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Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #3
The Cereal Murders
Thanks to her recent adventures in Dying for Chocolate, Goldy Bear, the premier caterer of Aspen Meadow, Colorado, is no stranger to violence--or sudden death. But when she agrees to cater the first College Advisory Dinner for Seniors and Parents at the exclusive Elk Park Preparatory School, the last thing she expects to find at the end of the evening is the battered body of the school valedictorian.
Who could have killed Keith Andrews, and why? Goldy's hungry for some answers--and not just because she found the corpse. Her young son, Arch, a student at Elk Park Prep, has become a target for some not-so-funny pranks, while her eighteen-year-old live-in helper, Julian, has become a prime suspect in the Andrews boy's murder.
As her investigation intensifies, Goldy's anxiety level rises faster than homemade doughnuts. . .as she turns up evidence that suggests that Keith knew more than enough to blow the lid off some very unscholarly secrets. And then, as her search rattles one skeleton too many, Goldy learns a crucial a little knowledge about a killer can be a deadly thing.
Who could have killed Keith Andrews, and why? Goldy's hungry for some answers--and not just because she found the corpse. Her young son, Arch, a student at Elk Park Prep, has become a target for some not-so-funny pranks, while her eighteen-year-old live-in helper, Julian, has become a prime suspect in the Andrews boy's murder.
As her investigation intensifies, Goldy's anxiety level rises faster than homemade doughnuts. . .as she turns up evidence that suggests that Keith knew more than enough to blow the lid off some very unscholarly secrets. And then, as her search rattles one skeleton too many, Goldy learns a crucial a little knowledge about a killer can be a deadly thing.
335 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
385 people are currently reading
2259 people want to read
About the author
Diane Mott Davidson
76 books2,323 followers New York Times bestselling author Diane Mott Davidson wrote three novels before one was accepted for publication—when she was 41. She has since written 14 more mysteries, all featuring Goldy the caterer. In addition, she has written short stories and poetry for various publications. Davidson has won the Anthony Award from Bouchercon, and has been nominated for the Agatha, another Anthony, and the Macavity Award. In 1993 she was named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Writer of the Year.
Davidson was educated at St. Anne's School in Charlottesville, Virginia, where her English teacher, Emyl Jenkins, encouraged her to become a writer. She attended Wellesley College, where she was named a Wellesley Scholar, before transferring to Stanford University, from which she graduated with a double major in Art History and Political Science. Several years (and one child) later, she received her MA in Art History from Johns Hopkins.
Davidson has volunteered for numerous organizations. She was a tutor in a correctional facility, rape-victim counselor, and served for 10 years on the Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. For years she taught the adult Bible study at her parish, where she was also licensed to preach.
Davidson has been married to her husband, Jim, for almost 40 years. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a basset hound.
Davidson was educated at St. Anne's School in Charlottesville, Virginia, where her English teacher, Emyl Jenkins, encouraged her to become a writer. She attended Wellesley College, where she was named a Wellesley Scholar, before transferring to Stanford University, from which she graduated with a double major in Art History and Political Science. Several years (and one child) later, she received her MA in Art History from Johns Hopkins.
Davidson has volunteered for numerous organizations. She was a tutor in a correctional facility, rape-victim counselor, and served for 10 years on the Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. For years she taught the adult Bible study at her parish, where she was also licensed to preach.
Davidson has been married to her husband, Jim, for almost 40 years. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a basset hound.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 467 reviews
November 13, 2017
Book Review
3 of 5 stars to The Cereal Murders, the third book in the "Goldy Bear Culinary" mystery series, published in 1993 and written by Diane Mott Davidson. I'm a fan of this series, enjoying the charming antics of the cozy little town, the delicious-sounding recipes and the mystery fun each book includes. Another good installment in the series, it falls somewhere in the middle range of best and worst, nothing to extraordinary but nothing much of fault.
