Another great Goldy Bear story. Although I did have a harder time with this one and how Goldy is always just walking into danger, don't do such stupid things ALL the time G! ( )

I'm working my way through this series totally out of order. I remember reading a few when they came out, and I thought I'd try them as something light with tasty food. The food bits are the best, the mysteries are... ok. Sometimes I like the protagonist and sometimes I find her choices really perplexing, but for a quick little read to take my mind off other things, this works.

I've read other books in this series but not necessarily in order. I found this one on the book exchange shelves at the Y. I don't think it's the best in the series.

There are a couple different "mysteries" going on in this book, so not all the plot points go to the same mystery.

Goldy makes stupid choices--and more than once within the confines of this novel. Sometimes I do wonder how she's still alive--or what it will take to smarten her choices. Then again, I also wonder why people keep choosing her as their caterer when dead people seem to "follow" her around, so . . .

I enjoyed the history of maps that was a small part of this book's plot. It was interesting to learn that maps had to sometimes be smuggled out in the past because they were considered an important commodity--and also to learn about some of the inventive ways people found to smuggle them out. ( )

It is Christmas and New Years time. Goldy Schultz's busiest time of the year. Her catering service is in high demand among the citizens of Aspen Meadow. How is she going to work in solving a murder with all her culinary demands?

While she is setting up a special breakfast at the library, she thinks she sees a woman who should be dead! Is it really her or is it a look-alike? To top that off, the ex-DA is found dead in the library on the same morning. Not being the best thought of man, it is no surprise but then who among those who don't like him did him in?

While Goldy is hunting for clues she uncovers a number of not-so-nice things about the ex-DA and the people he has associated with. Seems some of these folk are not the nicest and would have no problem making Goldy disappear.

I've probably read almost the whole series, and it has been a while since I've picked one of Diane Mott Davidson's book up, but I find that I still enjoy the characters and the town of Aspen Meadow. I also like that the recipes mentioned and included in the book are grouped at the end for easy reading. A nice cozy of a read. ( )

Goldy Schulz, caterer, thinks she sees the murderer of her ex. Said murderer died in a forest fire, but no remains were ever found. It is Christmas time in Aspen Meadow, Colorado, the busiest time of the year for caterers. Goldy is hired to cater a breakfast at the public library. However, the afternoon before the event, a former DA and map connoisseur is found dead in the library. The murderer could be the same woman who killed Goldy's ex last summer. Goldy also has a few events to cater for a wealthy map collector. Lots of quirky characters, stolen maps, catering events, blackmail, vengeful ex-wives, ski boarding, winter storms, stymied police, haircuts, and the holidays create mayhem in Aspen Meadow.

The book is written very unevenly. The author has reverted back to having Goldy constantly reviewing the crime over and over, ad nauseum, which put me to sleep, so I skipped over this several times. This puts a crimp on the
action and sometimes fun dialogue. Also, I'm rather tired of Goldy's son Arch's constant teenaged angst and general spoiled brat behavior. Despite this, it is an interesting plot, but could have been edited into a much better read. ( )