An engaging read set in the flamboyant 1920’s. Full of twists and turns! I admit I had my suspicions who the murderer was but hadn’t fully guessed. Fun characters, beautiful setting and great storyline. Very enjoyable.

Thanks you Netgalley

There’s just something about a cozy mystery set in the 1920s that I find delightfully appealing. Verity Bright, Ann Sutton, Fliss Chester, I love them all. This, the second in Chester’s Cressida Fawcett series, carries on in fine fashion.

Here we find Cressida off to a country house on the Cornish coast for a fancy-dress ball, along with her friend Dotty and her pug Ruby. The lady of the house, Lady Trevelyan, has asked Cressida to lend some decorating expertise while she’s there, so Cressy is expecting nothing more than drinks and dancing, and maybe some time spent discussing design ideas and color schemes. What she doesn’t expect is that Randolph, who once proposed marriage to Cressy and whose engagement to Selina Trevelyan is cause for celebration, won’t survive the weekend.

Fliss Chester does a wonderful job of creating a setting I’d love to just step into! I’ve never been to Cornwall, but her descriptions of it certainly make me want to visit. And I do love her characters. Cressida may be an independent young woman, but she’s got a good heart. She cares more for her friends and doing the right thing than abiding by what social niceties might expect of her.

Ruby the pug is a treat. I love stories with animal sidekicks, and Ruby snuffles around in adorable pug fashion. Here she has a couple of run-ins with the Trevelyans’ Siamese cat, and she literally pokes her nose into things that give Cressida some insights into the crime she’s investigating.

DCI Andrews and his sergeant from Scotland Yard are on the scene, so Cressy isn’t fending for herself against an unknown killer. I appreciate that Andrews is conducting a proper police investigation, while acknowledging that Cressida may have access to conversations that people wouldn’t have with the police. He doesn’t just hand the investigation over to a civilian, but he does allow for some assistance to come from someone outside the force.

And there’s no shortage of suspects for Cressida to investigate. From Trevelyan cousin Jago Trengrouse, to Roscoe the gardener, to maid (and another Trevelyan cousin) Morwenna, to someone else looking to make a name in the antiquities trade, to Selina Trevelyan herself, everyone seems to have had a spat with Randolph on the day he died. Cressida is kept busy chasing down one lead after another.

There’s a bit of romance here, too. In the first book, Dotty’s relationship with Basil ended badly, and her heart was broken. Here there’s a glimmer that perhaps all hope on the romance front is not lost. And Dotty’s brother Alfred knows that Cressida values her independence, but he may carry a bit of a torch for her anyway. Will a romance blossom for Cressida and Alfred in later books? We’ll see!

So we’ve got Bright Young Things, a fancy-dress ball, an unexpected death involving the upper crust of society. Is it maybe a tiny bit formulaic? Sure. Does that matter? Not at all. Cressida Fawcett is a charming heroine, her friendship with Dotty is true, and the mystery is engaging. It’s a lovely, light, escapist read that transports me to a time and place outside of my daily life, and that’s what a good story does! Five stars for pure, unadulterated fun.

Death by a Cornish Cove is the second Cressida Fawcett historical cozy by Fliss Chester. Released 9th Feb 2023, it's 276 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series is also currently available on KU, and a third book is due out in late second quarter 2023 (June .

This is a beautifully rendered historical cozy featuring flapper Cressy Fawcett and her sidekick (a pug) named Ruby. It's set in interwar (1920's) England and protagonist Cressida is a lot more enamored of her independence and her motorcar than in finding a husband and settling down (egads!). She's drawn into mayhem (again) and danger (yet again) when she and Dotty motor to Cornwall for a country house weekend with lots of fizz, sun, sea, and murder. Civilized repartee joins up with a genteel cast of characters, secrets and skullduggery. The author seems to hit her stride in this second installment and the mystery, if a tiny bit predictable, is very well constructed and the prose is easy to read and breezy.

It's sure to appeal to fans of the original Golden Age authors (Christie, Marsh, Sayers, Allingham, and the others sadly departed). It's not an absolute dead ringer for their work (how could it be?), but it's satisfying and diverting nevertheless. With two books currently in the series and another due in June, it would also be a good choice for a buddy/mini-binge read.

