Diane Mott Davidson Books in Order

Diane Mott Davidson is a writer from the United States. She is the author of 17 mysteries starring Goldy Schulz, a chef, and amateur sleuth.

Diane Mott Davidson was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to a Navy officer stationed at the Pentagon. She has sisters and one brother.

Diane attended Charlottesville’s St. Anne’s School, where she was encouraged to become a writer. She attended Wellesley College and Stanford University, where she earned a double major in Art History and Political Science. She later earned her master’s degree in art history from Johns Hopkins.

Diane Mott Davidson’s book names are inspired by different cuisines and drinks. The idea for Goldy Schulz, a caterer doubling as a sleuth, Davidson attributes to the influence of Robert B. Parker’s novels.

Diane believes she can engage with her audience on a profound level. They not only appreciate her stories, but they also have the option to try and implement her recipes. This way, they can taste what the characters ate and drank in the novel.

Davidson and her husband, Jim, have been married for nearly 40 years. Their family consists of three sons, a daughter-in-law, and a basset hound.

Diane Mott Davidson Books in order 

Goldy Schulz

1. Catering to Nobody (1990)
2. Dying for Chocolate (1992)
3. The Cereal Murders (1993)
4. The Last Suppers (1994)
5. Killer Pancake (1995)
6. The Main Corpse (1996)
7. The Grilling Season (1997)
8. Prime Cut (1998)
9. Tough Cookie (2000)
10. Sticks & Scones (2001)
11. Chopping Spree (2002)
12. Double Shot (2004)
13. Dark Tort (2006)
14. Sweet Revenge (2008)
15. Fatally Flaky (2009)
16. Crunch Time (2011)
17. The Whole Enchilada (2013)

Standalone Novel Non-fiction

1. Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook (2015)

Similar authors

• Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen series follows Baker Hannah Swenson. She teams up with her fiancé Detective Mike to solve a string of crimes including theft, vandalism, and murder.
• Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery features a cast of quirky characters. They work at the Village Blend, a landmark coffee shop. Every one of Cleo’s books is not only a coffee lover’s mystery but a culinary mystery.
• Krista Davis’s A Domestic Diva Mystery series follows Sophie, an enthusiastic event planner. At one point in her life, she comes across a dead body and feels intrigued to know what happened.

See also: Lorna Barrett Books in Order.

Most recommended books

1. Some Buried Caesar (Nero Wolfe, #6) (4.18 Goodreads score)
2. Double Shot (A Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery, #12) (3.98 Goodreads score)
3. Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook: Cooking, Writing, Family, Life (3.94 Goodreads score)
4. Killer Pancake (A Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery, #5) (3.91 Goodreads score)
5. Prime Cut (A Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery, #8) (3.91 Goodreads score)

Awards

Diane got a nomination for an Anthony Award and an Agatha Award for her first Goldy Schulz novel.  She also received the Anthony Award for a short story in 1993.

Upcoming releases

Diane Mott Davidson does not appear to have a forthcoming book. Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook, their most recent book, was released on September 22nd, 2015. It is the most recent addition to the Goldy Schulz Non-Fiction series.

Book summaries

Catering to Nobody (1990)

Catering a wake is not Goldy’s idea of fun. Yet the Colorado caterer throws herself into preparing a savory feast including Poached Salmon and Strawberry Shortcake Buffet designed to soothe forty mourners. And her culinary efforts seem to be exactly what the doctor ordered…until her ex-father-in-law gynecologist Fritz Korman is struck down and Goldy is accused of adding poison to the menu. Now, with the Department of Health impounding her leftovers, her ex-husband proclaiming her guilt, and her business about to be shut down, Goldy knows she can’t wait for the police to serve up the answers. She’ll soon uncover more than one family skeleton and a veritable stew of unpalatable secrets–the kind that could make Goldy the main course in an unsavory killer’s next murder!

Dying for Chocolate (1992)

Goldy Bear is the bright, opinionated, wildly inventive caterer whose personal life is a recipe for disaster, with bills taking a bite out of her budget and her abusive ex-husband making tasteless threats. Determined to take control, Goldy moves her business to the ritzy Aspen Meadow Country Club. Soon she’s preparing decadent dinners and posh society picnics—and enjoying the favors of Philip Miller, a handsome local shrink, and Tom Schulz, her more-than-friendly neighborhood cop. Until, that is, the dishy doctor drives his BMW into an oncoming bus. Convinced that Philip’s bizarre death was no accident, Goldy begins to sift through the dead doc’s unpalatable secrets. But this case is seasoned with unexpected danger and even more unexpected revelations—the kind that could get a caterer killed.

