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A Domestic Diva Mystery #3
The Diva Paints the Town
Color this Domestic Diva puzzled-from the national bestselling author. When Sophie's neighbor-a reclusive professor-dies, his final wish is for the Domestic Diva to throw a dinner party in his honor, and he's planned everything down to the letter. But what no one planned for is the corpse of a student that Sophie finds in his house.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2009
127 people are currently reading
1705 people want to read
About the author
Krista Davis
36 books3,254 followersKrista Davis lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she writes mysteries. She lived in Northern Virginia for many years and resided for a time in Old Town Alexandria where her Domestic Diva Mysteries take place.
Krista also writes the Paws and Claws Mysteries, which debuted with MURDER, SHE BARKED. Her Pen & Ink Mysteries featured covers that can be colored! Read the book and have fun coloring the cover.
WEBSITE: https://www.kristadavis.com
NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/3Wi0jcR
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/KristaDavisAu...
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kristadavisauthor
Krista also writes the Paws and Claws Mysteries, which debuted with MURDER, SHE BARKED. Her Pen & Ink Mysteries featured covers that can be colored! Read the book and have fun coloring the cover.
WEBSITE: https://www.kristadavis.com
NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/3Wi0jcR
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/KristaDavisAu...
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kristadavisauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
August 23, 2022
Diva Mystery #3 ~ Mini Review ~ Hoopla Audio
Narrated by: Hillary Huber (Excellent)! Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
Nina really needs to learn to keep her door locked! They've had so many murders and now a stalker in her neighborhood, pretty soon there may not be any characters left! She is on the edge and really needs to put the coffee down!
Lots of laughable "cozy" twists, humor, a screeching parrot named Hank, and a zoo of pets bringing plenty of antics to the mix.
Narrated by: Hillary Huber (Excellent)! Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
Nina really needs to learn to keep her door locked! They've had so many murders and now a stalker in her neighborhood, pretty soon there may not be any characters left! She is on the edge and really needs to put the coffee down!
Lots of laughable "cozy" twists, humor, a screeching parrot named Hank, and a zoo of pets bringing plenty of antics to the mix.
September 28, 2024
Another great book in an interesting series. I love Sophie.
July 22, 2020
This is such a fun series and I'm glad I am finally making some progress. I like that Sophie stood up for herself a bit more in this book, but I still want to slap Natasha. I love how Mars even gets in on the act in terms of standing up to her in favor of Sophie. It will be interesting to see what happens in that relationship. I also really enjoy Nina - it's always fun to see what animal she has rescued. I love how she stands up for Sophie and is a good influence to get Sophie to do the same. The mystery is engaging and kept me on my toes. I will definitely be continuing with this series.
July 6, 2017
These books are basically crack for me. Plus an ocicat!
August 30, 2013
What can I say about this book without giving it away! Det. Kenner you either want to slap him or feel sorry for him. Poor Sophie and Wolf, seems like nothing goes their way. Nina, Nina, what can I say about her in this book, girl you need to switch to decaf.
Y'all really need to read this series!
Y'all really need to read this series!
June 15, 2019
I listened to this book while working out. Pretty sure that’s why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would have if I was sitting on a couch and pigging out on chips. Because they are always eating! Or drinking! She’s a home organizer and I’ll say this for a cozy mystery heroine that Sophie at least seems like she works. But she’s also cooking for a ton of people, or someone else is, and please maybe lay off the chocolate? Not a good exercise book. Sadly I have the next three books of this series on audio.
The mystery is fine. I knew the killer, but there’s a tiny twist I hadn’t seen coming. Good call. And I like all the side characters, bar one. The real reason I dumped on this book is that I really hate Wolf. Even Humphrey, he of the hearse, is better.
The mystery is fine. I knew the killer, but there’s a tiny twist I hadn’t seen coming. Good call. And I like all the side characters, bar one. The real reason I dumped on this book is that I really hate Wolf. Even Humphrey, he of the hearse, is better.
