Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery

Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery 

by Paula Darnell

 

 
Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery Cozy Mystery 
2nd in Series 
Cozy Cat Press (June 20, 2019) 
Print Length: 184 pages 
ASIN: B07T9PFYX3



DIY Diva Laurel McMillan rejoices when her student Jennifer's peacock pillow wins a design contest; that is, until Jennifer's husband Matt is smothered with the very same pillow.

When the police confiscate her prize-winning pillow, Jennifer freaks out, and Laurel fears that Jennifer may be more upset about losing the pillow than about Matt's death. But the police arrest disgraced nurse Edna Elkins, not Jennifer.

Begging Laurel to find the real killer, Edna insists she's innocent, but Laurel's not so sure, and when Laurel encounters Jennifer while walking her lovable Labrador retriever, Bear, she's left with more questions than answers.

Should the crafty DIY Diva play DIY Detective or does Edna really belong in jail?

Includes recipes and pillow project instructions.




When a second murder is committed in a gated community in Iowa, people are starting to wonder how well they really do know their neighbors and friends. 
Lauren McMillian teaches DIY classes to community members also also take part in other activities, such as a book club. While at a book club meeting the totally unexpected occurs - the hostess's husband dies, or rather is murdered. Does this mean one of the friends is responsible?
With a multitude of suspects and unclear motives, it seems suspect when an arrest is made almost immediately. Is this a matter of convenience or politics?

 With characters you grow to like and care about, descriptions of a winter so cold you will pull on a blanket covering even as you read in summer, and enough doubt to keep you guessing until the end, this well plotted mystery was an enjoyable escape read.
While things are wrapped up nicely, there is enough suspense about what the future may bring that I eagerly await further books in this series.



About Paula Darnell



An instructor at five colleges over the years, Paula Darnell most often taught the dreaded first-year English composition classes, but she’s also been happy to teach some fun classes, such as fashion design, sewing, and jewelry making. Paula has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Like Laurel, the main character in Death by Association, Paula enjoys all kinds of arts and crafts. Some of her memorable projects include making a hat and a cape to wear to Royal Ascot, sewing wedding gowns for both her daughters, exhibiting her textile and mixed-media artwork in juried art shows, and having one of her jewelry projects accepted for inclusion in Leather Jewelry, published by Lark Books. She sells some of her jewelry and hair accessories in her Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/PaulaDJewelry.
Paula’s interest in DIY craft projects and fashion led to her writing hundreds of articles for print and online national publications.
Living in a guard-gated community governed by a homeowners’ association gave Paula the idea for the setting of Death by Association. She finds that residing in an HOA community can be both a blessing and a curse. A Happy-New-Year greeting from her community association called on residents to “start the new year by reviewing your Rules and Regulations booklet,” something unlikely to top anyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions.
Paula lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Gary and their 110-pound dog Rocky, whose favorite pastime is lurking in the kitchen, hoping for a handout
Author Links
Author’s website – https://www.pauladarnellauthor.com/
Purchase Links – Amazon


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Comments

  1. PaulaDarnellAuthorAugust 23, 2019 at 11:55 AM

    Thank you for your nice review of Death by Design, A DIY diva Mystery. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book, and I hope other readers will, too.!
    Paula Darnell, Author

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kay GarrettAugust 23, 2019 at 12:39 PM

    Thank you for your review on "Death by Design" by Paula Darnell and for being part of the book tour.

    Have it on my TBR list.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete

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