The Cereal Murders (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 3) [Print] [Mass Market Paperback]

Diane Mott Davidson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 1, 1994

Thanks to her recent adventures in Dying for Chocolate, Goldy Bear, the premier caterer of Aspen Meadow, Colorado, is no stranger to violence--or sudden death.  But when she agrees to cater the first College Advisory Dinner for Seniors and Parents at the exclusive Elk Park Preparatory School, the last thing she expects to find at the end of the evening is the battered body of the school valedictorian.

Who could have killed Keith Andrews, and why?  Goldy's hungry for some answers--and not just because she found the corpse.  Her young son, Arch, a student at Elk Park Prep, has become a target for some not-so-funny pranks, while her eighteen-year-old live-in helper, Julian, has become a prime suspect in the Andrews boy's murder.

As her investigation intensifies, Goldy's anxiety level rises faster than homemade doughnuts. . .as she turns up evidence that suggests that Keith knew more than enough to blow the lid off some very unscholarly secrets.  And then, as her search rattles one skeleton too many, Goldy learns a crucial fact: a little knowledge about a killer can be a deadly thing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Caterer Goldy Bear must solve the murder of a high school valedictorian in this delicious mystery.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-An expensive prep school's SAT scores have dropped, parents are bribing college admissions representatives, and the class valedictorian is murdered in a snow bank. Denver caterer Goldy Bear, who has a 7th-grade son and a senior live-in student enrolled in Elk Park Prep School, keeps finding bodies at the school events she caters. To complete her worries, someone is playing dangerous pranks on her family. This light mystery is the perfect booktalking choice for home economics classes, especially when paired with other titles in which recipes play a major role, such as Virginia Rich's The Baked Bean Supper Murders (Ballantine, 1984). Not only will teens relate to the anxieties felt by all of the Elk Park seniors, but they may even emulate Goldy's live-in student's great cheese manicotti recipe.
Pam Spencer, Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Crimeline (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055356773X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553567731
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,859 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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent choice for decadent mommy time :-) August 20, 2002

By Lylah

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I am more of a sci-fi/fantasy fan but I do enjoy a good mystery now and again. I spotted this one in the grocery store and decided to give it a try.

This book, while not great literature....is a fun and entertaining book which doesnt take itself too seriously. Goldy Bear is a caterer who, as in "murder she wrote" seems to have a penchant for getting into trouble. She is also the single mom of a teenaged boy and a survivor of domestic abuse.

In this book, while catering a party at her son's prep school,( her x hubby pays for this extravegance, though he doesnt pay his child support) she finds the body of the class valedictorian. Being the caterer for most of the school's functions, and many of the students parents, she finds herself quickly embroiled in a mystery which seems to be hitting a bit closer to home than she would like.

The book is peppered throughout with actual recipes, punctuating her catering functions. Personally I think it is really neat to have the recipes, and while not being a chef, it has actually gotten me interested in cooking :-)

I am off to buy the rest of her books and next time I am going to save them to pamper myself with. I am going to look up one of the recipes and bake it before i sit down to read and decadently read and munch lol.
what a great way to spend some quality mommy time. (Treat yourself, why not?)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Smartness can get you killed! September 6, 2001

By V. VanCamp

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Goldy finds herself in a war in Arch's school. The struggle between parents is over whose senior is the smartest, the most talented and the most well rounded. Many of Goldy's catering assignments in this book end in disaster! Goldy never knows what she is going to find this time around. Will it be a fight, will she be scolded or will there be a dead body?

In "The Cereal Murders" Diane Mott Davidson serves up a hearty meal of murder, jealousy, petty thievery, angst and pranks (which end up getting a few people hurt)! You will be entertained with the activity of many twists and turns in this mystery. As always, Goldy herself is sassy and stubborn.

There are treats involved. A side dish consists of some romance and a marriage proposal that is repeated again and again. How sweet!

D. M. Davidson provides us with 11 very delicious looking recipes in this book. Enjoy!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Elk Park Prep is crime scene August 25, 2003

By Karen Sampson Hudson

Format:Mass Market Paperback

In this book, one of the best of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries, Elk Park Prep becomes the site of a murder when the senior class valedictorian is found dead. Goldy finds herself investigating, and in the process learns about what lengths parents will go to, trying to get their offspring into elite colleges.

As usual, the recipes Davidson inclues are wonderfully fun to make, and delicious to eat. Goldy, fueled by copious cups of heavily caffeinated coffee, unravels the mystery.

Recommended as a marvelous diversion.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good read-really 3 1/2 STARS April 20, 2004

By Mrs taz

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I've actually started reading the Goldy Bear Culinary Series in order, which is unusual for me, so this is my third, and so far my favorite. The characters, town and overall setting really come together. Major personality development with Julian and Arch, which is very satisfying and offers some humor. Less mean old ex-husband which is a nice change and the set up for more between Goldy and Tom will keep fans coming back for more in this series.

The only disappointment is the premise for the mystery is a bit far fetched -- who in their right mind would leave their kid in an "exclusive" prep school after 2 murders? Because the author writes this with humor and a bit tongue and cheek, most will get by this litle snag.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Tasty Read March 24, 2004

By K. Morgan

Format:Mass Market Paperback

When Goldy Bear, owner of Goldilocks Catering, caters a college prep dinner at Elk Park Prep school she gets more than she bargained for when after the dinner she finds the murdered body of the school's valedictorian. Things only get stranger from that moment on as Goldy the caterer tries to solve the mystery and keep up with the threats to her and her family.

The Cereal Murders was a good read. It is suspenseful and full of mystery right up to the end. The characters of Goldy, Arch, Julian, and Tom are very well developed and connected. They seem like people next door. They are very believable and dimensional. The storyline was good and moved along at a fast pace. It was easy to keep reading because the events and happenings flowed easily from one to another.

This was my second Goldy book and I was not disappointed. A good book to read for the mystery lover!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for any family involved in applying to college. November 17, 2000

By Carol Peterson Hennekens

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Having spent 10 years as a college admissions director, this book was an absolute hoot for me. While it is on the edge of a farce, it has plenty to say about the frenzy involved in the college application process these days.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars She lost me with this one.... October 14, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm reading Mott-Davidson's books in the order they were published.

I like Goldy and her quirky son Arch -- and I like Schultz and Julian and Marla, but I felt this story line was weak and not too carefully thought out. And, frankly, I got a bit weary of those Aspen Meadow pushy, pretentious, preppy parents. They made me nauseous.

I've started the next one and hope it will satisfy as much as one of Goldy's fabulous catered affairs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Just Couldn't Hold My Interest August 23, 2009

By Nancy VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Unfortunately, some of these books are better then others.

Elk Park School does everything it can to help their students enter the collegiate world. After one student prep breakfast, Goldie Bear, caterer extraordinaire, stumbles across the body of a student in the snow. This is not just any student, the is the class valedictorian, the one that everyone knows will be accepted to the college of his choice.

The rich are different and when it comes to getting a child into a top school, there are no longer any rules and what should be a happy time in their child's life is suddenly turned into an all out competition with no hold barred.

Goldie finds herself in the middle of the murder investigation, of course Tom Shultz is there too since he is trying to get closer to Goldie. But the investigation takes a personal turn when Arch is home alone and a rock comes flying through the front window and later someone blocks the chimney filling the house with smoke. And when that isn't enough to warn off nosey intruders, a second body is found.

I'll continue on with this series in hopes that they get better, but this one just couldn't hold my interest. Hopefully, they will spark up soon.