The Diva Says Cheesecake! (A Domestic Diva Mystery, #15), by Krista Davis

If you like cheesecake, you'll not only thoroughly enjoy this book but get hungry while reading it. Let's just say lots of food and cheesecake involved. This is the 15th in the Domestic Diva series and although I had read some of the earlier books, I wondered if new readers would grasp what was going on with the letters to Sophie and Natasha seeking advice that started each chapter. It was fun, of course, to see how they blended into the story but that wasn't evident at the beginning. Other than that nitpick, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

A seemingly well liked restaurant owner has been found dead. Initially, it appears it may have been as the result of an accident. Sophie, on hand when the body was discovered, had doubts, however. It isn't long before she is busy asking questions and gathering clues. She has the help of her loyal circle of friends and always seems to be dishing up a yummy meal or snack for them as the discuss their own hunches and findings. There are several suspects and so many twists and red herrings that it can almost make you shake your head in an attempt to shake everything into place. I liked how her friends pulled together to solve the crime, at times even rescuing Sophie from danger. I also liked how well Sophie was able to keep her cool when finally confronting the killer, using only her wits to escape.

The contrast between Sophie and Natasha provides some humor, with Sophie seeming to have more common sense. But, wait, what do any of those seemingly innocuous letters seeking advice have to do with the murder? Who is that tall woman both the murder victim and friend who is soon targeted as the chief suspect, were seen talking with? Fish fraud? Huh? Will Spence ever have a relationship with his biological father? How does Coach fit into the whole thing? Would you go out walking your dog if someone had just attacked you? Why did Natasha throw a cheesecake in a smarthy wannabe beau's face? What is the cheesecake queen's role in all this? All these questions and more are answered in this intricate path t0 the solution of the murder. Grab a piece of cheesecake, some tea, and settle in for an enjoyable ride.

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to visit Sophie and friends. My Daisy dog was happy to come along for the ride and meet Sophie's Daisy, too.