Author: Krista Davis
Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Digital Book
ISBN: 9781496743459
Kensington Cozies
320 Pages
$27.00; $12.99 Amazon
May 27, 2025
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Stylish brunches are all the rage this autumn in Old Town Alexandria, and everyone's posting their parties on social media. But while Domestic Diva Sophie Winston juggles her event-filled calendar, she's approached by local designer Mitzi Lawson -- who is afraid someone is following her. The very next day Mitzi loses her best friend and business partner, Denise. The two were renovating a generations-old house where Denise died unexpectedly, and Mitzi fears that it wasn't a medical condition to blame, but murder.
It could just be the shock talking, but Sophie agrees to help Mitzi involve the police. Then she receives a panicked phone call from Mitzi, and when she rushes to the old house, Mitzi is nowhere to be found. Now Sophie's appetite for investigation is piqued even more than her appetite for eggs Benedict and mimosas.
Could Denise's death be connected to her viper's nest of in-laws or the house she was working on which her husband just inherited? What of the self-proclaimed etiquette expert with some improper secrets, or the scheming mistress? Or does the old house harbor secrets of its own? There's a generous buffet of suspects to keep the Diva scrambling for an answer...
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Domestic Diva Sophie Winston is awaiting autumn, when two events cloud the atmosphere: first, her "frenemy" Natasha wants to hold a brunch at her home (which Natasha has always coveted) and insists that Sophie must be there, as it is to be filmed, and the person who is putting it on the air won't do it unless Sophie appears. Feeling strong-armed by Natasha, she nevertheless agrees, but only on her terms.
Then an interior decorator named Mitzi Lawson wants to meet with Sophie at a house she and her business partner Denise are renovating, Sophie is curious enough about it to agree. But when Sophie arrives at the house, she finds the body of Denise, and figures out soon enough that Denise was murdered. Things escalate when no one can find Mitzi, and Denise's wealthy relatives ask Sophie to investigate, since they know of her reputation for solving mysteries.
Reluctantly, she agrees. Which might be a mistake, since when there is another encounter with the unknown killer, Sophie could very well be the second -- or third person to die...
This is the 18th book in the series and I have to say that I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Sophie grow and stand up to Natasha (which she did not do in book #1). She's finally come into her own, happy with her life, friends with her ex-husband (and I am sure they are both still extremely fond of each other), and spends her off-time solving the occasional murder. That's a full life, and more than I want in my own. (I'm happy to watch and read about murders, but no thank you, very much).
Sophie has a lot going on here, with trying out recipes for brunch, dodging the figurative bullet, and trying to figure out who wanted Denise dead. But things aren't as easy as sifting through suspects to find out who the murderer is. There is a lot more detail, and when some of it comes to light, you think you have the right answer. But it doesn't end there, and it takes a strange turn that is completely unexpected to decipher why the murder happened, and who the killer ultimately is.
In the end, this was another lively mystery by Ms. Davis that tells a story and shows us how everything comes together tightly in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale; the characters, and all the little quirks between them to come to a delightful end. There are also some yummy recipes at the back (which I want to try). Recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Krista Davis's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/krista-davis/
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