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!

I was a little unsure about this before reading as there seems so many books around at the minute with rich ladies solving crimes with the help of their dogs.. However I enjoyed this very much. it was well written with a independent protagonist and the usual sensible detective. Great start to the series can't wait for more. recommended. . I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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.

A good start for a new historical cozy series: an entertaining novel that kept me guessing and turning pages.
I think there's a lot of potential in this series that mixes elements fo Wodehouse, Phryne Phisher, and Golden Age mystery.
Cressida is an interesting character, an independent and clever young woman who is part of the Bright Young Thing set and enjoy her single life. I love Ruby, her pug, a lovely pet character.
The mystery is solid and full of twists. It kept me guessing and i like the solution and how all the questions were answered.
Just a couple of note: there's a lot of descriptions and I think they were a bit too long and didn't help the flow of the story. The historical background is well researched but I would have appreciated some more references to WWI which heavily impacted Cressida generation.
Entertaining and compelling, can't wait to read the next story, recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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.

Overall this was an enjoyable start to a new series. However, I did think it was longer than it needed to be. She strikes a jaunty tone, but the length pulled down that bright young thing vibe a bit. Looking forward to book 2 and going she finds her stride!

Death Among the Diamonds by Fliss Chester

Published: September 21, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 308
Genre: Cozy Mystery
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Fliss Chester lives in a little village in Surrey, UK, and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1920s and 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their family business. This means she's never far from a decent glass of something, which makes her very happy. Before writing her two cozy crime series, she wrote fun and flirty romances - the sort of thing that might make your mother blush. Not hers, though, as it was her mother who always encouraged her to be 'anything you want, darling, as long as it's not dull.' Hopefully, readers will attest to the fact that whether it's death by cyanide or a smooch in a hot tub, there's nothing dull about Fliss's books.

“If you can’t be good, be careful.”

Cressida Fawcett is everything a woman shouldn’t be, intelligent, sassy, independent, and against marriage. When an invitation to spend the weekend with her best friend is extended, Cressida cannot say no. So she lacks a bag, grabs her beloved pug, Ruby, and drives herself to Chatterton Court. The last thing anyone was expecting was murder.

I enjoyed this story so much. The setting was romantic, the characters charming, and the plot was elegantly presented in a fast-paced way.

I love Cressida! She is fierce. I love how independent she is and that she doesn’t follow the presumed path for women of the 1920s.

Dottie and her family were excellent characters and added much depth to the story. The dynamic between the characters was so well played. The love, admiration, and shenanigans were evident.

I enjoyed following Cressida as she loved her life and inserted herself into a murder investigation. She will be such a fantastic leading lady, filled with laughs, sass, and moments of pure genius.

The scenery was beautifully described; you almost felt as if you were in the halls, observing the ghastly curtains among the characters. I enjoyed that the house was very much a character with as many layers and secrets as those staying there.

This is going to be such a fantastic series, and I am looking forward to the next book.

death among the diamonds is a a mystery novel set in the 1920s, that will capture the attention of any fans of the genre.

the main character is a young woman called cressida. she’s determined and headstrong and has views on marriage that most don’t and goes everywhere with her tiny pug (a trait that i myself admire.) and yet, i found her to be hard to connect with. it felt as though there was a disconnect between her and the other characters, possibly due to her individual nature, and subsequently one between her and me, as a reader. i do usually love the lead characters of detective novels, but here unfortunately i can’t say i did.

the writing is transportive, partially due to cressida’s knowledge of finery. her appreciation for decorations and silks paints a beautiful and clear picture of the home and the people around her. cleverly, it’s also what helps her to solve the crime eventually, killing two birds with one stone almost.

that being said, i did find that the descriptive aspect of the writing often crossed the line into long windedness. there were times were i found myself skim reading paragraphs in order to get to the more interesting moments. i think this is more of a personal preference and to some, this will only make the book seem more engrossing.

it’s a cozy crime novel with short chapters (always a bonus) that i feel as though will be perfect for the up and coming autumn and winter months. the actual crime plot has twists and turns before coming to a satisfying end.

It's a good start to a new cosy mystery series, I enjoyed it very much! I enjoy cosy mysteries set in the 1020's, and the plot was well written. I liked the characters, although I found it a bit annoying and repetitive how Cressida talks to her dog Ruby.
I'll definitely pick up the next book in this series!

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic start to a new cosy crime series,

It had everything that I look for and love in a book - large country house, jewellery theft, some suspicious deaths, dubious characters and a strong lead character (and of course a dog!)

Cressida Fawcett is not your typical lady about town. Despite having a title she seems to be actually quite down to earth with a knack for solving mysteries. When one falls into her lap, she can't help but want to become involved despite this not something that a Lady in the 1920's would even fathom doing.

The perfect book to settle down with - I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to Cressida and Ruby's next adventure.

Written in a highly amusing style this novel is about Cressida, interior designer to her friends, who often invite her to their mansions to get her thoughts on such important topics as dado rails. I enjoyed this novel, and the character of Cressida is well drawn. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

"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 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-fueled night of cards. With everyone unable to leave, can Cressida's sharp eye for detail catch the killer before another life is taken?

