Dec. 4, 2013

Staged to Death

 

My Review:

5 stars

Ms. Smith brings us a wonderful mystery interlaced with suspense and a little romance.  The plot flows effortlessly.  Her use of true to life dialogue that details family and relationship concerns will draw the reader in and keep them turning pages until the end.  She introduces us to warm, loving characters of strong morals and values. This is a book for anyone who loves to read a good story and loves to read.  I am looking forward to reading the next one.

 

 

 

A lot of people are or have been affected by the economic downturn, Caprice DeLuca is no different.  She was an interior designer, but now stages homes for quick sales in the real estate market. She has a variety of clients and homes, so she must have a vivid imagination to see potential and various sources who enable her to find needed items to make her vision complete. This last home owned by Roz and Ted Winslow is quiet a challenge.  First, the house is in the shape of a castle that Ted built for Roz 5 years ago and second, he refuses to lock up his prized collection of swords and daggers for the upcoming open house. Caprice hires extra guards to provide security.  The open house is well attended and as Caprice is circulating she happens upon Ted in a locked embrace with a woman who is Not his wife. Caprice gives this much thought and consideration over the weekend and decides she must tell Roz, but before the opportunity arises she finds Ted stabbed to death with one of his own prized daggers. As many factors begin to surface, it now looks as though Roz is the prime suspect for the murder.  Caprice being Caprice, she feels she must help Roz, who is a good friend from high school, clear her name.  She figures since she knows how to tract down special items for her home staging business that this couldn't be much different.  She watches crime dramas on television and knows you start by finding clues and asking lots of questions, so that's where she will start.  The problem arises that she has more clues which leads to more questions and someone doesn't like the questions she is asking. 

Who killed Ted?  Will Caprice find the answers to her questions? Has her questions drawn the attention of the killer?

 

Meet the Author:

 

http://www.karenrosesmith.com/index.html

 

Karen Rose Smith's plots are all about emotion. She began writing in her early teens when she listened to music and created stories to accompany the songs. After expressing feelings in poetry, earning a degree in English and French, completing short stories that became too long to find a market, she turned to her fascination with relationships, writing romances and now mysteries. This award-winning best-selling author (USA Today List, Borders Bestseller List, Amazon Romance Bestseller lists) will see her 80th novel released in 2013. She has published with Silhouette, Harlequin, Kensington and Meteor/Kismet. Her awards include two Golden Leaf awards in short contemporary romance, the Golden Quill in traditional romance, two cataromance.com's awards for Best Special Editions and Romance Review's Today's Best series romance award.

She has been busy reformatting her backlist for sale on Kindle. In addition, she writes Harlequin Special Editions and will see the debut of a mystery series for Kensington soon. Readers can follow her on Facebook (Search--Karen Rose Smith)or on Twitter @karenrosesmith. She welcomes interaction with her readers on either social network and would love to chat about plotlines, titles, emotions, heroes, heroines, music, books, gardening, cooking, or anything else readers deem noteworthy!

This book was given to me by the author for an honest opinion as I have expressed here.