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Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #9
Tough Cookie
The New York Times bestselling series that inspired the Hallmark Mystery Curious Caterer Original Movies
“A surprisingly tart and savory reading experience.”—The Washington Post Book World
When caterer Goldy Schulz is offered a temporary stint hosting a cooking show for PBS, she jumps at the chance. After all, she could use the money—not to mention the great exposure. Plus taping the shows at Colorado’s posh Killdeer Ski Resort will be fun. A little cooking, a little chitchat. What could go wrong?
The everything! When Goldy has to do one of her shows live for a PBS telethon, the broadcast is riddled with culinary catastrophes—from the Chesapeake Crab Cakes right down to the Ice-Capped Gingersnaps. But the deadliest dish of all comes after the cameras go off—and a baffling accident claims a life.
Then a series of suspicious mishaps places Goldy’s own life in jeopardy, and she knows she’d better whip up her own crime-solving recipe, and fast—before a deadly dash of danger ends her cooking career once and for all. . . .
Includes recipes!
“A surprisingly tart and savory reading experience.”—The Washington Post Book World
When caterer Goldy Schulz is offered a temporary stint hosting a cooking show for PBS, she jumps at the chance. After all, she could use the money—not to mention the great exposure. Plus taping the shows at Colorado’s posh Killdeer Ski Resort will be fun. A little cooking, a little chitchat. What could go wrong?
The everything! When Goldy has to do one of her shows live for a PBS telethon, the broadcast is riddled with culinary catastrophes—from the Chesapeake Crab Cakes right down to the Ice-Capped Gingersnaps. But the deadliest dish of all comes after the cameras go off—and a baffling accident claims a life.
Then a series of suspicious mishaps places Goldy’s own life in jeopardy, and she knows she’d better whip up her own crime-solving recipe, and fast—before a deadly dash of danger ends her cooking career once and for all. . . .
Includes recipes!
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2000
About the author
Diane Mott Davidson
88 books2,355 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 326 reviews
January 8, 2012
Book Review
4 out of 5 stars to Tough Cookie, the 9th cozy mystery in the "Goldy Bear Schultz Culinary" books, written in 2000 by Diane Mott Davidson. This was one of the stronger books in the series, but it didn't start off that way. When I first began reading the book, I was put off by the death and initial suspect. Goldy sells some skis to another guy, as her catering business was temporarily shut down due to some kitchen issues, which eventually cause an accident. A convoluted connection is made with the death given that person had something to do with someone from Goldy's past and her ex-husband... blah blah blah... I thought it was going to be a weak plot. But that's just what initially happened, as tons of suspects showed up creating a very complex plot. Sometimes you have to forgive the way the death happens and how the main character is connected... as in a book series, the person can't always be the first to find the victim, or it gets too overplayed. Once I accepted that piece, then I was good with the actual mystery piece.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
4 out of 5 stars to Tough Cookie, the 9th cozy mystery in the "Goldy Bear Schultz Culinary" books, written in 2000 by Diane Mott Davidson. This was one of the stronger books in the series, but it didn't start off that way. When I first began reading the book, I was put off by the death and initial suspect. Goldy sells some skis to another guy, as her catering business was temporarily shut down due to some kitchen issues, which eventually cause an accident. A convoluted connection is made with the death given that person had something to do with someone from Goldy's past and her ex-husband... blah blah blah... I thought it was going to be a weak plot. But that's just what initially happened, as tons of suspects showed up creating a very complex plot. Sometimes you have to forgive the way the death happens and how the main character is connected... as in a book series, the person can't always be the first to find the victim, or it gets too overplayed. Once I accepted that piece, then I was good with the actual mystery piece.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
February 25, 2009
This series has grown, and I like the changes it’s making. Not only has Goldie and her family grown and changed, she has ‘matured’ too. She doesn’t do (as many) stupid things as she used to (I equate it to the girl that goes by herself down in to the dark basement in a horror movie.). I think Tom has been a good influence on her. And yet they are not less interesting, and there is not less action. For a caterer she gets sucked in to a lot. I like that they are light, fast reads. It bothered me a little that this one (and I think the last one) were ‘out of town’. But I guess there can only be so many murders in one small town before it get hokey. And it’s as good of way as any other to get new blood (no pun intended) into a series. Definitely and addict, and will definitely be finishing the series. =D
February 1, 2026
I picked up this book at a Walmart while on vacation in 7th grade. And so began my love affair with culinary mysteries! I remembered almost nothing about this book. More references to church and the bible than to cooking… excited for the Hallmark movie!