March 6, 2025
"The Diva Paints the Town (A Domestic Diva Mystery #3)" by Krista Davis is set over Valentine's day and mid-February. Sophie is organizing a big home and garden type convention/showcase and helping to spruce up her recently deceased neighbor's house. On top of that the lawyer in charge of her neighbor's estate tells her she has to host a bequest party per the neighbor's will.
Turns out the neighbor had set up a bit of a scavenger hunt for some past students of his and they're set to reveal if the rumors around him are fact or fiction. One of these students goes missing and he's supposed to part of all the other stuff Sophie has going on. A lot going on with this one and it wrapped up about how I expected it too. I was still a smidge surprised by the reveal.
Turns out the neighbor had set up a bit of a scavenger hunt for some past students of his and they're set to reveal if the rumors around him are fact or fiction. One of these students goes missing and he's supposed to part of all the other stuff Sophie has going on. A lot going on with this one and it wrapped up about how I expected it too. I was still a smidge surprised by the reveal.
April 28, 2025
En esta entrega, el anciano vecino de al lado de Sophie fallece, justo en medio de los preparativos para Rooms & Blooms, la exposición anual de casas y jardines de Old Town Alexandria. dejando instrucciones muy específicas en su testamento, instrucciones muy inusuales, que una vez más arrastran a Sophie al asesinato y al caos.
Sophie Winston se rodea de un elenco de personajes que ayudan a dar giros y vueltas a la historia. Sophie es un personaje tranquilo y lógico mezclado con un montón de otros que son bastante estrafalarios. Las situaciones son imposibles, lo que añade humor e imprevisibilidad a la historia. Los personajes, vivos y muertos, humanos y animales, están bien desarrollados. Comienzas a "conocer" a las personas en la historia y luego no puedes evitar tratar de resolver el misterio.
En conclusión, no te puedo mñas que animar a leer este libro , seguro que no te vas a arrepentir ya que son lecturas que entretienen y son ideales para pasar unas buenas tardes de domingo.
Sophie Winston se rodea de un elenco de personajes que ayudan a dar giros y vueltas a la historia. Sophie es un personaje tranquilo y lógico mezclado con un montón de otros que son bastante estrafalarios. Las situaciones son imposibles, lo que añade humor e imprevisibilidad a la historia. Los personajes, vivos y muertos, humanos y animales, están bien desarrollados. Comienzas a "conocer" a las personas en la historia y luego no puedes evitar tratar de resolver el misterio.
En conclusión, no te puedo mñas que animar a leer este libro , seguro que no te vas a arrepentir ya que son lecturas que entretienen y son ideales para pasar unas buenas tardes de domingo.
March 19, 2019
I wasn’t blown away by this one. I enjoyed the first book, but since then I’ve had trouble really connecting with the characters. I feel like they haven’t changed or relationships grown much. I keep hoping for SOMETHING with Sophie and Wolf, but he was barely even in this one.
As for the mystery, I really had no idea who the murderer was. I didn’t enjoy how there was a question crime - was there a body or not? I felt like there were too many obvious suspects that no one really stood out and I was certainly surprised by the reveal. I enjoy the sometimes funny tips at the start of each chapter, but I don’t know if I enjoy the characters enough to continue.
As for the mystery, I really had no idea who the murderer was. I didn’t enjoy how there was a question crime - was there a body or not? I felt like there were too many obvious suspects that no one really stood out and I was certainly surprised by the reveal. I enjoy the sometimes funny tips at the start of each chapter, but I don’t know if I enjoy the characters enough to continue.
July 8, 2019
Another fun Diva book. A bit tie in with murder in the previous book. Diva tips in each chapter is good and some I find useful.
