This has been a busy month, but I managed to read three great mysteries. I linked the book covers to their Amazon pages, in case you find one that interests you!
Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson
Goldy Schultz Book 1
I purchased this paperback from our writers group used book sale. Apparently this is the first in a 17-book series. Goldie Baer is a caterer in a small Colorado town. Recently divorced from her philandering husband, she struggles to make ends meet. That becomes more of a problem when she caters a funeral wake and one of the guests, who happens to be her ex-father-in-law, is poisoned. Tom Schultz, the lead investigator, closes down Goldie’s business, but doesn’t seem too upset when Goldie does her own investigating, because he likes spending time with her – and he loves her cooking! This is the first in a long series, and although the book is longer than the ones I usually read, I enjoyed getting to know this cast of characters enough that I ordered the next two in the series from my library.
Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson
Goldy Schultz Book 2
After reading Catering to Nobody, I decided to check out more of the series and I’m glad I did! When Goldy starts dating a handsome psychologist, her jealous ex-husband begins to stalk her and destroying her property. Since he’d been physically abusive during their marriage, Goldy takes a live-in position as a cook for a wealthy couple. She continues to cater events, and her son Arch is able to attend the summer session at a prestigious prep school. But soon after her new job begins, her new boyfriend dies in a horrific accident on a winding mountain road. Goldy witnesses the crash, as she was following him in her van. Investigator Tom Schultz, who still has an interest in Goldy, is on the case, but Goldy isn’t about to let him do all the work. There’s lots of action and plenty of surprises in this story, and I’m looking forward to reading Book 3!
NonScents by Noel Cash
Rory Harper West Haven Mystery, Book Five
Noel Cash has been my guest here on 4F1H with her Rory Harper series, and I’ve had this book on my Kindle app for over a month. This past weekend I finally made the time to read it. Rory and Kix, both part of the magical world of elves, pixies, trolls, and other beings, have kept their relationship professional while battling the Storm Keeper and a witch who’d both traveled from the distant past. In book four, Rory had vanquished the Storm Keeper, but Villette, the witch, returns to exact vengeance. Meanwhile, the rest of the Myth community still haven’t regained their powers, and they’re depending on Rory to get them back. As if this isn’t enough, Rory’s parents and Kix’s brothers are being stalked by a relative of someone killed during a previous case. This story kept me turning the pages long after my bedtime! I’d better get some rest tonight, because Book Six will be released tomorrow.
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Noel Cash’s books always sound interesting, but I have not gotten to them. I have read a few of the like, some better than others, so with your recommendation, I would like to get into these.
I know Diane Mott Davidson by name, and I believe that my niece gave me a book of hers to read, and she was in an anthology which I read. She’s big on shelves, that’s for sure. “Catering to Nobody” looks very interesting, but I don’t usually read more than the first of a food-related series. I don’t know if I keep thinking how I would do it differently, or get bothered by the implausibility of most of them. However, I may get my mind changed.
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The only thing about the Goldy Schultz books that had me scratching my head was wondering how one single person could possibly plan, shop for, and cook so much in so little time. She was often planning and cooking for more than one event at a time, and sometimes she had hadn’t even purchased her supplies a few hours before serving! Other than that, the stories are fun to read. I’ve started Book Three of the series, so we’ll see if that continues.
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Once you get on a roll with a well set-up kitchen, it is amazing what you can accomplish, Patty! I speak from experience, first working with my mother with the incredible amounts of food she prepared for the holidays, then myself, and then working in professional kitchens. Waiting until the last minute to pick up your supplies is dangerous sometimes because you could end up no getting what you planned on using, on the other hand, many things need to be as fresh as possible.It’s a real balancing act . Once you are in the zone, so to speak, anyone with confidence and skill can crank out an incredible amount of food.
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I have no doubt that you can produce an amazing amount of food in a limited amount of time, but Goldy did it in her client’s kitchens while solving a murder AND taking her junior high school son to and from school AND dealing with her insane in-laws. This was written in pre-cell phone days, so she also had to answer the house telephone (no one else ever seemed to be home) and take messages for the people she lived with. She did forget to do a few things her son asked her to do, which added a bit of realism.
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Insane in-laws I can relate to! Ihad kids going to and from school and activities, but she is a personal chef, if she’s doing it in clients’ homes and no, they generally are not home when a PC goes in. The beauty of PCing is that you aren’t tied to specific hours and a specific place. I enjoyed it greatly.
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Dying for Chocolate would be my favorite of this trio. I love a mystery and LOVE my chocolate.
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Me, too! I forgot to mention that the book contains recipes of every dish Goldy makes. I was tempted to try a few.
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cool
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I like the sound of Dying for Chocolate as well. You’ll have to try some of her recipes.
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Yes, I should!
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