Four stars. The language is squeaky clean and the violence is off page. It's civilized and fun (and Ruby the dog is wonderful).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Death by a Cornish Cove by Fliss Chester is a thrilling murder mystery that takes place at Penbeagle House on the Cornish coast. Cressida Fawcett is invited to stay at the mansion for a fancy-dress ball, but before they can even start the party, Lord Canterbury drops dead in front of everyone. Cressida, along with her friend Dotty and her pug Ruby, start their own investigation to uncover the killer among the guests. The story is well-paced, and the mystery was well-crafted, leaving readers guessing until the end.

The setting and time period of this book add an extra layer of charm to the story. The writing is top-notch, making it an enjoyable read from beginning to end. The cover perfectly represents what’s inside - a thrilling murder mystery set against the backdrop of a beautiful coastal location.

Cressida remains a likable character throughout and her little pug Rudy adds some delightful moments to the story. Overall, Death by a Cornish Cove is highly entertaining and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with cleverly crafted plots. I am eagerly looking forward to book three in this series!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

I really enjoyed this, it was a lot tenser than I expected it to be and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through

Cressida Fawcett is on the way to another party.
This one involves pirate fancy dress and she, her dog and her friend Dotty are headed to Cornwall.
But again this party is not destined to be without death and before the night is over reknowned Egyptologist and Cressida's old flame Lord Canterbury dies.
Once again Cressida is on the case
Lighthearted despite the murder and fast paced this series is getting better with every adventure.

Cressida Fawcett travels to Cornwall with her friend Dotty and dog Ruby for a fancy dress ball. During the party, Cressida's former beau Randolph Canterbury keels over and dies. The local police believe he was poisoned so Cressida wants to help catch the killer...
Death by a Cornish Cove is the second book to feature Cressida Fawcett. I have not read the first book and there are mentions of events but no spoilers.
Cressida has slightly mixed emotions as she meets up with Randolph again as he prepares to celebrate his engagement to another woman. When she discovers he was murdered, she persuades the local police to invite DCI Andrews from Scotland Yard to investigate. Based on their previous encounter, she hopes that he will allow her to join in with the hunt for the killer.
The writing style is warm and brings Cressida's character to life. She is very determined and at times finds herself a little frustrated at being confined by the 1920s social expectations. I enjoyed the inclusion of her dog Ruby which added extra touches of humour.
I felt that the historical and geographical setting were authentic and the author has researched the era and area well. As expected from a cosy murder mystery, there is no violence or forensic detail. I liked the traditional feel to the book with the focus on looking for clues and interviewing suspects as the method to conduct the investigation (ah, the days before forensics and technology!)
Death by a Cornish Cove is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery.

3.5 stars.
Cressida, her friend Dotty, and Cressida's beloved pug Ruby head to a costume party at Penbeagle House on the Cornish coast. It's owned by the Trevelyans, whose wealth is from a business importing items from the Far East and Egypt. The Trevelyan's daughter is soon to be married by one of Cressida's former beaux Lord Canterbury. But, before the engagement can be announced, Lord Canterbury dies of poisoning.

Cressida has just recently solved a mystery(in book one), and she quickly notes the nasty whisperings around her. Cressida decides that she will suggest DCI Andrews from Scotland Yard to investigate, and she'll poke her nose in also, as she'll have much easier access to the Lords and Ladies involved than Andrews will.

Soon, a new body is found, and with the location's history of piracy and rumours of illegitimate Trevelyans, Cressida has more than enough motives to confuse the whole situation.

So, Cressida is more interesting than I expected. She's a good observer, has a way with people, and though she tends to be more adventurous at times when caution would serve her better, she does root out who is actually responsible.

What kept taking me out of the novel was the fact that the Trevelyans' wealth is dependent on in some cases literal grave robbery in Egypt, as well as who knows what practices they use to find and import items from Hong Kong. The cultural impact is never considered in the book, which is no doubt true to the sentiments of the people of the time, but I could not stop thinking about it.

