Jean Harrington has a few surprises up her sleeve for her intrepid sleuth in Killer Kitchens. Please click HERE to read my review in its entirety. ( )

From the title, I thought it would be a culinary mystery but it is more of an interior design mystery.

Interior designer, Deva Dunne, has just finished designing her neighbor Chip's restaurant. She and her boyfriend, a police detective named Rossi, are set to enjoy a meal there when there's an explosion. Chip's landlord, Francesco Grandese, then hires Deva to design his Rum Row mansion. Deva is excited for the "money is no object" opportunity. Soon she's more embroiled in Grandese's life than she wants to be, over the objections of Rossi.

I didn't guess who the real killer was until it was revealed. There was a lot of double-dealing going on between many of the main characters so things weren't always as they seemed.

I hope that Chip and AnabelleAnn will make it. It seemed he loved her more than she loved him--but maybe she's seen the light and will appreciate what she has. I was also glad that Chip might get the money he found. After everything that happened to him, he deserves some good news.

I was surprised Nikhil was allowed to pain his rented space. I always thought that it wasn't allowed in rented apartments.

I hope Paolo and Lee make it too. I wonder how long they will spend in Paris. It sure sounds like Deva needs her as an assistant--or at least Deva needs another assistant since her store was closed more than it was open and that can't be good for business. I wonder if Deva got her $100K from the check she cashed or if she had to give it back as part of the investigation. ( )

In book three of Jean Harrington’s Murders By Design series, interior designer Deva Dunne has her work cut out for her when wealthy client Francesco hires her to decorate his new mansion. Thrilled at the prospect, Deva barely gets started before murder enters the picture. First her friend Chip’s new restaurant blows up. Is it a coincidence that Francesco owned the building? Another victim points to Francesco as the intended target, but who’d want him out of the way and why? You’ll wish you could hire someone as tenacious as Deva. She won’t let go until she finds just the right pattern, whether it’s to solve a mystery or to buy you a new couch. Murder, suspense, and romance mix together in this engaging mystery. Likeable characters and a fast-moving plot will have you looking for the next book in this series. ( )