Dark Tort

Written by Diane Mott Davidson

Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat

I tripped over the body of Dusty Routt sometime after
10 o'clock on the evening of October 19. . .

The New York Times bestselling author cooks up a knockout treat featuring the irrepressible caterer Goldy Schulz.

Goldy Schulz has a lucrative new gig, preparing breakfasts and conference room snacks for a local law firm. It's time-consuming, but Goldy is enjoying it -- until the night she arrives to find Dusty, the firm's paralegal, dead. The poor young woman also happens to be Goldy's friend and neighbor, and now Dusty's grieving mother begs Goldy to find out who murdered her daughter.

Just because the police are on the case doesn't mean Goldy can't do a little snooping herself. While catering a party at the home of one of the firm's lawyers, she manages to overhear an incriminating conversation and ends up discovering a few clues in the kitchen. Before long, Goldy is knee deep in suspects, one of whom is incredibly dangerous and very liable to cook Goldy's goose.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Apr 11, 2006
• ISBN: 9780061154386

Diane Mott Davidson

Diane Mott Davidson is the author of seventeen bestselling novels. She divides her time between Colorado and Florida.

Reviews for Dark Tort

[drinkingtea_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some of the conclusions drawn by the author I disagree with, but I do grant that sometimes we get too bogged down in the choices to really actually DO anything. Another good point he touches on is that many people are so tightly bound to keeping their options open, that they have actually put themselves into a teeny tiny little box that keeps them from experiencing anything too deeply.

[Renee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Original Reader!! So glad they released this version. Read the Unabridged version.

[jeffjardine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is another in a seemingly endless procession of recent pop-psych/pop-econ books. So many to choose from!Like so many others, Schwartz describes concepts and phenomena like opportunity cost, diminishing returns, loss aversion etc. in terms of his thesis. That is, contrary to popular wisdom (side note: with all these pop-psych/pop-econ books out there, I'm beginning to think that only the ideas that have any merit are those that run contrary to popular wisdom.), the widening array of choices everywhere in life has a detrimental effect on our happiness.For starters, I partially disagree with his premise that freer markets lead to more choice. Freer markets also lead to firm concentration and scale or volume effects, which put downward pressure on the number of choices available. For example, shirts that used to be sold by collar size are now S, M, L, XL. I can't find jeans made with heavier gauge denim anymore. The quirky independent bookstore with the eclectic selection went out of business. But, overall it seems like there are more choices out there in many markets, and that is enough to make his premise functional. Whether there has actually been an increase in the differences between choices (personally, I would bet on a decrease) is another matter.Next quibble: it isn't until you are well into the book that Schwartz admits the abundance of choice negatively affects only a subset of the population: the maximizers, or those who try to wring every last drop of utility from their decisions. The paradox is not universal. At this point it turns into more of a self-help book for maximizers.Final complaint: This book is padded for length. Badly. Many sections reminded me of a student trying to stretch his or her essay out to the minimum number of pages, much to the detriment of the book. The thesis is stretched beyond its limits of applicability. A section on the downside of peoples' choices of religion? Another on their choices of race??? And there is example, after example, after example. I will be so, so relieved when today's technological upheavals in the publishing industry finally do away with this standard length (~75,000 words) for popular non-fiction.Overall I think this is a worthwhile read, especially for those who tend to agonize over their decisions.

[wester_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful book that argues that while some choice is a good thing, too much choice makes us very unhappy.It shows us in what parts of our lives we get too much choice, and what psychological mechanisms play a part, and some ways we can stop ourselves from sufering more than necessary.Recommended.

[sovranty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In a society where anything is possible, picking just one thing can be overwhelming. This book vividly details the causality of anxiety in choice of plenty and sites remedies in appreciating the everyday. This book is an excellent source on the road to finding satisfaction in the culture of abundance, as it is well written and sited.

[co_coyote · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One would think that with more and better choices being presented to us all the time, we would experience greater satisfaction with our lives. In fact, the opposite often happens. More choice means more time trying to find the best choice, and more dissatisfaction when we do finally choose, because of the cumulating opportunity costs of all the choices we reject. Paul van Delst suggested this book to me as a way to understand why an IDL development environment that provides unlimited choices for me is making my life less fun and productive and not more so. Schwartz provides an interesting analysis of the problem of choice and makes several suggestions for how we might structure our lives to live in an increasingly complex world.

[newsieq · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A book about psykchology and economics that is presented in a way that makes it fun to read. The examples the authors uses are so relevant -- and in my non-fiction book discussion group, everyone had examples of their own. Explains a lot of the frustration people feel when they're forced into a buying decision that has waaaaaay too many variables.

