Shades of Wrath

Karen Rose Smith

Nov 2016 · A Caprice De Luca Mystery Book 6 · Kensington Cozies

About this ebook

She’s making over a mansion for a good cause—but her client just met a bad end in this novel by the USA Today–bestselling author.
 
Between her booming business, her family, and her work rescuing stray animals, home stager Caprice De Luca’s life is packed. But when a murder unsettles peaceful Kismet, Pennsylvania, she adds amateur sleuth to her resume.
 
Thanks to a wealthy patron, Kismet’s women's shelter, Sunrise Tomorrow, has inherited a run-down mansion. Now the shelter’s director, Wendy Newcomb, wants Caprice’s decorating expertise. Caprice is happy to help, but when she glimpses a few heated encounters between Wendy and some locals, she fears that Wendy may be in need of protection herself.
 
When Wendy is found dead inside the old house, Caprice is compelled to poke around in her affairs—and discovers she had her share of enemies. Now, with countless clients, a TV gig that could make her a household name, and rumors of a marriage proposal on its way, Caprice must find time to design an investigation that will lure a crafty killer into the wide open—before someone else winds up in a state of permanent disrepair . . .
 
“The author’s plotting skills are impressive.” —New York Journal of Books

Ratings and reviews

Shades of Wrath by Karen Rose Smith is the sixth book in A Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery. Caprice is a home stager and interior designer in Kismet, Pennsylvania. Sunrise Tomorrow, a women’s shelter started by Wendy Newcomb, has just inherited the Wyatt estate. Sunrise Tomorrow will now be able to provide long-term housing in this new facility. Wendy has asked Caprice to submit design ideas for the space. Caprice goes to meet Wendy at the Wyatt mansion and finds her dead in the entry with the balustrade broken above. Wendy had called Caprice the previous evening asking for Detective Brett Carstead’s phone number and mentioned blackmail (and now she is dead). Caprice, of course, starts investigating to find out who would have wanted to hurt Wendy. Caprice gets a call from Roland Vaughn of Vaughn Contracting. Roland builds homes in Maryland and is having a televised contest. He has three new model homes that need decorating. Caprice and two other designers will each get a home to design. The viewers will vote for their favorite design and designer. The winner will get a contract for design three model homes (and could lead to more work after that). Caprice cannot pass up this wonderful opportunity and finds a way to fit in among her other work and her sleuthing. The romance between Caprice and Grant is heating up now that Grant has resolved issues with his ex-wife (over the loss of their little girl). There are also some adorable little kittens that need a forever home, and Caprice knows the person who can use two little balls of fluff in their life. Caprice has a full life and just the right vintage fashion for each occasion. Shades of Wrath is a chance to catch up on the life of Caprice De Luca as well as her family and friends (and do not forget the animals). While this is the sixth book in the series, it can be read alone. The author does provide the information the reader needs to enjoy the book. We get updates on Vincent, Bella, Nikki (Caprice’s brother and sisters) as well as her Uncle Dom. Nana dishes out advice to Caprice and Seth (Caprice’s old love interest) stops by for a visit. Shades of Wrath is easy to read (the author has a nice conversational style of writing) and has engaging characters (most of them are in Caprice’s family). Karen Rose Smith adroitly handles the sensitive subject of spousal abuse. I give Shades of Wrath 3.5 out of 5 stars. As with many of the cozy mysteries I have read lately, the mystery was not the primary focus of the book. The whodunit is like a supporting actor in a television show (they are present, but they never get to be the star). I believe most readers will be able to solve the crime (narrow list of suspects). The ending will make fans of the series very pleased.

This is part of a mystery series staring Caprice De Luca who is designer and animal rescuer. On her new case she is going to remodel an old home for a women's shelter when the director is found dead at the Mansion. This is the first mystery that I've read by this author however have read other of her books in romance. Enjoyed the suspense and characters and charmed by the appearance of "Sunnybud". Recommend this author and series of mysteries with task now to go back and read the first books to enjoy. Ebook from Netgalley and publisher with thanks.. Opinions are entirely my own.

About the author

Karen Rose Smith is the author of seven Caprice De Luca home-staging mysteries. Married to her college sweetheart, Karen has convinced her husband that felines can make purr-fect housemates. They share their home in the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania with their three rescued cats. For more about Karen, please visit her website www.karenrosesmithmysteries.com.