Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am delighted to share my thoughts about
The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg by Krista Davis today!
The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg (A Domestic Diva Mystery)
by Krista Davis
About The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg
The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg (A Domestic Diva Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
18th in Series
Setting – Virginia
Publisher : Kensington Cozies (May 27, 2025)
Hardcover : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496743458
ISBN-13 : 978-1496743459
Digital ASIN : B0DFRXP333
Northern Virginia’s own Martha Stewart returns in a brand-new mystery as an interior designer clashes with a killer . . .
Stylish brunches are all the rage this autumn in Old Town Alexandria, and everyone’s posting their parties on social media. But while Domestic Diva Sophie Winston juggles her event-filled calendar, she’s approached by local designer Mitzi Lawson—who is afraid someone is following her. The very next day Mitzi loses her best friend and business partner, Denise. The two were renovating a generations-old house where Denise died unexpectedly, and Mitzi fears that it wasn’t a medical condition to blame, but murder.
It could just be the shock talking, but Sophie agrees to help Mitzi involve the police. Then she receives a panicked phone call from Mitzi, and when she rushes to the old house, Mitzi is nowhere to be found. Now Sophie’s appetite for investigation is piqued even more than her appetite for eggs Benedict and mimosas.
Could Denise’s death be connected to her viper’s nest of in-laws or the house she was working on which her husband just inherited? What of the self-proclaimed etiquette expert with some improper secrets, or the scheming mistress? Or does the old house harbor secrets of its own? There’s a generous buffet of suspects to keep the Diva scrambling for an answer . . .
Includes delicious recipes and fabulous DIY decorating tips!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Is there anything better than brunch? The people of Old Town Alexandria don’t think so. Everyone wants to hold one, and Domestic Diva Sophie Winston is ready to help them succeed. She is very busy, but when local designer Mitzi Lawson asks for her help, she can’t say no. Mitzi thinks someone is following her, and then Denise Nofsinger, her best friend and business partner, is found dead in the Inger House by Sophie. It is an old family home that Denise and her husband have inherited, and Mitzi was helping her renovate. At first, the death appears to be a medical accident, but it is soon determined to be murder, and Mitzi is afraid she could be next.
Sophie wants to know what happened as much as Mitzi, so she encourages her to tell the police about her fears. But then she goes missing after a frantic call to Sophie.
Could Mitzi be involved in Denise’s death? Or was she the next victim? Could someone upset about the inheritance be to blame? While Sophie gets ready for a big, important brunch that Natasha roped her into, she tries to find the missing designer and a killer.
I love this series.
Catching up with Sophie, Mars, Nina, Bernie, and even Natasha is always a good time. Ms. Davis has crafted such genuine characters with depth. They continue to grow with each story. In The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg she introduces the Inger Nofsinger family. Helena is at the helm of the family’s real estate business where several family members are employed. Robbie and his wife, Mary, were up next to inhabit the family home, but Mary would rather be in the country with her rescued horses. Mike is their son and is married to interior designer Denise. She was excited about renovating and moving into the Inger House. These characters were interesting and cleverly written. It was easy to be drawn into their family drama. We were also treated to a short visit by Holly Miller from the author’s Paws & Claws Mystery Series.
I really enjoyed that Mars’ Aunt Faye was remembered in this story and that we learned more about her past. She was an incredibly strong woman for the time, and admired for the way she affected people’s lives. Sophie now lives in her home. She bought out the house from Mars when they divorced. A picture of Aunt Faye hangs in the kitchen. Sophie feels the woman is watching over the goings-on in the house.
The mystery had a plethora of suspects. Sophie and her crew gathered around her kitchen table for some delicious meals while they went over the clues, threw out a few theories, and planned how to move the investigation forward. Ms. Davis filled the story with some fine twists and surprises. Clues were revealed at a perfect pace. Sophie was able to have people open up to her about things that happened decades ago, but were relevant to the current happenings. A found item answers a huge question after the killer is revealed. My eyes were glued to the pages as everything played out and was explained.
As always, the letters to Sophie and Natasha at the beginning of each chapter are fun. Sophie gives great common-sense, down-to-earth advice, while Natasha’s advice reveals more diva-ish. Both reflect the women’s personalities so well.
