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Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #1
Catering to Nobody
MEET THE CATERER WHO WHIPPED UP THE
MULTIMILLION-COPY MYSTERY SERIES–
AS GOLDY SOLVES HER FIRST MURDER!
Diane Mott Davidson’s winning recipe of first-class suspense and five-star fare has won her and caterer Goldy critical raves and a regular place on major bestseller lists across the country. In Goldy’s tantalizing debut, she serves up a savory dish of secrets, suspicions, and murder....
Catering a wake is not Goldy’s idea of fun. Yet the Colorado caterer throws herself into preparing a savory feast including Poached Salmon and Strawberry Shortcake Buffet designed to soothe forty mourners. And her culinary efforts seem to be exactly what the doctor ordered...until her ex-father-in-law gynecologist Fritz Korman is struck down and Goldy is accused of adding poison to the menu. Now, with the Department of Health impounding her leftovers, her ex-husband proclaiming her guilt, and her business about to be shut down, Goldy knows she can’t wait for the police to serve up the answers. She’ll soon uncover more than one family skeleton and a veritable stew of unpalatable secrets–the kind that could make Goldy the main course in an unsavory killer’s next murder!
MULTIMILLION-COPY MYSTERY SERIES–
AS GOLDY SOLVES HER FIRST MURDER!
Diane Mott Davidson’s winning recipe of first-class suspense and five-star fare has won her and caterer Goldy critical raves and a regular place on major bestseller lists across the country. In Goldy’s tantalizing debut, she serves up a savory dish of secrets, suspicions, and murder....
Catering a wake is not Goldy’s idea of fun. Yet the Colorado caterer throws herself into preparing a savory feast including Poached Salmon and Strawberry Shortcake Buffet designed to soothe forty mourners. And her culinary efforts seem to be exactly what the doctor ordered...until her ex-father-in-law gynecologist Fritz Korman is struck down and Goldy is accused of adding poison to the menu. Now, with the Department of Health impounding her leftovers, her ex-husband proclaiming her guilt, and her business about to be shut down, Goldy knows she can’t wait for the police to serve up the answers. She’ll soon uncover more than one family skeleton and a veritable stew of unpalatable secrets–the kind that could make Goldy the main course in an unsavory killer’s next murder!
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
462 people are currently reading
11948 people want to read
About the author
Diane Mott Davidson
76 books2,325 followers New York Times bestselling author Diane Mott Davidson wrote three novels before one was accepted for publication—when she was 41. She has since written 14 more mysteries, all featuring Goldy the caterer. In addition, she has written short stories and poetry for various publications. Davidson has won the Anthony Award from Bouchercon, and has been nominated for the Agatha, another Anthony, and the Macavity Award. In 1993 she was named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Writer of the Year.
Davidson was educated at St. Anne's School in Charlottesville, Virginia, where her English teacher, Emyl Jenkins, encouraged her to become a writer. She attended Wellesley College, where she was named a Wellesley Scholar, before transferring to Stanford University, from which she graduated with a double major in Art History and Political Science. Several years (and one child) later, she received her MA in Art History from Johns Hopkins.
Davidson has volunteered for numerous organizations. She was a tutor in a correctional facility, rape-victim counselor, and served for 10 years on the Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. For years she taught the adult Bible study at her parish, where she was also licensed to preach.
Davidson has been married to her husband, Jim, for almost 40 years. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a basset hound.
Davidson was educated at St. Anne's School in Charlottesville, Virginia, where her English teacher, Emyl Jenkins, encouraged her to become a writer. She attended Wellesley College, where she was named a Wellesley Scholar, before transferring to Stanford University, from which she graduated with a double major in Art History and Political Science. Several years (and one child) later, she received her MA in Art History from Johns Hopkins.
Davidson has volunteered for numerous organizations. She was a tutor in a correctional facility, rape-victim counselor, and served for 10 years on the Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. For years she taught the adult Bible study at her parish, where she was also licensed to preach.
Davidson has been married to her husband, Jim, for almost 40 years. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a basset hound.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,129 reviews
September 4, 2017
Diane Mott Davidson's "Goldy Bear/Schultz" series was one of the first cozy books I began reading. I started with Lilian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who" series and found myself intrigued by the genre. As I began doing background research, I realized it all stemmed from my early love of Agatha Christie back in school days.
The Goldy series was a fun read that created a world of characters I enjoyed learning about. Understanding the relationship between the protagonist sleuth and the local police detectives, I quickly fell in line with loving this series. In this first book, the author draws you in and leaves you wanting more providing just enough quirky settings. I think it's a good approach to have two best friends both recently divorced from the same man -- the conflict setup is perfect. As the series continues, more characters appear and the stories get stronger.
Cozy readers will like this series!
The Goldy series was a fun read that created a world of characters I enjoyed learning about. Understanding the relationship between the protagonist sleuth and the local police detectives, I quickly fell in line with loving this series. In this first book, the author draws you in and leaves you wanting more providing just enough quirky settings. I think it's a good approach to have two best friends both recently divorced from the same man -- the conflict setup is perfect. As the series continues, more characters appear and the stories get stronger.
Cozy readers will like this series!
November 29, 2021
This is the first book in the 'Goldilocks Catering' cozy mystery series.
Divorcée Gertrude (Goldy) Bear works hard at her business 'Goldilocks Catering' in Aspen Meadows, Colorado. Goldy needs the money to support herself and her 11-year-old son Arch, since child support from her ex-husband, gynecologist John Richard Korman, is sporadic and inadequate. Korman was a serial philanderer and wife-beater, and Goldy is still wary of his vicious temper.
Goldy's best friend is Marla Korman, John Richard's second ex-wife. The two women call their mutual former spouse 'The Jerk', and delight in trash-talking him over coffee and pastries.
As the story opens, Goldy is preparing to cater the funeral food for Arch's former teacher, Laura Smiley, who purportedly committed suicide. A large crowd is expected at the post-burial gathering, including John Richard and his new girlfriend. As if that's not awkward enough, Arch's grandparents - gynecologist Fritz Korman and his wife Vonette Korman - are also expected to attend.
