The Grilling Season by Diane Mott Davidson

Book Details
The Grilling Season by Diane Mott Davidson
Paperback, 432 pages
1998, Bantam
ISBN: 0553574663
Series: Book 7 in the Goldy Schulz series

Synopsis
Caterer and amateur detective Goldy Schulz is at it again in this tasty treat of a novel. Although catering two events more different than a hockey party (complete with the guests chasing pucks on blades) and a decorous breakfast for a doll collectors' convention would be hard to imagine, Goldy manages each with aplomb, Goalies Grilled Tuna and Babsie's Tarts included. While this would be plenty for anyone's plate, Goldy is also trying to decide whether she wants her abusive ex-husband arrested for his current girlfriend's murder. Certainly Goldy is perfectly willing to believe that the Jerk (as Davidson's fans know she has dubbed her former spouse, John Richard Korman) could have done the loathsome deed in one of his violent moments, but she is torn by the desire both to see him brought to justice and for their son not to have a convicted killer for a father. So, between letting the pizza dough rise and baking treasures such as Chocolate Comfort Cookies, Goldy sets out to make sure the police have indeed got the right man.

Review
The Grilling Season was one of the weaker culinary mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson. Not nearly as light and fluffy as the usual topics covered, The Grilling Season dealt with Goldy's ex-husband being suspected of murder and her sons pleas to find the real killer. In any other (cozy mystery) situation this would be normal, but the history of John Richard's abuse against Goldy both in their marriage and after make it really hard to believe she would try to help him no matter what her son asked. Speaking of her son, the usually caring and good-natured Arch becomes increasingly hateful to his mother whenever she shows even the slightest hesitance of wanting to defend John Richard.

A lot of Goldy's actions and reactions in this novel seemed to ring not quite true. Although possibly an attempt to give the long-standing feud between Goldy and her ex-husband some finality, it just didn't seem right in the line of the rest of the series. Keeping the book from being a wash were the vast and always interesting residents of Aspen Meadow and all of the delicious-sounding food. The Grilling Season may be necessary to a series fan, but isn't quite worth a stand-alone read.

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