Goldy Schulz, owner of Goldilocks Catering, is thrilled when her godfather Jack moves to Colorado and purchases a home near her. Jack and his friend, Doc Finn, can always be counted on when Goldy needs a hand.As the story opens Goldy - who is married to detective Tom Schulz - is preparing to cater a couple of weddings: the O'Neal nuptials and the wedding of Billie Attenborough to Dr. Craig Miller. Billie is a narcissistic pain-in the-neck who has driven Goldy crazy by continually changing the wedding menu, wedding guests, and wedding venue. Finally, Billie decides to hold the event at the Gold Gulch Spa owned by Victor Lane - a man Goldy dislikes and distrusts.Prior to the Attenborough wedding, Goldy and Jack drive over to check out the spa facility; Jack soon gets caught snooping around the usually locked 'smoothie shack' where delicious fruit beverages are prepared for spa guests. Jack, however, pretends he entered the shack to nuzzle one of the spa employees and won't explain the incident. The first tragedy strikes when Doc Finn has a fatal car accident on the day of the O'Neal wedding. An investigation shows that, before his death, Doc was thinking of having a mysterious vial analyzed. A few days later, Jack is attacked at the Attenborough affair. When Goldy visits Jack in the hospital he provides her with mysterious clues, though Goldy doesn't immediately know what they mean. However, spurred on by Jack's clues Goldy helps her husband investigate the crimes. Seems there are odd goings on in the local medical community and at the Gold Gulch Spa; things that Doc Finn and Jack were looking into. The plot of the book is satisfactory for a light mystery and Davidson's popular recurring characters are on hand: Goldy's rich (and hungry) friend Marla, her teen son Arch, and her talented assistant Julian. The ancillary characters were also well-drawn and interesting. As always in the Goldy series, the characters consume lots of mouth-watering food (for which Davidson provides the recipes).I'd recommend the book as an enjoyable light mystery. Goldy Schulz, owner of Goldilocks Catering, is thrilled when her godfather Jack moves to Colorado and purchases a home near her. Jack and his friend, Doc Finn, can always be counted on when Goldy needs a hand.As the story opens Goldy - who is married to detective Tom Schulz - is preparing to cater a couple of weddings: the O'Neal nuptials and the wedding of Billie Attenborough to Dr. Craig Miller. Billie is a narcissistic pain-in the-neck who has driven Goldy crazy by continually changing the wedding menu, wedding guests, and wedding venue. Finally, Billie decides to hold the event at the Gold Gulch Spa owned by Victor Lane - a man Goldy dislikes and distrusts.Prior to the Attenborough wedding, Goldy and Jack drive over to check out the spa facility; Jack soon gets caught snooping around the usually locked 'smoothie shack' where delicious fruit beverages are prepared for spa guests. Jack, however, pretends he entered the shack to nuzzle one of the spa employees and won't explain the incident. The first tragedy strikes when Doc Finn has a fatal car accident on the day of the O'Neal wedding. An investigation shows that, before his death, Doc was thinking of having a mysterious vial analyzed. A few days later, Jack is attacked at the Attenborough affair. When Goldy visits Jack in the hospital he provides her with mysterious clues, though Goldy doesn't immediately know what they mean. However, spurred on by Jack's clues Goldy helps her husband investigate the crimes. Seems there are odd goings on in the local medical community and at the Gold Gulch Spa; things that Doc Finn and Jack were looking into. The plot of the book is satisfactory for a light mystery and Davidson's popular recurring characters are on hand: Goldy's rich (and hungry) friend Marla, her teen son Arch, and her talented assistant Julian. The ancillary characters were also well-drawn and interesting. As always in the Goldy series, the characters consume lots of mouth-watering food (for which Davidson provides the recipes).I'd recommend the book as an enjoyable light mystery.
What do You think about Fatally Flaky (2009)?
This book was interesting although all books in this series are similar in several ways. Goldy usually finds or is nearby when dead bodies are found. Despite instructions to the contrary by her husband Tom, she interferes in the police investigation of the murders and uses the community gossip chain (especially Marla) to obtain information. She also manages to place herself in danger and to get injured and eventually solves the crime. Same plot in every book. I don't like all of the regular characters. I do like Tom and Julian. I don't see how Goldy makes a profit in her catering business because Marla eats all of her food and is a horrible gossip. In many of the books, Arch is a spoiled obnoxious brat. Goldy is headstrong and doesn't listen. So why do I read them? I have no idea! I guess they are somewhat addictive.
—Happy
Maybe a 3.5 rating would be better.I do enjoy Davidson's books and, although I don't bake any more, the recipes do look good.It really does annoy me that two or three times in this book, the heroine (Goldy Schulz) willfully ignores the orders of her husband who is a police officer and predictably gets herself into difficulties. I know it is just adding to the story line but, it makes me want to give her a shake.
—Leon