[sussabmax · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very interesting look at how, while having no choice is definitely bad, too much choice can almost as detrimental to our psychological well-being. Schwartz examines the differences between maximizers, who attempt to get the absolute best of everything, and satisficers, who are willing to settle for good enough. Good enough could very well be high quality, but satisficers are all right with the idea that there may still be something out there that is even better. Maximizers are bothered by this, and have difficulty making choices, since there are always more options available that might be better. I tend to fall on the satificer end of the scale for most things, but there are some exceptions. I have a hard time picking a meal in a restaurant, for instance, because I can't decide which one will be the best experience. This book was an interesting look at how unlimited choice can make us less happy with what we have, and I picked up some good tips for being satisfied with my life, even though the tips themselves weren't anything I hadn't heard before. Having more of an explanation behind them makes it easier to apply these ideas to my life.

[ashishg_50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A psychological study of mind's decision making and choice process, and consequence of that in current world of choice-overload. Drastic, in general, (not to me) but often repetitive in its conclusion yet fascinating in the process and studies cited.

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Why, with so many options availble to us, are we not happier? Author Barry Schwartz opens this book by walking us through his neighbourhood grocery store, where there are 85 brands of crackers, 285 brands of cookies, 75 iced teas, 360 types of shampoo........This is an economics perspective on the utility of choice. Easy to read, insightful, thought-provoking. When is "enough" enough?

[adtarnow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very insightful and very challenging. This was one of the best books I've read in a long time.

[Debbie Dawley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Diane Mott Davison writes such interesting tales, adding wonderfully colorful descriptions of Colorado along with all of the tasting recipes she includes!

[lfamous_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The information in the book was interesting, but the writing was not great. It was like the author (who is a college professor) had someone transcribe his lectures for the semester, and he then did slight editing to make a book. Something was missing. And he referenced points, like "wouldn't it be interesting to know...?" and never followed up-fine for a class, but I would expect an author to do that.

[carlos_v_jugo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

decided to buy fewer appliances after reading this book

[thebradking-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't think there's much new psychology research in this book, but it's written in an easy-to-read manner. It's particularly worthwhile for those of us who build things in the digital world (and, of course, for anyone who wonders why they are anxious about the choices they make.)

[imayb1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Paradox of Choice is all about how America's vast array of choices bogs us down by forcing us to wrap up all our time and energy in making good decisions about a lot of inconsequential stuff. We feel the need to sample or view ALL of the choices before making a decision-- particularly if the decision is an important one-- and we still cannot attain the perfect choice. As a result, we are less happy with the end result. The author is very engaging and offers many examples to build his case. Although I find most non-fiction incredibly dry, this book is accessible and easy to get into. I found it a fascinating look at American society.

[rosalita_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I haven't enjoyed this series for a while, but this is an earlier entry that I had somehow missed and I hoped it might belong to the "still good" era. Alas, no. The opening sequence is a typical tired slapstick about caterer Goldy tripping over a dead body, which provides plenty of scene-setting without the subsequent throwing about of food all over a posh law firm's lobby. It's all just so over the top and ridiculous, and I swear this time I am really done with this series. I can't keep reading books where I'm rooting for the murderer to take out the main character, can I? At least not without knowing it actually happens at some point — that book, I would happily read.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I listened to the audiobook version of this title. I think they changed readers for the audiobooks because it sounded like a different person than the last book in the series that I listened to as an audiobook. The narrator's raspy voice didn't do the audio version as much justice as the former narrator's did. I kept thinking I'd get used to it, but I never did. I did catch the double meaning of tort/torte long before it came up in the book. It's a dessert and a legal term so it does double duty in this case since the murder takes place at a law firm where Goldy's been catering breakfasts and lunches--something that apparently started in between the events of the last book and this one as best I can tell.Goldy's son Arch is learning to drive. Yet Goldy's the one who ends up taking the door off Julian's range rover then leaving trash bags in it for a week or so. Poor Julian!! Also, at the party, it sounded like she asked Julian to take additional trash bags out of the trash bins but when she goes to the repair shop to get the bags after the mechanic demands she come get them, it sounds like only one bag. So which is it? Especially since that trash is what tips off the murderer. Would most people miss one bag of trash from their trash bin? I don't know--maybe.