Goldy prepares delicious food for the gathering, and asks Arch and Patty Sue - a 20-year-old girl who's boarding with Goldy temporarily - to help serve. The guests are enjoying the refreshments when Dr. Fritz Korman falls to the floor, writhing in pain. An ambulance is called, and John Richard shrieks at Goldy, claiming she tried to poison HIM and it backfired on his father.
The police are summoned, and discover Fritz WAS poisoned, by rat killer in his coffee. Luckily, the physician gets back on his feet and back to work in a few days. In the meantime, Detective Tom Schulz - a big handsome bear of a man - closes down Goldilocks Catering pending an investigation into the poisoning.
Goldy is desperate to re-open her business, so she decides to help Detective Schulz with his inquiries. Schulz isn't crazy about the idea, but he's attracted to Goldy, so he lets her (unofficially) assist.
Once Goldy gets the sleuthing bit between her teeth she pokes around everywhere, and makes some important discoveries. It turns out the deceased teacher, Laura Smiley, babysat for the Kormans 20 years ago, when they all lived in Illinois.
Around that time Dr. Fritz Korman was accused of inappropriate behavior, and moved his family to Aspen Meadows for a new start. Laura also moved to Colorado and took a teaching job.
Goldy finds out other things as well, and her compulsive snooping puts her life in danger.
In the course of the story Arch plays Dungeons and Dragons with his best friend Todd - and gets over-involved with the game's magic and violence; Goldy's boarder Patty Sue gets driving lessons - which don't go as planned; Goldy (secretly) caters a couple of gatherings; the townsfolk don costumes for a Halloween party; Fritz is poisoned AGAIN; someone dies; Goldy and Schulz start a relationship; lots of pastries are consumed; and more. To add to the fun, the recipes for Goldy's culinary creations are included.....both savory and sweet treats.
The story is set in the early 1990s, so people aren't running around with cellphones and 'feminists' supposedly aren't shaving their legs. (Was this EVER a widespread thing?)
Colorado is a wonderful setting for the novel and I enjoyed the story. I recommend the book to fans of cozy mysteries.
Recipes in the book include:
Dungeon Bars
Gingersnaps
Toffee
Guacamole
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
May 21, 2017
1.5 stars
Buddy Read with Nameeta as part of Mystery Book week.
I really wanted to read a good mystery book as part of the Mystery week and what better to pick up than a cozy mystery.
We decided to pick this up as this was featured in the top books of cozy mystery list on GR. Unfortunately it did not work out as planned.
The thing is after reading a lot of Christie novels, my standard in the cozy mystery genre is set and to say the least this story did not even reach close.
The main character- Goldy is a divorced woman taking care of her 11 yr old son and trying to make her business work. There is a funeral she is catering where her ex-father-in-law is poisoned and rushed to the hospital. All good till here. But then the story just goes down-hill.
The 'investigation' by Goldy if you want to even call it that, does not stick to any one trail. She decides to find something out and then is easily distracted. People around her have secrets that if she asks strongly enough, she may find answers too. But she does not even try.
And the detective who has a romantic inclination towards Goldy (who by the way is a suspect), his investigation was an absolute joke.
The secondary set of characters were uninteresting and the overall story did not keep me interested or even seem realistic AT ALL. The ending was abrupt exactly out of a B grade movie and full of cliché. The mystery at the end was not a big surprise at all.
I know that cozy mysteries are not supposed to be convincing or emotionally disturbing but they are at least supposed to have that atmosphere. This story did not have that atmosphere that goes hand in hand with a cozy mystery.
Buddy Read with Nameeta as part of Mystery Book week.
I really wanted to read a good mystery book as part of the Mystery week and what better to pick up than a cozy mystery.
We decided to pick this up as this was featured in the top books of cozy mystery list on GR. Unfortunately it did not work out as planned.
The thing is after reading a lot of Christie novels, my standard in the cozy mystery genre is set and to say the least this story did not even reach close.
The main character- Goldy is a divorced woman taking care of her 11 yr old son and trying to make her business work. There is a funeral she is catering where her ex-father-in-law is poisoned and rushed to the hospital. All good till here. But then the story just goes down-hill.
The 'investigation' by Goldy if you want to even call it that, does not stick to any one trail. She decides to find something out and then is easily distracted. People around her have secrets that if she asks strongly enough, she may find answers too. But she does not even try.
And the detective who has a romantic inclination towards Goldy (who by the way is a suspect), his investigation was an absolute joke.
The secondary set of characters were uninteresting and the overall story did not keep me interested or even seem realistic AT ALL. The ending was abrupt exactly out of a B grade movie and full of cliché. The mystery at the end was not a big surprise at all.
I know that cozy mysteries are not supposed to be convincing or emotionally disturbing but they are at least supposed to have that atmosphere. This story did not have that atmosphere that goes hand in hand with a cozy mystery.
February 10, 2018
I have a great love of book series’. I love to get plenty of time to get to know all the characters and immerse myself in their world. So I’m glad to get a start with this one.
So Goldy is a divorced mom trying to make ends meet while pursuing her dream of running a catering company. But after a person gets poisoned at her affair she is forced to shut down. When you barely make ends meet, being without one paycheck can sink your ship.
This leads Goldy to find the real culprit. I can understand how a caterer got involved in solving crime this time. It will be interesting to see what justifies it in future books.
So Goldy is a divorced mom trying to make ends meet while pursuing her dream of running a catering company. But after a person gets poisoned at her affair she is forced to shut down. When you barely make ends meet, being without one paycheck can sink your ship.
This leads Goldy to find the real culprit. I can understand how a caterer got involved in solving crime this time. It will be interesting to see what justifies it in future books.
February 11, 2010
I made it to the end, but I probably shouldn't have since bad books make me cranky.
The book should have been titled "Catering to Everybody: The Story of a Doormat in a Village of Idiots".
The book should have been titled "Catering to Everybody: The Story of a Doormat in a Village of Idiots".
January 27, 2008
This is one of my guilty pleasures. I love light mysteries. I want to see a body in the first 20 pages, lots of clues in the middle, and the solution in the last 20 pages. I never try to figure it out. I just skim the surface, suspend disbelief (how many dead bodies is a caterer likely to find, really?), and enjoy the ride.
