Rating: 
Summary: It is time for Arch to move on
Review: I have read every one of these books about Goldy Shulz. I could hardly finish this one. Goldy doesn't seem to realize that Arch is actually abusing her verbally. At this point Ms. Davidson should just write Arch out of the series (he could go to college or in the military). His existence doesn't add anything positive to the story lines and in fact I had to make myself finish this book because his antics were so annoying.
Rating: 
Summary: Goldie is the Lucy Ricardo of this contemporary mystery
Review: I have read nearly all of Davidson's books about Goldie the caterer. She seems to be following a formula...and not paying attention to the whole. Just as Lucy Ricardo poked her nose into anything to do with the entertainment industry, Goldie is similarly out of place as an amateur detective. She has enough injuries to spend several days in bed recuperating, yet she forges out to take more foolish risks. Her policeman husband is passive and dull. I used to think Goldie was a sweet person...well check out how she talks to Liz at the fateful catering event...what a witch. And the verbs...who uses the word "chittered?" This plus the last two books written about Goldie, they seem to reek with formula, rather than good character and plot development. Goldie is not human. She is unbelievable and wooden. Ms. Davidson, get a better editor.
Rating: 
Summary: Incredibly disappointing!
Review: I have stated in my reviews of some of Diane Mott Davidson's other books in this series that I have come to regard Goldy and her family, along with Marla & Julian, almost as real people as she has done such a good job of describing them and making their lives so realistic. I don't know what in the world has happened during the writing of this book. As I was reading this book on vacation with family, I told them a few times that if it were not for the dedication in the front of the book, I would almost believe someone else had written it. In this book, Goldy is completely irresponsible as a parent, Arch is a caricature of an angst-ridden teenager, Marla is in a few scenes and behaves like a rich snob towards everyone, including her supposedly best friend Goldy, Tom was nearly non-existenet except to make an occasional meal and pamper to Goldy's whining....and the list goes on. All of these anomalies were so distracting to me, that I really didn't care much who did what to whom with regards to the murder and other crimes. I hope the next in the series will be back to Ms. Davidson's writing standards.
Rating:
Summary: Chopping Spree
Review: I love Diane Mott Davidson's books and not only own all the books but also all her books on tape. Ms. Davidson's story is wonderful as always but I was very disappointed BARBARA ROSENBLAT DID NOT NARRATE THIS ONE. Didn't realize that until I received the tapes--I WISH I'D SAVED MY MONEY. Joyce Bean is an ok narrator I guess but her reading of this book is lifeless, flat and boring when compared to the energy, character voices and humor Ms. Rosenblat pours into her readings of this series. I don't know which character is speaking most of the time. I had so looked forward to the release of this tape and it never dawned on me anyone but Rosenblat would narrate, so I didn't even check that out. Next time, believe me, I will and won't purchase any that don't include Ms. Rosenblat.
Rating: 
Summary: Chopping Spree
Review: I sometimes wonder why some people tell you in advance,{in a review}they will not be buying an authors book again because they were not happy with one book. I only wish I was talented enough as Diana Mott Davidson, to write a book. We must all agree that there are times we become dissatisfied, with one thing or another, but we don't stop our lives at this point. I myself cannot wait until the next book comes out. I enjoyed Chopping Spree, and have passed it on to others, who are enjoying it too!
Rating:
Summary: Julian's back!
Review: I think I'd actually give this 3 and half, if one could give half stars. Yes, one does have to wonder how Goldy gets into all the trouble that she does. But sometimes I find the "this can't be happening" aspect of the stories is what makes it fun. After all, who wants to read about a person who's going through just another day like you're having... I'm a big coffee fan, as well as a chocolate fan, so I just have to sit back and giggle as she's enjoying her espressos. (But just to be quite accurate, however, you do know that espresso actually has less caffeine than regular coffee, don't you?) But I do have to agree that she drinks way too much! :-) It's partly what causes Julian to have his problems in this book. I was so glad to see him back in the thick of things, though dismayed that the poor dear was a jailbird. But I won't be giving away the plot when I say that of course Goldy comes through and solves the mystery.
I haven't tried the recipes in any of her books, but would like to someday. I haven't found them to be a distraction to be in the middle of the chapter, but it probably would be better off just to put them all at the end of the book or at least at the end of the chapter. I love to cook, so I can put up with some of the descriptions of her cooking, but maybe there doesn't need to be quite as much of it. After all, how integral is it to the plot?
