Cressida and Co are back and it's time for another 1920s adventure!

On the train journey home after their latest exploits in the Highlands, Cressida, Dotty, Alfred (and Ruby the Pug) are centre stage when another murder occurs. Cressida cannot help but get them involved - even with good old Inspector Andrews on the train too.

Think Murder on the Orient Express, except our train is going from the Highlands to London. Skeevy tycoon, Lewis Warriner who has been stepping out on his wife is dead and now a host of other shady characters are the suspects.

There is the gentle, but very class ridden humour, you'd expect from novels/movies set during this time. Ruby provides much of the comic relief and as usual the official Detectives are slower to catch up than our effervescent amateur!

The main characters could be stodgy, staid and unpleasant but they are actually quite kind and empathetic and you actually kind of forget that their Lords and Ladies and Honourables half the time. The little bloom of attraction between Cressida and Alfred is really sweet, especially with out very independent Cressy well-known to be anti-marriage.

Can't wait to see what disaster befalls them next!

Death on the Scotland Express is the 4th book in the wonderful Cressida Fawcett series that I have devoured and is up there as one of my favourite cosy crime series.

The story carries on almost immediately following the last book and their adventures in Scotland as they are travelling back to London in the hope of a bit of rest and recouperation! When I say they, I of course mean, Cressida and her beloved pug Ruby and her best friend, Dotty (also known as Lady Dorothy) and Dotty’s brother Lord Alfred. I really like this trio of amateur sleuths and am happy that Dotty and Alfred are definitely part of the gang as Cressy’s faithful sidekicks. Also travelling back to London is Detective Andrews, who despite telling Cressida to not get involved with the cases that she always finds herself caught up on, knows that his warnings will fall on deaf ears and is usually actually quite grateful for her astute mind and help.

When a gunshot rings out quite early on in the journey, we know that Cressida won’t be able to resist investigating. The victim, a callous businessman has been shot and it isn’t long before a suspect has been arrested but to Cressy, it doesn’t quite sit right and she is determined to find out who the murderer really is. When the supposed murdered is also shot along with Detective Andrews sustaining a bullet to the arm, Cressy knows that she will need to get involved before anything further happens.

Cressy is a wonderful lead character and I love her astuteness. At the start of the book, she is sat with Ruby observing the different characters board the train and this obviously puts her in good stead for the investigation to come.

The fledgling romance with Alfred is also lovely to observe. If you know from the previous books, Cressy is very independent and although this is set in the 1920’s where women were definitely encouraged to marry, she will do nothing of the sort!

The investigation itself is very well written with plenty of red herrings that send you off in a completely different direction – I absolutely loved it and am looking forward to the next instalment already.

Highly recommended from me.

I enjoyed this book immensely. A story full of believable suspects and red herrings as the Hon Cresssida races against time. She must find a murderer before the train reaches London. Full of 1920s
ambiance and style.
A great cosy whodunit.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Advance Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Death on the Scotland Express.” All opinions and comments are my own.

A dead man in the prologue – let’s get the murder out of the way, right away in “Death on the Scotland Express,” the fourth in the 1920’s-era “Cressida Fawcett, Hon” series by Fliss Chester. Along with her friends Lady Dorothy Chatterton and Alfred Chatterton, Lord Delafield (and Ruby the pug), Cress is heading south on the Scotland Express, going home after the tumultuous events in “Death in the Highlands.” And now she’ll have another murder to solve, something she’s rather good at, while looking exceedingly glamorous at the same time. Ruby will get in her two barks too, of course.

Luckily, DCI Andrews is on board -- pretty convenient. He’ll be able to take up this case right away. Immediately, he tells Cress to leave it to him and his Sergeant Kirby HA HA HA. I guess writers include this for old time’s sake or something, I dunno. Because they must know that readers know that these “book people” are totally going to ignore this admonition. Perish the thought. On with the show.

The murdered man’s wronged wife is the immediate suspect; handy, that. But our author has given us a train-full of shady characters (and great characterization), so there’s a lot to work with. Our Honorable pieces it all together, with a credible “drawing room” scene that sees the determined amateur detective bringing an end to the case -- in between Gin Rickeys.

“Death on the Scotland Express” is an entertaining tale, heavy on Bright Young Things, light on soul-searching. And I’m quite okay with that. If I want doom and gloom, I’ll open up the news. (An Author’s note explains the artistic license employed to bring the story to life.) Instead, I’ll just check and see what (fictional) mischief Cressida Fawcett and her pals are getting up to. Author Fliss Chester has plenty in mind, I’m sure.

