As Old Town descends into chaos over the annual Pie Festival, a competition that Natasha has been banned from, Sophie Winston steps in when a celebrity judge is murdered.

Not being able to say no when asked, Sophie jumps in when the heads of the festival requested her help. There is no trouble gathering pies from the participants, but when Celebrity Chef Patsy Lee Presley dies during the completion, Sophie and her friends take it upon themselves to solve this peculiar crime. There are many within the baking community that have issues with Patsy and her meteoric rise, but which of them is willing to poison her.

Now add in a young girl that has shown up on Sophie’s doorstep asking for help to exonerate her mother who has been in prison for the last 5 years. A woman, not surprisingly, also associated with the baking world, that has been convicted of murder. As Sophie delves deeper a realization, with lasting effects, has come to the surface.

This is a hard series to jump into the middle of since each book circles around a large cast of recurring characters, and the reader needs to understand the interpersonal relationships and how each brings their own to the book. Yes, the author does a light dusting of who everyone is, but you need to have a greater understanding to keep them all straight.

Sophie is looking forward to the upcoming Pie Festival, who wouldn't want to sample such a wonderful treat. She is also happy to be the overseer of the pie eating contest. The festival seems to start off well that is until Peggy Lee Presley, the celebrity judge for the contest, dies during the competition. Things start looking worse when some of Sophie's friends become suspects in Peggy's death. As she starts to look into things Sophie realizes that there are a core group of people who keep overlapping when it comes to past history. Peggy seemed to have stepped on a bunch of toes but out of everyone one who was angry enough to kill. With so many questions that need to be answered and so many of her friends in the line of fire will Sophie be able to put the puzzle together before someone she cares about ends up in jail? Meanwhile a young girl has come to Sophie for her help, her mother is in jail for murder but the young girl doesn't believe that she is guilty. Her father and herself have heard about all the crimes that Sophie has been involved in solving are looking to her for help in their own case. She doesn't have the heart to turn them down but she doesn't want to get anyone's hopes up. Does she even have the time to look into this old murder with a fresh one on her plate? Follow along as she tries to figure out both, will she come to a conclusion to both or will she run out of time. I can tell you I didn't figure it out until the end and that just made it all the more exciting to read! I also love the wonderful letters the author puts at the beginning of each new chapter addressed to either Sophie or Natasha and the oh so different replies that they each hand out.

I am a huge fan of Krista Davis and all of her series, but this one will always be my favorite. I love the characters and the story-line never fails to entertain and keep me guessing.

This go round involves pie, old friends and enemies and of course, murder. It also involves a little girl who just wants her mom home and people who are willing to do anything to be at the top. And Sophie [AND Nina - who s in this book way more than she has been before and I love how she and Sophie work together. They are a good example of what real friendship looks like] finds herself in quite a bit of hot water in this one before she works it all out. And while the end is good [I do love how she wraps up a story - you never feel like you are left hanging], there is some definite sadness in this book. But I agree with what Sophie both did and said. Once you read it, you will know EXACTLY what I mean and I sure hope that you too agree.

As always, this was an excellent and engaging read - once I got started, I could not put it down. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read a lot of great review about this series and I'm happy I requested this ARC.
It's a nice cozy mystery with a lovely cast of characters and nice setting.
The book is engaging and entertaining, a bit slow at times but it was fun to read.
I look forward to reading other books in this series and will get the previous installment.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Diva series was the first series I got addicted to reading in cozy mysteries. I love the advice columns, setting and cast of characters. The Diva Sweetens the Pie started off a little slower than earlier books, but I quickly got hooked. It's a wonderful story of pie contests and the makers of those pies. We meet new characters who have been friends for years and Sophie needs to find out if one of them killed a TV star chef and if the murder is linked to one a few years earlier. I was surprised by ending, especially as part of it changes Sophie's personal life.

Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary e-copy of book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in this series I've read, and I'm seeing now that I've given them each three stars. Here's the thing. I like the main characters. I like the cooking/entertaining aspect (even though I despise both those things in real life!). But the plots feel filled up with too many characters who aren't differentiated from each other enough. And the whole Sophie/Natasha thing is just too weird. It was also interesting that Davis used the Dear Sophie/Dear Natasha letters to highlight the differences between their life styles (down-home and easygoing vs perfectionist and persnickety), but after the first few chapters, their responses to the letters were almost indistinguishable from each other. The bottom line is that I like the books fine while reading them, but at the end, I look back and find them vaguely unsatisfying. Not bad. Just not my favorite series, I guess.

