The Diva Spices It Up

The Diva Spices It Up by Krista Davis is an engaging cozy with mystery, mayhem, and murder. It is the 13th A Domestic Diva Mystery and I believe that it can be read as a standalone. I have only read one book many years ago, and I had no trouble following along. Krista Davis never disappoints with her developed characters and wonderful settings. Sophie Winston is a freelance event planner who is wore out after handling four conventions in four weeks. She is looking forward to some downtime with her cat, Mochie and dog, Daisy. Unfortunately, Mars Winston needs Sophie to do him a favor. His client’s wife, Tilly Stratford’s cookbook ghostwriter quit without notice and the cookbook is due to the publisher in just a few weeks. Sophie’s bathroom needs a remodel (tiles fall off while she is in the shower), so the generous salary would come in handy. Sophie did not count on getting drawn into a mystery. There is quite a bit happening in this twisty whodunit. A welfare check finds a body in the freezer of the ghostwriter’s home, a suitcase pulled out of the river by a fisherman, two missing women, mysterious code, and another lady is beaten badly. There are subplots going on at the same time. Sophie spies a man doing some odd things about town. She wonders what he is up to and is it related to the main case. Tilly’s husband, Congressman Wesley WInthrope has had his email hacked and the contents are being bandied about social media causing an uproar. The mysterious code was intriguing (what mystery reader does not love a cipher). I had just watched a movie that helped me figure out that part. The author did a wonderful job plotting out this knotty mystery. I like how everything came together at the end. I had a good time following the clues and arriving at a solution. I could not wait to see if I had landed on the correct resolution. There are delectable items cooked up in between sleuthing sessions. Sophie is a whiz in the kitchen (she should be on television, not Natasha). There are recipes at the end including one for macaroni and cheese. I like how well Mars and Sophie get along even though they are divorced. I enjoyed the secondary characters like Eunice, Frannie and Nina along with the cute animals. The Diva Spices It Up is a pleasing and puzzling cozy mystery with a missing mother, curious code, located luggage, a confusing cat collar, a stiff stuffed in a freezer, and a horrible hacker.

cozy-mystery, family-dynamics, friendship, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, pets I came for the murder mystery and was delighted with a new-to-me author and an excellent story! I guess some readers will come for the etiquette hints at the beginning of each chapter and the recipes. I was surprised to note that it was part of a series because it clearly can stand alone. The plot is very convoluted and full of misdirection, plot twists, red herrings, and suspense. The publisher's blurb is a good hook and totally relevant so there is no need to attempt a recap, and spoilers are in such poor taste. Lots of characters who truly are, and they are all so very well done. I loved it! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This series of mysteries just keeps getting better. Krista Davis writes an intriguing mystery with lots of twists and turns with interesting characters.