty. But why is there always a dog?!
But the editing is terrible, both in terms of factual inaccuracies and stylistic infidelities. Worst is the reference to penicillin being used in one of the Boer Wars. Alexander Fleming would certainly have been disconcerted by that as he didn't discover it until 1928. Cressida lays herself open to a charge of perverting the course (not cause) of justice. And in 1925 all books were hardbacks so there was no need to specify that. I was stunned to read the middle-aged Countess telling Cressida that one of her relatives had died of a good dose of the clap, and I'm not sure that money laundering and tax evasion were commonly used terms in the 1920s.
However, I enjoyed the story and I think I warmed to Cressida and her friend Dotty. But why is there always a dog?!
December 21, 2022
This is the first book I read by Fliss Chester, and I give it a huge gold star. Set in the English countryside post WWI, it's the story of amateur sleuth Cressida Fawcett and her cute pug Ruby, and their first adventure into solving murder. I enjoyed this cozy mystery, and to be quite honest, Cressida reminded me of Jessica Fletcher (Murder She Wrote). She has the same eye for details and the same interesting way of pulling clues together. It was quite fun going along with her thought process. I was surprised a little at who turned out to be the killer/thief, but realized after considering all the possible suspects, it actually makes sense who the killer/thief is. I look forward to the next book in this series, and what Cressida and her pug will get into next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 29, 2022
The first in a new cozy mystery series set in the 20s in England! Cressida Fawcett is invited to stay at her best friend Dotty's house when news breaks that Dotty's mother's diamonds have been stolen. Cressida arrives, and starts to investigate. Things get more complicated when murders start occurring. Cressida must find the culprit before she is next.
I enjoyed this debut! I like cozy mysteries and especially tend to like 20s mysteries. I like Cressida's personality and her adorable dog. I look forward to more mysteries in this series!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this debut! I like cozy mysteries and especially tend to like 20s mysteries. I like Cressida's personality and her adorable dog. I look forward to more mysteries in this series!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2022
This wasn't necessarily overwhelmingly bad ... but it wasn't overwhelmingly good, either. It felt a little too Miss Fisher meets Her Royal Spyness meets too many "been there, done that" series. It's a light and fast and not at all strenuous read if you're looking for that -- and aren't already familiar with similar stories. Unfortunately, it probably isn't a series I will personally continue with.
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