Focused on the intensity of college preparation, the students at Elk Prep, where Goldy's son, Arch, goes to school, are preparing for college. Goldy's sort of adopted son, Julian, is a senior there and is suddenly suspected when the school valedictorian is found murdered at a dinner. He wasn't well liked, but Goldy discovers a web of secrets he was hiding. Then a teacher is murdered and Goldy's starting to fear for her own life, especially when she's uncovering more and more unexpected dirt. Her relationship with Tom Schultz moves forward as they investigate the case. The highlight: Julian. He's always been my favorite character, and I admit, I might have a small crush on him. Ha!
Usual cozy fun. A few red herrings. A town connected underneath the surface. Marla looks out for Julian at some point. Even Arch is glad to be part of the process. Plus, who doesn't love some cereal for a meal?
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
[polldaddy poll=9729544]
[polldaddy poll=9719251]
3 of 5 stars to The Cereal Murders, the third book in the "Goldy Bear Culinary" mystery series, published in 1993 and written by Diane Mott Davidson. I'm a fan of this series, enjoying the charming antics of the cozy little town, the delicious-sounding recipes and the mystery fun each book includes. Another good installment in the series, it falls somewhere in the middle range of best and worst, nothing to extraordinary but nothing much of fault.
Focused on the intensity of college preparation, the students at Elk Prep, where Goldy's son, Arch, goes to school, are preparing for college. Goldy's sort of adopted son, Julian, is a senior there and is suddenly suspected when the school valedictorian is found murdered at a dinner. He wasn't well liked, but Goldy discovers a web of secrets he was hiding. Then a teacher is murdered and Goldy's starting to fear for her own life, especially when she's uncovering more and more unexpected dirt. Her relationship with Tom Schultz moves forward as they investigate the case. The highlight: Julian. He's always been my favorite character, and I admit, I might have a small crush on him. Ha!
Usual cozy fun. A few red herrings. A town connected underneath the surface. Marla looks out for Julian at some point. Even Arch is glad to be part of the process. Plus, who doesn't love some cereal for a meal?
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
[polldaddy poll=9729544]
[polldaddy poll=9719251]
December 1, 2009
a little paragraph that just made me so happy!! from page 38
"He reached into the front pocket of his sweatshirt and pulled the rock out. So much for fingerprints. But the rock was tennis-ball-size and jagged. It probably wouldn't have held a print anyway."
As a real life CSI, it gets old when books/movies/tv shows all indicate that prints CAN and ARE pulled off everything from glass to oranges to rocks. In real life, it just doesn't happen. Nice to see it in a book :-)
Another win for the Goldy series. Just a good little mystery, and I didn't see the ending coming. After it got spelled out, I was like -- well of course -- but I didn't see it before that.
"He reached into the front pocket of his sweatshirt and pulled the rock out. So much for fingerprints. But the rock was tennis-ball-size and jagged. It probably wouldn't have held a print anyway."
As a real life CSI, it gets old when books/movies/tv shows all indicate that prints CAN and ARE pulled off everything from glass to oranges to rocks. In real life, it just doesn't happen. Nice to see it in a book :-)
Another win for the Goldy series. Just a good little mystery, and I didn't see the ending coming. After it got spelled out, I was like -- well of course -- but I didn't see it before that.
January 31, 2021
Jan 31, 845am ~~ Review asap. No reading today, I have three reviews to write! Whew!
Jan 31, 1145am ~~ Getting into a good university can be murder.
Literally.
Goldy Bear is on duty again in this third book in the series. The fancy schmancy prep school in her town of Aspen Meadow is grooming its seniors for their SAT tests, and Goldy is hired to provide the food for various meetings between students, parents, and officials of the school.
But at the end of the very first one, the highest ranked student in the class is found dead.
Found by Goldy, of course.
This begins a chain of events that ultimately proves that people go a little crazy when faced with college options.
