The Diva Hosts A Murderer

A Domestic Diva Mystery Book 19

Author:    Krista Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Copy (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781496743480

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$27.00; $12.99 Amazon

Mat 26, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With a big crowd descending on her Northern Virginia home, it's a good thing event planner Sophie Winston is an expert at entertaining.  Whipping up patriotic pastries is as easy as pie for her, though meeting the man her widowed Aunt Melly just impulsively married in Las Vegas is a little more awkward.  Especially when Melly's longtime, now heartbroken secret admirer is there too, which could lead to some fireworks.

But the house party really gets  explosive when Sophie's favorite tour guide falls victim to a killer -- and evidence points to Sophie's own father.  Will DNA really incriminate her dad?  And what's the real story with her new uncle by marriage and the mysterious pal he's brought along with him?  Some of the secrets Sophie's discovering are raising flags -- and while the police department casts suspicion on her father, she has to declare her independence as a detective to find the real culprit, and serve justice along with red, white, and blue cupcakes...

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Sophie Winston lives in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and has made a career for herself by event planning.  She's expecting a big houseful this weekend.  Her parents, sister Hannah, friend Roscoe, Aunt Melly, and Melly's new husband, along with an old family friend are planning to stay at her home through Independence Day.

But all is not well when Sophie's elderly neighbor Dollie seeks out Sophie in a panic, telling her there's a dead man in her home.  When Sophie investigates, there's no one there.  The police refuse to take it seriously, stating the Dollie calls them all the time with false reports.  But not too long after, the tour guide that Sophie hired is discovered dead behind Dollie's home, and the woman states she's never seen the man before.

Now Sophie is intrigued and wonders if the two are related.  But intrigue is topped by anger when the police find her father's DNA on the dead man and her dad Paul becomes the chief suspect.  While he refuses to take it seriously, Sophie knows better.  Especially when a new homicide detective is assigned to the case, and he seems determined to pin the murder on Paul.

But there's more to the story:  Melly's husband is acting suspiciously; Melly is being left gifts by a secret admirer; Dollie is hearing strange noises in her home; a man Sophie just met is also acting strangely; and there's another body...

With all this going on, will Sophie be able to find the truth or will her dad be prosecuted for s crime he didn't commit?...

This is the 19th book in the series, and I have grown to love the characters.  Sophie has changed throughout the series, which I have enjoyed reading; and I've watched her become stronger and more independent.  Her friends are always there to support her, especially her friend Bernie, and her ex-husband Mars is present as well.

The story line is written very well, and I loved the plot.  There is a lot going on, and you have to read between the lines to figure out the clues.  But they are there.  You just have to look for them.  I will say that the murderer was hidden nicely, but the more I read the closer I came to the truth.  And the heart of the story is discovered very nearly toward the end, and something that I absolutely loved.

Yes, once again Sophie finds herself in danger, but of course she is also able to use her quick wits to free herself, and this time was no different.  There are no threads left hanging and no cliffhangers.  A delightful ending with bit of a hint of what will come next time in the series.  Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Hosts-Murderer-Domestic-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FP7LXJ8C/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8200195530

More on Krista Davis's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/krista-davis/

A Christmas Candy Killing

Killer Chocolate Mysteries Book 1

Author:    Christina Romeril

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781639101665; 9781639104765

Crooked Lane Books

320 Pages

$15.17; $19.00; $14.99 Amazon

October 11, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alex and Hanna's chocolates are to die for -- but things aren't so sweet when a killer comes to their Montana town, in this Christmas cozy mystery set at a murder mystery bookshop!

Identical twin sisters Alex and Hanna are the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that sells their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates.  But now, there's a real killer in their midst.  Shortly before Christmas, their septuagenarian neighbor, Jane, confides to Alex that a murderer from a true-crime show has taken up residence in the village.  Unfortunately, she's also shared her suspicions with the town gossip, Netta.  The next morning, Alex shows up at Jane's house to watch the show, but instead discovers Jane's body, with a box of Killer Chocolates nearby.

The sheriff quickly zeroes in on two suspects: Alex, a beneficiary in Jane's will, and Zack, a handyman who was seen leaving the crime scene.  But Alex maintains her innocence and sets out to draft a list of other potential suspects -- townsfolk who'd recently been seen arguing with Jane

When Alex gets hold of Jane's journal, she begins to understand the truth.  But a bearer of ill tidings is arriving early this year -- and Alex just might not make it to Christmas.

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Alex and her identical twin sister Hanna moved from Michigan to a small town in Montana, opening their chocolate shop/bookstore, Murder and Mayhem.  People love their chocolates, especially the names they've given them -- all named after poisons which have been used in mystery books.  They also host a book club once a week which Alex enjoys.

After the latest meeting, a member in her 70's, Jane, tells Alex that she thinks there's a murderer living among them.  Alex doesn't make much of this, since Jane has a history of thinking people in town are the killers that have been depicted on her true crime shows.  But Jane is adamant that this time she's sure, and wants Alex to come over the next day for tea and they can watch the show together.

When Alex arrives the next day, Jane's door is unlocked, and she enters, calling for Jane.  But she sees someone out in the back, although she can't tell who.  Still calling for Jane, she finds her beside her bed, dead.  After calling the police, she sees that it is a box of her Killer Chocolates next to the body.

When it's learned that Jane was poisoned, the sheriff leans toward Alex as the main suspect.  Especially when it becomes known that Alex is one of the beneficiaries of Jane's will.  Now Alex has a reason to find out who killed the woman -- and will do whatever it takes to do so, even if it puts her in danger.