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

Cressida and her pug, Ruby, are dressed up and ready to party on the Cornish coast when, in the middle of the event, her former boyfriend suddenly dies. She can’t stop herself from investigating and soon it’s confirmed as murder! More determined, Cressida considers everyone carefully for motives, opportunities, and means, can she work it out before anyone else gets hurt?

The characters are interesting, the story is well-written. Part of a good cosy’s charm is in allowing the reader to try and work out the mystery before the lead character does! If this is a genre you enjoy, definitely pick this one up! It’s a four out of five on the enJOYment scale.

The second in this series didn't disappoint, I appreciate both Cressida and her commitment to her pug, Ruby and her friendship with Dotty, . There were a couple of twists and turns including unexpected ones. I love when I get some of them right but am also impressed when I have to wait for a reveal.

So clever. I loved the storyline. I got a lot of it right but there were some surprises along the way,

Along with the mystery, I loved the context of the cornish coast and the way the history of the time contributes to the plot.

This series definitely has legs, I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. Its four out of five stars for me

My thanks to #Netgalley and Bookouture for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Try to avoid the rather chatty blurb, which gives away a major plot twist too many and would definitely spoil your enjoyment. Once again, I was swept away by Cressida’s gung-ho attitude to life – the kind of assurance that comes from being born into a rich, titled family. I also like the fact that she has determined to hang onto her independence and is reluctant to get married. After all, she has an income of her own, a lovely little car that takes her everywhere and the companionship of her adored pug, Ruby – why would she want to throw that all up for a husband?

The beginning of the book sees her zooming around the small, twisting Cornish roads far too fast in the company of her dear little dog and her best friend, Dotty, who is terrified by her very erratic driving. They are off to one of the social events of the year – the annual fancy dress ball at Penbeagle House. However the fun and frolics soon come to an abrupt stop when Cressida’s former suitor, Lord Canterbury, drops dead in the midst of the crowded party. Cressida fears the fit young man has been poisoned and the local doctor in attendance agrees with her.

Cressida summons DCI Andrews from Scotland Yard to come and investigate, but in the meantime, she is determined to do a bit of sleuthing before he arrives. Andrews isn’t as hostile to her interference as you’d think, because there is family history – Andrews went through the war with Cressida’s father. While Lord Canterbury seems an amiable young man, it appears that he had managed to run up a long list of people who have a grudge against him. I liked the list of suspects, which meant there were plenty of red herrings in play. I also like that Chester knows her history of the time – and that while women of a certain class with a drug addiction might not be regarded as ideal, it wasn’t the disgrace you might think. After all, within living memory opiates had been freely available over the counter as medicines for the kinds of nervous complaints common among upper class women, often as a consequence of being very confined within rigid societal expectations. I appreciated Chester’s nod to the darker consequences of those expectations within the story – and liked how she resolved the issue.

All in all, this is an engaging, enjoyable read, full of incident and some humour. Ruby, the little dog, also features constantly. I love how it never crosses Cressida’s mind that her rather spoilt little pug might not be welcomed by everyone. Recommended for fans of cosy whodunits in a 1920s setting, featuring a feisty heroine who could certainly be labelled a flapper. While I obtained an audiobook arc of Death by a Cornish Cove from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

Cressida, her friends and siblings Dorothy (Dotty) and Alfred and her little pug Ruby are enjoying the fancy dress party (masquerade ball) at Penbeagle House, Cornwall, home of family friends. As her hosts are announcing the engagement of their daughter, Selina, to Egyptologist Lord Canterbury, Randolph Canterbury dropped to the floor, dead from poisoning. Cressy recommended the family call Scotland yard and ask for Inspector Andews, so it isn't long before he and his side-kick Kirby arrive to take over the investigation.

Cressy began investigating on her own and soon learns everyone there has a motive. She shares what she knows with the police, but even being warned to let them do the investigating, she can't stop herself. When there is another murder, Cressy and the police step up their questioning. Are there two murders or are these cases connected? Would they find the killer before they struck again?