January 9, 2021
Jan 7, 1030pm ~~ Review asap.
Jan 8, 1pm ~~ Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows that I generally avoid mysteries. I read so many of this type of book during the years I was recovering from severe health issues that I pretty much lost my taste for them.
But a year or two ago, my Mom re-read Dying For Chocolate (book #2 in the series, which we had both read four or five years ago) and raved so much that I went to my favorite online used book shop and ordered all the rest of the series for her.
She raced through them all and insisted I needed to read them. Then kept asking if I had started yet. And asking and asking and asking. lol
My resistance finally broke down and I decided that this year I would go ahead and read the entire series. I won't pretend that I will be as captivated as Mother was, but I will be as fair as possible in my reviews, and will always mention that this is not my chosen genre.
So, now that we are all on the same page and know what to expect, let's get down to business here.
This is the first of 17 titles featuring Gertrude Bear (aka Goldy) who is the owner of a catering business. This is where we first meet her, learn a little about her history of life with an abusive husband, her divorce, her state of mind while trying to raise her eleven year old son Archibald (Arch) in the same small Colorado town where her ex-husband lives. Her close friend is a stereotypical chubby woman who is constantly eating or talking about food, and just happened to be another ex-wife of Goldy's ex-husband.
The problems start when Goldy's ex-father-in-law is poisoned at a function catered by Goldy. Her business has to close, and she feels that the police are moving too slowly in their work of trying to solve the crime, so she decides to investigate things on her own. She also frets about her son, who is heavily into fantasy role-playing games; the unusually stupid behavior of a young woman who is sharing her house, and whether or not that handsome teacher Pomeroy will ever give some sign that he is interested in her.
Quite frankly, if you notice the dates I read this book, I have to admit that I was barely able to concentrate even on such lightweight material. But I am a person who HAS to read and I chose this deliberately in the days leading to January 6, knowing that I would be reading with my little pea brain distracted by current events.
Only I never expected current events to take such a violent and dark turn. I expected to witness a democratic process on January 6, but I never expected to see rebellion.
This book will forever be linked in my mind with those moments, and all I can say is I did not make any attempt to solve Goldy's mystery on my own, I simply did not care whodunnit or why. The book fulfilled its function of giving me something to read late in the nights when normal people are able to sleep. I did think that Goldy seemed quite ignorant about people around her for a woman who had studied psychology. But then, what is it they say? The shoemaker's children go barefoot?
Point is, I was neither terribly impressed with this book nor terribly disappointed by it. It was merely there, introducing the main characters for the series and helping me get through some painful days and nights.
Jan 8, 1pm ~~ Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows that I generally avoid mysteries. I read so many of this type of book during the years I was recovering from severe health issues that I pretty much lost my taste for them.
But a year or two ago, my Mom re-read Dying For Chocolate (book #2 in the series, which we had both read four or five years ago) and raved so much that I went to my favorite online used book shop and ordered all the rest of the series for her.
She raced through them all and insisted I needed to read them. Then kept asking if I had started yet. And asking and asking and asking. lol
My resistance finally broke down and I decided that this year I would go ahead and read the entire series. I won't pretend that I will be as captivated as Mother was, but I will be as fair as possible in my reviews, and will always mention that this is not my chosen genre.
So, now that we are all on the same page and know what to expect, let's get down to business here.
This is the first of 17 titles featuring Gertrude Bear (aka Goldy) who is the owner of a catering business. This is where we first meet her, learn a little about her history of life with an abusive husband, her divorce, her state of mind while trying to raise her eleven year old son Archibald (Arch) in the same small Colorado town where her ex-husband lives. Her close friend is a stereotypical chubby woman who is constantly eating or talking about food, and just happened to be another ex-wife of Goldy's ex-husband.
The problems start when Goldy's ex-father-in-law is poisoned at a function catered by Goldy. Her business has to close, and she feels that the police are moving too slowly in their work of trying to solve the crime, so she decides to investigate things on her own. She also frets about her son, who is heavily into fantasy role-playing games; the unusually stupid behavior of a young woman who is sharing her house, and whether or not that handsome teacher Pomeroy will ever give some sign that he is interested in her.
Quite frankly, if you notice the dates I read this book, I have to admit that I was barely able to concentrate even on such lightweight material. But I am a person who HAS to read and I chose this deliberately in the days leading to January 6, knowing that I would be reading with my little pea brain distracted by current events.
Only I never expected current events to take such a violent and dark turn. I expected to witness a democratic process on January 6, but I never expected to see rebellion.
This book will forever be linked in my mind with those moments, and all I can say is I did not make any attempt to solve Goldy's mystery on my own, I simply did not care whodunnit or why. The book fulfilled its function of giving me something to read late in the nights when normal people are able to sleep. I did think that Goldy seemed quite ignorant about people around her for a woman who had studied psychology. But then, what is it they say? The shoemaker's children go barefoot?
Point is, I was neither terribly impressed with this book nor terribly disappointed by it. It was merely there, introducing the main characters for the series and helping me get through some painful days and nights.
September 14, 2015
I really wanted to like this book more - I mean, I am by no means an opposer of light literature and chick lit and light crime novels at all. It seemed to have a really interesting premise...
But...
The only redeeming qualities for me were the whodunnit kind of guessing game and that it was exciting. Other than that... ugh. I don't know if it was only the translation, but I felt it was badly written. Too many unnecessary details and filler sentences... and also, there were some sentences and structures where I was just thinking... now that is not good writing, that is how a 14-year-old writer wannabe would write.
Oh, some quotes were good, too... like the description about which places women tend to go to on a fitness class, that is SO true. And I also liked the portrayal of everyone knowing more about the case than Goldy, but no one talking, and letting her be the main suspect, when they know about her situation, just because that's easier for anyone.
