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...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

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/

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg

A Domestic  Diva Mystery Book 18

Author:    Krista Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN:    9781496743459

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$27.00; $12.99 Amazon

May 27, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

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.

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Poaches-Domestic-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B0DFRXP333/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7262905384

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

The Diva Goes Overboard (A Domestic Diva Mystery Book 17)

Author:    Krista Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496743428

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$27.00; $12.99 Amazon

May 21, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In Old Town Alexandria's unlikeliest match, Natasha Smith's free-spirited mother, Wanda, is engaged to notoriously pompous antiques dealer, Orson Chatsworth -- leaving Natasha to plan the entire wedding, beginning with an elaborate engagement party.  For the extravagant affair, Natasha splurges on trendy food boards created by rising social media start, Stella St. James.  The sumptuous boards go way beyond basic cheese and crackers, as Stella dazzles guests with picture-worthy butter boards, dessert boards, and even doughnut boards.  Just as Natasha planned, the food is to die for -- and someone actually does.

When the groom collapses, it seems as if a heart attack is to blame.  Then guests discover Orson was poisoned, and suddenly Stella's bespoke boards look a lot less appealing.  But with an event this big, the spread of suspects is sure to be impressive.  Could Orson's killer be a jilted ex-lover?  A money hungry relative?  A bitter former business partner?  When even Sophie is not above suspicion, she knows it's time to get on board and scrape together an investigation of her own...before murder becomes the town's next trend.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie Winston is an event planner that lives in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, with her dog and cat.  While walking her dog one morning she spots a car on fire and calls it in.  She has no idea who did it, or why.  It seems odd, but life goes on...while visiting with her best friend Nina, her frenemy Natasha Smith, who has been in competition with Sophie most of her life, arrives in a dither.  It seems her mother Wanda is getting married -- to Orson Chatsworth, who doesn't seem like Wanda's type, but Sophie offers to help Natasha with the engagement party.  Part of that is hiring Orson's daughter Stella to make charcuterie boards, which are becoming a trend and Stella's new business.

While all seems to be going well at the party, Orson suddenly drops to the floor and at first appears to be having a heart attack.  But Sophie thinks that he was murdered, even though her police detective friend Wolf doesn't.  Another surprise comes when Orson's will is read and he leaves Sophie his antique business and all it entails, including the bank account.  In his strange video will he tells her that 'you will know what to do.'

But Sophie has no idea what to do.  At least not at first.  And with half the town thinking there was something going on with her and Orson (why else would he leave her the business instead of to his daughter?) or Sophie being a gold digger, there's problems with trying to find out who killed Orson.  When the police finally do reveal that it was murder, Sophie's problems just got bigger.  Now she not only has to find the murderer, but she has to discover why he had the secret room in his store and what he wanted her to do with the information.  With the help of Nina, her ex-husband Mars and friend Bernie, she's about to learn what Orson wanted to tell her, and hope she'll be able to prevent another murder...

This is the 17th book in the series, and I have read most of them.  In my opinion, each one gets better than the last.  In this one, Sophie is up to her ears in intrigue, secrets, and lies.  All her suspects are keeping them, and it's up to her to ferret them out.  But with everyone suspecting her of swaying Orson in her favor, she needs the help of her friends to get to the bottom of it.

But when Sophie learns what Orson really wanted her to do, she's stunned.  It's something no one could have suspected, and when she discreetly shares some of the information, others don't think it's possible.  After discovering an item that gives her the link she needs, Sophie can begin to put everything together.  And watching her do so is like watching a clock being assembled.  The parts are there, and it is up to the clockmaker to put them into the proper order and make sure that it works.  This Sophie does beautifully.  

The ending has another surprise in store, and when it is all woven together, Sophie manages to show us once again why she is our favorite Domestic Diva.  This book is so entertaining that I read it in one sitting (whew!) because I wanted to find out how it all came about and I don't like to peek!  There are also some delicious recipes at the back that I intend to make (and you should, too!).  I eagerly await the next in the series.  Highly 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/Diva-Goes-Overboard-Domestic-Mystery/dp/1496743423/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6273795021

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

The Diva Delivers on a Promise (A Domestic Diva Mystery Book 16)

Author:    Krista Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496732798

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$27.00; $13.77 Amazon

May 23, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sophie is busy handling the first ever convention of the Association of Ghost Kitchens -- restaurants that do delivery only -- but she's taking a little time out for a lunch meeting organized by A Healthy Meal.  The group is dedication to providing meals for children in need, and as a bonus, it'll give Sophie the perfect opportunity to ogle the lavish Old Town home of socialite Geraldine Stansfield.  Gerrie's dining room is impeccably furnished, the table laden with gleaming crystal and prized china.  If it weren't for the dead many lying on the floor, everything would be perfect...

