Series
Publication
Fawcett (1992), 320 pages
Original publication date
1990-07-05
Collections
Genres
Subjects
Awards
Anthony Award (Nominee — First Novel — 1991)
Agatha Award (Nominee — First Novel — 1990)
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Get ready for a smorgasbord of delicious suspense prepared by Goldy Bear, an irrepressible mistress of menus and amateur sleuth. Filled with a cast of colorful characters and superb recipes, Catering to Nobody is the first in a series that has made Diane Mott Davidson a bestselling author and the Queen of the Culinary Mystery. Goldy Bear, recently divorced, has made a home for herself and her young son in scenic Aspen Valley, Colorado. There, calls for Goldilock's Catering have been steady enough to pay the bills. But when a mourner is felled by rat poison during a funeral buffet Goldy is serving, the police quickly close her business. Now it's up to Goldy to find the rat who has tainted her food and her reputation. As the mystery unfolds, its tension is sweetened by delectable recipes, including Goldy's Dream Cake, Dungeon Bars, and Honey Ginger Snaps.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member kwright
If you love mysteries, humor, and cooking (she includes the recipes), you will love this series!
LibraryThing member izzyharvey
*spoilers*
Sue Grafton recommends on the cover... so I thought I'd give it a whirl... adequate, not special as a mystery... I am incredibly tired of the protagonist who's clueless... as if there weren't other ways to clue in the reader... protagonist claims to be a second-wave feminist... written in
Sue Grafton recommends on the cover... so I thought I'd give it a whirl... adequate, not special as a mystery... I am incredibly tired of the protagonist who's clueless... as if there weren't other ways to clue in the reader... protagonist claims to be a second-wave feminist... written in
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1990, so I guess that's where feminism was, but strange and cardboard with Our Bodies, Ourselves and unshaved legs... how feminist is it for the protagonist to feel for a young, fairly stupid girl who was raped by her doctor, that now she was about to start the hard road of motherhood... um, maybe there are other options for her? ...and why is the abortion doctor a rapist/killer/child molester? Show Less
LibraryThing member chikkagrl
Love this series. I would highly recommended it to any foodie who also likes mysteries.
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Fun things about this series - set in the foothills of Denver. We lived in Denver, so that is an interesting aspect, to guess about settings, etc. The food is a great part too - yummy recipes. Goldy is a strong character who is a survivor, and there is all that negotiation for single parents
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dealing with creepy ex-spouses but trying to give their children some semblance of two parents. I like these novels. Show Less
LibraryThing member wildseakitten
I read this on a recommendation of a friend of mine. She has read all of the books by this author and loved them. I'm not a big mystery fan.. but this was not a bad read for me. I'll probably read the other ones too... just because. I'll read them in order no doubt.
LibraryThing member kymmayfield
Great book, I really enjoyed it. Nice start to a series that i will definatley continue. The characters were very personable. In the first book you become attached almost like they are family. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
LibraryThing member MsBeautiful
Enjoy this character, love hearing about cooking/recipes
LibraryThing member miyurose
It feels like forever ago that I read this, so my memory is a little sketchy. I definitely did like it, though I skipped over most of the recipes. I liked Goldy and her messy life and sullen son. You have to admire a woman who isn’t afraid of a little hard work when things are working out her
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way. She does everything she can to clear her name and reopen her catering business, even if it isn’t very wise. I was amused by Tom’s persistence in getting to know Goldy, and I look forward to seeing more of both of them in the next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
From the beginning this was a bit too cutesy for me. The first person narrator and protagonist, "Goldy Bear" is a caterer in Aspen Meadow, Colorado, and her motto is "just right." At regular intervals we get complete recipes like "Dungeon Bars" and "Wild Man Wild Rice."
Also, the romantic interest
I do like Goldie's eleven year old son, Art--he seems like a real boy for once--not just played for cuteness. Beyond that, although I found Goldy likable, I didn't feel anything about the book lifted it above routine. Good recipes make a fine cookbook, but they're not enough to make for a tasty mystery. Hell, they were annoying, right smack in the middle of scenes and even sentences rather than at the beginning or end of chapters like in Like Water for Chocolate or at the end of the book.
