I thoroughly enjoyed this amusing and light crime mystery story, the narrator was outstanding!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

Recommended Audiobook

Death Among the Diamonds (A Cressida Fawcett Mystery #1)by Fliss Chester

Audiobook duration 9hrs 7m

This cosy crime novel really captured my imagination,I was convincingly transported back to the 1920's. There were strong Downton Abbeyesque vibes to this book topped off with a wonderful murder mystery.

Cressida was a fun main character, a confident young lady from a wealthy family. I enjoyed the discussions & debates she had with Inspector Andrews. Clearly I think there is more to come from these two characters in future books in this series, at least I hope so.

It was a case of any excuse I could find to do some crafting so I could listen to this audiobook. Great narration, the 9 hrs soon flashed by. A most enjoyable cosy crime mystery, a series of books I look forward to following.

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this audiobook, I have switched to audible for listening to books on my commute and this one was great, I did find myself sat in the car park at work waiting for the chapter to finish to find out more!

The narrator was perfect, I felt their voice fitted the theme and period of the book, sometimes a book can be amazing but if the narrator is wrong it ruins the enjoyment, but this was spot on.

The story is the first in a series and I'm looking forward to the new ones coming out and seeing the character in different situations and settings. The plot and pacing are great, there were no lulls in the story that caused me to tune out - which can often happen.

The main character, Cressida Fawcett, was headstrong but likeable and very stereotypical of a 1920s socialite, at times it may have got close to becoming a parody but was reigned in just in time. I loved her independence and her not wanting to get married and settle down and perfectly happy with her beloved pug Ruby!

I'm really looking forward to reading/hearing more from Cressida and look forward to more of Fliss Chester's stories.

I was expecting an enjoyable slice of country house life in a glamorous era that I recall hearing a lot about when I was young, as my grandmother had been a flapper. What I hadn’t been expecting was quite such a twisty plot, full of events and all sorts of shenanigans. At one point, I was getting a bit fed up – as I knew exactly where the diamonds were hidden and was irritated that Cressida hadn’t put it together. Until it transpired that they weren’t there after all… I do love it when that happens!

Cressida is a feisty, headstrong young woman with an independent income and a nice life with no intention of spoiling it all by becoming someone’s wife. Her loving companion is her little pug dog, Ruby, who accompanies her in all her adventures and often is helpful in unravelling clues. I liked the fact that in amongst all the action, Ruby is never forgotten or overlooked, which can happen at times to fictional pets. And I’m also prepared to bet that Chester has owned or owns a little pug, as her descriptions of Ruby’s behaviour and appearance are always spot on.

I liked Cressida’s impulsiveness and constant curiosity. She is an adventurous soul who got into a number of scrapes at school and has been known to cut loose in memorable ways at certain London nightclubs, when the champagne cocktails are flowing. I enjoyed Chester’s habit of never spelling out exactly what she gets up to, giving the reader the opportunity to fill in the gaps. She is also innately kind with a strong sense of justice, despite a blithe disregard for authority if it doesn’t suit her. Daphne Kouma’s excellent narration brought her vividly to life, along with all the goings-on at a house party memorable for all the wrong reasons.

The denouement works well, making absolute sense – which isn’t always the case in whodunits where more than one murder has occurred – and bringing the whole affair to a satisfactory conclusion. All in all, this is a thoroughly entertaining country house whodunit featuring a pleasing protagonist and her loyal canine companion. Recommended for fans of 1920’s murder mysteries. While I obtained an audiobook arc of Death Among the Diamonds from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

Narrated by Daphne Kouma ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stunning voice.

Story by Fliss Chester ⭐⭐⭐
A nice and light cosy mystery. While Ruby is adorable I would have like to hear more about the other characters in the book.
First time hearing about this author and trying her. Would read the second book.

This is a pleasant cosy mystery which sees the robbery of some diamonds and a series of murders investigated by independent 1920s girl Cressida, who loves fast cars, wild parties, and her pug Ruby and definitely doesn't need a man. If you like the genre in general then you will enjoy this tale, which captures the 1920s atmosphere very well. Also if you like pugs because I swear that half the book is detailing what Ruby is sniffing or eating or dreaming about, and Cressida talks to Ruby more than she does to any of the other characters, which I can relate to since animals are better than people, but it did make it hard to get to know all of the other characters! A bit less about Ruby's obsession with sausages and a bit more background to the characters would be better in the next book, please.

