Cover Image: Shades of Wrath

Shades of Wrath

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Shades of Wrath by Karen Rose is a good cozy mystery. This delightful novel is recommend to all mystery lovers.

Was this review helpful?

Shades of Wrath by Karen Rose Smith
This sixth installment in the Caprice De Luca series
SHADES OF WRATH is book 6 in Karen Rose Smith's Caprice De Luca Home Staging cozy mystery series. Between her booming business, her family, and her work rescuing stray animals, home stager Caprice De Luca's life is packed. But when a murder unsettles peaceful Kismet, Pennsylvania, she adds amateur sleuth to her resume.
Thanks to a wealthy patron, Kismet's women's shelter, Sunshine Tomorrow, has inherited a run-down mansion. Now the shelter's director, Wendy Newcomb, wants Caprice's decorating expertise. Caprice is happy to help, but when she glimpses a few heated encounters between Wendy and some locals, she fears that Wendy may be in need of protection herself.
When Wendy is found dead inside the old house, Caprice is compelled to poke around in her affairs--and discovers she had her share of enemies. Now, with countless clients, a TV gig that could make her a household name, and rumors of a marriage proposal on its way, Caprice must find time to design an investigation that will lure a crafty killer into the wide open--before someone else winds up in a state of permanent disrepair...
this is Caprice De Luca and Grant's story.
Caprice De Luca owns a thriving home staging business in the small town of Kismet, Pennsylvania.
Caprice helping with the redecoration of a transition home for abused women.
the proprietor, Wendy Newcomb is found murdered.
She is thrilled to be helping the Sunshine Tomorrow Foundation with the home that was willed to them by a wealthy patron and friend of the shelter's director, Wendy Newcombe.
Caprice is in love with Grant a lawyer.
I highly recommend reading.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
Shades of Wrath by Karen Rose Smith is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Karen Rose Smith.
Caprice De Luca Mystery
1. Staged to Death
2. Deadly Decor
3. Gilt by Association
4. Drape Expectations
5. Silence of the Lamps
6. Shades of Wrath
7. Slay Bells Ring
8. Cut to the Chaise

Was this review helpful?

Shades of Wrath by Karen Rose Smith is the sixth book in the Caprice De Luca series and every book seems to get better than the last one. In this story, Caprice has been hired to redecorate a transition home for abused women. She is thrilled to be helping the Sunshine Tomorrow Foundation with the home that was willed to them by a wealthy patron and friend of the shelter's director, Wendy Newcombe. In her job helping abused women and their families, Wendy has made many enemies. This only makes the case more difficult to solve when her body is found in the mansion, dead from a hit on the head forcing her over a balustrade. Caprice is a busy bee in this book. She is competing in a competition to redecorate a home, she is trying to find out who killed Wendy, her courtship with Grant is moving right along and she is still trying to do her job as a stager/decorator.

I really enjoy this series! The home makeovers, the pets, Caprice’s large and involved family, and the added element of romance keeps me happily reading this series. The characters are realistic and are people that I would want to meet and be friends with. The mystery is not always the easiest to solve, as there are usually many viable suspects. Caprice is smart, caring and loyal which makes the reader want to know her, not just have her solve the mystery. This book touches on her faith and the importance of it in her life as well as her values and love of family. I like that there is usually some kind of important issue in each book. This one deals with domestic violence. It touches not only on physical violence, but also on emotional and mental abuse. This part of the story was well written and fit the story very well. Overall, if you enjoy cozy mysteries, this series is one that I highly recommend. You do not have to read them in order, but it will certainly help you get to know Caprice, her family and her friends. Pick one up and enjoy!

Was this review helpful?

The mystery is always compelling. As the story unfolds the reader is immediately introduced to Wendy Newcomb, the founder and director of Sunrise Tomorrow, a foundation for victims of domestic violence. This book sends a strong message of the importance of family, friendship, and the care of animals but the mystery definitely takes a backseat all in all it was great read

Was this review helpful?

I would've prefered to read the series in order but that wasn't to be, it may have made more sense if I had but it wasn't too bad.

