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Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #16
Crunch Time
Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz cooks up big trouble as she tries to help her longtime friend and fellow chef Yolanda Garcia. When the rental house shared by Yolanda and her irrepressible aunt Ferdinanda is destroyed by arson, the pair move in with cop-turned-PI Ernest McLeod. But then Ernest is shot dead and his house is set on fire, nearly killing Goldy, Yolanda, Ferdinanda, and nine beagle puppies that Ernest had recently rescued from a puppy mill.
Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff’s department investigates. Yet even Goldy’s house isn’t safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.
Swapping her chef’s hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she’s got to move fast. It’s crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her.
Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff’s department investigates. Yet even Goldy’s house isn’t safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.
Swapping her chef’s hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she’s got to move fast. It’s crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her.
471 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2011
About the author
Diane Mott Davidson
62 books2,264 followers New York Times bestselling author Diane Mott Davidson wrote three novels before one was accepted for publication—when she was 41. She has since written 14 more mysteries, all featuring Goldy the caterer. In addition, she has written short stories and poetry for various publications. Davidson has won the Anthony Award from Bouchercon, and has been nominated for the Agatha, another Anthony, and the Macavity Award. In 1993 she was named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Writer of the Year.
Davidson was educated at St. Anne's School in Charlottesville, Virginia, where her English teacher, Emyl Jenkins, encouraged her to become a writer. She attended Wellesley College, where she was named a Wellesley Scholar, before transferring to Stanford University, from which she graduated with a double major in Art History and Political Science. Several years (and one child) later, she received her MA in Art History from Johns Hopkins.
Davidson has volunteered for numerous organizations. She was a tutor in a correctional facility, rape-victim counselor, and served for 10 years on the Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. For years she taught the adult Bible study at her parish, where she was also licensed to preach.
Davidson has been married to her husband, Jim, for almost 40 years. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a basset hound.
Davidson was educated at St. Anne's School in Charlottesville, Virginia, where her English teacher, Emyl Jenkins, encouraged her to become a writer. She attended Wellesley College, where she was named a Wellesley Scholar, before transferring to Stanford University, from which she graduated with a double major in Art History and Political Science. Several years (and one child) later, she received her MA in Art History from Johns Hopkins.
Davidson has volunteered for numerous organizations. She was a tutor in a correctional facility, rape-victim counselor, and served for 10 years on the Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. For years she taught the adult Bible study at her parish, where she was also licensed to preach.
Davidson has been married to her husband, Jim, for almost 40 years. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a basset hound.
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November 8, 2017
Diane Mott Davidson's "Goldy Bear Culinary" mystery series is one of my early favorites, and I'm sad that the author isn't writing anymore. There were about 20 books in total, but this review is for #16, Crunch Time. This was the second or third cozy mystery series I took on, and only the second where I've been able to finish reading all books. (LJB's "Cat Who" series is the other one).
In this book, the crime action comes right to Goldy's home, which makes for even more fun. Friends are staying with Goldy after their house burns down, and Goldy knows they are keeping secrets. She pushes her way in and tries to figure out how to help them, keep her business running and ensure her own home and family aren't impacted. But of course, Goldy falls prey to the culprit at one point, too.
I enjoy this series because she is such a real character. And the supporting cast feel like people you'd love to be around. Humor, sarcasm, love... Goldy's husband and son are very real people.
As far as books in the series, this one falls somewhere in the middle. Not the best, not the worst. The recipes seem fairly easy to follow, if you like that sort of thing.
Some folks thought this was a bit long. I can see why, but it's still a fast read.
It's a fun series to read, but you probably only need to read a few throughout to get the gist... unless you can commit to all ~20. Then by all means...
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
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In this book, the crime action comes right to Goldy's home, which makes for even more fun. Friends are staying with Goldy after their house burns down, and Goldy knows they are keeping secrets. She pushes her way in and tries to figure out how to help them, keep her business running and ensure her own home and family aren't impacted. But of course, Goldy falls prey to the culprit at one point, too.
I enjoy this series because she is such a real character. And the supporting cast feel like people you'd love to be around. Humor, sarcasm, love... Goldy's husband and son are very real people.
As far as books in the series, this one falls somewhere in the middle. Not the best, not the worst. The recipes seem fairly easy to follow, if you like that sort of thing.
Some folks thought this was a bit long. I can see why, but it's still a fast read.
It's a fun series to read, but you probably only need to read a few throughout to get the gist... unless you can commit to all ~20. Then by all means...
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
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March 25, 2011
I'll start by saying I have read every one of the series to this point and have enjoyed most of them very much. Mostly that's because I have grown to really know the main characters and I like to see them grow and change. But starting with book #13, Dark Tort, they seem to have lost something. I had hopes after #15, Fatally Flaky, once again returned to form with a decent mystery plot but now with this 16th entry in the series, I am afraid for the future of the entire series.
So what's wrong with this one? Where should I start? There is just way too much going on here. Too many characters, too many subplots, too many attempts to throw the reader off course. I suppose with a cozy mystery, the reader expects to suspend their disbelief somewhat and just go with it. But Goldy just ignores any and all precautions as she goes about gathering clues to solve the murders. That happens in most of the books due to her personality but here she really defies logic in gathering evidence. There is no way a prosecuting attorney could ever bring the bad guy to justice because virtually 100% of the evidence would be inadmissible. Goldy commits all sorts of crimes to gather that evidence as well, including multiple B&Es, false statements to the police (even her own husband) and yet she gets offended when the police don't share facts with her. What was once an endearing quality of Goldy's personality (which is what really drives these books) has now become simply annoying and making me, as a reader, have less and less sympathy for her.
The plot is so convoluted it seems Ms Davidson was making it up as she went along. There are so many subplots here, with minor characters making one or two sentence appearances, that it is hard to follow. The long-term characters, those that have appeared throughout the series, make zero strides forward. Goldy's son, Arch, for example, is 16 years old now but she still treats him like he was 11, actually dismissing him from the room when the word "sex" is uttered out loud. The mystery itself is weak, the surrounding plot was weak, and I was looking forward to the last page so I could get on to another book. That just ain't a good sign.
