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*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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It’s the 1920’s and Cressida is loving life with her pug Ruby spending the generous allowance from her parents and living in her little Chelsea flat, a husband is the last thing she needs or wants.
Just before Cressida sets off to her friend Dotty’s family estate Chatterton Court for the weekend she reads in the paper that they’ve had some diamonds stolen and the police don’t know who’s done it!.
What will Cressida & Ruby uncover?
This reminded me so much of the glamour of Downton Abbey ( one of my favourites) and how they live going from one party/dinner/weekend to the other and going shopping in between and making calls. Who wouldn’t want to live like this?.
It’s an often hilarious juggernaut to find out whodunnit which I loved!. Cressida & Ruby are my new favourite sleuths and I’m looking forward to finding out what’s next for them.
First read for me by this author and after reading this will definitely look for more
Cressida Fawcett enjoys life as a single woman in the 1920s ,designer of her friends home interiors and owner of a pug who goes everywhere with her, invited to a weekend party at her friends home leads her to add sleuth to her many credentials
Thank you to netgalley for the Arc
For all the armchair detectives like me who loved Miss Marple, Miss Fisher Investigates and Ms. Scarlett and the Duke! A brilliantly vivid murder mystery set in the 1920'sintroduces us to Cressida Fawcett, lady of leisure, lover of adventure, and interior designer for the discerning aristrocracy!
Cressida and her Pug Ruby have been invited to a party at the home of her friend. But the home has recently been burgled and a large number of diamonds have gone missing. Can Cressida and Ruby solve the mystery before the police? Will there be any other ghastly crimes committed before the perpetrator is caught?
The evocative descriptions of the fashions, furniture and cars of the times along with the pretty accurate life of a lady of leisure allow you to immerse yourself into the story. Ruby is entertaining and even helps solve a clue! There are some great secondary characters and more than one hoity male aristocrat you could gladly wring the neck of!
There is no graphic violence or sexual content so anyone who loves a good mystery can enjoy this story.
I've always enjoyed reading Agatha Christie novels and lately I have started to enjoy those of Fliss Chester as well. Cosy mysteries that are thrilling and heartwarming at the same time. These same could be said about Agatha Christie!
When I heard that a new Fliss Chester was coming up, I immediately wanted to read it. Before I had enjoyed the Fen Churche Mysteries series, consisting of A Dangerous Goodbye (August 2020), Night Train to Paris (November 2020) and The Moonlit Murders (April 2021).
This new novel, Death Among the Diamonds, is the start of a new series: the Cressida Fawcett Mysteries. Set in the 1920s England we get to know Cressida who's happily single, with a nice Chelsea flat and a comfortable allowance. Why get a husband, when you already have all this? And to top it off, a nice little dog, named Ruby.
Cressida is off for the weekend to her good friend Dorothy and her family, the Chattertons. It's supposed to be a happy weekend, but Lady Chatterton's diamonds have been stolen and that horrific event is followed by a dead body! Time for Cressida to keep her eyes open and listen closely. She just can't help it. She loves investigating! But if the police is happy with her interference?
Death Among the Diamonds is a classic Fliss Chester. Am I allowed to say that after reading four of her books? The new Agatha Christie hasn't let me down once again. I enjoyed reading her new novel from beginning to end. And even better, to an ending I most definitely did not see coming! While reading I've been going over the clues again and again, never actually suspecting who the thief and killer were. No, I did have suspects, I was just proven wrong. That in itself makes this book worth reading!
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.
First book of the Cressida Fawcett mystery series
I loved this book! It was a romp from start to finish. The main character is a gem. She reminded me a bit of Phryne Fisher from the miss Fisher mysteries. A woman ahead of her time daring and independent in the times when women were still expected to behave like a lady and be silent and obedient.
I can hardly wait to ride along on more of Cressida's adventures.
5stars on goodreads
I received this book free from netgalley and am providing a fair and honest review
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.
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Bookouture and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
A new cozy mystery series that has charm, a promising storyline and characters cozy fans are sure to adore.
Diamonds and murder, now that does sound like the kind of story I love!
Death Among the Diamonds follows Cressida Fawcett, as she spends the weekend at her friends home Dotty Chatterdon, where she finds herself investigating (or a Chief Inspector Andrews calls it “snooping”) the stolen diamonds of Lady Chatterdon and the subsequent murders of guests of the household
As each chapter progresses, the reader discovers more and more secrets that are hidden by the guests of the manor. With each clue and obstacle Cressida is gets closer and closer to finding the truth, but will it be at the cost of her own life?
