I thought I loved this series. Until now. First, the book is way too long. My copy measured out at over 540 pages. Way too long for a cozy. Unfortunately, the reason for the length of the book is that it is SO convoluted. I had a terrible time following all the various plot-twists, sub-plots and characters. So many of these characters were very unlikeable. Yolanda and her ridiculously named aunt Ferdinandia were irritating; I couldn't muster any sympathy for them at all. Liars, sneaky, stupid. What happened to authors doing research or at least using common sense when writing. Have you ever seen a person in a wheelchair try to cook in a regular kitchen? It is IMPOSSIBLE. They cannot reach the counters, let alone any shelves. That's why in handicapped accessible houses the kitchen counters are LOW. But we are expected to believe that Auntie F is cooking up elaborate dishes all night every night. Second, wives cannot, cannot, cannot change their will to disinherit their husbands without the permission of the husband themselves. Not possible, ever, at all. Third, the Cuban revolution was 55 years ago. But Auntie F. still has her established habits from that period of time, I guess. What age is she, exactly? This book is ludicrous, a complete waste of time. Do not recommend. First of all, the author is Diane Mott Davidson. I just finished reading the 2011 installment in the Goldy Schulz mysteries, Crunch Time. I have read each book in the series through this one. This story is good and complicated, with several plot twists and plenty of questions to leave you wondering what is going on, and who the murderer is. This book's pace was sooooooo slow. My chief complaint about Goldy's stories is the stupid things that happen that are not realistic. Someone mentions a name while someone else is carrying in a bunch of expensive china dishes, and their reaction is to just drop them all? Come on. Goldy is running across some snow, slips and falls, gets up and goes on and then for no apparent reason she blacks out after opening the door to the mysterious shed? The communication in this story also frustrates me. Goldy always knows someone is holding a piece of information back, and things would be so much simpler if they just told her. They always act funny, avert their eyes, etc. She and her husband need to talk, because she has just found something out pertinent to his investigation, but she can never reach him. Then when they do talk, it still frustrates me. Many of the characters are not just unbelievable, they are over-the-top unbelievable. I still give it 3 stars because of the story itself.
What do You think about Crunch Time (2011)?
Another good Goldie Bear book. Thought the plot of this one was interesting.
—Corny
