5 comments about Chopping Spree (Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery) (Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery).

1. Goldy's catering business has taken off and she's exhausted. She caters an event at an expanding shopping mall and disaster strikes, as it usually does when Goldy is present. The worst part is, her dear young friend Jullian is arrested for murder. Goldy sets out to solve the crime and get Jullian out of jail. This is an especially well-plotted story that moves along at a rapid pace. Never a dull moment. The regular cast of characters are present and as enjoyable as ever. A multitude of nasty suspects gives the reader plenty of opportunities to boo and hiss. As always, many wonderful sounding recipes are included. I made the Spice Of Life Cookies and they turned out great...soft and full of flavor like a good molasses-type cookie. Davidson's books should come with warning labels. Caution: May cause weight gain.



2. See my review on Catering to Nobody. Also, the new character Goldy's new assistant Liz Fury works in very nicely.
   
   Diane Mott Davidson's books are very easy to read. Something that will put a person in a good mood.



3. B"H
   
   I've liked all of the Dianne Mott Davidson books, but this was the weakest, by far. What a snotty kid Arch has turned into -- made worse by the fact that the new character, Liz, also has a spoiled brat. The both need a dose of Dr. Laura.
   
   It's one thing to create unsavory characters to heighten tension, it's quite another to fill the book with them. In this one, there's no one to like -- It actually occured to me to wonder who really wrote this thing.
   
   Maybe it's time to leave Goldy and Liz to their futures of bailing out their kids -- literally -- and focus on Julian, instead. He's the only one to have his act together.
   
   So-so plot, annoying characters, not especially interesting recipes. I won't be looking forward to the next one quite as much....



4. Love these books, enjoyed each one, purchased and read all to date. Arrived promptly.



5. I'd heard about this series from friends, but this is the first one I've actually read. Chopping Spree is book eleven of the series, which now has fourteen books.
   
   1. Catering to Nobody
   2. Dying for Chocolate
   3. The Cereal Murders
   4. The Last Suppers
   5. Killer Pancake
   6. The Main Corpse
   7. The Grilling Season
   8. Prime Cut
   9. Tough Cookie
   10. Sticks and Scones
   11. Chopping Spree
   12. Double Shot
   13. Dark Tort
   14. Sweet Revenge
   
   The series features Gertrude "Goldy" Schulz, a Colorado caterer who solves murder mysteries between courses. What's different about these books is that each book includes a set of recipes for dishes being served up by Goldilock's Catering.
   
   Everybody who knows me knows that I'm no cook, but I do enjoy good food and a murder mystery. Unfortunately, something seemed missing from this book, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would have.
   
   Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):
   
   Goldy is hired to cater a party at a shopping mall for a group of "Elite Shoppers".
   Goldy consumes a lot of espresso and chocolate
   Someone tries to run a truck over Goldy and friends just before the event starts.
   Someone succeeds in killing somebody else, with a knife, in the shopping mall.
   The clues point towards Goldilock's Catering.
   Goldy downs more caffeine.
   Goldy hunts down the killer, keeps her hubby happy, tolerates her bratty son, chops and dices, snoops and spies, deals with personal problems of her assistants, and yes, drinks enough coffee to cause a worldwide bean shortage.
   
   Recipes in this book:
   1. Spice of Life Cookies
   2. Shoppers' Chocolate Truffles
   3. Sweethearts' Swedish Meatballs in Burgundy Sauce
   4. Diamond Lovers' Hot Crab Dip
   5. Quiche Me Quick
   6. Today-Only Avocado-Shrimp Boats
   7. Super spenders' Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler
   8. Ad Guys' Roast Beef and Gravy
   9. Wild Girls' Grilled Mushroom Salad
   10. Chopping Spree salad
   
   
   This one is marred by a slightly ridiculous plot and some puzzling situations, but would be fine for those times when your brain cells won't tolerate literary abuse. Also recommended for those who aren't challenged when it comes to culinary matters.
   
   
   
   
   Amanda Richards, December 15, 2007

No comments about Best of Mysteries: Slaughter in the Ashes Tripwire, Last Chants, Saints Mudd, the Last Suppers.

5 comments about Tough Cookie.