If it wasn't for the setting (Colorado), and hopes for further growth in characterization, I would give up on this series. I still may because there are just so many good books out there to spend my time with.
Ms Davidson is a talented writer as evidenced by her past work. Perhaps it's time to move on to a new series.
So what's wrong with this one? Where should I start? There is just way too much going on here. Too many characters, too many subplots, too many attempts to throw the reader off course. I suppose with a cozy mystery, the reader expects to suspend their disbelief somewhat and just go with it. But Goldy just ignores any and all precautions as she goes about gathering clues to solve the murders. That happens in most of the books due to her personality but here she really defies logic in gathering evidence. There is no way a prosecuting attorney could ever bring the bad guy to justice because virtually 100% of the evidence would be inadmissible. Goldy commits all sorts of crimes to gather that evidence as well, including multiple B&Es, false statements to the police (even her own husband) and yet she gets offended when the police don't share facts with her. What was once an endearing quality of Goldy's personality (which is what really drives these books) has now become simply annoying and making me, as a reader, have less and less sympathy for her.
The plot is so convoluted it seems Ms Davidson was making it up as she went along. There are so many subplots here, with minor characters making one or two sentence appearances, that it is hard to follow. The long-term characters, those that have appeared throughout the series, make zero strides forward. Goldy's son, Arch, for example, is 16 years old now but she still treats him like he was 11, actually dismissing him from the room when the word "sex" is uttered out loud. The mystery itself is weak, the surrounding plot was weak, and I was looking forward to the last page so I could get on to another book. That just ain't a good sign.
If it wasn't for the setting (Colorado), and hopes for further growth in characterization, I would give up on this series. I still may because there are just so many good books out there to spend my time with.
Ms Davidson is a talented writer as evidenced by her past work. Perhaps it's time to move on to a new series.
March 16, 2011
With the death of a friend and cop turned PI, and the torching of his home where Yolanda and Ferdinanda, ex-patriot Cubans have been finding refuge, here starts the downward spiral of this book. As Goldy tries to help a fellow chef and old friend and her wheelchair bound aunt, Goldy of course not thinking or caring about her husband and son, takes these two annoying women into her home and opens herself and her family up to all sorts of danger. Unfortunately, long time readers know that this is typical Goldy behavior. However, this time it just seems to be the icing on the cake. The synopsis that the Publisher has included that says this book has laughs. Well not so much.
For first time readers there is no need to read the others in this series to be able to follow this book. But then again I would say if you were a first time reader, you might want to stay away from this book, or get it from the library and save your cash and a tree.
This was the most chaotic and unbelievable book in this series to date. It had a confusing plot, distasteful and annoying whiny `too stupid to live' secondary characters and the red herring was so convoluted and unbelievable that it was laughable.
Spoiler Alert-------Spoiler Alert-----Spoiler Alert------>
For those who have been following this series but feel like it may be time to give up and move on---here is a spoiler to let you see if you may want to change your mind---Goldy and Tom decide to have a baby. Can this be the actual end of this series?
For first time readers there is no need to read the others in this series to be able to follow this book. But then again I would say if you were a first time reader, you might want to stay away from this book, or get it from the library and save your cash and a tree.
This was the most chaotic and unbelievable book in this series to date. It had a confusing plot, distasteful and annoying whiny `too stupid to live' secondary characters and the red herring was so convoluted and unbelievable that it was laughable.
Spoiler Alert-------Spoiler Alert-----Spoiler Alert------>
For those who have been following this series but feel like it may be time to give up and move on---here is a spoiler to let you see if you may want to change your mind---Goldy and Tom decide to have a baby. Can this be the actual end of this series?
May 14, 2011
I love Goldy Schulz and her supporting cast of husband Tom, son Archie, and best friend Marla. Goldy and Tom's relationship reminds me of an episode of "I LOve Lucy" with Goldy getting into trouble and the Desi character, Tom, getting her out. In other words, just fun.
In this one though there are many troubles. One is that it is too long. Two, the plot is very confused with too many cases going on at once. There are puppy mills, stalking, stolen jewelry, an affair, a murder, unexpected wealth and trespassing all going on at once. It was confusing. The third problem is that I didn't like the characters. The story centers around Yolanda who is not likable. She whines, lies, and is generally unpleasant. She has a spat with a priest that makes no sense at all. Her Aunt Ferninanda is equally unpleasant. She takes out a cop's knees with a baton. The injury is serious enough to go to the hospital but everyone seems to laugh it off. Other absurdities occur with this character but I don't want to spoil it for you.
I love this series and consider the author the best of the culinary authors but this book was just a mess.
In this one though there are many troubles. One is that it is too long. Two, the plot is very confused with too many cases going on at once. There are puppy mills, stalking, stolen jewelry, an affair, a murder, unexpected wealth and trespassing all going on at once. It was confusing. The third problem is that I didn't like the characters. The story centers around Yolanda who is not likable. She whines, lies, and is generally unpleasant. She has a spat with a priest that makes no sense at all. Her Aunt Ferninanda is equally unpleasant. She takes out a cop's knees with a baton. The injury is serious enough to go to the hospital but everyone seems to laugh it off. Other absurdities occur with this character but I don't want to spoil it for you.
I love this series and consider the author the best of the culinary authors but this book was just a mess.
May 6, 2015
What with a ridiculously implausible plot, Goldy Schulz's incredibly ill-considered interference, and author Diane Mott Davidson's apparent inability to distinguish between Santería and second sight, I simply could not force myself to finish Crunch Time -- despite being a longtime Goldy Schulz fan. Only the recipes, delectable as always, saved this monstrosity from a one-star rating.
March 26, 2017
The book was at least 100 pages too long and the mystery too convoluted, but I can't help loving Goldy and Tom and their zany friends. Still good for a laugh and a quick escapist read.
June 26, 2011
(fiction – cozy mystery) Don't get me wrong – I like cozy mysteries, I really do. Generally they are light reading without overly gory murders and with interesting and fun characters. I've read some of the other books in this series about Goldy Schulz, Colorado caterer and amateur sleuth, and have enjoyed them. This one just didn't appeal to me as much.