The characters were not real enough... none of them. Also, I was SO annoyed by some of the characters... bad thing: I was most annoyed by the most central characters, whom the writer really wanted to show as good and of desirable morals and traits. Hell no! Goldy... she drove me crazy. She was the most selfish person in the story. She was all about "how unlucky I am, my business is ruined, blah-blah-blah", and I hated how she wanted to seem like someone chasing justice and be so sad about Laura, when she was ONLY doing it for herself. She wasn't even a good mother, she really didn't wanna get to know until a point what his son was doing or getting to know about it. She also didn't accept any advice or requests of other people. She was pointlessly odious to the people wanting to talk to her, yet was somewhat furious about it when Trixie did the same. Not to talk about that her accounts of having been a person in an abusive relationship was not real for me. It wasn't credible. It was like Goldy mentioned some of the things his ex did to her as shock factor mostly, sometimes even in a joking manner... I mean, if someone gets enough of a relationship like this, and feels bad about it, wouldn't go over it in a half, kind-of-joking manner.
I was annoyed by Schulz, either. He was described as the nice guy... what I saw from him, well... He is unprofessional as hell, as a police officer. And rude and jerky, and of a bad sense of humour, and sometimes too aggressive in his ways, like dating. Talking degradingly to people who he doesn't agree with... and, of course... dating a suspect? (especially when he was telling Goldy off when she mentioned it) eating in her house on the first interrogation? Acting too informal and intrusive? I would be really nervous if the police worked the way he did in the novel, in my city... I would feel UNSAFE!
Also, some other minor(?) problems:
-A professional sounding caterer buying some of her stuff off of the nearby bakery? For real? Also for buying stuff in the supermarket...
-This whole kind of sudden character showing/changing at the end wasn't that credible for me
-Did she have to make Patty Sue THIS dumb? This is so stereotypical and not real at all
-Why are all the pretty and shallower-described characters blonde? Again, stereotypes much...
-Arch's mood swings are not real, either... (and I am saying this as a teen who had mood swings... but I've never had mood swings this dramatic, and happen this frequently... or if it happens, most of the times, the certain teen is either really mentally unstable or totally depressed, but Arch is not either)
But...
The only redeeming qualities for me were the whodunnit kind of guessing game and that it was exciting. Other than that... ugh. I don't know if it was only the translation, but I felt it was badly written. Too many unnecessary details and filler sentences... and also, there were some sentences and structures where I was just thinking... now that is not good writing, that is how a 14-year-old writer wannabe would write.
Oh, some quotes were good, too... like the description about which places women tend to go to on a fitness class, that is SO true. And I also liked the portrayal of everyone knowing more about the case than Goldy, but no one talking, and letting her be the main suspect, when they know about her situation, just because that's easier for anyone.
The characters were not real enough... none of them. Also, I was SO annoyed by some of the characters... bad thing: I was most annoyed by the most central characters, whom the writer really wanted to show as good and of desirable morals and traits. Hell no! Goldy... she drove me crazy. She was the most selfish person in the story. She was all about "how unlucky I am, my business is ruined, blah-blah-blah", and I hated how she wanted to seem like someone chasing justice and be so sad about Laura, when she was ONLY doing it for herself. She wasn't even a good mother, she really didn't wanna get to know until a point what his son was doing or getting to know about it. She also didn't accept any advice or requests of other people. She was pointlessly odious to the people wanting to talk to her, yet was somewhat furious about it when Trixie did the same. Not to talk about that her accounts of having been a person in an abusive relationship was not real for me. It wasn't credible. It was like Goldy mentioned some of the things his ex did to her as shock factor mostly, sometimes even in a joking manner... I mean, if someone gets enough of a relationship like this, and feels bad about it, wouldn't go over it in a half, kind-of-joking manner.
I was annoyed by Schulz, either. He was described as the nice guy... what I saw from him, well... He is unprofessional as hell, as a police officer. And rude and jerky, and of a bad sense of humour, and sometimes too aggressive in his ways, like dating. Talking degradingly to people who he doesn't agree with... and, of course... dating a suspect? (especially when he was telling Goldy off when she mentioned it) eating in her house on the first interrogation? Acting too informal and intrusive? I would be really nervous if the police worked the way he did in the novel, in my city... I would feel UNSAFE!
Also, some other minor(?) problems:
-A professional sounding caterer buying some of her stuff off of the nearby bakery? For real? Also for buying stuff in the supermarket...
-This whole kind of sudden character showing/changing at the end wasn't that credible for me
-Did she have to make Patty Sue THIS dumb? This is so stereotypical and not real at all
-Why are all the pretty and shallower-described characters blonde? Again, stereotypes much...
-Arch's mood swings are not real, either... (and I am saying this as a teen who had mood swings... but I've never had mood swings this dramatic, and happen this frequently... or if it happens, most of the times, the certain teen is either really mentally unstable or totally depressed, but Arch is not either)
Read
August 23, 2025I read this series when it first came about in the 1990s before the internet and Goodreads were around. It did not age well.
September 14, 2007
Listened to the Recorded Books cassette edition. Now I've previously read this book several years ago and went on to read more in the series, but why sort of escapes me. I didn't like the people in this book. I found Goldy annoying and repetitive and Tom Schulz unprofessional, pushy, and patronizing. I might try the second one at least because I know I kept going with the series previously but if I don't like that one better then I'm gone. I think this may be just one example of the problem I have with amateur detectives - I like my detectives to be competent and often I don't think the conflict with traditional authority, such as the police, has enough reason for existing besides giving the amateur a reason to detect at all. Particularly in this case since Tom Schulz is, I believe, intended to be a sympathetic character and doing his best on the case. I thought the narrator did a fine job with the material she had to work with.
June 12, 2015
DNF @ 43%
I just can't work up the motivation to listen to an audiobook that has done nothing but frustrate me. I don't understand why a) the protagonist gets shit from everyone around her (particularly the men) - from her ex-husband, to her new LI, to the little 11 y/o shit she calls her son, b) or why the entire town is filled with idiots.
The writing seems odd and the protagonist is annoyingly repetitive and as subtle as a slap on the face with her 'interrogations.' It's also disappointing that the one interesting thing about her: formerly being in an abusive marriage, has left no visible, major scars: physical, emotional or mental on her. I was hoping for a little more depth in her personality. Yes, time heals wounds and she might've decided to find joy in the present rather than think about her past, but as often as she comes in contact with her ex, I was hoping for more (serious) insight of her mental state during her marriage, rather than jokes about having cooking utensils thrown at her.
