After a celebrity ghostwriter dies on the job, Old Town’s favorite entertaining expert and sporadic sleuth, Sophie Winston, whips up an impromptu investigation in the new Domestic Diva mystery from New York Times bestselling author, Krista Davis . . . Sophie never considered ghostwriting as a side gig, until former actress and aspiring lifestyle guru, Tilly Stratford, trophy wife of Wesley … Winthrope, needs someone to write her celebrity cookbook. Sophie agrees, hoping she’ll earn enough bread on this assignment to finish her bathroom renovations. But as it turns out, Sophie isn’t the first foodie to get a taste for recipe ghostwriting, and if the marginalia are any indication, this project could be a killer . . . Wesley claims professional ghostwriter, Abby Bergeron, suddenly abandoned Tilly’s cookbook with no warning. But Sophie quickly discovers that Abby may be more ghost than writer now . . . and her disappearance was no accident. So Sophie cracks open a fresh investigation, but sifting the seasoned murderer from this sampling of salty suspects won’t be easy. Will Sophie savor another case closed or will the culprit simply melt away? Includes delicious recipes and entertaining tips!
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With the world so dark, sometimes escaping to a cozy mystery fits the bill–the familiar, lovable characters bring comfort and the bad guys always get caught. I enjoy Krista Davis’s Diva series for those reasons, and THE DIVA SPICES IT UP is an excellent entry. You’ll wish you were being fed along with Sophie’s inner circle of friends.
Another delicious mystery with our favorite domestic diva.
Book 13 is filled with lots of murder, intrigue, and food.I’m always worried about a series after ten books as I’m afraid things will get repetitive and stagnant but I have yet to feel that way about this series. I enjoy how Davis grows all her characters whether they are the main character or secondary characters. I keep hoping Sophie and Mars work out their differences and find the path back to love. This book gave me hope that maybe we are testing that path. Only the author knows.
This book includes many yummy fall recipes that I am already bookmarking to try as soon as it cools. The idea of drinking pumpkin spice latte or eating pumpkin soup when the heat index is above 105 degrees makes me melt. The pumpkin bundt cake sound absolutely divine. Oh boy, do I have my tummy growling in anticipation.
The Diva Spices It Up is available now at your favorite retailer and hopefully (open) library.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this 13th installment of this fun series, Mars hooks Sophie up with Tilly Stratford, a renowned lifestyle guru, to finish ghostwriting her celebrity cookbook. Sophie is already planning to renovate her bathroom with the money she will make. But first, she needs to find out what happened to the previous ghostwriter who quit without warning and disappeared.
Diva Natasha has some drama of her own as she finds she has a new relative through DNA testing. She better keep her eye her business though or someone may just snatch her dream job away from her while she is taking care of family matters.
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This is truly one of my favorite cozy series and not just because the author always serves readers a delightful mystery to solve. What I really love is the relationships that have evolved over the course of the series and continue to grow in each new story. Sophie and Mars really care about each other even knowing they just can’t work as a couple. Now that he has divorced Natasha the relationship is even more comfortable. The fact that Sophie is with Alex and that everyone coexists is so refreshing. Also while Natasha and Sophie will never be besties, Sophie is strong enough to be there when Natasha beckons. All the character development is marvelous and the dialogue is realistic.
Now this mystery was quite a twister. Many subplots roll around together leading to a compelling conclusion. Turns, misdirection, and a fair share of red herrings keep everyone on their toes. One body, then another, a suitcase caught by a fisherman, and it is still mystifying how everything fits into this puzzle. I was kept guessing the whole way.
As for spicing things up, I loved that Sophie took on ghostwriting a cookbook and the whole process she followed. From trying out the recipes and making them better to working with Tilly Stratford and the discovery Sophie made within the pages. The food and recipes were great but the way the cookbook played into the whole whodunit was brilliant.
The Diva Spices It Up is an excellent addition to this series. I recommend the whole batch but you can jump in anywhere as Ms. Davis always gives plenty of background on these fabulous characters. I truly can’t wait for the next Domestic Diva Mystery.
This is the latest title in the Diva series written by the prolific and talented Krista Davis. It’s jam-packed with delightful characters, delicious recipes, and helpful lifestyle tips. It’s a perfect reading choice in these uncertain, stressful times. I loved it and can’t wait for the next one.
Oh how I love this series; every time I get to read a new one it is like meeting up with old friends that you have not seen in awhile and it is really almost always a lovely and fun visit. And this book was no exception. And the fact that I had no idea who the killer was or what was REALLY going on just made it all the better.
This book finds Sophie ready to relax after a month of back to back engagements. She is looking forward to some time off, some relaxation and quiet time. But it is not to be – Mars comes to her and proposes a job that would entail her to reno her bathroom AND learn about the world of cookbooks. So Sophie takes it and finds herself right in the middle of an intrigue and a disappearance and then of course, a murder. Or two. Add Natasha and her annoyingness [which I am finding bugs me less so perhaps like Bernie, I am starting to like Natasha more], the amazing revelation she has to share and all that comes from it, and some new and fun characters along with some old favorites and it is a well-rounded book. And it is one crazy, wild, puzzling ride. And it keeps going until the very end!!! And the reveal was very well done [some of the newer authors could take notes from Krista Davis].