Also, the romantic interest
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is the detective, Tom Schulz, investigating a poisoning in which Goldie suspected. He had the power it seemed, to close down her business until someone is arrested--but he doesn't hesitate to date her, bring her into the investigation, and condone her breaking and entering. I'm sorry, not only does this plain bug me, but I feel this is basically cheating when an amateur or private detective would do this--nor can I see a police officer condoning it since, among other things, in the United States any evidence found that way couldn't be used in court. And doing things like that puts Goldie in the Too Stupid To Live category. I do like Goldie's eleven year old son, Art--he seems like a real boy for once--not just played for cuteness. Beyond that, although I found Goldy likable, I didn't feel anything about the book lifted it above routine. Good recipes make a fine cookbook, but they're not enough to make for a tasty mystery. Hell, they were annoying, right smack in the middle of scenes and even sentences rather than at the beginning or end of chapters like in Like Water for Chocolate or at the end of the book.
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LibraryThing member LoraBee33
This is the first in a series about Goldy, a caterer, who gets involved in one murder mystery after another. Her recipes are a bonus. :) The character personalities and dialogue are lively and fun right from the start. By the end of the book I couldn't wait to read the next, still looking forward
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to more! Show Less
LibraryThing member jepeters333
Goldy Bear, recently divorced, has made a home for herself and her young son in scenic Aspen Valley, Colorado. There, calls for Goldilock's Catering have been steady enough to pay the bills. But when a mourner is felled by rat poison during a funeral buffet Goldy is serving, the police quickly
Show More
close her business. Now it's up to Goldy to find the rat who has tainted her food and her reputation. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
This was Diane Mott Davidson's first novel. Her Goldy Bear and trademark recipes are now famous. It was fun to read the very first book in the series.
Goldy uses her divorce settlement to start a catering business. When her son's teacher commits suicide, she does the food for the wake. While
While trying to get to the bottom of the poisoning and Arch's teacher's death, Goldy has to deal with horrible ex-husband and former in-laws, and her son's increasingly disturbing behavior.
Published in 1990, the book was a touch dated. The game Dungeons and Dragons was featured as part of the plot line. The game was very popular about that time and made headlines. So, there was maybe a touch of nostalgia.
The recipes were awesome however, and I loved Tom. Great banter between Goldy and Tom. The mystery is solid and the story was absorbing. Over all a B+
Goldy uses her divorce settlement to start a catering business. When her son's teacher commits suicide, she does the food for the wake. While
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attending the wake, her former father-in-law keels over in agony. It is determined he was poisoned. As a result, the sheriff shuts Goldy's business down until further notice. This puts Goldy in a serious financial bind. With the Sheriff going through all the legal channels, the investigation is moving much too slow. So, Goldy jumps in and starts her own investigation to speed things along.While trying to get to the bottom of the poisoning and Arch's teacher's death, Goldy has to deal with horrible ex-husband and former in-laws, and her son's increasingly disturbing behavior.
Published in 1990, the book was a touch dated. The game Dungeons and Dragons was featured as part of the plot line. The game was very popular about that time and made headlines. So, there was maybe a touch of nostalgia.
The recipes were awesome however, and I loved Tom. Great banter between Goldy and Tom. The mystery is solid and the story was absorbing. Over all a B+
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LibraryThing member JenJ.
Listened to the Recorded Books cassette edition. Now I've previously read this book several years ago and went on to read more in the series, but why sort of escapes me. I didn't like the people in this book. I found Goldy annoying and repetitive and Tom Schulz unprofessional, pushy, and
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patronizing. I might try the second one at least because I know I kept going with the series previously but if I don't like that one better then I'm gone. I think this may be just one example of the problem I have with amateur detectives - I like my detectives to be competent and often I don't think the conflict with traditional authority, such as the police, has enough reason for existing besides giving the amateur a reason to detect at all. Particularly in this case since Tom Schulz is, I believe, intended to be a sympathetic character and doing his best on the case. I thought the narrator did a fine job with the material she had to work with. Show Less
LibraryThing member pussreboots
After listening to my friend's audio copy of Fatally Flaky I decided to give the rest of the series a listen.Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson started the Goldy Bear Culinary series in 1990.