And at least in this book, more than a few sets of parents are more stressed than the students. I would not have believed any of this plausible if not for the recent scandals over this very topic. But whether in a book or in Real Life, how terribly depressing for any parents to have such little faith in their children's abilities that they feel they have to stoop to such idiotic moves as paying for good scores, lying on applications, or even murder.
Well, anyway, this was a quick read and was interesting enough to keep me going, even when I could see The Author's Formula appearing. Goldy is catering an event, Goldy find a body, Goldy gets told by her policeman/maybe boyfriend to pay attention and keep snooping, etcetera up to the end when It All Becomes Clear to Goldy. It's all just so.....cozy.
But annoying as well. I usually avoid reading any lengthy series because I get distracted by the predictability of the patterns in them.
I must remind any readers of this review that Mystery is not my chosen genre. I am reading these books to fulfill a promise to my Mom, who devoured them all and has been asking for at least a year when I would be reading them. Anyone who enjoys the genre more than I do might be very entertained by Goldy Bear and her capers.
Jan 31, 1145am ~~ Getting into a good university can be murder.
Literally.
Goldy Bear is on duty again in this third book in the series. The fancy schmancy prep school in her town of Aspen Meadow is grooming its seniors for their SAT tests, and Goldy is hired to provide the food for various meetings between students, parents, and officials of the school.
But at the end of the very first one, the highest ranked student in the class is found dead.
Found by Goldy, of course.
This begins a chain of events that ultimately proves that people go a little crazy when faced with college options.
And at least in this book, more than a few sets of parents are more stressed than the students. I would not have believed any of this plausible if not for the recent scandals over this very topic. But whether in a book or in Real Life, how terribly depressing for any parents to have such little faith in their children's abilities that they feel they have to stoop to such idiotic moves as paying for good scores, lying on applications, or even murder.
Well, anyway, this was a quick read and was interesting enough to keep me going, even when I could see The Author's Formula appearing. Goldy is catering an event, Goldy find a body, Goldy gets told by her policeman/maybe boyfriend to pay attention and keep snooping, etcetera up to the end when It All Becomes Clear to Goldy. It's all just so.....cozy.
But annoying as well. I usually avoid reading any lengthy series because I get distracted by the predictability of the patterns in them.
I must remind any readers of this review that Mystery is not my chosen genre. I am reading these books to fulfill a promise to my Mom, who devoured them all and has been asking for at least a year when I would be reading them. Anyone who enjoys the genre more than I do might be very entertained by Goldy Bear and her capers.
March 3, 2018
There is a fine line between sarcasm and bitchy, Goldie crosses the line too often. It was hard to get into the mystery when I was weary of all her griping. None of the characters grabbed me, but the story was still interesting.
We have an exclusive school of rich children with parents ready to do whatever it takes to get their offspring into the best colleges. From bribes to murder and everything in between.
So even though I didn’t like the heroine and felt that the side characters never fleshed out, the story was interesting.
We have an exclusive school of rich children with parents ready to do whatever it takes to get their offspring into the best colleges. From bribes to murder and everything in between.
So even though I didn’t like the heroine and felt that the side characters never fleshed out, the story was interesting.
May 20, 2016
Though this book suffered from a slow start, it soon sped up and became an entertaining read that I couldn't wait to finish,
I had read the last book in this series in December of last year, so it took me a while to get reaquainted with the characters, but after I warmed up to them they were fun! Goldy is blunt, funny, and fiercely protective of those around her, but yet Ms. Davidson shows that Goldy isn't perfect in multiple instances throughout the book. I especially loved reading more about the school Julian and Arch go to and I thought the author portrayed the cut-throat way academics are in some schools wonderfully.
The mystery was good, there was a couple of abstract clues through the book that you don't pick up on until the end and the killer took me by surprise.
Overall a very enjoyable read. The Cereal Murders gets 4/5 stars!