First of all was the length. I'm prepared to spend two to three hundred pages. This one, including recipes at the end, is 471 pages. Okay, I'm a big girl, I can deal with that. But shortly into the book, Goldy's husband, a member of the local sheriff's department, starts an interrogation I thought would never end. Way too much repetition. Maybe I can't deal after all – I almost gave up at this point.
Then there were rescued beagle puppies. Rescued puppies – how can I not like that? You know I'm a sucker for anything furry. In this story...well, I don't want to ruin anything, but the puppy positives didn't outweigh the negatives.
And Goldy herself...her employee drops and breaks $1000 of a client's Limoges and Goldy makes it up to the hostess by serving the fruit and cheese trays. Really? Yolanda – what a wuss. Some of the characters came across as ridiculous rather than just quirky.
While I am whining, do I really have to read so many details about every time the weather changes, every tomato sliced, every dishwasher loaded? This could have been a very entertaining 250 page book. As it was, just too much mind candy for me.
First of all was the length. I'm prepared to spend two to three hundred pages. This one, including recipes at the end, is 471 pages. Okay, I'm a big girl, I can deal with that. But shortly into the book, Goldy's husband, a member of the local sheriff's department, starts an interrogation I thought would never end. Way too much repetition. Maybe I can't deal after all – I almost gave up at this point.
Then there were rescued beagle puppies. Rescued puppies – how can I not like that? You know I'm a sucker for anything furry. In this story...well, I don't want to ruin anything, but the puppy positives didn't outweigh the negatives.
And Goldy herself...her employee drops and breaks $1000 of a client's Limoges and Goldy makes it up to the hostess by serving the fruit and cheese trays. Really? Yolanda – what a wuss. Some of the characters came across as ridiculous rather than just quirky.
While I am whining, do I really have to read so many details about every time the weather changes, every tomato sliced, every dishwasher loaded? This could have been a very entertaining 250 page book. As it was, just too much mind candy for me.
April 10, 2011
While I still enjoy the author's writing style, it's just time to put the series to bed. There are only so many times one woman can meddle in police investigations in a lifetime, much less during one book, without it being ridiculous. It's just too silly! There's just no attempt to have any respect for the law anymore. This book felt frantic throughout and then wrapped up suddenly and disappointingly. I like Goldy and her friends and family, but there is no compelling reason to read about them over any other good cozy mystery; Davidson could easily move on to to stories about someone else. If she wants to build on her fan base, make them about Julian building his vegan catering business in Denver, and then mention news about Goldy sometimes. I stopped buying these books a while ago. This was still a fun read for a library book, but I'd have been pretty frustrated if I'd paid hardback prices.
February 20, 2012
I finally finished Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson. Her Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery Series is one I've enjoyed for many years. However, the quality of these books has been on a rollercoaster ride. Some of them are pretty good. Some of them are not. This was the worst I've read. There were way too many characters, too many storylines, and too many absolutely ridiculous events. Goldy's TSTL moments were out of control. No one thought is was weird having one of the main murder suspects stay at the primary investigator's house? Goldy's son almost kills a guy, is holding a bloody weapon, and Goldy pretty much ignores him and starts baking? Hee hee! There are no transitions here between the murder plot and the cooking. One moment, Goldy is bloody and unconscious, the next she's whipping up a coffee cake. The best part of this book? The recipes at the end. Natty and I are going to make the Crunch Time Cookies this week.
Grade: C- or less (cringe)
Grade: C- or less (cringe)
September 3, 2014
I thought I loved this series. Until now. First, the book is way too long. My copy measured out at over 540 pages. Way too long for a cozy. Unfortunately, the reason for the length of the book is that it is SO convoluted. I had a terrible time following all the various plot-twists, sub-plots and characters. So many of these characters were very unlikeable. Yolanda and her ridiculously named aunt Ferdinandia were irritating; I couldn't muster any sympathy for them at all. Liars, sneaky, stupid.
What happened to authors doing research or at least using common sense when writing. Have you ever seen a person in a wheelchair try to cook in a regular kitchen? It is IMPOSSIBLE. They cannot reach the counters, let alone any shelves. That's why in handicapped accessible houses the kitchen counters are LOW. But we are expected to believe that Auntie F is cooking up elaborate dishes all night every night.
Second, wives cannot, cannot, cannot change their will to disinherit their husbands without the permission of the husband themselves. Not possible, ever, at all.
Third, the Cuban revolution was 55 years ago. But Auntie F. still has her established habits from that period of time, I guess. What age is she, exactly?
This book is ludicrous, a complete waste of time. Do not recommend.
What happened to authors doing research or at least using common sense when writing. Have you ever seen a person in a wheelchair try to cook in a regular kitchen? It is IMPOSSIBLE. They cannot reach the counters, let alone any shelves. That's why in handicapped accessible houses the kitchen counters are LOW. But we are expected to believe that Auntie F is cooking up elaborate dishes all night every night.
Second, wives cannot, cannot, cannot change their will to disinherit their husbands without the permission of the husband themselves. Not possible, ever, at all.
Third, the Cuban revolution was 55 years ago. But Auntie F. still has her established habits from that period of time, I guess. What age is she, exactly?
This book is ludicrous, a complete waste of time. Do not recommend.
September 3, 2014
Disappointing.
Goldy is always meddling in things that are not her business. I am used to that.
This book aggravated me because she seemed to be willing to place her son and the rest of her family in jeapordy by having women, living in her home, that had been burned out of their two previous homes. I don't care how much she loved her friend, a mother, a parent would think of the safety of ther child and of the home where the child lives. Common sense tells me that there HAD TO BE another way to place these two women in a secure place without putting her family in danger. I felt her choices were foolish and irresponsible.
Davidson would like for the reader to think of GOldy as smart and sluething, it seems, to me, that she is more meddlesome and arrogant. She does not ever repsect what her husband has to say it does not seem that she is in concert with him, or the police, in trying to solve crimes. Instead, she seems to feel that she is competition with the police and needs to solve the crimes all alone.