March 19, 2022
3.75 stars
Domestic Diva, Sophie Winston, is roped into helping with Rooms and Blooms, Old Town Alexandria's annual home and garden show. She can't wait for it to be over so she can put her feet up and have a romantic date with her detective boyfriend, Wolf. Then she learns that when her reclusive neighbor, Moredecai died recently, he left instructions for Sophie to throw him a bequest party. Having to battle her rival, Natasha and other local decorators who are redecorating Moredecai's house for the Design Guild contest, Sophie is not too eager but feels guilty for not helping Moredecai while he was alive. Sophie's best friend and neighbor, Nina searching for Moredecai's dog, Emmaline, has run into an old flame. Kurt Finkle, a well-known kitchen design specialist, dated Nina for a time back in college. He's back in town and while Nina's husband is away on a business cruise with one of HIS old flames... However, when Nina's catch-up date didn't go as planned, she left Kurt for dead on the living room floor of Moredecai's house. When the ladies search for Kurt, he is nowhere to be found, until the next morning when Sophie discovers Kurt inside the window seat. Howver, when she calls the police, a new female officer arrives on the scene to find absolutely nothing and accuses Sophie of wasting police time. Then Tara is killed at Rooms and Blooms and Sophie becomes the primary suspect! Wolf is off the case, being a suspect himself, and wants to see justice done. As the clues for Moredeai's bequest become more clear, someone else ends up hurt. To those who recieved the bequest, it sure looks like their former professor was up to something inviting them all to his home in an effort to recreate the past. When Emmaline turns up, she uncovers a surprising secret that puts a new spin on the case. What exactly happened all those years ago?
Like all the other books in this series, there is a LOT going on and a huge cast of characters. This time, all the activity seems mostly connected. The plot has more twists and turns than I can remember and I never put the clues together to figure anything out. I only had an inkling of who the murderer might be because I was close to the end and Sophie was alone! I did not guess the entire reveal. That was quite a surprise. I liked this story better than the previous two. The Domestic Diva tips were actually largely helpful except for when Sophie and Natasha assume everyone can sew- and has time to sew. (They also assume everyone can afford to redecorate and not just aquire a mish-mash of old and cheap furniture from family and big box stores). I loved the animal companions. They added much-neeeded humor to the story and really made it sing, even if Hank was unnecessary to the plot. He's my favorite character, stealing every scene he's in!
Sophie is slightly more likable in this book. She's open about her own weight issues but is still a bit sizeist. She dresses like an old lady for a 40-something in elastic waist pants. Natasha needs to take her in hand. It's hard to believe they're the same age. Natasha acts like a spoiled brat but refrains from being too overly obnoxious. This time people are on to her and trying to thwart her. Mars isn't in the story much. Poor awkward Humphrey seems over his crush on Sophie but has a new woman in mind. Sophie can't imagine any woman wanting to date poor Humphrey but I think the right woman would. He's sweet even though he's socially awkward. Unfortunately Humphrey seems attractred to strong women who would chew him up and spit him out. Nina is stressed because her husband is off on a cruise with an old flame and Nina is worried he'll cheat on her. She's also trying to find a home for a very talkative parrot named Hank and search for Emmaline. Oh and she fears she killed a man! Nina is not the most sympathetic of characters normally but here I have the utmost sympathy for her and would have done the same thing. I think I would be freaked out too, however, I wouldn't have put myself in the situation that was misinterpreted.
Bernie is on hand to help with the home renovations. I'm surprised he's sticking around but he seems to have found a home and a community in Alexandria. He's charming and uaffected for an upper class British man. I think he's happy having a job and putting down roots for the first time. Wolf is paranoid. He's taken vacation time rather than a desk job so he can figure out what happened to the young woman he was trying to mentor. He's protective of Sophie and doesn't want to see her arrested for something he knows she didn't do but she's smart enough to work around the sleazy Detective Kenner. Sophie's jealousy of Tara doesn't make her endearing though. Tara sounds like she was a young woman with big dreams that got in the way of reality. She had a series case of Wolf envy and wanted to - not be him, per se, but be the female version of him while being with Wolf romantically. Tara was a very sad person who needed professional help. She did seem to be on to something about Kurt's disappearance that probably got her killed. What a shame. She may have looked like Barbie and not been very nice to Sophie but they got off on the wrong foot. With more time, I think Tara could have relaxed and gotten help for her delusions to become a valuable ally for Sophie and Wolf. I don't understand why Detective Kenner is still on the force. He's not at all bright and leaps to conclusions. He'd like nothing more than to see Sophie behind bars and makes up stories to justify stalking her to catch her doing something wrong. What a creep!