I just can't work up the motivation to listen to an audiobook that has done nothing but frustrate me. I don't understand why a) the protagonist gets shit from everyone around her (particularly the men) - from her ex-husband, to her new LI, to the little 11 y/o shit she calls her son, b) or why the entire town is filled with idiots.
The writing seems odd and the protagonist is annoyingly repetitive and as subtle as a slap on the face with her 'interrogations.' It's also disappointing that the one interesting thing about her: formerly being in an abusive marriage, has left no visible, major scars: physical, emotional or mental on her. I was hoping for a little more depth in her personality. Yes, time heals wounds and she might've decided to find joy in the present rather than think about her past, but as often as she comes in contact with her ex, I was hoping for more (serious) insight of her mental state during her marriage, rather than jokes about having cooking utensils thrown at her.
January 30, 2024
3.5
Quick thoughts -
Sometimes Goldy was obnoxiously nosy but I enjoyed being in her head, her son is adorable, and the mystery has a lot of complicated layers.
The cop is point blank unrealistic with a lot of information reveal and discussing her doing so much of the case, and he annoys me more than anything. Unprofessional and unconvincing. I am re-reading early books to continue series but I remember still never liking him later.
Goldy isn't the greatest character actually - she seems to have a lack of compassion for some of the deaths of certain characters, especially one toward the end, or their issues unless it affects her personally. The abuse is an element that adds a dark and realistic twist but not sure how convincing the author is with it in this first book.
Brownie points for recipes anyway - do want to trey Dream Cake, and Holy Moly Guacamole
Edited to add after re-read - The driving scene was particularly hilarious.
Quick thoughts -
Sometimes Goldy was obnoxiously nosy but I enjoyed being in her head, her son is adorable, and the mystery has a lot of complicated layers.
The cop is point blank unrealistic with a lot of information reveal and discussing her doing so much of the case, and he annoys me more than anything. Unprofessional and unconvincing. I am re-reading early books to continue series but I remember still never liking him later.
Goldy isn't the greatest character actually - she seems to have a lack of compassion for some of the deaths of certain characters, especially one toward the end, or their issues unless it affects her personally. The abuse is an element that adds a dark and realistic twist but not sure how convincing the author is with it in this first book.
Brownie points for recipes anyway - do want to trey Dream Cake, and Holy Moly Guacamole
Edited to add after re-read - The driving scene was particularly hilarious.
December 24, 2012
The first novel by Diane Mott Davidson featuring Goldy and her trademark recipes.
After her divorce from "the jerk ", Goldy starts her own catering business. When her son's teacher commits suicide, Goldy does the catering for the wake. When her former father in law suddenly collapses in agony after eating Goldy's food, and it is determined the man was poisoned, the sheriff shuts Goldy down until they know what happened. This puts Goldy is a huge financial bind. The sheriff isn't getting answers fast enough, so Goldy gets moving on the investigation herself so she can get back to work.
I really enjoyed reading this first novel in the series. It was published in 1990 and so it was a little dated. Dungeons and Dragons was huge right about that time and making headlines. The game was a big part of the story line. So, a few things like that were sort of nostalgic.
I loved Tom. The banter between him and Goldy was really funny. Of course the recipes are always great. One of them sounded so good, I have to try it out.
A good solid mystery. I loved the revenge angle . Overall a B+
After her divorce from "the jerk ", Goldy starts her own catering business. When her son's teacher commits suicide, Goldy does the catering for the wake. When her former father in law suddenly collapses in agony after eating Goldy's food, and it is determined the man was poisoned, the sheriff shuts Goldy down until they know what happened. This puts Goldy is a huge financial bind. The sheriff isn't getting answers fast enough, so Goldy gets moving on the investigation herself so she can get back to work.
I really enjoyed reading this first novel in the series. It was published in 1990 and so it was a little dated. Dungeons and Dragons was huge right about that time and making headlines. The game was a big part of the story line. So, a few things like that were sort of nostalgic.
I loved Tom. The banter between him and Goldy was really funny. Of course the recipes are always great. One of them sounded so good, I have to try it out.
A good solid mystery. I loved the revenge angle . Overall a B+
May 6, 2010
Ok, so books like this are the reason I'm not a huge fan of commercial fiction. It was well written, had a nice marketable plot, and was cleverly done with the recipes in the middle and all--I mean, on those characteristics alone it seems like the perfect book, but I got kind of bored with it and fast.
We'll start with Goldie, the main character, who's a recovering love addict and has battled to put her life together after an abusive marriage. Doesn't that just sound like a wonderful thing to read about? I mean really, what more heroic struggle could a person go through than that? Think of all the potential with a character like that: inner-reflection, angst, a struggle to change inside perhaps . . . but Goldie doesn't have many inward demons as far as I can tell. At least, not any she works to overcome in this particular novel. In fairness, she fears dating and giving men another chance, which makes her cranky with men -- especially the detective she works with her on this case, but it all seems very surfacy.
Next we'll move on to the detective. I just finished reading this and am having a hard time recalling his name. Ah, Tom Schultz. You basically know nothing about him AT ALL. Granted, it is hard to develop characters thoroughly when you write in first person, but really, I have read an entire book where this guy is supposed to be the protagonist's love interest and I know NOTHING about him, and I mean NOTHING--except of course that he's good looking and has green eyes.
The other guy in the book, who you know a lot more about, is the Honey Bee distributor. He's memorable because the author puts a lot more time and effort into developing his character. He's a closed off, introspective type which I had a hard time trusting.
Not Goldie though, Goldie trusted him in a heartbeat. A recovering love addict who won't even trust a detective to take her on a few dates is going on a car ride with an introspective man whose motives she knows nothing about--her son in the car with her--with out even batting an eyelash. Yeah, that's realistic (I think not!) I would have screamed at the stupid protagonist for being so well . . . stupid, except I had a hard time identifying with her at this point and didn't really care whether she lived or died.
