A ghostly friar, bones of a saint and a famous cathedral… When Cressida, an heiress and ameuter sleuth goes to stay with her aunt, she doesn't have investigating a murder on her mind, but on a tour of the crypt in Winchester Cathedral, a murder is uncovered. This was a plot driven novel with plenty of action and shocks. It was a like a spiders web that kept drawing you in with all the strands of plot that developed as the novel continued. I loved all those cliffhanger chapter endings - they kept me hooked into the story too. All in all, the plot was well thought out and executed. Good use of different tropes here, including a ghostly element. It really was all going on in Winchester! Cressida had really found her feet so to speak, when it came to finding clues and interviewing suspects in this book. She has a sharp mind and boy can she give the police a run for their money. It was lovely to see her development from her tentative investigations at the start of the series to the fully fledged sleuth she is in this book (so far I have read book one and five in the series - but I am keen to read more).

We went more into Cressida's character in this novel, seeing her relationship with her close family and we had little glimpses of her past life. There were some brief references to previous books, but not I think in any great detail that would stop your enjoyment of reading the rest of the series. I guessed some of the plot, but it still didn't spoil it for me, especially with that shock ending. Some of the working class were a bit type cast and portrayed as not very bright, which irrated me slightly. Alfred was also a bit of an annoying character at times, it was like he'd been taken from a gentlemans club in the 1920s. However, having said that he 'got' Cressida so he redeemed himself as a character. This is one I'd recommend on plot alone and could be read with or without reading the other books in the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Fliss Chester for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death in the Crypt coming out April 26, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’ve been interested in checking out her books. Historical cozy mysteries is one of my favorite genres. I loved this book so much! The plot was fascinating. I loved the setting. Crypts are really interesting. I think Cressida is a fun and strong character. She’s used to getting into things and solving mysteries. I loved the ghostly backstory as well. The research was well done. I definitely want to check out other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys 1920s adventure mysteries!

A big thank you to Sarah Hardy and the publisher, Bookouture for my review copy of the book and for inviting me to take part on the blog tour. (My review is my own and has not been influenced in any way)

Death in the Crypt is the latest instalment of the lovely cosy crime series featuring the Honourable Cressida Fawcett and her lovable pug Ruby. We follow Cressy on a visit to her Aunt Mary’s palatial pad in Winchester also accompanied by her best friend Lady Dorothy (Dotty) and Dotty’s brother Alfred where they plan to visit Winchester Cathedral and hopefully put any murder investigations on the back burner. Obviously things don’t quite go to plan…

During their visit to the crypt they come across Aunt Mary’s maid Nancy, standing over the body of the verger and looking incredibly suspicious especially as she is holding the murder weapon. Nancy is arrested but swears it was nothing to do with her – Cressy believes her and Aunt Mary is devastated she has lost her maid! Cressy quickly puts in a call to Detective Andrews and Sergeant Kirby to come and investigate and Andrews knows better than to try and get Cressy to not become involved in the investigation. However, when things take a turn for the worse and Alfred gets arrested for murder, Cressy knows she can no longer stand by and hope for the best.

I have really enjoyed this historical cosy crime series and feel like it is going from strength to strength. The fledgling romance between Cressida and Alfred is sweet and lovely to watch unfold over the series of the books. Over time Cressy has changed from determined to be independent to possibly realising that her life definitely has room for a potential romance with Alfred!

Death in the Crypt was a lovely fast paced book that I raced through with plenty of twists that keep you on your toes. I guessed some but was wide of the mark for others which just added to the infectious storyline. I’m looking forward to the next instalment and intrigued as to where this one will be set and what the future has in store for Cressy and Alfred……(and whether Dotty’s beau will ever return from his dig!)

This was a fun, enjoyable book. Not quite "Northhanger Abby" level of spookiness, but enough mysterious happenings to keep my interest. There are plenty of suspects and possible motives for several crimes. The depictions of Winchester Cathedral and its environs seem accurate and lend a nice flavor to the story.

The protagonist is likable, although her side-kick dog seems rather superfluous, perhaps, until the end. And of course she frequently ventures out on her own despite warnings from the Scotland Yard inspector and her friends. I was impressed in how she worked everything out, so I do recommend the book.

I have not read the previous books in the "Cressida Fawcett Mystery" series, but I might in the future.