The Diva Sweetens the Pie by Krista Davis is the 12th book in A Domestic Diva Mystery series, and another great addition. Sophie Winston and the gang are back and they all helping with the annual Pie Festival, except Natasha Smith who is barred from it. When a celebrity host of a cooking shows dies after eating pie, the mystery begins. I love this series, I love both of Ms. Davis series! I recommend you read this book in order if you can. My only complaint is I miss the chemistry Sophie had with Wolf...sigh. I strongly recommend this book/series. 

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

A fabulous addition to the Diva series! The characters in this series are so well developed with unique personalities that you really feel as if you know them. You quickly get invested in their stories as well as the mystery that they are trying to unravel. If you haven't read any books from the series, I really do suggest that you start at book one and work your way through as your enjoyment will be enhanced 10 fold, but you can read just this individual book and not feel like you are lost in the storyline as the book could work as a stand alone. This particular mystery or mysteries are layered and intertwined in a manner that keeps you guessing at who could be the guilty party. The only bad thing about the book is that I have finished it and now I must go back to waiting for the author to write the next one so I can find out what the characters will be doing next! I definitely have this on my list as a "must read" series!

Sophie is preparing to judge the pie eating contest and she is ecstatic to see the reigning queen of cooking, Patsy Lee Presley, join in judging one of the contests. But, things go awry when Patsy keels over dead. Sophie needs to find out what happened before someone else dies.
This was a great mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved how Sophie’s friends rallied around her to help with the investigation. Her friends are great characters that I look forward to reading about in every book. I also liked how she stuck to her morals concerning Alex. I can’t wait to read the next mystery in this series. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

a story about an murder in a small town in the south. Typical southern characters help to mak e this book fun to read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I cannot say enough good things about this series. Sophie and Natasha keep things interesting in every book. I love the way the two "play off" each other. There is always some adventurous high jinks going to happen when Sophie comes on the scene. This is a must read for all who enjoy cozy mysteries. Enjoy! 📚

Hometown girl turned TV celebrity chef Patsy Lee Presley returns for the Old Town Pie Festival, but not everyone in town is happy about this return. There's much bitterness and jealousy and when someone turns up dead, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Sophie Winston and her pals try to solve the case. If you are not craving pie by the end of this book, there is something wrong with you.

A review will be posted on www.MapYourMystery.com on Friday, April 26

https://mapyourmystery.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-diva-sweetens-pie.html

Old Town is hosting their annual Pie Festival. Patsy Lee, the celebrity guest contestant, is not as nice in person as her tv show would indicate. When she dies as the contest begins, there’s more than one suspect. Sophie, a local event planner, manages to get involved in not only this murder but a 5 year old murder. Do these tie together? Was one of the original pie team involved?

This is my first Krista Davis book. I did find following the characters a little difficult.

This is the first book I've read in this series, though I have read other books by this author previously. I was able to follow the storyline alright, though obviously some things happened in previous installments that I was not privy to.

Old Town is having a Pie Festival and Sophie is tasked with checking the pies into the contest so that there can be a blind judging. The actual contest goes alright but just after, one of the judges, a famous baker herself, collapses and succumbs to death. Sophie feels compelled to investigate because she was right there when it happens. Sophie actually investigates two crimes in this book, as she has been asked to look into whether a woman was wrongly convicted of a crime (a murder) years previously.

This book was enjoyable to read but I thought it to be similar in format and theme and characterizations of the characters, to Krista Davis' Pen & Ink series. In particular, Sophie Winston seemed very similar to the main character of Florrie Fox from P & I.

This book also contains tips on pie baking and includes recipes at the end for the yummy-sounding treats the characters make in the book. I plan to try many of these out and will put the tips to good use as it's always good to brush up on the basics, even for someone who considers her/himself an accomplished baker, as I do myself.

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

Krista Davis has another series I've enjoyed, but this one has never come across my radar before. Jumping in at book 12 you would htink I'd be lost, but Krista has excellent writing skills and I soon found myself at home with all the characters. So at home in fact I was getting hungry every time they ate! The food described in this book is so good, so many awesome sounding pies! Fruit pies aren't really a big thing in Australia, except maybe apple, so I enjoyed all the different varieties.

There are a couple of mysteries at play, and you need to follow the clues closely to work out the killer and the motive. I had my suspicions, but I kept getting proved wrong! I did enjoy the ending as the result, because I just wasn't sure the whole time.

Another fun mystery series to sink your teeth into! Five stars.

It is the authentic characters and well written plots that bring me back to this series time and time again. (Yes, I've read all twelve books in A Domestic Diva Mystery series.) This time protagonist Sophie Winston is juggling three mysteries which might or might not be related. Also, adding to her stress is the fact that she feels one of the tragedies might be her fault. It all comes together neatly in the end with a few surprises.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed are my own. I look forward to book #13.