I'm by no means an exceptionally smart person, but I'd figured out pretty much the whole of the mystery well before the ending. I think that's probably the main reason I got bored with it. A young, attractive, woman in her 20's has to go to the Gyno twice a week for a special treatment . . . I had that one figured out at the end of the first chapter. And how naive can a 20-year-old girl possibly be?! I had a very hard time buying that Patty Sue was a victim. Bebe yes, Patty Sue no! Bebe, a minor, stuck in a house with her parents and a mother who knew what was happening but refused to do anything about it vs. a 20-year-old girl who lived away from home and could at the very least have called her parents and said, "get me out of this situation!"
End of rant. Not a bad book, I got to the end and the plot was well crafted. It just didn't invoke much feeling in me, no tears, laughter, extreme joy -- anything really. I have a new appreciation for Libba Bray, I may have cried my eyes out at the end of her "Great and Terrible Beauty" series, but at least I felt something.
We'll start with Goldie, the main character, who's a recovering love addict and has battled to put her life together after an abusive marriage. Doesn't that just sound like a wonderful thing to read about? I mean really, what more heroic struggle could a person go through than that? Think of all the potential with a character like that: inner-reflection, angst, a struggle to change inside perhaps . . . but Goldie doesn't have many inward demons as far as I can tell. At least, not any she works to overcome in this particular novel. In fairness, she fears dating and giving men another chance, which makes her cranky with men -- especially the detective she works with her on this case, but it all seems very surfacy.
Next we'll move on to the detective. I just finished reading this and am having a hard time recalling his name. Ah, Tom Schultz. You basically know nothing about him AT ALL. Granted, it is hard to develop characters thoroughly when you write in first person, but really, I have read an entire book where this guy is supposed to be the protagonist's love interest and I know NOTHING about him, and I mean NOTHING--except of course that he's good looking and has green eyes.
The other guy in the book, who you know a lot more about, is the Honey Bee distributor. He's memorable because the author puts a lot more time and effort into developing his character. He's a closed off, introspective type which I had a hard time trusting.
Not Goldie though, Goldie trusted him in a heartbeat. A recovering love addict who won't even trust a detective to take her on a few dates is going on a car ride with an introspective man whose motives she knows nothing about--her son in the car with her--with out even batting an eyelash. Yeah, that's realistic (I think not!) I would have screamed at the stupid protagonist for being so well . . . stupid, except I had a hard time identifying with her at this point and didn't really care whether she lived or died.
I'm by no means an exceptionally smart person, but I'd figured out pretty much the whole of the mystery well before the ending. I think that's probably the main reason I got bored with it. A young, attractive, woman in her 20's has to go to the Gyno twice a week for a special treatment . . . I had that one figured out at the end of the first chapter. And how naive can a 20-year-old girl possibly be?! I had a very hard time buying that Patty Sue was a victim. Bebe yes, Patty Sue no! Bebe, a minor, stuck in a house with her parents and a mother who knew what was happening but refused to do anything about it vs. a 20-year-old girl who lived away from home and could at the very least have called her parents and said, "get me out of this situation!"
End of rant. Not a bad book, I got to the end and the plot was well crafted. It just didn't invoke much feeling in me, no tears, laughter, extreme joy -- anything really. I have a new appreciation for Libba Bray, I may have cried my eyes out at the end of her "Great and Terrible Beauty" series, but at least I felt something.
July 25, 2016
The writing structure is good. The content I didn't care for.
First, Goldy's ex husband was abusive, not only to her but to the next wife. Yet he's still in the picture with a thriving medical practice, since apparently the abuse wasn't "bad enough" to have his butt thrown in jail. She's afraid of him but it's all cool, because at least they aren't married anymore. And her 11 year old son knows that sometimes dad threw things at mom, but that's just how he is. So this is acceptable behavior??
Vonette knew what Fritz was up to with BeBe, and understood that she probably drank herself to death as a direct result of it, but, well, what can you do? Become a drunk and just live with it? Sure, sounds like a plan. Fritz screws around? eh, more of the same. Well suddenly I see why John Richard is such a winner - what a thing.
Goldy makes a cruddy detective. She pushes forward gathering clues without having any idea of what to do with them. Instead of giving the info to Tom Schultz (the investigator from the sheriff's department) she starts confronting people. If you find half a newspaper article, with the date, article name and part of the content, you call you local library and have them teach you how to find the whole article, you don't go around confronting people without knowing what you are talking about. Bluffing is a bad choice for the most part when dealing with murder.
Goldy is hot and cold, asking questions without understanding answers and not putting together pieces that all but blink in neon - these things are related. She doesn't tell Tom things that she really ought to, but this doesn't surprise me since she doesn't seem to make the leap that abuse done within the confines of the family is still ABUSE and subject to LAWS. Goldy doesn't see what is in front of her face, lets her kid yell at her and generally treat her poorly because she doesn't want to upset him. Which makes me wonder if her ex married her because Goldy reminded him of his mother, who just let things go and didn't see what was in front of her.
If Goldy doesn't want to date Tom, that's cool, she could just tell him no. If she wants to date Pomeroy she should ask him. But all she does is make a huge mess of it all. Same with the mystery.
I will not read more by this author since I literally had to put the book to the side several times because it bothered me that much. I finished it just in case it turned out different in the end. It didn't.
First, Goldy's ex husband was abusive, not only to her but to the next wife. Yet he's still in the picture with a thriving medical practice, since apparently the abuse wasn't "bad enough" to have his butt thrown in jail. She's afraid of him but it's all cool, because at least they aren't married anymore. And her 11 year old son knows that sometimes dad threw things at mom, but that's just how he is. So this is acceptable behavior??
Vonette knew what Fritz was up to with BeBe, and understood that she probably drank herself to death as a direct result of it, but, well, what can you do? Become a drunk and just live with it? Sure, sounds like a plan. Fritz screws around? eh, more of the same. Well suddenly I see why John Richard is such a winner - what a thing.
Goldy makes a cruddy detective. She pushes forward gathering clues without having any idea of what to do with them. Instead of giving the info to Tom Schultz (the investigator from the sheriff's department) she starts confronting people. If you find half a newspaper article, with the date, article name and part of the content, you call you local library and have them teach you how to find the whole article, you don't go around confronting people without knowing what you are talking about. Bluffing is a bad choice for the most part when dealing with murder.