The book opens with Goldy catering the wake for Arch's teacher. While Goldy just wants to get through
As this is the first book, a lot of the character dynamics from later books aren't there. Instead of Julian, for instance, there's a ditzy roommate who while funny in her own right, doesn't play off Goldy and Arch in quite the same way. Finally, Tom Schulz who plays a much larger and more sympathetic roll later on is more of a foil here.
Although I figured out most of the who-done-it well before Goldy does, I still enjoyed listening to the book. It was interesting to see the characters so far removed from where they were in the first book I'd read.
The book opens with Goldy catering the wake for Arch's teacher. While Goldy just wants to get through
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the wake and help Arch grieve, she can't because someone puts rat poison in her ex-father-in-law's drink!As this is the first book, a lot of the character dynamics from later books aren't there. Instead of Julian, for instance, there's a ditzy roommate who while funny in her own right, doesn't play off Goldy and Arch in quite the same way. Finally, Tom Schulz who plays a much larger and more sympathetic roll later on is more of a foil here.
Although I figured out most of the who-done-it well before Goldy does, I still enjoyed listening to the book. It was interesting to see the characters so far removed from where they were in the first book I'd read.
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LibraryThing member Jiraiya
Aren't I pleased with this particular book. Here I was, being depressed about how my average rating system was going up, due to the various books that chalked up a high score. Then hey presto, along comes this gestalt of a book with its 15 other sequels tagging along-the 16th on the way. Suddenly
To be serious I'm going to give this series a chance. All I've been able to do this time around was to ease myself into the unfamiliar writing that any cozy series bring to the table. This book has a higher vocab than usual cozies. It's also varied, there are attempts at humor, some of which stick to the wall, some off the wall. The sole plus I've scraped from this...experience, is that there are no characters I despise. This book is about 300 pages but it felt like more. That's why I said about easing myself into the sequels. The style doesn't help, and time drags on instead of flying past while reading Catering to Nobody. Maybe I need to crowbar myself in instead.
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my dilemma was solved. What dilemma you ask? Exactly.To be serious I'm going to give this series a chance. All I've been able to do this time around was to ease myself into the unfamiliar writing that any cozy series bring to the table. This book has a higher vocab than usual cozies. It's also varied, there are attempts at humor, some of which stick to the wall, some off the wall. The sole plus I've scraped from this...experience, is that there are no characters I despise. This book is about 300 pages but it felt like more. That's why I said about easing myself into the sequels. The style doesn't help, and time drags on instead of flying past while reading Catering to Nobody. Maybe I need to crowbar myself in instead.
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LibraryThing member JanetArmentani
great start to this series, which is yet another I started reading out of order. Oh well
LibraryThing member wareagle78
What fun to find a new author, and recipes too! I enjoyed the adventures of this determined and plucky caterer, and look forward to more of the series.
LibraryThing member phyllis2779
I barely remember this one but generally I enjoy Davidson's mysteries.
LibraryThing member bg853
Goldy Baer has a catering service which gets everything "just right." At least everything was just right until someone poisoned her ex-father-in-law at an event she catered. Her business is closed down and she has lost her only means of support until the culprit can be found.
The audible version is
The audible version is
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read by the great Barbara Rosenblatt. Her great characterizations are a pleasure to listen to and I look forward to the rest of the series. It was a fun quick read. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
The first in the list of mysteries starring Goldy, the caterer who lives in Aspen Meadows, Colorado and encounters at least one dead body a year. There's a forward by Diane Mott Davidson in this edition which gives some background for her series. As always, the recipes look delicious. The
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gingersnaps on page 260 are delicious although they don't really snap. Show Less
LibraryThing member StephLaymon
A nicely done substantial plot for a book in its genre. The main character came with a few annoyances, but nothing that took away from the story. The Halloween setting and culinary theme are nicely incorporated. Recipes are included.
