Shades of Wrath

Shades of Wrath by Karen Rose Smith is the sixth book in A Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery. Caprice is a home stager and interior designer in Kismet, Pennsylvania. Sunrise Tomorrow, a women’s shelter started by Wendy Newcomb, has just inherited the Wyatt estate. Sunrise Tomorrow will now be able to provide long-term housing in this new facility. Wendy has asked Caprice to submit design ideas for the space. Caprice goes to meet Wendy at the Wyatt mansion and finds her dead in the entry with the balustrade broken above. Wendy had called Caprice the previous evening asking for Detective Brett Carstead’s phone number and mentioned blackmail (and now she is dead). Caprice, of course, starts investigating to find out who would have wanted to hurt Wendy. Caprice gets a call from Roland Vaughn of Vaughn Contracting. Roland builds homes in Maryland and is having a televised contest. He has three new model homes that need decorating. Caprice and two other designers will each get a home to design. The viewers will vote for their favorite design and designer. The winner will get a contract for design three model homes (and could lead to more work after that). Caprice cannot pass up this wonderful opportunity and finds a way to fit in among her other work and her sleuthing. The romance between Caprice and Grant is heating up now that Grant has resolved issues with his ex-wife (over the loss of their little girl). There are also some adorable little kittens that need a forever home, and Caprice knows the person who can use two little balls of fluff in their life. Caprice has a full life and just the right vintage fashion for each occasion. Shades of Wrath is a chance to catch up on the life of Caprice De Luca as well as her family and friends (and do not forget the animals). While this is the sixth book in the series, it can be read alone. The author does provide the information the reader needs to enjoy the book. We get updates on Vincent, Bella, Nikki (Caprice’s brother and sisters) as well as her Uncle Dom. Nana dishes out advice to Caprice and Seth (Caprice’s old love interest) stops by for a visit. Shades of Wrath is easy to read (the author has a nice conversational style of writing) and has engaging characters (most of them are in Caprice’s family). Karen Rose Smith adroitly handles the sensitive subject of spousal abuse. I give Shades of Wrath 3.5 out of 5 stars. As with many of the cozy mysteries I have read lately, the mystery was not the primary focus of the book. The whodunit is like a supporting actor in a television show (they are present, but they never get to be the star). I believe most readers will be able to solve the crime (narrow list of suspects). The ending will make fans of the series very pleased.

This is part of a mystery series staring Caprice De Luca who is designer and animal rescuer. On her new case she is going to remodel an old home for a women's shelter when the director is found dead at the Mansion. This is the first mystery that I've read by this author however have read other of her books in romance. Enjoyed the suspense and characters and charmed by the appearance of "Sunnybud". Recommend this author and series of mysteries with task now to go back and read the first books to enjoy. Ebook from Netgalley and publisher with thanks.. Opinions are entirely my own.