The Domestic Diva Mysteries are a cozy mystery series by New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis. Event planner Sophie Winston hosts dinners, throws holiday parties and solves murders in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The series has 19 books so far. Below you will find the full reading order, the newest book and where to start.
What Is the Domestic Diva Mystery Series About?
Amateur sleuth Sophie Winston is an entertaining guru. The publisher calls her a young Martha Stewart in the making. She is newly divorced, lives in a historic house and knows how to feed forty guests without breaking a sweat. Bodies, however, keep turning up at her parties.
Her rival is local celebrity Natasha Smith, who has her own TV show. She sees herself as the town’s true domestic diva. Worse, Sophie’s ex-husband, Mars, left her for Natasha. The feud with rival domestic diva Natasha is the running joke of the book series, and it never gets old.
The cast includes Sophie’s best friend Nina, her friend Bernie, her sister Hannah and Detective Wolf. Every book is set in Old Town, the historic heart of Alexandria. Each chapter opens with two tips: a practical one from Sophie and an absurd one from Natasha. The books also end with delicious recipes, so readers can cook what Sophie serves.
Who Is the Author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries?
Krista Davis is the author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries, the Paws & Claws Mysteries and the Pen & Ink Mysteries. She debuted in 2008 with The Diva Runs Out of Thyme. She once lived in Old Town Alexandria herself, which is why the streets and kitchens in the books feel so real. Today she lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her dogs and cats.
Domestic Diva Mysteries in Order: All Books in This Series
Here is the complete series by Krista Davis in publication order. This is also the correct reading order.
- The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (2008) – Thanksgiving, a stuffing contest and the first body.
- The Diva Takes the Cake (2009) – In the second Domestic Diva mystery, Sophie’s sister Hannah is getting married. Again.
- The Diva Paints the Town (2009) – Her reclusive neighbor, Professor Mordecai Artemus, leaves his house to his Pomeranian.
- The Diva Cooks a Goose (2010) – A Scrooge steals the Christmas gifts from her family and neighbors.
- The Diva Haunts the House (2011) – A Halloween haunted house turns deadly.
- The Diva Digs Up the Dirt (2012) – Natasha refuses to be a garden-variety diva and takes over Sophie’s backyard for TV.
- The Diva Frosts a Cupcake (2013) – A cupcake war ends in murder.
- The Diva Wraps It Up (2014) – An office Christmas party ends with a fall from a balcony.
- The Diva Steals a Chocolate Kiss (2015) – A chocolate shop’s anniversary turns sour.
- The Diva Serves High Tea (2016) – A new tea parlour opens in Old Town.
- The Diva Cooks Up a Storm (2018) – A secret dinner club leaves guests under the table.
- The Diva Sweetens the Pie (2019) – A celebrity judge dies at the Pie Festival.
- The Diva Spices It Up (2020) – A celebrity ghostwriter dies on the job.
- The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit (2021) – Members of a tour group start dropping all over town.
- The Diva Says Cheesecake! (2022) – Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake, hires Sophie for a waterfront dinner.
- The Diva Delivers on a Promise (2023) – A perfect lunch table, and a dead man on the floor.
- The Diva Goes Overboard (2024) – Natasha plans her mother’s wedding, and the engagement party turns fatal.
- The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg (2025) – Stylish brunches, a missing designer and a house full of secrets.
- The Diva Hosts a Murderer (2026) – The Fourth of July, a house full of guests and a murder.
How Many Books Are in the Domestic Diva Series?
There are 19 books in the Domestic Diva Mystery series. The first came out in 2008 and the latest in May 2026. Krista Davis has already announced book 20, The Diva Toasts a Killer, for May 2027. That makes it one of the longest-running culinary cozy mystery series in print.
The Newest Domestic Diva Mystery: The Diva Hosts a Murderer
The latest domestic diva culinary mystery is The Diva Hosts a Murderer, published on May 26, 2026. Sophie’s widowed Aunt Melly has married a stranger in Las Vegas. The whole family arrives for the Fourth of July. Then Sophie’s favorite tour guide is killed, and the DNA points to her own father.
The book before it, The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg, is set during the brunch season. Local designer Mitzi Lawson loses her business partner, Denise, and fears it was murder. A self-proclaimed etiquette expert and a scheming mistress join a long list of suspects to keep the diva scrambling. Fans waiting for Krista Davis’s new Domestic Diva mystery should read it first.
Where to Start the Domestic Diva Series
Start with book one. Each mystery is solved by the last chapter, but the characters grow from book to book. Sophie’s divorce, the rivalry with Natasha and her friendship with Detective Wolf all begin in the first novel. Our The Diva Runs Out of Thyme review tells you what to expect from the opener.
Domestic Diva Books Reviewed on This Site
Cozy Mystery Series Like the Domestic Diva Mysteries
If you love food, friends and a small-town murder, these series are a good next read:
- Hannah Swensen Mysteries – Joanne Fluke’s baker solves crimes in Minnesota, with recipes in every book. Try our Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder review.
- Cupcake Bakery Mysteries – Jenn McKinlay’s bakers catch killers in Scottsdale. See our Sprinkle with Murder review.
- Library Lover’s Mysteries – also by Jenn McKinlay, set in a seaside library.
- Paws & Claws Mysteries – Krista Davis’s other series, set in the pet-friendly town of Wagtail.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Domestic Diva Mysteries
Who wrote the Domestic Diva Mysteries?
Krista Davis, a bestselling author from Virginia. The series is her longest and best known.
Do you need to read the Domestic Diva series in order?
No, each book works as a standalone mystery. Still, reading in order is more fun, because Sophie’s private life moves forward in every book.
What is a cozy mystery series?
A cozy mystery is a gentle crime novel. The sleuth is an amateur, the setting is a small community, and the violence stays off the page. A cozy mystery series follows the same heroine and town through many books.
Is the Domestic Diva series a paranormal cozy mystery?
No, it is a culinary cozy with no ghosts or magic. If you want a paranormal cozy, try Janet Evanovich’s Lizzy and Diesel books. Our Wicked Appetite review is a good place to start.
Are there recipes in the Domestic Diva books?
Yes. Every book includes recipes and entertaining tips from Sophie, from Thanksgiving stuffing to Flag Cake.