Double Shot

by Diane Mott Davidson

Book Overview

"Today's foremost practitioner of the culinary whodunit."
--Entertainment Weekly

"In the genre of culinary mystery writers, Davidson is a Julia Child among Betty Crockers, and there is no question that Double Shot is her best book."
--Denver Post

New York Times bestseller Diane Mott Davidson is the darling of cozy mystery readers and dedicated foodies the world over. Davidson is really cooking with Double Shot, another tantalizing...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060527307
• ISBN13: 9780060527303
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Convoluted Whodunit

Double Shot features the death and crimes of Dr. John Richard Korman as unraveled by his ex-wife Goldy Shultz while she is busy trying to continue to make her living as a caterer in the Denver suburbs. Those of us who read the other eleven books in the series, are familiar with her catering career and I was happy to note that it must be going well as in this book we find out early on that she has leased an old restaurant to have a regular venue for her catered events. In the past, we have learned of Dr. Korman's abusive personality and that while he was invariably charming to outsiders, his wives and girlfriends rarely escaped being beaten or worse. As a matter of fact, in the previous books, Dr. Korman was jailed after beating one girlfriend who complained. In the first chapter of this book, Goldy is catering a funeral lunch for a colleague of her ex-husband. Bringing in the dessert in the morning of the event, she is attacked, beaten, and her food is spoiled while mice and rotten fish are spread throughout her new kitchen area. Not only that, but once she manages to recover the luncheon, her ex-husband shows up with his current girlfriend and creates a scene in front of the whole lunch crowd with Goldy. The next major event in the chapter is that his bullet riddled body is discovered by Goldy a few hours later and Goldy's gun is found next to his body. So, with all the clues pointing to her, is it any wonder that the police and everyone else suspects her for finally and permanently getting rid of her ex-husband? Goldy puts on her investigative hat, calls on her friends and colleagues, and launches into an investigation of who really killed the ex. This causes even more complications as her current husband is a local police investigator who has his own problems to resolve; her son goes through various stages of grief and turns out to be harboring some secrets of his own and so forth. Eventually, a second body is discovered, and then a third and a fourth, and a fifth death is connected to the first. None of these seem to be connected at first, but do come together in the end. The conclusion of the story ties it all together and neatly explains how children born out of wedlock fifteen years ago were connected to a rape eight years before, and then connected to a rash of murders in the present time. The story is fiendishly complicated and it takes most of the 350 pages before you are capable of figuring out the various connections. Let me offer one clue only, this is actually a story of the life of Dr. John Richard Korman - Goldy is an almost accidental participant! I found this mystery to be delightful to read. The crimes were not simple and the plot was extremely imaginative. In addition to pointing out the difference between a man/woman relationship that is based on sex or lust, it points out relationships that are based on true love. The complicated personal relationships of the various characters that we normally find in this series contin

One of Her Best

I thought this was one of Davidson's best. Even though the JERK is gone, he still haunts Goldy throughout the story. This story has more complex character development in the main players such as Arch, Tom, and Goldy. There are many twists and turns that kept me from guessing the end. Davidson ended this story on a note that leaves me waiting eagerly for the next book in the series.

Excellent closure and elements for future characters

Finally Goldy is free of the abuse from the Jerk, whose murder opens the Pandora's box of all that he was capable of, and, it's worse than you will ever expect. So Excellent Riddance. On the other hand, it looks like there will be new family and friendship relationships developing in and around the Schulz family and.. who knows what tomorrow might bring. I only hope that Marla's character does not fade from view now that the main reason of her gossipy life has gone. Very promising and lovely, easy scrumptious recipes at the end don't interrupt the continuity of the story. Diane come back soon! No other culinary mystery author compares to Mott Davidson. I especially share her passion for espresso in every form, and was NOT disappointed.

Who killed the Jerk and why?

Goldy's ex-husband, Dr. John Richard Korman or the Jerk as she and Marla, his other ex-wife, refer to him, has just had his sentence commuted by the governor. Goldy is attacked and The Roundhouse sabotaged. She wonders if this could be the work of the Jerk. She doesn't let it stop her. With the help of Marla, Goldy's son Arch, Julian and Liz, the lunch following the funeral of Dr. Albert Kerr goes off without a hitch. Well, unless you call the confrontation she has with the Jerk outside after the lunch a hitch. He wants Arch at his place at 4 for their golf tee time. Goldy scrambles and arrives at the Jerk's place with Arch on time. But there's no Jerk. There is a guy asking Goldy for his money. She begins to wonder what the Jerk has gotten himself into this time. Goldy and Arch bang on the door to find the Jerk. He still hasn't come to the door, even after the man asking for money left. So Goldy goes around to his garage. Unfortunately inside she finds the Jerk shot to death. There are many reasons Goldy is a major suspect. Arch blames her for his death. What more could go wrong. Goldy, with Marla's help, begins to look into who could have wanted the Jerk dead. Unfortunately he was not a well-liked man. Tom, Goldy's husband, helps her as well as tries to keep her safe throughout the process. Can Goldy figure out why the Jerk was killed and by whom without causing her son any more grief? Plus can she stay safe and keep Arch safe? This was a very good book. I always like reading books in this series. The food descriptions really add to the wonderful mystery and investigation in each of her books. This was no exception. There are some wonderful sounding recipes in the back, as well. Someday I hope to try making one. Goldy and Marla have a way of getting into trouble, but they always make me laugh. They are great characters and so well developed. The additional characters in this book are just as rich. The Colorado setting adds to the story as well. I highly recommend this book.

Best in Series of 12, Does Not Disappoint

This is a very cleverly written mystery, the 12th in its series, featuring Goldy Schultz, a Colorado caterer and amateur sleuth. Someone is trying to sabotage her catering business. Before an important event, her kitchen is overrun by spoiling food and scurrying mice. Goldy suspects her villainous ex-husband John Korman, who has just been paroled by the governor of Colorado. Before she has a chance to confirm her suspicions, he turns up dead, shot by Goldy's stolen gun. A great read for people who like food and zany characters and superlative writing. Others I would recommend include Joanne Fluke, who writes about Hannah Swensen and includes recipes, and Pamela Troutman, whose detective in Deadly Diamonds guzzles champagne while he solves mysteries.