What do You think about Dark Tort (2007)?
Pretty good, as the series goes. After reading SOOO many books in this series, though, I'd be shocked if the author came up with anything new as to plot strategy or character "development" (it's as predictable as a Nancy Drew mystery, nearly) but I do get a kick out of how the recipes factor into the development of each story. I'm always basically pleased with each book in the series if I end without being majorly irritated by the protagonist (check! I was okay with Goldy in this one) and if there are enough paths towards solving the crime that it's not just an obvious straight track. But--c'mon, Diane Mott Davidson, ENOUGH already with the characters with ridiculous names! I counted more than 5 characters in this book alone with utterly bizarro names. You know, it truly is OKAY to call someone a plain name. For example: Bob. Pam. Ken. Or whatever. You needn't try so hard that it becomes comical. But I know you will, because in most of your books so far, you have. SIGH.
—Ruth
Goldy Shulz, the sleuthing caterer of Aspen Meadows, Colorado, has fallen into a tub of butter. She has landed a cushy job fixing breakfasts and occasional lunches for the lawyers of a local upscale law firm. Dusty, her young friend and neighbor, is a paralegal with the firm. Dusty tells her that she wants to learn to cook for someone special in her life and enlists Goldy as her mentor. The two agree to meet in the law firm's kitchen late one evening to do the preparation for an early morning client brunch, and Goldy is running late. She rushes into a darkened lobby only to trip over Dusty's body, the victim of a brutal murder.Dusty's heartbroken mother, who distrusts police after her son died in police custody, begs Goldy to investigate. Evidence begins to point to a romantic involvement between Dusty and someone in the firm. When Goldy asks that Dusty's home computer be delivered to her at home, the man carrying the computer is struck by a speeding car. Others associated with Dusty are threatened, with Goldy herself becoming the target of the killer.Goldy's policeman husband, Tom, is in equal parts supportive and frustrated by Goldy's determination to go beyond the usual investigative boundaries to find Dusty's killer. This tasty mystery dish is served up with a banquet of delicious recipes from Goldy's endless menu of delights.
—Tabby Kat
Almost didn't buy this because her last book sucked so much. This one wasn't nearly as bad, but still wasn't that good. The main problems with this one is that Goldy has no plausible reason to be involved with the investigation, that she goes about it in such a haphazard way, and she leaves the vital clue lying around for a week, only to discover it just as the killer comes to polish her off. Then there's the fact that she and her husband Tom have multiple conversations where they tell each other things they should already know, and the strained dialog (like when Goldy asks a young woman if the murdered girl had had any "romantic liaisons"). I really enjoyed this series more when Goldy had real obstacles to overcome and her involvement with the murders was more immediate and personal.
—Meredith Galman