The book also includes 14 recipes appropriate for brunch or really anytime. Our family loves breakfast for our evening meal. Eggs Benedict, Sophie’s Butternut Squash Sheet Pan Breakfast, Quick and Easy Baked Pears, Frittata for a Crowd, and Apple Cider Mimosas are just a few that your family and friends would enjoy.
The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg is a fabulous addition to this fantastic, long-running series. 18 books so far, I just can’t get enough! Each book becomes my new favorite. I will be anxiously awaiting book #19! I can’t wait to see what the author has in mind for Sophie and her friends next.
I highly recommend this entire series, and you can jump in anywhere because the author provides details so you won’t feel lost, but I bet you won’t be able to read just one.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
A recipe from The Diva Poaches A Bad Egg.
Quick and Easy Baked Pears
This is one of my new favorites. It’s similar to a Pear Helene, but without the alcohol and so much easier! If you’re using your oven to make dinner, you can slide the pears in on another level of the oven while dinner cooks or place them in the hot oven to bake while you eat. I leave the peels on. Wait until you take them out of the oven to core them. It’s so much easier when they’re soft. This recipe is so simple. If you’re dieting, skip the ice cream and whipped cream. The pears are delicious on their own.
Oven-safe pan large enough for 8 pear halves
Aluminum foil
4 pears
Vanilla ice creamWhipped cream (optional), Chocolate sauce
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Preheat the oven to 400. Line the baking pan with aluminum foil. Cut the pears in half. Lay them on the aluminum foil, cut side down. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until a fork can pierce the pear easily.
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Use a paring knife to cut out the core and the bits above and below it, including the little end at the bottom.
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Place two pears in each bowl. Top with a scoop of ice cream and a spoonful of whipped cream, if using. Drizzle with chocolate sauce.
About Krista Davis
Krista Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries, the Paws & Claws Mysteries, and the Pen & Ink Mysteries. Several of her books have been nominated for the Agatha Award. Krista lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with two cats and a brood of dogs. Her friends and family complain about being guinea pigs for her recipes, but she notices they keep coming back for more.
Author Links
Website Facebook Instagram GoodReads Pinterest Delicious Mysteries Twitter/X Kensington Cozies
Purchase Links
Apple Amazon BAM B&N Bookshop.org Hudson Booksellers Indigo Powell’s Rakuten Kobo Tantor Target Walmart
Great Escapes Praise for The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg (A Domestic Diva Mystery)
by Krista Davis
This series is a sure thing for cozy mystery lovers, and you can easily pick up here and then work your way back through the backlist. A wonderful escape, and I have my eye on several of those recipes in the back!
~Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐’s
A well-written story featuring a strong cast of two-legged and four-legged characters who deftly navigate readers through this intricate murder mystery!
~Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic
I rated The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg by Krista Davis five stars. I love coming back to Old Town Alexandria to be with Sophie, Mars, Nina, and the others to solve a new crime
~Baroness Book Trove
Good friends, loyal family, and a fantastic brunch make THE DIVA POACHES A BAD EGG a delicious addition to this long-running series.
~Cozy Up With Kathy
I’ve loved every book I’ve read in the Domestic Diva Mystery series, but I think The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg might be my new favorite. I think it’s because every one of my guesses was wrong regarding whodunit and why.
~Reading Is My SuperPower
The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg is a charming cozy with scrumptious brunch recipes, a possible stalker, a dead decorator, shared canine custody, a fearsome Mitzi, odd occurrences, and a historic house.
~The Avid Reader
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 20 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
May 20 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 21 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
May 21 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – RECIPE
May 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
May 23 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – REVIEW
May 23 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
May 24 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
May 24 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
May 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
May 26 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE
May 26 – Infinite House of Books – SPOTLIGHT
May 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
May 27 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
May 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
May 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 29 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 29 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
May 29 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.”
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Sounds like a book I will love to read.
I haven’t read any books by this author yet. But this sounds like one I would enjoy.
What a delightful cozy mystery! Great cover too. Thanks for sharing.