This is the first book in the series, and I will admit that I am remiss in reading it.  I purchased it earlier, but with a TBR pile to read -- well, true readers will know what I mean.  Still, I am glad that I read this book.

Which isn't to say that there is not problems -- I did not like the fact that the author thinks if a woman has a few extra pounds she should be fat shamed.  Women's bodies come in all sizes and shapes, and if she's happy and healthy, that's all that matters.  I also didn't get the idea that Alex and Hanna are very close; sure, they have different interests, but they didn't spend much time together and that seemed by design.  I would have liked to have known more about what they looked like, how tall they were, etc.  All I learned was that their mother was a bit of a nag and harsh.  (My own opinion).

I also wondered if everyone in this town had a secret that they harbored.  It seems like an interesting town to me.  But I don't know if I'd enjoy the fact of wondering if everyone I encountered was who they said they were.  Just sayin'/

Back to the story: I found the plot line to be very good, and there were plenty of red herrings along the way (refer back to previous paragraph).  It's up to the reader to draw their own conclusions (if they can) and try and figure out which herrings are worth fishing for.  I will say that I knew the murderer long before Alex figured it out; but I've said many times over that I read a lot of mysteries so I start looking immediately.  What I didn't know was the reason why, and when that came about, it brought the entire story together.

The climax was written very well, and I liked the way the story ended, the killer having been wrapped up in a Christmas bow, as it were.  The reasons for the murder were insane to say the least, but then again, there's no reason for it at all.  I did enjoy this story and I will definitely read the next in the series.  Recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.  

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Killing-Killer-Chocolate-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09Q8JS9HV/ref=sr

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8134016588

More on Christina Romeril's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/r/christina-romeril/

Truffle Trouble

 An Amish Candy Shop Mystery Book 10

Author:    Amanda Flower

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    978

Kensington Cozies

336 Pages

$8.99; $7.99 Amazon

March 31, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Summer is finally upon the village of Harvest, Ohio, nestled in picturesque Amish country, and folks are abuzz over their very own Bailey King's upcoming June wedding.  The Amish Candy shop owner and star of TV's Bailey's Amish Sweets is marrying Holmes County Sheriff Aiden Brody.  To sweeten the occasion will be a scrumptious giant chocolate truffle wedding cake, made especially for the happy couple by Bailey's New York City mentor, Jean Pierre.  Other than the risk of the ring bearer, Jethro the pig, taking a bite out of the confection, what could go wrong?

As it turns out, a food-related disaster does befall the day.  But with Bailey in the mix, it's nothing so pedestrian as a peckish pig.  At the reception, a wedding guest dies after sampling the hors d'oeuvres.  Cafe owner and new caterer Darcy Woodin, who made all the food except the desserts, is pegged by police as the number one suspect.  Even more incriminating, the victim is one of Darcy's ex-boyfriends.

Still, Bailey is friends with Darcy, and she's certain the young woman is innocent.  Even before the first dance with her new husband, Bailey's on the case.  Can she help solve it in time for her honeymoon -- or will a killer try to end her happily ever after before it's even begun...?

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Bailey King moved to Harvest, Ohio to help her grandmother in her Amish sweets shop following her grandfather's death.  Having been a chocolatier in New York City, she's since then built the shop up, managed to gain a television show, and opened a factory to product more hand-made candies to sell around the world.  

She's also fallen in love with Aiden Brody, the new sheriff of Holmes County.  They've finally come to their wedding day, and she's been convinced (once again) by Margo that adding a wine tasting would be good for the town.  As long as it's separate from the celebration, due to her respect for the Amish, Bailey is fine with it

Unfortunately, there's some drama when Bailey discovers that one of the vineyard owners is an ex-boyfriend of the Darcy Woodin, who is catering the big event.  Things go from bad to worse when he is found dead in Bailey's kitchen, apparently poisoned by a tart Darcy made.  Now the woman is about to be arrested for murder.

Newly married and wanting to start her life with Aiden, Bailey knows that she needs to do a little sleuthing if she is ever going to get a honeymoon and some peace and quiet.  But when she starts digging, there are secrets from the past that come to the surface, and she's not going anywhere until she sorts them out...

This is the tenth book in the series and I have read them all.  The characters seem to come to life for me every time I visit Harvest.  I've grown fond of Bailey, her grandmother, and many of the others.  This book is no different.  While pulled into the story, you want to see Bailey finally hitched and happy.  She gets hitched, but the happy part will have to come later.

Bailey wants to know who wanted the young man dead.  Did Darcy really have reason to kill him?  Bailey doesn't think so, even if the evidence is pointing in that direction.  When things start heating up, Bailey begins to see through the lies.  However, her grandmother has a health issue that Bailey can't and won't ignore.  Watching her put the pieces together while taking care of her ailing grandmother as best she can -- the reasons will become clear in the book -- Bailey is at her wits' end and hoping to figure it all out sooner rather than later.  Even Jethro's antics can't distract her this time, and that's saying something.

When the ending comes, it's all rather sad, but there is no excuse for murder no matter the reason.  I loved the book, the descriptions of everything around, and the heartfelt warmness of Bailey and her family.  I can't wait to visit them again.  Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NettGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Truffle-Trouble-Amish-Candy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FGRZ3H9K/ref=

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8185411498

More on Amanda Flower's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/amanda-flower/