Fliss Chester is a new author to me, but I do love historical (especially 1920s) cosy crime, so I jumped right in!

I really loved reading this book. The author has struck a great balance, keeping things light and humorous, but also providing a fun mystery. I really liked Cressida, she’s obviously a fun loving woman, and Ruby (her dog) makes an excellent sidekick. I liked DCI Andrews too. I hope there will be further books in the series, so I can get to know them both better.

If you’re looking to while away a few hours pleasantly, I recommend this enticing and exciting cosy crime. It was a lot of fun to read.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

If you like Phryne Fisher, you'll probably like this: 1920s set in the upper classes; inventive and inquisitive young woman living the high life; cool cars and an adorable pet pug. Add into that the "murder in the country mansion" trope, and you have a fun, engaging read perfect for lazy Sundays. Recommended.

A bit too fluffy for my taste and I found Cressida's constant chatting with her dog irritating but apart from that it was an okay read.

I quite enjoyed this mystery. Although I was never quite sure who did it, I did have suspicions. I found this to be a very enjoyable book to read. I got a kick out of the classic way that the solution was delivered for both the missing diamonds and the murders. While there were some historical inaccuracies, it was still a quite fun read.

I love a spunky, aristocratic sleuth ( particularly accompanied by a pooch) and Lady Cressida is a very engaging personality. What didnt “ sit right” with me was the disrespectful way she treated her father’s former batman, who was the local Chief Inspector.

I am all for amateur sleuths, but this young debutante made absolute mincemeat of the police investigation and it somehow interfered with my pleasure in the story. It wasnt that she was cooperating with the police, or quietly assisting. . . She was showing them up. Distinctly unladylike!

Netgalley provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.

TW/CW: Violence, murder, mild sexuality

RATING: 3.5/5

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Death Among the Diamonds is the story of a disastrous weekend at a country estate in the 1920’s. It follows Cressida Fawcett, a young, independently wealthy woman with an eye for fashion and design as she helps to solve a theft and two murders.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the mystery and didn’t have it figured out until the end. The setting was interesting and fun, and the writing was good, and engaging. Honestly, my biggest problem with the book was Cressida herself. She was just so…snobbish and careless? I get that she’s supposed to be rich and carefree, but there are at least two places in the book where she (or her dog) cause serious damage to other people’s property and she just kind of laughs it off. I know that’s a tiny thing, but it really annoyed me and took away some of my enjoyment of the book. That aside, this is not a bad book and I did enjoy reading it, for the most part. I think other people who enjoy cosy mysteries – especially historically based ones – would enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC. In the same thread as a friend to Chester's other character Fen Churche, Cressida Fawcett arrives to her best friend's estate to comfort her after a theft the family diamonds. But Cressida isn't there just for a shoulder to cry on, she wants to get to the bottom of the mystery when people in the house keep dying. Will she be able to figure out who did it before Scotland Yard and before she is the next victim? Cute cozy mystery and today get the presale for $2.99 on Kindle! #DeathAmongTheDiamonds #CressidaFawcett #FlissChester #Sept2022

The story takes place in the English countryside in the 1920’s. There’s some missing diamonds and a couple of dead bodies .Cressida, who was at the mansion when the theft took place, takes it upon herself to assist Scotland Yard in finding the culprit.

This is a book for those who enjoyed Agatha Christie books and loved a bit of Jessica Fletcher. It’s an easy read and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this lighthearted read.

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?!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. A new series about Lady Cressida Fawcett, a single and independent woman. She lives alone with her pug Ruby and her Bugatti car. From a wealthy family, she lives comfortably. Cressida likes to have a good time and is invited to a party at her friend Dotty's house in the English countryside. Unfortunately for the Chatterton household, some priceless diamonds had just been stolen. Cressida is naturally curious and decided to set about solving the mystery of the diamonds.

The very next day after her arrival, there is a dead body found. The guests and staff and household are all aghast. Scotland Yard is involved and soon becomes affronted at Cressida's intrusion into the investigation. Cressida wears the policeman and his deputy down with her string of discoveries. They welcome her help as another murder occurs. Cressida's friendship with Dotty is sweet, I love her independent and fun loving nature. Cute little Ruby is a fun companion. I really enjoyed the characters, the book and setting. The ending was a surprise and neatly wrapped up. A nice, cozy mystery. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book!

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.

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC. I've not heard of this author before so not read her other series's. I enjoyed this cozy mystery, some of the plots were a bit predictable but I didn't work out the identity of the villain! I look forward t the next book in the series.

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.

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.

Loved loved loved the first in the series if this book can't wait to read more of Cressy and her faithful little pug Ruby and follow her sleuthing, great storyline and fantastic characters, a very elegant setting and surroundings
Couldn't put it down after a slow start with the first chapter, after that it was gripping and I wanted to know who dun ir!!

Skullduggery Afoot…
The first of a new series featuring the Honourable Cressida Fawcett who enjoys a glamorous and indulgent lifestyle but who is soon to realise her hitherto hidden amateur detective abilities. A fun and frothy mystery begins when Cressida heads to the country for a weekend of cocktails and parties but where skulduggery is soon to be afoot. An enjoyable and entertaining first outing.

I liked the idea behind the novel and the execution of that idea was impressive. The writing style was simple and effective and the overall flow of the story felt very smooth. I read this book in one sitting as I really wanted to get to the end to see if I guessed the mystery right.
A great start to a new series!

1920s, pug, verbal-humor, situational-humor, friendship, family-dynamics, family, wealthy, England, country-house, theft, murder-investigation, murder, new-series****

This lovely bit of fluff is exactly what I needed after reading a couple of nonfiction WW2 pieces! Very entertaining and lighthearted mystery of first the theft, then a murder. The publisher's blurb is pretty good, so no need to recap. Nice start to a new series!
I requested and received an e-book copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!

The Honorable Cressida Fawcett is heading to the English countryside for a weekend at her friend Dotty’s mansion, the location of a recent diamond theft. But just hours after her arrival, the young chandelier cleaner is found dead. Everyone believes Harry’s death was an accident, but Cressy thinks something darker is afoot.

 Gruff and older Detective Andrew’s from Scotland Yard insists that she keeps her nose out of the investigation, but Cressida realises there is a connection between the theft and the murder.

England between the wars? First in a new mystery series with an independent amateur sleuth? Sign me up.

Cressida is living it up and has no interest in settling down. She’s a confident character with an eye for design and she drew me in. She first comes across as a flighty bright young thing of the 20s but she’s sharp and kind.

Parts of this cozy mystery dragged for me, some dialogue was repetitive or Cressy’s inner thoughts long-winded, and the villain could have had more page time, but overall I was entertained. This is a series I’ll continue.