I had read the last book in this series in December of last year, so it took me a while to get reaquainted with the characters, but after I warmed up to them they were fun! Goldy is blunt, funny, and fiercely protective of those around her, but yet Ms. Davidson shows that Goldy isn't perfect in multiple instances throughout the book. I especially loved reading more about the school Julian and Arch go to and I thought the author portrayed the cut-throat way academics are in some schools wonderfully.
The mystery was good, there was a couple of abstract clues through the book that you don't pick up on until the end and the killer took me by surprise.
Overall a very enjoyable read. The Cereal Murders gets 4/5 stars!
October 9, 2018
I wished I liked Goldy as a character better. She tends to grate on my nerves.
August 15, 2021
Interesting audiobook. Enjoyable characters and a fun plot. Recommend
December 2, 2018
Caterer Goldy Bear gets caught up in the murder of a high school student who attends Elk Park Prep School. While busily catering for friends and acquaintances in the prep school/town circle, she manages to assist friend/homicide inspector Tom Schulz in the investigation. Interesting characters make this a fun read with recipes interspersed throughout the text.
February 17, 2011
I read this book years ago. I'm now enjoying the audio version during my commute and on the treadmill. The narrator is very good. If my library ever gets any other of the Goldy audio books on Overdrive (this is the only one), I'd definitely listen.
It's a typical cozy mystery but this one really kept me guessing on who the murderer was until the end.
It's a typical cozy mystery but this one really kept me guessing on who the murderer was until the end.
July 13, 2012
Engaging mysteries, and fun recipes! The only thing I don't like about these books are her relationship with her son, and the fact that characters who are considered "good friends" seem to appear and disappear at random! Otherwise I recommend them, they definitely suck you in.
Read
March 7, 2023Really tried to get into this one because friends found it for me at Goodwill 🤣
However, I just was not invested in the murder mystery at all and the writing was hard to understand and follow. Maybe because it’s a little but older, but I found myself not being able to keep up with what was a conversation and what was a thought. This wasn’t like other cozy mysteries I have read
However, I just was not invested in the murder mystery at all and the writing was hard to understand and follow. Maybe because it’s a little but older, but I found myself not being able to keep up with what was a conversation and what was a thought. This wasn’t like other cozy mysteries I have read
April 5, 2021
Review: Goldy is back in her own home after the last book, and Julian is helping with her business as well as getting ready to get offers from various colleges. In one of the meetings for college prep for seniors that Goldy is catering, the valedictorian of Elk Park Prep, gives a very non-education talk. When revenge is taken on him, tensions rise at the school.
This was a good book but it dragged at the beginning and I am not even sure why. It was enjoyable but I had a hard time relating to the characters in this one. I will read on because I like some of the characters - maybe having the receipes in the middle of the chapters is a bit distracting to me. Some of them sounds pretty good. Have to try them.
This was a good book but it dragged at the beginning and I am not even sure why. It was enjoyable but I had a hard time relating to the characters in this one. I will read on because I like some of the characters - maybe having the receipes in the middle of the chapters is a bit distracting to me. Some of them sounds pretty good. Have to try them.
March 11, 2022
When Denver caterer Goldy Bear takes on a catering job at her son's school she has no idea whats in store for her. It comes as a surprise to discover how worried the Seniors at Elk Park Prep School are about their grade point averages. Its an even bigger surprise to discover the extremes some of the parents are going to in order to get their offspring into ivy league schools. The evening came to a disruptive end when several parents got into arguments with each other. Unfortunately the parental spats weren't the worse part of the evening. As Goldy was taking out the trash, she literally stumbled into the body of the class valedictorian.
Goldy decides to do some investigating on her own after she happens on to the body of a murdered teacher during another catering job at the school. She discovers that spats are breaking out among the parents but some have been bribing teachers and college admissions representatives.
Also, someone is playing dangerous pranks on her family. At first its difficult to pin point the target of these pranks.
This is a really good cozy mystery. I will be reading more from this author. I really enjoyed this one and I really like Goldy.
