The Domestic Diva investigates a secret dinner club that leaves some guests six feet under the table in this New York Times bestselling mystery series. Sophie Winston can whip up an elaborate event in her sleep, but she rarely gets to enjoy the pampered guest treatment. Luckily, her best friend just looped her into the latest culinary craze: a pop-up gourmet dinner party. The celebrity chef, … party. The celebrity chef, epicurean menu, and high-profile attendees are all a surprise, turning the decadent dining experience into the hottest ticket in Old Town Alexandria. Sophie’s just pleased as punch to join in the fun—until the posh party proves to be a recipe for disaster.
Spirits start to sour when Sophie’s tablemate Hollis Haberman brings his own hot new dish—his young trophy wife. With Hollis’s son and ex-wife in attendance, there may be more heat at the table than in the kitchen. But the next morning, Sophie discovers Hollis swallowing his last bits of air, and she must scramble to stop a killer before anyone else eats their last meal.
Includes delicious recipes and entertaining tips!
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Krista Davis does it again with another fab installment in her Domestic Diva series! I felt so close to the characters that I might have been right there with them, enjoying coffee and goodies in Sophie’s kitchen while they dished about suspects. This one had me lying awake at night analyzing the plot and trying to figure out the killer. I hope this series continues to enjoy its well-deserved longevity.
The Diva Cooks Up a Storm by Krista Davis is the eleventh installment in A Domestic Diva Mystery series. Sophie Winston enjoyed dining at an underground restaurant with her friends the night before. She is out walking Daisy when Hollis Haberman staggers from his house and collapses in the street. He is struggling to breeze. The police check on his new wife, Kelsey and she is coughing. Later that day, Wolf Fleischman, Criminal Investigator for Alexandria Police Department, informs her that Hollis did not make it. Kelsey is at the top of the suspect list and asks for Sophie to help clear her name. Since approaching storms have called off her beach vacation, Sophie does have time on her hands. Sophie needs to figure out who disliked Hollis Haberman enough to do him in. Then a second person connected to Hollis ends up dead. Can Sophie zero in on the killer before he strikes again?
The Diva Cooks Up a Storm is well-written and has a steady pace. Sophie is an engaging main character and there are equally delightful secondary characters. If you are new to the series, you would have a hard time starting with The Diva Cooks Up a Storm. The author introduces a number of people in the beginning and it can be confusing to keep track of them along with their relationships. The author crafted a multi-layered mystery with twists that will surprise many readers. I enjoyed solving this challenging mystery. The underground or pop-up restaurant concept is unique, and I have not encountered it in a book previously. There are many charming cozy moments in the story that include cooking, a library book sale, neighbors helping each other, an impromptu food gathering in the neighborhood, close friends, romance, and cute animals. Recipes are included at the end of the book. At the beginning of each chapter are advice letters with answers provided by Sophie and Natasha. While Natasha’s advice made me chuckle at times, I would not follow her counsel (Sophie is more reliable). The Diva Cooks Up a Storm is an appealing story that will delight cozy mystery readers. I am giving The Diva Cooks Up a Storm 4.5 out of 5 stars.
In this new book Sophie is approached by a friend who thinks he is being poisoned and asks her for help with finding out if it’s true or not. She thinks Hollis should take his concerns to the police but that is something that he is not prepared to do just yet. When Hollis ends up dead Sophie worries that she didn’t make Hollis talk to the police. Hollis who has recently married a much younger woman instantly becomes the main suspect but so is the ex-wife. Who killed Hollis, what killed him, and why are the questions that keep running through Sophie’s mind. Follow along as she looks for a murderer among her friends and neighbors. Will she figure out who the killer is before she herself gets in harms way? Dive in and see if you can figure it out! This is such a lovely series, filled with wonderful tips on food, decorating and etiquette, there is something for everyone. You never know what you might learn throughout the read!!! Don’t forget the wonderful recipes included at the end, I always have fun trying out my favorites.
