The Grilling Season

Rating:
Summary: A little too contrived and shallow!
Review: This is the first of Diane Mott Davidson's book that I have read and it will probably be my last one. I find her characters shallow and unrealistic. The plot of the mystery is confusing with too many extraneous characters, all with some prior relationship to the detective/cater Goldy. Most of her sleuthing is done in the middle of the night as she is unable to sleep. Is it believable that her cop husband sleeps through her midnight detective work with only a mild reprove to Goldy after the fact? I haven't tried the recipes but hopefully they are better than the mystery.

Rating:
Summary: The Pot Could Use Some Stirring
Review: This is the author's latest offer in her cordon bleu series about Goldy Schulz, an expert chef and caterer. Divorced from an abusive first husband, she has recently remarried. Her new husband is kind and supportive, a homicide investigator at the sheriff's department. Although she has been divorced from John Patrick, an obstetrician, for many years, Goldy, who has a teenage son from her first marriage, also has a heap of unresolved business to work through. She must carry this baggage with her as she attempts to solve the murder of her ex's girlfriend, Suz Craig. Suz, the executive vice-president of the local HMO, has many enemies. So the answers don't come easily after John Patrick is arrested for the murder. Spurred on by their son, who is convinced that his father is innocent, Goldy reluctantly investigates the murder. Although she is secretly happy that her ex is finally in jail where he belongs, at least for acts of violence against her, Goldy begins to question John Patrick's guilt. Burdened by her friendship with Patricia, who is close to a breakdown and seeking revenge for the loss of a newborn she blames on Goldy's ex, Goldy attempts to solve the mystery of who murdered Suz Craig. That is, when she is not creating recipes, cooking and baking, and catering to local patrons in need of her services. What bothers this reviewer about Goldy is her inability to move on. She has a wonderful husband with whom she claims to feel safe, a successful business, and a son she adores, but she remains a victim in her relationship with John Patrick, allowing him to continue to emotionally and physically abuse her without retribution. Get some counseling, Goldy. What bothers me about the book itself is the attention to cooking and baking and recipe-making--not my cup of tea, but for some readers, it may be just what they're looking for, an entertaining mystery spiced up with actual recipes and cooking hints interspersed in the plot.

Rating:
Summary: interesting characters given great voice
Review: The audio version of the Grilling Season was given to me as a present. It's introduced me to an interesting new mystery writer and a wonderful new voice. This is the first Goldy mystery I've heard and DMD gives her a full and interesting life. A new husband, a difficult adolescent son, a threatening ex and a host of secondary characters give wonderful flavor to the story. The plot isn't for those interested in intricate twists and turns. But her writing is refreshing and captivating. The story is spiced by the voice of the reader, Cherry Jones, who really gives spirit and dimension to all the characters, but especially to Goldy. Cherry gives each character an individual voice, but really seems to understand the heart and head of Goldy. Maybe there's a movie here, starring Ms Jones?

Rating:
Summary: DMD Needs an editor.
Review: I'm a cook, and an editor, and I found fault with this book on both counts. There were a number of nagging discrepncies in the text, i.e. Goldy starts to bake an orange-poppy seed bread with the only two oranges she finds in the fridge. The Jerk appears, leaps (!) halfway through the kitchen window and roughs Goldy up before she konks him with a ham. Having broken the bowl full of batter, she begins again--where'd she get the oranges? She bakes one panful of tarts for an enormous box luncheon, gives eight of them away, and still has enough for the affair? This sort of thing happened throughout the book. I tried the orange chicken breast recipe, and although the marinade was tasty, the sauce was horribly sweet, so I didn't even serve it. I found the abused-wife flashbacks and Arch disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Great read - love the recipes
Review: This was the second of Davidson's books that I have read. I really enjoyed it and I love the recipes in the book. This is just something that I have never seen before and it is fun to hear how she makes the items and then to see the actual recipe. A neat idea!

Rating:
Summary: Funny and entertaining!
Review: This is only the second Mott-Davidson book I've read, and I love her characters and the author's sense of humor. She is really, really funny. While the plot wasn't brilliant, it was good enough. It kept me turning the pages and guessing who done it until the end. However, the caterer's kid Arch needs an attitude overhaul. What an absolute brat! First Goldy is abused by the jerk, and now she's getting psychological abuse from a 14-year old? PUH-LEASE. Spare me. Goldy should sent Arch to boot camp or have him volunteer in an abused women's shelter so he can get a dose of the real world.

Rating:
Summary: A mystery in good taste
Review: This is a fun book to read. You get recipes too since the sleuth is a caterer as well as one smart cookie. ha ha

Rating:
Summary: A audible delicacy!
Review: Although I had not read or listened to any of her previous books. This mouth watering mystery had me seeking more of Davidsons' work (I got the book on tape.) This would make a great television series especially on the Food Network on cable.

Rating:
Summary: Great read, riviting
Review: This book series would make a great television series! I highly recommend both books and audio books for the series of "Goldie" mysteries!

Rating:
Summary: Misses the target...but still entertains
Review: Davidson's recipes are without doubt the fruit of this series. It is obvious that Davidson feels the culinary portion of her writing as she paints clear images of her cooking. This makes cooking along with the book fantastically surreal. However, the divorce and who-done-it story lines seem a bit corny rather than moving. Yet, this is a quick read. I would suggest reading one Davidson novel for the general idea and checking out the recipes of her remaining books.