What a fun addition to the series! I love a cozy historical and the Cressida Fawcett Mysteries are some of my favorite! A great cast of supporting characters really adds to my enjoyment of the book.

"After an eventful trip to the Scottish Highlands, Cressida Fawcett is looking forward to being back among her society friends in London. Enjoying an ice-cold martini in the lounge car of the express train, loyal pug Ruby on her lap, she’s ready to blow off some steam!"

But once again our intrepid heroine is involved in a murder.
Not sure I'd be too close to her to be honest.
But this was another cleverly plotted and fast moving romp. I am enjoying the development of relationships and the way that she is learning as she goes.

Blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources

http://ramblingmads.uk/2023/11/27/blog-tour-death-on-the-scotland-express-fliss-chester/

Another wonderful mystery by Fliss Chester. I have yet to be disappointed by this series. It's always quite fun to get to the climax of the story, revealing who the culprit is. I look forward to more of Cressida and her friends solving mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily reviewed.

This fourth venture into the 1920s cosy crime world of the Hon. Cressida Fawcett immediately follows the third, starting aboard the train from Inverness to Euston after a murder at a Scottish castle. Cressida is still suffering headaches from a bonk on the head in a dark tunnel, whilst aiding that earlier investigation. Gathered here are Chester’s ‘usual suspects’: Cressida, of course; her decidedly less dotty aristocratic friend Dotty and brother Alfred Chatterton; her sleuth-in-the-making pug Ruby; DCI Andrews; and Sergeant Kirby. The only thing missing is Cressida’s fabulous Bugatti! Shots ring out; a wealthy industrialist is dead, and his wife arrested and confined to her compartment. But then the wife and DCI Andrews are shot and injured, so Cressida has carte blanche to investigate. The fact that she would do that anyway is part of her charm. If the wife isn’t guilty of the crime, perhaps there’s more than one perpetrator. Time is of the essence. The one stop in Edinburgh requires all hands on deck to stop a murderer from exiting the train, and the crime must be solved before the arrival in London.

Fliss Chester has created such a delightful group of characters in her series. As a group, they rub along well together, each contributing their two cents’ worth in what are usually quite complex mysteries. People aren’t ever who they seem to be. A lot of bumping about happens in dark corridors, as the lights go out each time the train enters a tunnel. Cressida isn’t fond of dark tunnels! Having ridden the Flying Scotsman (which this isn’t) many times from London to Newcastle, I found it easy to imagine the atmosphere in this narrow-corridor, locked-train cosy, written with Chester’s wit and panache. Cosy fans who haven’t discovered Cressida should do so immediately.

Cressida Fawcett has an eleven-hour train ride ahead of her. Someone has been killed and obviously, there is a killer on the train. While it seems very likely that the victim's wife was the killer, as she had means, motive and opportunity, Cressida is not quite convinced.

The locked-roomed trope is one of my favorites. With a speeding train, and only so many passengers, it was rather fun trying to guess the identity of the killer right along with Cressida.

Cressida is not just among strangers on the train ride, Detective Andrews and his partner Kirby are on the train as well. Perhaps with the three of them, they can figure out the killer before the train reaches its destination.

Death on the Scotland Express is the enjoyable fourth book in a delightful cozy mystery series. As a diehard series fanatic, I have enjoyed this series from the first book, Death Among the Diamonds. However, these cozy mysteries are written in such a way that they each serve well as standalone novels.

Besides being a cozy mystery, this is also a period piece, as the setting was during the early 1920s, and that makes this book and the rest of the series truly enjoyable.

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

After an eventful, nearly fatal, stay in the Highlands
Cressida's on her way home, hoping her journey will be bland
She travelling with her three friends- her friend, her friend's brother
And Ruby, her devoted pug, is the other.

On the Scotland Express their London bound
When a shot rings out and a dead body is found.
With Detective Andrews on the train, too.
There's a murder mystery for them to help solve as they travel through.

The train hasn't stopped so the killer is still there
So Cressida and her friends really must take care.
The clues point to one perpetrator but is she being framed?
It seems too straight forward to be as it is claimed.

Another great historical murder mystery for these friends to solve
And a growing attraction and that strengthens resolve.
Can they decipher the clues to identify the killer
And meanwhile to stay safe - what a thriller!

I really enjoyed this 1920's case
Where so many leads initially seem out of place.
An enthralling read with humour and history
Before they identify the killer and solve the mystery!

