Drape Expectations by Karen Rose Smith is the fourth book in the “Caprice De Luca” mystery series. Publisher: Kensington, July 2015

Caprice De Luca’s former client and now friend Ace Richland–an 80’s rock star–asks her for a favor. Can she quickly stage his girlfriend’s house to sell? Widow Alanna Goodwin, a transplanted Southern beauty, will be moving in with him! Immediately Caprice realizes Alanna’s southern charm can be turned on and off at will. Caprice agrees to stage Alanna’s Kismet antebellum-styled mansion for Ace’s sake. But she soon learns Alanna doesn’t have a genuine love for her cat Mirabelle and also uncovers a plot her new client is hatching to sabotage Ace’s comeback. However, before she can tell Ace, Alanna is murdered and Ace is the prime suspect.

As Caprice investigates, she learns Alanna had more secrets than pie safes. With her Cocker Spaniel Lady by her side, she tracks down clues and adopts Alanna’s cat. In the midst of some of her own family upheaval–her uncle has moved in with her parents–she finds herself with a dilemma. Grant Weatherford, her brother’s law partner, advises Ace and reveals more of his past to her. Seth Randolph, the doctor she dates, wants her to meet his family. She must choose between them.

Danger stalks Caprice. Will her refresher self-defense course save her life? Only if she keeps her wits about her and Lady by her side.

I like it. Once again Caprice gets draped into a murder investigation and that’s when this wonderful adventure takes hold of my attention. This whodunit had a nice pace and a comfortable tone that added to my reading pleasure. The mystery had me quickly turning the pages as the author had a way with presenting this story that put me right in the middle of all the action. I enjoyed watching how this all played out with some surprising twists and turns that eventually lead to the identity of the killer. Caprice is a fun character and I’m so happy a resolution was made in her personal relationship. This is a good mystery with a good plot, great cast of characters, engaging dialogue that entertained me throughout. I look forward to more exciting adventures with Caprice and her friends.