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I tripped over the body of my friend Dusty Routt at half past ten on the night of October 19. Read the first page
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I tripped over the body of my friend Dusty Routt at half past ten on the night of October 19. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you love to hate lawyers, you may well find this to be a five-star book. If you are a lawyer, well, I'm sure you'll enjoy the recipes.
For some time, I've been complaining that Ms. Davidson's novels too often treat Goldy Schulz like a punching bag. Thankfully, although Goldy has her share of accidents in this story, no one assaults her. For me, that was a major plus for this story. I hope Ms. Davidson will continue to show Goldy as a well-meaning klutz rather than as an abused woman.
How the mighty have fallen! Goldy finds herself depending on the good graces of a bunch of lawyers who don't thrill her . . . but who do like having great breakfasts, lunches and dinners at the office.
Arriving late one night to bake bread at the firm, Goldy trips and loses all of her ingredients over the reception area. But that's the least of the problem. She's just tripped over a dead woman who is her neighbor in the Habitat for Humanity house across the street. Goldy does her best to revive her friend, Dusty Routt, to no avail.
Dusty's mother is devastated by the news and begs Goldy to investigate the killing on her own. With Tom's forbearance, Goldy does just that . . . while carefully sharing what she learns with the sheriff's office.
In between, Goldy has a lot of catering to do, Arch is learning to drive (not very well), Gus and Arch are developing into a solid relationship as half brothers, Tom is learning to cook gourmet food for the family, and Goldy is puzzled by why some of artist-chef Charlie Baker's recipes don't work.
The investigation makes Goldy wish she wasn't investigating. It seems like Dusty may have been overindulging in her passion for older married men . . . and possibly running off with property that doesn't belong to her. There's also a mysterious bracelet that's gone missing . . . and lawyers who act like they have something to hide.
Naturally, it's when the catering and the investigating coalesce that Goldy figures out who did what to whom.
It's a better than average mystery from Ms. Davidson, and building the theme of cooking into the story in more than the usual ways makes this a memorable offering in the series.
I don't recall a Goldy Schulz story that I've enjoyed more.
For some time, I've been complaining that Ms. Davidson's novels too often treat Goldy Schulz like a punching bag. Thankfully, although Goldy has her share of accidents in this story, no one assaults her. For me, that was a major plus for this story. I hope Ms. Davidson will continue to show Goldy as a well-meaning klutz rather than as an abused woman.
How the mighty have fallen! Goldy finds herself depending on the good graces of a bunch of lawyers who don't thrill her . . . but who do like having great breakfasts, lunches and dinners at the office.
Arriving late one night to bake bread at the firm, Goldy trips and loses all of her ingredients over the reception area. But that's the least of the problem. She's just tripped over a dead woman who is her neighbor in the Habitat for Humanity house across the street. Goldy does her best to revive her friend, Dusty Routt, to no avail.
Dusty's mother is devastated by the news and begs Goldy to investigate the killing on her own. With Tom's forbearance, Goldy does just that . . . while carefully sharing what she learns with the sheriff's office.
In between, Goldy has a lot of catering to do, Arch is learning to drive (not very well), Gus and Arch are developing into a solid relationship as half brothers, Tom is learning to cook gourmet food for the family, and Goldy is puzzled by why some of artist-chef Charlie Baker's recipes don't work.
The investigation makes Goldy wish she wasn't investigating. It seems like Dusty may have been overindulging in her passion for older married men . . . and possibly running off with property that doesn't belong to her. There's also a mysterious bracelet that's gone missing . . . and lawyers who act like they have something to hide.
Naturally, it's when the catering and the investigating coalesce that Goldy figures out who did what to whom.
It's a better than average mystery from Ms. Davidson, and building the theme of cooking into the story in more than the usual ways makes this a memorable offering in the series.
I don't recall a Goldy Schulz story that I've enjoyed more.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Mesmerized by the luscious book jacket on DARK TORT, I picked up the hardback with my right hand, and ran my left fingertips over the face of the cool, smooth, brail effective jacket. I was more than ready to pick up on what this author had done subtly differently this time to continue infusing her stories with the edge and surge which had kept them riding tips of waves of cravings for culinary mysteries.
A riveting intensity in the opening scene of DARK TORT (the legal term for wrongful act, not "torte" as in pastry) was sparked by the first sentence of chapter one, page one. But what welded the rivets for me was the culinary catastrophe in the third paragraph:
"The bag of flour I was carrying slid from my hands and exploded on the carpet. Two jars of yeast plummeted onto the coffee table, where they burst into shards and powder. My last bottle of molasses sailed in a wide arc and cracked onto the receptionist's cherry-wood desk. A thick wave of sweet, dark liquid began a gluey descent across the phone console. My steel bowl of bread sponge catapulted out or my arms and hit the wall."
With each sensory impression in that paragraph having opened gateways into my mind, I would be reading onward with awakened interest.
The first 40 pages had the feel of a nightmare; I had half expected Goldy to suddenly point to her pillow, at a place to ponder about the dream, which would, of course, be a clue to a murder which would occur later, in the waking state.
