Fatally Flaky

By: Diane Mott Davidson

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz encounters bridezilla and murder in another delectable novel by the New York Times best-selling author of Sweet Revenge, Dark Tort, and Double Shot.

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, wants to move the location to the Gold Gulch Spa just a scant two days before tying the knot to her doctor fiance. Then Doc Finn, best friend of Goldy's godfather Jack, is killed when his car tumbles into a ravine. But Jack thinks Doc was murdered because of 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. 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.

©2009 Diane Mott Davidson (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Ugh

What little this silly book has to offer is owed to the reader. I made the mistake of trying to listen to all of Barbara Rosenblatt's books but got tripped up here. Do not make the same mistake unless you think the author is really Julia Child.

A disappointment

I've listened to all the other audiobooks in this series, enjoyed them and usually looked for opportunities to listen while driving, making meals, etc. For this latest, I really didn't care if or when I finished the book.

As others have mentioned, Goldie seems like an entirely different person in this book. Tom and Marla are almost absent. Arch may be a teenager, but he's turned into a selfish, bullying brat. Goldy is supposed to be the former victim of domestic abuse who learned to stand up for herself, but she's bullied constantly by Arch. I kept thinking: come on Goldy, where's your backbone? The bridezilla is nothing but a stereotype and some of the things Goldy does are either stupid or contrived or both.

When this book came out, I was glad I'd have another Goldy story to read, but less than halfway in I just stopped listening. I finally came back to finish the book, but doubt I'd read any additional releases in this series.

GREAT LISTEN

LOVE GOLDY, CANT ASK FOR BETTER.

Where's Goldie?

This is the most disappointing book in the series. Goldie isn't just flaky, she's almost unrecognizable. Her usual spunk is almost completely missing, she allows herself to be bullied by both clients and strangers, and some of the things she does -- such as the hot tub scene in the spa -- are unlike the character that's been developed throughout the series.

Some of the other characters, including the bridezilla and her mother, are two dimensional and stereotyped.

The plot is rather dull. There's very little tension in its development and consequently very little satisfaction in the resolution.

I've read/listened to all the books in the series. This one seems like something that the author just tossed together. Maybe like so many of us she's feeling the bad economy. I'll think twice about buying another book in the series, and maybe the author should think twice before writing another.

unnecessary music ruined a good book

I have listened to the whole series. this is the first book that has crappy music at the end and start off chapters. no warning. thought something was wrong with my device because the music plays OVER the book narration. tried on a different device. same problem. annoying and disappointing. made listening difficult. if the next book has the awful music, the rest of the series may not be worth finishing.