Goldy is hot and cold, asking questions without understanding answers and not putting together pieces that all but blink in neon - these things are related. She doesn't tell Tom things that she really ought to, but this doesn't surprise me since she doesn't seem to make the leap that abuse done within the confines of the family is still ABUSE and subject to LAWS. Goldy doesn't see what is in front of her face, lets her kid yell at her and generally treat her poorly because she doesn't want to upset him. Which makes me wonder if her ex married her because Goldy reminded him of his mother, who just let things go and didn't see what was in front of her.
If Goldy doesn't want to date Tom, that's cool, she could just tell him no. If she wants to date Pomeroy she should ask him. But all she does is make a huge mess of it all. Same with the mystery.
I will not read more by this author since I literally had to put the book to the side several times because it bothered me that much. I finished it just in case it turned out different in the end. It didn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2016
Aren't I pleased with this particular book. Here I was, being depressed about how my average rating system was going up, due to the various books that chalked up a high score. Then hey presto, along comes this gestalt of a book with its 15 other sequels tagging along-the 16th on the way. Suddenly my dilemma was solved. What dilemma you ask? Exactly.
To be serious I'm going to give this series a chance. All I've been able to do this time around was to ease myself into the unfamiliar writing that any cozy series bring to the table. This book has a higher vocab than usual cozies. It's also varied, there are attempts at humor, some of which stick to the wall, some off the wall. The sole plus I've scraped from this...experience, is that there are no characters I despise. This book is about 300 pages but it felt like more. That's why I said about easing myself into the sequels. The style doesn't help, and time drags on instead of flying past while reading Catering to Nobody. Maybe I need to crowbar myself in instead.
To be serious I'm going to give this series a chance. All I've been able to do this time around was to ease myself into the unfamiliar writing that any cozy series bring to the table. This book has a higher vocab than usual cozies. It's also varied, there are attempts at humor, some of which stick to the wall, some off the wall. The sole plus I've scraped from this...experience, is that there are no characters I despise. This book is about 300 pages but it felt like more. That's why I said about easing myself into the sequels. The style doesn't help, and time drags on instead of flying past while reading Catering to Nobody. Maybe I need to crowbar myself in instead.
October 6, 2018
This was a fast, fun read for a few days of escapism. If you're expecting a crime novel or a thriller, keep looking. This is a straight-up cozy mystery, with quirky characters and a small-town whodunit plot that kept me engaged enough to flip the pages. There was a time or two that the scenes were a tiny bit over the top (the driver's ed scene comes to mind), but nothing my willing suspension of disbelief didn't cover. It's not meant to be a procedural thriller; it's meant to be a quick, entertaining read. And despite the presence of dark thematic elements, it was. Overall, good for a day of tucked-in reading.
June 20, 2024
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery!! I liked the characters and town of Aspen Meadow. I first picked this up because of the movies Hallmark did of this book series. I definitely didn’t know who did either of the mysteries, but it was still fun finding out who did! I’m actually surprised to say that I like the movies better, but still enjoyed this! I definitely recommend.
November 15, 2016
Read as part of #Book1CoziesClub.
Of all the Cozies I've read recently, this one took me the longest, I think. I started out listening to this on audiobook, but the narrator wasn't clicking for me. Goldy as a character turned out to be really whiny when I listened to her, so I ended up abandoning the audiobook.
Since I owned a physical copy, I stuck to that for the rest of the book. Goldy still got on my nerves as I felt she was really pushy and more nosy than any other amateur sleuth I've encountered. I also did not agree with her parenting choices or the way she handled situations with her ex-husband. Some of the choices the author made in regards to describing Marla's stature got to me and there was a comment made about Japanese people that also bothered me.
I am glad that I finally got to this book, as I own several of the installments in this series. Though this installment wasn't super enjoyable, I will give the series another shot before I decide for sure if I will be continuing on or not. This did come with three recipes which do sound delicious and I have jotted those down to try later.
Of all the Cozies I've read recently, this one took me the longest, I think. I started out listening to this on audiobook, but the narrator wasn't clicking for me. Goldy as a character turned out to be really whiny when I listened to her, so I ended up abandoning the audiobook.
Since I owned a physical copy, I stuck to that for the rest of the book. Goldy still got on my nerves as I felt she was really pushy and more nosy than any other amateur sleuth I've encountered. I also did not agree with her parenting choices or the way she handled situations with her ex-husband. Some of the choices the author made in regards to describing Marla's stature got to me and there was a comment made about Japanese people that also bothered me.
I am glad that I finally got to this book, as I own several of the installments in this series. Though this installment wasn't super enjoyable, I will give the series another shot before I decide for sure if I will be continuing on or not. This did come with three recipes which do sound delicious and I have jotted those down to try later.
April 17, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. It was neat to "meet" all of the characters for the first time, as I have read many of other books from the series. Quick and fun read.
Read
October 12, 2021Woof, this book aged poorly.
February 16, 2020
Goldy is the owner of her own catering business. After leaving her husband due to his abuse, she takes her son and goes gets her own house where she creates a business to sustain herself and her son. Her son's favorite teacher commits suicide and Goldy is called to cater the wake. During the wake her ex-father-in-law collapses with suspected food poisoning. Due to this the authorities close down the catering business. No business, no money. Goldy must find the real poisoner to get her business back up and running.
While I thought this was well written, I thought the treatment of her boarder Patty Sue was a bit wonky. Who boards a guest in their house and doesn't get paid for it? I can understand her boarding to see a specialist but not paying for it? The middle dragged a bit. It did keep me guessing for a while but really only rated a 3.5 because there wasn't a lot of action in the middle although the interaction between Goldy and her 11 year old was pretty good. Will like to see Arch grow up through her series. A lot of potential there.
While I thought this was well written, I thought the treatment of her boarder Patty Sue was a bit wonky. Who boards a guest in their house and doesn't get paid for it? I can understand her boarding to see a specialist but not paying for it? The middle dragged a bit. It did keep me guessing for a while but really only rated a 3.5 because there wasn't a lot of action in the middle although the interaction between Goldy and her 11 year old was pretty good. Will like to see Arch grow up through her series. A lot of potential there.