Death by a Cornish Cove is the 2nd in the Cressida Fawcett Mysteries by Fliss Chester, and I enjoyed the mystery and the setting a lot. The secondary characters were not very likable and the motives varied. Protagonist, Dress I'd a is very smart and great at puzzling things out. She works well with Andrews, solving the case, but not taking the credit. I wasn't sure who the killer was, but was not surprised at the reveal, as the Culprit was on my radar. There are more than one crime involved and I liked how it all comes together. Ruby is always getting into something, making me smile, and stumbling onto clues along the way. I enjoyed the descriptions of the rich and famous of the era, their attitudes and activities and thought it was quite accurate. If you enjoy a good historical mystery, or a good cozy, then I recommend you pick up Death by a Cornish Cove.

I'm a big fan of Fliss Chester's Fen Churche series and I really wanted to love the Cressida Fawcett books too. While I enjoyed the first book, Death Among the Diamonds, I didn't quite love it as much as I do the Fen Churche books. I'm pleased to report that this was not the case with this second book, I loved it.
This time Cressida finds herself witnessing the death of a gentleman who had previously proposed to her. She hadn't got any feelings of regret for turning him down, but still liked him and wants to find out who is behind his murder.
I really enjoyed this books as it unfolded. Cressida isn't an obvious sleuth, but she has a knack of to the bottom of what happened and why someone might have been killed. I didn't manage to completely solve this one, although I'd picked up a few clues along the way.
Overall a great read and I can't wait for the next in the series.

A seaside party at a Cornish mansion with plenty of fizz, what could be more perfect? But something fishy is afoot… a killer lurks among the guests, and only Cressida Fawcett can stop them. This is a fun series with charming characters, some humor and a true cozy location. Fun read! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

I LOVE historical mysteries and this is such a fun series! Cressida Fawcett is a 1920’s high society young woman, living in England, and murder seems to find her. She solves mysteries with her trusty companion: her pug Ruby. You can read this as a stand alone (but do yourself a favor and read Death Among the Diamonds, too, just for fun!). I enjoyed the writing and the plot, and I truly enjoyed Cressida’s sharp and witty character.

Thanks for making me part of the tour and for my e-copy!

Death by a Cornish Cove by Fliss Chester

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A seaside party at a Cornish mansion with plenty of fizz, what could be more perfect? But something fishy is afoot… a killer lurks among the guests, and only Cressida Fawcett can stop them.

When Cressida Fawcett is invited to stay at Penbeagle House on the Cornish coast for a fancy-dress ball, she is looking forward to sipping rum cocktails clad as a pirate, watching the red-sailed boats go by and relaxing in the sea air with her good friend Dotty. But before they can raise their glasses to toast Cressida’s former flame Lord Canterbury’s engagement, he drops dead in front of the horrified guests.

The local doctor determines that Lord Canterbury was poisoned, and soon Detective Chief Inspector Andrews is on his way from Scotland Yard. But Cressida is dismayed by the murder of the intrepid explorer who once asked for her hand in marriage, and she cannot simply leave the case to the police. Together with Dotty and her little pug Ruby, Cressida searches for clues only to discover that many of the guests have a motive for murder. Did an irate journalist or a bitter fellow explorer send Lord Canterbury on his untimely final journey?

My Opinion

Like the previous book in the series, Cressida is invited to a ball where one of the attendees ends up murdered. This is a quick and cosy mystery with some very likeable characters. Set in the 1920s there are many twists and turns in Cressida's investigations. Cressida Fawcett is an amateur detective that everyone can enjoy.

Rating 4/5

First time I've read this author. I found the story interesting and the mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a wonderful time with the first book in the series, and this sequel is just as much fun! (You can read my review of Death Among the Diamonds here).

The mystery starts off with a dress-up ball and everyone is having a great time, but it doesn’t take long for the murder and mayhem to begin. The fact that the murder victim is Cressida’s ex-boyfriend makes this case personal and soon Cressida, along with her adorable pug Ruby and her good friend Dotty, are on the hunt for clues and suspects.

Trying to sift through the party guests motives and alibis and doing her best not to upset Detective Chief Inspector Andrews from Scotland Yard, Cressida has her work cut out for her.

I really enjoy historical fiction cozy mysteries because along with the gorgeous settings and clothes, the society and etiquette rules of the time make things extra interesting to me.

