The New York Times bestselling author of Prime Cut serves up another tantalizing tale of culinary mystery and suspense--as chef turned sleuth Goldy Schulz goes on live television to prepare a meal to die for...but discovers that murder is already on the menu.When 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. Her catering business is in shambles, and publicizing her new venture as a personal chef will help get her back on track. 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 question Goldy should have asked is, what wouldn't go wrong--especially when she has to drive through a blizzard to do one of her shows live for a PBS telethon.To make matters worse, Goldy has an unpleasant duty to perform right after the show. She and her policeman husband, Tom, have agreed to sell a piece of Tom's treasured war memorabilia to help ease their financial woes. The buyer: Doug Portman, art critic, law enforcement wannabe--and, to her eternal embarrassment, Goldy's ex-boyfriend.Predictably, the live broadcast is riddled with culinary catastrophes--from the Chesapeake Crabcakes right down to the Ice-Capped Ginger Snaps. But the deadliest dish of all comes after the cameras go off, when an unexplainable skiing accident claims Doug Portman's life--and Goldy is the one who finds his crumpled body on the slopes. Even more shocking is what police find tucked away in Doug's BMW: a greeting card with a potentially deadly chemical inside.As the police try to determine if Doug's accident was really foul play, Goldy does a little investigating of her own--but finds more questions than answers. Was Doug, chairman of the state Parole Board, accepting bribes from potential parolees? Was he connected to the ex-con who's been telling Killdeer skiers that he's planning to poison a cop? And how did Goldy and Tom get mixed up in this mess?When a series of suspicious mishaps places Goldy's own life in jeopardy, she knows she must whip up her own crime-solving recipe, and fast--before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends her cooking career once and for all....Winter sports can be dangerous, but can they also be deadly? "Cooking at the Top!," Goldy's new TV show, is broadcast from one of Colorado's poshest ski areas. Unfortunately, she finds whipping up delicacies at 11,000 feet as perilous as skiing steep runs. Then a telethon raising money for the widow of a tracker killed mysteriously ends in disaster. Goldy finds herself searching the icy slopes to find a killer with desperate secrets to hide---but this may be one time the tough-cookie caterer will not be able to schuss to safety!Included are Goldy's original recipes for mouthwatering Sonora Chicken Strudel, incomparable Marmalade Mogul Muffins, and sinfully sumptuous Chocolate Coma Cookies.
PRAISE FOR
TOUGH COOKIE
“Chef Goldy Schultz’s life is a medley of murder, mayhem and melted chocolate. Tantalizing …highly readable fare.”—
“There’s a dollop of dead people inexplicably killed, a sprinkling of ski-country lore and a generous portion of recipes that will send you to the kitchen before you’ve stuck around to find out who did what to whom and why.”—
“You’ll love adding all of Ms. Davidson’s books to your kitchen bookshelves.”—
“This is one culinary mystery that ages well. Diane Mott Davidson has always had the perfect recipe for mystery and mayhem, and this one is no exception. The plot is as cleverly laid out as are the mouth-watering recipes. The twists and turns are as subtle as Goldy’s secret ingredients—just when you’ve got it, you don’t.
“Charming… Besides the food, Davidson’s strong points are her appealing characters and the vivid depiction of the Colorado high country.”—
“If you like to cook, scan the recipes; if you prefer to savor mysteries, skip the food; either way, you can’t lose.”—
“A most delicious crime caper.”—
“A writer whose story lines give readers something to sink their teeth into. Readers get all the usual Goldy goodies they’ve come to expect: humor, excitement, mystery and delicious recipes.”—
“The mystery rocks along, combining the best of the traditional cozy with a dollop of suspense and romance. It’s an entertaining culinary mystery with a satisfying ending.”—
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More Five-Star Praise for the Nationally Bestselling Mysteries of Diane Mott Davidson
“The Julia Child of mystery writers.”—
“Mouthwatering.”—
“Delicious … sure to satisfy!”—Sue Grafton
“If devouring Diane Mott Davidson’s newest whodunit in a single sitting is any reliable indicator, then this was a delicious hit.”—
“You don’t have to be a cook or a mystery fan to love Diane Mott Davidson’s books. But if you’re either—or both—her tempting recipes and elaborate plots add up to a literary feast!”—
“Mixes recipes and mayhem to perfection.”—
“Davidson is one of the few authors who have been able to seamlessly stir in culinary scenes without losing the focus of the mystery…. [She] has made the culinary mystery more than just a passing phase.”—
“Goldy and her collection of friends and family continue to mix up dandy mysteries and add tempting recipes to the readers’ cookbooks at the same time.”—
Dying for Chocolate
The Cereal Murders
The Last Suppers
Killer Pancake
The Main Corpse
The Grilling Season
Prime Cut
Tough Cookie
Sticks & Scones
Chopping Spree
To Triena Harper
Chief Deputy Coroner, Jefferson County, Colorado
who serves the citizens
of our state with dedication, hard work,
and compassion.
Thank you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
