THE DIVA POACHES A BAD EGG

Domestic diva Sophie Winston continues to extend her uncanny knack for attracting and solving murders in Alexandra, Virginia.

Beyond writing her popular advice column, Sophie dabbles in various activities, including cooking and decorating, but she’s still surprised when interior designer Mitzi Lawson approaches her at the House and Home Expo in Washington, D.C., and invites her to meet the next morning at the Inger House in Old Town Alexandria, where they both live, and to come in through the back door. Arriving for the meeting, Sophie discovers homeowner Denise Nofsinger’s lifeless body on the kitchen floor. She joins Officer Wong in conducting a search of the house, a large and impressive structure undergoing renovations to accommodate Denise and her husband, Mike. Despite the Inger name, the house has long been in the possession of the Nofsinger family, and various members have resided there. Meanwhile, Sophie’s adversary-turned-friend, Natasha, convinces her to help plan a brunch to be filmed for a TV show. When Mitzi finally gets in touch with Sophie, she claims she’s being stalked and insists that she’ll be the next to die. Sophie’s discovery of a tracking device in Mitzi’s purse provides concrete evidence of the stalker’s existence. It turns out that Denise, who suffered from diabetes, had been administered an overdose of insulin, which caused her death. Sophie partners with her former romantic interest, police Detective Wolf, on a sting operation to apprehend the stalker. There’ll be another murder and the discovery of a skeleton concealed within a wall. In response, Sophie and her companions use their local knowledge in hopes of apprehending the murderer.

This long-running series skillfully weaves together elements of mystery with practical household tips and appended recipes.