September 28, 2019
A solid mystery, though dated a bit with some viewpoints like suggesting a 16-year-old was “seduced” by her stepfather when even the descriptions suggest molestation and the insistence that feminists (occasionally called “militant feminists”) don’t shave as a vital plot point. Plus there is a quite independent 11-year-old, gosh I miss that. Mildly conservative bent, several good sounding recipes, and a very goodmystery proving it to be from the late 20th century golden age of mysteries. Deliciously read by Barbara Rosenblat and borrowed from my public library through the Digital Library of Illinois/Overdrive.
January 7, 2020
4 stars.
I feel like I need a double-category rating system: one for rating books that I find insightful, enlightening, and intellectually stimulating, plus another for rating books based on sheer reading pleasure--the smiles, the silly jokes, description of foods, intriguing mystery.
Do I feel guilty for giving this culinary-themed cozy mystery the same rating as Pillars of the Earth?
Nope.
I feel like I need a double-category rating system: one for rating books that I find insightful, enlightening, and intellectually stimulating, plus another for rating books based on sheer reading pleasure--the smiles, the silly jokes, description of foods, intriguing mystery.
Do I feel guilty for giving this culinary-themed cozy mystery the same rating as Pillars of the Earth?
Nope.
January 24, 2018
It was alright. Little to religious for my tastes
January 20, 2025
yeah this book was so crazy idek how to review it. did i have fun? no. did i hate it? also no. is it cozy mystery? no. but was it high stakes? also no. it’s… certainly a book that had a plot that even now a few days after finishing it i’m struggling to remember the basics OOPS. all i do remember is that kid needed a better mom than her fr.
July 10, 2021
Very interesting. I liked that there was actually two culprits in the crimes. I didn’t expect the killer or the other person either! Stellar series that I will continue.
March 27, 2019
This is going to be one of the shortest reviews I've ever done, because I just couldn't stand Goldy. So, instead of a traditional review, I'm just going to list the talking points that lead up to the reason I gave this book one star only, instead of leading in with an intro:
Goldy is a whiny, self- absorbed protagonist who allows her abusive ex-husband to continue to abuse her; she has an eleven-year-old son who is being bullied at school and she leaves him to work it out himself (and, I'm guessing, continue to be bullied) instead of informing the school to take measures or speak to the other boys' parents; she does nothing at all.
I found it odd that the recipes are in the middle of sentences! Not at the end of chapters or even paragraphs - but in the middle of sentences. Oh. My. God. Also, who on earth puts mayonnaise in guacamole? You have to wonder how far she'll go as a caterer with this recipe.
Her ex-husband is a well-heeled doctor but she doesn't make him pay child support on a regular basis even though she's struggling as a caterer to make ends meet. She'd rather keep the peace than pay the bills! She's never taken him to court about paying support on a regular basis, gotten a restraining order against him for physically assaulting her, nor told him never to speak to her that way again. Her name should be on doormats sold countrywide. But it's contradictory when she just tells people what to do, like taking her ex-mother-in-law's car and refusing to give it back.
She's not even conscientious as a caterer. She runs out of supplies. I'm a home cook and I check my cupboards and refrigerator on a regular basis, and if I'm running low I replenish, and if I use a can of anything I replace it the next time I go to the store!
She allows her son to call his grandparents by their first names because apparently neither she nor her husband could teach him otherwise. It might not bother others, but I find it disrespectful, the same as if they wouldn't call a teacher by their first name. Her son also speaks and acts like he's twenty, not eleven. It makes you wonder if the author has children of her own.
She's only investigating because her business is on the line, she doesn't really care otherwise, and she has no problem breaking into Laura's home and taking things, including smoking the dead woman's cigarettes; nor going through confidential patient files.
She's a horrible human being and unlikable in the extreme. It makes you wonder how there are so many books in this series. No, I will not read any more of them and I'm sorry I even read the first one.
Goldy is a whiny, self- absorbed protagonist who allows her abusive ex-husband to continue to abuse her; she has an eleven-year-old son who is being bullied at school and she leaves him to work it out himself (and, I'm guessing, continue to be bullied) instead of informing the school to take measures or speak to the other boys' parents; she does nothing at all.
I found it odd that the recipes are in the middle of sentences! Not at the end of chapters or even paragraphs - but in the middle of sentences. Oh. My. God. Also, who on earth puts mayonnaise in guacamole? You have to wonder how far she'll go as a caterer with this recipe.
Her ex-husband is a well-heeled doctor but she doesn't make him pay child support on a regular basis even though she's struggling as a caterer to make ends meet. She'd rather keep the peace than pay the bills! She's never taken him to court about paying support on a regular basis, gotten a restraining order against him for physically assaulting her, nor told him never to speak to her that way again. Her name should be on doormats sold countrywide. But it's contradictory when she just tells people what to do, like taking her ex-mother-in-law's car and refusing to give it back.
She's not even conscientious as a caterer. She runs out of supplies. I'm a home cook and I check my cupboards and refrigerator on a regular basis, and if I'm running low I replenish, and if I use a can of anything I replace it the next time I go to the store!
She allows her son to call his grandparents by their first names because apparently neither she nor her husband could teach him otherwise. It might not bother others, but I find it disrespectful, the same as if they wouldn't call a teacher by their first name. Her son also speaks and acts like he's twenty, not eleven. It makes you wonder if the author has children of her own.
She's only investigating because her business is on the line, she doesn't really care otherwise, and she has no problem breaking into Laura's home and taking things, including smoking the dead woman's cigarettes; nor going through confidential patient files.
She's a horrible human being and unlikable in the extreme. It makes you wonder how there are so many books in this series. No, I will not read any more of them and I'm sorry I even read the first one.
January 28, 2018
After reading one of Diane Mott Davidson’s later Goldy Bear mysteries in a book club, I knew I wanted to start at the beginning of the series and I am so glad I did. I really enjoy Goldy’s demeanor and attitude, and find great charm in all of the Colorado references. While the majority of the female characters were stupidly...well, stupid, in this book, I look forward to following Goldy on future capers (food pun intended). Barbara Rosenblat was a fantastic reader, as her seemingly unpolished presentation and raspy vocals added a dramatic reading feel to the audiobook.
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