Ironically, those first 40 pages also had the feel of the reality of "tripping over a dead body" (of a close friend) and dealing with that type of emotional/mental/spiritual trauma, compiled with the ongoing chill of threatening police procedural impositions impregnated with that metallic taste/smell, which Goldy made note of a few times during those opening pages, usually in reference to heat systems blowing warm air with that blood chilling flavor.
Goldy cooks up storms of clues in her spaciously gourmet, commercial kitchen, simultaneous to sorting through the ones which come `round to bat her body and soul while she's in an eternal state of grieving exhaustion (to which, as faithful readers, we've become happily addicted). So, how does she ever GET anywhere? That spring-loaded titanium back bone. And Tom's hugs accompanied by his "to die for" sharing of the career-laden-Mom-homemaker's loads of eternal daily duties. Then there's ESPRESSO, the Energizer Bunny bean!
Couldn't love more the way Goldy snarls at anyone who has the wherewithal or gall to trash the natural, real values of caffeine, butter, eggs, and/or creme.
Read & Slurp,
Linda Shelnutt
A riveting intensity in the opening scene of DARK TORT (the legal term for wrongful act, not "torte" as in pastry) was sparked by the first sentence of chapter one, page one. But what welded the rivets for me was the culinary catastrophe in the third paragraph:
"The bag of flour I was carrying slid from my hands and exploded on the carpet. Two jars of yeast plummeted onto the coffee table, where they burst into shards and powder. My last bottle of molasses sailed in a wide arc and cracked onto the receptionist's cherry-wood desk. A thick wave of sweet, dark liquid began a gluey descent across the phone console. My steel bowl of bread sponge catapulted out or my arms and hit the wall."
With each sensory impression in that paragraph having opened gateways into my mind, I would be reading onward with awakened interest.
The first 40 pages had the feel of a nightmare; I had half expected Goldy to suddenly point to her pillow, at a place to ponder about the dream, which would, of course, be a clue to a murder which would occur later, in the waking state.
Ironically, those first 40 pages also had the feel of the reality of "tripping over a dead body" (of a close friend) and dealing with that type of emotional/mental/spiritual trauma, compiled with the ongoing chill of threatening police procedural impositions impregnated with that metallic taste/smell, which Goldy made note of a few times during those opening pages, usually in reference to heat systems blowing warm air with that blood chilling flavor.
Goldy cooks up storms of clues in her spaciously gourmet, commercial kitchen, simultaneous to sorting through the ones which come `round to bat her body and soul while she's in an eternal state of grieving exhaustion (to which, as faithful readers, we've become happily addicted). So, how does she ever GET anywhere? That spring-loaded titanium back bone. And Tom's hugs accompanied by his "to die for" sharing of the career-laden-Mom-homemaker's loads of eternal daily duties. Then there's ESPRESSO, the Energizer Bunny bean!
Couldn't love more the way Goldy snarls at anyone who has the wherewithal or gall to trash the natural, real values of caffeine, butter, eggs, and/or creme.
Read & Slurp,
Linda Shelnutt
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
74 reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Catering to Lawyers Can be a Killer Job...
8 Jun 2006
Format:Hardcover
The 13th installment in the Goldilocks Catering Mystery series starts out with a big thud...over a dead body that is. Now catering for the law firm of Hanrahan & Jule (H & J), Goldy Shultz trips over the body of good friend and paralegal-in-training, Dusty Routt, while entering the law firm late one evening. Goldy was to meet Dusty there for a cooking lesson, as Dusty wanted to learn how to cook from the skilled caterer. Goldy struggles to deal with the death of her neighbor and friend, who has struggled her entire short life. Her family has dealt with several tragedies including the death of Dusty's brother while in police custody, the blinding of her grandfather while he was imprisoned, and the statutory rape of Dusty while she was in high school. Dusty seemed to be pulling herself out of her catastrophic past with a new job at her uncle's law firm, and was seen wearing a very expensive bracelet before her death. Goldy is once again pulled into solving another mystery by the plea of Dusty's mother, and quickly learns that the case will not be an easy one to solve.
I have really enjoyed this series, and the recipes that go along with it. I love the interactions between Goldy and her husband, Tom, and the relationship with Marla. Arch's learning to drive was also a source of amusement in this book, as well. I do, however, feel sorry for Goldie with all of the tragedy in her life (she is always finding someone close to her that has died). She drinks coffee and espresso like crazy, and I cringe every time she reaches for another cup. However, the mysteries are great, and have a lot of twists to them. There were some elements to the story that were left open (hopefully for the next book in the series), and I loved the chance to "visit" these great characters once again.
The first book in the series is called "Catering to Nobody". Enjoy!
I have really enjoyed this series, and the recipes that go along with it. I love the interactions between Goldy and her husband, Tom, and the relationship with Marla. Arch's learning to drive was also a source of amusement in this book, as well. I do, however, feel sorry for Goldie with all of the tragedy in her life (she is always finding someone close to her that has died). She drinks coffee and espresso like crazy, and I cringe every time she reaches for another cup. However, the mysteries are great, and have a lot of twists to them. There were some elements to the story that were left open (hopefully for the next book in the series), and I loved the chance to "visit" these great characters once again.