January 17, 2023
If you like cooking shows and a good mystery, this is a nice little read.
August 26, 2022
For some reason, I absolutely love this series of middle-brow mysteries. I have to explore that.
I will list my reasons for my pleasure. The first has to do with food. The heroine of the books is a caterer in a high end community in Colorado. Her financial concerns and her need to drum up business are a consistent aspect of her life. This makes her real. But what I find attractive is that Ms. Davidson ntegrates cooking into the books. Now, I like to cook. Being in the kitchen and doing the work is more important to me than the eating. So, despite the fact that I find the recipes revolting, I find that the description of the process of cooking matches my experience — it is satisfying and calming. I really like this.
Next, the stories or the scene or both are so very American. And this is not coastal America, but the America of the inland. We are far from the high culture of New York or San Francisco. This is not to say that Denver and environs is a cultural wasteland. But Ms. Davidson does not portray it as educated and sophisticated, even when she describes the very rich.
Ms. Davidson’s America is a place of close connections — family and its problems, friendship and its obligations, gossip, church work, dealing with employers or “patrons.” She gives us a world of the episcopal church (very American), the school your children attend (and its security systems), the people who hire you and what they do, the hidden abuse in the home, money grubbing, revenge, the warmth of love, and so forth. Ms. Davidson can be over-the-top when her heroine goes into detective mode, but her descriptions of the humdrum of life are right on.
Last, the world of Ms. D’s books is one that I know and understand. These books are not high literature; so I am saying that they provide me with a kind of refreshment.
I am sure that others have already provided precis of book. So, I don’t think I need to do that. I will simply stop here.
I will list my reasons for my pleasure. The first has to do with food. The heroine of the books is a caterer in a high end community in Colorado. Her financial concerns and her need to drum up business are a consistent aspect of her life. This makes her real. But what I find attractive is that Ms. Davidson ntegrates cooking into the books. Now, I like to cook. Being in the kitchen and doing the work is more important to me than the eating. So, despite the fact that I find the recipes revolting, I find that the description of the process of cooking matches my experience — it is satisfying and calming. I really like this.
Next, the stories or the scene or both are so very American. And this is not coastal America, but the America of the inland. We are far from the high culture of New York or San Francisco. This is not to say that Denver and environs is a cultural wasteland. But Ms. Davidson does not portray it as educated and sophisticated, even when she describes the very rich.
Ms. Davidson’s America is a place of close connections — family and its problems, friendship and its obligations, gossip, church work, dealing with employers or “patrons.” She gives us a world of the episcopal church (very American), the school your children attend (and its security systems), the people who hire you and what they do, the hidden abuse in the home, money grubbing, revenge, the warmth of love, and so forth. Ms. Davidson can be over-the-top when her heroine goes into detective mode, but her descriptions of the humdrum of life are right on.
Last, the world of Ms. D’s books is one that I know and understand. These books are not high literature; so I am saying that they provide me with a kind of refreshment.
I am sure that others have already provided precis of book. So, I don’t think I need to do that. I will simply stop here.
January 31, 2024
Reading this book made me want food. It made me want a lot of food. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes.
It took me a while to get into the book. I hated how Tom calls Goldy "Miss G" and she, herself, can be quite annoying in how she treats people. The mystery was written well enough that though I had strong suspicions, there were enough plausible suspects and red herrings that I wasn't totally certain until the end.
It took me a while to get into the book. I hated how Tom calls Goldy "Miss G" and she, herself, can be quite annoying in how she treats people. The mystery was written well enough that though I had strong suspicions, there were enough plausible suspects and red herrings that I wasn't totally certain until the end.
May 3, 2026
Goldie gets called to appear on a PBS cooking show. It seems like every cozy has to have at least one reality show book in it.