The Cereal Murders (1993)

Thanks to her recent adventures in Dying for Chocolate, Goldy Bear, the premier caterer of Aspen Meadow, Colorado, is no stranger to violence–or sudden death. But when she agrees to cater the first College Advisory Dinner for Seniors and Parents at the exclusive Elk Park Preparatory School, the last thing she expects to find at the end of the evening is the battered body of the school valedictorian.Who could have killed Keith Andrews, and why? Goldy’s hungry for some answers–and not just because she found the corpse. Her young son, Arch, a student at Elk Park Prep, has become a target for some not-so-funny pranks, while her eighteen-year-old live-in helper, Julian, has become a prime suspect in the Andrews boy’s murder.As her investigation intensifies, Goldy’s anxiety level rises faster than homemade doughnuts. . .as she turns up evidence that suggests that Keith knew more than enough to blow the lid off some very unscholarly secrets. And then, as her search rattles one skeleton too many, Goldy learns a crucial fact: a little knowledge about a killer can be a deadly thing.

The Last Suppers (1994)

It should be the happiest day of Goldy’s life. The Colorado caterer is about to tie the knot with the man of her dreams, homicide detective Tom Schultz. But minutes before the ceremony is to begin, Tom phones with an urgent message: The wedding is off, and the reason is murder! Tom was on his way to the church when he stopped to pick up Father Olson—and found the rector shot and dying. Yet by the time Tom’s fellow officers arrive at the crime scene, Tom has disappeared. Has the groom been abducted by the killer? Or has he gotten cold feet and walked out of Goldy’s life? For better or worse, Goldy needs to know the truth. So she puts her exquisitely decorated wedding cake on ice and begins to search for clues. Her fiancé’s life—and her future happiness—will lead her to an unsavory killer whose unholy passion make Goldy a widow before she’s a wife.

Killer Pancake (1995)

While catering a cosmetics company luncheon, Goldy witnesses the hit and run death of a rising young sales associate. Could the death have anything to do with the animal rights picket line in the parking lot…or with the exotic blue rose found next to the victim’s body?Under the spell of Barbara Rosenblat’s skillful narration, listeners will feel the urge to bite their nails as they realize that, this time, Goldy’s bitten off more than she can chew. Luckily, Ms. Davidson’s tempting recipes for Fudge Soufflé and Killer Pancakes provide a tasty alternative.

The Main Corpse (1996)

Goldy, owner of Goldilocks’ Catering, barely weathered a disastrous spring in which relentless rains and driving snow put a real damper on her business. But now, thanks to her best friend, Marla, the Colorado caterer is suddenly cooking up a storm…lovingly preparing Crab Quesadillas, Tomato-Brie Pie, and Gold Foil-Wrapped Fudge Bars for her wealthy new client, Prospect Financial Partners.The Prospect Partners’ financial whiz, Tony Royce, with whom Marla is having a tempestuous affair, and Albert Lipscomb, who is personally managing Marla’s money, have hired Goldy to prepare a sumptuous party to kick off their latest venture: the reopening of the Eurydice Gold Mine. Anxious to take advantage of a golden opportunity, Goldy arrives at the mine site early, loaded down with goodies. Yet just when she thinks she can relax, all hell breaks loose–and the main culprit is Marla.Her best friend is sure the mine venture is a scam. And when, several days later, Albert ends up missing, it looks as if Marla was right. Why, then, is the police captain treating Goldy’s best friend as if she had committed a crime? And how can Goldy keep her fourteen-year-old son Arch and his unreliable bloodhound from making matters worse?As Goldy works furiously to restore her business by whipping up hot, fragrant Sour Cream Cherry Coffeecake and featherlight Cinnamon Scones, she findsherself drawn into a most unusual situation of missing partners, stolen millions, and multiple homicides. And only when Goldy can discover which of the victims is the main corpse will she be able to unravel the mystery that threatens to cancel out her friend’s dearest asset–her life.

The Grilling Season (1997)

A chilly reception….Caterer Goldy Schulz has been hired to host a hockey party. But the proceedings won’t be all fun and games. Unfortunately, her client won’t be satisfied until Goldy adds a hefty serving of revenge.An ex-husband from hell….Patricia McCracken is certain that her obstetrician and her penny-pinching HMO are responsible for the loss of her baby. Now she is suing both, and she wants Goldy’s advice on coming out on top. For Dr. John Richard Korman, aka the Jerk, is none other than Goldy’s abusive ex-husband. Goldy knows all about John Richard’s secret life–but even she is shocked when he’s arrested for the murder of his latest girlfriend.A dish best served cold….As much as Goldy would like to see her ex get his just desserts, could he really be a killer? Soon she will find herself sifting through a spicy mix of sizzling gossip for clues to a mystery that threatens her catering deadline, her relationship with her son and new husband… and even her life.