Designer Iris Ledbetter is a young up-and-coming designer from a nearby town. She seems nice enough and is close to her grandmother. Bedelia Ledbetter is a hoot. She's a crusty old lady who loves to throw shade at her rival and gossip about others. The same with Francie, one of Sophie's neighbors. She tells it like it is and has no patience for Bedelia's gossip about Moredeci killing his wife. Francie insists Bedelia tries to make herself seem better than everyone else and brags about having money she does not actually have. I like these two old ladies. Their banter is hilarious. I appreciate Francie telling it like it is but I wouldn't want to get on her bad side.
Camille DuPont is a wealthy heiress who runs an antiques business with her husband Nolan. Nolan is spoiled, selfish and lazy. He's happy to mooch of Camille's money. She seems like a devoted enough wife. It seems someone is not happy with Nolan though. Where is he slipping off to and why does he reappear after the work is done? Kurt Finkel of Finkel Kitchen and Bath is a nasty dude. He's a serial womanizer and doesn't understand appropriate behavior. He's famous in design circles so I guess he thinks that gives him a free pass to behave badly? He must think all women want to sleep with him to behave like that. Even so, he didn't deserve to be killed. If a corpse suddenly disappears should we assume he is NOT dead? If not then where is he? Probably escaping his irate wife. Earl, short for Earline, has come to find out where her husband is. She's aware he's probably off with some hussy and accuses Sophie of having an affair with Kurt and points to Natasha as exactly his type. Earl causes trouble for Sophie with the police yet Wolf doesn't seem to know Kurt is supposedly dead- or missing. Did Earl try to pin the blame on Sophie when it was Earl who killed her husband for his cheating ways? Let's let the parrot, Hank, sing about it for that sounds like the plot of a country music song! Earl is nasty so if Kurt is alive, I think they deserve each other.
Another suspect in either the murder or waiting to become a victim is Posey Powell. A former student of Mordecai's, she was at his house on the fatal day Sophie has been charged with recreating. Posey is one tough lady. She's extremely opinionated, strong-minded and knows how to work a nail gun. She had the murder weapon! Did she kill Tara for getting too close to figuring out what happened to Kurt? Unfortunately for Humphrey, he seems attracted to her! Mike Osmanski seems nice enough. Another former graduate student, he's eager to claim Mordecai's bequest. He seems the nicest among all the former students. Ted Wilcox, the last of the former students, seems to think the treasure hunt is kind of a joke and doesn't seem worried a killer is on the loose picking off his former classmates one by one. Will he be next? Beth Ford, Natasha's new assistant, seems rather jumpy and nervous. I thought she must be very young but she has two kids in college! Beth is terrified of Natasha but can't speak her mind. She seems shy and sweet, a good match for Humphrey. Sophie seems to think so too but I don't quite trust her. She's so nervous about something, she has to know more about the mystery than she lets on.
The recipes contain alcohol and spices-two things I don't enjoy, so unfortunately that won't bump up my rating at all. I'm not totally sold on this series but I have two more on my TBR pile so I'll read them and maybe skip ahead a few more. I saw some good recipes online so I might like the books too.
I started listening to the audio book in the car while stuck in traffic. The narrator tried different voices for some of the characters and put on a strong phony southern drawl for Nina. That helped me hear Nina in my head when I switched to the e-book. I didn't think the narrator did a great job with male voices though and Sophie, Mars, Natasha and everyone have a neutral accent and not a northern Virginia accent, the "accent we all share" according to Sophie.