The first book in the series is called "Catering to Nobody". Enjoy!
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Continuing Continuity Problems
17 April 2006
Format:Hardcover
I have read all the books in this series, starting shortly after the first one (Catering to Nobody) was published. I have made the recipes, read the books often, and generally enjoyed the series.
That said, Dark Tort disappoints the faithful readers with *severe* continuity problems (which have popped up in other recent books). In Dark Tort, we are reintroduced to the Routts, Goldy's neighbors from Killer Pancake. Unfortunately, the "back story" for the Routts has changed dramatically. Any reader who recalls Killer Pancake will immediately notice the differences. While not necessarily integral to the conclusion of the mystery, it does affect Goldy's investigation and it *completely* affected my enjoyment of the story.
In addition to the problem with the Routts, there are other characters who would normally have made an appearance before (particularly an elderly parishioner). By bringing them in now, there is a level of frustration.
I have often overlooked the factual inaccuracies (usual as it relates to civil law) of the Goldy Bear series because I genuinely enjoy the characters and the stories. This time, the continuity problems and other factual issues hampered my enjoyment of the book. (Not to mention the continued decision to put the recipes at the back of the book, leaving no connection between the recipe and the story.)
So, devoted readers of the series: beware. But if you are new to the series, enjoy the Goldy mystery. In all likelihood, you will find it a quick, light, and entertaining read.
That said, Dark Tort disappoints the faithful readers with *severe* continuity problems (which have popped up in other recent books). In Dark Tort, we are reintroduced to the Routts, Goldy's neighbors from Killer Pancake. Unfortunately, the "back story" for the Routts has changed dramatically. Any reader who recalls Killer Pancake will immediately notice the differences. While not necessarily integral to the conclusion of the mystery, it does affect Goldy's investigation and it *completely* affected my enjoyment of the story.
In addition to the problem with the Routts, there are other characters who would normally have made an appearance before (particularly an elderly parishioner). By bringing them in now, there is a level of frustration.
I have often overlooked the factual inaccuracies (usual as it relates to civil law) of the Goldy Bear series because I genuinely enjoy the characters and the stories. This time, the continuity problems and other factual issues hampered my enjoyment of the book. (Not to mention the continued decision to put the recipes at the back of the book, leaving no connection between the recipe and the story.)
So, devoted readers of the series: beware. But if you are new to the series, enjoy the Goldy mystery. In all likelihood, you will find it a quick, light, and entertaining read.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A Delicious Mystery
4 May 2006
Format:Hardcover
In Dark Tort, Diane has yet again combined an excellent mystery with some very special and memorable characters. Included on the list, is, of course, her talented, clever and lovable protagonist, Goldy, who is a caterer. Also talented and lovable is Goldy's husband, Tom, who is not only a skilled detective, but a also very good cook. Goldy has an extended family (which she keeps extending, much to the reader's delight). We sometimes get recipes from Julian, a remarkable young man whom Goldy took under her wing some time ago. As the family grows, we meet more cooks (and get more recipes).
Goldy's best friend Marla, who couldn't boil water (even at high altitude), is another endearing character who appears in Diane's books, as is her teenage son, Arch.
To the mix, Diane adds the results of her excellent research skills. To top off her creation, she gives us recipes for some marvelous munchies, created by Goldy as well as some members of her family, so that we may eat while we eagerly await her next book.
Having devoured Dark Tort, I plan to prepare and devour her asparagus quiche this weekend.
I am afraid I have never purchased a Goldy book from Amazon. I attend Diane's book signings at local bookstores. I have met Diane and find her delightful.
Dark Tort deals with the antics of the members of a medium size law firm. The issue that leads to the murders is a complicated probate matter. I am a lawyer and I have done probate work. Diane has figured out its complexities.
I've met lawyers who are mirror images of Diane's characters. As a result, although I've enjoyed all the Goldy books, I found Dark Tort especially amusing.
In addition to my addiction to mysteries, I enjoy cooking. I am looking forward to preparing and eating that quiche, as well as to the next Goldy book.
Goldy's best friend Marla, who couldn't boil water (even at high altitude), is another endearing character who appears in Diane's books, as is her teenage son, Arch.
To the mix, Diane adds the results of her excellent research skills. To top off her creation, she gives us recipes for some marvelous munchies, created by Goldy as well as some members of her family, so that we may eat while we eagerly await her next book.
Having devoured Dark Tort, I plan to prepare and devour her asparagus quiche this weekend.
I am afraid I have never purchased a Goldy book from Amazon. I attend Diane's book signings at local bookstores. I have met Diane and find her delightful.
Dark Tort deals with the antics of the members of a medium size law firm. The issue that leads to the murders is a complicated probate matter. I am a lawyer and I have done probate work. Diane has figured out its complexities.
I've met lawyers who are mirror images of Diane's characters. As a result, although I've enjoyed all the Goldy books, I found Dark Tort especially amusing.
In addition to my addiction to mysteries, I enjoy cooking. I am looking forward to preparing and eating that quiche, as well as to the next Goldy book.
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