Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.
The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis
A Domestic Diva Mystery with Sophie Winston
Synopsis (from the publisher): Few can compete with the Natasha Smith when it comes to entertaining, but her childhood rival, Sophie Winston, certainly tries. While Natasha is known for her intricate centerpieces and painstakingly prepared gourmet meals, Sophie likes to keep things simple…real simple. Natasha may have stolen the spotlight—and Sophie's husband—but Sophie is determined to rob her of the prize for the Stupendous Stuffing Shakedown. She just needs the right ingredients…
But Sophie’s search for the perfect turkey goes cold when she stumbles across a corpse. And when the police find her name and photo inside the victim’s car, they think she has some explaining to do. Sophie will have to set her trussing aside to solve the murder or she’ll be serving up prison grub—and that definitely wouldn’t be a “good thing.”
Review: The Diva Runs Out of Thyme is the first in a new cozy culinary mystery series by Krista Davis featuring domestic diva and gourmet chef Sophie Winston. As is typical with mysteries of this subgenre, delicious recipes and entertaining tips are included.
Sophie and Natasha Smith were rivals in high school and now, each in their mid-forties, they remain fiercely competitive. And if that weren't enough, Natasha "stole" Sophie's ex-husband. During the week before Thanksgiving they take part in a Stupendous Stuffing Shakedown with the winner taking home a Golden Turkey. Though both are accomplished cooks, Sophie prefers to take a simple approach to her recipes and presentations while Natasha uses "not over the counter" foods and stipulates meticulous, elaborate table settings. Before the contest, Sophie discovers a corpse in a dumpster. (It's never quite clear what she was doing looking in a dumpster.) In the dead man’s truck is a picture of Sophie with her name. Then, on the day of the competition, one of the judges is found, again by Sophie, murdered. Being the first on the scene of two murders makes Sophie a prime suspect. All this happens just before the arrival of her parents, sister and her fiancé, for their annual family Thanksgiving dinner. When Sophie is taken into custody for the murders of two men, her family and friends rally around to lend a hand for her Thanksgiving dinner originally planned for six, but now more than a dozen. When bodies begin dropping, starting during Sophie’s simply planned dinner, the question becomes: Who is trying to kill Sophie’s guests? How many will lay dead or wounded before an answer can be found? Who is creating this family disaster?
The Diva Runs Out of Thyme is as much comedy as mystery. The author has a light touch with her narrative, almost mirroring Sophie's approach to dining and decorating. Each chapter begins with letters to Sophie or Natasha (who, in addition to everything else they do, write competing columns in the newspaper) who offer in response witty, often realistically useful, suggestions on topics of cooking, table settings, even dealing with in-laws. The mystery isn't demanding, the story entertaining, and there's no mention of who's wearing what designer to be found; all in all, a really good book. This is a series worth watching.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Diva Runs Out of Thyme and to Krista Davis for providing a copy of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
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