Domestic Diva, Sophie Winston, is roped into helping with Rooms and Blooms, Old Town Alexandria's annual home and garden show. She can't wait for it to be over so she can put her feet up and have a romantic date with her detective boyfriend, Wolf. Then she learns that when her reclusive neighbor, Moredecai died recently, he left instructions for Sophie to throw him a bequest party. Having to battle her rival, Natasha and other local decorators who are redecorating Moredecai's house for the Design Guild contest, Sophie is not too eager but feels guilty for not helping Moredecai while he was alive. Sophie's best friend and neighbor, Nina searching for Moredecai's dog, Emmaline, has run into an old flame. Kurt Finkle, a well-known kitchen design specialist, dated Nina for a time back in college. He's back in town and while Nina's husband is away on a business cruise with one of HIS old flames... However, when Nina's catch-up date didn't go as planned, she left Kurt for dead on the living room floor of Moredecai's house. When the ladies search for Kurt, he is nowhere to be found, until the next morning when Sophie discovers Kurt inside the window seat. Howver, when she calls the police, a new female officer arrives on the scene to find absolutely nothing and accuses Sophie of wasting police time. Then Tara is killed at Rooms and Blooms and Sophie becomes the primary suspect! Wolf is off the case, being a suspect himself, and wants to see justice done. As the clues for Moredeai's bequest become more clear, someone else ends up hurt. To those who recieved the bequest, it sure looks like their former professor was up to something inviting them all to his home in an effort to recreate the past. When Emmaline turns up, she uncovers a surprising secret that puts a new spin on the case. What exactly happened all those years ago?
Like all the other books in this series, there is a LOT going on and a huge cast of characters. This time, all the activity seems mostly connected. The plot has more twists and turns than I can remember and I never put the clues together to figure anything out. I only had an inkling of who the murderer might be because I was close to the end and Sophie was alone! I did not guess the entire reveal. That was quite a surprise. I liked this story better than the previous two. The Domestic Diva tips were actually largely helpful except for when Sophie and Natasha assume everyone can sew- and has time to sew. (They also assume everyone can afford to redecorate and not just aquire a mish-mash of old and cheap furniture from family and big box stores). I loved the animal companions. They added much-neeeded humor to the story and really made it sing, even if Hank was unnecessary to the plot. He's my favorite character, stealing every scene he's in!
Sophie is slightly more likable in this book. She's open about her own weight issues but is still a bit sizeist. She dresses like an old lady for a 40-something in elastic waist pants. Natasha needs to take her in hand. It's hard to believe they're the same age. Natasha acts like a spoiled brat but refrains from being too overly obnoxious. This time people are on to her and trying to thwart her. Mars isn't in the story much. Poor awkward Humphrey seems over his crush on Sophie but has a new woman in mind. Sophie can't imagine any woman wanting to date poor Humphrey but I think the right woman would. He's sweet even though he's socially awkward. Unfortunately Humphrey seems attractred to strong women who would chew him up and spit him out. Nina is stressed because her husband is off on a cruise with an old flame and Nina is worried he'll cheat on her. She's also trying to find a home for a very talkative parrot named Hank and search for Emmaline. Oh and she fears she killed a man! Nina is not the most sympathetic of characters normally but here I have the utmost sympathy for her and would have done the same thing. I think I would be freaked out too, however, I wouldn't have put myself in the situation that was misinterpreted.
Bernie is on hand to help with the home renovations. I'm surprised he's sticking around but he seems to have found a home and a community in Alexandria. He's charming and uaffected for an upper class British man. I think he's happy having a job and putting down roots for the first time. Wolf is paranoid. He's taken vacation time rather than a desk job so he can figure out what happened to the young woman he was trying to mentor. He's protective of Sophie and doesn't want to see her arrested for something he knows she didn't do but she's smart enough to work around the sleazy Detective Kenner. Sophie's jealousy of Tara doesn't make her endearing though. Tara sounds like she was a young woman with big dreams that got in the way of reality. She had a series case of Wolf envy and wanted to - not be him, per se, but be the female version of him while being with Wolf romantically. Tara was a very sad person who needed professional help. She did seem to be on to something about Kurt's disappearance that probably got her killed. What a shame. She may have looked like Barbie and not been very nice to Sophie but they got off on the wrong foot. With more time, I think Tara could have relaxed and gotten help for her delusions to become a valuable ally for Sophie and Wolf. I don't understand why Detective Kenner is still on the force. He's not at all bright and leaps to conclusions. He'd like nothing more than to see Sophie behind bars and makes up stories to justify stalking her to catch her doing something wrong. What a creep!
