The Parlor PI's discussion

Well, we are onto the very first "Diva" book. We've read at least two others in this group already, if I have my thoughts correct.

We meet our heroine, Sophie Winston, right off the bat and learn a bit about her. She is recently divorced from Mars (short for Marshall, I didn't know that) who is now dating Sophie's friend and nemesis, Natasha Smith, a "lifestyle" guru. Sophie is a party planner of some success, and her food preparation shows in this and later books.

Here, Sophie's parents and sister (and sister's fiance) are also living with her. Her best friend, Nina, lives across the street and she has an odd, elderly neighbor, Francie, who lives in the neighborhood as well.

The neighborhood is in tony old town Alexandria, just across the river from Washington DC. (I've been there a number of times myself and it is a charming, though very pricey area.)

Right off the bat, Sophie finds a body in a dumpster at the grocery store where she is buying ingredients for her contribution to a stuffing competition on Thanksgiving.

She meets two cops, one not nice and one possibly nice.

Discuss!

First of all, I love Nina Reid Norwood - I want a bff just like her! She's funny and you can tell right from the start that she'll always have Sophie's back. I also think that it's great that Sophie's lifelong friend/nemesis will now be her business rival of sorts with their dueling advice columns.

Will finish reading through to chapter 11 (not quite there yet) and add more to the discussion. :-)

Has anyone asked Krista to stop in?

I got my copy and will start presently.

I did wonder why the name "Mars", thanks for the info Mark.

I keep thinking of a Mars candy bar LOL

Thanks, Mark! You give good hosting!

I think Mars as in planet for he is outta this world wrong for leaving Sophie!

Bravo to the author. Even as first in a series, she comes in a seasoned whodunit weaver. No soft start. She's got the goods. Just started but loving the story already!

Mini spoiler -- Who's lurking? How about the kitten? Aww.

Going along with what Tina says, Sophie seems very much fleshed out the way she is in future books.

As far as "Mars" goes, I'm not sure that is explained anywhere else but this book!

I'm not through the first section completely either. It is difficult for me to pace myself in these things. I sometimes want to cruise ahead, but have to balance not giving future spoilers with forgetting what has happened if I wait to move on!

Anyway, we already have two bodies and they seem completely unrelated, other than that Sophie found them. Could any of this be connected with the mixed up herbs at the contest?

Just arriving at the competition and already Natasha is giving Sophie some jazz...but she anticipated and was ready for it! ;-)

Mark, I was wondering how Mochie got his name and now I know. I don't think this either is covered in forthcoming books in the series.

Clearly, we all should have read this book first!

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Clearly, we all should have read this book first!"

Looks that way, Pghfan. Yet, when I read it, some things (like the dumpster incident) seem familiar. Either that or I read a similar scene in another book.

Tina, yes, we did read a book with the heroine finding a body in a dumpster, but I don't think it was in the Diva series. I can't remember the book, though.

As we move along through this section, we are culminating on Thanksgiving dinner at Sophie's house. The relatively small dinner originally planned, has expanded HUGELY! Not really a spoiler, but by my count, there are 15 people: Sophie, her Mom and Dad, her sister Hannah and the fiance, Craig, June (Mars' mother), Mars and Natasha, Andrew (Mars' brother) and his girlfriend Vicki, Bernie, the Colonel neighbor, and now Humphrey (whom Sophie's mother brought as a date for Sophie, the detective Wolf, and crazy neighbor Francie. Plus Daisy, Moochie and the colonel's dog MacArthur. Should we count the deceased Faye? Whew!!

(And you're welcome for summarizing most of the characters in the book for you. The living ones, anyway.)

And if Natasha came to my house and criticized things like she did to Sophie, I wouldn't be nearly so kind!

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Tina, yes, we did read a book with the heroine finding a body in a dumpster, but I don't think it was in the Diva series. I can't remember the book, though."

Then I'm not hallucinating, Pghfan. lol It does feel familiar. Could it have been at the old place? Either way, it's a good read. Enjoying the holiday feel.

Do you have your turkey for Friendsgiving Day feast, Pghfan! Or are you going vegan? Do tell!

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Tina, yes, we did read a book with the heroine finding a body in a dumpster, but I don't think it was in the Diva series. I can't remember the book, though."

