Sophie is pulled into the murder of Wanda's fiance, which happened at their engagement party. Initially thought to be poison from daffodils, turns out to be something more. To complicate things, Sophie inherits the man's antique store. Plenty of suspects and lots of old grudges lead to the killer. Sophie and friends help solve the case. Lots of charcuterie boards in this book,, all sounding wonderful! Well written and keeps you guessing to the end. I enjoyed this journey with Sophie. Natasha does not disappoint with her over the top ideas and opinions. A great read!
I was given a copy of this book in return for a review.

I always look forward to a new Diva book from Krista Davis. As usual, this year's story doesn't disappoint. Sophie has just finished a big convention, and now she can relax and enjoy the engagement party Natasha is planning for her mom, Wanda, and her new fiance, Orson Chatsworth. Natasha has begged Sophie to help her find refreshment for the party and a venue for the wedding, using her connections, as they want the wedding in two months. When Orson seems to have a heart attack at the event, everyone is horrified. Sophie was upset because the antiques shop owner had asked her at the party to meet with him the next morning. While Sophie had bought an item or two in the shop, she couldn't understand why he would want to talk with her, and now she would never know! To add to Sophie's surprise she is asked to attend the reading of the will and is shocked to discover Orson has left the antique store to her and oh yes, it wasn't a heart attack, it was murder. Can Sophie find out why Orson left her the shop? What did he want her to figure out? Plus, who murdered Orson? You know Sophie and her crew are on the case, but this one has twists and turns that will take them in many different directions. You are going to want to be around for the ride. Thanks to #NetGalley and #Kensingtonbooks for the opportunity to catch up with Sophie and company.

The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis, the seventeenth installment in the Domestic Diva Mystery series, was a disappointment. As a loyal reader of this series, I expected more.

The novel teems with conveniences and contrivances. It’s as if the author tossed every plot element into the mix, hoping something would stick. Unfortunately, the result is an unfocused hodgepodge.

A promising plotline emerges—a wedding curtailed by the groom’s sudden death at the engagement party. Sophie, our seasoned event planner, grapples with the aftermath. But here’s where the narrative falters: too much is thrown in, too many characters have no clear voice and a teasing thread is introduced and then abandoned. The scene that lent its name to the book—the titular “overboard” moment—holds no weight beyond a trivial paragraph or two.

The author’s lack of a cohesive plan is palpable. The pacing stumbles and the characters flounder in a sea of missed opportunities.

The Diva Goes Overboard is a clear case of unfulfilled potential. I expected more from this author. Instead, I found myself questioning when will it be over, what went wrong, and is Krista Davis as bored with Sophie Winston and the people of Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia, as this book projects.

“The Diva Goes Overboard” the 17th instalment in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis.
Natasha Smith’s free-spirited mother, Wanda, is engaged to notoriously pompous antiques dealer, Orson Chatsworth— When the groom collapses, it seems as if a heart attack is to blame. Then guests discover Orson was poisoned, and suddenly Stella’s bespoke boards look a lot less appealing. But with an event this big, the spread of suspects is sure to be impressive. Could Orson’s killer be a jilted ex-lover? A money hungry relative? A bitter former business partner? When even Sophie is not above suspicion, she knows it’s time to get on board and scrape together an investigation of her own . . . before murder becomes the town’s next trend.

I really enjoy this series! 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.

The Diva mysteries series introduced me to the genre cozy mysteries and it’s still one of my favorite series. As always, a visit to Old Town, Alexandria, VA involves another death and Sophie Winston and her friends are there to help solve it in the Diva Goes Overboard.
When local antique store owner Orson is murdered, he leaves Sophie his antique store in his will and takes on finding his killer. There are many new characters added to this story as is common in this series. Many of them are suspicious of why Sophie was left the store and would like her out of the picture.
I enjoyed this novel as much as all the others and love the diva questions and answers at the beginning of the chapters and the many recipes included. I am looking forward to the next in the series and the storyline hinted at about Natasha! I missed her being more involved in this book.
I received a complimentary copy of The Diva Goes Overboard, but all opinions are my own.

The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis is the 17th installment in the Domestic Diva Mystery series. I have read all of the previous installments, and I truly treasure this series as a whole. This book was no exception! The story and mystery were full of surprises, and overall it was enjoyable to read from start to finish. Returning to Old Town and reuniting with these characters is always comforting- like returning home to a big hug. The series remains fresh and exciting, however, because the characters are all evolving naturally and the surprises feel genuine, (rather than being thrown in simply for shock value). Putting all of the pieces of this mystery together alongside Sophie was so much fun, and seeing the whole picture come together at the end was definitely satisfying. I cannot wait to see what these lovable characters get up to next!