[chazzifrazz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A friend and neighbour of Goldy's is the victim in this latest mystery. Lawyers, art, and tasty food are all part of the backdrop of Goldy's latest snooping adventure.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good cozy mystery. Lots of talk about food with recipes at the end.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For someone who isn't a homicide detective, Goldy sure has a lot of contact with murders! This latest involves lawyers (automatic bad guys, right?), infidelity, theft, and jealousy. Goldie manages to put all the pieces together, but not before her own brush with death.

[bookswoman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Goldy is going in to help a young friend learn to bake, they meet weekly at the law office the young woman is working at as a paralegal. When Goldy stumbles and falls coming into the office, she is hurt and has thrown food all over the place. Turning to look at what caused her to fall, she finds her friend, Dusty. Dusty is unresponsive and after performing CPR for quite some time, Goldy gives up, calls the police and starts a chain of events that lead to theft, murder, infidelity and puts Goldy at risk.As usual there are some delectable foods woven through the story, Goldy is catering, trying to find out who killed Dusty, keeping track of Arch and Gus, and generally having a very busy, very confused and very dangerous week.I do love this series and am enjoying spending some time catching up on it, still several books behind so have more Goldy left to read.

[janetarmentani · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

not bad, kept me interested. and there are recipes after the last chapter

[ldvoorberg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's been a few years since I last read a Goldy mystery. I thought maybe I'd grown so critical in my reading that I'd not like these books -- that I'd find them super cheesy and ridiculous (possibly why I'd stopped picking them up), but this one is a pleasant surprise. It's escape literature, for certain, but decent in that category. At least for this book, any time Davidson gets close to sappy or silly, she quickly backs away and moves the story forward. I appreciate that. This type of book is good for listening while I drive.

I was a bit exasperated that all the "action" in the book (that is, all the info Goldy was collecting in her investigation) came in the form of talking to people and hearing their stories -- a type of passive writing as opposed to active. However, perhaps this is just more realistic as far as murder investigating goes. The lady does come across a lot of murdered people in her otherwise friendly small town. How much action could she expect? So I forgive the book for that disappointment.

[stewartry · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One of the ones I’d missed was Dark Tort (about lawyers, and also cake – puns are de rigeur in cozies’ titles), which is what I’m reading now… NOT one of the better ones. I think in the whole of FF DMD managed to avoid one little quirk of hers which appears in nearly every other book, which always makes me roll my eyes so hard I’m afraid they’ll get stuck. In Dark Tort (Goldy Culinary Mysteries, Book 13), it’s: “My mouth watered as I placed the potato puff on a plate. With the first bite, I almost swooned.” She “almost swoons” a lot. Don’t get me wrong – I plan on making the potato puffs. I just gag a little every time she “almost swoons”. Reading about writing has made me much more aware of how characters are described. DMD’s Goldy books are also first-person, and Goldy … looks in mirrors now and then. Oh dear. The writing in these really does vary wildly in quality. This one … Um. Waitaminnit – there’s no recipe for the potato puffs? This one sucks.

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is the last Diane Mott Davidson book I read. I really cannot stand the main character, Goldy. She is very unrealistic, all over the map in her personality, and if I were Arch, I would be glum and withdrawn too. Goldy managed to make all of the evidence inadmissible in court in this book, and why her husband, a supposedly fine detective doesn't tell her this, I don't know. Even the cooking is frenetic. O.K., it's possible I'm being just a bit harsh, I do like Tom and reading about the recipes, but that's not enough to make me read any more of these books, the mysteries suck.

[museofire · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Almost didn't buy this because her last book sucked so much. This one wasn't nearly as bad, but still wasn't that good. The main problems with this one is that Goldy has no plausible reason to be involved with the investigation, that she goes about it in such a haphazard way, and she leaves the vital clue lying around for a week, only to discover it just as the killer comes to polish her off. Then there's the fact that she and her husband Tom have multiple conversations where they tell each other things they should already know, and the strained dialog (like when Goldy asks a young woman if the murdered girl had had any "romantic liaisons"). I really enjoyed this series more when Goldy had real obstacles to overcome and her involvement with the murders was more immediate and personal.

[kymmayfield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another very intriguing read in these series. A great mystery/thriller as usual. The series has yet to disappoint me.

[effacina · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

goldie trips over young friends body in client/law firm. Plot and mystery doesn't really develop. much print is expended repeating info we already have and discussing the psychological issues of characters. the food prep is fun for cooks and really makes one want to go cook something. But mystery lovers want clues.

[msbeautiful · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this Goldy Bear Book better than the last 2. Goldy seems more in control of her life and her relationship with Arch seemed more belivable.