No one knows the victim -- or at least, no one claims to.  But a little snooping by Sophie reveals links to many local notables.  In fact, not only was he a client of Geraldine's late husband, an attorney -- every member of the Stansfield clan knew the deceased.  But only one knows what he was doing in Gerrie's house.

Gerrie's elegant abode looks spotless, but there's plenty of dirty linen in those family closets.  Now Sophie will have to get the killer to come clean before he spoils another appetite -- for good...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie Winston lives in Old Town, Virginia, and is an event planner.  She's doing her first ever ghost kitchen event -- where they only do delivery -- and everything seems to be running smoothly so far.  She's also looking forward to the meeting of the members of A Healthy Meal, which is going to be held at society maven Geraldine Stansfield's home.  She's longing to see the inside of the home for the first time.  With everyone gathered, Sophie hears a scream, and it's discovered that there's a man in the dining room with a knife sticking out of his chest.  After calling 911, it's found that no one seems to know who he was.  Not even Gerrie.  And no one knows how he got there.  With rumors beginning to fly that Gerrie killed him, she asks Sophie's help in proving her innocence.  What can Sophie do, but comply?

Now she's trying to figure out who wanted him dead, and why he was there.  But when things start to get sticky, Sophie is drawn into an investigation of people not being where they're supposed to be, lies on top of lies, Gerrie avoiding questions all around, and even more intrigue and secrets.  Suddenly she feels as if she's in a movie, and she can't figure out the ending...

This is the sixteenth book in the series, and it's a very good example of why Krista Davis is one of my favorite writers.  In full disclosure, I hated the first book, but I have fallen in love with this series over time.  Sophie is not only intelligent, she knows how to keep a secret, and she doesn't bail on either her friends or anyone she's trying to help.

What I really like is that she's learned to ignore Natasha and her dramatics.  Natasha would wear anyone out.  I'm just grateful I don't know anyone like her.  While she's always trying to one-up Sophie, it's Sophie who always gains the upper hand, merely by being kinder and more understanding...and patient.  

But it seems the killer is beginning to figure out what Sophie is doing, and has no intentions to let her win.  Even if it means following her.  Then there's the issue of a problem with the ghost kitchens, and between the two, it's taking up a lot of her time.

As the story progresses, we learn more about the Stansfields and their history, which surprises her.  But even so, she's determined to help Gerrie, which isn't easy.  When a near-tragedy occurs, Sophie will have to up her game and move faster to solve the murder.

In the end, when everything comes together, it was a surprise; but worth the read.  I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next 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-Delivers-Promise-Domestic-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BFC4R9Z8/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5264012339

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

The Diva Says Cheesecake (A Domestic Diva Mystery Book 15)

Author:    Krista Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496732767

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$23.49; $12.99 Amazon

May 31, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Old Town's midsummer festivities are getting a tasty addition this year.  To coincide with a public performance of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake, has hired Sophie to organize a dinner with a dessert buffet on the waterfront.  Bobbie Sue's homegrown company is thriving, and since her baking dish overfloweth, she wants to reward her employees.

Bobbie Sue has only one menu demand: no cheesecake!  But her specialty isn't the only thing missing from the evening -- Tate, Bobbie Sue's husband, is too, much to her annoyance.  Next morning, however, Tate's dead body is discovered.  Bobbie Sue insists she didn't kick her spouse to the crub, and begs for Sophie's help finding the real killer.  Digging in, Sophie discovers an assortment of Old Town locals who all had a reason to want a piece of Tate.  Can she gather together the crumbs the killer left behind in time to prevent a second helping of murder?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

When Sophie Winston, cook extraordinaire, is asked to cater a dinner for Bobbie Sue Bodoin's employees, she's more than happy to do so.  The meal goes off splendidly, except for the fact that Bobbie Sue is upset with her husband Tate, who promised to be there to see their son Spencer run a race, and watch his daughter Jo in a ballet routine.  At first Bobbie Sue is irritated, but the next morning she's frantic because Tate hasn't come home.  She asks Sophie's help in finding him, and Sophie agrees.  But what she doesn't agree to is finding Tate's body in the basement of his restaurant -- dead.  Now the primary suspect is is rival in business, Sophie's good friend Bernie.