Designer Iris Ledbetter is a young up-and-coming designer from a nearby town. She seems nice enough and is close to her grandmother. Bedelia Ledbetter is a hoot. She's a crusty old lady who loves to throw shade at her rival and gossip about others. The same with Francie, one of Sophie's neighbors. She tells it like it is and has no patience for Bedelia's gossip about Moredeci killing his wife. Francie insists Bedelia tries to make herself seem better than everyone else and brags about having money she does not actually have. I like these two old ladies. Their banter is hilarious. I appreciate Francie telling it like it is but I wouldn't want to get on her bad side.
Camille DuPont is a wealthy heiress who runs an antiques business with her husband Nolan. Nolan is spoiled, selfish and lazy. He's happy to mooch of Camille's money. She seems like a devoted enough wife. It seems someone is not happy with Nolan though. Where is he slipping off to and why does he reappear after the work is done? Kurt Finkel of Finkel Kitchen and Bath is a nasty dude. He's a serial womanizer and doesn't understand appropriate behavior. He's famous in design circles so I guess he thinks that gives him a free pass to behave badly? He must think all women want to sleep with him to behave like that. Even so, he didn't deserve to be killed. If a corpse suddenly disappears should we assume he is NOT dead? If not then where is he? Probably escaping his irate wife. Earl, short for Earline, has come to find out where her husband is. She's aware he's probably off with some hussy and accuses Sophie of having an affair with Kurt and points to Natasha as exactly his type. Earl causes trouble for Sophie with the police yet Wolf doesn't seem to know Kurt is supposedly dead- or missing. Did Earl try to pin the blame on Sophie when it was Earl who killed her husband for his cheating ways? Let's let the parrot, Hank, sing about it for that sounds like the plot of a country music song! Earl is nasty so if Kurt is alive, I think they deserve each other.
Another suspect in either the murder or waiting to become a victim is Posey Powell. A former student of Mordecai's, she was at his house on the fatal day Sophie has been charged with recreating. Posey is one tough lady. She's extremely opinionated, strong-minded and knows how to work a nail gun. She had the murder weapon! Did she kill Tara for getting too close to figuring out what happened to Kurt? Unfortunately for Humphrey, he seems attracted to her! Mike Osmanski seems nice enough. Another former graduate student, he's eager to claim Mordecai's bequest. He seems the nicest among all the former students. Ted Wilcox, the last of the former students, seems to think the treasure hunt is kind of a joke and doesn't seem worried a killer is on the loose picking off his former classmates one by one. Will he be next? Beth Ford, Natasha's new assistant, seems rather jumpy and nervous. I thought she must be very young but she has two kids in college! Beth is terrified of Natasha but can't speak her mind. She seems shy and sweet, a good match for Humphrey. Sophie seems to think so too but I don't quite trust her. She's so nervous about something, she has to know more about the mystery than she lets on.
The recipes contain alcohol and spices-two things I don't enjoy, so unfortunately that won't bump up my rating at all. I'm not totally sold on this series but I have two more on my TBR pile so I'll read them and maybe skip ahead a few more. I saw some good recipes online so I might like the books too.
I started listening to the audio book in the car while stuck in traffic. The narrator tried different voices for some of the characters and put on a strong phony southern drawl for Nina. That helped me hear Nina in my head when I switched to the e-book. I didn't think the narrator did a great job with male voices though and Sophie, Mars, Natasha and everyone have a neutral accent and not a northern Virginia accent, the "accent we all share" according to Sophie.
September 21, 2025
Los libros de Krista Davis siempre son como un soplo de aire fresco en mi día a día.
¿Averiguar el asesino? Imposible, pero lo que está claro es que me lo paso genial con la historia en sí.
Ojalá la editorial siga trayendo los siguientes porque es de mis series favoritas de Alma.
¿Averiguar el asesino? Imposible, pero lo que está claro es que me lo paso genial con la historia en sí.
Ojalá la editorial siga trayendo los siguientes porque es de mis series favoritas de Alma.
