Death by a Cornish Cove is the second book in the Cressida Fawcett Mystery series by Fliss Chester, and is a charming historical cozy mystery is set in 1920s London.
Title: Death by a Cornish Cove
Author: Fliss Chester
Series: Cressida Fawcett Mystery #2
First Published: February 9, 2023
Publisher: Bookouture
Genres: Mystery
Acquired: from the publisher via Bookouture
*** Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. ***
A seaside party at a Cornish mansion with plenty of fizz, what could be more perfect? But something fishy is afoot… a killer lurks among the guests, and only Cressida Fawcett can stop them.
When Cressida Fawcett is invited to stay at Penbeagle House on the Cornish coast for a fancy-dress ball, she is looking forward to sipping rum cocktails clad as a pirate, watching the red-sailed boats go by and relaxing in the sea air with her good friend Dotty. But before they can raise their glasses to toast Cressida’s former flame Lord Canterbury’s engagement, he drops dead in front of the horrified guests.
The local doctor determines that Lord Canterbury was poisoned, and soon Detective Chief Inspector Andrews is on his way from Scotland Yard. But Cressida is dismayed by the murder of the intrepid explorer who once asked for her hand in marriage, and she cannot simply leave the case to the police. Together with Dotty and her little pug Ruby, Cressida searches for clues only to discover that many of the guests have a motive for murder. Did an irate journalist or a bitter fellow explorer send Lord Canterbury on his untimely final journey?
And when a young maid is found dead, floating in the shimmering waters of the cove, Cressida knows time is running out to catch the killer. Could a clue hidden among some rather pungent crab sandwiches help her solve the case before there is another murder?
Another fun mystery adventure with Cresside Fawcett
I had a wonderful time with the first book in the series, and this sequel is just as much fun! (You can read my review of Death Among the Diamonds here).
The mystery starts off with a dress-up ball and everyone is having a great time, but it doesn’t take long for the murder and mayhem to begin. The fact that the murder victim is Cressida’s ex-boyfriend makes this case personal and soon Cressida, along with her adorable pug Ruby and her good friend Dotty, are on the hunt for clues and suspects.
Trying to sift through the party guests motives and alibis and doing her best not to upset Detective Chief Inspector Andrews from Scotland Yard, Cressida has her work cut out for her.
I really enjoy historical fiction cozy mysteries because along with the gorgeous settings and clothes, the society and etiquette rules of the time make things extra interesting to me.
Cressida continues to be a delightful main character – she is independent, persistent, and intelligent. Her sense of fun is infectious – instead of opting for a more traditionally feminine costume, she shows up at the ball dressed as a pirate – and you can tell she would be the life of any party. She smartly walks that fine line of being a “modern woman” in a society still abiding by strict moral rules but you can see that her attitude makes her stand out. It’s also great to see her relationship with Dotty and DCI Andrews continue to develop from the first book.
This is another fun outing with Cressida and this series is definitely fast becoming a favourite.
About the Author, Fliss Chester
Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.
You can connect with Fliss Chester online here:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | BOOKOUTURE PAGE
Quote from Death by a Cornish Cove