1. Love these books. Have read them all to date. Arrived as promised.



2. I love this series of Goldie mysteries...a good combination of great receipes and a good mystery in each



3. I discovered Diane Mott Davidson with this book and was so glad I did. I immediately went backward and read the rest of the series, and I'm still reading forward, moving toward her latest PB release Dark Tort. I highly recommend this series. Goldy is a caterer and a sleuth. Each mystery tale comes with a delicious list of recipes (prepared by Goldy during the course of the story). In Tough Cookie, Goldy is temporarily hosting a local TV cooking show when so much goes wrong! Cooking disasters on the set, a blizzard, and then a dead body. She finds it herself and unfortunately for her, it turns out to be her ex-boyfriend. Goldy begins to investigate to determine whether her ex was murdered or not. And it leads to real danger for her. Goldy is married to police investigator Tom in this outing, but in her earlier books, we get a nice build up of their relationship, starting with how they met in her first book, Catering to Nobody. I suggest you start with #1 Catering to Nobody and work your way up to this one and beyond. You'll be glad you did. Delicious!



4. I picked up this book in a used booked store in Powell River, British Columbia, while waiting for a ferry to Vancouver. I didn't know that culinary murder mysteries was a genre and this book was part of a series of similar mishaps. Where was the warning label?
   
   The author sets up her heroine as a gourmet-wannabe Nancy Drew running after inept murderers while strewing recipe cards along her trail. She dishes out food descriptions ad nauseam and then raves over them until you want to gag her with a kitchen towel. All the while, she insults her readers' intelligence by serving up as novelty that age old recipe of suspecting the evil looking guy first, and then making her model character the evil culprit!
   
   If you're a fan of this author's work you'll probably enjoy it. But if this is your first time try, be aware that it is definitely an acquired taste. I'll pass on seconds.



5. While not the first book of the series, this is the first one I read. And it stood pretty much on its own, though I'm sure reading the series in order would give you better context as far as some of the character's actions are concerned. And I admit, I picked this one because it had a picture of a "cutesy" chef (but with a scowl) cookie jar holding a gun on the cover. And, unlike choosing Nerd in Shining Armour by its title, this gamble wasn't half bad. It was an enjoyable story with some decent characters, and every time you thought you really, really had it figured out there was a twist. It really kept you guessing, which is a pleasant surprise in a mystery novel these days. Though the characters weren't the greatest, the mystery portion was well written and the overall story drew you in - enough that I'll probably read another in the series.

5 comments about Sticks & Scones.

1. This was my first book of Ms Davidson's books and I realy enjoyed it.
   I've read a few mysteries with recipes and they had all fallen short, so this book was a pleasant surprise.
   There was a lot going on in this book, but i believe the author did a good job and keeping it all straight for the reader. The characters and events were interesting and I hated to have to put it down for wont to know what was going to happen.
   Goldie is an intersting character, and, as others have commented on her actions not being rational or perfect, I have to say that its nice to have a character that is REAL. People do and say stupid things or things that may not be very smart, but hat is human nature. So I appreciated the characters and their faults.
   The story and the cooking information were nicely intertwined and all the food talk tortured me wonderfully. I Especialy liked the story setting in a castle with all the necessary history and the historicaly based foods.
   
   I highly recomend this books for a good fun read that tantalizes your appetite for cuisine, history, and suspensefull mystery.
   
   My reason for withholding the 5th star was merely a matter of wishing that there was just a little more action description in the final chapter to explain the culprit's ID and reasons. THe way it was done was ok, but it could have been better done. Nonetheless, this is a great book.
   So dear Reader, I highly recommend this book. Proceed with your order and enjoy! (I certainly did and look forward to recieveing my copies of all the books in this series, to read in order now).



2. Love these books, enjoyed each one, purchased and read all to date. Arrived promptly.



3. The tenth book of the Goldy Schultz mystery series starts with a bang and never really slows down. The bang is provided courtesy of some unknown assailant who shoots out a window in Goldy's house while her husband, Tom, is away on a case. Of course the timing could not be worse as Goldy is just gearing up for some important catering job. These are even more important than most as Goldy had a run-in with another rich family a few weeks before which caused those people to bad mouth her to everyone then can reach.
   
