Goldy has two big catering jobs on her agenda. The first is a hockey-themed party for a client who is seeking distraction from her problems. The second is a convention for collectors of adorable and extremely expensive "Babsie" dolls. But before she can complete either assignment, she finds herself in the middle of murder.

While on her way to pick up her teenaged son, Arch, from a friend's house, Goldy is shocked to find the body of Suz, her ex-husband's girlfriend, lying in a ditch outside Suz's elegant home. The culprit can be no other than John Richard Korman, Goldy's ex-husband, who physically abused and debased Goldy during their marriage. John Richard insists that he is innocent, although he admits that he and Suz had a fight. Inexplicably loyal, Arch wants Goldy to clear his father's name.

Goldy's new husband Tom, an Aspen Meadows police officer, warns Goldy that because she is a witness in the murder case she can't go around snooping and talking to other suspects. But Goldy has to pursue the matter, both for Arch and for herself. She can't help thinking that if she had filed charges against John Richard years ago when he was abusing her, he wouldn't have been free to murder Suz. Or could he really be innocent? Gradually Goldy learns that the murder victim, vice president of a growing HMO, was an expert at making enemies. Even Goldy's hockey-party client has a grudge against Suz, holding her and the HMO responsible for the death of her newborn baby.

This series, to date, has been on the light side, but it takes a darker turn in this installment. Goldy has to work through her memories of the abuse she suffered and her guilt about failing to prevent John Richard's abuse of other women. Her relationship with Arch, an awkward adolescent with a fair share of emotional problems, is a delicate balancing act. She wants to protect him but she also wants him to realize what a jerk his father is.

The Grilling Season is at its best when it explores the relationship among the characters or when it takes the occasional humorous road, as when Goldy deals with the irrational behavior exhibited by the rabid Babsie collectors. I felt cheated, however, when the identity of the killer was revealed. Call me ignorant, but I just couldn't see how even the most astute reader could have pieced together the clues to arrive at the same conclusion as Goldy. The solution came from too far out in left field to be satisfying.

Having read a majority of the previous novels in this series, it's difficult for me to surmise if a newcomer could fully appreciate The Grilling Season. Davidson does a good job of reviewing the history of the major characters in the first few chapters, but I think it would be helpful to go back and read at least a few of the earlier Goldy books, starting with Catering to Nobody and Dying for Chocolate. Each book is interspersed with recipes for delectable goodies such as "Chocolate Comfort Cookies" and "Grilled Slapshot Salad." The recipes may be cute and the mystery may be weak, but I've grown to care about Goldy, her friends and her family. Mystery readers who can appreciate a stronger focus on characters than on clues will appreciate this series.

--Susan Scribner