Catering to Nobody (Goldy, Book 1) [Print] [Mass Market Paperback]

Diane Mott Davidson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 26, 2002

MEET THE CATERER WHO WHIPPED UP THE
MULTIMILLION-COPY MYSTERY SERIES–
AS GOLDY SOLVES HER FIRST MURDER!

Diane Mott Davidson’s winning recipe of first-class suspense and five-star fare has won her and caterer Goldy critical raves and a regular place on major bestseller lists across the country. In Goldy’s tantalizing debut, she serves up a savory dish of secrets, suspicions, and murder....

INCLUDING NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED RECIPES

Catering a wake is not Goldy’s idea of fun. Yet the Colorado caterer throws herself into preparing a savory feast including Poached Salmon and Strawberry Shortcake Buffet designed to soothe forty mourners. And her culinary efforts seem to be exactly what the doctor ordered...until her ex-father-in-law gynecologist Fritz Korman is struck down and Goldy is accused of adding poison to the menu. Now, with the Department of Health impounding her leftovers, her ex-husband proclaiming her guilt, and her business about to be shut down, Goldy knows she can’t wait for the police to serve up the answers. She’ll soon uncover more than one family skeleton and a veritable stew of unpalatable secrets–the kind that could make Goldy the main course in an unsavory killer’s next murder!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Davidson's debut is as embarrassing as a fallen souffle would be to her narrator, divorced culinary artist Goldy Korman of Goldilocks'ok?yep Catering in Aspen Meadows, Colo. Goldy, in business to support herself and her 11-year-old son, Arch, caters the gathering after the funeral of Arch's teacher, at which her former father-in-law, gynecologist Fritz Korman, drinks from a poisoned cup. While the police make sure that Goldy is now "catering to nobody," she begins her own investigation to clear herself. As amorous detective Tom Schulz courts her, Goldy courts danger, seeking connections among the recovered Fritz, the teacher and nearly everyone else in the rustic town, including her teenage lodger, Patty Sue. The only rewards of the mystery are recipes for tasty dishes and the endearing Arch, who outwits the killer and is the sole credible character in the overstuffed cast.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“CHEF GOLDY SCHULZ’S LIFE IS A MEDLEY OF MURDER, MAYHEM, AND MELTED CHOCOLATE.” –New York Post

“DELICIOUS...SURE TO SATISFY!”–Sue Grafton

“DIANE MOTT DAVIDSON’S CULINARY MYSTERIES CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR WAISTLINE.” –People

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (February 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553584707
• ISBN-13: 978-0553584707
• Product Dimensions: 4 x 1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diane Mott Davidson is the author of more than ten bestselling mysteries. She lives with her family in Colorado.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read one and I was hooked. -- July 30, 2002

By Ruth A. Caldwell

Format:Mass Market Paperback

"Catering to Nobody" is the first delectable book in this culinary mystery series full of crazy, different characters.
Lightly entertaining, and a good murder mystery Davidson's witty writing and clever clues combine with some yummy recipes along the way to solving this short, fun mystery.
Goldy is a former battered wife who has finally divorced her abusive doctor husband and strikes out to support herself and her pre-teen son by starting an upscale catering company.
Handsome police officer Tom Schultz adds another delicious dimension to the story. If you enjoy Grafton, Evanovich, and Tamar Myers (my other favorite mystery authors who write about 'real' people) you'll enjoy Goldy's sleuthing attempts to determine 1)who keeps trying to poison her lovable (?) ex-father-in-law, 2)who murdered her son's lovely, yet peculiar prior elementary school teacher and (deep breath) 3)WHY does everyone seem to know more about the entire mystery than Goldy? Most mysterious of all her books I've read to date! Excellent.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun introduction to culinary whodunit. August 10, 2002

By Linda A. Slott VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This was a a light, entertaining book and and fun murder mystery. The first book in the series, we are introduced to Goldy Bear (Whose real name is Gertrude Bear Korman). Goldy has started her own catering business, to support herself and her son, after divorcing her abusive ex husband. While catering a funeral, Goldy's ex father in law is poisoned, and Goldy's business is shut down. In order to clear her name and get her life back, Goldy decides to investigate the crime.
Chock full of interesting characters, a possible love interest and as an added bonus, some terrific sounding recipes. I can't wait to move on to the next book in the series.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Take a bite out of this one May 4, 2001

By "dar934"