I love this series and recommend to everyone I know that reads cozies. Krista Davis is an excellent author and I am so glad that this series has continued. I know this is just coming out, but I am already looking forward to the next one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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 in the freezer, and a horrible hacker.
Another instalment of Krista Davis’ Diva series starring Sophie Winston. Sophie agrees to take on ghostwriting a cookbook for Tilly, suggested for the job by Mars. Sophie is reluctant to agree to this but needs the money to repair her bathroom. While at Tilly’s, Sophie becomes intrigued by the fate of the previous ghostwriter who quit rather abruptly and unexpectedly. Sophie also feels compelled to find out the meaning of a code left in the book by the ghostwriter.
I enjoyed this book but felt the title was left not well tied-in to the plot. I know the important part is the plot itself but I kept wondering why Spices were mentioned in the title when they don’t feature prominently in the story. The plot itself is compelling though I was wondering why one part of the investigation was not carried out sooner but I guess the book would have been shorter then. (Not that much shorter.) But, I still enjoyed this trip to Old Town greatly and look forward eagerly to my next visit.
The Diva Spices It Up
A Domestic Diva Mystery, Book #13
Krista Davis
5 Stars
Synopsis:
She’s a young Martha Stewart…in Old Town Virginia!
New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis delights with the 13th in her enormously popular and completely charming Domestic Diva Mystery series. When a celebrity ghostwriter dies on the job, it’s up to Sophie Winston, Old Town, Virginia’s favorite entertaining expert and sporadic sleuth, to whip up an impromptu investigation…
Sophie never considered ghostwriting as a side gig, until former actress and aspiring lifestyle guru, Tilly Stratford, trophy wife of Wesley Winthrope, needs someone to write her celebrity cookbook. Sophie agrees, hoping she’ll earn enough bread on this assignment to finish her bathroom renovations. But as it turns out, Sophie isn’t the first foodie to get a taste for recipe ghostwriting, and if the marginalia are any indication, this project could be a killer…
Wesley claims professional ghostwriter, Abby Bergeron, suddenly abandoned Tilly’s cookbook with no warning. But Sophie quickly discovers that Abby may be more ghost than writer now…and her disappearance was no accident. So Sophie cracks open a fresh investigation but sifting the seasoned murderer from this sampling of salty suspects won’t be easy. Will Sophie savor another case closed or will the culprit simply melt away? (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Even though this is the first book that I have read in this series, I did not have any trouble keeping track of who everyone was, I did not even have to check the character list. I liked the way that Sophie and Mars, her ex, got along. That is an unusual thing for exes. I thought that all of the characters added a lot to the story.
I really enjoyed the beginning of each chapter,where there was an advice column questions for either Natasha or Sophie and their answers. This gave us a better insight into these two characters and helped us get to know them better.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. The mystery was not easily solved and I did not know who the culprit was until it was revealed.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
This is the 13th book in this series and it is still going strong! It was a fun quick read with some of the old characters and some new. The storyline was very good and kept my interest sat and read this in one siting!
The Diva Spices It Up” is the 13th instalment in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis.
She’s a young Martha Stewart…in Old Town Virginia!
When a celebrity ghostwriter dies on the job, it’s up to Sophie Winston, Old Town, Virginia’s favorite entertaining expert and sporadic sleuth, to whip up an impromptu investigation…
Sophie never considered ghostwriting as a side gig, until former actress and aspiring lifestyle guru, Tilly Stratford, trophy wife of Wesley Winthrope, needs someone to write her celebrity cookbook. Sophie agrees, hoping she’ll earn enough bread on this assignment to finish her bathroom renovations. But as it turns out, Sophie isn’t the first foodie to get a taste for recipe ghostwriting, and if the marginalia are any indication, this project could be a killer…
Wesley claims professional ghostwriter, Abby Bergeron, suddenly abandoned Tilly’s cookbook with no warning. But Sophie quickly discovers that Abby may be more ghost than writer now…and her disappearance was no accident. So Sophie cracks open a fresh investigation but sifting the seasoned murderer from this sampling of salty suspects won’t be easy. Will Sophie savor another case closed or will the culprit simply melt away?
This is the third book I have read in the domestic diva mystery series by Krista Davis. Even though I haven’t read all the earlier books I was able to follow along, so this can be read as a stand alone book.
I really like Sophie, she is relatable, interesting and I love her relationship with her ex Mars as well as several other residents of Old Town. I was drawn into the story right away and couldn’t put the book down. It had lots of twists and turns to keep me guessing till the very end.