The narrator did a good job, she had the perfect voice to capture the accent and the era.

I adored this audiobook the story had a light fresh feel it flowed rather well much like Cressidas favourite tipple, the story is charming and comforting like a good mystery should be, it immediately felt as if I had been transported back in time and was working out the many mysteries that our heroine comes across, she is a likeable and interesting character who truly has the best intentions.
Narrator Daphne Kouma does a throughly excellent job of bringing this book to life.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone but especially fans of The Father Brown Mysteries, Poirot and Miss Marple.
My advice would be to grab your drink of choice, find a comfortable place to sit snuggle up with a cozy blanket and enjoy every moment of this story, perfect for a chilly evenings entertainment.

It was an Ok listen but not my usual kind of book it was set in the 1920's period and is the launch of a new series of historical cosy mysteries set in Britain and its not fast paced enough for me as I prefer current day phycological thrillers
Cressida Fawcett to me is a bit like a younger Miss Marple that said it had a few murders and stolen diamonds and a few red herrings so its easy listening so just because its not my type of book don't let that put you off and I did listen to it in a couple of days so that is always a good sign

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Death Among The Diamonds' by Fliss Chester.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Fliss Chester, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 21st September 2022.

This is the third book I have read by this author and it is also the first book in the 'Cressida Fawcett' series. I have also read 'A Dangerous Goodbye' (Book 1 in the 'Fen Churche Mystery' series) and 'The Moonlit Murders' (Book 3 in the 'Fen Churche Mystery' series) which I recommend!!

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I enjoyed Fliss Chester's 'A Dangerous Goodbye' and 'The Moonlit Murders' and am hoping this will be just as good. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'The perfect whodunnit for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Downton Abbey!', I am a fan of Agatha Christie so am looking forward to see if it loves up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 45 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Berkshire, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Cressida Fawcett. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

This book is very well written with vivid descriptions. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly. Although this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone with no problems at all, any previous cases/information is described in just the right amount of detail, enough for those reading as a standalone to work out what happened but not too much so those who have read previous books in the series get fed up of repetitions.

I love the fact that the protagonist is female, being one myself, and that she has a strong personality and will not back down no matter what is thrown at her, including 2 Murders, a theft and so much more!!! I devoured it in one sitting.

The plot is intriguing and filled with mystery, thefts, lies, betrayal, secrets, murder and more!!! It has plenty to keep the reader interested and is rammed full of red herrings. I loved the fact that it was a historical cozy crime and Fliss did an absolutely fantastic job with both the era and the beautiful settings. Chatterton Court definitely had a Downton Abbey vibe to it so fans of the series will definitely enjoy this one! I must say I was absolutely shocked when the killer and thief was revealed so a huge WELL done Fliss!! I have read many crime books, hundreds in fact, and it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but you definitely managed it!! There were so many potential suspects that I completely guessed wrong several times!! There is nothing worse than working out the killer less than half way through a book. I thoroughly enjoyed all the clues that were left behind and along with a Downton Abbey vibe I would also say it felt very similar to the came Cluedo!! It was actually quite fun trying to solve the clues and guess who the criminal was!!! Although this book is primarily a cozy mystery I enjoyed the fact that there was several humorous moments which helped to lighten up the atmosphere on occasions and definitely had me giggling away!! The vivid descriptions throughout really helped to set the scene and it really placed me next to Cressida throughout.

This is one of the few books that I also listened to on Audiobook. I read about 50% of the book on kindle and listened to the other 50% on Audiobook. I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Daphne Kouma who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. She put alot of feeling into the reading and helped pass those emotions onto the reader with her fantastic expressions and voicing of the storyline. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Daphne did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I especially loved her portrayal of Detective Inspector Andrews. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Fliss but also to listening to more books narrated by Daphne!

The characters were all very intriguing with their own personalities, strengths and flaws. I wasn't sure what I thought of Cressida at first but I wasn't a massive fan and thought her to be a bit too posh for my liking. However I quickly warmed to her independence, love of sporty cars and her headstrong boldness. I became completely invested in her and am looking forward to seeing what she gets up to next. When it comes to DI Andrews I was again not an. Immediate fan but grew to like him when I discovered his link to Cressida and seen the other side of him. It will be interesting to see if anything happens between them in the future!! I am certainly looking forward to seeing what they get up to, we'll hopefully he will be in the next book too but if not I'm sure Cressida will keep us on our toes on her own!! I wont say how I felt about any of the other characters as now that I know who the culprit was I don't want to give anything away by accident. However, I will say that they all worked perfectly well together to make this an action packed cozy murder mystery! I'm looking forward to the next novel in this series and finding out what Cressida will get wrapped up in next and where she will be when she does.

