Customer Reviews

Death by Inferior Design (Domestic Bliss Mysteries)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although still well within my definition of formulaic, this debut novel in the Domestic Bliss series is also refreshing and entertaining. There were some unfortunate typos and the occasional bit of grammatical license that left my head spinning, but otherwise the book is competently written. The two main characters are somewhat stereotypical, but their personalities may take on more original aspects as the series continues. I like mysteries that may be classified as American cozies, and this is another fine addition to the genre. I look forward to reading the rest of the series, but hope the author takes time to describe the locale and expand her characters to make them more original.

As an advid reader w/a passionate love for good mysteries, I'm often leary of reading mysteries by unfamiliar authors for fear of being dissapointed, but won an advance copy from the publisher to be a "reader reviewer" & am so glad I signed up for the drawing. As a fan of programmes such as Changing Rooms & House Invaders, I knew that the interior design bits would definitely appeal to me. I've been reading mysteries since I was 6 years old & yet this book kept me guessing until almost the very end as to the identity of the culprit(s) & motive(s). Ms Caine really makes you care about her characters. I can hardly wait to add more books by Ms Caine to my ever growing book collection.

I enjoyed this author's "Fax" series, and I enjoyed the debut of this new series as well.

I did find the story a tad bit predictable, since I figured out fairly early who the murderer was. I also thought having these three couples so interconnected through affairs and other relationships made for a bit of confusion. And the thing that got me most was that the author didn't let us know until well into the story why Erin had chosen to move to this town, so until that point, I had a hard time getting past the coincidence of her ending up there.

The only other problem I had was with the "Gilbert and Sullivan" naming convention -- only because it's already being used in Selma Eichler's wonderful Desiree Shapiro series.

Looking forward to the next installment.

Erin Gilbert has been hired to redo their bedroom by Carl Henderson. He is surprising his wife. When Erin arrives, she finds out that her competitor, Steve Sullivan, has been hired to redo the neighbor's den. Apparently a competition has been set up between the two by a third neighbor, Randy Axelrod. He plans to write a story on the winner for his magazine Denver Lifestyles. Neither Erin or Steve knew about this, but they accept the contest as they could use the free publicity.

Carl's son, Taylor, is to be the carpenter for both designers. Erin soon discovers that he isn't the easiest to work with, nor is he the best carpenter. But due to time and money constraints, she vows to do the best she can with what she has to work with.

While removing the paneling in Carl's bedroom, Erin discovers her baby picture and some letters. She was adopted, but her mother made her swear, before she died, to never search for her biological parents. Could they be one of these neighbors? Erin has a tough time knowing what to do.

Then Randy keels over and dies at the hospital. Apparently he was poisoned. Someone shoots at Erin's car.

Things keep heating up and Erin soon feels she has to discover the truth about her adoption, as well as figure out who killed Randy.

I enjoyed Erin Gilbert and the tension between her and Steve Sullivan. The contest was very believable with all the reality t.v. shows. But since I'm not into interior design, I found there to often be too much description for my liking. Plus I felt that 372 pages was a bit too long. I do plan to read more in this series as they are published, because I enjoyed Gilbert and Sullivan. I just hope they aren't all as many pages. I recommend this book.

This book has it all. Main characters that are both interesting and likable, dark secrets, a hint of romance and enough possible suspects to keep everyone guessing.

At times this book was a bit hokey especially in the abundance of mental wisecracking going on in Erin's head but overall it was a fun mystery and this Colorado setting is wonderful! I look forward to the next one, I must admit I didn't guess the solution to the possible and that's already a wonderful start for a series for me!

This first in the new series features interior designer Erin Gilbert who finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation while participating in a design competition with her business rival, Steve Sullivan. The mystery reminds me of the classic 'locked room' mystery with a small group of interconnected suspects. There were lots of design tidbits throughout the story, and while some of the descriptions were a bit long for me (I am interested in design, but only up to a point), they added a unique dimension to the book. The main character is interesting and easy to care about. I'll seek out the next in the series.

As a gift to his wife, Carl Henderson hires interior designer Erin Gilbert to redo their bedroom. When Erin arrives at her client's home, she finds her competitor Steve Sullivan is redesigning the den of the Henderson's neighbor Kevin McBride. A third neighbor Randy Axelrod sets up a competition between the rival designers with the winner getting a story in his magazine Denver Lifestyles. Erin and Steve accept the contest because both know that the free publicity should bring many new customers.

Carl's son Taylor works with both designers. He opens a bottle of cyanide that is in the back of Erin's van. She notices some missing, but he denies taking any when she confronts him. Later that day, Randy keels over; he dies at the hospital. Erin's information leads to a toxic screening that shows he died from poisoning. Erin has a second reason to regret taking the job when she finds her baby picture on Carl's wall. Having been adopted, she believes her biological parent is nearby. Not long afterward, someone shoots at her car. Although she promised her adopted mom to not seek her biological parents, events force her to reconsider her vow before a killer murders her too.

The Crestview, Colorado neighborhood where all the action occurs seems so middle class with family values that the right wing would showcase it as the real America, but underneath the veneer are marriages on the rocks. Each family wants Erin to decorate a part of their house and though she knows to stay aloof, she is drawn into their lives. DEATH BY INFERIOR DESIGN is an exciting opening act of an amateur sleuth series starring a delightful beleaguered protagonist.

Harriet Klausner