Cressida Fawcett is back in a new mystery where she must find a killer on a train. The stuck on a train is a classic mystery setting, but Chester did a great job making it her own. These historical mysteries are always a fun read, and Cressida is a good detective! Can't wait to see what awaits her next!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have so enjoyed Fliss Chester’s books but mysteries that have a limited cast of suspects and everyone trapped (in a train, or in a manor, etc.) are not my favourite. “Death on the Scotland Express” is exactly that, the person killed isn’t a surprise and neither is the guilty party which makes for a slow book. The leading characters and the writing style redeem the novel and makes it an enjoyable read. I will be picking up the next one! It’s a four out of five on the enjoyment scale.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC. I'm really loving this series and how the characters are developing. Kept guessing til the end!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “Death on the Scotland Express”. If you liked “Murder on the Orient Express” and you like Agatha Christie, this book is for you!
Cressida Fawcett is traveling with her friends, on the way back from a murder, when there’s another murder on the train. The friends have to work together to catch the right person before the train arrives at the station. This is my first book by Fliss Chester, but it won’t be my last.
This book will have you flipping the pages so fast to see what happens. If you are looking for a cozy mystery that is filled with action, this book is for you. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#DeathontheScotlandExpress #FlissChester #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #BooksSetInScotland #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

As Cressida Fawcett, her friend Dotty and Dotty's brother Alfred travelled back from the Scottish Highlands to London, they were relaxing in the dining car, looking forward to being back home. But the sound of a gunshot threw everything into turmoil, and meant the rest of the journey was put to solving the crime.

With Detective Andrews and his sidekick Kirby, also on the train, it wasn't just up to Cressida to search for clues. Because one thing they knew for sure; the killer was on the train with them. A second lot of shots came, this time two of them, and Detective Andrews was shot, as well as the culprit they'd arrested. With it being obvious they'd arrested the wrong person, Cressida, Dotty and Alfred had their work cut out. Would they solve the case before arriving in London, where the killer could escape?

Death on the Scotland Express is the 4th in the Cressida Fawcett series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fliss Chester tells a good tale; a great cosy historical mystery, as this one is set in around 1920. Light, entertaining and intriguing as we watch how Cressida's brain works, sifting through the clues. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. Recommended.

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

Once again Cressida finds herself (and her sweet dog Ruby) right in the middle of a murder investigation. This one occurs on a train and is of the "locked door" variety. Who did it? Cressida has only limited time to insert herself into the investigation and find the killer before they get away!

I love this series of cozy mysteries which can be read out of order or as stand alones. I've read them all and I enjoy trying to figure them out before Cressida does. She reminds me a bit of Georgie from the Royal Spyness series, if you like that series, too (as I do).

If you love historical cozies, I highly recommend this series. Thank you for my review copy!

A fun addition to this series set in 1920s Britain. The Hon. Cressy Fawcett and assorted friends, pups, and law enforcement must solve a mystery on a train. Loved the setting of the train with its combination of glamour and depictions of social class and restrictions. Okay to read as a standalone, but watching Cressida develop her sleuthing skills is part of the charm of the series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A strange one. Before you turn a page you know it is going to be an old fashioned ‘who done it’?’, but you might not quite be ready for the step back in time, having read nothing more than modern day thrillers. I wasn’t.
Nevertheless, a decent read.

In this fourth outing Cressida Fawcett and her faithful pug, Ruby, are homeward bound from their holiday in Scotland. They are enjoying the trip to London on the Scotland Express train when someone is shot dead in their cabin. Of course Detective Andrews is also on the train and they have until their arrival in London to discover the murderer.

If you have ever enjoyed one of these long distance train journeys with cramped cabin space, very social bar and dining cars, and the difficulties of moving along the corridors as the train hurtles along, then you will feel for Cressy as she attempts to work out who was where and when. I was surprised by who was the murderer and I enjoyed the whole story very much. Four stars from me:)

After an eventful trip to the Scottish Highlands, Cressida Fawcett is looking forward to being back among her society friends in London. But Cressida’s hopes for a relaxing journey are dashed when a gunshot resounds through the carriages. Industrial tycoon Lewis Warriner has been shot dead in his cabin. Teaming up with Detective Andrews of Scotland Yard, also on his way back to London, they work their way through the suspects. When the murder weapon is found in the compartment Mr Warriner’s wife occupies alone, she becomes the chief suspect. Until there’s another gunshot. When Cressida finds out that Andrews is hit, panic sets in, but she must try to stay calm.
The fourth book in the series & whilst it’s easily read on its I own I do like how the characters & relationships have developed throughout the series. I do like Cressida & thoroughly enjoyed this latest addition to the series. There are a limited number of suspects & also time restraints as the train hurtles on it journey. My interest was held all the way through, there were twists & turns as well as red herrings. I found it to be a fun & entertaining murder mystery & look forward to more to come
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Cressy's Adventures Continue!

Fresh off her adventures in Death in the Highlands, the Honorable Cressida Fawcett (Cressy to her friends) and her BFF Lady Dorthy Chatterton along with Dotty’s brother Alfred, Lord Dealafield, and Cressy’s adorable pug Ruby are returning to London from Scotland aboard the Scotland Express. Cressy is people watching, picking out a brother - sister pair of passengers, noticing the glamorous red suede shoes of another passenger, and finally watching a mysterious woman clad in black just make the train. However, after the events of the previous few days, she’s looking for a peaceful trip.