Mrs. Davis is a very skilled storyteller. Her characters are realistic, and most are likable. The mystery is well-plotted and contains plenty of red herrings to keep the reader engaged. She adds just the right amount of humor in the mix. I recommend this book to cozy mystery and foodie.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
Oh how I have missed Sophie and all her cohorts!! I was so glad when I saw that Krista Davis was going to release another book in this series and I was absolutely not disappointed!!
This book had a great story-line, the banter between the friends was as good as ever and I am so happy that Mars got smart and dumped Natasha; if anything was a negative it was Natasha. I know she is a thorn in everyone’s side, but in this round, she is mean. And petty. And way worse than she has been in previous outings and that truly bothered me. It was one of the reasons the book didn’t go to 5 stars for me – all of Natasha’s “helpful hints”, her chasing of Jay Charles [and her wanting to “help” him] were mean and snarky and I was disappointed in the direction that the author is taking her. I hope that things clear up in that department by the next book.
I am so glad that I got to read this book and I thank both NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Divas are back and they don’t disappoint! A fun and engaging book that was well worth the wait.
A Little About the Book
Underground dinners, power extinguishing thunderstorms, and a ghost? All these elements make for an exciting and entertaining installment of the Domestic Diva Mystery Series. When Sophie’s neighbor is murdered, she knows she has to do everything she can to catch the killer before tragedy strikes again. Can she do it in time?
Things You Should Know
Sub Themes
culinary cozy, entertaining, do-it-yourself, animals, historic Virginia
Can You Start this Series in the Middle?
Each book in the series can be read independently. I feel this series is easy to start anywhere and feel that you are caught up in the story.
If You Like …
Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery Series, you’ll love this book.
Marie’s Thoughts
I’ve never met a Krista Davis book I didn’t like. The Diva Cooks Up a Storm is quick paced and easy to read. The mystery kept me guessing and I was surprised by the ending. I’d recommend to any fan of cozy mysteries.
https://cozyexperience.com/the-diva-cooks-up-a-storm-book-review/
#11 in the Domestic Diva series, The Diva cooks Up a Storm is as appealing as any other book that precedes it. I love these books on audiobook, too, as the narrator adds depth and makes the humorous portions even more so! The plot is one of suspected poisoning of food or drink, the pace is quick and the characters are wonderful. We learn more of Sophie’s boyfriend’s past—exciting info! The recipes are so yummy, too. All in all, this is a really good read.
I loved this book as I do the whole series. Sophie and friends are at a pop up dinner party among a man who thinks he may be being poisoned, his young wife, his ex-wife and his son who avoids him. When Sophie finds him struggling for life, she has plenty of suspects.
This mystery has plenty of twists to it to keep you guessing. I love the characters and the feeling of strong community. As always I enjoy the questions and answers at the beginning of each chapter from Sophie and Natasha. There is also the added bonus of some wonderful sounding recipes in the back.
I love this series by Krista Davis and am so glad that Kensington decided to continue this series. This book was definitely worth the wait! Sophie and friends go to an Underground Dinner and shortly afterward one of the people from the dinner ends up dead. A storm also hits Old Town and the power goes out. Everyone thinks that they know who the murderer is, but Sophie isn’t so sure. Through her tenacious sleuthing and the help of her friends Sophie turns up clues that keep the reader guessing about who the killer might be. The mystery did keep me guessing, but the thing that I love most about this series is the friendships between the characters. They are so genuine and the way that Ms. Davis writes makes you feel like you are visiting with old friends. You could read this book as a stand alone, but all of the books in the series are so good that you’ll want to go back and read them all! And the recipes are great too!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I am so glad that The Domestic Diva series continues on with a new publisher. Thank you Kensington; I have missed Sophie so much.
THE DIVA COOKS UP A STORM is the eleventh book in the series, and the characters and setting are as fresh as ever. In this installment, Sophie finds herself investigating the death of one of her neighbors, Hollis. Hollis came to Sophie with fears that he was being poisoned, and it appears that he was right. With a new, much younger wife, a bitter ex-wife, and a teen aged son who does not acknowledge his father, the suspect list starts off with a solid base. As the story progresses, there are more and more suspects to consider. The story if full of excellent twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.