Winchester, 1925 and heiress and amateur sleuth Cressida Fawcett is invited to her aunt’s mansion on Cloister Close, she is looking forward to a quiet stay in the historic town and her aunt’s maid, Nancy, makes very good ginger biscuits! But it seems Cressy and her pug Ruby won’t be allowed to rest in peace. On a tour of the crypt, they are shocked to stumble across the body of Anthony, the gentle, devoted verger. And a wild-eyed Nancy is standing over him, candlestick in hand. Since Nancy was caught red-handed and the only other suspect is the Silent Friar, the legendary local ghost, Detective Andrews of Scotland Yard thinks the case is closed. But Nancy swears she would never have killed Anthony; they were in love.
So Cressy decides to investigate to clear Nancy’s name
The fifth outing for Cressy & Ruby, they are joined by Dotty & Alf again but Alf lands himself in trouble, which causes Cressy to examine her feelings for him. I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery, the characters are well portrayed & the pace is good. There were twists & turns & some took me by surprise. I really like Cressy & love how much I’ve grown to like her throughout the series. It could easily be read on its own but I love a good series & this is good
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I enjoy this series. I like the.Chchacters and the historical setting. The mystery kept me guessing. I can't wait for the next book.

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

My fifth adventure with Cressida Fawcett, Detective Andrews, and the incredibly smart Pug called Ruby.

Death in the Crypt is set in 1925 in Winchester. Cressy's aunt lives in one of the houses in the Cathedral Close and soon after Cressy arrives on a visit they go on a tour of the Cathedral. The Crypt is the last part of their tour and here they walk in on a murder which has just taken place. When the Aunt's maid is found to be the chief suspect Cressy calls her Detective friend to help her investigate.

There are lots of red herrings, a number of sightings of a mysterious ghostly figure, some smart detective work, especially by Ruby, and a very clever twist at the end. A very enjoyable read.

The next Cressida Fawcett mystery finds her investigating the murder of a church official when the main suspect is her aunt's maid. Things get worse when her best friend Dotty's brother (and her potential love interest) is arrested for another murder. Cressida is determined to find the culprit to clear her friend.

Another great book in this series! I'm really enjoying Cressida's mysteries. They are historical but not overly so in a distracting way that takes away from the mystery. I am intrigued to see where her love interests go especially if there ends up being a love triangle (no hints yet but I could see this happening).

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

I have greatly enjoyed all the books in this series so far, and I greatly enjoyed Death in the Crypt too.

In this book, Cressida, Dot, Alfred, and of course Ruby, are in Winchester visiting Cressida’s aunt. Naturally, they very soon stumble upon a dead body.

I really enjoyed the fact that this mystery centres around Winchester Cathedral, which I’ve visited lots of times (though mostly the outside). I found the plot intriguing, to start with it just seemed like a collection of mismatched incidents, and I had a lot of fun putting it together alongside Cressida and her friends.

Overall, this was a fun and intriguing mystery, with characters who feel like friends. I recommend the whole series to anyone who likes historical cozy crime.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

It was 1925 when Cressida Fawcett and her pug Ruby arrived at Cressy's Aunt Mary's mansion in Winchester, with her best friend, Dotty and Dotty's brother Alfred following a few hours later. When Aunt Mary, Cressy and Ruby accompanied the church's Dean as he took them for a tour through the crypt, their shock was immense when a recently murdered body was found, with Aunt Mary's maid, Nancy standing over him with a bloodied candlestick in her hands. Nancy was arrested and when Cressy's friend, Detective Andrews and his sidekick, Kirby, of Scotland Yard arrived, they declared it an open and shut case.

But Cressy, in part directed by Aunt Mary, declared Nancy innocent. She wouldn't kill the man she loved, the man she was engaged to, would she? Andrews wouldn't be moved. Cressy could feel something was drastically wrong and with mention of ancient bones being discovered, her investigative nerves tingled. She had to find the true killer before Nancy faced the noose. As Cressy searched the elegant, old but beautiful Cathedral, she knew it held dark secrets...

Death in the Crypt is the 5th in the Cressida Fawcett series by Fliss Chester and it was another fun and entertaining addition to the series. Cressy continues to do foolish things (investigating by herself, in dark and dangerous places) but her heart is in the right place and she always gets results, much to Andrews' chagrin! Ruby is cute, a clever little pug, while the plot twists were incredible! Death in the Crypt is one I recommend.

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

I had fun and like to catch with Cressida and her pug. It's an entertaining story and I appreciated it as comedy of manners as the mystery was a bit easy
Entertaining, witty, well developed characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the first of Fliss Chester’s Mystery Stories that I’ve read and I absolutely loved it. The story is beautifully crafted and full of wit. I particularly enjoyed the timely dialogue and evocative descriptions of life in the cathedral close. So too, the descriptions of the crypt and the shadowy figure in clerical robes. The narrative is fast moving, with twists you don’t see coming, and the love story is beautifully developed. A very satisfying ending and a great fun read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Death in the Crypt, the fifth novel to feature socialite and amateur detective the Honourable Cressida Fawcett set in Winchester in 1925.

