It begins as a girls' night out for interior designer Erin Gilbert, owner of Interiors by Gilbert, and her friend, Laura Smith. While leaving a neighborhood bar and heading toward Paprika's to listen to a presentation by Erin's landlady, Audrey Munroe, host of a local Martha Stewart- like show, they notice a man with dreadlocks following them. Feeling confident that he won't be interested in a store such as Paprika's, which sells kitchen and dining room items, they go on about their evening. Well, how wrong they are. He comes inside and makes a scene about the cheap chairs, gets into a confrontation with Laura and then claims to be a law enforcement officer. Ok, why would someone who makes a point of looking undercover blow his cover? He also seems to know Laura, and Hannah, the manager of Paprika's, says he's been protesting about where many of her items come from. The girls' night out ends with the vanishing of Mr. Dreadlocks and Laura.

Concerned about Laura, Erin goes to her house. She finds at her home, the same home that Laura hired Erin to decorate and furnish with antiques, a deceit that would shock any designer who takes pride in their work. Erin discovers that all of the very precious and rare antiques she painstakingly found have been replaced by replicas. Laura explains that she's speculating on selling them eventually and is keeping them safe in storage until the time comes. Disturbed by this revelation, Erin shares this information with her boyfriend, John Norton.

John tells Erin that Laura is the same woman who dumped his friend, Steve Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Designs, and ran off with his business partner, Evan Cambridge, along with his money. Erin and John inform Steve, and Steve and Erin go to confront Laura about the whereabouts of Evan. After an angry exchange, they stake out her house to see if she can lead them to Evan. While waiting outside for any sign of Evan, Steve and Erin see a car leave and follow it to a storage unit that many designers use. After almost being run over by someone speeding away, they discover a fire and Laura's body.

Why did Laura replace the antiques, who killed her and why? What Erin soon discovers is that Laura was not what she seemed. She had some connection with Hannah, John and the dreadlock guy. And from here on out, practically everyone Erin comes in contact with knew Laura. Steve and Erin put their competition aside and work together to find the answers.

FALSE PREMISES is a great mystery that puts you on the edge of your chair until the end. The first book in the series, DEATH BY INFERIOR DESIGN, introduced the Gilbert and Sullivan rivals while they were involved in a designing job and, of course, murder. Erin and Steve, although in constant competition, share a mutual attraction and respect for one another. Let's not forget John, who's working overtime to win Erin's heart. Will he succeed? Maybe MANOR OF MURDER, the next installment in the Domestic Bliss series will reveal the results. What's appealing about these characters is that they focus on solving the mystery, while the relationship tangles accessorize the story nicely.