Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

First off, Krista Davis is a fantastic author and I always enjoy reading her books. I did feel however that this isn’t the best example of her work. There were times when the cozy bogged down the mystery far too much instead of supporting it. We needed to move forward with the investigation rather than the domestic diva.

I think this was just a blip in the radar for this author. Perhaps after so many books in this series the characters are getting a little stale. I’ll definitely still want to check out more though, and see where it goes from here.

Three stars.

This series just keeps getting better and better. When I read it, it feels like I am returning to visit friends. This time we find Sophie mixed up in the murder of a local designer. When another body shows up, and it is up to Sophie to help figure out who did it to save a friend. I loved how there was a past mystery mixed in with a modern one. Add in all of the local characters, and it was a fun ride. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you Netgalley, Kensington Cozies, and Krista Davis for the advanced copy of The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg.

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg is the 18th book in the A Domestic Diva Mystery Series. Sophie Winston is approached at a convention by Mitzi Lawson telling her to meet her the next morning. Sophie decides to head over to the home to meet but discovers Mitzi’s design partner on the floor, Denise dead. With Mitzi dead, she goes in hiding. Sophie decides to figure out who the murdered is. Then another person dies, and a skeleton is found in the house.

I have always loved the Domestic Diva Series. They are the perfect cozy mystery. There is a murder and Sophie, and her friends help find the killer. This book followed the same formula and was very entertaining. I enjoyed seeing what Natasha would do in this book and trying to figure out who was the killer. This book was enjoyable, but I wish there would be more character growth. Each of the characters do the same things every time. I am not saying Sophie needs to date someone, but I wish it was more than just meeting to each and discuss the case. I also felt like this case was less high stakes for Sophie. Her life wasn’t in real danger until she had made the killer discovery and it was unclear why she was looking into this aside from just wanting to know.

This book is perfect for those who love mystery especially cozy mysteries. While this book is a standalone and you could follow along without reading the other books in the series, I think it would be best if you read at least some of the early books to know all the characters.

Thanks again Netgalley, Kensington Cozies, and Krista Davis for the advanced copy.

Solid installment in a fun cozy series from Davis. I want to know where Sophie stores all her dishes. They all sound so lovely but I can't imagine how much room it would all take up!

I enjoyed this book very much, it’s a really interesting mystery with a big twist. I think that really added to the mysterious. I do wish the descriptions of the food aren’t so descriptive & long. I find it distracts from the point of the story. I’m.not reading it for the food. #TheDivaPoachesaBadEgg #NetGalley

Not my favorite in the series. There was to many characters and I kept getting them confused. I wish the author would pair down the characters so there aren’t so many to keep track of.

I love this series and I usually fly through the books but this one took forever to get through and didn’t really hold my interest, mainly because the recurring characters were all present but barely just. Rhere wasn’t the usual fun banter and interesting investigation; they all seemed wooden and lacked any personality. The mystery itself kept me guessing but also lacked the hook that usually draws me in. I still loved the setting and the tips. Hoping this is just a one-off and the next one draws me in again.

I love this series. It's the one that first got me interested in cozies. This book is definitely one of them. I can't pick a favorite.

In this story Sophie comes upon someone who is dead and it's later discovered to be murder. The family asks her to help find out who the murderer is and she's off doing that along with Nina, Bernie and Mars help. It's fun to watch them work together. And of course there's food involved. I think she has a magic refrigerator - pun intended towards the Wagtail series.

There is visit from a Wagtail friend, which I enjoyed, and I hope we see more of.

Overall a fun read that kept me guessing close to the end.

I really enjoyed the next installment in this series. The characters are always relatable and likeable. It is a classic cozy mystery. The ending left me satisfied. A big thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc!

As usual, Krista Davis delivers another wonderful book in the Domestic Diva series. Sophie and friends are caught up in the murders of two young women and one who is missing. As Sophie, Nina, Mars, and Bernie work together with Wolf to solve the cases other skeletons are found in the suspects closets. I really enjoyed the brunch theme, seeing all of Sophie’s friends (except Humphrey, who was only mentioned), and getting a deeper look into Aunt Faye’s life. Maybe a spinoff there?

I've read all of the "Diva" books and the latest one is just as good addition to the series. While it's not the strongest, it's a nice cozy read. Sophie is working a House and Home expo when a voice behind her tells her not to look at her. The voice is familiar and she sees it's Mitzi an interior designer. Mitz asks her to meet her at the house that she and her partner Denise or in the middle remodeling. When Sophia arrives at the house, she finds the back door open and Denise laying on the floor dead. The house belongs to the Inger family which Denise's husband's family owns. The house has secrets, and the Inger family wants Sophie and her sidekick Nina to look into Denise's murder. There's a lot of talk about food and in the back of the book are some of the recipes.

"𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕."