The murder is actually a bit chilling, which seldom happens in these sorts of books.
The murder is actually a bit chilling, which seldom happens in these sorts of books.
January 3, 2022
Honestly, I don’t really love to read at this point in my life BUT I found this book to be interesting and fun. I love to cook and found myself really relating to “Goldy” and her feelings. Loved the recipes! Copied them an added them to my cookbook. Can’t wait to try them - and I will!
Her ability to bring me to the slopes was wonderful. As someone who spends time in the snow and on the mountain, she did an excellent job making me feel the space.
I am defiantly going to read more of Diane Mott Davidson’s books. They made me feel a nice sense of mystery, was a fun read brought inspiration to be sure to stay in the kitchen- it is one of my happy places for sure.
Her ability to bring me to the slopes was wonderful. As someone who spends time in the snow and on the mountain, she did an excellent job making me feel the space.
I am defiantly going to read more of Diane Mott Davidson’s books. They made me feel a nice sense of mystery, was a fun read brought inspiration to be sure to stay in the kitchen- it is one of my happy places for sure.
March 25, 2019
My mom originally read this book and recommended it to me. I liked how there were actual recipes throughout the book. However the actual mystery was a little crazy for my taste. It seemed like so much was happening that I had a hard time keeping everything straight. I was thrown for a loop when we found out what actually happened in the end though. Overall this was a fun read and one I’m glad my mom recommended.
April 30, 2025
These are fun and easy reads with yummy recipes included.
August 26, 2021
Cozy mysteries tend to have certain requirements to fulfill:
- a main character you have some affinity for
- a sense of place
- enough clues so we can venture a guess as to whom the culprit is, but not so many that it kills the frisson of triumph when we've guessed correctly, and
- a running theme.
The heroine of Tough Cookie is Goldy Schultz. Though this is not her first appearance, it is my introduction to her. Although I was content enough to share headspace with her for the duration, she does strike me as a bit too...archetypal, if you will: woman finally free of abusive man, now with law enforcement husband, seeks mysteries when not spending time at church with family. Apart from the solace she takes from cooking, there isn't much there to make Goldy a stand-out personality.
What did stand out was the locale. Coming from NYC, I was most drawn in by the descriptions of such an utterly foreign landscape, where gondolas are commonplace, ski gear is the 24/7 look, and being able to shush down slopes for an hour is completely taken for granted. The location alternately brings beauty and peril to the story and the author makes full use of it.
In terms of clues, I was not overly impressed. There were a few valid suspects, but the story felt lacking. A few more clues, a few more valid red herrings, would have enhanced the whodunnit greatly.
The theme helps a bit. As one might hope, a cooking theme leads to recipes and I am always on the lookout for a new favourite. Though not all here are to my taste, I've certainly made a note to try a few. I'd also venture to say that most people will find at least one recipe here that should appeal.
I'm not sure if I'll be popping in on Goldy again based on this reading. But I do know that I'll be giving these Marmalade Mogul Muffins a try.
- a main character you have some affinity for
- a sense of place
- enough clues so we can venture a guess as to whom the culprit is, but not so many that it kills the frisson of triumph when we've guessed correctly, and
- a running theme.
The heroine of Tough Cookie is Goldy Schultz. Though this is not her first appearance, it is my introduction to her. Although I was content enough to share headspace with her for the duration, she does strike me as a bit too...archetypal, if you will: woman finally free of abusive man, now with law enforcement husband, seeks mysteries when not spending time at church with family. Apart from the solace she takes from cooking, there isn't much there to make Goldy a stand-out personality.
What did stand out was the locale. Coming from NYC, I was most drawn in by the descriptions of such an utterly foreign landscape, where gondolas are commonplace, ski gear is the 24/7 look, and being able to shush down slopes for an hour is completely taken for granted. The location alternately brings beauty and peril to the story and the author makes full use of it.
In terms of clues, I was not overly impressed. There were a few valid suspects, but the story felt lacking. A few more clues, a few more valid red herrings, would have enhanced the whodunnit greatly.