Another series that has a lot of stuff about food is Lilian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who .... They're not culinary mysteries, but Qwilleran loves good food, so... Probably, if I had to choose between this one and the other, I'd have to vote for the cats. But luckily, I don't have to choose. Now for the coffee snob and/or addict, one might also take a look at Margaret Truman's Capital Crimes series.
I do think that someone should teach The Jerk a lesson once and for all. No woman should ever have to put up with such a person in her life! How he manages to charm women continually, I don't know. Are women that blinded by his money?
Rating:
Summary: Totally Downhill Ride
Review: I used to love this series, but it's gone downhill the last few installments. This one was so bad, it's a miracle I finished it. Arch needs to be shipped off to boot camp immediately. He used to be a cute distraction to the stories, now he makes them unreadable. He sneaks out to get a tattoo and when Goldie sees it and questions it, he tells her to "back off" -- which she does. He demands thousands of dollars in birthday presents and threatens her if he doesn't get them -- so she does. There's not a single redeeming quality left in the little punk, and he needs to be gone. Tom has become a spineless wimp. He allows Arch to abuse his mother, he keeps his mouth shut as Goldy breaks the law and puts herself in danger to stick her nose into things she has no business sticking it into. And he's a cop, for God's sake! I get that he's supposed to be a great guy after "The Jerk," but this type of behavior just doesn't cut it. He's become unlikeable. Even Goldy has become unlikeable. Why exactly does she allow all this stuff to happen with Arch? She feels guilty for doing what most of us have to do -- working? Would it somehow be better if she was at an office from 9-5 instead of working from her own house on her own schedule that allows for things like taking Arch and his friends to a school field trip? She's even wimply with her clients, threatening that she won't set up their meals if they don't pay her, and then setting up anyway when they sidestep her. And she still continues to put herself in dangerous situations and get herself hurt. There's nothing at all to like about her anymore. Finally, the book should've been about half the length it actually turned out to be. Pages and pages are spent on things that could've been said in half a page. I don't need detailed descriptions of every ingredient Goldy removes from her side-by-side, of every vegetable she chops, nor of every cup of espresso she downs. I also wonder who told this author it was a good idea to stick her recipes right in the middle of chapters, often breaking up a sentence...I find that highly annoying. And if we're going to get the recipes right there, why do we need detailed descriptions on Goldy's preparations? It's overkill, and I found myself skimming through at least half the book. About the only thing positive I can say is that at least Julian and Marla are still somewhat amusing...but based on the way the rest of this series has been going, I don't expect that to last much longer. It's time to stick a fork in Goldy...she's done.
Rating:
Summary: Chopping Chipmunks
Review: I've enjoyed all of Diane Mott Davidson's books on audio tape read by Barbara Rosenblatt. The abridged versions, sans food and wisecracks, read by Cherry Jones were not worth the time -- plot and characters too thin without the rest. BUT, THIS AUDIO BOOK READ BY JOYCE BEAN IS PAINFUL TO LISTEN TO. Her shrill voice, without subtlty or intonation, sounds just like Alvin of ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS fame is reading. Why, oh why was this very poor reader chosen? How are these decisions made? Unless Davidson and her publisher return to Rosenblatt's buttery bemused voice, they will lose me as a devoted reader.
Rating:
Summary: This is getting old.
Review: I've read, and enjoyed, the other Goldie Schultz books by Davidson, but this one is the least enjoyable. The characters are increasingly 2 dimensional and it's time to add a little more depth to them. At least there is nothing of Goldie's abusive ex husband in this book. That is a relationship I am getting very tired of reading about. Goldie's son, Arch, has become a whiny, rude, abusive (at least verbally) and thoroughly repellant character who needs to have his behind paddled, not his every whim indulged. Most 15 year olds would not be allowed to indulge in this type of behavior with impunity. The plot in this book is disturbing - a group of people who find acquisitiveness and one-upsmanship more important than friendship, kindness or even civility. Even Marla, Goldie's old friend, and one of the more interesting characters in the books, has succummed to this type of behavior. I doubt I will be reading any more of Davidson's books.
Rating:
Summary: Caffeine Overload
Review: If you love coffee this is a book for you! There were more casual references to making coffee, types of coffee drinks, quality of coffee, caffeine and side effects that there was hardly room for a mystery. While other books from this series have been engaging this one lacked focus. It started with an interesting concept that was lost along the way. Short shrift was given to her family life that has been so interesting in the past and certainly Julian is more than "our family friend" for sure. I have loved this author from the start and look forward to her next book with hopes she goes back to incorporating the characters we already love.
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