The 18th installment in the Domestic Diva series, I found this one to be a little slower and not as engaging as the others. There's a lot going on in this book, beginning with the brunch that Natasha is organizing at Sophie's house, and then interior decorator named Mitzi Lawson covertly engages with Sophie, wanting her to meet at a house she and her business partner Denise are renovating. Sophie's curiosity is piqued, so she agrees; however, when she arrives at the house, she finds Denise dead.

As per usual, Sophie investigates, but this one felt like she was going through the motions. I felt a staleness in the characters that I hadn't noticed before. There's been no movement with the secondary characters and their relationship to Sophie, so that was concerning. While I appreciated that Aunt Faye was finally included, I thought she would be a bigger part of the mystery.

Overall, it was a fun read, and I'll definitely read the next installment with high hopes. Thank you to Kensington Books for the early copy. This title is expected to publish May 27, 2025.

It is hard to believe that this is book 18 of Krista Davis’s Domestic Diva series. While this works great as a stand alone, if time permits, start at the beginning of the series. You will enjoy every one! I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader copy from NetGalley(this opinion is my own) and I enjoyed it very much. It is always fun to catch up with fictional characters! Sophie once again finds herself immersed in a murder investigation. She is helped by her good friends and eventually helps figure things out. Great read and now I have to wait impatiently for the next book!

Thank you, NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Krista Davis for this ARC.

Sophie is back and I'm loving it! Sophie really should open her own private investigator agency with her friends helping her. I'm sure Wolf and Wong would love that!

Love this mystery and as always I couldn't figure out who was the murderer.

I can't wait for the next one in this series especially after reading the last sentence in this book.

Sophie Winston, domestic diva and event planner, gets an urgent message from her friend Mitzi Lawson to meet at her friend and fellow designer, Denise Nofsinger's house. When Sophie arrives, she finds Denise dead and no Mitzi. Mitzi later shows up at Sophie's house and insists that she is being followed. Sophie figures out how they are keeping track and helps Mitzi hide out with misdirection for the stalker. Later another designer, Rachel Powers, who was chasing Denise's husband, Mike, is also found dead in the house. Sophie, with friends Nina, Bernie, frenemy, Natasha, and ex-husband Mars follow clues to find who would kill two people to keep hidden the skeleton hidden in the wall of the historic house. When the criminal is revealed, it is a total shocker!
I love the way Sophie's friends pitch in to help whether with a murder or an impromptu dinner. (Even Natasha, albeit on her own terms) The history of Mars' Aunt Faye, who was the former owner of Sophie's home, was rather surprising and I was glad to learn more about previously a shadowy figure in the series.
I look forward to reading about the food, events and community of the character in each new book. There are recipes included too, a few of which I have tried with success.
Always a pleasure to visit Old Town and Sophie and friends.

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg—book number eighteen in Krista Davis’ Domestic Diva series—drops us right back into Sophie Winston’s world, and let me tell you, autumn’s got her juggling some serious drama! First off, her “frenemy” Natasha ropes her into hosting a brunch that is not only going to be filmed, but will be done so in Sophie’s house! Second, interior decorator, Mitzi Lawson, calls Sophie asking her to meet her at a century home that she and her business partner, Denise, are in the process of redecorating. Always curious Sophie agrees, arrives early, only to find the corpse of Denise sprawled across the kitchen floor.

Unsurprisingly, Sophie is coerced into investigating due to her knack for cracking mysteries — hoping that she doesn’t end up as the next victim — all the while whipping up brunch recipes, many of which are included in the back of the book as is Davis’s habit.

I’ve been hooked on this series for all eighteen books, enjoying watching Sophie and the other characters evolve. This book is another winner with its lively, twisty mystery, and characters that — quirks and all — pull you right in. Everything wraps up nice and tight by the end, leaving you plenty of time to try the drool-worthy recipes in the back of the book. As with all of the books in this series, I recommend it and look forward to the next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington cozies for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s interesting how many cozy mysteries begin with the premise of a family asking the main character for help in clearing a family member of a crime and end with that same family regretting the decision when the MC uncovers some family secret. My main issue is how comfortable Sophie was in inserting herself into people’s lives. How does she have so much free time?

I have read many of the books in this series, it amazes me the author can keep the story fresh and interesting in the same locale. Always a new murder! Sophie gets involved in the murder of two interior decorators in a beautiful old house. Along with her regular gang of friends, she pokes and prods until the murderer tris to kill her too. The motive seemed very weak to me. I always enjoy Sophie and Natasha and the food along the way. It was an added treat to hear from Aunt Faye again.

It grabs you from the start to the finish. Easy read, great characters.

Thank you to Krista Davis, Jett and Kensington for the arc of this book

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg is the perfect fall read! I love these cozy mysteries and this one had just the right amount of scary to keep me on the edge of my seat!