My favorite thing about the Diva series is the characters. There is such great camaraderie among Sophie’s group of friends, and I felt like I was part of the group as I read. Sophie is relatable and a down to earth sleuth. Most of the other characters are likable, even Sophie’s “rival” Natasha, and the Old Town, Virginia setting is perfect for Sophie’s genteel manners. Oh, and the food! Sophie is almost always cooking something, and the descriptions of the meals make my mouth water. Readers should definitely check out the recipes included in the back of the book.
Davis is a fine storyteller who weaves a complicated and compelling mystery. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley.
I like this series, but after 11 books the author is using stock characters (the bimbo younger trophy wife, the lusting older husbands, cold shouldering, snobby wives, etc.) and elements we’ve seen numerous times in the series. Maybe Sophie and her pal should have gone on vacation to give us long time readers something new.
On the positive side, I did find the murder to be a bit more complicated and twisty than I expected. I usually dislike when an authors puts little blurbs at the start of chapters, but the advice bits used in this series really do fit the characters who give them. You can always tell a Sophie vs. Natasha helpful hint answer.
The usual secondary characters have a really small role in this one in favor of the characters brought in to provide a victim and suspects. I was happy to see less of Natasha who is a one note character.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars
This is one of my favorite series of books.It was about two yrs between the last two,and I hope I never have to wait that long again.They are fun and quirky,with a little murder and mayhem. Love the Diva.Wish she and Wolf would get back together:)
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Sophie and Nina had planned a mini vacay to the beach, but an impending hurricane has changed their plans. A pop-up dinner party is just what they need. An event planned by someone else where they can sit back and enjoy the food with their friends. But not everyone is enjoying the event, Hollis Haberman and his young new wife are in attendance as are his ex-wife and their son. Most of the town has shunned the new bride while remaining friendly with the ex.
The next morning the storm is coming closer to Old Town so Sophie heads out for a quick walk but finds Hollis Haberman having some kind of attack in front of his house. EMTs are called and he is rushed to the hospital but he doesn’t survive. It is an unusual death. He has asked for Sophie’s help because he thought he was been poisoned and the police seem to concur but they’re not sure how. Could it have been in the food at the party? or has it built up over time? His young bride is so upset and she is sure she is going to be arrested. Sophie agrees to look into the case herself hoping she doesn’t end up in a storm of trouble herself.
I really enjoy these characters, even Natasha. I love the way they come together when someone is in need or when they get together to celebrate. A heavy storm hits Old Town leaving the community without electricity. What does this gang do? The organize a street party so people can cook up or grill the food that would have been ruined by the lack of power to keep it cold. The party also gives the crew to do a little covert investigating. Friendship really blooms within the pages.
Poison is a common method of murder in cozy mysteries, but this time the author gives it a unique twist and they added some distinct turns that really opened up the pool of suspects. She kept me guessing right up to her grand reveal. I love when a story diverts my thinking so much that I and the protagonist have our “aha moment” together.
The author packs so much into these pages. The pacing and plotting are excellent. The characters are very real and most are very down to earth. The story contains the exact right amount of humor in relation to the drama. Krista Davis is a skilled storyteller with the perfect recipe for her cozy mysteries.
I highly recommend this entire series, but if you are new to it, don’t worry, there is plenty of background provided to dive right into this one. Then you can go back and start at the beginning to see all the world building and character development.
The Diva Cooks up a Storm, the 11th book in author Krista Davis’ beloved Domestic Diva cozy mystery series, takes us back to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia where Sophie Winston is preparing to go on a beach vacation with her bestie Nina Reid Norwood until a hurricane forces them to cancel their plans. Neighbors in Sophie’s historic area of town come together to help each other out after the storm, that is until someone murders fellow resident Hollis Haberman, and his wife Kelsey turns to Sophie for help to clear her name as the prime suspect. New characters – Humphrey’s mother!!! – are introduced, and Sophie must solve this whodunit before someone decides to do her in as well! A cleverly written cozy mystery, and as usual I was smiling at the antics while I attempted to deduce the culprit along with the protagonist. Delicious recipes included! 5 stars!