5.0/5.0 stars!

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis. My comments are an independent, honest review.

Return to Old Town, A most charming setting. I found my taste buds going into overdrive by the food descriptions. Love it! In this story, Sophie attends an engagement party for Wanda and Orson. When the groom to be kneels over at the party and dies what was the cause? Loaded with twists and turns. You'll be surprised at the ending. This book continues the excellent series. Thanks #Netgalley and #Kesington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Do not read this book unless you have food in the house! All they do is eat and it all sounds so good! I've always loved how much food is prepared for any level of socializing in this series. Overboard is no different, with most of the food served on boards. Get it?

The mystery was complex and I always like that the conclusion is never too intense. The setting of Old Town is charming and I believe it's a tight-knit community, even though I lived there and it's definitely more city than village. Davis is a gifted storyteller!

This could be read as a standalone but I think you really need to read earlier ones in the series in order to keep up with the characters. It is number 17!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Love this series! I learned a lot about food boards in this one. I had no idea there were so many. I didn’t like how some people were mean to Sophie. She’s a lot nicer about it than I would’ve been.

I would read any mystery this diva cooked up! Sophie and crew once again solve a mystery with humor, teamwork and good old fashion sleuthing.

In this seventeenth book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series, Sophie Winston, an event planner, is a guest at an engagement party for Natasha Smith's mother, Wanda, to 75-year-old, Orson Chatsworth. Orson collapses while celebrating his upcoming wedding and later dies. What causes Orson to keel over and die at his engagement party? Is eating a daffodil from a charcuterie board the cause of his death?

I like this story told from Sophie Winston’s point of view. There is an engaging lightness to the narrative in the very first chapter that lets me know I am in for a fun read. Each chapter begins with a question from an advice column answered by either Sophie or Natasha. Recipes are included at the end of the book. What fun! Thank you, Kensington Books and NetGalley, for the advance reader copy of THE DIVA GOES OVERBOARD.

This was an amazing book. I highly recommend it to everyone. Great characters and a great plot. I will be looking for more books by this author. The book is superbly written. Lots of twists, turns and shocking turns of events. Quickly becoming a go to author for me!!!! If you love to read a book and be shocked by the ending then check out this author for sure. You will love this book and this author. Was a great mystery with a touch of humor.

I love this series and it is one I always recommend as it never disappoints.

We find Sophie once again being drug into a murder and sorting out all sides of it. And I do mean sides. There are extra twists and turns that keep one guessing. Or it did me at least.

The story plays out starting at an engagement party where something goes wrong. Thankfully Sophie has her friends to lend a hand. I really enjoy her sleuthing with Nina, who can add a funny element at times. Mars and Bernie are great help, too. The theme of this book involves boards of various nature. It was interesting to have them featured.

I highly recommend to someone who has been reading this series or if you are looking for mysteries, as there are several at play, and a great cast of characters.

I always enjoy the Domestic Diva series, and this was no exception. I love the cast of characters and the setting of Old Town Alexandria. There were elements of the story that felt confused (a few too many unknown people which led to some confusing pronoun/ antecedents), but the conclusion was satisfying. There were some questions that I didn’t find fully solved, but overall, it wrapped up nicely.

If this is your first Diva book, it can be read as a standalone.
Sophie Winston is invited to an engagement party for Orson Chatsworth and Wanda Smith, the mother of Sophie's frenemy, Natasha. The party is catered by Orson's daughter Stella St, James who has a charcuterie board business. During the party, Orson asked Sophie to meet with him the next day to discuss a private matter. Shortly after Orson collapsed in pain. He later died and it appeared to be poison. Sophie is asked to the will reading and is shocked to find Orson has left her his antique business. She finds a secret room with pictures of several local young women and thinks that is what Orson wanted to talk about. As she learns more about Orson's past life and the pasts of others in his life, she finally is able to fulfill his last wish and solve his murder as well as prevent the murder of one of the accomplices.
This is a particularly enjoyable addition to a great series. I love Sophie's family and friends and how they are all (with the exception of Natasha) willing to pitch in whatever needs doing from hosting a meal or solving a murder. I keep hoping that poor Natasha will finally realize that she is sooooo self-centered and try to make at least a small effort to consider others, especially her mom, Wanda. I know she acts ugly, but she must really hate herself to have to be Miss Perfect and High and Mighty all the time.