For an easy to read, murder-mystery, with plenty of comedic dialogues, this is the mystery for you! It is fast-paced, and really does keep you hooked in from the start.
Really enjoyed it and can’t wait for Cressida’s next adventure
“Death among the Diamonds” is a classic country house murder mystery. The sleuth is the Hon Cressida Fawcett who is ably helped by her little pug, Ruby. She is one of the bright young things of 1920’s Britain, a debutante. Unusual in that she is determined to remain single, enjoy her independence, her sports car, dog and life in general.
In this first cosy mystery involving Cressida, she is called on by her best friend to persuade her Mother choose more suitable curtains for the ballroom of their country house. Cressida has a keen eye for design and is good at noticing things. Whilst the curtain dilemma tempts her the recent theft of diamonds is an intriguing mystery she feels she might be able to solve. During her stay with her friend, murder and mayhem ensue between cocktails and pleasant strolls round the grounds.
The hon Cressida can not seem to keep her nose out of trouble or stop investigating. It took me a while to warm to Cressida, but I did. She chats away to Ruby as she discovers secrets, lies and finds clues. This way of moving the plot forward is initially annoying but becomes quite endearing.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was a light, fun readband I look forward to seeing what escapades Cressida and Ruby get up to next.
A wonderful scene setting read that immerses you into the story and the time period. Everything you'd expect from a cosy crime read, with delicious characters and a nosy detective trying to interrupt the police at every turn.
I did find the dog annoying, but otherwise this is a "does what it says on the tin" kinda read and a pleasant one at that,
I received this ARC via Netgalley and Bookouture, in return for an honest review. As the first book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Lady Cressida Fawcett is the epitome of the modern 1920’s bright young thing. Comfortably well off, she delights in her fast Bughatti sports car and her young pug and companion, Ruby. Visiting her dearest friend, Dotty Chatterton, for a country house weekend, she’s dismayed when a member of the cleaning staff falls to his death from scaffolding for the chandelier. Added to a recent theft of Lady Chatterton’s diamonds, the weekend is off to a rocky start. Cressy is determined she can help the police solve the crimes. Fun cozy story with classic English country house setting among the upper class.
Death Among the Diamonds is the first book featuring Cressida Fawcett, I am a big fan of mystery books set in this era.
Cressida Fawcett is at the home of her best friend, Lady, Dotty Chatterton, for a weekend party, typically she arrives late and misses dinner, and most of the evening.
Unfortunately a few days previously some diamonds were stolen from the house and being of a curious nature, Cressida sets out to find them.
On the whole, it was a good, cozy read, but I am not sure I have totally taken to Cressida at all, found her character quite annoying at times.
This is a promising debut novel for Cressida Fawcett. Sort of the same old, same old though. Rich girl, death of someone, cantankerous detective who tells her to butt out. Etc. etc. It was cute. If you're a Phrynne Fisher fan you'll love it.
I love a cozy crime. I love the 1920s. I love a country house murder. I love a strong independent woman who leads the way. This book had all those and more. Very Agatha Christie with a bit of Dorothy L Sayers. Absolutely loved it. Can’t wait for the next.
Being of fan of a good cozy mystery I was very happy to be approved for Death Among the Diamonds. Setting in the 1920's beauty and elegance and a very independent women named Cressida Fawcett. Thinking this was going to be a lovely weekend in the country with her best friend Dotty, her family and various friends it turned out to be more than a weekend of parties and fun.
A young man part of the cleaning crew that was getting the house in order was cleaning the chandelier when he was found at the bottom of his ladder. Was it an accident or murder? Then Lady Chatterton's precious diamonds disappear. As Cressida tried to help the police in finding the missing diamonds and what really happened to the cleaner more murders occur and even an attempt on Cressida's life,
I loved the character of Cressida. An independent women of wealth who doesn't need taken care of. Yet everyone around her wants her to find a husband. All she needs is her fast car and her Pug Ruby who helps her solve this mystery. I also loved the time period. the glamorous 1920"s where the lives of the rich are filled with parties, money and sometimes murder. Cressida tries to help Dotty and her family find out why the cleaner and the major a very close friend of the Chatterton's were killed.. Were the diamonds involved and was Cressida nearly killed because she was getting close to the answer? Once thing I can say is there were many suspects. Especially Dotty's fiance Basil who was also hiding a big secret that put him to the top of the list.
A fun mystery that made you think that you were back in the time era with a free fun loving woman and her pug who likes to solve mysteries. Fliss Chester is a new author for me and I look forward to more books by her. Thanks to Ms. Chester, NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. I hope Cressida Fawcett has a long career of solving mysteries.
"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 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.
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.