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Another great edition to the series. I am always a fan of Cressida’s as she independent and spunky for the 1920s. I love “watching” her gather clues, interrogate suspects, and sort through it all as she solves the murder. Her mind works in a unique way.

The locked room aspect of this one provided an interesting element to the case and I loved that is paid homage to Murder on the Orient Express while not being to like it to spoil the fun. While the murder investigation took a few twists and turns along the way, I love the book as a whole. The budding feelings she has with Alfred, her friend’s brother is a nice touch to the series. So I suspect he will pop up again. I also loved her trying to help with a young lad whose nanny had disappeared. With said young lad adding some humor of this own as boys will be boys, especially when unattended.

Plenty of suspects and plenty of sleuthing by Cressida and Alfred. A great lighthearted cozy mystery. This is great for historical cozy fans.

Hours after solving a murder, Cressida and her friend Dotty are heading back south when a man is shot dead. His wife is the obvious suspect but Cressy is sure that someone else is to blame. ..
Death on the Scotland Express is the fourth book to feature Cressida Fawcett and DCI Andrews. It follows on directly from the previous book, Death in the Highlands, but there are no spoilers about the plot outcome.
Cressy and Dotty are hoping for a relaxing trip back home, but this dream is shattered by the resounding bang of a gunshot. The victim was a businessman who was also a serial adulterer and was on board the train with his latest mistress. His wife was also a passenger and is the natural prime suspect. DCI Andrews certainly thinks so but Cressida has some doubts and cannot resist investigating once again.
I loved the setting of a stream train and was reminded of the majestic Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. There was plenty of mystery and red herrings even within the limited setting and range of suspects. The murder happens quite early on so Cressida is straight into action despite still bearing the injuries from her last murder investigation just hours earlier.
The book has a wonderfully light touch to the tone with gentle humour. Cressy's dog Ruby offers light relief as well as spotting clues. The historical setting is brought to life and the train journey was vividly imagined, both being well researched by the author.
Death on the Scotland Express is an enjoyable murder mystery with a vivacious amateur detective.

Death on the Scotland Express is the 4th book in the Cressida Fawcett Mystery series and is another well-written mystery set in the 1920s. This book begins immediately after the previous story ended. Cressida, Dotty, Alfred and her pug Ruby are returning from an event in Inverness. There was a murder and Cressida helped Detective Andrews of Scotland Yard solve the mystery. He is also on the train heading home to London, which is perfect, because there is a murder on the train. Industrial tycoon Lewis Warriner has been shot dead in his cabin, and his wife is the main suspect. She was on the train after receiving a note telling her her husband would be on the train and she should also get on the train, but not let anyone know she would be. When someone shoots Detective Andrews, Cressida has to pick up her investigation to solve the crime. Who killed Lewis Warriner, and why?

You can read any of the books in this series as a standalone, as each mystery is solved by the end of the book, but you will miss out on the character development and relationship building that occurs. With the three friends and two police officers we get to know the various characters and see how the crime is solved. There is some humor, most provided by Ruby, and plenty of suspects. It is a locked room mystery, it takes place on a moving train, so they know the murderer is among them. I like Cressy's instincts, she can read people well, uses Ruby to put them at ease and her style gets people to talk to her. The main characters, while privileged and well off, are well intentioned, kind and not the spoiled type that Lords and Ladies tend to be in Golden Age stories. This was an interesting mystery that was well-plotted and really made me think. The nod to Murder on the Orient Express was interesting. There is an inkling of romance between Cressy and Alfred, so I am hoping something happens in future books. This was another wonderful addition to this series that will make you a fan of Cressida Fawcett and Ruby.

This is a lovely historical mystery series. The combination of Cressida, Alfred and Dotty is one I enjoy. However, this time the balance just seemed a bit off for me and the storyline wasn't one that resonated for me,, though it certainly had some interesting twists. Perhaps just one too many coincidences, I'm not sure.

It's the fourth story in the series and it's three out of five stars for me.

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

So hot on solving there last case Cressie and Co are heading home to London via the Scotland Express where they are thrown head first into another murder not one to pass up on assisting in an investigation Cressie is in her element!

I've read this series since the beginning and have always found the writing to be entaining and engaging and this offering was no different.

I enjoyed the setting, character extras, plot, investigation it was a cosy mystery read that was a joy to read.