Goldy decides to do some investigating on her own after she happens on to the body of a murdered teacher during another catering job at the school. She discovers that spats are breaking out among the parents but some have been bribing teachers and college admissions representatives.
Also, someone is playing dangerous pranks on her family. At first its difficult to pin point the target of these pranks.
This is a really good cozy mystery. I will be reading more from this author. I really enjoyed this one and I really like Goldy.
May 28, 2017
#3 in the Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery series
This series is getting better and better. I'd rate this 4.5 stars if I could. This was my favorite so far, probably because it was more than a cozy mystery. It also included some romance (with Tom Schultz), some chick lit (with Julian's and Arch's school issues), as well as foodie fiction. I love hearing about Goldy's menus and catering jobs--Davidson makes it seem so fun and casual while still being very professional. This time Goldy is involved with a murder of a student at the school, with everyone getting intense about SAT's and college applications. Julian is a senior so is in the middle of all of the action. Barbara Rosenblatt really does an excellent job voicing Goldy, and Schulz has a nice low sexy drawl too. I particularly enjoy her emphasis and enthusiastic narration style. She really adds to my enjoyment.
This series is getting better and better. I'd rate this 4.5 stars if I could. This was my favorite so far, probably because it was more than a cozy mystery. It also included some romance (with Tom Schultz), some chick lit (with Julian's and Arch's school issues), as well as foodie fiction. I love hearing about Goldy's menus and catering jobs--Davidson makes it seem so fun and casual while still being very professional. This time Goldy is involved with a murder of a student at the school, with everyone getting intense about SAT's and college applications. Julian is a senior so is in the middle of all of the action. Barbara Rosenblatt really does an excellent job voicing Goldy, and Schulz has a nice low sexy drawl too. I particularly enjoy her emphasis and enthusiastic narration style. She really adds to my enjoyment.
July 26, 2015
I have read most of this series, so was glad to see on my list that I have a few I have missed and can still read for the first time. Goldy Bear, caterer extraordinaire, never fails to entertain.....in so many ways! This is a very good series, a favorite of mine, with great characters and plots that you have to work hard at to figure out before the "bad guy" is revealed. That is not always easy, which is a plus to me!
March 26, 2020
This was a quick read in the Goldy Bear series. The mystery was good and I enjoyed catching up with the characters.
July 14, 2017
I listened to the audiobook. The story is well written and the narrator for this audio version makes it very entertaining.
July 14, 2020
This school sure causes a lot of murder. We know it is only the second book, but Goldie is cleaning up after cater event at her son's and renter's prep school. As she is bringing stuff out to the car, she see's a body laying in the newly fallen snow and goes over to see who is laying passed out in the snow. Only to find that it is dead. The murder victim is the alumni of the prep school. Goldie calls the police and learns from Tom that the boy was killed using electric cord. As Goldie and Tom try to figure out why the prep school boy was killed they come across a whole host of snobby rich parents who are trying everything to get their children into top college's. The question is which of these parent's would kill to get their child into a top college.
Goldie relationship with Tom progress very nicely. They start by telling us they have been spending time together and continue on with shopping how much he has started to become part of her life and how much he gets along with her son.
Secondly Mom and I how love how much her renter cares about her and how much he intern cares about her. Though mom and I both found it a little weird hen Goldie comes home to find he has been drinking and smoking.
Over all this book was a fun ride and just made mom and I want to continue on in the series.
Goldie relationship with Tom progress very nicely. They start by telling us they have been spending time together and continue on with shopping how much he has started to become part of her life and how much he gets along with her son.
Secondly Mom and I how love how much her renter cares about her and how much he intern cares about her. Though mom and I both found it a little weird hen Goldie comes home to find he has been drinking and smoking.
Over all this book was a fun ride and just made mom and I want to continue on in the series.
