Customer Reviews

Tough Cookie

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Aspen Meadows, Colorado resident Goldy Schultz knows she has much to be thankful for just before Christmas. Her abusive ex-spouse "The Jerk" is in jail on assault charges. Goldy has her own cooking show on PBS that is being taped at the Kildeer Ski Resort's Summit Bistro. More important, Goldy has the love and respect of her husband, Police Detective Tom Schultz and her son Arch. On the negative side, Goldy remains upset that the health department closed her successful Goldilock's Catering business due to poor drainage.

Tom frantically tries to fix the facility problem before Goldy's business is ruined. To raise some need liquid capital, Goldy plans to sell Tom's antique skis to her ex-boyfriend Doug Portmont, head of the state parole board. Before they complete the transaction, Goldy finds Doug's murdered body on a ski slope. An investigation proves Doug was on the take, making it seem as if Goldy was paying him with the valuable skis to keep her ex behind bars. Refusing to allow The Jerk to damage her, her family or her business Goldy begins her own investigation into the victim's affairs.

Do not read this novel on an empty stomach because the mouth-watering recipes will leave readers raiding their refrigerator or traveling to the nearest restaurant. Goldy remains in tiptop fighting form as she confidently finds clues that lead her into more dangerous inquiries. Diane Mott Davidson is the Julia Child of culinary mysteries as she weaves a plot filled with red herrings and delightfully bakes them into her story line, making for a continuity that is shared in other Goldy tales. The audience feels they are sharing a gourmet meal with old friends, as TOUGH COOKIE is actually a victory layer cake.

Harriet Klausner

Once again, the author delivers a delicious mystery entwined with mouth watering recipes! Goldy has to find a way to earn a living without the use of her catering business, at least until her brand new kitchen passes the county health inspector's rigorous inspection. Leave it to Goldy to find a way! She tries her hand at a TV cooking show, and winds up in the middle of a murder mystery. As she tries to figure out who killed her old boyfriend, she will tempt you with recipes for crab cakes, ginger snaps, oatmeal and of course, chocolate cookies. I couldn't put the book down - except to grab a bite to eat! If you have enjoyed Diane Mott Davidson's other novels, you will certainly love this one. And if you are new to this author, you will want to read more! I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, and who loves to eat!

I have read and enjoyed all the books in the Goldy Schultz series. I find them quite entertaining and relatively easy reading when you don't feel like reading something that would be mind boggling. I also enjoy her recipes and have tried quite a few of them. As far as the story goes, I am amazed, however, at how Goldy can just wander into her kitchen (after just being almost killed by someone, somehow) and whip up a fabulous meal. Better yet, she has a hunk of a husband that is a gourment cooking policemen too!! What a life! But I do think these books are fun. The only comment I would make about this one, is that I would have liked to have seen more participation in the story by her best friend Marla and also more of Julian. I think Tom (the husband) should have had more to do besides cook and work on the plumbing. I am hoping that in her next book her son starts to mature and not be so sullen all the time. If you are looking for a real serious novel, this isn't it. But if you enjoy a fun mystery and some recipes, this is your book! Enjoy! and I am looking forward to the next book.

After waiting a whole year for this new entry on Davidson's menu, I found myself reading straight though and staying up until I finished Tough Cookie. I found myself relating to Goldy's funk over her teen son's 'growing pains' (Been there. Done that. survived!) and I found myself with heart in throat while reading the descriptions of maneuvering mountain passes in a blizzard.

Davidson throws enough curve balls throughout the story to have kept me guessing about the identity of the culprit until the end.

If there was one thing I would have liked more it's Tom Schultz. Lovable character, great hubby. And my only big disappointment is having to wait another year until the next entry is released.