This cozy series is very entertaining when you want straight forward stories in a pleasant setting with varied, invariably a sprinkle of eccentric characters. This was one such a read.

Cressida the Hon is the way she introduces herself (bit strange right there) is with friends returning to London along with her pug Ruby who plays a leading role in the story. One murder whilst on a train journey is bad enough but when second one is attempted and two people injured, one rather badly, we know the murderer is on the train. Cressida’s good friend Detective Andrew’s and his able assistant Kirby are coincidentally on the same train and now that the chief suspect is shot, they all have to look elsewhere for the murder suspect.

Told in a very easy style though the timing is just a train journey from Scotland to London we are taken along the ride with deduction and detective skills in full force.

Nicely told, relaxing read.

Murder on the Scotland Express
Cressida Fawcett and her best friends are on the train from the Highlands to London. They were barely underway before there is a murder. Luckily, a Scotland Yard Inspector is on the train. Cressida had helped Inspector Andrews find a murderer a few days before. He doesn’t like her investigating but is aware she notices details.
DCI Andrew’s arrests the wife of the victim because the gun is found under her mattress and she had motive as the neglected wife but Cressida thinks she is being framed. Will Cressy figure it out before they arrive in London?
The author has an easy writing style. The story flows smoothly and is an interesting whodunit. This is the fourth book in the Cressida Fawcett mystery series. I did enjoy this book and would be interested in reading more of her work.

This book was my first introduction to Cressida Fawcett and her devoted dog, Ruby, and I thought it was quite charming! She has to solve a murder on the express train - a la Agatha Christie - and sort it out before they arrive back to London.

Fliss Chester does a great job sketching out her characters in bold, broad strokes. I appreciated being able to jump into the series and get to know the characters without having to have read the series form the beginning. I thought the mystery was well developed, and it kept me on my toes trying to decipher whodunnit. The moments of romance didn’t really capture me; nor were they fleshed out very much. Aside from that, and a few moments that seemed a bit didactic, this was a great read!

If you’ve followed along with my reviews, you know how much I enjoy Fliss Chester’s Cressida Fawcett mysteries. With Death on the Scotland Express, Chester gives us another delightful mystery to unravel!

Cressida, along with her best friend Dotty and Dotty’s brother Alfred, is on her way back to London, traveling on the Scotland Express. The trio’s trip to the Scottish Highlands was full of more excitement than anyone expected, and they’re all looking forward to a relaxing trip home. But things don’t stay quiet for long. Businessman Lewis Warriner, who had been confronted by his wife as he was traveling with another woman, is shot dead in his cabin shortly after the train departs.

Detective Andrews is also on the train and on the case. But he’s smart enough to know that Cressida has access to information that people might be reluctant to share with a policeman, so he accepts her help in investigating. Mrs. Warriner is soon tagged as the prime suspect when a gun is found in her train compartment. But when she and Detective Andrews are also shot, it’s up to Cressida to bring all the loose ends together before the train reaches its destination.

This was a fabulous read! It’s another locked-room mystery, as the murder takes place after the train has departed, and there’s no stopping until they return to London. The closed environment adds tension, because anyone on the train could be the killer, and could kill again. The tension is compounded by the time constraint on the investigation. If the killer isn’t identified before everyone leaves the train, they could very well walk free.

Ruby the pug is, as always, a charming part of the story. She is often part of Cressida’s methods of gaining information, and always a good conversation starter. I mean, who can resist an adorable pug?

And if you’ve kept up with the series, you know Cressy is very much not marriage-minded. She’s always enjoyed her independence. But here we see her wrestling with some unaccustomed feelings when Alfred makes it clear that he cares for her as more than just his sister’s best friend. We also get to see a little glimpse of maternal instinct when Cressy finds herself trying to comfort Monty, a young noble whose nanny has mysteriously disappeared (and she has to deal with the fact that boys’ fingers will find their noses from time to time!). It will be entertaining to see what direction the budding romance between Cressy and Alfred takes, and Monty’s antics had me positively chuckling. (Boy mom here. Noble or not, young boys are in many ways all alike!)

The mystery itself had plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to chase. There was no shortage of suspects, and when the big reveal came, it wasn’t one I was really expecting. I won’t say any more than that. I’ll let you get the book and read and have the joy of discovering it for yourself.

Fliss Chester has given us another excellent adventure on the Scotland Express. I can’t wait to see what Cressida and crew get up to next!