While Sophie knows Bernie couldn't be a killer, the evidence is climbing toward him killing Tate.  But she, along with all Bernie's friends, are determined to find the true killer.  When Sophie is attacked, she knows the killer is out there, even if the police still think it's Bernie.  Sophie needs to use all of her wits to evade a killer who might be nearer than anyone knows...

This is the fifteenth book in the series, and I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely.  This series just seems to keep on getting better with each book.  I like the fact that Sophie isn't bending over backward to please Natasha, and even talks back to her when Natasha thinks she's making a 'helpful' remark.  Natasha is still as annoying as always, allowing her mouth to speak before her brain can process...or maybe she's just wired differently.

Bernie's friends rally 'round him loyally, and this book is as much a mystery as it is showing what true friendship looks like.  I loved the warmth between the friends and the fact that they are so comfortable and caring with each other.  I especially liked the scenes where Nina was trying to figure out what was going on with her husband.  They were definitely humorous.

I knew who the killer was the moment that person stepped on the page, but it's the why and how that I wanted to see Sophie figure out.  It was indeed worth reading the entire book to come to the climax of that moment in time.  When the killer is discovered and the reason discerned, it shows you can never understand the reasoning of other people.  So sad.

In the end, it all came together in a nice package, with the story being long on friendship, a few subplots thrown in that were all interesting (poor Natasha can't get a break), and the ending being both satisfying and worth it all.  There are also quite a few yummy recipes thrown in at the back if you want to try them (I know I am going to).  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Says-Cheesecake-Domestic-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09FFXSHP4/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4571396519

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

The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit (A Domestic Diva Mystery #14)

Author:    Krista Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496732736

Kensington Publishing

304 Pages

$22.51; $12.99 Amazon

May 25, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐

With Old Town's DIY Home Decorating Festival in full swing, Sophie's swamped, juggling a bumper crop of artisans, antique dealers, and decorators for the busy street fair.  Still, when her best friend Nina suddenly needs a ride from the airport, Sophie is happy to help...until she sees Nina disembarking in a state of disarray.  It's obvious the trip to Portugal soured somewhere along the way.  But after one of Nina's traveling companions turns up murdered the following day, Sophie knows something is truly rotten...

Though the crime scene is staged to look like an accident, Sophie isn't fooled and peels off to conduct her own investigation.  Her only clue is a strange image the victim scratched into the soil before dying.  Could it point to a cryptic killer in Old Town?  A bitter adversary?  Or a cursed artifact smuggled back from the trip?  As the mystery grows, so does the body count, and if Sophie doesn't pluck the murderer soon, her best friend may be the next to fall...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie is trying desperately to pull of the DIY Home Decorating Festival on her street.  Her neighbors have gotten their tents ready and have started selling their wares and demonstrating how to create decorating items.  In between she has to pick up her best friend Nina from the airport, but is stunned when Nina arrives without shoes and looking haggard.  After getting a tale of woe from Nina, it's back to business for Sophie.

But when she visits another friend the next morning she finds the woman dead with a strange symbol carved into the soil beside her.  After informing the police, Sophie finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation, this one closer to home and it involves more than one friend.  But when Nina is targeted, Sophie knows she has to act quick or she'll lose her, too...

This is the fourteenth book in the series, and unfortunately I haven't read them in order, so some of the revelations in the book are a complete surprise to me.  However, I do plan on going back and reading the rest of the series, because what's discovered doesn't spoil this book at all.

We again have Natasha whining every five minutes to Sophie for something, and while Sophie tunes her out, I certainly wish I could, too.  I have never cared for the woman, but at least she's not uber-annoying in this book, which is a good thing.  Actually, there are some funny moments with Natasha that she has no control over, and I did enjoy those.

There's also trouble in the festival, with the entrants complaining amongst themselves, and I am not going to detail that as this is a new book and I want people to enjoy reading it.  And you should enjoy it, too.  There's an awful lot going on, and a lot of people doing it, and poor Sophie is right in the middle of it again.  