Overall an action packed cozy murder mystery that will keep you turning the pages and guessing right up until the end!!

Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Cozy Culinary Mystery, Historical Mystery, Cozy Murder Mystery amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey, Jacqueline Winspear, 'Downton Abbey' and anyone who enjoys a page turning who dunnit.


310 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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My thanks to Bookouture Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Death Among the Diamonds’ by Fliss Chester. The audiobook is narrated by Daphne Kouma. I was also invited to take part in the publication week blog tour.

This marks the launch of a new series of historical cosy mysteries set in Britain during the mid-1920s. It features the Hon. Cressida Fawcett, an independently minded young woman who is enjoying a privileged life of leisure. She has a keen interest in interior design and is often called upon to advise her friends’ mothers on aesthetic room schemes. So how will the glamorous Cressida end up becoming an amateur sleuth?

She receives a call from her chum, Lady Dorothy (Dottie) Chatterton, who begs her to come to the country for a weekend house party. Cressida is concerned that the senior Lady Chatterton might not want a houseful of bright young things descending on her given that only two nights previously there had been a burglary and her heirloom diamonds were stolen. Plus, the stately pile is having its annual spring clean and what Dottie describes as the ‘bucket and mop brigade’ are still in residence.

Yet Dottie clearly wants a house party no matter what level of chaos her parents may currently be dealing with. She is also keen for Cressida to become better acquainted with her fiancé Basil Bartleby. Cressida is supportive of her friend though it “baffled her how anyone could let a man ruin what was a perfectly wonderful solo existence.” (Dangerous thoughts Cressida when you are the protagonist of a series of cosies).

So Cressida packs her bags, jumps in her sporty Bugatti accompanied by her sweet pug, Ruby, and sets off for the wilds of Berkshire. The house party is well attended by Dottie’s chums including Basil. Cressida isn’t too keen on him, especially his enthusiasm for shooting at squirrels from a window of the house with his shotgun. I was completely with her on that score.

Then there is a suspicious death (no spoilers) and Scotland Yard sends the stoic DCI Andrews to investigate as well as see if there are links to the recent diamond theft. Cressida’s natural curiosity has her snooping about and DCI Andrews doesn’t take kindly to this, threatening her with impeding a lawful investigation. Of course, Cressida pays no attention and in the tradition of Golden Age amateur detectives, it’s not long before she is running rings around the police.

Cressida does come across as rather ‘jolly hockey stick’ and there were times when she verged on being a send-up of a posh 1920s amateur detective. Still, it’s early days for the series and plenty of time for character development. Plus, she clearly isn’t quite in synch with others of her set and doesn’t look down her nose at the working class. This is made clear by her interactions with her friend, Maurice Sauvage, who works for Liberty of London.

With respect to the audiobook, I felt that Daphne Kouma did well in giving voice to the novel’s characters, both upstairs and downstairs. Her voice is crystal clear. I have enjoyed her reading on a few recent audiobooks.

Overall, this was a fun cosy mystery and a promising start for this new series. I certainly intend to read the next in the series due early next year.

This is just so much fun. Think Wooster and Jeeves meets Downton Abbey doing a mystery. I was laughing out loud. Murder, theft, a female lead who thinks she is the bees knees at detective work and that the Police should bow down to her observations (when really Ruby the cute pug puppy does more of the detecting). But never mind there being a murderer in the big house, the ‘new curtains aren’t right and need changing again. Twists, turns and read herrings keep you guessing to the end. Just super. Thank you to Bookouture Audio publishers and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine.

Diamonds have gone missing and it is down to Cressida to find them, with the help of her pooch, Rudy.

But bodies are starting to appear and more scandal is soon to be uncovered; Scotland Yard are struggling and the diamonds are still to be found, Cressida must work quickly before she is the next target.

This is a great cos crime drama set in the 1920s and full of fun, great characters, and lots of mystery.

This is a novel in that everyone is a suspect and will leave the reader guessing who is the real killer and thief.

