It's Christmas Eve in 1925 London, Cressida Fawcett is at the Mayfair Hotel with her chums and acquaintances - including her wee dog Ruby. The festivities have just begun when Cressida discovers a body. And it's someone she knows...
This is the first book I've read in this series. I was easily able to suss out who was who and some background.
I really liked the characters. Although she is part of the upper crust, Cressida is keen on helping the local constabulary find out who the culprit is before midnight and the doors are opened. This isn't the first time she's helped them. She's smart, curious, and determined. I liked puzzling over the clues with her. The supporting cast was just as good, especially her best friend Dotty.
This setting gives us a large locked room mystery. Chester describes the setting very well and I could imagine the ballrooms and the down belows. The customs, mindsets, expectations and rules of the time period are part of the setting - and the plot. There were a number of choices for the 'whodunit'. Chester gives us that and some red herrings on the way.
Cosy mysteries are my 'get away from it all, escapist' reads. Death in the Mayfair Hotel has all the bits that make up a cosy tale. A spunky lead that's an amateur sleuth, a dog or cat that helps out, a possible love interest yes, there's one or two of these. And while it's not a small village, the upper crust are the stand ins for that component. A fun read and a lovely cosy. Thanks Fliss Chester!
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