“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.

Cressy and her pug Ruby too are back and as with any good cozy, she is at the right or maybe it is the wrong place, where another murder happens. This time it is poison. She consults with her friend Dotty and works with Chief Inspector Andrews much to his chagrin, as she works to solve the murder. I love the carefree fun that is represented in the time between the wars. For the rich of course.

There are great characters. I love that the historical era jumps off the page. The little bit of humor with the mystery was entertaining. A nice break from my gritty crime and thriller reads. Fans of cozy historical novels should give this series a try.

Funny 1920’s beach read!

It’s the roaring 20s. well-to-do Cressida Fawcett (Cressy to her friends) is off to a fancy-dress ball with her best friend, Dotty. It’s a few weeks after the previous novel, where Cressy solved a murder at Dotty’s family home, and Dotty needs some cheering up. In addition to the party, Cressy is going to help her hostess redecorate their boat house. Unfortunately, they have only just arrived when Lord Canterbury (who had previous proposed to Cressy about a year earlier) dies under suspicious circumstances. As she had a soft spot for him (after all, he did give her Ruby, her beloved pug), Cressy decides to investigate.

I’m a fan of golden age mysteries, and while not actually written in the time period, this one was set in it. I found it lovely - I loved how independent Cressy is, vowing not to get married despite hints of romance brewing between her and another character. I loved the hints about her past antics, always cut off by Cressy saying “not now” or “that was London” leaving much of the actually even to the reader’s imagination. And once again, her involvement was nicely done - not seeming too out of character, bringing in Detective Chief Inspector Andrews since he was discreet during their last adventure. Altogether a fun, not too serious, beach read.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com and voluntarily chose to review.

Cressida Fawcett is looking forward to enjoying what promises to be a lovely ball. In this second book in the Cressida Fawcett Mystery series, our intrepid young woman dons her amateur sleuth hat for the second time in this entertaining cozy mystery series. The party is barely underway when her former beau Lord Canterbury suddenly drops dead right in front of everyone attending.

As a doctor is also present at the party, it is quickly determined that Lord Canterbury’s death was caused by poison. No doubt foul play is responsible and Cressida is determined to find the killer. It doesn’t take Cressida long to discover that more than one guest at the ball could have wanted him dead. Although the suspect pool is limited, the killer could be any number of people. Then, a second murder occurs and Cressida, along with Detective Chief Inspector Andrews, knows that they must act quickly before yet another person is killed.

Along with conferring with Andrews, Cressida also bounces ideas off of her good friend Dotty, who is also a guest at the party. Her adorable little pug Ruby is there as well, as cute little furbabies are pretty much a signature in these enjoyable cozy mystery stories. The 1920s setting adds extra flair to this delightful series, as rules of etiquette come into play as Cressida proceeds when it comes to searching for answers. I really loved both this and the first book in the series, Death Among the Diamonds. I very much look forward to seeing what Cressida gets into next.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/o6yZi-os7Qo

This is fairly standard of the multitude of 1920s historical mystery series featuring a feisty heroine, aristocrats and the well-to-do, fashion descriptions and, of course, murder. And not to be forgotten, often an animal; this time it is a cute pug. There is also some humor, a hint of romance, a friendship filled with banter and some good descriptions of the Cornish cost. The culprit was a bit obvious but there were plenty of twists and misdeeds to go around.

I enjoy reading light 1920 historical mystery series and have read many of the multitude of series out there. And I will continue to do so and gladly spend time on new series. So, if you are like me--and there are many out there considering how many series continue to be produced--sit down and enjoy a few hours in a pleasant read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I'm a big reader of cosy historical mysteries, and from the cover design and description, I hoped that this would be my kind of book.

I really liked this. I warmed to Cressida quickly, and some of the other characters made me chuckle. I was reminded of T.E. Kinsey's books, but also Wodehouse, partly because of the dialogue. This book was charming and filled the craving for a cosy mystery that I often experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Welcome to a world of 1920s glamour and style
Skilfully portrayed to engage you for a while.
Add in Cressida Fawcett, a feisty heroine,
Your onto a story that's sure to win!

