Death Among the Diamonds by Fliss Chester
Published: September 21, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 308
Genre: Cozy Mystery
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Fliss Chester lives in a little village in Surrey, UK, and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1920s and 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their family business. This means she’s never far from a decent glass of something, which makes her very happy. Before writing her two cozy crime series, she wrote fun and flirty romances – the sort of thing that might make your mother blush. Not hers, though, as it was her mother who always encouraged her to be ‘anything you want, darling, as long as it’s not dull.’ Hopefully, readers will attest to the fact that whether it’s death by cyanide or a smooch in a hot tub, there’s nothing dull about Fliss’s books.
Cressida Fawcett is heading to the English countryside for a weekend of cocktails and partying at her friend’s glamorous mansion, the location of a recent diamond heist. But just hours after her arrival, Cressida is woken by an almighty scream. Rushing to the landing, she looks down into the great hall to find a trembling maid standing next to the body of Harry, the friendly young chandelier cleaner.
Everyone believes Harry’s death was an accident. But as Cressida examines the opulent hall and the beautiful grounds, she thinks something darker is afoot. Why clean a chandelier in the early hours of the morning? And who overheard Harry boasting about coming into unexpected wealth? A small piece of torn silk found near the body has Cressida looking at the guests’ elegant clothes with fresh eyes…
The short-tempered Detective insists that she keeps her curious nose out of the investigation, but it’s Cressida who realises the stolen diamonds were hidden in the sparkling chandelier. Convinced there is a connection between the theft and the murder, the case takes a sinister turn when a guest is killed in his sleep after a brandy-fuelled night of cards. With everyone unable to leave, can Cressida’s sharp eye for detail catch the killer before another life is taken?
“If you can’t be good, be careful.”
Cressida Fawcett is everything a woman shouldn’t be, intelligent, sassy, independent, and against marriage. When an invitation to spend the weekend with her best friend is extended, Cressida cannot say no. So she lacks a bag, grabs her beloved pug, Ruby, and drives herself to Chatterton Court. The last thing anyone was expecting was murder.
I enjoyed this story so much. The setting was romantic, the characters charming, and the plot was elegantly presented in a fast-paced way.
I love Cressida! She is fierce. I love how independent she is and that she doesn’t follow the presumed path for women of the 1920s.
Dottie and her family were excellent characters and added much depth to the story. The dynamic between the characters was so well played. The love, admiration, and shenanigans were evident.
I enjoyed following Cressida as she loved her life and inserted herself into a murder investigation. She will be such a fantastic leading lady, filled with laughs, sass, and moments of pure genius.
The scenery was beautifully described; you almost felt as if you were in the halls, observing the ghastly curtains among the characters. I enjoyed that the house was very much a character with as many layers and secrets as those staying there.
This is going to be such a fantastic series, and I am looking forward to the next book.
This trope is already overexploited.