Curious Caterer: Grilling Season

I have been desperate for some new mysteries on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, I am really missing my favorites Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden, and Mystery 101. So far this might be my favorite of the new mystery offering.

I understand these are based on a series of books by Diane Mott Davidson which I haven't read. Apparently, there are some significant changes like Goldie's ex-husband was an abuser, which makes more sense than what is being depicted in the series...where they are such good friends that I keep questioning why they are divorced?!?!? And that is another change from the books they have a son in the books vs a daughter in this series.

All of that aside, I think Nikki Deloach and Andrew W. Walker have great chemistry which is what really makes this series a much watch.

In this film, Goldie's friend is murdered after she caters her birthday party. Goldie looses catering jobs over suspicion until her ex-husband is arrested for the crime. It appears that he is being framed and it's up to Goldie and her friend Detective Tom Schultz to find the real killer.

This was a good mystery and so far I am enjoying the series, not quite as much as my three favorites...but I am not going to complain because I would like to see more mysteries produced.

I gave this new series another shot after being very disappointed with the first one. I felt Andrew Walker was a bit more comfortable in his role in this one but the script was perhaps even worse. His ex-wife is so OTT and one cannot imagine them ever having been a couple. Even more so than Goldy and Richard.

This series seems even more unrealistic than most because there is no chemistry between any of the characters imo. If you enjoy them, you enter the worlds of the Mysteries and you accept them as written. You begin to recognize the town, the characters and their relationship to each other and it becomes a familiar place with familiar faces. The method of crime solving is predictable but fun and enjoyable.

This one still misses the mark and I have no idea who these people are and how and where they live. It doesn't seem to be the fault of the author as so many have raved about her books and are dismayed how far the series has strayed from her characters.

Something still hasn't clicked yet and they are immediately easy to forget.

The Hallmark Series is so different from the books I loved. Richard was an abuser and Goldie hated him. Their child was a boy not a girl. Her best friend Marla, had also been married to Richard. They bonded over their mutual dislike of Richard.. She is chubby, very rich and loud. Tom is a huge, tall, heavy man. That's the worst casting. I so wanted Tom to be a big bear of a man but Hallmark must not have such an actor under contract!

I have to forget the TV show is based on the books to enjoy them. These shows are fun and well done but don't expect the books in any way. Watch them without expectation and you'll enjoy them.

I found this movie on a DVD at my public library, containing the first three movies in the "Curious Caterer" series. This is the second one, filmed about 10 months after the first one, so the young daughter looks a bit more grown up.

Nikki Deloach (early 40s) is Goldy. She has a bakery and also takes on jobs catering special events. This story has her catering for an event at the home of a real estate friend. After everyone leaves there is an explosion, at first they think the outdoor gas grill malfunctioned. Upon closer examination it seems to be an attempt to cover up for a murder. But who would do this?

As we saw in the first one Andrew Walker is detective Tom. As he and his young partner conduct their investigation Tom is frequently frustrated at Goldy's seeming to be launching her own investigation which, it truth, is essential to crack the case.

As usual with this type of movie there are lots of red herrings thrown about, clues designed to sow seeds of doubt for the viewer, and when it is nearing the conclusion lots of explanations are given regarding who and how of the crime.

Even though the overall theme, murder, is very serious the movie is done with frequent humor thrown in and that works well to keep it entertaining, and my wife and I were.

Why base it on a novel if all you do is keep a few names (but not even the heroine's!) and professions? Having read the series, it's disappointing to see it so poorly translated into Hallmarkese- bland and boring and body-conscious. Angsty son is now a confident daughter. Ex is now an okay guy, not an abuser. Love interest is a skinny dude, not a gorgeous Dan Hagerty bear of a guy. Best friend no longer a loving and lovely diva who has the same ex as heroine. All the realism and feistiness of the series has been sucked out. Actually, the best thing about the series is adding "The Curious Caterer" title to it. Best use of series is to have TV on while you do something useful, like meal prep.