Customer Reviews

The Last Suppers

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This may be the last book that I read in the Goldy Bear series. While the writing is enjoyable and the characters are engaging, the mystery takes a back seat to the food. This is not necessarily bad, but I was able to figure out who and what fairly early into the story. On the positive side, I still wanted to read the book and find out how the solution developed - how Goldy puts all the pieces together. The long descriptions of food and its preparations made me very hungry, and the recipes that Ms. Davidson includes seem almost worth the price of the book, even if I am slightly disappointed in the mystery. So I offer a qualified recommendation of this book - enjoyable and tasty but not quite filling

This is the first Diane Mott Davidson that I've gotten to read and I was hooked right away. Similar in form to my other favorites (Dorothy Johnson, Rita Mae Brown, etc.) it took on the hokey beginnings and led their fluffy way down to the solving of the mystery, all the while the main character doesn't skip a beat with her catering.

I know it sounds bad, but I honestly love these types of light and fluffy mysteries, they aren't dark and depressing, they're easy to follow without too many characters and not enough substance. I don't like heavy mysteries that get confusing within the first chapter and get wayyy too descriptive when it comes to the crime scenes or the lack of morals of some of the characters.

This one in particular does seem to be a little bit too hokey in the plot (dead priests and missing soon-to-be husbands) compared to the other books, but it's forgivable!

This is the second Diane Mott Davidson that I have read, and although it is light and fluffy and entertaining, we're not talking great fiction or even great mystery here. Davidson is one of the many mystery writers nowadays who has come upon a theme, and her theme is food. The main character, Goldy Bear, is a caterer and while she's running around solving crimes, she's also cooking up a storm. Three things kept me from giving this book more stars. First, the plot is rather hokey and it's hard to believe that after Goldy's fiance' is kidnapped just minutes before her wedding, that in the three days following, she would take on last minute catering jobs. Also, Goldy never listens to the police and always tries to solve things on her own (makes you wonder why she hasn't been killed). Second, I'm a devout Episcopalian and while I usually enjoy books with Episcopal themes, the complicated jargon of the Episcopal Church even got tiring to me after awhile. Most non-Episcopalians would be hard pressed to give definitions of narthex or ambry. Finally, as someone who likes to cook and entertains quite a bit, I found that the dozen or so recipes that are included in this book didn't even appear appetizing (except for maybe the cinnamon buns). Anyway, I will admit that I was anxious to keep turning pages to see who the villain was in this book. But overall, I don't think it is one of Davidson's better efforts.

Once again Goldie is involved in another mystery. On her wedding day everything just falls apart! Tom her intended ends up missing. Does Goldie survive? The characters in this book are one of a kind. Does Goldie ever get a moments peace? Everyone wants something. Can the church have her flowers from her wedding? After all, she doesn't need them. What about all the lovely food that's been prepared? Goldie just keeps on going, determined to find Tom. Read it! It's a real page turner.

Goldy's getting married!!! ... or is she!? In "The Last Suppers" Goldy must find her groom-to-be (Tom) before the person who murdered Father Olson murders Tom! You will find 10 delicious looking recipes in this book (such as: Monster Cinnamon Rolls, Lemon Butter Wafers and Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake). Another delightful book by Diane Mott Davidson.

OK OK the recipes are better in some of the other books. And would Goldy really be have the ability to concentrate in a church committee review board while her fiance is missing? And unfortunately this is one of the shorter books....

BUT!! This is truly a gem to read from beginning to end. Being Episcopal myself, I can relate to some of the items that Goldy talks about with her church. Her reaction to a miracle performed at the church, not to mention a certain thing happening to her at a Women's Prayer Group (I won't spoil it), show that Goldy truly is not a one-dimensional character. I guess what really got me in the end was the true love that Goldy showed for Tom by not thinking he just ran off on her. Thank you Dian Davidson! Keep on cooking

i read DYING FOR CHOCOLATE and THE CEREAL MURDERS, both of which i found barely passable, but i wanted to continue in the series anyway. This book was a big disappointment. the mystery barely progresses at all, and suddenly you're hit in the face with the killer. there is way too much focus on the church. i'm not a religious person and i was seriously lost in this book, skimming and even skipping several chapters. i just wanted to know, whodunnit?? but even the solution was unsatisfying, complicated, and left me feeling cheated out of both money and time.

This is the first book I've read by Diane Mott Davidson, and it won't be my last. I enjoy gourmet cooking so it was fun to read the recipes and I could definitely relate to receiving the "casserole"-type dishes which seem to be so typical in church settings. I wasn't able to figure out the perpetrator until it was revealed, which I thought was a good sign. And I will not reveal it now for my fellow readers.

I've read most of this series, but sometimes I wonder why.... Goldie annoys me so much by how easily pushed around she is. I like the area and the cooking and her relationship with Marla. Arch is usually as big a jerk as his father. But I like Schultz a lot. Church is sprinkled through most of the books and the center of this one. Her church is filled with hateful, hypocritical people and I'm not sure why she keeps going. Maybe I keep reading this series because I only have them read to me on my Ipod and I'm more forgiving of a book when someone else reads to me...

It will have to be sent back to the kitchen for too much Episcopalian. This was the least fun of her books.