The characters seemed well written and fleshed out enough to carry the story, there were the obligatory 'bad guys' to give a little excitement to the story and, overall, it was a fun ride.

Was this review helpful?

I have read Karen Rose Smith's books before but I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others reading about women being abused put me off a little and is something I don't normally read about. I did finish it though and didn't think the killer was who they turned out to be. I won't let this put me off reading Karen Rose Smith again and look forward to her next book.

Was this review helpful?

I was so pleased that you accepted my request to read and review this book as I have only just found this author and liked her previous books that I have already read. This book was a little different than the others in the series, it was about Wendy and her passion with helping women who had been abused. I admired what Wendy did for the cause but I will admit it's not something that I would normally read about so personally I found this book a little lack luster in the home staging but this will not put me off reading more of Karen Rose Smith's books. I did enjoy the investigative parts of the book and I was surprised who the murderer was!
Thank you for letting me read and review this book, I will definitely look out for and read the next in the series.

Was this review helpful?

Caprice continues to expand her clientele and this installment centers around a home for abused women. Her client is found dead from an apparent fall, but Caprice thinks there's something fishy going on since blackmail had been mentioned just the previous day.

I love this series not just for the wonderful characters and hometown setting, but also for the animal lovers depicted as well as the decorating tips.

Was this review helpful?

well done cozy with a more serious twist. I enjoyed this, despite not having read all the books in the series, because Caprice is so well written and believable. The mystery here touches on very real issues, which I appreciated. Things unspooled in a logical way. I liked the interaction of the characters, especially Grant. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC_ I'm going to look for more from Smith, who has a nice way with language.

Was this review helpful?

I have been reading this series since the beginning and this was not one the better books. Once again a woman whom Caprice is working for is murdered. Caprice sets out to solve the murder. In this book though the mystery is really only a supporting character. Most of this book centers around Caprice's romance with Grant. Even though Caprice does work with the police she still finds herself in trouble. The solution to the mystery felt like an afterthought. The writing is good and the book does move quickly. If you have been reading this series for awhile you will enjoy catching up with Caprice and her family. This is a 3.5 star review because the mystery was very weak.

Was this review helpful?

Caprice has her own business decorating houses and businesses. She is hired by Wendy, who is the new owner of a women's shelter for abused women. Wendy is murdered and Caprice is thrown into trying to help solve the mystery. This is a cute cozy mystery and I received it from NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

This is the 6th book in the series. I've come to love Caprice and her ways of jumping in to solve murders in her small town. This book takes a slightly different angle and focuses on domestic violence. The story revolves around Caprice taking on a decorating job for a Victorian house given to a domestic violence program. When the programs director is found dead, Caprice jumps in to solve the murder. Along the way, we have some of characters from previous books drop in for a visit and we get updates on them. Caprice and Grant work on their relationship and come to a decision. Overall, the book is an easy, fun read.

Was this review helpful?

Shades of Wrath is number six of the Caprice De Luca mystery series. I am an avid fan of this series and I have read the previous books. If you were reading this as a standalone, you might not understand or have as much of a vested interest in some of the things that happen in this book, but the mystery is self-contained and you'd still be able to follow that just fine.

One of the things that, in my opinion, really makes this series stand out from the crowd and shine is the fact that it doesn't just focus on the mystery, there are so many other elements as well which combine together to make a super enjoyable reading experience. Don't get me wrong; there is a solid mystery for sure, which is the main focus and is interesting. But there is also so much more.

For instance, Caprice is a very diverse character. She stages homes for a living which is unique and interesting to read about. She is also very involved in animal rescue and is a big animal lover, which I am also, so I find that heartwarming and enjoyable to read about as well. She also has a big family and circle of friends which provide multiple subplots as well.

For readers who have been ongoing followers of the series, there are a few things that happen in this book that are big as far as the subplots go. I was pleased with them and I think most people probably will be as well. This book in particular I found very easy to get into and action packed as there was even more going on than usual. The subject of domestic violence was also explored in this book, which I thought was done in a very tasteful way and I think it's a great cause to try and shed some light on and inform people about.

I really enjoyed this book and give it 5 stars all the way and I'm already anxiously awaiting the next in the series!

Was this review helpful?