Prime Cut (1998)

Caterer Goldy Schulz is convinced things couldn’t get worse. An unscrupulous rival is driving her out of business. An incompetent contractor has left her precious kitchen in shambles. And she has just agreed to cater a fashion shoot at a nineteenth-century mountain cabin with her mentor and old friend, French chef André Hibbard.Together Goldy and André struggle in a hopelessly outdated kitchen to cater to a vacuous crowd of beautiful people whose personal dramas climax when a camera is pitched through a window . . . into the buffet. Then Goldy’s contractor is found hanging in the house of one of her best friends. A second murder follows and Goldy must somehow solve a mystery and prepare for a society soirée that could make—or break—her career.It’s a mystery that involves the dead contractor’s unwholesome past, a food saboteur, the theft of four historical cookbooks, and an overzealous D.A. who has suspended Goldy’s detective husband, Tom, from the force. What Goldy discovers is the perfect recipe for murder. And she may be dessert!

Tough Cookie (2000)

When caterer Goldy Schulz is offered a temporary stint hosting a cooking show for PBS, she jumps at the chance. After all, she could use the money—not to mention the great exposure. Plus taping the shows at Colorado’s posh Killdeer Ski Resort will be fun. A little cooking, a little chitchat. What could go wrong?The answer: everything! When Goldy has to do one of her shows live for a PBS telethon, the broadcast is riddled with culinary catastrophes—from the Chesapeake Crab Cakes right down to the Ice-Capped Gingersnaps. But the deadliest dish of all comes after the cameras go off—and a baffling accident claims a life. Then a series of suspicious mishaps places Goldy’s own life in jeopardy, and she knows she’d better whip up her own crime-solving recipe, and fast—before a deadly dash of danger ends her cooking career once and for all. . . .

Sticks & Scones (2001)

For Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz, accepting a series of bookings at Hyde Castle is like a dream come true. It’s not every day that she gets to cook authentic Elizabethan fare–especially at a real castle that was brought over from England and reassembled stone by stone in Aspen Meadow. Goldy is determined that everything will go right–which is why, she figures later, everything went terribly wrong. It begins when a shotgun blast shatters her window. Then Goldy discovers a body lying in a nearby creek. And when shots ring out for the second time that day, someone Goldy loves is in the line of fire. Suddenly the last thing Goldy wants to think about is Shakespeare’s Steak Pie, 911 Chocolate Emergency Cookies, or Damson-in-Distress Plum Tart. Could one of her husband Tom’s police investigations have triggered a murder? Or was her violent, recently paroled ex responsible? With death peering around every corner, Goldy needs to cook up some crime-solving solutions–before the only dish that’s left on her menu is murder.

Chopping Spree (2002)

For Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz, business isn’t just booming–it’s skyrocketing. Her friend Marla is constantly warning her, “Success can kill you.” But Goldy doesn’t take the warning literally until her next booking: a cocktail party for the Westside Mall’s Elite Shoppers Club.While setting up, Goldy is nearly run down by a truck with no intention of stopping. Then she finds an old friend in a pile of sale shoes–stabbed with one of Goldy’s new knives. Goldy must catch the real killer between whipping up Sweethearts’ Swedish Meatballs, Quiche Me Quick, and Diamond Lovers’ Hot Crab Dip. Why was the victim carrying a powerful narcotic? Who hired a private investigator shortly before the murder? Goldy’s gourmet instincts tell her the final course in this case will be a real killer.

Double Shot (2004)

The governor of Colorado has commuted the prison sentence of Goldy Schulz’s ultra-handsome, ultra-charming, ultra-venal ex-husband, Dr. John Richard Korman, otherwise known to Goldy as the Jerk. He’s released, and soon afterward Goldy becomes the victim of threats, rumors, and violence.Then there’s a murder and suspicion centers on Goldy. Suddenly, she is faced with the challenge of running her successful catering business while fending off two persistent detectives.Caught in a web of secrets and lies that can tear her family apart, Goldy must use all of her considerable powers of detection to find the real killer before she herself becomes a target.

Dark Tort (2006)

I tripped over the body of Dusty Routt sometime after 10 on the evening of October 19th.Goldy Schulz has a lucrative new gig, preparing breakfasts and conference room snacks for a local law firm. It’s time consuming, but Goldy is enjoying it—until the night she arrives to find the firm’s paralegal dead. The poor girl also happens to be Goldy’s next-door neighbor, and now her grieving mother begs Goldy to find out who murdered her daughter.Just because the police are on the case doesn’t mean Goldy can’t do a little snooping—and catering—too. Before long, Goldy is knee-deep in suspects, one of whom is very dangerous and very liable to cook Goldy’s goose.