The theme helps a bit. As one might hope, a cooking theme leads to recipes and I am always on the lookout for a new favourite. Though not all here are to my taste, I've certainly made a note to try a few. I'd also venture to say that most people will find at least one recipe here that should appeal.
I'm not sure if I'll be popping in on Goldy again based on this reading. But I do know that I'll be giving these Marmalade Mogul Muffins a try.
January 24, 2018
Still one of my favorite series.
March 29, 2017
3.5 stars. Recipes look GREAT and I liked the setting/mystery. I didn't like the typical "go off alone ignoring warning" that seems to be a common cozy trope. And a couple of times there were a few pages summarizing the suspects/story - I can remember well enough with 300 pages that I just felt annoyed with that. But I'll certainly continue with the series.
January 17, 2019
I enjoy the Goldie Shulz mysteries, but this one was the most puzzling I've read. There was a huge cast of characters, and I must admit I got lost a time or two and had to go back to figure out who was who. That may be because I wasn't paying enough attention or because I just finished another book with a lot of characters.
Goldie, a caterer, finds herself in the middle of numerous blizzards, murders, and bad guys masquerading as good guys all while she is in the middle of rebuilding her business and taping a series of PBS cooking shows.
It was entertaining, and it includes lots of recipes that sound wonderful, but I'll never make because they contain a scary list of ingredients (like 1/2 lb of real butter) in almost every one. And Goldie says you can NEVER substitute other ingredients. But if someone else is motivated to try them, I'll volunteer to be a taster.
Goldie, a caterer, finds herself in the middle of numerous blizzards, murders, and bad guys masquerading as good guys all while she is in the middle of rebuilding her business and taping a series of PBS cooking shows.
It was entertaining, and it includes lots of recipes that sound wonderful, but I'll never make because they contain a scary list of ingredients (like 1/2 lb of real butter) in almost every one. And Goldie says you can NEVER substitute other ingredients. But if someone else is motivated to try them, I'll volunteer to be a taster.
October 13, 2017
This is a decent whodunit but seemed busy and the skiing lingo made it a more difficult read for me. In this series, the protagonist is a caterer married to a police officer and solves crimes as she prepares dishes for various events. In this novel, she is doing a PBS cooking show on a ski mountain and everyone seems to be involved in some way. She is exceptionally nosy in this book, more overtly than in the last Goldy novel I read, and though I think that I'd be able to let Angela Lansbury slide on some of this stuff, Goldy doesn't doesn't really have the "good person" capital to pull it off.
January 8, 2011
I have no idea why I still read this books. I loathe Goldy Schulz. She's not a tough cookie. She's a sniveling stupid snot who gives women a bad name. Something always happens to her and she's always trying to keep her business running. Her name should be Dumb Blondie Klutz. She needs a man to take care of her and her sleuthing skills are a joke at best.
May 20, 2009
This was a very well crafted and enjoyable mystery. It reminded me a lot of Mary Daheim's mysteries. I really enjoyed it and found she was very good with the tension. The only drawback is the recipes. I always find these mysteries with recipes or hints seem to detract from the story itself.
September 8, 2013
Plot was good. I felt the book is somewhat 'wordy.' Overall an okay cozy mystery.
September 5, 2015
I've just started reading this one again, for the 10th time, lol.
I love this series!
I love this series!
July 8, 2015
This was a fun read and of course enjoyed the recipes!
May 26, 2025
I’ve dipped in and out of this series at random and entirely out of order, and I don’t think I’ve found the books less enjoyable as a result.
Goldy Schulz used to operate a successful catering business in Colorado’s high country until a gleeful health inspector told her she had installed the wrong drains in her commercial kitchen. Neither she nor her cop husband have the money to repair the problem, and that means her catering days are over. Determining that she can work as a personal chef, she finds one client, a wine importer, who also gets her involved in a locally produced public television show about cooking. As the book opens, she is reluctantly driving through a mid-December blizzard to get to the mountaintop location where they film the show.
