Chopping Spree

Diane Mott Davidson

Goldilock's Catering is experiencing a boom in business. This particular week, Goldie has three high-paying gigs - two at the local mall and one for a businessman trying to impress new investors. These are high paying jobs with the potential for more business.

But this means Goldie is overworking. Arch is about to turn 15, and has the attitude to match the age. (Any parent of a sullen teenager can understand.) Preparing for the events takes a lot of time. She stays up late and gets up early.

The mall manager is an old friend of Goldie's from college. Barry Dean and Goldie share a passion for coffee. When the woman he is dating praises Goldie and her business, he hires her for the exclusive event for the Elite Shopper's Club. When she and he are walking across the construction area for the expansion of the mall, someone almost runs them down with one of the construction trucks. Later, when Goldie goes to meet him for her final check, she finds that he has been stabbed in the chest. She starts to help him. Instead, someone hits her over the head, knocking her out.

When she awakes, she discovers her assistant and almost family member, Julien, has been accused of murdering Barry. When Goldie starts to shake off the concussion, she knows she has to find out who really killed Barry Dean and why.

Once again, Davidson has given the reader a cozy mystery to enjoy. This is a good beach mystery. The mystery itself has its unexpected twists and turns, leading to an ending that the reader sees soming, just not sure why. It's an easy read, a good way to while away a few hours.

Catering to Nobody
Dying for Chocolate
The Cereal Murders
The Last Suppers
Killer Pancake
The Main Corpse
The Grilling Season
Prime Cut
Tough Cookie
Sticks and Scones
Chopping Spree
Double Shot
Dark Tort
Sweet Revenge
Fatally Flaky
Crunch Time