(Cressy, it should be mentioned, is an independent woman, content with Ruby, and not interested in getting married. In the least.)

That peace is soon interrupted when the woman in black confronts her husband who is traveling with the glamorous woman (and sharing a sleeping compartment! the scandal!) in the dining car. That peace is further destroyed moments later when a gunshot leads to the cheating husband being found dead. The wife is the obvious suspect, but Cressy doesn’t think she did it. Fortunately her pet inspector, who’s been involved in her three previous cases, is also traveling to London on the same train and is quickly summoned. While he arrests the wife, Cressy starts asking questions. It appears everyone except the bartender had a motive for killing the victim. The question, of course, who did? And will Cressy finally make up her mind about Alfred?

I adore Cressida! I’ve read the previous books, and I think this one is my favorite. I’m a fan of Golden Age mysteries in general, so loved the homage to Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express (mild spoiler: no, they didn’t all do it this time). I really enjoyed how the book was set up - limited time frame (so they had to solve the case before morning), small set of suspects, DCI Andrews being realistically available, and of course lots of motives. In the earlier books, there’s lots of hints about Cressy doing something crazy, and there’s a few examples in this book. While this is the fourth book in the series, I think there’s enough background information about the characters (without being overwhelming) to be a stand alone.

Highly recommended! Can’t wait for the next book and the possible inclusion of a couple of new regulars!

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

Death on the Scotland Express is part of Cressida Fawcett series.
This book is the forth of the series but is easily read as a stand-alone. It reminds me those series I read and loved when I was a teenager. This is a preparation for any Agatha Christie’s series. The description about the surroundings and the train itself around 1920’s is like going back in time.
This time socialite and amateur detective Cressida Fawcett with her best friends siblings, Lady Dorothy Chatterton and Lord Alfred Delafield, travel from Scotland to London hoping to take a well deserved break from their last adventure in Scotland but their plan gets interrupted by a murder. Natural curiosity mixed with loyalty to a dear friend motivates Cressida to get actively involved in the process of resolving the mystery that threatens her life and those who matter the most to her.
Humor, suspense and history makes this book a enjoyable nice reading for a young mystery fan.

Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of the Cressida Fawcett’s series book 4 by Fliss Chester.

On an express train back from the Scottish Highlands, Cressida Fawcett's trip to London is disrupted by a gunshot and murder. She joins Detective Andrews to find the killer among the passengers. When Andrews is injured, Cressida must steer the investigation alone. Battling rising panic, she races to apprehend the murderer before the train reaches its final destination.

This is a cute and humorous cozy mystery that Agatha Christie fans will relate to. It's fairly low-angst with an engaging mystery and some heartwarming moments.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Death on the Scotland Express, the fourth novel to feature socialite and amateur sleuth the Honourable Cressida Fawcett, set on the Inverness to London sleeper in the 1920s.

Cressida and her friends, Dorothy and Alfred, are returning home from an eventful stay in the Highlands and have just settled in to a reviving cocktail at the bar when they hear a gunshot, industrialist Lewis Warriner has been shot dead in his cabin. Cressida is happy to leave much of the investigating to DCI Andrews, until she hears more gunshots and Andrews is hit.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death on the Scotland Express, which is a fun read with multiple suspects and a few twists. I wouldn’t say that it has the most suspenseful of plots as much of it is easily guessable, but that’s hardly the point. It’s all about the fun and following Cressida’s thought processes as she puts together the clues.

The novel is well put together with a stream of discoveries and reveals to keep the reader turning the pages and an artless protagonist who makes turning those pages fun. With the initial victim, Warriner, being rich, unscrupulous and nasty there is no end of suspects for the murder, most apparently lured on to the train by his presence and their own motives for having a go. In these the novel’s catchphrase “cherchez l’argent” appears apt, for, as ever, the answer lies in the past.

The novel is told from Cressida’s point of view, so the reader gets up close and personal with her thoughts. As an independent woman, well, apart from her allowance, she has no wish to get married, preferring to lavish her emotions on her Bugatti, her social life and her pug, the inestimable Ruby, so she will be suppressing the funny feelings and tingling she gets around Alfred. Instead she is concentrating her mind on finding a murderer, which she does admirably by piecing together odd clues and asking salient questions.

Death on the Scotland Express is a fun read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is a well written murder mystery that held your interest to the end. There are plenty of red herrings, twists and turns to keep you guessing and some good characterisation. I liked the fact that some of the characters had subtle layers so that they were not what they seemed at first glance. I disliked the dog. spoiled brat that it was. I thought some of the action was slightly contrived. How they recaptured the gun in the final scene was unrealistic and could have been played better however this did not spoil my enjoyment of what was a really good read

This is a locked room type mystery with limited suspects due to them being on a fast train. Very reminiscent of Murder on the Orient Express with lots of people having a reason to do the murder. Thankfully the mystery is pretty well plotted and didn't come up with the same answer. A very light and entertaining story with the usual cute animal and aristocratic sleuth. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.