A guy whom she dated years ago offered to buy a pair of historically valuable skis from Goldy’s husband, Tom. A member of the 10th Mountain Division used the skis during World War II, and he carved into the skis the names of all the places where he used them in battle. General Eisenhower even signed the left ski, hence their value. Tom and Goldy needed money to fix the drains, and Goldy and her short-lived former fling agreed to meet at the studio where they filmed her program. He insisted that she ski a treacherous run with him, and she fell behind. By the time she caught up to him, someone had murdered him, and the cash that was supposed to be Goldy’s had somehow flown out of his pockets to the delight of skiers who were busy retrieving the money. Many of them didn’t care that the money featured bloodstains from Goldy’s severely injured skiing partner. He died in an ambulance, and Goldy becomes a suspect in the death.
Someone doesn’t want her to find out who killed the guy. To that end, a truck runs her van off the road during that same blizzard under which she labored to get to the show earlier. She lived through the crash and later retrieved her husband’s valuable skis. But solving the mystery was much harder.
I don’t remember when I last read one of the books in the series. I consistently enjoy them, and I’ve oversimplified my description. The dead guy was a parole officer, and Goldy’s first husband is up for parole in mere weeks. You can read this to see how that linkage made her an even more likely suspect.
I enjoy the author’s writing style. She draws you into a somewhat complex plot, and yet you feel the reassurance that her talent will move you through the tangles without making things worse for you the reader.
Goldy Schulz used to operate a successful catering business in Colorado’s high country until a gleeful health inspector told her she had installed the wrong drains in her commercial kitchen. Neither she nor her cop husband have the money to repair the problem, and that means her catering days are over. Determining that she can work as a personal chef, she finds one client, a wine importer, who also gets her involved in a locally produced public television show about cooking. As the book opens, she is reluctantly driving through a mid-December blizzard to get to the mountaintop location where they film the show.
A guy whom she dated years ago offered to buy a pair of historically valuable skis from Goldy’s husband, Tom. A member of the 10th Mountain Division used the skis during World War II, and he carved into the skis the names of all the places where he used them in battle. General Eisenhower even signed the left ski, hence their value. Tom and Goldy needed money to fix the drains, and Goldy and her short-lived former fling agreed to meet at the studio where they filmed her program. He insisted that she ski a treacherous run with him, and she fell behind. By the time she caught up to him, someone had murdered him, and the cash that was supposed to be Goldy’s had somehow flown out of his pockets to the delight of skiers who were busy retrieving the money. Many of them didn’t care that the money featured bloodstains from Goldy’s severely injured skiing partner. He died in an ambulance, and Goldy becomes a suspect in the death.
Someone doesn’t want her to find out who killed the guy. To that end, a truck runs her van off the road during that same blizzard under which she labored to get to the show earlier. She lived through the crash and later retrieved her husband’s valuable skis. But solving the mystery was much harder.
I don’t remember when I last read one of the books in the series. I consistently enjoy them, and I’ve oversimplified my description. The dead guy was a parole officer, and Goldy’s first husband is up for parole in mere weeks. You can read this to see how that linkage made her an even more likely suspect.
I enjoy the author’s writing style. She draws you into a somewhat complex plot, and yet you feel the reassurance that her talent will move you through the tangles without making things worse for you the reader.
September 4, 2022
Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson is the 9th book of the Goldy Bear mystery series set in contemporary Colorado. Goldy Bear, owner of Goldilocks Catering - Where Everything Tastes Great! is bereft. Her beloved husband Tom renovated her professional kitchen beautifully, but an inspector pronounced it out of code - which shut down her business. Without it she feels purposeless, so she volunteers to cook for PBS shows held at Killdeer ski resort.
A fierce snowstorm shuts down much of Colorado, but her demanding boss Arthur Wakefield insists the show must go on. The "beg-a-thon" folks cancelled their show due to the storm, so now Goldy's show will be not only cooking but soliciting donations.
That morning she packs a special cargo: vintage collectible skis worth thousands. She'll sell to a former boyfriend who collects military memorabilia. The sale will provide funds to replace her out-of-code drains, so she can get back in business.
The live show is mostly a disaster, cooking-wise. Assistants who were supposed to prep didn't do it or didn't do it correctly. Goldy is relieved when the show is over. Now all she has to do is ski downhill, sell the skis, drive home in a blizzard.