There are so many people involved in this mystery that it feels that a scorecard is needed just to keep up with them all.
Yolanda behaves so poorly (I understand she is supposed to be frightened but, come on, she is hateful and mean to people.
Yolanda's aunt is so ridiculous she is caricature of a real person. Some people may be offended by the way she behaves.
I thought her hitting the policeman and then she and her neice crowing about it, was way over the top.
I cannot tell you how much I disliked Yolanda or her ridiculous aunt. Yolanda behaves horribly and Goldy makes excuses for her and her aunt at every turn. We would not appreciate children behaving in the petty and silly manner that these two behave.
I've rolled my eyes while reading Goldy mysteries before but this was almost a wallbanger.
Goldy is always meddling in things that are not her business. I am used to that.
This book aggravated me because she seemed to be willing to place her son and the rest of her family in jeapordy by having women, living in her home, that had been burned out of their two previous homes. I don't care how much she loved her friend, a mother, a parent would think of the safety of ther child and of the home where the child lives. Common sense tells me that there HAD TO BE another way to place these two women in a secure place without putting her family in danger. I felt her choices were foolish and irresponsible.
Davidson would like for the reader to think of GOldy as smart and sluething, it seems, to me, that she is more meddlesome and arrogant. She does not ever repsect what her husband has to say it does not seem that she is in concert with him, or the police, in trying to solve crimes. Instead, she seems to feel that she is competition with the police and needs to solve the crimes all alone.
There are so many people involved in this mystery that it feels that a scorecard is needed just to keep up with them all.
Yolanda behaves so poorly (I understand she is supposed to be frightened but, come on, she is hateful and mean to people.
Yolanda's aunt is so ridiculous she is caricature of a real person. Some people may be offended by the way she behaves.
I thought her hitting the policeman and then she and her neice crowing about it, was way over the top.
I cannot tell you how much I disliked Yolanda or her ridiculous aunt. Yolanda behaves horribly and Goldy makes excuses for her and her aunt at every turn. We would not appreciate children behaving in the petty and silly manner that these two behave.
I've rolled my eyes while reading Goldy mysteries before but this was almost a wallbanger.
May 1, 2011
Guilty pleasure.Thoroughly enjoyed this as much as the earlier books by DMD. A bit disappointed that the recipes were not as central to the story...but that is minor given the fun of reading the series.
November 4, 2012
Good Sunday morning! It’s a chilly one in New England, and I hope this finds you safe and warm wherever your locale. I have been thinking and praying for my many friends in the states that have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy and hope that life returns to normal for all of you very soon.
My review this week is called Crunch Time, written by Diane Mott Davidson. Her main character is Goldy Schulz, who’s a caterer by trade. You know how you’ve heard of the term “comfort food” for people who are sad or upset? Well, this book someone manages to make you nearly taste the comfort food via the pages. (Neat trick, eh?) It’s not a cookbook–rather, it’s a mystery–but Goldy does so much cooking, in order to help her think through the who-dunit, that sometimes you forget where the food stops and the story begins.
Like many of Davidson’s other books, the gist of the story is that Colorado-based Goldy gets tangled up in a case that her husband, who’s a sheriff, is working on and would prefer her to stay OUT of. When their neighbor is murdered and leaves Goldy and her hubby to shelter his tenants–one of Goldy’s employees and her wheelchair-bound-aunt-from-Cuba who wields a very nasty baton–along with nine puppies, and a fellow law enforcement officer, let’s just say things get interesting. Each of them is wrapped up in solving the murder for their own different reasons, and the mystery goes in many different directions before it’s all neatly tied up at the end.
This book is fun, light reading and really gets your culinary senses fired up. (And I must admit that I felt completely inadequate in the kitchen after closing this read, but that’s really not that hard to do). What’s also very cool is that Davidson puts many of the recipes discussed in the story in the back of the book. Some of the ones from Crunch Time are as follows: Tex-Mex Ham and Cheese Casserole, Goldy’s Garlic Lamb Chops, Goldy’s Guava Coffee Cake, and Breakfast Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce. Is your mouth watering? :-) Told ya! ‘Til next week, happy reading…
My review this week is called Crunch Time, written by Diane Mott Davidson. Her main character is Goldy Schulz, who’s a caterer by trade. You know how you’ve heard of the term “comfort food” for people who are sad or upset? Well, this book someone manages to make you nearly taste the comfort food via the pages. (Neat trick, eh?) It’s not a cookbook–rather, it’s a mystery–but Goldy does so much cooking, in order to help her think through the who-dunit, that sometimes you forget where the food stops and the story begins.
Like many of Davidson’s other books, the gist of the story is that Colorado-based Goldy gets tangled up in a case that her husband, who’s a sheriff, is working on and would prefer her to stay OUT of. When their neighbor is murdered and leaves Goldy and her hubby to shelter his tenants–one of Goldy’s employees and her wheelchair-bound-aunt-from-Cuba who wields a very nasty baton–along with nine puppies, and a fellow law enforcement officer, let’s just say things get interesting. Each of them is wrapped up in solving the murder for their own different reasons, and the mystery goes in many different directions before it’s all neatly tied up at the end.
This book is fun, light reading and really gets your culinary senses fired up. (And I must admit that I felt completely inadequate in the kitchen after closing this read, but that’s really not that hard to do). What’s also very cool is that Davidson puts many of the recipes discussed in the story in the back of the book. Some of the ones from Crunch Time are as follows: Tex-Mex Ham and Cheese Casserole, Goldy’s Garlic Lamb Chops, Goldy’s Guava Coffee Cake, and Breakfast Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce. Is your mouth watering? :-) Told ya! ‘Til next week, happy reading…
January 1, 2012
Yep, another mystery from Colorado caterer Goldy Shultz. These books are so silly that I never care who did it in the end -- that's not why I read them. I think it's the voice that Diane Mott Davidson is able to create -- both homey and on point with the tiny details of how real people live, that makes me pick up another installment every so often.
Goldy is continually surrounded by the wealthy, but exists to serve them, not be them. It's a point of view that always remains intact and fresh, and I appreciate the books for that very reason.
