Goldy Schulz Books in Order

How to Read the Goldy Schulz Series

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Goldy Schulz series in publication order. Because the books follow Goldy's personal evolution—transitioning from a struggling, newly divorced single mother recovering from an abusive marriage to a successful business owner and wife—the character development is deeply linear. Skipping around will spoil major relationship milestones, character growth, and the aging of her son, Arch.

Unlike many cozy mysteries where the protagonist's life remains static, Diane Mott Davidson crafts a persistent continuity. The town of Aspen Meadow, Colorado, changes, relationships mature, and the stakes rise with each installment.

Goldy Schulz Books in Publication and Chronological Order

The main series consists of 17 novels published between 1990 and 2013, along with a companion cookbook released in 2015. Conveniently, the chronological story order matches the publication sequence perfectly:

1. Catering to Nobody (1990) – The debut that introduces Goldy as she caters a wake and is accused of poisoning her ex-father-in-law.
2. Dying for Chocolate (1992) – Goldy takes a catering job at a country club, only to stumble into a suspicious car crash case while trying to escape her abusive ex-husband.
3. The Cereal Murders (1993) – Stumbling onto a murder at her son's school, Goldy must balance parenting, catering, and tracking a killer.
4. The Last Suppers (1994) – Goldy's wedding day arrives, but her plans are derailed when the groom goes missing and the priest is found murdered.
5. Killer Pancake (1995) – While catering for a cosmetics company, Goldy is drawn into an investigation involving a hit-and-run and corporate espionage.
6. The Main Corpse (1996) – Goldy caters a party in a historic mining town where a close friend becomes the prime suspect in a disappearance.
7. The Grilling Season (1997) – When her ex-husband is accused of murder, Goldy reluctantly steps in to clear the family name.
8. Prime Cut (1998) – Dealing with kitchen construction delays and a suspicious death at a renovator's home.
9. Tough Cookie (2000) – Hosting a cooking show at a ski resort, Goldy finds herself trapped by a blizzard and a murder suspect.
10. Sticks & Scones (2001) – Catering an event at an English-style castle in Colorado leads to historical intrigue and modern crime.
11. Chopping Spree (2002) – Goldy takes a job at a local mall, only to find the owner of a boutique dead.
12. Double Shot (2004) – Following a brutal attack, Goldy must deal with physical recovery, her ex-husband's release, and a murder charge.
13. Dark Tort (2006) – Investigating the death of a young paralegal who worked for Goldy's friend.
14. Sweet Revenge (2008) – Goldy prepares a massive holiday breakfast while searching for the connection between a dead mapmaker and an officer.
15. Fatally Flaky (2009) – Catering a series of chaotic summer weddings while trying to solve the murder of a docent.
16. Crunch Time (2011) – A fire at a friend's house leads to a search for a missing investigator and a case involving illegal pet trades.
17. The Whole Enchilada (2013) – The final novel wraps up Goldy's long-running story arc with a birthday celebration that turns deadly.

The Companion Cookbook

• Goldy's Kitchen Cookbook: Cooking, Writing, Family, Life (2015) – A non-fiction treasury that collects the most beloved recipes from the series alongside personal essays from Diane Mott Davidson.

The Recipe Element and Short Stories

One of the defining features of the Goldy Schulz series is the inclusion of recipes. In the early novels, recipes like Poached Salmon and Sugar Plum Cake were embedded directly within the chapters. As the series progressed (starting with Double Shot in 2004), Davidson transitioned to compiling the recipes at the end of the book, which readers found much more practical for actual kitchen use.

For completionists, Davidson also penned a short story titled "Cold Turkey", first published in the 1992 anthology Death Dines at 8:30. This story won the prestigious Anthony Award for Best Short Story in 1993 and fits neatly into the early era of the series.

Hallmark Movie Adaptations: Curious Caterer Mysteries

If you are coming to the books from the popular Hallmark Mystery movies, you should note several significant differences. The film series, titled The Curious Caterer Mysteries (beginning in 2022 with Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate), stars Nikki DeLoach and Andrew Walker.

To make the adaptation work for television, the creators made several changes: Goldy's last name is changed to "Berry" instead of "Schulz," the tone is notably softened, and the darker themes of domestic abuse from the early novels are heavily sanitized. While the movies capture the fun of a catering detective, the books offer a much deeper, richer, and sometimes darker look at Goldy's struggle for independence.

What to Know Before You Start

The series is set in the fictional town of Aspen Meadow, Colorado, which is heavily based on Davidson's real-life hometown of Evergreen, Colorado. Because Goldy is a professional caterer, the books are filled with culinary terminology and detailed prep work. If you plan to cook the recipes, the companion cookbook is your best resource, but reading the novels in order ensures you understand the personal context behind each dish she serves.