Sweet Revenge (2008)

Goldy Schulz is thrilled to be catering a holiday breakfast feast for the staff of the Aspen Meadow Library. But her merriment goes cold when she spots a woman lurking in the stacks—a woman with a striking resemblance to Sandee Brisbane. The Sandee Brisbane who shot and killed Goldy’s ex-husband, the Jerk. It sure looks like her, but it can’t be because Sandee is dead. Or so everyone believes.But the holiday madness is only just beginning. Soon the body of Jed Borholtz, a former district attorney turned high-end map dealer, is found in a corner of the library—with a map worth thousands of dollars hidden in his clothing. Goldy is convinced the allegedly dead Sandee Brisbane is involved. Now all she has to do is prove it—if she can stay alive that is. . . .

Fatally Flaky (2009)

It’s been a long, rainy summer for Goldy Schulz, who is engaged in planning wedding receptions for what seems to be all of Aspen Meadow. It’s bad enough that Billie Attenborough, the bride from hell, has changed her menu six times and the event date twice. Now she wants to move the location to the Gold Gulch Spa just a scant two days before tying the knot to her doctor fiancé.Then Doc Finn, beloved local physician and the best friend of Goldy’s godfather, Jack, is killed when his car tumbles into a ravine. At least that’s what appears to have happened. But Jack thinks Doc was murdered because of the research he was doing at the spa—allegations that are confirmed when Jack himself is attacked.So Goldy dons chef’s whites and goes undercover at the spa, where coffee is outlawed in favor of calming smoothies, and the fruit cocktail doesn’t include fresh fruit. Add in the obstreperous owner, who years ago tried to sabotage Goldy’s fledgling business, and she’s got her hands full.Above all, there seems to be a clever killer on the spa grounds, watching her every move. After what befell Jack, Goldy knows that she might be next. Catering weddings, and cooking low-fat food, could be killing her—literally.

Crunch Time (2011)

Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz cooks up big trouble as she tries to help her longtime friend and fellow chef Yolanda Garcia. When the rental house shared by Yolanda and her irrepressible aunt Ferdinanda is destroyed by arson, the pair move in with cop-turned-PI Ernest McLeod. But then Ernest is shot dead and his house is set on fire, nearly killing Goldy, Yolanda, Ferdinanda, and nine beagle puppies that Ernest had recently rescued from a puppy mill.Concerned for her friends, Goldy invites them to stay with her while the sheriff’s department investigates. Yet even Goldy’s house isn’t safe, and after a failed break-in by an unknown intruder a cop is sent to keep an eye on things. Then a second body is found.Swapping her chef’s hat for a sleuthing cap, the intrepid Goldy steps up the investigation. But she’s got to move fast. It’s crunch time to close in on a killer, before he can close in on her.

The Whole Enchilada (2013)

Amateur sleuth and caterer extraordinaire Goldy Schulz has overcome her share of culinary disasters, not to mention a taste (or two) of death. But all that experience is little preparation when one of Goldy’s best friends collapses and dies at a birthdy party.The autospsy reveals that the death wasn’t a heart attack as everyone presumed. It was something far more nefarious. Someone added a sprinkle of poison to the victim’s plate. Suddenly, suspicion falls on the caterer who provided the party’s food: Goldy herself!Then another caterer—a woman who suspiciously resembles Goldy—is stabbed, and Goldy is attacked outside her own house. A devious killer is on the loose, and he wants to serve Goldy up on a platter. But the irrepressible sleuth

Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook (2015)

Here are recipes for Appetizers and Soups, Eggs and Cheese, Salads and Starches, Meat, Poultry, and Fish, Breads, Desserts, and finally Low-Carb Recipes (how Davidson lost thirty pounds and kept them off). Most of the dishes came from “playing around with dishes tasted in restaurants.” Others are family favorites, some came from friends, and a few are “happy accidents.” At last, fans can enjoy delicious fare such as Bacon-Wrapped Artichokes with Dijon Cream Sauce, Diamond Lovers’ Hot Crab Dip, Sweethearts’ Swedish Meatballs in Burgundy Sauce, André’s Coq au Vin, Ice-Capped Gingersnaps, Damson-in-Distress Plum Tart, and Dad’s Bread.Part memoir, part writing manual, part cookbook, Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook combines the author’s gift for storytelling with her skills in the kitchen. She introduces the recipes with stories about how she came to create them, anecdotes from her experiences as a writer and home cook, and includes her joy at receiving a fan letter from the legendary French Chef herself, Julia Child.Full of irresistible food, Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook is a must-have book for Davidson fans, food lovers, and cooks everywhere.