The adventure continues! Picking up from the last book, Cressida finds herself on a train traveling back to London. She has of course her faithful Pug Ruby, Lady Dorothy Chatterton and Alfred Chatterton, Lord Delafield along with her.

But what could happen? A murder of course and with the help of DCI Andrews, who is conveniently along. Of course Cress is always at the height of fashion, but on the case!

A wonderful addition to this fun series! Cannot wait for more!

“Cressida beamed at him. ‘That’s the spirit. And you never know, Andrews, three aristocratic noses might end up being even better than one.”

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Death on the Scotland Express’ by Fliss Chester. I was invited to take part in the publication week blog tour. This is my stop.

This is Book 4 in Chester’s series of historical cosy mysteries set in Britain during the mid-1920s. I have read all of the previous books and while it is fine as a standalone, I appreciated reading them in order for the character development.

The Hon. Cressida Fawcett is an independently minded young woman. While she has no need to work, Cressida has a keen interest in interior design and is often consulted on the subject by members of high society. In recent months she has also become something of an amateur sleuth as murders and country estates seem to go hand in hand in this type of Golden Age style mystery.

This novel takes place days after Cressida, accompanied by her best friend, Dotty (Lady Dorothy Chatterton), and Dotty’s brother, Alfred, had solved the mystery chronicled in ‘Death in the Highlands’. Now the three are travelling home to London on the Scotland Express.

Cressida is enjoying a martini in the lounge car when a gunshot resounds through the carriages. It is revealed that a fellow passenger has been shot dead. As this is an express train, the culprit must be among Cressida’s fellow passengers…

Cressida teams up with D.C.I. Andrews of Scotland Yard, who is also on board. They question the various suspects seeking to uncover the truth. When the murder weapon is found it seems that they have identified the murderer. Then there’s another gunshot, throwing the investigation into turmoil. Cressida struggles to stay calm. Can she solve the murder before they reach their destination?

An express train is a great place to set a locked room mystery, especially an express train as it heightens the sense of claustrophobia and keeps the suspect pool contained.

It seems that D.C.I. Andrews, who is a friend of Cressida’s father, is becoming more receptive to accepting Cressida’s help. Given the social structure of the period, her being an aristocrat does mean that those of her class are more receptive to answering her questions.

It’s also nice to see some of Cressida’s barriers coming down as she starts looking at Alfred with more favour. Is a romance on the cards? I am glad that Fliss Chester is taking her time developing this aspect of the ongoing story.

Overall, I found ‘Death on the Scotland Express’ another successful whodunnit that contained some delightful twists. I enjoyed the mention of the Orient Express, which seemed to be a gentle tip of the hat in the direction of Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery.

As soon as I read the blurb for the latest Cressida Fawcett mystery I knew I had to hop on board (pub intended). I LOVE a good train mystery and this one really served up a great story and adventure. A bonus was that Cressida, her pup Ruby, and her friends were travelling from Scotland to London, which is a train journey that is near the top of my bucket list.

Cressida is in top form in this story and I had a great time trying to work out who the killer was in the this quick-paced mystery. The stakes are raised when there’s a shooting on the train and our sleuth must work even faster to keep everyone safe.

This series is full of charm – the characters are fun and witty, the dialogue is crisp and fun, and the mystery (and the solution) is always a delight. I like how Cressida works with Detective Andrews (who always seems to be in the right place at the right time) and this is one cozy mystery series that I can’t get enough of.

Of course, the title and setting of Death on the Scotland Express was highly reminiscent of one of my favourite books – Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. This one has it’s own unique twists and red herrings and was an absolutely delight to read and I can’t wait for further adventures with Cressida and Ruby!

*** Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-copy of this book

I think that these books just get better with every one I read. I certainly fall more in love with the characters.
This time we join Cressida and her friends as they return from their visit to the highlands in previous book Death in the Highlands and it isn't long before she finds herself in the midst of another mystery.
I love all of the side characters in this book; from her best friend Dorothy to her pet pug Ruby. I do have a real soft spot for Alfred, who Cressida also seems to be developing much more of a soft spot for too.
This is very much a classic-style murder mystery, with all of our suspects in one place on an overnight sleeper train. The action all takes place over the course of 24 hours, but it doesn't seem rushed. I managed to figure out quite a lot of the murder mystery, but there were still a few things that caught me out.
I love this series and can't wait for more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.