An absolutely gripping and utterly charming 1920s murder mystery packed with wit, glamour and intrigue. The perfect whodunnit for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Downton Abbey."

Because I can never have enough 1920s British mysteries. NEVER!

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? If you are a fan of historical mysteries you will enjoy this book. It’s a fun mystery with equally fun characters. It does have a bit of a “been there done that” feel do it and when you read it you will know exactly which literary female detective I am referring to. Hopefully as this series progresses it will set itself apart just a bit more. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Fans of Phryne Fisher will absolutely adore this 1920s London-based cosy!

Cosies have always been close to my heart, and this one is no different. Fliss Chester delivers a solid debut here with a 1920s socialite turned sleuth in a light-hearted, fun-loving murder mystery. The Honourable Cressida Fawcett finds herself investigating murder after discovering that diamonds were stolen during a glamorous soiree.

For fans of cosy mysteries, there is nothing really new here for you, but sometimes that is the appeal. One could argue that you don't NEED anything out of the box or different to enjoy a beloved genre. In any case, this book delivers with strong women, a cute dog, a compelling plot and the glitz and glam of a historical setting. What's not to love?

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.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all thoughts expressed are my own. Death Among the Diamonds is a new series set in Britain during the inter-war period featuring bright young thing, the Hon. Cressida Fawcett. Cressida is surprised to read about the theft of diamonds from the family of her good friend, Dotty from the family home. Cressida agrees to drive down to visit with her dog Ruby in order to meet Dotty's fiancé and help prevent the addition of ghastly curtains recently ordered by Dotty's mother. Once there, Cressida and readers are introduced to the cast of suspects including the aforementioned fiancé, a brother and sister duo from visiting from South Africa explained to have connections to the diamond industry, Dotty's brothers, the butler (Cardew), and a friend of the brothers (Edmund). While intrigued by the mystery of the missing diamonds, Cressida is quickly involved in a murder when one of the workers hired to clean a chandelier plunges to his death. After nearly becoming a victim herself, the race is on to identify the killer before he or she strikes again.

For the first book in a cozy mystery series, I thought that the mystery aspect was well balanced with the traditional setting up of the characters that will appear in future books. The mystery had enough twists and turns to hold my interest. I especially like Cressida's dog Ruby who is a worthy side kick. I look forward to future titles in the series.

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.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Death among the Diamonds, the first novel to feature the Honourable Cressida Fawcett, set in 1920s England.

Cressida is invited to a house party and is looking forward to spending time with her friend Dotty, but Dotty is upset as two days before Cressida’s arrival her mother’s diamond jewellery was stolen. The morning after her arrival Cressida is woken by a scream, a maid has discovered the lifeless body of Harry, the chandelier cleaner. When another body is found Cressida and her pug, Ruby, joins forces with the fierce DCI Andrews to solve the case.

I enjoyed Death among the Diamonds, which is a light, humorous read with a good mystery. It is told entirely from Cressida’s point of view so the reader knows what she knows and can guess along as she unravels the crimes and a few side issues along the way.

The plot is the usual mixture of various motives and, as befits a country house murder, a limited cast of suspects. Cressida uncovers secrets and gossip, which allow her to put together the big picture. Of course, Ruby, the pug, steals the show with her ability to sniff out clues.

I am a big fan of Verity Bright’s Lady Eleanor Swift series and this is in the same vein, but I don’t think the author gets the period detail as authentically right and in some ways it reads like a modern novel in a period setting. This may be me nitpicking and it is only a small part of a novel that is otherwise full of verve and fun.

Death among the Diamonds is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I've loved Fliss Chester's Fen Churche series so I was really looking forward to getting into this new Cressida Fawcett mystery series. Although both are historical murder mysteries with female leads, I think that's possibly where the similarity ends. While the Fen Churche books are a little more serious, Cressida seems to be all about the fun, even with dead bodies popping up here there and everywhere. I didn't mind it being something a little different though, I still enjoyed it immensely.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to the bottom of whodunit completely. I'd managed to work out a few bits and bobs, but the final reveal kept me guessing. It did all make sense though, which is all I demand in a murder mystery.
This was a great start to a new series. It took me a little longer to get into than I expected, but once I'd got my head around the various characters I was hooked. I'm looking forward to reading more of Cressida's adventures. I'm sure that there's plenty more to come.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

✨Book Review ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌑

*I was provided this book free of charge by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I am a huge fan of mysteries, England, and the 1920’s so I fully expected this book to be a hit! I absolutely loved the character of Cressida and how she thinks and interacts with the other characters.

The story was well written and light and kept you guessing because of how well the murder covered his tracks. This was definitely a good book for someone who likes light mystery. If you are looking for high tension and thriller and twists and turns, this is not the book for you. I believe if this book would have delved slightly more into Cressida’s relationship with Alfred, or had a bit more drama in it? It would have captured my attention more and caused me to not be able to put it down. But for a quick, light, read, it hit the spot perfectly.

This is an excellent first book that begins exploring Cressida’s friendships and relationships. I would love to see those relationships further explored, especially her relationship with Alfred and I would love to read more about their adventures in London. I think this bating is a great hook to get you to come back to read the rest of the series.

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