On the way downhill she discovers a body. The would-be ski purchaser. After many hours with law enforcement, she is finally able to head home. In a near-whiteout snowstorm, of course. Her bad day is not over - she's rear-ended into a multi-car collision. Several cars, Goldy's included, are forced off the road into a ravine. She's rescued and taken to hospital.
Goldy's in pain but stubborn. She wants to know exactly what happened with the skier on the mountain, and why. She suspects even the multi-car crash may not have been strictly due to weather. She's right.
In follow-up trips to Killdeer resort, Goldy untangles a complicated web of crimes motivated by greed. She discovers three deaths on the slopes (current and past) are linked; none accidental. Cherished friends are either involved or used as pawns. Once she knows all, she has to ski, then run, for her life on the mountain.
As always, scrumptious recipes are included! Mexican Egg Rolls with Spicy Guacamole, Chesapeake Crab Cakes, Ice-Capped Gingersnaps, Snowboarders' Pork Tenderloin, Chocolate Coma cookies, Chile con Queso, Marmalade Mogul muffins, Sonora Chicken Strudel, Skier's Swiss Cereal, Julian's Five-Grain Bread
A fierce snowstorm shuts down much of Colorado, but her demanding boss Arthur Wakefield insists the show must go on. The "beg-a-thon" folks cancelled their show due to the storm, so now Goldy's show will be not only cooking but soliciting donations.
That morning she packs a special cargo: vintage collectible skis worth thousands. She'll sell to a former boyfriend who collects military memorabilia. The sale will provide funds to replace her out-of-code drains, so she can get back in business.
The live show is mostly a disaster, cooking-wise. Assistants who were supposed to prep didn't do it or didn't do it correctly. Goldy is relieved when the show is over. Now all she has to do is ski downhill, sell the skis, drive home in a blizzard.
On the way downhill she discovers a body. The would-be ski purchaser. After many hours with law enforcement, she is finally able to head home. In a near-whiteout snowstorm, of course. Her bad day is not over - she's rear-ended into a multi-car collision. Several cars, Goldy's included, are forced off the road into a ravine. She's rescued and taken to hospital.
Goldy's in pain but stubborn. She wants to know exactly what happened with the skier on the mountain, and why. She suspects even the multi-car crash may not have been strictly due to weather. She's right.
In follow-up trips to Killdeer resort, Goldy untangles a complicated web of crimes motivated by greed. She discovers three deaths on the slopes (current and past) are linked; none accidental. Cherished friends are either involved or used as pawns. Once she knows all, she has to ski, then run, for her life on the mountain.
As always, scrumptious recipes are included! Mexican Egg Rolls with Spicy Guacamole, Chesapeake Crab Cakes, Ice-Capped Gingersnaps, Snowboarders' Pork Tenderloin, Chocolate Coma cookies, Chile con Queso, Marmalade Mogul muffins, Sonora Chicken Strudel, Skier's Swiss Cereal, Julian's Five-Grain Bread
July 13, 2021
I used to be an avid reader and I’m now working on getting back into it. This was the first book I picked up after a long hiatus. Crime novels always keep my attention from the beginning until the end.
Well, one thing I can say for certain is that you shouldn’t read this book if you are hungry, especially if you are the visual kind of person. Another thing I can say for certain is that this book is definitely not boring but it’s slow to say the least! I feel like it took the author 200 pages to build up the suspense. At first the main character Goldy isn’t even sure if her life is in danger or not. It could be. But it could all also be a coincidence.
Then we get thrown around a little bit. Who killed Nate? Who killed Fiona? Both of them were killed before the plot of this book even started. But was it Arthur? Was it Jack? Was it Barton? It’s like the author is purposefully trying to build the suspense but I felt like we were just being purposefully mislead instead.
At last, we finally get some real action in the last two chapters. I’m not counting the threats that Goldy received before that. That didn’t even feel threatening. Her reaction was a bit odd to me too. Her son’s life is being threatened and so is her own but she just keeps investigating. I get it that she has to do this for the plot purposes but I feel like most of us would have taken a step back at that point and instead focused on the mystery that affects us directly: who is behind the anonymous threats? So to me, this was a bit… Off about this character.