   The book has lots of intersecting story lines: There is a series of murders that need to be solved; Tom is away on a case that may or may not be related, but certainly gets back in time to be very personally involved; Goldy's ex-husband is relased from jail and returns to become a prominent suspect; the rich family who ran in to Goldy are also involved; there is an old English castle; missing expensive stamps; gun dealers; and more and more and more. Oh, and let's not forget the recipes!
   
   This book was a gret fun read. It was so action packed and so much was going on that I found it hard to put down. The clues to the convoluted story lines came at appropriate moments so I spent some time thinking to myself and trying to figure out what was going on. I was happy to note that my interested was kept all the way to almost the end and the resolution of the storylines made sense to me. I figured out the culprit almost at the same time as Goldy but was flummoxed by that last second twist that was thrown in. If anything, that was the only discordant note in this book.
   
   Another little quibble was the red herring that involved Tom's long-lost fiancee. Supposedly, this woman served in Vietnam and was MIA after a chopper crash. She reappears in the story to cause Goldy some marital discord but the supposed reasons are very fishy. I appreciate the sub-context of someone like Goldy worrying about losing the affections of her husband, but that was a very contrived way to get it into the story.
   
   Nonetheless, I though the book was great fun and an exciting read. I hope for many more books like this one in the future.



4. This is the second Goldy mystery I read (completely out of order, I know) and it was pretty good, though there was that touch of the supernatural in it - not what I like in my standard mysteries. It does, after all, make them unsolvable! And what fun is it reading a mystery unless you can try to figure out whodunit? But if you're not the sort that feels the need to solve the mystery, and enjoy simple, cozy mysteries, this seems a good series. Nothing earth-shattering or spectacular, but solid writing and decent plots.



5. Caterer Goldy Schulz has been hired to cook an authentic Elizabethan luncheon and dinner at a castle (shipped over from England in pieces). But on the cold February morning of the luncheon, someone shoots out her living room window. Meanwhile, her police officer husband, Tom, is away on a case, and two of Aspen Meadow's most influential citizens are determined to see Goldy fail at her job. Relocating herself and her fourteen-year-old son to Hyde Castle, Goldy tries to persevere, but it isn't easy. Tom is shot, she spots a dead body in the water and learns that her abusive ex-husband has been granted early parole.
   
   This is a lot of bad luck for one morning, and in Diane Mott Davidson's STICKS AND SCONES, the bad luck keeps on coming, so much so that the story began to stretch credibility. Did I mention that the castle is allegedly haunted and a mysterious woman has shown up asking for Tom? By page two hundred, I kept wondering how Goldy could be in the wrong place at the wrong time so often, especially after refusing to listen to advice from Tom and other officers? Still, I liked Goldy and many supporting characters in this book. The main plot kept me turning pages and subplots were skillfully woven through the story.
   
   My only other quibble is that recipes were placed within the text rather than at the end. At one point, Davidson takes a whole page to describe Goldy preparing a dish, which is followed by the five-page recipe. Afterward, two pages of story are tucked between four more pages of another recipe. I have to admit, though, that some of the dishes sound pretty good. I just might give Penny-Prick Potato Casserole a try.

5 comments about Prime Cut.

1. "Prime Cut" is Diane Mott Davidson at the top of her form, and the recipes---although fattening and non-too healthy!---are scrumptious in this book. Goldy's grand-spanking-new kitchen is left in a mess by an unreliable contractor, so she is catering "on the road" and has a contract for lunches for a group of fashion models at a catalogue shoot.

   This tale of murder in the Rockies, served up in great form by Davidson, will keep you turning pages till the end. Recommended.




2. Goldy, the caterer, is up to her eyeballs in trouble in this 8th. book of the series. Her business is dropping off because of competition from the sleazy Craig Litchfield, who will stop at nothing steal Goldy's customers. Things seem to be looking up when her old teacher, Andre, invites her to help him with a catering job for a fashion photo shoot. Unfortunately, about this time Gerald Eliot, an unscrupulous contractor, is found dead at the home of Cameron Barr, Goldy's friend, and the assistant D.A., Andy Fuller, is convinced that Barr is the murderer. Goldy and her husband Tom try to defend their friend and in the process, Fuller accuses Tom of obstructing a murder investigation and suspends him from the police force. Craig Litchfield knows that Goldy is in financial trouble and he offers to buy her business. Other sub-plots deal with son Arch's love life and an IRS audit of Goldy's friend Marla. One more person dies and another character is badly hurt, before the killer finally comes out of the woodwork and confronts Goldy. This is a good addition to the series, although at times it's hard to keep up with all of the plots and subplots.