But there are some good things that occur, and that makes all of it worthwhile.  I do still think that Sophie needs to get herself together, but that's a personal opinion and has no reflection on this book, which is very good indeed.  I enjoyed it immensely, and the mystery was indeed something that wasn't discovered until very close to the end (although I did figure out the murderer before Sophie, so that's something in my favor!).  When it all comes together, we get a few more surprises which are nice, and it gives us something to look forward to in the next book.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Serves-Forbidden-Fruit-Domestic-Mystery/dp/1496732731/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3991837196

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

The Diva Cooks a Goose (A Domestic Diva Mystery #4)

Author:  Krista Davis
Genre:   Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; [Audio CD]; Digital Book

ISBN #:  9780425238257; [9781515950059]

Kensington Publishing; [Tantor Audio]

304 Pages

$7.99; [$29.99]; $7.99 Amazon

December 7, 2010

⭐⭐⭐⭐

It promises to be a jolly holiday for Sophie until a Scrooge steals the Christmas gifts from her family and neighbors.  The evil elf even pinches their Christmas dinners!  Sophie quickly ends the neighbors' finger-pointing by organizing a toy swap for the kids, restoring the spirit of Christmas.  But not for long...

When her sister-in-law's father shows up to the Christmas celebration with a diva girlfriend just a month after his separation, someone carries out everyone's thoughts of murder.  With relatives and friends under suspicion for the deadly deed, and Sophie's detective boyfriend Wolf out of town, it's up to Sophie to chase this goose and cook it.  Nobody ruins her Christmas!

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie Winston's sister-in-law Laci is entertaining her friends and family for Christmas Eve dinner, and while she thinks everything is going to be fine, it's not.  Someone is stealing everyone's Christmas gifts, and their house is now the latest on the block to be emptied.  As if this isn't enough, Laci's father shows up with his new girlfriend, Bonnie -- angering her mother Marnie, since they've only been separated a month.  As if that isn't enough, they discover that Laci's younger sister Shawna is nearly engaged to Bonnie's son Beau.

But at another event, there's an altercation that sends Shawna running out in tears, and no one knowing how to handle it.  Not even Sophie, who discovers Bonnie's body at her home and needs to call the police, wishing her detective boyfriend Wolf was in town instead of spending the holidays in Maine.  Now, the hunt is on for a killer, and with a plethora of suspects, it's all Sophie can do to keep her family from fighting and try to figure out who left a basket of Ragdoll kittens in her sunroom...

This is the fourth book in the series, and I probably like it better than the others, although I still think that Sophie needs to grow a spine.  She never says no to anyone, even when she knows she should.  Another thing I don't care for is the fact that she practically thinks everyone on her suspect list is the guilty party at one time or another...and she's always wrong.  Where is she getting her clues from in the first place?  Just because someone acts what you think is suspiciously, doesn't mean they're a murderer.  As Laci said, they all have secrets.

But, it was interesting all the same to watch everything play out with the kittens (which I do love) and find out that Mars has a backbone after all.  Now we get to wait and see what happens in the next book, and if he'll revert to being wallpaper.  Something to look forward to.

In the end, it all came together just the way I thought it might, since the clues were leading in that direction all along, and as we expected, the murderer was caught and the reasons for the murder were what we thought.  I will read the next in the series, because this one had enough action to keep me interested enough to keep reading.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Cooks-Goose-Domestic-Mystery/dp/0425238253/ref

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3476999182

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

The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (A Domestic Diva Mystery Book 1)

Author:  Krista Davis
Genre:   Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:  9780425224260
Berkley Publishing
304 Pages
$7.99; $7.99 Amazon
October 7, 2008

⭐⭐⭐

Few can compete with local celebrity Natasha Smith when it comes to entertaining, but Sophie Winston is determined to try.  Her childhood rival may have stolen the spotlight -- and her husband -- but this Thanksgiving Sophie is determined to rob Natasha of the prize for Alexandria, Virginia's Stupendous Stuffing Shakedown.  She just needs the right ingredient.

But Sophie's search for the perfect turkey takes a basting when she stumbles across a corpse.  And when the police find her name and photo inside the victim's car, Sophie will have to set her trussing aside to solve the murder -- or she'll be serving up prison grub...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I read this book because it takes place at Thanksgiving, and I'm reading books about the season.  To be fair, I really liked the mystery part; it kept me guessing right up until the end, which is what a mystery should do.  On the other hand:

