New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis is known for cozy mysteries set in and around Virginia. She writes three mystery series: the Domestic Diva Mysteries, the Paws & Claws Mysteries and the Pen & Ink Mysteries. Her books mix murder with food, pets and friends you would like to have. Below you will find her full book list in order, the newest releases and our reviews.
Who Is Krista Davis? About the Cozy Mystery Author
Author Krista Davis grew up devouring Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Agatha Christie. She lived in Northern Virginia for many years. For a time she lived in Old Town Alexandria, the setting of her first series. Today she lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with an assortment of dogs and cats.
She made her debut in 2008 with The Diva Runs Out of Thyme. Several of her books have been nominated for the Agatha Award. Like her Domestic Diva protagonist, Sophie Winston, she loves to entertain friends and family. She would also just as soon leave cleaning to someone else.
Her own pets walk straight into her books. Her Jack Russell Terrier, Buttercup, inspired Trixie. A rescued calico kitten became Twinkletoes. Mochie, the Ocicat in the Domestic Diva books, is based on her own cat.
Krista Davis Book List: All Three Mystery Series in Order
Read each series separately, in publication order. Every mystery is solved by the last chapter, but the characters grow from book to book.
Domestic Diva Mysteries
Domestic Diva Sophie Winston is an event planner and Virginia’s favorite entertaining guru. The books are set in Old Town, Alexandria. Her rival is Natasha, a local celebrity who also happens to be living with Sophie’s ex-husband. Bodies turn up at parties, and every book ends with recipes and entertaining tips. See our full Domestic Diva Mysteries series guide for a one-line summary of each book.
- The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (2008)
- The Diva Takes the Cake (2009)
- The Diva Paints the Town (2009)
- The Diva Cooks a Goose (2010)
- The Diva Haunts the House (2011)
- The Diva Digs Up the Dirt (2012)
- The Diva Frosts a Cupcake (2013)
- The Diva Wraps It Up (2014)
- The Diva Steals a Chocolate Kiss (2015)
- The Diva Serves High Tea (2016)
- The Diva Cooks Up a Storm (2018)
- The Diva Sweetens the Pie (2019)
- The Diva Spices It Up (2020)
- The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit (2021)
- The Diva Says Cheesecake! (2022)
- The Diva Delivers on a Promise (2023)
- The Diva Goes Overboard (2024)
- The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg (2025)
- The Diva Hosts a Murderer (2026)
Paws & Claws Mysteries
Wagtail, Virginia, is the country’s premiere vacation spot for pet owners, a pet-friendly getaway where cats and dogs are welcome everywhere. Holly Miller runs the Sugar Maple Inn on Wagtail Mountain with her grandmother, Oma, who is also the town’s mayor. Trixie and Twinkletoes, her Jack Russell Terrier and calico cat, sniff out clues before any human in the town of Wagtail does. The first book was a New York Times bestseller.
- Murder, She Barked (2013)
- The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer (2014)
- Murder Most Howl (2015)
- Mission Impawsible (2017)
- Not a Creature Was Purring (2017)
- The Dog Who Knew Too Much (2019)
- Big Little Spies (2021)
- A Good Dog’s Guide to Murder (2022)
- The Dog Across the Lake (2024)
- The Wagtail Murder Club (2025)
Pen & Ink Mysteries
By day, Florrie Fox manages the Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. By night, she draws coloring books for adults. Each book includes a front and back cover for you to color, so it is a mystery and a puzzle in one.
- Color Me Murder (2018)
- The Coloring Crook (2018)
- Murder Outside the Lines (2021)
- A Colorful Scheme (2022)
She has also written a novella, Dead Eye Gravy (2011), and a story in the anthology Fish Tales (2011).
New Krista Davis Books and Upcoming Releases
The newest Domestic Diva mystery is The Diva Hosts a Murderer, published in May 2026. Sophie juggles Fourth of July fireworks, a house full of guests and a homicide. When a tour guide is killed, the DNA points to her own father, and Sophie has to find the real culprit. In the book before it, The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg (2025), local designer Mitzi Lawson fears that her business partner, Denise, was murdered.
The latest Paws & Claws book is The Wagtail Murder Club. Holly finds a black Labrador in a cage by the road, with a note on his collar: his name is Squishy. Then an attorney dies in a fall at the inn. Holly bands together with her mom, her grandmother and the elderly butler, Mr. Huckle, to uncover the killer and the truth about Squishy.
Next up is book 20 of the Domestic Diva Mysteries, The Diva Toasts a Killer, announced for May 2027.
Where to Start With Krista Davis Mysteries
If you love cooking and entertaining, start with the first book about amateur sleuth Sophie. If you are a pet lover, begin with Murder, She Barked. Dogs and cats help Holly catch the killer in every case. If you like books and drawing, the four Pen & Ink Mysteries are the shortest series to finish. All three are classic cozy mysteries, with an amateur sleuth, a small community and no graphic violence.
Books by Krista Davis Reviewed on This Site
Our The Diva Runs Out of Thyme review covers the first Domestic Diva mystery. Expect Thanksgiving, a stuffing contest and the first body in Old Town.
Frequently Asked Questions About Krista Davis
What are the books in Krista Davis’ Domestic Diva Mystery series?
There are 19 books so far, from The Diva Runs Out of Thyme (2008) to The Diva Hosts a Murderer (2026). The full list is above.
What other book series has Krista Davis written?
Besides the popular Domestic Diva Mysteries, she writes the Paws & Claws Mysteries (10 books) and the Pen & Ink Mysteries (4 books).
How old is Krista Davis, the author?
She has not shared her date of birth publicly. What we know is that she has been publishing mysteries since 2008.
Where can I find a list of Krista Davis’ books?
This page has the full bibliography, series by series. Her official website, kristadavis.com, lists new titles and release dates. You can also find her books on Amazon and in most bookstores.
Is Krista Davis the same person as Kristin Davis?
No. Kristin Davis is the actress, famous for playing Charlotte in Sex and the City. Krista Davis is the mystery writer from Virginia.
Which authors are similar to Krista Davis?
If you like her books, try Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen Mysteries or Jenn McKinlay. For more humor and romance, read Janet Evanovich.