3. How many times have I read this book? Three? Four? Five??? In any case, it never fails to enthrall me.
   
   Davidson does such an excellent job of pulling the reader into the world of Aspen Meadows and Goldy Schultz. I read the books as much for the characters as for the mystery, and I'm never disappointed. This volume has a strong plot and great characterization.
   
   Vintage Davidson. Don't miss it.



4. This was the first time I've read any books in this series and the first in this genre. I have inadvertently picked up a second, third or even fourth book in a series and can't wait to get my hands on the others. Not the case here. I continued reading because my cousin gave it to me and we have the same reading preferences. I was also convinced that it would get better in the next chapter. It never did and it took me over a month to get through it when it should have only taken a few nights at most. There were some good and likeable characters in the story, though. But, at the same time, there were too many characters that didn't move the story along. I am giving this book two stars only because I managed to get through it but it is quite forgettable.



5. This is one of those mysteries where it feels as if Murphy must really hate the characters - everything goes wrong for them, and it takes on an air of unbelievably. Plus Goldy doesn't always do much to help herself out of bad situations and occasionally comes across as overly whiny. She's a bit on the annoying side, certainly not what I'd call a strong female protagonist, despite her crime-fighting abilities. Perhaps if she put some of the effort into helping herself that she puts into helping other people she'd be a more likeable character. I'm not sure. However, it might be that I've been reading them out of order and that is proving a little disconcerting. Unlike the Mrs. Pollifax adventures, it's really hard to jump back and forth with Goldy and her catering woes - there are far too many other things that are tied to the story that run throughout the books. Even so, I found myself transfixed by another murder case (it's amazing how many people get killed around these armchair detectives!) that Goldy has to use all of her sleuthing powers to solve. They are nice, fluffy ready, and I plan to try to start at the beginning and work my way through them in order. Because although each book can stand alone, maybe reading them in order will help me better understand the characters and their motivations, since right now they seem a little two-dimensional.

5 comments about The Cereal Murders (Culinary Mystery).

1. Along with being interesting, this is a very suspensful book. My stepmom actually purchased this book for me at a store because she thought I might find it interesting. I'm glad I started reading this book because I found it to be one of those books I am unable to put down. One of my favorite parts of the book are the recipes, which all look delicious. This book kept me guessing until the very end and is one fo those books that constantly make the reader have to keep searching different angles in order to find the identity of the killer! It was an excellent book and I suggest it for any person that likes murder mysteries. I give this a 5 star!



2. When Goldy Bear, owner of Goldilocks Catering, caters a college prep dinner at Elk Park Prep school she gets more than she bargained for when after the dinner she finds the murdered body of the school's valedictorian. Things only get stranger from that moment on as Goldy the caterer tries to solve the mystery and keep up with the threats to her and her family.

   The Cereal Murders was a good read. It is suspenseful and full of mystery right up to the end. The characters of Goldy, Arch, Julian, and Tom are very well developed and connected. They seem like people next door. They are very believable and dimensional. The storyline was good and moved along at a fast pace. It was easy to keep reading because the events and happenings flowed easily from one to another.

   This was my second Goldy book and I was not disappointed. A good book to read for the mystery lover!




