The Grilling Season

May 15, 1998
Goldy Schulz, on the lookout for her ex-husband, finds his dead girlfriend instead. She copes with the shock, police interviews, an upset teenager, and still caters a party in the afternoon. Although knocked unconscious by a roller-skating suspect, Goldy hardly closes her eyes during the next few days until she solves the case. Barbara Rosenblatt does an amusing interpretation of the story. Her voice reflects Goldy's worry over her son, her fear of her abusive ex-husband, her incredulity at her present husband's kindness (he cooks for her), and, most of all, her passion for food, related with a husky breathiness. The unabashed sensuality of Rosenblatt's narration when relating the creation of enticing dishes and the nourishment of the men in Goldy's life makes the listener pause: Is this a mystery or a romance or an essay lifted from Bon Appetit (sans recipes)? Recommended for all popular collections.--Juleigh Muirhead Clark, Rockefeller Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VA

Copyright 1998 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 1997
Goldy Schulz, owner of Goldilocks' Catering in Aspen Meadow, Colo., becomes involved in another mystery (after The Main Corpse, 1996) when her ex-husband, Dr. John Richard Korman, is arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Suz Craig. Physically abused by John Richard during their marriage, Goldy has good reason to believe that the misogynistic obstetrician killed Suz, but she agrees to investigate other possible suspects for the sake of their vulnerable 14-year-old son, Arch. She discovers that Suz, regional v-p of an HMO that had recently bought out John Richard's medical practice, had the power to decide whether or not he would receive a $200,000 bonus, money he badly needed due to a pending malpractice suit being brought by the woman for whom Goldy is currently catering a major party. Goldy also learns that Suz was widely hated for her ruthless business tactics and vicious handling of personnel problems. Although the mystery suffers from slow pacing, little action and a contrived ending, Davidson has created a finely nuanced suburban world, warmly detailing Goldy's life with Arch and Tom, her protective policeman second husband, and Macguire, their long-suffering boarder. Goldy's menus--this time built around a hockey theme in celebration of the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup victory--are smoothly folded into the mix. Major ad/promo; author tour.

Not only does this mystery have mouth-watering food, casually whipped up by caterer/sleuth Goldy Schulz, but there's a nasty murder and an even more complicated cover-up. Goldy must determine if her ex-husband and leading ob/gyn murdered his girlfriend. The plot is complicated by lawsuits, HMO scandal, a hockey fan party and a collectible doll convention. Cherry Jones reads this first-person narrative, told by Goldy, in a brisk, matter-of-fact tone that conveys minimal emotion. Action scenes are read with lots of tension. Using a subtle New York accent and intonation, Jones brings this tangled web of deception and misdeed to its surprising conclusion. M.B.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine