Finally, delicious recipes that are low in fat! Our beloved, Goldy, owner of Goldy Bear Catering, is hired to cater a low fat luncheon for Mignon Cosmetics. Think Lacome' or Estee Lauder, very high dollar. The top sales associate, Claire, is dating Julian, Goldy's helper, who has been sort of interning with her in the last few books. One thing Goldy is not a fan of is cooking low fat and when you add to that the annoyance of having to wade through a bunch of demonstrators who are outraged over claims of animal testing by Mignon, Goldy is not a happy camper. As they're setting up, Claire has to go down to the garage to pick up goody bags and Goldy accompanies her to finish getting her equipment. Goldy hears the squeal of tires and a crash and when she approaches the crowd, she realizes Claire has been the victim of a hit and run. It doesn't take long for Goldy's husband, Tom Shulz, to find out it was no accident. Julian is devastated, but tries to distract himself with work. Goldy is soon embroiled in the investigation much to Tom's dismay. On a side note, Marla, Goldy's best friend, who was also married to Goldy's ex, has a heart attack and Goldy is determined to learn to love cooking low fat for her. She gets plenty of practice as she is hired to cater for the well-to-do Braithwaites and soon discovers Mr. Braithwaite had a thing for the departed Claire. The suspect list soon grows, from intrepid reporter,Frances Markasian, to Claire's fellow sales associates, Harriet and Dusty as well as rival cosmetics owner, Reggie Hotchkiss. When Goldy decides to tie up one last loose end she finds herself on the receiving end of gunfire and a poisoned muffin to boot!
Goldy Schultz, owner of Goldilocks Catering, has with some reservations, agreed to cater a low-cal lunch banquet for Mignon Cosmetics. It could open up a new market, and her assistant, Julian, is dating one of the Mignon sales associates, Claire Satterfield. And it's only one afternoon. How bad can it be?Her doubts come rushing back when she has to run a gauntlet of animal rights activists calling themselves Spare the Hares, who even have dead rabbits to wave around. Then Claire Satterfield is killed in the mall parking garage by a hit-and-run driver before they even have all the food inside. Goldy calls 911, and she and her homicide detective husband Tom have to break the news to Julian.Even more disturbingly, Goldy discovers the police don't think it was an accident.This is an intricate story involving illicit affairs, commercial espionage, cutthroat competition and fraud between Mignon sales staff, and an old, well-buried scandal of terrible injuries caused by cosmetics testing. Goldy learns more about her neighbors and potential clients than she really wanted to know--and all while there's drama enough in her own family and household. It's not just Julian losing Claire. Marla, Goldy's best friend and the other ex-wife of her abusive ex-husband John Richard Korman, has had a heart attack. Do I need to say that John Richard is not staying away, and that Goldy has some difficulty letting the fancy security system Tom has installed do its thing? No?This is a fun, fast-paced mystery with the main secondary characters just developed enough to make an engaging story.Recommended.No free galley to declare on this one; I borrowed it from the library.
What do You think about Killer Pancake (1995)?
Another series. I've been reading a lot of those lately. Can't help myself when I find an author I like. Ms. Davidson is in that category. These books are murder mysteries. The premise is, Goldy Schulz is an upscale caterer in the Denver area of Colorado. She is married to a law enforcement officer. She regularly gets involved in her husband's cases. The fun part of these books for me is the fact that they have recipes in them. So, Goldy's character will tell you how to make a recipe and then give you the recipe so you can make it yourself. They are gourmet recipes in a lot of instances. Yes, there is a recipe for Killer Pancakes in this installment. These books are fun reads. Goldy and her assorted friends and associates, up to and including Goldy's ex-husband, who she refers to as "The Jerk", make for an enjoyable excursion into the lives of the well-to-do in Denver's upscale suburbs.
—Laura
For Colorado's Goldy B. Schulz (last seen in The Last Suppers), the catering proves far less rewarding than the sleuthing when she's called on to prepare a banquet for the Mignon cosmetics company. Forced to forsake mayonnaise and butter in this low-fat luncheon, Goldy is in "caterers' hell." But that's a better place than where Mignon super-saleswoman Claire Satterfield ends up?which is dead. According to Julian Teller, Goldy's catering assistant, Claire had recently suspected she was being followed. Adding to the mystery is a local reporter who has taken to using Mignon's ultra-expensive potions while trying, none too subtly, to extract information Goldy might have gathered from her husband, homicide detective Tom Schulz. When Goldy's initial inquiries earn her an anonymous warning to clear off, she becomes more determined. As always, Davidson includes recipes as she brings events to a proper boil in this latest lively and satisfying outing for Goldy, who not only solves the mystery but also finds, much to her delight, that coffee can save your life
—Tabby Kat
I am still on my Goldy kick. It is a busy time for our caterer/crime solver. Lunches to host, a food fair to be a part of, a 4th of July dinner and a murder to solve. All while dealing with her best friend having a heart attack and Julian her assistant and special son dealing with the hit and run of his girl friend. I swear trouble follows this woman. Bleach water thrown on her, a facial with needles which sends her running and dealing with animal rights activists throwing things at her.As always, she comes through like the trooper she is. And thanks to her - the police always get their man! Or is it woman? Guess you will have to read to see.
—Jennifer Gelert
