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kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
Sixteenth in the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries cooking series set in the Aspen area in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
The Story
When Yolanda loses her job when the spa restaurant is shut down for sprinkling their guests' food with cocaine—they thought the guests would think the spa was the reason for their extra energy and spirit, Goldy hires her as a precautionary measure against Tom's advice.
Then Yolanda's roommate, Ernest, is murdered, his house is burnt down, and Yolanda is blaming her ex-boyfriend, Kris, for it. She claims he's stalking her although she refuses to give Goldy or Tom anything with which to work. An ex-cop turned private eye, Ernest, was investigating a variety of cases including a puppy mill, Yolanda's stalker, a cheating husband, and an old case of stolen jewels. I swear it's like Peyton Place in Aspen Meadows as Goldy chases down one idea or lead after another driving her husband quietly nuts with her illegal activities.
My Take
While I enjoy the homey qualities of this series—Tom is so very patient and I just love the descriptions of the food that everyone creates in this story, I'm getting rather tired of Goldy. She's so nosy and I don't really see where she can really do that much anymore now that pretty much everyone in town knows about her detecting. I'm rather surprised that Tom hasn't dumped her for being such a pain. And I miss Julian. Nor was there much interaction with Marla or Archie; things are rather tame without the Jerk. Not that I didn't cheer when he died! This story just has a rather tired feel to it. Not helped at all by the evasions and actions of Yolanda and Ferdinanda.
Then there's the irritating details within the story because I'm sorry, there is no way that a standard wrench is adjustable enough to handle bolts for a potrack and the handle of an electric skillet. Nor do you have to be a "real data-processing geek" to know that you need a USB hub if you need more USB ports than are available. Come on, come up with a real geeky question...!
So what if Kris and Harriet are cruising up the street when Goldy walks out of Frank's Fix-It? She's taken whatever it is that Humberto took there and not something belonging to Kris..!?? Then, duh, Davidson has Goldy going on and on...and on ...actually, the entire story she's been going on...about how no one actually gets things fixed at Frank's and that they're all stoners. Why wouldn't it be the safest place to stash stolen goods? I think Davidson was simply trying to fill up space with this interior monologue. She's been doing this throughout the story and it's been rather irritating.
The Cover
The cover is as yummy looking as ever. My mouth was watering as I read the ingredients for the Crunch Time Cookies…drool!
The Story
When Yolanda loses her job when the spa restaurant is shut down for sprinkling their guests' food with cocaine—they thought the guests would think the spa was the reason for their extra energy and spirit, Goldy hires her as a precautionary measure against Tom's advice.
Then Yolanda's roommate, Ernest, is murdered, his house is burnt down, and Yolanda is blaming her ex-boyfriend, Kris, for it. She claims he's stalking her although she refuses to give Goldy or Tom anything with which to work. An ex-cop turned private eye, Ernest, was investigating a variety of cases including a puppy mill, Yolanda's stalker, a cheating husband, and an old case of stolen jewels. I swear it's like Peyton Place in Aspen Meadows as Goldy chases down one idea or lead after another driving her husband quietly nuts with her illegal activities.
My Take
While I enjoy the homey qualities of this series—Tom is so very patient and I just love the descriptions of the food that everyone creates in this story, I'm getting rather tired of Goldy. She's so nosy and I don't really see where she can really do that much anymore now that pretty much everyone in town knows about her detecting. I'm rather surprised that Tom hasn't dumped her for being such a pain. And I miss Julian. Nor was there much interaction with Marla or Archie; things are rather tame without the Jerk. Not that I didn't cheer when he died! This story just has a rather tired feel to it. Not helped at all by the evasions and actions of Yolanda and Ferdinanda.
Then there's the irritating details within the story because I'm sorry, there is no way that a standard wrench is adjustable enough to handle bolts for a potrack and the handle of an electric skillet. Nor do you have to be a "real data-processing geek" to know that you need a USB hub if you need more USB ports than are available. Come on, come up with a real geeky question...!
So what if Kris and Harriet are cruising up the street when Goldy walks out of Frank's Fix-It? She's taken whatever it is that Humberto took there and not something belonging to Kris..!?? Then, duh, Davidson has Goldy going on and on...and on ...actually, the entire story she's been going on...about how no one actually gets things fixed at Frank's and that they're all stoners. Why wouldn't it be the safest place to stash stolen goods? I think Davidson was simply trying to fill up space with this interior monologue. She's been doing this throughout the story and it's been rather irritating.
The Cover
The cover is as yummy looking as ever. My mouth was watering as I read the ingredients for the Crunch Time Cookies…drool!
elephantshoes4's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
alidottie's review against another edition
3.0
3 and a half stars
This book? It was really bizarre that this was the 18th (or so) book in this series and all of sudden? Mott Davidson was putting question marks all over the place in the conversations!!! It was sooooooo annoying that I know that she didn't do this in the past!!!! Even if she had one character who talked that way? But she wrote them all with that irritating style!! I finally got used to it, or she let up a little. The other problem was this book was 446 pages. This kind of a fluff mystery needs to be less than 320pp.
This book? It was really bizarre that this was the 18th (or so) book in this series and all of sudden? Mott Davidson was putting question marks all over the place in the conversations!!! It was sooooooo annoying that I know that she didn't do this in the past!!!! Even if she had one character who talked that way? But she wrote them all with that irritating style!! I finally got used to it, or she let up a little. The other problem was this book was 446 pages. This kind of a fluff mystery needs to be less than 320pp.
amicarlton's review against another edition
3.0
The series is definitely winding down. It has lost some of the magic, but I am still invested in all the characters. But the fact it took me like four months to listen to it probably says something.
lyndam's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
"Goldilocks catering where everything is just right" with Goldy and another adventure. Boyd is great and I hope that he gets together with Yolanda (her great aunt is a bit off but I would be cranky too if I was in that kind of pain). This story had a lot more characters that intersected with each other.
Narrator is good, listened at 2.5 speed.
Narrator is good, listened at 2.5 speed.
cheesygiraffe's review against another edition
3.0
I love this series but this particular book had a convoluted plot. It was hard to keep up with what was going on and who did what. Very confusing. The characters and recipes were great as usual.
ofearna's review against another edition
4.0
Seems more serious than the earlier books... odd re-read 10/17/2012
ayregoddess's review against another edition
4.0
Typical Goldie story...as good as ever. Seems like the recipes took a bit of a backseat in this one.