3. I relish my down-time from a high-stress job, I love novels and mysteries and fantasies, I love to escape into the pages of a well-written, intelligent, funny, engaging book, and okay, a bit of romance is just fine too, thank you. Having heard about the Goldy series from a friend as light diversion with yummy recipes, I took this book out of the library (a great source to check out books before I may want to purchase them and make them part of my personal library), and started with number 3 (which I ordinarily disdain) since numbers 1 and 2 were out. I did go into this with an open mind, and although I plowed through, wondering who the murderer was and where Goldy's relationship with Tom was headed, and would the kids be okay, I was generally disappointed in the prose and, finally, the mystery. The latter was a bit of a stretch, and the former just felt rather pedestrian. There were some good lines and evocative moments, and some of the culinary passages were tasty indeed, but perhaps my disaffection comes from having just whipped through the 4 truly erudite, hilarious mysteries by the late Sarah Caudwell, which kept me stimulated and entertained (AND I found that I had to consult my dictionary several times as well!). I am also a huge fan of Elizabeth Peters and the Amelia Peabody series----witty, clever, funny, romantic, and educational (I know a lot more about Egyptology, archeology, and turrn-of-the-century history than I did before reading those books). So, although there's NOTHING wrong with ligher, less challenging offerings, I found the Cereal Murders overall less satisfying (for me) as a mystery and as a novel than the books by Caudwell & Peters. If your tastes run more to the latter, Davidson may not be a writer you want to spend oodles of time with. Not bad, but not great. Me, I'm passing on any more Davidson books and opening up the new Kinky Friedman book...



4. I've actually started reading the Goldy Bear Culinary Series in order, which is unusual for me, so this is my third, and so far my favorite. The characters, town and overall setting really come together. Major personality development with Julian and Arch, which is very satisfying and offers some humor. Less mean old ex-husband which is a nice change and the set up for more between Goldy and Tom will keep fans coming back for more in this series.

   The only disappointment is the premise for the mystery is a bit far fetched -- who in their right mind would leave their kid in an "exclusive" prep school after 2 murders? Because the author writes this with humor and a bit tongue and cheek, most will get by this litle snag.




5. Keith Andrews is the valedictorian of Elk Park Prep School, where caterer Goldy Bear's son Arch attends. When Keith is found dead, the supposedly tranquil environment of the school is shattered. Goldy suddenly finds herself surrounded with frantic parents whose main goal in life seems to be to get their child into the best college possible. Dirty tricks abound as Goldy's house and vehicle are vandalized and her boarder Justin finds a dead snake hanging in his locker. Goldy's love interest, homicide detective Tom Schulz is concerned for her safety and he urges her to stop investigating the murder. As usual, Goldy ignores his advice and soon finds herself in danger. The characters in this series are being nicely developed in this third entry, and this book offers up the usual tasty read by author Davidson.

5 comments about The Grilling Season: A Culinary Mystery (The Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery Series) (Culinary Mysteries).

1. This is the first book of Diane Mott Davidson that I have read.
   Terrific story, fast moving, interesting characters, and last but not least a good plot. The recipes are an added bonus, I tried her Chicken a la Orange last night and both my husband and I loved it! I'm looking forward to other books in her collection.



2. This is my first exposure to Diane Mott Davidson and I enjoyed it. I love to cook, so I plan to try some of the recipes from the book.
   
   I agree with the other reviewers in that it is a light, easy read. If you're looking for something with a real deep plot, better pass this one by. On the otherhand, if you are looking for something that doesn't require a lot of concentration and that can easily be read in a week or less, I recommend this book.
   
   I will be back for more of Goldy.



3. This is my first book by this author, but won't be my last. My stomach rumbled the whole time. The recipes sound yummy and the book was hard to put down. I read it in 24 hours. It was a light read but enjoyable and entertaining.
   
   The plot is see-through. I think we can all see that the Jerk is a JERK indeed, but everyone knows somehow he didn't do it, deep down I think. All the fingers point to some of the other characters we meet along the way. I really felt I was at the health food store, and I loved the details. Colorado being my home state, I really loved all the descriptions.
   
   I read the little blurb of Prime Cut, and already got it from the library! These recipes will be added to my collection!



4. After trying some "Susan Henshaw" and some "Blackbird Sisters" mysteries and being disappointed, I found this book. It was "meatier" if you'll pardon the pun and I felt that I knew the characters. I will be reading more of Ms. Davidson's books.