August 27, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! This was my first Diane Mott Davidson book, and I was pleasantly surprised at how creative her story was. The mystery kept me guessing throughout. I really wished that my library had the first two books of this series, because it would have been nice to have a backstory to explain the presence of different characters in Goldie's life. Very worth the time to read, with a fabulous bonus of all of the recipes that were mentioned throughout the book.
March 29, 2024
Isn't Julian technically Marla's nephew? Why isn't she getting to know him? And why didn't Julian inherit from Adele when she blew herself up?
Another thing that bugs me about books, tv and movies... whenever anyone calls someone on their cell phone, that other person is never available. Why is that?
Another thing that bugs me about books, tv and movies... whenever anyone calls someone on their cell phone, that other person is never available. Why is that?
August 23, 2018
Not a bad series mystery, and the recipes are pretty good for the recipe-mystery publishing craze, but even Barbara Rosenblat couldn’t make me appreciate a book with characters so sharply Good or Evil. A relic of its time, with a topic (the tyranny of grades and testing) that has only gotten worse since its publication.
June 22, 2024
I love these books so much. AND I looove that the author reads the for the audio versions. How cool is that. Great writer great narrator. These books are so amusing and just yummy for my soul. The food too.
February 23, 2020
The best thing about this little cozy mystery was the fact that it is set in Denver and so many places mentioned are familiar to this Colorado girl.
Quick, fun, easy read. As expected.
Quick, fun, easy read. As expected.
November 8, 2023
It is SO good! I love these books! So excited to read the next one!
December 23, 2024
Goldie is just fun!
November 26, 2019
Easy cozy mystery. Goldie’s out doing her thing- and someone ends up dead. Good little mystery. I like that things move along in this series. The people grow up a little, and life moves on. Not Sherlock Holmes, but good to listen to while driving.
July 8, 2018
It took me to about three-quarters of the way through to finally figure out what the author was doing. This isn't a mystery novel, its a farce. It has to be, because it makes no sense any other way.
~Spoiler warning~
First, we're confronted with a murder of a high school student on campus, but since no one really liked him any way, no one really cares. Life just goes on. Who cares if the murder happened on campus, the school is just going to let parents and students wander around at will, and no one liked the kid, so classes go on as normal. A threat to another student and a disturbing item left in a locker? Well, boys will be boys. A teacher is murdered on campus? The school will offer counseling, but come hell or high water, they are staying open - this after all is an "environment of trust".
But no! Our intrepid caterer feels like her son is threatened, so she's going to go scold the administration, and let them know that if any harm comes to her boy, she's going to stick out her tongue and say "I told you so". Her cop boyfriend is not nearly so calm. He's sure she in danger, so when she refuses to move in with him, he's going to put armed guards on her, and ensure to instruct them to only watch the house. She can come and go as she pleases. I mean, she can't be the heroine of the story if she's followed around by cops - get serious. And when she saves the boy she's all but adopted from certain death, she's going to send him off to the hospital alone to get his gunshot boo-boo bandaged, so she can wax philosophically at us, and of course, have her romantic moment with the cop.
See - its a farce.
Also - I listened to the audio book, mostly because it was free from the library. The narrator sounded like she was annoyed the entire time, though given the material, I don't blame her. She also sounded like she was eating - lovely.
My vote - its not worth the cost, even when its free.
~Spoiler warning~
First, we're confronted with a murder of a high school student on campus, but since no one really liked him any way, no one really cares. Life just goes on. Who cares if the murder happened on campus, the school is just going to let parents and students wander around at will, and no one liked the kid, so classes go on as normal. A threat to another student and a disturbing item left in a locker? Well, boys will be boys. A teacher is murdered on campus? The school will offer counseling, but come hell or high water, they are staying open - this after all is an "environment of trust".