1. Sophie is weak; a doormat who won't tell anyone the truth and I hate people like that.  She won't tell Humphrey she has no interest in him (which isn't doing him any favors by the way); she won't tell Natasha she's a pain in the rear and her ideas for decorating are really lousy; she won't ask her mom why she thinks more of Natasha than she does her own child, and so forth.
2. Sophie's mother is awful.  If I had a mother that praised someone else over me constantly I certainly wouldn't have anything to do with her.  Toxic.  Again, she should tell her exactly what she thinks about that.
3. It's not really realistic to see your ex-spouse with your ex-best friend and welcome them both into your life like, "Hey!  No problem!  I wanted to get rid of him anyway, so you did me a favor!"  There was no explanation of why they split up, just that "Natasha didn't steal him".  Their 'relationship' is really, really weird.  But again, probably because Sophie's a doormat and won't tell anyone how she really feels.
4. I got tired of hearing how everything was 'organic'.  Who really cares?  I am a great cook, love doing it, and - gasp! - rarely use organic ingredients.  Nobody notices.  The dishes come out beautiful, taste wonderful, and I am proud of them.  Proper cleansing is all that is needed.  I'm not obsessed that everything in my kitchen has to be organic or it won't taste good.  (By the way, some people might, but I wouldn't use bacon OR oysters in stuffing.  Gross.)

I will read the next installment in this series, but only because I really did like the mystery, and I sure hope that Sophie gets a little gumption by then and tells people what she thinks.

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Runs-Thyme-Domestic-Mystery/dp/0425224260/ref

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/231341722

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

The Diva Paints the Town (A Domestic Diva Mystery #3)

Author:  Krista Davis
Genre:   Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:  9780425233443
Berkley Prime Crime
288 Pages
$7.59; $7.99 Amazon
February 2, 2010

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sophie Winston's reclusive neighbor, Professor Mordecai Artemus, has died and left his sprawling home to his Pomeranian.  Sophie feels a tad guilty for not having befriended Mordecai.  But at least she's not as heartless as her nemesis, Natasha, who's descended upon the house with a crew of interior designers and contractors to renovate the place for the statewide Spring Home and Garden Tour.

Even Sophie's been assigned a room to decorate: the family room, where the Professor did most of his living -- and where he died.  In the midst of cleaning, spackling and painting, Sophie uncovers a second body -- but when she looks again it's disappeared!  Now Sophie has to hammer away to discover the truth about the missing man, before her best friend gets nailed for murder...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Professor Mordecai Artemus lived not too far away from Sophie Winston, and when he passes away he leaves everything to his Pomeranian, Emmeline.  But Sophie is puzzled why he's also left her instructions to create a dinner for five people, to his specific instructions; then give them each the packages he's left for them.   Sophie does her part - and it turns out that all five were once students of Mordecai's and have a strange connection to him from years ago. 

Sophie also discovers that Mordecai's home is part of a decorating competition, and designers have been assigned one room in the house to decorate.  Surprisingly, Sophie's frenemy Natasha gives Sophie a room to decorate, and her team of workers is quickly assembled to help.

Then her best friend Nina, whose husband is on a business cruise, believes that he might be having an affair and is worried, but sees that one of the designers is her old flame, Kurt.  When Kurt attacks her in Mordecai's home one night, she pushes him and he hits his head.  She runs to Sophie for help, but when they go back to the house, he's not there.  Later on, Sophie opens the loveseat that her friend Bernie designed for the room, and finds Kurt's body.  But when she calls the police and a policewoman named Tara answers the call, Kurt isn't there and Tara accuses her of making the story up. 

Now everyone is trying to find out Kurt's whereabouts, Sophie's having romantic problems, Nina's frantic believing she killed Kurt, Natasha's going crazy with the home decoration and wondering why Mordecai didn't leave her anything, the former students are wondering what their mysterious packages mean, and no one can find Emmeline, who seems to have disappeared into thin air.  Sophie's life has just gotten more complicated than ever...and now she finds there's also a killer on the loose...

This is the third book in the series and I have to say that I enjoyed it much better than the first two.  In those books, Sophie was a complete doormat, allowing anyone and everyone to push her around - including her own family.  It was grating on me.  But in this book she shows a little more backbone and doesn't fold to Natasha's demands, which is refreshing.  She also has things to do, and she doesn't allow people to sidetrack her because of  what they want.  I also found it humorous that Sophie's ex-husband Mars would rather work with her than Natasha.

The mystery was an interesting one, with the late professor having created it.  While there was a second mystery, with someone being very definitely murdered and trying to find the culprit, we also had the pleasure of trying to figure out what it was that the professor was hiding for his former students.