Cressida stays at Penbeagle House in Cornwall
Travelling there to attend a fancy dress ball.
She takes her good friend Dotty along, too,
Anticipating a fun week with decorating plans to do.

However, there's a murder and a killer to be found
And Cressida is determined to run them to ground.
With DCI Andrews brought in to investigate
Cressida searches for clues, she just can't wait!

Get ready for a victim with many possible killers
And other potential victims, its a real chiller.
Cressida's dog, Ruby, has serious roles to play
In helping Cressida solve the crime her own way.

There are great characters in this cosy crime book
And it is a fun read, definitely worth more than just a look.
I really enjoyed reading it and now look forward to
Reading more in this series - I hope you'll enjoy it too!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Death by a Cornish Cove.” All opinions and comments are my own.

What “Bright Young Thing” in the 20’s would turn down an invitation to a fancy dress ball? Author Fliss Chester’s heroine Cressida Fawcett is only too happy to pop into her Bugatti and drive to Cornwell for the big bash. What that means for our purposes is that a body (or two) probably won’t be far behind. And the glittering soiree at Penbeagle House is happy to oblige, the site for music, merriment, and murder.

This is the second book in the series, and already “Cressy” has established herself as someone who likes to “assist the police with their inquiries.” So, readers are on the case immediately when there’s a suspicious death - handy, that. There’s plenty of obvious suspects already, even Cressida herself, but that doesn’t last long; DCI Andrews (from the first book, “Death Among the Diamonds”) has come along to officially sort everything out.

“Death by a Cornish Cove” has characters that stand out from each other and provide fodder for the plot. Using their stories, the glimpses of Upper-Class English Life Between the Wars are well done, underscoring the existence of a lot of societal snobbishness. Some modern tropes sneak in, perhaps because the author thinks her audience will be comfortable/used to them/won’t notice, but it’s a minor quibble. In any event, the dialog keeps the story rolling along, and there’s enough drama to keep readers guessing.

The book concludes with a “drawing room scene” in which a newly complicated plot with some added twists and turns is uncomplicated very neatly by Cressy, using Inspector Andrews as her thinking foil, making the local police forces very happy and bringing justice for the murder case. Cressida Fawcett can jump back into her Bugatti and go on to her next murder scene, uh, adventure.

A compelling whodunit set in beautiful Cornwall.
This story is a good mix of 1920s ambience, interesting suspects and red herrings galore..
Try your sleuthing skills too!!
I enjoyed this book so much.

Cressida, Dotty and Ruby (the Pug) are back for another Roaring Twenties adventure!

They've arrived at Penbeagle House, Cornwall, for some fun including a fancy dress ball. But then Lord Canterbury dropped dead from poisoning.

Cressida's "favourite" detective from Scotland Yard, Inspector Andrews, arrives to take control with the able assistance of Kirby. Having dealt with the Inspector before Cressida knows just how to run her own investigation under his nose!

I enjoyed the setting in Cornwall as I've visited a few times and I felt like i was right there with them. Great portrayal of the wealthy and noble of the time and as always I loved reading about the cars and so on. Great way to escape into your head for a few hours for Agatha Christie mystery type fans.

When Cressida Fawcett is invited to stay at Penbeagle House on the Cornish coast for a fancy-dress ball, she is looking forward to relaxing in the sea air with her good friend Dotty & of course her dog Ruby. But before they can raise their glasses to toast Lord Randolph 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. Cressida searches for clues only to discover that many of the guests have a motive for murder. When a young maid is found dead, floating in the shimmering waters of the cove, Cressida knows time is running out to catch the killer
The second outing for Cressida & it’s easily read on its own. A well written entertaining read with plenty of twists & turns as well as some red herrings. I really like Cressida & love Ruby’s antics I also like DCI Andrews who was more open to letting Cressida help. The Cornish location was well described. My only quibble was that I worked out who the villain was quite early in the book
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Cressida Fawcett and her best friend Dolly are invited to the fancy ball of the season. Looking forward to sipping fancy cocktails by the sea and taking in the sunshine is exactly what she needs right now. Just when the invited guests begin to celebrate the engagement of Lord Canterbury he drops dead in front of them all. When it is determined that Lord Canterbury’s death is due to poisoning, the fancy ball is no longer fancy and the guests are now suspects. Then another victim, the maid’s body is found floating in the cove. Detective Chief Inspector Andrews has arrived from Scotland Yard, to solve the case, but he is running out of time. He has to find out who the culprit is and is it the same person that killed both victims? Cressida steps in to assist Detective Andrews and just in time.