But no! Our intrepid caterer feels like her son is threatened, so she's going to go scold the administration, and let them know that if any harm comes to her boy, she's going to stick out her tongue and say "I told you so". Her cop boyfriend is not nearly so calm. He's sure she in danger, so when she refuses to move in with him, he's going to put armed guards on her, and ensure to instruct them to only watch the house. She can come and go as she pleases. I mean, she can't be the heroine of the story if she's followed around by cops - get serious. And when she saves the boy she's all but adopted from certain death, she's going to send him off to the hospital alone to get his gunshot boo-boo bandaged, so she can wax philosophically at us, and of course, have her romantic moment with the cop.
See - its a farce.
Also - I listened to the audio book, mostly because it was free from the library. The narrator sounded like she was annoyed the entire time, though given the material, I don't blame her. She also sounded like she was eating - lovely.
My vote - its not worth the cost, even when its free.
February 9, 2010
When Denver caterer Goldy Bear takes on a catering job at her son's school she has no idea whats in store for her. It comes as a surprise to discover how worried the Seniors at Elk Park Prep School are about their grade point averages. Its an even bigger surprise to discover the extremes some of the parents are going to in order to get their offspring into ivy league schools. The evening came to a disruptive end when several parents got into arguments with each other. Unfortunately the parental spats weren't the worse part of the evening. As Goldy was taking out the trash, she literally stumbled into the body of the class valedictorian.
Goldy decides to do some investigating on her own after she happens on to the body of a murdered teacher during another catering job at the school. She soon discovers that not only are spats breaking out among the parents but some have been bribing teachers and college admissions representatives.
To further complicate matters, someone is playing dangerous pranks on her family. At first its difficult to pin point the target of these pranks. It could be Goldy herself, her son (a 7th-grader at the school) or her catering helper / live-in student (and a senior) at the school.
This light, enjoyable mystery is topped off with the recipes for the foods that play a major role in the story.
Goldy decides to do some investigating on her own after she happens on to the body of a murdered teacher during another catering job at the school. She soon discovers that not only are spats breaking out among the parents but some have been bribing teachers and college admissions representatives.
To further complicate matters, someone is playing dangerous pranks on her family. At first its difficult to pin point the target of these pranks. It could be Goldy herself, her son (a 7th-grader at the school) or her catering helper / live-in student (and a senior) at the school.
This light, enjoyable mystery is topped off with the recipes for the foods that play a major role in the story.
Read
February 5, 2021I think it was the cover of the audiobook that attracted my attention: a skull made out of Cheerios. It was creepy, yet kind of cute. I think that was a good summary of the story. There are actual serious murders, and actual real danger, but the narration is almost funny.
The story takes place at a private prep school. The valedictorian is found murdered on the night of the first college advisory meeting, which Goldy caters. It becomes clear that stress about getting into the right college is consuming the lives of these students and their parents. Goldy goes among them, as she caters all their events, but she is not quite of them, which gives her the opportunity to observe and critique.
And she does. Goldy is a warm-hearted, approachable woman, but she harbors a dry wit, and she skewers the pretensions of her rich, snobby neighbors in spot-on descriptions. She shows them up to be silly and selfish, and I enjoyed that wry voice more than the action of the murder mystery. But still, would one of these people, even a silly and selfish person, actually kill to get into a top college? That is the question. And while we are solving it, Goldy, who is self-supporting, has to go on working, and that means whipping up new menus of tasty food, recipes included.
The story takes place at a private prep school. The valedictorian is found murdered on the night of the first college advisory meeting, which Goldy caters. It becomes clear that stress about getting into the right college is consuming the lives of these students and their parents. Goldy goes among them, as she caters all their events, but she is not quite of them, which gives her the opportunity to observe and critique.
And she does. Goldy is a warm-hearted, approachable woman, but she harbors a dry wit, and she skewers the pretensions of her rich, snobby neighbors in spot-on descriptions. She shows them up to be silly and selfish, and I enjoyed that wry voice more than the action of the murder mystery. But still, would one of these people, even a silly and selfish person, actually kill to get into a top college? That is the question. And while we are solving it, Goldy, who is self-supporting, has to go on working, and that means whipping up new menus of tasty food, recipes included.
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