I am giving it 3 stars. I do feel like the things that I didn’t like about the characters were mainly because I couldn’t relate to them. But God, was I yearning for a plot twist! If it had one, I would give it 4 stars at least.
Well, one thing I can say for certain is that you shouldn’t read this book if you are hungry, especially if you are the visual kind of person. Another thing I can say for certain is that this book is definitely not boring but it’s slow to say the least! I feel like it took the author 200 pages to build up the suspense. At first the main character Goldy isn’t even sure if her life is in danger or not. It could be. But it could all also be a coincidence.
Then we get thrown around a little bit. Who killed Nate? Who killed Fiona? Both of them were killed before the plot of this book even started. But was it Arthur? Was it Jack? Was it Barton? It’s like the author is purposefully trying to build the suspense but I felt like we were just being purposefully mislead instead.
At last, we finally get some real action in the last two chapters. I’m not counting the threats that Goldy received before that. That didn’t even feel threatening. Her reaction was a bit odd to me too. Her son’s life is being threatened and so is her own but she just keeps investigating. I get it that she has to do this for the plot purposes but I feel like most of us would have taken a step back at that point and instead focused on the mystery that affects us directly: who is behind the anonymous threats? So to me, this was a bit… Off about this character.
I am giving it 3 stars. I do feel like the things that I didn’t like about the characters were mainly because I couldn’t relate to them. But God, was I yearning for a plot twist! If it had one, I would give it 4 stars at least.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2025
A culinary mystery that includes recipes! When caterer Goldy Schulz is offered a temporary stint hosting a cooking show for PBS, she jumps at the chance while waiting to reopen her catering business, which has been shut down by the health department for lack of adequate drains. Taping the shows at Colorado's posh Killdeer Ski Resort will be fun. To get a little extra Christmas cash, she agrees to sell a pair of vintage skis to Doug Portman, a local art critic and former sort-of-romantic interest. When Portman's killed in a skiing accident at Killdeer Resort with Goldy nearby, the police treat her with suspicion. When Goldy herself narrowly escapes death after her van is forced off a snowy highway, she starts looking for connections and steps into a minefield of unsolved murders, including the three-year-old avalanche death of her friend Nate Bullock. As usual, Goldy manages to solve the murders (with the help of Chocolate Coma Cookies), save her own skin (just!), skewer a few local snobs in passing, and revive her catering business.
June 9, 2021
It’s just one problem after another for our Chef Goldy. Now her drains need to be replaced and she can’t cater until they are.
The theme in this novel appears to be money: how some have it and others do not, what people will do get it, how unwisely it can be spent.
Ms. Davidson understands that focusing on the same subject novel after novel can get boring. So she delves into different subjects in each new mystery. At one time, it was corporate investments. In this, it’s the exciting world of skiing. Well, shushing about on icy slopes isn’t my cup of tea (and I’m craving a cuppa just considering the chill). So while the mystery is suitably enthralling, the characters written about with Ms. Davidson’s steady eye for characterization, drama and dialogue, if you don’t care about skiing, this novel might leave you cold.
(Also, where is Jake the bloodhound? There’s not even a mention of him here?)
The theme in this novel appears to be money: how some have it and others do not, what people will do get it, how unwisely it can be spent.
Ms. Davidson understands that focusing on the same subject novel after novel can get boring. So she delves into different subjects in each new mystery. At one time, it was corporate investments. In this, it’s the exciting world of skiing. Well, shushing about on icy slopes isn’t my cup of tea (and I’m craving a cuppa just considering the chill). So while the mystery is suitably enthralling, the characters written about with Ms. Davidson’s steady eye for characterization, drama and dialogue, if you don’t care about skiing, this novel might leave you cold.
(Also, where is Jake the bloodhound? There’s not even a mention of him here?)
September 11, 2026
This is a series where I'm going back to read titles I missed. That said, I might have rated this higher if I'd read it in publishing order.
There's very little catering in this book--Goldy's commercial kitchen has been "shut down" over having the wrong type of drains. Instead, Goldy is doing a PBS show and trying to start a personal chef sideline. The PBS show is how we get into this title's mystery--Most of Goldy's shows are taped, but she's asked to do one live show as part of a telethon to raise money for Nate Bullock who died in an avalanche 3 years prior.