The Diva Sweetens the Pie is the 12th book in the domestic diva series. Although I have read other books by this author, this is the first in this series I have read and I found it easy to jump right in and enjoy. Sophie, a business owner and amateur sleuth, finds herself in the middle of three separate mysteries, which she starts to suspect are related. Old Town, which lies in Alexandria Virginia, is gearing up for the pie festival and the arrival of celebrity chef and former old town resident, Patsy Lee Presley. Patsy is set to act as celebrity judge however soon after the introductions are made, Patsy falls face first into a pie, and her death is ruled a homicide. Sophie, with the help of her friends Nina, Bernie, and Mars begin to investigate when Sophie is pulled into yet another mystery. A girl begs for Sophie's assistance in freeing her mother, who has been in prison for five years, after being convicted of a murder she did not commit. Sophie agrees to look into the matter however she second guesses herself after her boyfriend, Alex German, is brutally beaten and his law offices are set on fire, soon after Sophie starts investigating. Over the course of her sleuthing, Sophie and gang start to believe that the three separate instances are in fact linked. There are many false leads along the way to the startling conclusion. There was much to love about this mystery, from the delectable pie recipes, to the advice column at the head of each chapter filled with helpful baking advice. I particularly enjoyed the contrast of Sophie and her business rival Natasha as well as the dynamic between the fun loving, if at times mischievous characters that surround and assist Sophie. I highly recommend this book for pie lovers and cozy mystery fans as well.

Sophie Winston is back in her 12th mystery and it doesn't disappoint. Who knew a pie eating contest could turn deadly? When Patsy Lee Presley comes back to town, now a famous tv celebrity, ready to be a judge for the pie eating contest, the last thing anyone expects is one of the pies turning into a murder weapon. It turns out that Patsy has a past that may have come back to seek revenge. She was not as nice as she appeared and the list of suspects is long. Unfortunately Sophie is on that list.
When Sophie's boyfriend is attacked and then the daughter of a wrongly convicted woman asks for Sophie's help, there is no way she can not stay out of this investigation. How are these three puzzles connected and can Sophie, with the help of her friends, unravel all of the twists and turns to uncover a killer? Of course she can, she has had a lot of practice and she has a great group of people who are ready to come to her aid. I would love to call them friends and I would love to live in her neighborhood. Maybe even get some cooking tips from her. The recipes make me drool.
Even though this is the 12th in the series, each one can be read as a stand alone. If this is your first Diva mystery, be prepared to add the other 11 books to your TBR pile and set aside some time to binge read the rest.

Series: Domestic Diva - Book 12
Author: Krista Davis
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Business/Culinary
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 336

New from Kensington Books comes Krista Davis’ latest addition “The Diva Sweetens the Pie” in her Domestic Diva cozy mystery book series. A fun, easy-to-read, and exceedingly entertaining book from beginning to end.

Krista Davis knows how to keep her audience’s attention while giving them hours of delight. Her characters are well thought out, striking, and filled with comical, as well as exasperating quirks, which makes them all the more endearing. The plot stays consistent, and although not necessarily unique on its own the twist and turns make it fresh and stimulating.

Sophie is tolerant, forgiving of most things, she picks her battles. She is a modern woman with a tendency to be compassionate with just a touch of stubbornness. She loves her animals and pies. Her advice column is filled with helpful tips that have her audience clamoring for more. But… she sticks her nose into murder investigations and has a way of almost getting it cut off every time. Sophie is lovable, and her friends are wonderful individuals. Even her ex-husband gets a warm welcome and a slice of pie.

The location of Old Town is a picture-perfect setting for a murder mystery series. Old Town is a real neighborhood in Alexandria, it is picturesque, with buildings dating back to 1749. It boasts hundreds of restaurants, shops, and museums. Yet Old Town retains its rustic charm with cobblestone streets and red brick sidewalks. Giving visitors and residents the feel of a small town where everyone knows everyone.

This cozy mystery book has a full helping of mischievous characters, non-traditional relationships, and murder. The killer is smart and resourceful. Many readers will not guess who the killer is until the unveiling, the reveal leaving readers with a sense of satisfaction. Sophie’s pets are delectable, their antics make you want to curl up on a couch and cuddle.


ARC provided by NetGalley

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Domestic Diva series is my favorite cozy mystery series, and this entry into the series is every bit as good as all the others.

There is a pie festival in Old Town, and Sophie's friend Bernie is in charge. When returning resident and TV star Patsy Lee ends up murdered, everyone finds out that she is not nearly as nice in real-life as her public persona wants you to believe. Add in an old case that Sophie gets roped into investigating and the brutal beating of her boyfriend, and Sophie has a lot on her pie plate!

I love the characters in this series and the continuity, with the sane friends showing up in each installment. The mystery was really good, with so many suspects that you were kept guessing until the end. I can't wait for the next book in the series!