The Diva Goes Overboard is a cozy mystery that takes place in Old Town, Alexandria, VA. Natasha's mother is getting married to the town's successful antique shop owner, and Natasha is determined to make sure it's a wedding to never forget. Unfortunately, during the engagement party, the groom is murdered. Then, to add even more intrigue to the mystery, Orson has rewritten his will and left his store to Sophie. Now, even Sophie is a suspect in this murder.

This series has a huge cast of characters, and I found it a bit difficult to remember who everyone was and how they were all related. The relationships between some of the characters are also a bit confusing. Who are enemies, who are friends, who are frenemies, who are lovers, who used to be lovers, etc? I didn't find the overall mystery to be that gripping. In my opinion, while it was a major plot point, Orson's family drama/storyline simply did not add to the story. It actually made it more unbelievable. This is simply not a cozy series for me. I did love ALL of the recipes at the end! And it was fun to read about all the various boards.

Event planner Sophie Winston remains one of my favorite amateur sleuths. She's smart, likable, and genuinely seems to care about her friends and family. She's strong and independent but not foolish. She does an excellent job of having backup when she's going into potentially dangerous or volatile situations. Let's face it, all cozy mystery amateur sleuths aren't that far sighted. While Nina and ex-husband Mars seem to be her usual sidekicks, her circle of friends is there for her, just as she is for them. So, a smart, relatable cast of characters headed by a hard-working woman who isn't afraid to ask the tough questions but does it in a reasonable safe manner. Now, true, that doesn't mean she doesn't occasionally run into trouble, that's expected, but she's not TSTL, ie "too stupid to live". You're also going to learn a great deal about charcuterie boards of all kinds.

As for the mystery, it's really two mysteries that mesh into one as the book goes along. Who killed antiques dealer Orson Chatsworth and, hmm, what secrets from the past might be hiding in a hidden room. Yep, a hidden room. It holds some answers for Sophie but also creates just as many questions. I don't want to give away too much as it's delicious fun (you'll see why I use the word delicious as you read) stumbling across the clues as they slowly but surely emerge. Is Jordan as arrogantly entitled as he seems? Why do so many think they're entitled to money from Orson's estate? Family squabbles? Greed? Jealousy? All those and maybe more?

What will happen to Orson's beloved dog Rosebud? And, speaking of dogs, I definitely liked that the author made a point of mentioning how Sophie harnessed, then clicked her dog Daisy into the seat-belt. A minor thing, yes, but a nice reveal of Sophie's attention to not just detail but her focus on safety. But, as for the murder investigation, lots of suspects, albeit Sophie is reluctant to suspect some, and many red herrings throughout with a real surprise twist at the end. Nope, not telling. You'll just have to read it. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me to Old Town Alexandria again. I love how the end of each chapter leaves us wanting to hurry to the next, although I am inclined to think that with all the food talk and yummy recipes we may cheat a bit and use those brief moments as an excuse to grab something tasty. I definitely never read this series without at least a snack nearby.

As always an excellent cozy. This is my ultimate favorite series and it always feels like coming home when I read a new book in the series

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this

Sophie inherits an antique store and the family of the previous owner is NOT happy about it. But Sophie knows there’s a reason he left it to her and she vows to figure it out, along with solving his murder.

As Sophie finds out more about the murdered man she called a friend, she begins to realize he may not have been the man she thought he was. Are her gut feelings right or is she way off base? Hopefully solving the murder will help solve the other questions she has about Orson. Or maybe she’ll just get too close for the killer’s comfort and be the next victim?

I love Olde Town Alexandria and can see the setting as I read. It’s the next best thing to being back in my old stomping grounds. Sophie, Nina, Mars and Bernie are the Four Musketeers that always have a hand in solving each mystery and it wouldn’t be a visit to Olde Town without them. Be sure to check out the recipes as well, they’re scrumptious!

𝐈 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠.

The 17th installment in this fun cozy series finds Natasha's mother set to walk down the aisle to antiques dealer Orson Chatsworth. Natasha is more than a little miffed since she herself has yet to make that walk herself, but she reluctantly pitches in to make her mother's day special by planning the engagement party.

When the groom collapses at the party, everyone suspects a heart attack. But when he dies and the cause of death was revealed to be poison, Sophie is once again on the case, especially when she finds out that she's inherited Orson's elaborate store. To get his angry family off her back, she has to find the culprit and figure out why Orson would want her to have his beloved store.

I hope this series continues for a long time as I love all the characters, and the charm of Old Town is so beautifully written. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the early copy. This book will publish May 21, 2024.