June 1, 2016
It's winter, and designer Sophie Winston's elderly neighbor, Mordecai Artemus, has passed away. He'd been a recluse the latter part of his life and his last will and testament seems to reflect on the past. A former professor, he's left his house to his Pomeranian, Emmaline; his ashes to Sophie's diva designer friend, Natasha; and a hidden fortune to five of his previous students--IF they can all work together again and figure out how to find it. Sophie's boyfriend, Detective Wolf Fleishman, goes undercover when it's revealed Mordecai's death was foul play and not natural.
This upbeat plot kept me guessing until the conclusion. The story is filled with clever sidetracks that make several of the characters seem suspect. I didn't know who the killer was until the reveal! Several pets have roles in the plot--Sophie's cat, Mochie; the orphaned Pomeranian, Emma; and a parrot that best friend, Nina, is fostering. They all add to the ongoing excitement and humor! This story is a treat to read.
I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This upbeat plot kept me guessing until the conclusion. The story is filled with clever sidetracks that make several of the characters seem suspect. I didn't know who the killer was until the reveal! Several pets have roles in the plot--Sophie's cat, Mochie; the orphaned Pomeranian, Emma; and a parrot that best friend, Nina, is fostering. They all add to the ongoing excitement and humor! This story is a treat to read.
I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2020
I really enjoyed this diva book. Sophie and her crew are growing on me. I liked all the twists and turns. I cannot wait to read the next.
March 7, 2016
I'm here to proclaim my total fail in the reading of this book. The score is not useless however. It stands to reason that as an aficionado (doesn't this word contain two f?) of mystery I could understand and enjoy it on some level. Despite my opening sentence, I've given this book one more star than its direct predecessor. There's something wholesome about the setting that makes me crave for more. It's a pity I got lost in the plot. There are too many faceless names in this book. Great books have even unforgettable minor characters. The early chapters of this book series are so delicious that I'm treating The Diva series as an eaglet instead of a rodent in a bird suit that it is. Here I am cajoling The Diva, wanting it to fly, dripping eye drops in its eye, nurturing it, when less cozy mysteries are flying around majestically saying, " F u c k you, I'm a mystery!"
November 2, 2020
I still don't know how anyone can like Natasha. There was a lot going on in this book and lots of characters which at times I really appreciated the character listing in the front of the book. Lots of decorating and cooking in this one. The recipes at the end sound good too. #readforkimberly
October 24, 2020
Another great book in the series. No wonder it's said Davis is a National Bestselling Author. She knows how to write and who'd guess a cozy mystery could be a page turner?
I read another cozies last month but didn't like it. I don't know how cozies supposes to be, but that one focus on the romance way too much I totally forgot about the crime. It has no final enclosure too for the crime. Also, I don't like the sexual hints there. But with Domestic Diva, I don't need to worry. The sexual activity I've discovered so far were only kisses (and that's just a few!), and wherever the MC goes, the crime follows on her heels. And surprisingly, I can enjoy both the crime and romance in one go. That's smart, imo.
Anyway, this time, Sophie is working for the Rooms and Blooms where exhibitors show their home designs to the visitors. And not yet finished with the job, Sophie has to hold a bequest for her recently passed away neighbor, Mordecai. And to add her burden, she's thrown to design one room from Mordecai's house, thanks to Mars and Bernie. Things got complicated when Nina met her old lovers and seemingly to kill him. The patrol officer, who claims to date Wolf, and Detective Kenner are driving her nuts!
Again, I'm not shipping Sophie and Wolf, and still wishing she'd be back with Mars which is not gonna happen. Natasha's still annoying and irritating as always. And I think Mars portion here is so little. At the end of the book, I even forgot that he exists.
I read another cozies last month but didn't like it. I don't know how cozies supposes to be, but that one focus on the romance way too much I totally forgot about the crime. It has no final enclosure too for the crime. Also, I don't like the sexual hints there. But with Domestic Diva, I don't need to worry. The sexual activity I've discovered so far were only kisses (and that's just a few!), and wherever the MC goes, the crime follows on her heels. And surprisingly, I can enjoy both the crime and romance in one go. That's smart, imo.