This wonderful who-dunnit had me stumped from the beginning. I loved the twists and turns throughout the entire story. This witty and wonderful story had me hooked. It was a rapid read as I couldn’t wait to find out who the culprit was. I love the role that Ruby, the pug, played in the story. This was a great addition to this fun cozy mystery series. This is a must read for all cozy mystery fans. This book can be read as a standalone and I highly recommend it.

This is the 2nd in the Cressida Fawcett Mysteries and it was just as much fun and just as enjoyable as the 1st book. The setting of Cornwall sounded gorgeous, the authenticity of the rich and famous of the era was good. As ever Ruby stole much of the limelight. Recommended for those wanting a light hearted cozy mystery. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Cressida and her good friend Dotty, along with Ruby the pug, arrived at Penbeagle House, Cornwall, for a week of entertainment and fun. Leading was a fancy dress ball, so they were suitably donned on arrival. Cocktails were flowing when suddenly Lord Randolph Canterbury dropped to the floor, dead from poisoning. Cressy was shocked but his fiance, Selina, fainted from the sight. It wasn't long before Scotland Yard's Inspector Andrews arrived to take charge, along with his side-kick Kirby.

With Cressy searching for clues, Dotty telling her to be careful and Andrews trying to stop her while running his own investigation, it was still a dreadful sight to see one of the maids also dead. 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 didn't enjoy it as much as the first in the series unfortunately. But the setting of Cornwall was delightful, the authenticity of the rich and famous of the era was good, and Ruby was always up to mischief. Recommended for fans of historical cosy mysteries.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Still much longer than it needs to be, but fun and frothy. The mystery was fun with plenty of red herrings and the characters are oodles of fun to be with. Also, the historical setting is done so well, I wish I could visit.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Fairly cookie-cutter cozy mystery set in Cornwall.

1) Independence-loving, society-shunning ahead of her time heroine - check
2) a pet full of mischief - check
3) fancy dress ball - check
4) high tea and titled guests - check

Cressida Fawcett investigates murder, betrayal and treachery in her aristocratic society. It's an okay book I think, more of a drift-through read than one that requires deep concentration.

The book follows the standard pattern of murder mysteries interviewing everyone involved and discovering lots of people may have had a motive for murder. I suppose in this book there's more than one murder and innocence more than one type of crime being committed, so it is fairly layered.

We start with the murder of Lord Randolph Canterbury who is murdered on the night his engagement is to be announced.

For some reason I really did not like the descriptions and activities of Cressida's dog. Was more annoying than cute to me. I think a little bit of a missed opportunity in terms of exploiting the beauty of Cornwall. The descriptions of the place weren't particularly fascinating or fetching. The police officers that arrived at the halfway point of the book were ineffective for the most part. They weren't any memorable character.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love this era and found this a fun read. Although I found the descriptions of Cressida's driving a bit forced (not humorous) and Cressida herself initially came across as a shallow, thoughtless rich girl, which irritated me. She did improve as the story progressed though. I received this as a complimentary copy from the author via NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGally for this ARC. The first book was ok and i hoped the next would be better and it is. More character development and a better story line. Hoping the third will be even better and the series continues to go from strength to strength

This book opens enticingly with a fancy dress party where a principle guest is murdered by poison. Cressy has her work cut out to discover what is going on, even with the help of her trusty pug, Ruby. This is the second book in the series and it is every bit as much fun as the first one was.

The detective who we met in the first book turns up to investigate and he seems more inclined to call upon Cressy's help than before. The mystery is good, the characters well portrayed, and the whole book is a fun read. I also enjoyed the Cornish setting and the beautiful cover. Definitely well worth reading!

I normally love these types of cosy mysteries but this just didn’t quite do it for me I’m afraid. It was an easy read but I struggled to stay interested.

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.