Sophie and the gang are back. A neighbor (Hollis) thinks he is being poisoned and asks Sophie to have some food tested for him. That evening is a “pop-up” dinner event. Hollis, his new wife, his ex-wife, son are all there along with many others including Sophie. Kelsey, the new wife starts tongues wagging with her dress (revealing and short). Hollis’ ex-wife is there and has a a fight with him and his son is avoiding him. Early the next morning and Sophie and her dog Daisy are taking a walk, she see’s something in the middle of the street. It turns out to be Hollis and he is very sick. Hollis does not survive and Sophie feels that Kelsey, an obvious scapegoat, did not kill him. Could it be Cindy the ex-wife, his teen-age son, his law partner, or someone else. Sophie is determined to find out.
The cozy is great. I like Sophie and her friends and pets. There are twists and turns in this plot. I wasn’t sure who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end. What fun!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
When I came to the end of this story I wanted more. Yes, the murder had been solved but the story was flowing so nicely I just wanted to keep reading.
In this 11th book in A Domestic Diva Mystery series Sophie Winston had quite an interesting evening at an underground dinner but that turned out to be nothing compared to the discovery she makes in middle of the street at 4 a.m.
This story is well written with an enjoyable cast of characters. If you’re a fan and have read previous books you’ll be glad to know your favorites are back plus some interesting new characters. Even if you have not read the previous books you could easily read and enjoy this story as a stand alone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Diva Cooks Up A Storm is the eleventh book in the A Domestic Diva Mystery series.
Sophie, Natasha(the Diva) and their friends are back once again to solve another exciting mystery and tempt the reader with delicious foods.
A nearby neighbor, Hollis Haberman, asks Sophie if she knows a way to check food at home to learn if it has been poisoned, but is unwilling to provide more information. She suggests that he bring some of the food that he is suspicious of to the “underground dinner” that they will be attending that evening. Sophie begins to wonder if there is trouble in paradise and his new “trophy” wife might be trying to poison him. The next morning, Sophie is up at 4:00 AM to get ready to go on vacation and while walking Daisy she finds Haberman lying in the middle of the street having breathing difficulties. Haberman is transported to the hospital where he dies.
When Sophie and her friends and neighbors begin to look into Haberman’s they find several people who can be treated as prime suspects. First on their list is his wife, Kelsey. They have to seriously look at her as her provocative apparel makes them think she might be looking for husband #2, plus they soon learn that she had a violent past. Cindy, his ex-wife is also a possibility, having gone through a messy divorce. Also, Sophie wants to take a look at his law office, as there was a suspicious passing of one of the firm’s partners.
Ms. Davis always provides well-plotted and told stories and this was no exception. She also provides an interesting and believable cast of characters. Once again, Natasha, shows why she is called The Diva. Her actions just make me shake my head at her.
Delicious sounding recipes are also included in the book.
I will be watching for the next book in this enjoyable series.
This story starts buzzing on page one and is a thrilling flight until you touch down on the final page! Event planners, Sophie Winston (down-to-earth), and her rival, Natasha (rather snobbish); are showcased at their best with their different personalities when a neighbor’s death stirs up trouble and a hurricane knocks out everyone’s electricity. Sophie hosts an impromptu backyard party for everyone to use their cold or frozen food before it spoils. I love the laugh-out-loud moments throughout the story—Natasha is like no other domestic diva in her advice to others on how things should be done while Sophie is more laid back. The recurring characters that make this cozy series a favorite are all re-visited here.
Author Krista Davis dishes up plenty of hints and clues galore, yet still manages to cleverly disguise the murderer’s identity until she’s ready to give it away. Once all the ingredients for the murder are separated out; it becomes clear who did what and why. It’s such a pleasure to read such a well-written cozy mystery. All I have to do is sit back, and relax, and let the words take me on an adventure. The author includes several delicious sounding recipes for food and drinks for readers to try in their own kitchens. I highly recommend this story and the entire Domestic Diva series.
I reviewed a digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Kensington.