Anyway, this time, Sophie is working for the Rooms and Blooms where exhibitors show their home designs to the visitors. And not yet finished with the job, Sophie has to hold a bequest for her recently passed away neighbor, Mordecai. And to add her burden, she's thrown to design one room from Mordecai's house, thanks to Mars and Bernie. Things got complicated when Nina met her old lovers and seemingly to kill him. The patrol officer, who claims to date Wolf, and Detective Kenner are driving her nuts!
Again, I'm not shipping Sophie and Wolf, and still wishing she'd be back with Mars which is not gonna happen. Natasha's still annoying and irritating as always. And I think Mars portion here is so little. At the end of the book, I even forgot that he exists.
January 16, 2022
This is my third Domestic Diva Mystery and I am enjoying working my way through this cozy mystery series. In this installment, each chapter begins with home decorating tips (the first two books' intros are more about cooking and entertaining), alternating between Sophie, the "Domestic Diva," and her home decor and entertaining rival, Natasha. The characters are a little formulaic, but not enough to annoy me, and the books kind of remind me of watching reruns of mystery shows with my grandma in days gone by. As a bonus, in this volume, I learned some excellent tips for keeping appliances off of the countertops.
October 31, 2025
this isn’t specific to this book or even this author, but I’ve read hundreds of books in this genre. why is every single female main character obsessed with her fucking weight? I swear, 10% of this book is the MC regretting what she eats, not fitting into her clothes, sizing herself up to other women. the MCs in this genre regularly outsmart investigators, defend themselves against murderers, and act courageously for justice, all while maintaining rich social ties and important jobs in the community. and they always get their pick of two potential boyfriends, a trope I love for both me and them. so WHY are they always thinking, “bUt tHoSe LaSt fIVe pOuNdS”???
and yes, these books are kinda old and we all know that everything written before 2015 is likely a bit problematic, but it’s just annoying bc I otherwise love these books and this genre so much. and ofc unsurprisingly, when I read the rare cozy mystery with a male protag, he’s never worried about his weight.
and yes, these books are kinda old and we all know that everything written before 2015 is likely a bit problematic, but it’s just annoying bc I otherwise love these books and this genre so much. and ofc unsurprisingly, when I read the rare cozy mystery with a male protag, he’s never worried about his weight.
October 29, 2025
The neighborhood hermit has died. The local busybody is renovating the house for a contest, even though the guy left everything to his dog. Our sleuth is roped into the contest even though she has a million things to do. Of course, they find a body walled up in the house, and everybody starts to investigate. There's also a parrot causing problems.
Overall, an effective entry, even though I keep thinking Natasha is going to be the next one murdered.
Overall, an effective entry, even though I keep thinking Natasha is going to be the next one murdered.
June 6, 2018
Krista Davis has done it again. This hilarious and delightful mystery was very hard to put down. Do yourself a favor, and curl up with this book. If you love to laugh there's a parrot named Hank that brings a realness to the world of mystery.
May 16, 2021
Great mystery. Had me going til almost the last page. The characters are endearing and quirky. And the food descriptions... My waistline is the only one displeased with this book. The next one is already on order.
August 16, 2023
I love these books and this was another great read by Krista Davis. I can’t wait to read the next one. The characters are developing since the first book in the series and I’m enjoying getting to know them all. Another great cozy read I recommend!
June 17, 2021
I didn't love this one. It took me a few times to finish the audiobook.
August 1, 2023
please check out my review on the deluise book series channel youtube
October 23, 2025
2.5/5⭐️.
February 9, 2018
Another 5 star book in this series! The plot really had me guessing and assigning blame to half the characters before the reveal, and I was still wrong. It's fast pace kept me turning pages til the wee hours, since I knew I'd never sleep til I knew whodunit.
Highly recommended for all cozy fans, particularly ones that enjoy interior design.
Highly recommended for all cozy fans, particularly ones that enjoy interior design.
December 26, 2024
These mysteries are fun, but each one suffers from too many side characters and too little character development, so it is hard to keep track of who is who.
December 29, 2021
I enjoy The Diva series books when I'm looking for something funny and somewhat lighthearted, but with some substance (the mystery). The audio versions are well narrated and entertaining.
December 18, 2020
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://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/202...
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://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/202...
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