Cressida is visiting her Aunt Mary in Winchester when on a visit to the cathedral crypt they discover a murdered body, the verger Tony Preston, and Mary’s maid, Nancy standing over him. DI Andrews of Scotland Yard thinks Nancy is guilty but Cressida thinks there is more to the murder and is determined to investigate.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death in the Crypt, which is a fun read with a few twists and turns. The plot turns out to be quite complicated in its resolution, but is never difficult to follow. There is a myriad of small clues to be investigated, none of which appear linked, but which all lead Cressida to the complicated story behind them. I won’t even bother getting into the plausibility of it all because that’s not the point. The novel is all about entertainment value and that is supplied in spades. I was having so much fun I read it in one sitting.

Cressida is a thoroughly modern woman with an independent streak and a dislike of the constraints of marriage. Unfortunately she has fallen for Alfred, Lord Delafield who is the brother of her best friend, Dot and spends her time trying to reconcile her feelings with her beliefs. This is highly entertaining as she tries to rationalise a potential relationship, especially as she’s unsure of his feelings, even if the reader isn’t. He’s playing a long game. In between this dithering she sets about investigating, taking both physical and verbal risks in her determination to solve the case.

Death in the Crypt is a fun read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I love the Cressida Fawcett Mystery books. The only problem with them is, that I can't help but read them quickly and then feel sad that I've finished! This time, Cressida is visiting her aunt, in Winchester. It isn't long before she has again stumbled onto a mystery and her good friends Dotty and Alf have joined her there.
I loved following Cressida as she tried to find out who was behind the murder and why. I'm also a big fan of the will they won't they relationship that simmers along in the background between her and Alfred. (Surely, they must move a bit closer soon?!)
I didn't manage to fully solve this one, although I had a few ideas that proved to be right, but I didn't manage to solve it all. Either way, it doesn't matter as this was such an enjoyable and gripping read. I can't wait for the next one to come out!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC. I'm really loving this series and how the characters are developing. Great plot with lots of twists. Looking forward to the next.

A perfect cozy mystery! All of your senses will be thrilled by Fliss Chester's exceptional writing in Death in a Crypt. From deliciously described bakes to Cressida's loyal pup, I was hooked from the first line! Set in the backdrop of 1920's England, Chester takes you on a rip-roaring ride to solve this case riddled with secrets and murder. I was guessing until the very end, I found myself smiling and gasping throughout! You will fall in love with Cressida and crew, and will find yourself wanting more. What a fun and gripping read!

I was immediately hooked. A fast paced, effortlessly quick read where the pages just turned themselves and I was engaged throughout, mission accomplished.

The Honourable Cressida Fawcett and her pug Ruby are off to visit her Aunt Mary (Lady Mary Dashwood-Howard) who lives near Winchester Cathedral. When they visit the cathedral crypt, along with Dean Geoffrey Sitwell, they find Aunt Mary's maid Nancy holding a bloody candlestick over the body of the cathedral's verger.

Cressida calls for help from Scotland Yard DCI Andrews and Sergeant Kirby, with whom she has worked in the past. Her best friend Lady Dorothy Chatterton arrives, accompanied unexpectedly by her brother, Lord Alfred Delafield. With Nancy under arrest there is nobody to fix up a room in Lady Mary's home for Alfred, so he goes to a local inn, where he is later accused of fighting and killing a sailor.

As Cressida works with her friends to try to clear Nancy and Alfred she discovers additional crimes. Alfred's arrest for murder also prompts Cressida to struggle with her feelings about him.

This is the fifth book in the series of Cressida Fawcett books. I found it entertaining, with a couple of more or less unexpected twists, but maybe not the best of the series so far.

My review is based on an advance copy from Netgalley. I've received no compensation for this review. The book will be published 26 April 2024 and will be available through Kindle Unlimited.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Bookouture for this ARC. Cressida Fawcett finds herself in the middle of a murder again. This time at her Aunt Mary's house in Winchester. While touring the local church and crypt, they happen upon a body and Aunt Mary's maid standing over it with bloody candlestick. Cressida is on the case again! Love these cozy mysteries and Cressida Fawcett! #DeathintheCrypt #FlissChester #Bookouture #April2024