Also, I do love the cooking talk. The what-to-have-for-breakfast and what-to-cook-for-dinner, and the fact that her events still have to go on. The frenzy is believable. And some of the eye-rolling people are spot-on. Her annoyance at Charlene Newgate (a woman raising her grandson from Arch's private school) cracked me up -- the woman always saying how hard she has it and slipping in snide remarks as if Goldy has it easy. It was well done. As was the weather -- that first snow in Colorado and how it changes the air and the attitudes. Very true.
In Crunch Time, Goldy's assistant Yolanda and her aunt Ferdinanda are rendered homeless when the investigator they were staying with is found shot. They move in with Goldy, while her husband Tom is on the case. And, of course, all sorts of strange things are happening, with Goldy being threatened at every turn as she pieces it all together.
The editing for this novel was an improvement over her recent books. However, there were WAY too many characters, and WAY too many subplots. I couldn't keep track of everyone (their backstories, their connections to other characters), and three-forths of the way through the book, stopped trying. That's not a good sign.
Did like the twist at the end between her and Tom, which may make me pick up the next book.
Goldy is continually surrounded by the wealthy, but exists to serve them, not be them. It's a point of view that always remains intact and fresh, and I appreciate the books for that very reason.
Also, I do love the cooking talk. The what-to-have-for-breakfast and what-to-cook-for-dinner, and the fact that her events still have to go on. The frenzy is believable. And some of the eye-rolling people are spot-on. Her annoyance at Charlene Newgate (a woman raising her grandson from Arch's private school) cracked me up -- the woman always saying how hard she has it and slipping in snide remarks as if Goldy has it easy. It was well done. As was the weather -- that first snow in Colorado and how it changes the air and the attitudes. Very true.
In Crunch Time, Goldy's assistant Yolanda and her aunt Ferdinanda are rendered homeless when the investigator they were staying with is found shot. They move in with Goldy, while her husband Tom is on the case. And, of course, all sorts of strange things are happening, with Goldy being threatened at every turn as she pieces it all together.
The editing for this novel was an improvement over her recent books. However, there were WAY too many characters, and WAY too many subplots. I couldn't keep track of everyone (their backstories, their connections to other characters), and three-forths of the way through the book, stopped trying. That's not a good sign.
Did like the twist at the end between her and Tom, which may make me pick up the next book.
July 14, 2013
I don't read these books for realism. There is plenty of non-fiction for that. Yes, Goldy always gets herself into trouble. Yes, every book ends the same way with Goldy narrowly escaping death. Its fiction. That is what makes it fun. At no point did I find the plot hard to follow, and I found all of the side stories interesting as well. Okay, so I probably would change the whole "smuggling hemp seeds in the dogs" to something more believably lucrative (smuggling cocaine in the dogs, etc), but if that is my only complaint, I'm still going to give the book 5 stars. If you enjoy these types of books, you have to expect that certain scenarios will always hold true. These are:
-Main character being at the right place at the right time - every time.
-Law enforcement looking the other way as nosy main character breaks laws and illegally obtains information and evidence
-Multiple close-calls and injuries to the main character, ending with a final close call with death (and being hit by the butt of a gun at least once per book)
Really, that's what these books are about. They follow this pattern. The only things that change are the suspects and situations. If you find this to be redundant, then maybe a different genre is what you are looking for. But for what these books are, I didn't find anything wrong with this book in particular. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
-Main character being at the right place at the right time - every time.
-Law enforcement looking the other way as nosy main character breaks laws and illegally obtains information and evidence
-Multiple close-calls and injuries to the main character, ending with a final close call with death (and being hit by the butt of a gun at least once per book)
Really, that's what these books are about. They follow this pattern. The only things that change are the suspects and situations. If you find this to be redundant, then maybe a different genre is what you are looking for. But for what these books are, I didn't find anything wrong with this book in particular. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 16, 2011
Whew! Talk about overload! I felt like a lot was going on. I had to go over it and over it. However, I LOVED every minute of this book. I love Goldy, Tom and all the cast of wacky characters Diane Mott Davidson always brings for us. She always starts out with a bang. I think Goldy has gotten more savvy with detective work and knows more what clues to look for and that is why she really gets herself into more tangles, which makes for more fun.
This time, Yolanda and her great aunt are displaced when the man that they are living with is found murdered. So Goldy and Tom insist that they come to stay with them temporarily. With a whole list of supsects, Goldy caters a dinner that goes terribly wrong and gets a ton more clues -- we all know the path Ms Davidson goes down, but the ride is always a blast!
I personally love how we don't need vulgar language, or any raunchy scenes, just a lot of fun, a few nail biting moments and a few laughs! The descriptions of all the food items make me so ravenous no wonder I am starving after I read her books! The recipes in the back are ALWAYS delicious and never fail!
So make some Crunch Time Cookies, curl up with a nice up of your favorite coffee and Crunch Time and see what Miss G is up to!
This time, Yolanda and her great aunt are displaced when the man that they are living with is found murdered. So Goldy and Tom insist that they come to stay with them temporarily. With a whole list of supsects, Goldy caters a dinner that goes terribly wrong and gets a ton more clues -- we all know the path Ms Davidson goes down, but the ride is always a blast!
I personally love how we don't need vulgar language, or any raunchy scenes, just a lot of fun, a few nail biting moments and a few laughs! The descriptions of all the food items make me so ravenous no wonder I am starving after I read her books! The recipes in the back are ALWAYS delicious and never fail!
So make some Crunch Time Cookies, curl up with a nice up of your favorite coffee and Crunch Time and see what Miss G is up to!
February 24, 2014
I felt my IQ drop with each page. It was unbelievable torture to try to follow plots and sub-plots with ridiculous scenarios and annoying characters. This was definitely the worst one in the series, usually I find Goldy's antics mildly entertaining, but in this drama they were over the top and downright stupid. The only likable and sane character in this estrogen-fest was her husband, the cop, unfortunately he can't rein in his wife and he treats her like a slow child that is about to walk in front of a bus, make that several buses. The recipes are pretty good and thank goodness at the end of the book to save me having to page through 300+++ pages of nonsense.