LibraryThing member nx74defiant
Fun start to the series.
LibraryThing member joannefm2
This is going to be one of the shortest reviews I've ever done, because I just couldn't stand Goldy. So, instead of a traditional review, I'm just going to list the talking points that lead up to the reason I gave this book one star only, instead of leading in with an intro:
Goldy is a whiny, self-
I found it odd that the recipes are in the middle of sentences! Not at the end of chapters or even paragraphs - but in the middle of sentences. Oh. My. God. Also, who on earth puts mayonnaise in guacamole? You have to wonder how far she'll go as a caterer with this recipe.
Her ex-husband is a well-heeled doctor but she doesn't make him pay child support on a regular basis even though she's struggling as a caterer to make ends meet. She'd rather keep the peace than pay the bills! She's never taken him to court about paying support on a regular basis, gotten a restraining order against him for physically assaulting her, nor told him never to speak to her that way again. Her name should be on doormats sold countrywide. But it's contradictory when she just tells people what to do, like taking her ex-mother-in-law's car and refusing to give it back.
She's not even conscientious as a caterer. She runs out of supplies. I'm a home cook and I check my cupboards and refrigerator on a regular basis, and if I'm running low I replenish, and if I use a can of anything I replace it the next time I go to the store!
She allows her son to call his grandparents by their first names because apparently neither she nor her husband could teach him otherwise. It might not bother others, but I find it disrespectful, the same as if they wouldn't call a teacher by their first name. Her son also speaks and acts like he's twenty, not eleven. It makes you wonder if the author has children of her own.
She's only investigating because her business is on the line, she doesn't really care otherwise, and she has no problem breaking into Laura's home and taking things, including smoking the dead woman's cigarettes; nor going through confidential patient files.
She's a horrible human being and unlikable in the extreme. It makes you wonder how there are so many books in this series. No, I will not read any more of them and I'm sorry I even read the first one.
Goldy is a whiny, self-
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absorbed protagonist who allows her abusive ex-husband to continue to abuse her; she has an eleven-year-old son who is being bullied at school and she leaves him to work it out himself (and, I'm guessing, continue to be bullied) instead of informing the school to take measures or speak to the other boys' parents; she does nothing at all.I found it odd that the recipes are in the middle of sentences! Not at the end of chapters or even paragraphs - but in the middle of sentences. Oh. My. God. Also, who on earth puts mayonnaise in guacamole? You have to wonder how far she'll go as a caterer with this recipe.
Her ex-husband is a well-heeled doctor but she doesn't make him pay child support on a regular basis even though she's struggling as a caterer to make ends meet. She'd rather keep the peace than pay the bills! She's never taken him to court about paying support on a regular basis, gotten a restraining order against him for physically assaulting her, nor told him never to speak to her that way again. Her name should be on doormats sold countrywide. But it's contradictory when she just tells people what to do, like taking her ex-mother-in-law's car and refusing to give it back.
She's not even conscientious as a caterer. She runs out of supplies. I'm a home cook and I check my cupboards and refrigerator on a regular basis, and if I'm running low I replenish, and if I use a can of anything I replace it the next time I go to the store!
She allows her son to call his grandparents by their first names because apparently neither she nor her husband could teach him otherwise. It might not bother others, but I find it disrespectful, the same as if they wouldn't call a teacher by their first name. Her son also speaks and acts like he's twenty, not eleven. It makes you wonder if the author has children of her own.
She's only investigating because her business is on the line, she doesn't really care otherwise, and she has no problem breaking into Laura's home and taking things, including smoking the dead woman's cigarettes; nor going through confidential patient files.
She's a horrible human being and unlikable in the extreme. It makes you wonder how there are so many books in this series. No, I will not read any more of them and I'm sorry I even read the first one.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
044922046X / 9780449220467
Physical description
320 p.; 4.25 inches
Pages
320