Cressida continues to be a delightful main character – she is independent, persistent, and intelligent. Her sense of fun is infectious – instead of opting for a more traditionally feminine costume, she shows up at the ball dressed as a pirate – and you can tell she would be the life of any party. She smartly walks that fine line of being a “modern woman” in a society still abiding by strict moral rules but you can see that her attitude makes her stand out. It’s also great to see her relationship with Dotty and DCI Andrews continue to develop from the first book.

This is another fun outing with Cressida and this series is definitely fast becoming a favourite.

*** Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to Sarah Hardy and the publisher for sending me my review copy of the book and for inviting me to take part on the blog tour.

Although this is only second book in this series, I am really enjoying them all so far! I love cosy crime and Bookouture and their authors really do publish the best.

We follow on a mere few weeks from the events of Death Among the Diamonds as Cressie, her adorable pug Ruby and best friend Dottie set off to stay at Penbeagle House in Cornwall where they are hoping to relax following the previous events. Of course, things don't run quite as smoothly as they hoped! As with the first in the series, the action starts off quite quickly as one of the guests at the fancy dress party, keels over and dies unexpectedly with what is eventually deduced as poisoning. As the victim was a friend of Cressie, she is determined to get to the bottom of things, whilst also trying to stay on the good side of (who by now is slightly less gruff than in the first book!) Detective Chief Inspector Andrews!

Cressie is as lively as ever as she finds herself with a never ending list of suspects of people who would have benefited from the death of Lord Canterbury. This was a wonderful and easy flowing book that also wasn't afraid to broach some more serious subjects, in a sensitive way which also opens your eyes to how things were in that particular time. You didn't easily mix with people of a different class but I thought it was handled very well.

I have to admit that I didn't quite guess the suspect, there were a couple of red herrings that did have me stumped and did eventually lead me down a different path when ensured that at the end, I had the usual 'ahhh of course' moment!

A really enjoyable addition to the series (although this could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading Death Among the Diamonds as a great introduction to the characters!)

“There’s no reason at all to think that this party will end in murder, Cressida thought to herself sternly. But a few hairs prickled at the back of her neck, and she shivered the feeling off. Why, that’s just the sea breeze, surely?”

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Death by a Cornish Cove’ by Fliss Chester. I was also invited to take part in their publication week blog tour. This is my stop.

This is Book 2 in this series of historical cosy mysteries set in Britain during the mid-1920s. It features the Hon. Cressida Fawcett, an independently minded young woman. While she enjoys a privileged life she has a keen interest in interior design and recently undertook a touch of amateur sleuthing at a country house party.

Now she and her best friend, Dotty (Lady Dorothy Chatterton) are motoring down to Cornwall in her red Bugatti for a grand fancy dress ball hosted by Lord and Lady Trevelyan at Penbeagle House. Cressida and Dotty are staying on for a week’s holiday.

They arrive at the party dressed as pirates, accompanied by Cressida’s pug, Ruby, in a feathered parrot costume. But Cressida gets a shock when Randolph, Lord Canterbury, is at the ball. He is her former beau - a lauded Egyptologist, who had gifted Cressida with the pug puppy, Duchess Incarnadine Rose, now thankfully renamed Ruby.

Cressida had rejected his marriage proposal though now learns that he and Selina Trevelyan are engaged. Her pride is a little pinched as “a tiny part of her would have been gratified if he’d waited just a little longer and not already found his way into the affections of one of her friends.”

There’s a great deal of partying until oh dear it ends as Cressida had feared in a murder…. She begins to investigate while everyone waits for Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Andrews to arrive from London. She hopes that he will be more amenable to her help following their encounter in ‘Death Among the Diamonds’ or will he instruct her to not poke “her aristocratic nose” into matters? Yet has any police detective ever restrained a determined amateur sleuth in a historical cosy? I think not.

As expected I warmed more to Cressida in this second outing. I especially appreciated her concern for her dear friend, Dotty, who herself is a wonderful character.

Overall, this delightful historical cosy mystery confirmed that this is a series that I will be following. I especially enjoy its Jazz Age setting and the sophistication and independence of Cressida. I shall certainly be on the look out for Book 3.