July 16, 2014
Although a favorite series of mine, this book really struggled. There were way too many characters and too many subplots, making the story very confusing! It was definitely too long (almost 500 pages!) with Goldy jumping to some very illogical conclusions along the way and causing her to act very out of character. Plus, the whole story made Tom look like a pretty incompetent detective! And even with the length of the book, the mystery wasn't solved until the last 2-3 convoluted pages. On the plus side, there was more mystery than cooking this time around. Probably 2 1/2 stars.
June 22, 2011
The problem with many authors of long-time series is that they get lazy. Mott has had the opposite reaction. This book was just too crowded with crimes, criminals and crises. It also stretched credulity in too many obvious ways. Part of what makes Goldy fun, aside from her musings on incredible food, is the character development. With a three-ring crime circus going on I missed the interactions of the regular crew. Plus, it was hard to keep the new players straight. I can't believe I'm going to be so cheesy but Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth.
Shelved as 'gave-up'
July 9, 2015It's been a few years since I last visited Goldy Schulz, but I think we have grown apart. I just could not get into this story, and threw in the (kitchen) towel after struggling through the first three chapters. Yolanda's character made no sense to me, and I didn't feel like sticking around to try to figure her out. Life is too short to waste time on uninteresting books...
March 29, 2018
I enjoyed the references to my beloved Colorado and food. Goldy is a loveable heroine and keeps things interesting. This book held my interest from start to finish.
May 26, 2011
Sixteenth in the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries cooking series set in the Aspen area in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
The Story
When Yolanda loses her job when the spa restaurant is shut down for sprinkling their guests' food with cocaine—they thought the guests would think the spa was the reason for their extra energy and spirit, Goldy hires her as a precautionary measure against Tom's advice.
Then Yolanda's roommate, Ernest, is murdered, his house is burnt down, and Yolanda is blaming her ex-boyfriend, Kris, for it. She claims he's stalking her although she refuses to give Goldy or Tom anything with which to work. An ex-cop turned private eye, Ernest, was investigating a variety of cases including a puppy mill, Yolanda's stalker, a cheating husband, and an old case of stolen jewels. I swear it's like Peyton Place in Aspen Meadows as Goldy chases down one idea or lead after another driving her husband quietly nuts with her illegal activities.
My Take
While I enjoy the homey qualities of this series—Tom is so very patient and I just love the descriptions of the food that everyone creates in this story, I'm getting rather tired of Goldy. She's so nosy and I don't really see where she can really do that much anymore now that pretty much everyone in town knows about her detecting. I'm rather surprised that Tom hasn't dumped her for being such a pain. And I miss Julian. Nor was there much interaction with Marla or Archie; things are rather tame without the Jerk. Not that I didn't cheer when he died! This story just has a rather tired feel to it. Not helped at all by the evasions and actions of Yolanda and Ferdinanda.
Then there's the irritating details within the story because I'm sorry, there is no way that a standard wrench is adjustable enough to handle bolts for a potrack and the handle of an electric skillet. Nor do you have to be a "real data-processing geek" to know that you need a USB hub if you need more USB ports than are available. Come on, come up with a real geeky question...!
So what if Kris and Harriet are cruising up the street when Goldy walks out of Frank's Fix-It? She's taken whatever it is that Humberto took there and not something belonging to Kris..!?? Then, duh, Davidson has Goldy going on and on...and on ...actually, the entire story she's been going on...about how no one actually gets things fixed at Frank's and that they're all stoners. Why wouldn't it be the safest place to stash stolen goods? I think Davidson was simply trying to fill up space with this interior monologue. She's been doing this throughout the story and it's been rather irritating.
The Cover
The cover is as yummy looking as ever. My mouth was watering as I read the ingredients for the Crunch Time Cookies…drool!
The Story
When Yolanda loses her job when the spa restaurant is shut down for sprinkling their guests' food with cocaine—they thought the guests would think the spa was the reason for their extra energy and spirit, Goldy hires her as a precautionary measure against Tom's advice.
Then Yolanda's roommate, Ernest, is murdered, his house is burnt down, and Yolanda is blaming her ex-boyfriend, Kris, for it. She claims he's stalking her although she refuses to give Goldy or Tom anything with which to work. An ex-cop turned private eye, Ernest, was investigating a variety of cases including a puppy mill, Yolanda's stalker, a cheating husband, and an old case of stolen jewels. I swear it's like Peyton Place in Aspen Meadows as Goldy chases down one idea or lead after another driving her husband quietly nuts with her illegal activities.
My Take
While I enjoy the homey qualities of this series—Tom is so very patient and I just love the descriptions of the food that everyone creates in this story, I'm getting rather tired of Goldy. She's so nosy and I don't really see where she can really do that much anymore now that pretty much everyone in town knows about her detecting. I'm rather surprised that Tom hasn't dumped her for being such a pain. And I miss Julian. Nor was there much interaction with Marla or Archie; things are rather tame without the Jerk. Not that I didn't cheer when he died! This story just has a rather tired feel to it. Not helped at all by the evasions and actions of Yolanda and Ferdinanda.
Then there's the irritating details within the story because I'm sorry, there is no way that a standard wrench is adjustable enough to handle bolts for a potrack and the handle of an electric skillet. Nor do you have to be a "real data-processing geek" to know that you need a USB hub if you need more USB ports than are available. Come on, come up with a real geeky question...!
So what if Kris and Harriet are cruising up the street when Goldy walks out of Frank's Fix-It? She's taken whatever it is that Humberto took there and not something belonging to Kris..!?? Then, duh, Davidson has Goldy going on and on...and on ...actually, the entire story she's been going on...about how no one actually gets things fixed at Frank's and that they're all stoners. Why wouldn't it be the safest place to stash stolen goods? I think Davidson was simply trying to fill up space with this interior monologue. She's been doing this throughout the story and it's been rather irritating.
The Cover
The cover is as yummy looking as ever. My mouth was watering as I read the ingredients for the Crunch Time Cookies…drool!