When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, it was a bit of a surprise, with an added one to boot.  I did like the fact that it was unexpected, and while there wasn't really a climactic ending, it definitely got the point across.  I also felt the resolution to everyone's problems was done nicely.  But what was a real surprise was the end of the book, and I will read the next in the series to see what occurs.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Paints-Town-Domestic-Mystery/dp/0425233448/ref

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3325284958

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

The Diva Takes the Cake (A Domestic Diva Mystery #2)

Author:  Krista Davis
Genre:   Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:  9780425228401
Berkley Prime Crime Publishing
304 Pages
$7.30; $5.99 Amazon
June 2, 2009

⭐

Sophie Winston's sister, Hannah, is getting married -- again!  And if you ask Sophie, her future brother-in-law is no prince.  But is he a killer?  That's the question on everyone's mind when his ex-wife is found hanging from a pergola.  This is one event Sophie and her sister hadn't planned on.

As hidden family secrets begin to come to light, Sophie finds the list of suspects is almost as long as the list of wedding guests.  Will the real killer be seated on the groom's side or the bride's?  Or will he be standing at the altar?  Either way, Sophie must solve the murder in time to stop her sister from making the biggest -- and possibly the last -- mistake of her life.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie Winston's sister, Hannah, is getting married (again) and Sophie is hosting a dinner at her home for the guests.  Even though she doesn't like Hannah's fiancé Craig, she's willing to endure it anyway.  When Sophie is returning home before setting everything up, a woman appears at her doorstep looking for Craig,  Rather than give her name, she leaves telling Sophie she'll come back later.

Then, when Sophie goes to her rival Natasha's home to collect her dog, Daisy, the dog runs to the backyard where Sophie finds the body of the woman hanging from Natasha's new pergola.  At first it's suspected the woman committed suicide, but Sophie's friend Humphrey, who is a mortician, tells Sophie the marks don't gibe, and that the woman was murdered.  Now that the police are involved, the game is upped, and Sophie is doing her best to save her sister from a possible killer...

I read the first book in this series many years ago (2011), and I must have disliked it immensely to never read another one until now.  I re-read my review.  I was right.  I dislike these characters.  All of them.

Sophie is the worst excuse for a woman I can think of.  She has no guts, and won't tell people to bug off - she's such a doormat she needs to have "Welcome" tattooed on her back.  Her sister is mean and takes advantage of her; her mother likes Natasha much better than her own daughter; Natasha steamrolls over Sophie every chance she gets; etc.; etc.  (Not to mention that not only did Natasha wind up with Sophie's ex-husband; she bought a home down the block from Sophie; she has the TV show that should have gone to Sophie; and she covets Sophie's home.  Screw off, Nat).

These are horrible people.  After Sophie has done a tremendous amount of work planning everything the way her sister wants, then Natasha waltzes in and changes everything to black and brown for a "modern" wedding.  Gross.  Ugly.  And completely disrespectful to Sophie.  What's up with Hannah that she would just allow this anyway? 

But then it goes farther than that.  Not only does everyone treat Sophie like she's a hired maid (and not a well-treated one, either), but Natasha tells Sophie's date - the homicide detective, Wolf - that he's not welcome at the dinner because he brings 'bad memories' to the guests about the murder.  So what does this man do?  HE DOESN'T GO.  He leaves Sophie in the lurch.  He's a homicide detective without a pair, if you know what I mean.  I don't know of ANY detective in any book that would act this way.  They'd tell Natasha to go stuff herself.  Not this guy.  He has a little a spine as Sophie.

What is wrong with this woman?  She allows everyone to push her around, and she takes it.  I couldn't stand being around these people at all.  The best thing she can do is never invite any of them to her home ever again.  Including the spineless detective.

Plus, are we supposed to take the advice at the beginning of every chapter?  Most of it was laughable.  1) I'm not giving gift baskets to people who are invited to a wedding.  My gift to them is the free food and drink.  2) An "A" list and a "B" list for a wedding?  Must be nice to find out you were only invited as a seat filler.  3) You know what?  I'm not a tour guide.  If people show up early for a wedding and plan to stay a few days, they can go online just like everyone else and find out what the area has to offer.  Also, maybe it's trending that a bride can buy two wedding gowns, but it's an extra cost that isn't needed, and is pretentious in the extreme.  No thank you.  Most of this 'advice' is really out there somewhere.

I couldn't stand any of these people to the extent that I really didn't care about the murders nor why they were committed.  I only read the book because I wanted to see just how much abuse Sophie would take before she cracked.  She never cracked.  Draw your own conclusions.

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Takes-Cake-Domestic-Mystery/dp/0425228401/ref

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3282295541

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