Death Among the Diamonds (A Cressida Fawcett Mystery Book 1)
In 1920s England, the Honourable Cressida Fawcett is looking forward to a few days of R&R with her best friend Dotty Chatterton at Dotty’s parents’ country estate, when a frantic phone call alerts her to the theft of Dotty’s inheritance—Lady Chatterton’s precious diamonds! Cressy’s friend at Liberty’s has heard no word through his fencing contacts, ergo the diamonds are still at the estate, probably nicked by family or friend. Piling a weekend bag and her sleuthing-assistant pug, Ruby, into her flashy Bugatti, Cressy heads off to solve the crime. Several country-weekend guests are in residence along with the family, so there are plenty of suspects to choose from. But the diamond theft is only the beginning, as the chandelier cleaner suffers death by wobbly scaffolding, a family friend is found dead in his bed, a guest is bonked on the head by an unknown object, and the diamonds seem to keep relocating, maddeningly out of sight. There’s lots of talk of curtains, and the effect of light on wall colour, but Cressy is an interior designer so these are the things she notices—things that don’t fit right, look right, or are otherwise in need of explanation (or a complete make-over as in the case of the ghastly curtains!). Scotland Yard’s chief inspector fortuitously turns out to have been Cressy’s father’s batman in a previous life, and once he surmounts his pique, he’s more than happy for Cressy to do the legwork.
Cressida Fawcett’s first outing is immensely enjoyable. Not only is Cressy bubbly, vivacious, quick-witted, and amusing, but her friend Dotty (aptly named) is a fun counterfoil. Ruby, the pug, is quite the character too! Fliss Chester has a firm grasp of British upper-class idiosyncratic speech and behaviour, making this a delightful beginning to a new cosy series that will doubtless catch on fast.
