Killer Pancake (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 5) [Print] [Mass Market Paperback]

Diane Mott Davidson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1996

When Goldy, owner of Goldilocks' Catering, faces the challenge of whipping up a sumptuous lowfat feast for the Mignon Cosmetics' company banquet, she rises to the occasion brilliantly...only to discover just how ugly the beauty biz can be!

On the day of the banquet Goldy finds herself confronting an angry mob of demonstrators--"Spare the Hares"--who object to Mignon Cosmetics' animal-testing policies. As she struggles to carry forty pounds of lowfat fare from her van to the mall where the banquet is being held, she hears an ominous
squeal of tires and a horrifying thump. Seconds later, a Mignon employee lies dead on the pavement. And soon the police discover that this hit-and-run was no
accident.

Now Goldy is enmeshed up to her saute pans in a homicide investigation.  Could the murder have had something to do with Spare the Hares--or with the exotic flower found near the dead body? Though busy serving up Hoisin Turkey and Grand Marnier Cranberry Muffins, Goldy decides to start digging at Mignon's
million-dollar cosmetics counter. But when another murder takes place and Goldy herself is attacked, the caterer turned sleuth knows she must step up her
search for a gruesome killer. For this time was only a warning. Next time she'll be dead--and it won't be pretty.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For Colorado's Goldy B. Schulz (last seen in The Last Suppers), the catering proves far less rewarding than the sleuthing when she's called on to prepare a banquet for the Mignon cosmetics company. Forced to forsake mayonnaise and butter in this low-fat luncheon, Goldy is in "caterers' hell." But that's a better place than where Mignon super-saleswoman Claire Satterfield ends up?which is dead. According to Julian Teller, Goldy's catering assistant, Claire had recently suspected she was being followed. Adding to the mystery is a local reporter who has taken to using Mignon's ultra-expensive potions while trying, none too subtly, to extract information Goldy might have gathered from her husband, homicide detective Tom Schulz. When Goldy's initial inquiries earn her an anonymous warning to clear off, she becomes more determined. As always, Davidson includes recipes as she brings events to a proper boil in this latest lively and satisfying outing for Goldy, who not only solves the mystery but also finds, much to her delight, that coffee can save your life. Mystery Guild selection; author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Caterer Goldy Schulz returns with another food-related adventure and more delectable recipes. Careful planning for a cosmetics firm's lowfat luncheon fails to prepare Goldy for the sudden death of a gorgeous sales associate who was caught in the midst of an animal-rights demonstration. A good read.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Crimeline (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553572040
• ISBN-13: 978-0553572049
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,433 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A deliciously light mystery!, January 25, 1999

By 

Nancy A. Fox (West Covina, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Killer Pancake (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the 5th book in the Goldy the caterer series. This time the girlfriend of her beloved assistant and border, Julian Teller, is murdered. Of course Goldy can't stand by and let Julian suffer, so she pokes her nose into things and eventually solves a murder.

Along the way she deals with her best friend's heart attack, her vicious ex-husband, her new husband, a teenage son, demanding clients, the cut throat cosmetic industry, and animal rights activists. All while preparing delicious low fat recipes. Don't read on an empty stomache.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Calling all foodies. Mott Davidson cooks up a real treat!, May 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Killer Pancake (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

Am I the only food professional who didn't know about these delicious mysteries? In Killer Pancake Mott Davidson's indomitable sleuth, Goldy the Caterer, takes on the cosmetic industry, the lunatic fringe of animal rights activism, and (once again) her menacing ex-husband. And she still has time to operate her demanding business on a daily basis! Actually, that's what I like best about Mott Davidson's mysteries. Goldy has to make time for business; she needs the money. This sleuth is always real. Her business, her family, her love life, and her friendships have ups and downs and ins and outs that seem awfully familiar. Specifically I enjoy the details of her catering business and have learned or been reminded of tons of information about food preparation, storage, and presentation. These books are a veritable archive of food lore. And the recipes--some of which I've tried--are great! I especially enjoyed the recipes from Killer Pancake because they were developed for low fat crowd. Try the Vanilla-Frosted Fudge Cookies. They're yummy. My biggest worry is that Goldy will run out of murders. I mean, Kay Scarpetta has D.C and V.I. Warshawski has Chicago--no end to violent crime there. But shouldn't little Aspen Meadows dry up pretty soon? I guess there's always Denver.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars consult your local toxicologist!, March 30, 2010

By 

Wilhelmina (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer Pancake (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

Really rate this 3.5 stars - This was a typical Goldy book, light, fluffy and insubstantial, the kind of book you read for escapism, not reality. I like Goldy, as unlikely as her adventures are, and I simply can't believe how helpful and on-the-spot teenage Julian is for her catering business despite the death of his girlfriend - but hey, it's fiction. And as such, it's fun.

However, it is certainly not factual. Take it from a toxicologist. The attempted poisoning at the end was so full of dangerous nonsense I just have to speak up. First of all, coffee is NOT an antidote to the classic hemlock (conium maculatum) of the ancient Greeks. Not even close - there IS NO SPECIFIC ANTIDOTE. And COFFEE IS NOT AN ANTIDOTE TO ANYTHING ELSE, including alcohol. At best coffee might ease some of the sedative symptoms of classic hemlock, but not by much. Also the paralysis described was all wrong, since it would hit the respiratory muscles at the same time as other muscles - if the victim was poisoned enough that he / she couldn't run, he/she certainly couldn't breathe either. But really, this is a moot point - classic hemlock poison is both stinky and INVALIDATED BY COOKING. If is was baked in the muffins, they'd be both nasty-tasting and nontoxic.

There is a possibility that the author is referring to water hemlock (cicuta), a completely different plant from the stuff that killed Socrates. However, water hemlock is EXTREMELY toxic, would cause major seizures (which the victim DIDN'T have) and may kill the victim within minutes. THERE IS NO ANTIDOTE FOR WATER HEMLOCK - only treatment if it is caught in time (not often the case). Water hemlock toxin can also go through the skin, so any poisoners handling it would likely show symptoms themselves before being able to bake the stuff in muffins.

So, as much as I like the Goldy books, once again I find myself pleading that the author at least TRY to get her facts right. This lack of research really bothers me, and mars what is otherwise a highly entertaining series.