The tough cookie does have references within the story. Goldy's called a "tough cookie" a few times and on the live show, I believe she's trying to show a cookie batter when she has a tough time with mixers (because of unsoftened butter).
There's very little catering in this book--Goldy's commercial kitchen has been "shut down" over having the wrong type of drains. Instead, Goldy is doing a PBS show and trying to start a personal chef sideline. The PBS show is how we get into this title's mystery--Most of Goldy's shows are taped, but she's asked to do one live show as part of a telethon to raise money for Nate Bullock who died in an avalanche 3 years prior.
The tough cookie does have references within the story. Goldy's called a "tough cookie" a few times and on the live show, I believe she's trying to show a cookie batter when she has a tough time with mixers (because of unsoftened butter).
August 4, 2018
I am so enjoying rereading this series and Tough cookie is one of the best in the series. It is fast paced, well written and full of mystery. I was glad to see Julian was in it, at least a little. It amazes me how much trouble Goldy gets into each book. Since Goldy's business is shut down by the health department, she takes a gig working for a PBS station on a cooking show and trying to promote herself as a personal chef. Most of the action takes place either on a ski slope or in a smi town. Goldy is trying to help a friend to find out what actually happened to the husband 3 years previously on the ski slopes. More accidents and Goldy being shot at makes this book a great read.
As usual, great recipes are included.
As usual, great recipes are included.
June 1, 2019
These are fun little stories but I would not call them great. It passes the time. After 9 of them they are beginning to get really repetitive. The problem is I bought the next 5 Novels and now am not sure I want to keep reading the series. My biggest complaint is each novel she adds a whole new set of people with their own conflicts and history. I do not feel there is enough time to get to know or care about any of them. Most of them treat Goldy like “the help” and I have no respect for people like that so it is hard to care what happens to them or who is the murderer. As a single mom, I don’t know how she finds enough time to ski, do fund raising, church events, have a TON of “old friends” and investigate murders all while running her own business.
January 15, 2024
Really 3.5 stars, but nice to round up. This series always pleases. Definitely in the "need something light, quick and fun" category.
This time Goldy is out of work since her drains weren't up to code, and the health inspector shuts her down until they are replaced. To help make ends meet, she agrees to host a cooking show on PBS that is filmed at the top of a ski resort near her. Of course, it doesn't take long until there is a suspicious death, and naturally Goldy was the last person to see him. This gives Goldy a vested interest in finding out what happened, and it's not long before she's being rather forcefully warned to back off. Does she?! Of course not. Love the recipes sprinkled throughout.
A quick, light read.
This time Goldy is out of work since her drains weren't up to code, and the health inspector shuts her down until they are replaced. To help make ends meet, she agrees to host a cooking show on PBS that is filmed at the top of a ski resort near her. Of course, it doesn't take long until there is a suspicious death, and naturally Goldy was the last person to see him. This gives Goldy a vested interest in finding out what happened, and it's not long before she's being rather forcefully warned to back off. Does she?! Of course not. Love the recipes sprinkled throughout.
A quick, light read.
March 12, 2026
I have not read others in this series, but to me this read like a "want to call my ski vacation a business expense, look how much research I did on the trip" book. It was a fun afternoon read though. I enjoyed learning a bit about skiing.
It's super weird that the boyfriend calls the main character Miss G. Also, I found that I didn't like Goldy much, and oh boy should she not be on a live tv show. She's a disaster waiting to happen!
I love the inclusion of recipes, but dropping them in mid-chapter (sometimes mid-sentence) was jarring and really broke the story flow. There were several dishes that were described but then no recipe! I'd been looking forward to them and hoped to find extras at the end.
It's super weird that the boyfriend calls the main character Miss G. Also, I found that I didn't like Goldy much, and oh boy should she not be on a live tv show. She's a disaster waiting to happen!
I love the inclusion of recipes, but dropping them in mid-chapter (sometimes mid-sentence) was jarring and really broke the story flow. There were several dishes that were described but then no recipe! I'd been looking forward to them and hoped to find extras at the end.
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