My favorite character was Cressida and I found myself wanting to be friends with her. I loved her confidence and independence of not wanting to marry, however, I can see this changing throughout the series, in which, she will have a love interest and still have her freedom and independence.

This was a great first novel in the series and I look forward to more.

AUDIBLE BOOK - listening length 9 hours & 7 minutes
Narrator: Daphne Kouma - EXCELLENT!

London - 1920
This is an old-fashion story, a quick and fun listen with good accents by the narrator. I enjoyed the story of murder and mayhem in an old country house. and can see this being acted on the stage or for TV.
Easy and happy listening.

I give a 3-star rating.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF LISTENING TO THIS AUDIBLE BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

Death among the Diamonds is a charmingly entertaining classic whodunnit. All very jolly hockey sticks and cucumber sandwiches. A proper good old fashioned cosy crime very much in the vain of Agatha Christie. I absolutely loved it!
The narrator, Daphne Kouma was 100% the perfect choice for this spiffing audio. Her characterisations were tip top the whole way through. You can tell how much I loved this audio by the language I seem to have slipped in to. Anyone for Polo?
I totally recommend this book to all cosy crime lovers, it will take you back in time to the old English countryside, all huge country mansions, sports cars and butlers. Just perfect.

Death Among the Diamonds by Fliss Chester
Narrated by Daphne Kouma

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Everyone in 1920s London knows the Honourable Cressida Fawcett: fiercely independent (though never apart from her little pug Ruby), lover of martinis and interior designer extraordinaire. She’s solved many crimes of fashion… so how about murder?

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…

My Opinion

This is the first mystery in a new series by Fliss Chester, and I have to say that it is a well-written cosy mystery. Cressida is not interested in finding herself a husband and instead is interested in solving the mysteries at Lady Chatterton's family home. Overall, this is an enjoyable historical mystery and I am looking forward to seeing what adventures Cressida gets up to next.

Rating 4/5

Solid mystery with an interesting setting. I like the characters but there’s nothing really different with this series than many other historical mysteries. Cressida is an independent single woman with a good head on her shoulders. She is observant and finds clues that help solve the mystery but there’s no real hook that sets this one apart. Well-paced and the writing flows well. Enjoyable and I will continue with the series but hope for something a little different to make this series stand out.

It’s fine, nothing that I haven’t read before. It’s far from bad but it isn’t incredible either. I loved ruby though and wish there were more animals in books. However DO NOT listen to this on more than x2 time speed otherwise words will be cut off. I also feel like it was way too long (nearly 10h). I’d still recommend if you’re new to the genre.

It's 1920s in London & a countryside weekend chilling plans are on the cards for Cressida. But soon after she arrives there is a "Theft and a Death". Although known for her immense sense of fashion & an eternal love for Ruby (her pet Dog), an unhinging feeling inside Cressida tells her this isn't just a normal death but a MURDER.

I read the book for my #cuteandcozy #autumntbrprompt
It's a detective mystery that makes readers a part of their puzzle-solving activity. It can be consumed in 1-2 sittings for sure and the good part is that it's light enough not to give you a headache. I loved her dog - Ruby who was such an adorable character in itself.

The book reminded me so much of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot - particularly towards the end when things are unwinding. The best part for me in this book was that there was no unnecessary story dragging. Everything was to the point and fast-paced.

Hence a 4/5

Thank you @netgalley @flisschester @bookouture for the digital ARC copy. Happy to review it

Thank you netgalley and bookouture for the ARC.

Sincerely, Death among the diamonds does not go in line with the perceived meaning of the title, ateast for me. I thought it must be death during some girls vacation, who knew! I'm happily surprised.😁

Set in the 1920's, Fliss Chester did a marvelous job in making Cressida, a self made spinster, a fashion expert and solver of all mysteries related to fashion, extending her claw into the mysteries😳, yes, surrounding the theft and murder in Chatterton Court. You would wonder if she won't lose her life what with all her nosiness. You must read to find out.
I don't usually enjoy mysteries much but this one is definitely a great find for me. And interestingly, this is the first ever audiobook and I must say, I love the narrator as much as I loved the book. It was excellent and I look forward to more.
Definitely recommend it

I was given this book by as an audio copy via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I loved getting to know Cressie as her friends call her and her lovable pup Ruby. I think if you are a fan of Her Royal Spyness you too will become fast friends with Cressie.

I really really enjoyed this read its a complete guilty pleasure