Death by Inferior Design

Romantic mystery in a competition between home decorators setting. Adding in Erin's questions about her origin and the answers she finds, and you have a well-balanced, deadly but fun read.

Impossible situation: As a surprise for their wives, two men hire two rival interior designers, Erin Gilbert and Steve Sullivan, to compete against each other in completing a room, one in each house. Each must conceptualize the alterations, redo the walls and floors, build and upholster the furniture, sew the drapery and gather the accessories, all with the help of one untrained, semi-incompetent young carpenter. And they have one weekend to do it all.
The major subplots are the death of one character and Erin finding information about her biological mother.
Interesting comments:
“The objects that we choose to keep–to surround ourselves with–reveal our souls.”
“Just because someone doesn’t love you the way you wished to be show more loved doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all that they’ve got.”
DEATH BY INFERIOR DESIGN was a quick read with some interesting twists. The situation was absurd and the characters were unrealistic. There were some helpful interior design tips, such as how accessories can spiff up a room.
This book was a free Amazon download. show less

Loved it!
Interior design infused with suburbia madness, marital woes, business competition, parental questions and murder. After the second time reading this I love it even more.

Finished reading this morning before breakfast. A fun mystery which is the first in a series of six—soon to be seven. The characters were appealing and I didn't have it all figured out early in the book, which made it more fun to read.

Good read, some good twist and turns.

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: Interior decorator, Erin Gilbert heads to picturesque Crestview, Colorado for a friendly (if sharks are friendly) competition: She’ll design a room in one home; and the impossibly handsome Steve Sullivan—her main rival—will do a room in another. The prize? A big feature in Denver Magazine, showcasing their interior design business.

Who could have dreamed the uproar to ensue in a neighborhood full of eccentric homeowners, jealously hidden secrets and a few marriages in need of total makeovers. Trapped together in the midst of chaos, could the charming Steve turn out to be a…friend?

But between her custom, cushy pillows and dramatic drapery, Erin uncovers a very undecorative dead body, too many suspects, and show more a killer who seems to have designs…on her! show less