"Tough Cookie" is a great way to be distracted and entertained at the same time. Goldy once again manages to get herself into more trouble and sure she should know better, but if she did, then we wouldn't have a book, would we? Diane's characters again are interesting, complex and for the most part, believable. This time out Goldy is caught up in the murder of an old boyfriend (although they only had three dates) and the previous death of an old friend in an avalanche. The ski setting, Christmas background, and snow, snow, snow, are great assets in this mystery. I have to admit that the killer is easier to pick out in this one, but that's okay; she throws enough red herrings to make you think you're wrong. And the climax is a good one. This would do great on film. I ponder, though, one fellow customer's review who thought Tom Schulz was fat. Did I miss something way back in his introduction. I never got the impression he was fat? Just big---there is a difference! Oh, well, Davidson fans rejoice---it's a solid entry in this entertaining and mouthwatering series!

Normally I'd start a review for a DMD book encouraging readers to read the series in order. After going through the reviews, there seems to be an unusual number of new readers who aren't bothered by a lack of background and many old readers who are bothered by a lack of new material. I still enjoy getting reacquainted with the gang in each book but would agree that there isn't much progress in their lives in this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. However, it had much to do with the setting - Killdeer resort. We spend lots of time in Summit County and it was great fun identifying the bits and pieces of the various resorts that Davidson borrowed to create her fictional resort. For example, The Bistro restaurant is clearly based on one of my favorite restaurants in Keystone. And, yes, all of the skiing is fun for a skier to read about.

The plot is probably more on the 3.5 star range. As usual, DMD assembles a reasonably interesting half dozen new folks and drops enough clues that any one of them could be the bad guy. I echo some of the other reviewers in our frustration with Goldy's underhanded investigative techniques and her inability to stop stupidly putting herself into peril. You'd think she'd learn to listen to Tom.

This is one culinary mystery series that ages well. Diane Mott Davidson has always had the perfect recipe for mystery and mayhem, and this one is no exception. My growling stomach and scratched head are testaments that the menus will make you go "mmmm, " and the mystery will make you go "hmmm."

Goldy Schulz's catering business is temporarily out of service due to plumbing problems, and she is trying to find ways to make enough money to get it running again. She hosts a PBS cooking show and attempts to sell a rare pair of skies. When the buyer of the skies is found dead, the circumstances do not look good for Goldy, but with the PBS taping at Killdeer Ski Resort, Goldy is able to do a little skiing and a lot of snooping to solve who really wanted her ex-boyfriend, the art critic, dead and why. Goldy's other problem seems to be that everyone is getting wise to her other skill as an amateur sleuth so getting answers to her clues are a bit more difficult this time around.

The plot is as cleverly laid out, as are the mouth-watering recipes. The twist and turns are as subtle as Goldy's secret ingredients - just when you've got it - you don't. This ninth episode in Goldy's mystery series shows she is one tough cookie, and "Tough Cookie" is one great read.

I read the book and loved every minute of it. As usual, Goldie gets herself deep in trouble and has to work her way out. The book is a fun read.

The best part are the recipes. I love to cook and today I made the Chocolate Coma Cookies. They are the best Chocolate Chip Cookies I have had and I am a Chocoholic from way back. I served them to a meeting I had today and everyone raved about them. I can't wait to try some of the other recipes!

Diane Mott Davidson delivers another fast paced story about Goldy Schulz, caterer and amateur detective.

The name "tough cookie" is how Goldy was referred to in a newspaper article about her. Although, her catering business is at a standstill, Goldy's hosting a PBS cooking show at a posh ski resort in Colorado.

As usual, Goldy gets involved with a murder when she finds the body of a skier and one thing leads to another as she puts herself in jeopardy by trying to find the killer. The usual supporting group of characters are also in this story; husband Tom who sounds like the perfect man, reliable best friend Marla, and Goldy's son, Arch who has turned into an annoying teenager.

The author kindly provides the recipes for all of the delicious sounding foods that are mentioned in the book. A quick and fun read!

This was the first book by this author that I have read. It will not be the last! For once a heroine who is not tall and thin (well okay, she is blonde!) What fun this mystery was to read. A chef fallen on hard times, finding a new way to pursue her talents, and try to keep her real dream career from going down the drain (if only she had drains!) The recipes were so tempting, which is one reason our book club (Bunny's Book Club) selected this for our end of year book. We have a dinner and use recipes and/or foods from some of the books we've read as a theme, and this book was just too mouth watering not too give it a "taste". A very fun read and the excellent recipes are a bonus!