Mark, I do love the fact that you're including Faye! :-D

Tina, Certainly not going vegan for Friendsgiving, or any other time! (I did do a vegetarian dinner once, very out of my comfort zone, though it worked very nicely.)

Traditional stuff--turkey, cornbread dressing, butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable (that does change) and pecan and pumpkin pie.

I just finished chapter 11 last night and will start on the next section tomorrow. Meanwhile, things are moving FAST in this book. I'm enjoying it very much.

If you are that far in the book, let me ask: would you be as open to adding all the people to Thanksgiving dinner as Sophie was?

Stop it. Stop it...unless you share your cornbread dressing recipe with us. lol And Wow. What a feast, Pghfan! Nice!

It is a good read, Pghfan. Lots of fitting holiday spirit!

Not up to 11 yet but when I am, I'll weigh in.

I will have to find the online menu for the Thanksgiving Buffet we're going to. It's to die for! We have gone several years in a row and it's always so good...and no cooking for me! My favorite is their butternut squash soup.

NicoleG wrote: "I will have to find the online menu for the Thanksgiving Buffet we're going to. It's to die for! We have gone several years in a row and it's always so good...and no cooking for me! My favorite is ..."

We had Thanksgiving out for many years in a row but last few we've had it at home. I'd so much rather dine out but SO wants it at home. Boo!

Is it wrong for a reader to be glad when a character gets iced? A friend wants to know. ;-)

Another first for me is when Sophie meets Wolf. This installment has that for sure. And what a way to meet. LOL

Are we ready to move on? I'll start the next section and join in when you can.

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Are we ready to move on? I'll start the next section and join in when you can."

Purr-fect, PI Pghfan!

Tina, Here is the Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing recipe. Feel free to adapt it. I do it a bit different each time.

Cornbread-Sausage Dressing
12 oz Breakfast Sausage
4 T Butter
2 Onions, medium, chopped coarse
2 stalks Celery, chopped coarse
1 med Granny Smith apple, peeled, chopped in ½ in cubes
½ c Dried cherries or cranberries (chop the cherries)
3 T Fresh Thyme, minced
2 T Fresh Sage, minced
2 large eggs
1 c Chicken or turkey broth
1 t Salt
½ t Pepper
4 c Dried bread cubes
4 c Dried cornbread, cubed
1 c Pecans chopped coarse
¼ c Parsley, chopped

Sauté the sausage in large skillet. Add onions and celery, sauté until softened. Add apples, cherries or cranberries, thyme, sage, and sauté until apples soften. Cool mixture to room temperature.

Whisk eggs, stock, salt and pepper in large bowl. Add bread cubes, cornbread, sausage-vegetable mixture, pecans and parsley. Mix gently to coat (try not to break up bread and cornbread too much.)

Place in 13X9 baking dish and bake at 350o, covered with buttered aluminum foil until warmed through, about 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5-10 minutes, or until top crisps.

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Tina, Here is the Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing recipe. Feel free to adapt it. I do it a bit different each time.

Cornbread-Sausage Dressing
12 oz Breakfast Sausage
4 T Butter
2 Onions, medium, chopp..."

Oh, thanks so much, Mark! Checking out the ingredients now. ;-)

I do not think I'd be up to making a turkey dinner for all those people after just finding two dead bodies. No thanks. I'd have too decompress, catch up on sleep and hope that I could still find reservations this late in the game.

Tina wrote: "I do not think I'd be up to making a turkey dinner for all those people after just finding two dead bodies. No thanks. I'd have too decompress, catch up on sleep and hope that I could still find re..."

I might be at the Panera counter ordering a turkey panini. ;-)

Tina wrote: "Mark Pghfan wrote: "Tina, Here is the Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing recipe. Feel free to adapt it. I do it a bit different each time.

Cornbread-Sausage Dressing
12 oz Breakfast Sausage
4 T Butter
2 O..."

OMG, I need to make this, too! Thanks Mark! :-)

You are welcome. We will here in the discussion before Thanksgiving, but have a happy one, lest I forget! And enjoy the dressing! (I just love the cooking for Thanksgiving!)

Mark Pghfan wrote: "You are welcome. We will here in the discussion before Thanksgiving, but have a happy one, lest I forget! And enjoy the dressing! (I just love the cooking for Thanksgiving!)"

Happy Thanksgiving Day to you and those you love, Pghfan.