April 3, 2013
The economy has been tough on everyone and caterer Goldy Schulz has seen a drop-off in people hiring her. Still, she knows Yolanda Garcia is struggling and hires Yolanda to help her on the few jobs she has. Yolanda has a lot of problems, including an abusive ex-boyfriend, and soon, due to a chain of circumstances, Yolanda and her aunt Ferdinanda are living with Goldy, her cop husband Tom, and her son Arch. Trouble follows Yolanda and soon Goldy is involved in arson, murder, theft, a puppy mill, and more.
"Crunch Time" is the fifteenth book in Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy Schulz series - a series that at this point I think I'm reading out of habit rather than enjoyment. While better than some of her more recent books (for example Sweet Revenge) it is not as good as the early books in the series. Some of the plot devices are stale at this point - for example you know that Goldy is going to get beat up or injured several times in the book. The things Goldy does to try to solve a mystery have always been a bit too much, but in this book she went way over the top (it amazes me how often her husband and the entire police force simply turn their heads as Goldy breaks law after law). The book also relies far too much on Goldy being in the right place at the right time (or is it the wrong place at the right time?) that puts her in the center of action and danger. Goldy's best friend Marla was barely in the book and while I hardly missed her, I did miss Julian's character quite a bit. His convenient absence seems to serve merely as a way to get Yolanda in the book. While she grew on me as a character, she felt awkwardly thrust into the book - Davidson tries to make it seem like she was always an important part of Goldy's life, but if she was in earlier books I don't remember her. As for the mystery - parts of it were very good, but there were so many things going on the book felt a bit convoluted. Finally, while the book is a good size, the ending still felt a bit rushed and Davidson left a few plot lines dangling.
So why do I keep reading Diane Mott Davidson's books? Because, despite it all, I like the characters and setting. I just wish the characters would grow a bit more (Arch is 16, it's time Goldy treated him that way). Davidson does add something to the plotline that may change the direction of future books - let's hope it's for the better.
"Crunch Time" is the fifteenth book in Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy Schulz series - a series that at this point I think I'm reading out of habit rather than enjoyment. While better than some of her more recent books (for example Sweet Revenge) it is not as good as the early books in the series. Some of the plot devices are stale at this point - for example you know that Goldy is going to get beat up or injured several times in the book. The things Goldy does to try to solve a mystery have always been a bit too much, but in this book she went way over the top (it amazes me how often her husband and the entire police force simply turn their heads as Goldy breaks law after law). The book also relies far too much on Goldy being in the right place at the right time (or is it the wrong place at the right time?) that puts her in the center of action and danger. Goldy's best friend Marla was barely in the book and while I hardly missed her, I did miss Julian's character quite a bit. His convenient absence seems to serve merely as a way to get Yolanda in the book. While she grew on me as a character, she felt awkwardly thrust into the book - Davidson tries to make it seem like she was always an important part of Goldy's life, but if she was in earlier books I don't remember her. As for the mystery - parts of it were very good, but there were so many things going on the book felt a bit convoluted. Finally, while the book is a good size, the ending still felt a bit rushed and Davidson left a few plot lines dangling.
So why do I keep reading Diane Mott Davidson's books? Because, despite it all, I like the characters and setting. I just wish the characters would grow a bit more (Arch is 16, it's time Goldy treated him that way). Davidson does add something to the plotline that may change the direction of future books - let's hope it's for the better.
October 16, 2011
I have been a fan of Diane Mott Davidson's books for a long time. They are light mysteries, but it is the culinary aspect that keeps me coming back.
Davidson's main character, Goldy Schulz, is a caterer married to a police officer. She always finds herself involved in some kind of caper which inevitably leads to a body. While Goldy tries to unravel the mystery, she cooks. Sometimes by herself, sometimes with other cooks/friends, and sometimes with her beleaguered husband. Davidson's love of cooking is evident in the books. Her evocative descriptions of the care Goldy pours into her cooking is fodder for foodies. Plus, there are recipes in the book. After you've been drooling over a delectable delight, you can cook it for yourself. The problem with this book for me is that Goldy doesn't really get cooking until nearly halfway through the book. Cooking seems to take a back seat to the mystery. There's lots going on in this book and the plot is diffused. Puppy mills, grow ops, Cuban intrigue, and eccentric millionaires - it's too much to be believable. As a mystery, it doesn't work. Goldy crosses a line with her investigations which totally impedes any chance of prosecution due to the way evidence is collected. Light on the cooking and even lighter on the mystery.
One final note - usually the recipes are included within the story. Goldy caters an event and the recipe is on the next page. You can almost taste the food. In Crunch Time, the publisher stuck the recipes at the back of the book. Anticlimatic and not as enjoyable.
Davidson's main character, Goldy Schulz, is a caterer married to a police officer. She always finds herself involved in some kind of caper which inevitably leads to a body. While Goldy tries to unravel the mystery, she cooks. Sometimes by herself, sometimes with other cooks/friends, and sometimes with her beleaguered husband. Davidson's love of cooking is evident in the books. Her evocative descriptions of the care Goldy pours into her cooking is fodder for foodies. Plus, there are recipes in the book. After you've been drooling over a delectable delight, you can cook it for yourself. The problem with this book for me is that Goldy doesn't really get cooking until nearly halfway through the book. Cooking seems to take a back seat to the mystery. There's lots going on in this book and the plot is diffused. Puppy mills, grow ops, Cuban intrigue, and eccentric millionaires - it's too much to be believable. As a mystery, it doesn't work. Goldy crosses a line with her investigations which totally impedes any chance of prosecution due to the way evidence is collected. Light on the cooking and even lighter on the mystery.
One final note - usually the recipes are included within the story. Goldy caters an event and the recipe is on the next page. You can almost taste the food. In Crunch Time, the publisher stuck the recipes at the back of the book. Anticlimatic and not as enjoyable.