Format:Audio Cassette

Catering to Nobody is the first novel written by Diane Mott Davidson and I think it is a winner. A "taste" of the story goes like this. Goldy is catering a wake for her sons ex-teacher and her father-in-law is slipped rat poison in his coffee. Until the culprit is found Goldy must close down her business so she talks the detective in charge (who just happens to take a liking to Goldy) to let her do some snooping. She finds out things about her family and friends that she never knew and figures out who the criminal really is just in the nick of time. This is a witty mystery with some nice recipes along the way.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A palpable hit in the culinary mystery line. March 19, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Catering to Nobody starts with a clever title and never lets up. The main character, Goldy Bear, is a former battered wife who finally divorced her abusive doctor husband and sets out to make her own way in the world with an upscale catering company. In addition to her business, she must deal with her nearly teenaged son and help him cope with the divorce. In this entry of the series, Goldy has to deal with her ex-husband when his father is poisoned at a funeral reception she is catering. Soon Goldy realizes that the only ay to save herself and her business is to solve the mystery herself-- and along the way she meets handsome police officer Tom Schultz, who reappears in later books in this series. Goldy is a character with whom many of today's women can identify. The recipes add another dimension to the book -- try them yourselves

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Out of Print!!!??? July 6, 2001

By V. VanCamp

Format:Hardcover

I can't believe this book is out of print in paperback and out of stock in hardcover. What a shame! "Catering to Nobody" is the first lovable book in the culinary mystery series. Among the twists and turns of an engrossing mystery you will find about 3 recipes (other books have more). In this book, Goldy's business is officially shut down due to poison-laced coffee that nearly kills her ex-father-in-law. Many believe she is guilty ... so Goldy must find the real culprit!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sue Grafton Move Over! September 26, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I want Goldy for my best friend and my caterer. The author combines recipes with a well-paced mystery with a main character who is a single mom dealing with an abusive ex-husband and maybe a new husband. Read one and you will be hooked.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Catering To Who Dun It Fans September 28, 2004

By DJS

Format:Audio Cassette

FROM THE BACK/CASE: "Catering a wake is not Goldy's idea of fun. Yet the Colorado caterer throws herself into preparing a savory feast including Poached Salmon and Strawberry Shortcake Buffet designed to soothe forty mourners. And her culinary efforts seem to be exactly what the doctor ordered...until her ex-father-in-law gynecologist Fritz Korman is struck down and Goldy is accused of adding poison to the menu. Now, with the Department of Health impounding her leftovers, her ex-husband proclaiming her guilt, and her business about to be shut down, Goldy knows she can't wait for the police to serve up the answers. She'll soon uncover more than one family skeleton and a veritable stew of unpalatable secrets-the kind that could make Goldy the main course in an unsavory killer's next murder!"

When I first got this book I couldn't believe it. With a main character named Goldy Bear who owns and operates Goldylocks Catering where "Everything is just right", I was wondering what on earth I had gotten in to.

This book was a little slow at the start. At the beginning you learn that Goldy has been hired to cater the wake of a teacher who committed suicide. From this point until Goldy's ex-father-in-law drinks rat poison laced coffee seems to take forever to develop. Once you reach this part, the book seems to gradually pick up the pace, though it never reaches a breakneck speed. Never in the book does there seem to be any sense of urgency or a sense of "Oh my god, what's she going to do now?" or "How is she going to get out of this?"

Once this book begins to pick up the pace, it becomes a very enjoyable story. You will find yourself liking the characters of Goldy and her 11 year old son Arch.... In addition, there is an almost light hearted air to this book which never distracts from the plot. In fact, it only enhances the character of Goldy. Ms. Davidson's inclusion of actual recipes in the story helps to accentuate the character of Goldy as a caterer and in a strange way make her seem more real.

For mystery buffs or those who like a good "Who Done It" this is a good book. Ms. Davidson did an excellent job at creating a plot that will keep the reader guessing all the time. Many times I thought this character or that character did it only to be wrong.

This audiobook was narrated by Barbara Rosenblat who is an experienced narrator with many titles to her name. She does an excellent job at bringing the characters to life. Though she isn't boring in her narration, I think Ms. Rosenblat could have done a better job in giving the characters a sense of fear or urgency when required.

All in all, this is a good book with an excellent plot. Unique in style and content it has wonderful well written characters. The narrator does a good job at bringing them to life but lacks that extra something that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The first in the Goldy Bear Mystery series, Ms. Davidson was nominated for both the Anthony and Agatha Awards in 1991 for this book in the category of First Novel.

NOMINATED:

Agatha (1991)

Anthony (1991)

WON:

Anthony (1993)

I have never read anything by Diane Mott Davidson prior to this book. Though I only gave this book three stars, it was a good book that I enjoyed. With the unique characters and the way I was kept guessing throughout, I will definitely be trying other titles in the Goldy Bear Series.

Being an avid reader, I read all kinds of books. However, most of the mystery books I read are not really written in the same style as this one. To me, the only author I can really compare Ms. Davidson to is Lawrence Block and his Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries. Read more ›