5. Okay, this book finally got on my nerves. I've put up with the stories of Goldy's abusive ex, and his verbal threats in some of the other books, but this one was too much. I think she needs to sit Arch down and lay out the facts for him. He's acting like a whiny, spoiled kid and she just feels sorry for him! The boy needs to understand that his father BEAT his mother and he shouldn't expect her to forget or forgive that. I thought that whole situation just ruined the book, though without it, there would have been no real story, so... Plus, the whole "miracle herbal remedies beat the big, bad HMO" message was disturbing. People do die every day because they don't want to listen to sound medical advice, but seek out "herbal" cures that aren't even what they claim to be! The fact is, a lot of those "tablets" are so diluted there are NO molecules of the "herb" left in them! Enough of my bandwagon, though - my advice is, unless you enjoy gritting your teeth, skip this book and move on to the next one. You'll be glad you did.

5 comments about Killer Pancake.

1. Diane Mott Davidson is an old standby for me. Whenever I'm in a bookstore, I can look for her titles on the shelf and all is right with the universe. This is a series of mysteries with the same character, Goldy the caterer. Though she isn't a detective, her job involves her in a lot of situations other 9-to-5ers might not run into, and that's the hook of the book as it were.
   
   Killer Pancake is light fluffy fun (the allusion to pancakes here is intended). And there are recipes, so who can fault that? I recommend any of her books. The subplot of her relationship with "the jerk" may get a little old for you if you read enough of her stuff, but let it ride. Every great lady has to have a few flaws. Killer Pancake is just one more in a fun little series. Bon appetit.



2. This review is for the audio version. This is the first book I have read of this series. However, this book is the fifth in a series and the main character went on and on about her ex husband. This is after she has already remarried so I can only imagine how the first four books must have dwelled on it. I thought the premise of this book was interesting: catering a low fat luncheon for a cosmetic company. However, the book was downbeat mixed with corny and I didn't care about any of the characters. I also didn't like that the author would negatively stereotype people if they were physically unattractive. The lead had a harsh personality and I would not want her to cater any event for me.



3. Like other reviewers, I found this offering was just so-so. It may be that I'm weary of Goldy always finding dead bodies, always having mini-breakdowns, and Goldy's loved ones always being under suspicion. It seems churlish of me to complain about very well-described human emotions to traumatic death, but after four or five stories it's just gotten a bit tedious for me. Let Goldy solve a murder that's not directly related to her little family for a change.



4. While the "Spare the Hares" people were a little gruesome, I did like the underlying theme of "beauty without an expensive and time-consuming makeup regime" and the laissez-faire attitude Goldy takes with her appearance, while still being happy in her relationship! Oh, yeah - there was a mystery, too (sometimes I focus on the oddest things). The mystery was farfetched and overreached a bit, but the colorful characters keep you interested and wondering until the very end. I did notice that these are not books you want to read while on a diet. She describes the food with far too much relish! Plan on feeling the need to get up and snack while reading this series (though she includes plenty of delicious-sounding recipes, so there's no excuse not to whip up something mouth-watering in the kitchen when you take a break to rest your eyes)



5. Enjoyable, but not my favorite book in this series. I have to laugh at some of the crazy situations Goldy finds herself in. Her husband, Tom, was not a central part of this storyline and I wished there was more interaction between them. I love that this series has recipes included in the book. I am going to try the Chocolate cookie recipe and the Killer Pancakes from this book!

1 comments about Sticks and Scones - The Catering Mystery Series, Book 10.

1. As usual, Goldy Schulz, caterer cum sleuth, manages to solve the murder while producing sumptuous feasts, this time in a castle, battling her ex-husband, protecting her teenage son, and agonizing over the return of her husband's old girlfriend. She manages to adroitly leap from one crisis to another, accomplishing more in a day than most people do in a month. The action never stops. I also liked the sub-plot theme of trust in relationships.
   
   Narrator Barbara Rosenblat brings the story alive with her amazing range of voices. It fascinates me that she can actually sound like a man as well as a child. I've also enjoyed Ms. Rosenblat's renditions of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon park ranger mysteries and, amazingly, in Elizabeth Peter's intriguing Egyptologist mysteries, Rosenblat tells the story in an English accent.

1 comments about 3 Culinary Mysteries: An Audio Book Trilogy of Best Sellers : Dying for Chocolate/Catering to Nobody/the Last Suppers.

1. needs a better voice/ but good for a long drive- the characters don't grow that much in the complete series/ light mystery