April 1, 2011
I always expect an entertaining, cozy mystery when I pick up a book by Diane Mott Davidson. Therefore, I was surprised to see that her latest book, "Crunch Time," included the words, “A Novel of Suspense,” beneath the title. I don’t think this novel can really be classified as suspense, but if there were a genre for a suspense-cozy, it would fit this book. The author did a good job of intertwining the several mysteries in the story, and providing enough suspects to make the reader wonder along with Goldy who the culprit really is. I was mildly disappointed that her former assistant, Julian, was hardly more than mentioned in the story, and that her best friend, Marla, was such a minor character, but the new characters of Yolanda and her feisty Great Aunt Ferdinanda more than make up for their absence. There is enough action for the thrill seekers, enough mystery for the amateur sleuths, and enough recipes for the gourmet cooks to keep all readers happy. The story threads are neatly tied up at the conclusion, but Diane Mott Davidson cleverly leaves us wanting to know more. Crunch Time is different from Davidson’s other novels, but well worth the read. I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
April 4, 2011
I won a copy of this book as a goodreads.com giveaway.
I'll start by saying that I did enjoy reading this book. It was a fast read and I found myself very entertained. I have never read another book by this author before and the lighthearted writing style was easy to read.
I did feel like there were too many sub plots going on at the same time. I found myself lost in the details a few times, however never saw the end coming. I couldn't actually guess how this was going to end, which is a good thing.
In order to read this book, you really have to be able to suspend your beliefs. For example, what are the chances that a woman and her husband (who is a cop who investigates homicides) would actually let Yolanda live with them while she's under investigation? From the beginning I thought just that was pretty unbelievable. Once I cold tell myself it's just fiction, though, I found the read much more enjoyable.
If you're in the mood for a light mystery, with lots of yummy food and coffee descriptions, this is a good book. If you're looking for something realistic, though, this might not be your cup of tea.
I'll start by saying that I did enjoy reading this book. It was a fast read and I found myself very entertained. I have never read another book by this author before and the lighthearted writing style was easy to read.
I did feel like there were too many sub plots going on at the same time. I found myself lost in the details a few times, however never saw the end coming. I couldn't actually guess how this was going to end, which is a good thing.
In order to read this book, you really have to be able to suspend your beliefs. For example, what are the chances that a woman and her husband (who is a cop who investigates homicides) would actually let Yolanda live with them while she's under investigation? From the beginning I thought just that was pretty unbelievable. Once I cold tell myself it's just fiction, though, I found the read much more enjoyable.
If you're in the mood for a light mystery, with lots of yummy food and coffee descriptions, this is a good book. If you're looking for something realistic, though, this might not be your cup of tea.
August 1, 2011
Another great book in the Goldy series.
Caterer and sleuth extraordinaire Goldy Schulz returns in another tasty and suspenseful adventure from New York Times bestselling author Diane Mott Davidson
Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz cooks up big trouble as she tries to help her longtime friend and fellow chef Yolanda Garcia. When the rental house shared by Yolanda and her irrepressible aunt Ferdinanda is destroyed by arson, the pair move in with cop-turned-PI Ernest McLeod. But then Ernest is shot dead and his house is set on fire, nearly killing Goldy, Yolanda, Ferdinanda, and nine beagle puppies that Ernest had recently rescued from a puppy mill.
Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff’s department investigates. Yet even Goldy’s house isn’t safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.
Swapping her chef’s hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she’s got to move fast. It’s crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her.
Caterer and sleuth extraordinaire Goldy Schulz returns in another tasty and suspenseful adventure from New York Times bestselling author Diane Mott Davidson
Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz cooks up big trouble as she tries to help her longtime friend and fellow chef Yolanda Garcia. When the rental house shared by Yolanda and her irrepressible aunt Ferdinanda is destroyed by arson, the pair move in with cop-turned-PI Ernest McLeod. But then Ernest is shot dead and his house is set on fire, nearly killing Goldy, Yolanda, Ferdinanda, and nine beagle puppies that Ernest had recently rescued from a puppy mill.
Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff’s department investigates. Yet even Goldy’s house isn’t safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.
Swapping her chef’s hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she’s got to move fast. It’s crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her.
Read
June 8, 2013Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz cooks up big trouble as she tries to help her longtime friend and fellow chef Yolanda Garcia. When the rental house shared by Yolanda and her irrepressible aunt Ferdinanda is destroyed by arson, the pair move in with cop-turned-PI Ernest McLeod. But then Ernest is shot dead and his house is set on fire, nearly killing Goldy, Yolanda, Ferdinanda, and nine beagle puppies that Ernest had recently rescued from a puppy mill.
Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff’s department investigates. Yet even Goldy’s house isn’t safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.
Swapping her chef’s hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she’s got to move fast. It’s crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her.
Kris Nielson, who was stalking Yolanda, is the murderer.
Tom wants to have a baby.
Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff’s department investigates. Yet even Goldy’s house isn’t safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.
Swapping her chef’s hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she’s got to move fast. It’s crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her.
Kris Nielson, who was stalking Yolanda, is the murderer.
Tom wants to have a baby.
July 2, 2019
I usually love the Goldy Bear novels. But this one, it was just "blah". It's almost 600 pages long and at about the half way point, the lack of any concrete storyline had me putting the book down. It just went on and on and on. It felt like Ms. Davidson was being paid by the word and decided to just sit down and write and write and be damed if there was any kind of plot or theme.
I typically really like Goldy but this time, she was just annoying. She intervenes into the investigation, she just walks through the crime scene like it's no big deal, and invites two suspects to come live with her and her husband. No charges could ever be made because of the clusterf*&k Goldy and Tom made of the investigation. Tom (Goldy's husband and the person in charge of the investigation) shares every little detail with Goldy and even allows her to be with him when he's conducting interrogations. What the hell!
It was just sad. I hope Ms. Davidson gets her groove back.
I typically really like Goldy but this time, she was just annoying. She intervenes into the investigation, she just walks through the crime scene like it's no big deal, and invites two suspects to come live with her and her husband. No charges could ever be made because of the clusterf*&k Goldy and Tom made of the investigation. Tom (Goldy's husband and the person in charge of the investigation) shares every little detail with Goldy and even allows her to be with him when he's conducting interrogations. What the hell!
It was just sad. I hope Ms. Davidson gets her groove back.
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