My all time fav series. I am always sad when I come to the end of the book. Every few years I read the series from start to finish all over again :)

THE DIVA SAYS CHEESECAKE, the fifteenth book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis, hits all the right marks for capturing my attention and keeping it throughout the entire book. And if you haven’t read any in the series, this can be read as a standalone. However, with the memorable and relatable characters that populate the series, it’s been a pleasure reading from the first and watching the character growth and the changes over the years. Protagonist Sophie Winston is one of those people you’d love to have as your best friend. She’s kind, she loves to share her baked goods, and she’s ready to jump in and help whenever someone has a problem. The author weaves a puzzling mystery into the charming setting of Old Town Virginia, set against the backdrop of A Midsummer Night’s Dream festivities. Her descriptive voice makes the words come alive on the pages so that the reader feels like they’re right there experiencing everything Sophie does. Another favorite aspect of each book is the advice column question, to either Sophie or her nemesis, Natasha, and the corresponding answer that begins each chapter. These are entertaining all on their own!

When Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake’s husband is found murdered, she begs Sophie to solve the crime. Adding to the urgency, the police have named one of Sophie’s close friends, Bernie, as the prime suspect. I love the loyalty that Sophie and her friends show toward each other and they all pitch in to help Sophie sleuth. I also enjoyed that with the spotlight turned on Bernie, the reader has an opportunity to know him better and find out some of his closely held secrets. There are plenty of suspects for Sophie to sift through, and the clues are woven in for an armchair detective to collect. I’ll admit I was thrown off scent by some of the twists and turns, but it made the story even more intriguing as it unfolded.

Did someone say cheesecake? With the title and theme of the book, Ms. Davis does an admirable job of weaving in mouthwatering descriptions of cheesecake throughout the book and includes several delectable recipes.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Diva Says Cheesecake! By Krista Davis is the fifteenth mystery in the A Domestic Diva Mystery series. In this mystery, Sophie, an amateur sleuth, finds herself helping local ‘Queen of Cheesecake’ Bobbie Sue Bodoin find her husbands murderer.

The Diva Says Cheesecake! Is the first in this long series that I have read, but I enjoyed it just the same and look forward to reading more of this series. I enjoyed the characters and liked getting to know who they were. The mystery kept you guessing as Sophie and company slowly crossed off one possible suspect after another until they had located the murderer. This was a good cozy mystery and I look forward to exploring this series further.

Thoughts: This is the fifteenth book in the Domestic Diva series. While I haven’t read all of them, this one does stand up to the ones I have read. In this one, Sophie Winston is investigating the death of Tate, owner of Blackwell’s Tavern. There are a lot of suspects, including Sophie’s good friend Bernie. There are also mysterious people (tall, dark woman with big eyes) who Sophie doesn’t trust. But she gets a little too close to things as she gets threatened, attacked, and trapped. And yet, she keeps investigating. There are also a few glitches (like introducing Wolf several times) but those were minor.

All in all, this was a fun book, a decent mystery with a satisfying ending. There were a lot of cheesecake references so be prepared to have cravings and I loved the “notes” at the beginning of each chapter. Great tips!

Recommendation: If you’ve been reading the Diva series, continue with this one. You won’t be disappointed and will get some great recipes and tips in the process.

Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”:

While I typically love the Krista Davis Diva books this one fell a little bit flat for me. Lots of mistakes make within the actual novel, (for example, Sophie would be talking to Francie and then the author would write 'Nina", same thing with Mars and Bernie.). The ending seemed a bit rushed, there were scenes that could have been eliminated to cut down on some of the confusion.

How I love being back in Old Town!
Old Town itself is a character in these books, but it is Sophie and the gang I keep coming back for. I love how each book introduces new characters, but the core group remains the same (and I love them all!).
Sophie once again is on the case, but this time she's very open about investigating...turns out those in town see her as a private investigator. Even Wolf knows not to try and stop her. I was happy that Alex wasn't a big or small part of this book (he never worked for me) and that Humphrey was in it-so glad he's part of the team (please, lets find him a great girlfriend!). My only negative was I usually listen to these books and greatly missed the fantastic narration and Nora's distinctive accent.
Can't wait for book No. 16.

“The Diva Says Cheesecake ” the 15th instalment in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis. Entertaining guru Sophie Winston is faced with a midsummer nightmare when a celebration in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is the appetizer for murder…

I really enjoy this series and must read the few books I have missed. 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 BFF Nina and her ex Mars as well as several other residents of Old Town. I liked how the characters were there for each other, no matter what was happening.

The mystery itself was interesting, full of twists and turns, red herrings all of which completely drew me into the story. I didn’t want to put the book down and read it till the wee hours.

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.