I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While ghost writing isn’t necessarily Sophie Winston’s wheelhouse, there are tiles falling off her bathroom wall and her ex husband’s offer of a job seems like fate. Tilly Stratford is the wife of a new politician in town and the ghost writer she hired to help finish her cookbook walked out. The Old Town neighborhood where Sophie lives is quaint, and has many quirky local characters. Being on the outskirts of DC, it’s seems to common to know former and current spies and politicians going about everyday life. In addition to the missing ghost writer, there is an bit of a heart wrenching plot device about missing children. A nice solid read and fun to get back to Sophie’s world.
This latest installment in the long-running series was even better than the last one. The story had twists and turns throughout.
I am enjoying this cozy mystery series as well as some great recipes!
Oh my diva!! This was a fun read and one of my favourites in the series! Must be that lucky 13. This one involves a death of a ghost writer and our fave sleuth Sophie gets on this case. I thought this was a fun read, I really enjoyed reading about the celebrity cookbook and lifestyle guru Tilly Stratford. As a foodie myself I found this to be quite interesting and a wonderful afternoon escape read. I highly recommend this lovely cozy mystery.
The Domestic Diva rides again. Don’t read while you are hungry though or you’ll have to take breaks for baking.
This was the best of the series I feel. It was a page turner and not sure who the bad person was. I loved it and recommend this one and the series for some great reading!
I love Sophie and the other wonderful characters in the Domestic Diva books. Krista Davis has a talent for developing characters that feel like your friends that you visit in each installment and her descriptions of Old Town Alexandria really paint a picture for the reader. In this book Sophie is helping a congressman’s wife finish her cookbook after her previous ghostwriter quits unexpectedly. This was definitely a new twist to Sophie’s career. Although she is always making wonderful meals and desserts in the previous books, so this isn’t too far out of her realm of expertise. I love that recipes for some of the dishes are always included in the back of the book too. Sophie notices some strange things happening in town and has to work to put the pieces of the many puzzles together in this one, but it comes together in a satisfying conclusion. I always look forward to the new books in this series and can’t wait for the next one!
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Diva Spices it Up by Krista Davis is a quirky, entertaining novel, featuring Sophie who is an event planner, sometimes, and has her fingers in other pies as well. Right now she is going to help finishing up a cookbook by a local celebrity whose ghostwriter just up and left. She is doing this at the behest of her ex-husband with whom she had stayed on good terms. It turns quickly to a presumed murder, then to an actual murder of a totally different victim. It was a cleverly constructed plot with twists and turns aplenty as well as complicated human relationships. It takes place in and around Washington DC so there is politics and even a little covert international activity. It was a thoroughly engaging novel. I full recommend it.
I received a free ARC of The Diva Spices It Up from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thedivaspicesit up
The Diva Spices It Up is the thirteenth book in Krista Davis’ A Domestic Diva Mystery series. The storyline is well plotted, the well-developed characters are likable, and the twists and red herrings will keep readers guessing in this steadily paced cozy mystery. The storyline includes an intriguing mystery along with several subplots that the author ties everything together in the end. This is only the second book I’ve read in this series, but the author provides sufficient background information to allow readers to understand the characters’ relationships.
Sophie Winston, an event planner and amateur sleuth, lives in Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia, with her hound mix, Daisy, and her Ocicat, Mochie. As the story opens, Sophie helps an elderly fisherman reel in what he believes to be a huge fish, only to discover it’s a suitcase filled with clothing. Sophie’s looking forward to a break from her busy schedule, but her ex-husband, Mars, convinces her to help his client, Texas Senator Wesley Winthrop’s wife, Tilly Stratford, a former actress, ghostwrite her cookbook because her professional ghostwriter, Abby Bergeron, suddenly abandoned the project. Sophie becomes intrigued when she discovers what she believes are alphanumeric codes on twelve of the recipes. Sophie’s friend, Natasha, discovers through DNA testing that she has a half-sister, Charlene Smith, and plans an elaborate dinner party to meet her and introduce Charlene to her friends, but things don’t go as Natasha hoped. When a body is found stuffed in Abby’s freezer, everyone assumes it’s Abby. Sophie notices a man acting secretively and begins to believe he’s a spy. Sophie and her friends and neighbors have their hands full trying to keep up with everything that’s happening in their small community.
I love spending time in Sophie’s world. She is the kind of person who has your back, a friend who will help you through the rough spots and feed you comforting food. You can share the good and the bad times with her. She even has a great relationship with her ex husband, Mars. It’s Mars who gets her involved with this latest investigation. The wife of one of his clients is ‘writing’ a cookbook with a ghostwriter and the writer has gone missing. Mars asks Sophie to take over and, though she has never done a cookbook, she sure can cook. Gone are her plans to kick back and recharge, she realizes how much money is involved and visions of a bathroom renovation start dancing in her head. It turns out that she gets along great with Tilly. This looks like it will be a good partnership. But there remains the question of what happened to Abby, the first ghostwriter…was her departure voluntary or involuntary and is she still amongst the living?
This mystery is full of twists, turns and red herrings and multiple story lines, more than enough to keep me glued to the page, totally absorbed with Sophie, Mars, Natasha (who I’m starting to sort of like) and various other regular characters. This may be book #13 but it’s just a number – for one of the best books in the series, so far.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.