*4.6 Stars* Scorecard: (Out of 10)* Quality of Writing - 9* Pace - 9* Plot development - 9* Characters - 10* Enjoyability - 9* Insightfulness - 9* Ease of Reading - 10* Photos/Illustrations - NAFinal Score: 65/70 = 93% My Review of Catering to Nobody: Book One My Review of Dying for Chocolate: Book Two The Cereal Murders: Book Three *The Gush*Simply put, I was not prepared for this book. I’d been looking forward to Goldy and Tom getting together since…a third of the way through book one and it’s finally here! The very beginning of the book was wonderful, Goldy flittering about as her wedding is only minutes away and we are so excited! …And then it all goes to hell (particularly ironic considering the church setting of this book). The priest who is supposed to marry them is killed and Schulz is taken captive by the killer. With Goldy left at the alter through no fault of her or Tom’s, the wedding is cancelled and the police are frantically searching for one of their own. Arch and Julian are devastated while the only thing keeping Goldy going is trying to figure out why her priest was killed and who has her hopefully soon to be husband. By this point in the series, the reader has figured out that each book has a distinct theme or issue that the entire story focuses around. The first book was an introduction to the series but the second focused on family issues, the third on college admissions and parent’s reactions to children’s grades, and now the fourth book is set around the organization and social interactions within a church. While the author and Goldy discuss this from an Episcopalian view point, most of what they talk about can be found in any local church as well as most higher level organizations of various denominations. As a PK (pastor’s kid), this book was like old home week as I saw people and churches I’ve known in my life as well as the bureaucracy of the upper echelons in Goldy’s experiences. Indeed, it was a bit hard for me to read about the priest’s death, as was the politics that despite what people might think is rampant in all churches in some form or fashion. What I really liked was that the author was careful to give all sides a voice and while the reader might side with one side or the other, both had their reasons and both (in some people from both sides) acted for and said what they said because they genuinely felt this was the right thing to do. The major problem is that both sides were sabotaging any attempt of the priest for compromise. This mystery completely sideswiped me. Looking back, I don’t think it should have. The problem is that this book is so emotional for any reader who has been with our characters on the complete journey to this point. Goldy is a mess and since we see the world through her perceptions, our world is skewed. This really worked to obscure the clues and the motives that all but danced in front of us with sequins. I should have got this but I didn’t, it was a complete shock. Great writing and great use of the larger story, Davidson; I salute you. *The Rant*Having glanced at some of the other reviews on this book, I can perhaps understand why some people didn’t get into the story, perhaps because the experiences were so foreign to them. However, I’ve read beyond this book and know that there are a couple upcoming books that deal with themes that absolutely have zero interest for me and I read and enjoyed them despite that. Each of the books comes with its own pluses and minuses and those change from book to book. The reader has to take each one as they come, but I have yet to read on that completely turned me off, even the one that concerned high priced cosmetics which I absolutely couldn’t care less about and find many of their marketing practices nearly offensive, though I’m also not a Spare the Hare type person either (look forward to that). *Conclusion*I really enjoyed this book, not just because it dealt with such personal growth for some of my favorite characters, but also because of the setting for this book. Having grown up in the church, much of what went on in the book was familiar to me and was almost like seeing people or places I have been. The mystery was fairly good, though it seemed to almost come out of left field mostly because the emotions infused throughout the book clouded most of the clues. I don’t necessarily see that as cheating but I do feel that the author made very good use of her readers’ love for her characters.
The Last Suppers by Diane Mott Davidson is the fourth in the Goldy Bear Catering mystery series. If these books were a television series, The Last Suppers would have been the season finale and suffers from the same mistakes that many a season finale make.Goldy and Tom are finally getting married. Except that when Goldy walks down the aisle, Tom is no where to be seen! Shortly after that, a priest ends up dead. When Tom still hasn't appeared, it becomes painfully apparent that Tom has been kidnapped by the murderer.Mmkay.I can happily say having read enough of the post-marriage book mysteries, that The Last Suppers is an aberration for the series as a whole. Although Goldy regularly gets herself into trouble by being an amateur detective, usually Tom Schulz stays out of trouble. Yes, he's in a dangerous line of work but he's also a paid and more importantly, a trained, professional. His work as an officer of the law is a means for Goldy to get timely information that most amateur detectives don't have access too.So while it was interesting to see how Diane Mott Davidson transitioned her series from the caterer vs. police officer set up of the first couple books to the more domestic caterer married to a police officer books, it felt like she was grinding her gears. While Goldy does tend to overly emotional at times, here, she was completely unstrung.Then there's Tom. He's a professional. He doesn't take unnecessary risks. He just doesn't strike me as the sort of person who would get himself kidnapped and kept prisoner. His continued disappearance to stall the wedding and build unnecessary dramatic tension was a cop out (pun intended).Had the book just started with their wedding, or immediately afterwards, The Last Suppers would have been a much better — and more in character — part of the series.
What do You think about The Last Suppers (1995)?
Goldy is at the church waiting for her wedding to begin when she receives that shocking news that the priest was found murdered and her fiance Tom Shultz has been injured and abducted. In the beginning the police bring Goldy into the investigation to see what information she could provide, but when nothing emerges and the police do not update her she takes action. Throughout the story Goldy finds comfort in cooking (most recipes in this story are from Tom's recipe box) which gives readers some new recipes to try. In a similar style as past books in the series Goldy uses her connections to question those around her and her snooping ability to find the evidence she needs, which is light and entertaining. The characters and story are light and funny. Goldy herself despite dealing with so much tragedy is still a mainly upbeat character. A funny, suspenseful and cozy culinary mystery. I would recommend starting this series with book one "Catering to Nobody".Appeal Notes (May contain spoilers):Genre: Culinary mysteryPacing: Leisurely in some areas, suspenseful in mostLocation: Aspen Meadow (Colo. : Imaginary place)Storyline: Character driven; told from Goldy's perspectiveTime: 1990sTone: UpbeatWriting Style: Witty and lightComments: A story-line that has you suspecting everyone.Why I read this book: Suggested by my genre study group. Read book one for the discussion and am now hooked.
—Cindy
I actually read this in print instead of listening to it, which was a nice break from Barbara Rosenblat's totally miscast reading. No one in these books ever has reasonable responses to anything, which is totally aggravating, but not so much that I can't keep reading. Goldy drives me nuts as she constantly ignores comment sense and direct orders to try to "help" the police, but this is how the story moves forward. (As one character says to Goldy, "We can't solve this murder if we keep having to come save you when you decide to take things into your own hands." DUH!) But despite that, these are still a complete guilty pleasure for me. They are so mindless, but not overly lightweight, and I have such a soft spot for genre fiction like this. There is a lot of detail, and you get a good sense of Goldy's life, even if the people around her all seem to be the same. I always look forward to long drives when I have a Goldy Bear mystery to listen to, and that's worth something.
—Ann
This was by far my least favorite of the Goldy Bear series. I did not like that Tom was kidnapped. I did not like that people didn't believe that Tom was actually missing; that they thought he just left Goldy at the alter. I did not like all of the hatred coming from religious people. There was not enough Julian in the story. I am very disappointed with this book and am contemplating being done with the series because of it.
—Jennifer
