Goldy Bear is getting married! Well, that is the plan anyway. As a caterer, she has planned the perfect menu for her own wedding reception. This novel includes a recipe for Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake which is perhaps the rich cheesecake of your dreams!
This is book #4 in a Culinary Mystery Series that features caterer and sleuth Goldy Bear. If you think her name is a bit too cheesy then you have joined the series at the right time as she is scheduled to get married in this novel.
The Last Suppers by Diane Mott Davidson
Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes
Book Review
Murder Mystery Books🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Book Review Outline and Tone:
Goldy has finally agreed to marry Tom Schultz. Tom is the polar opposite from her first husband, he is kind, loving, caring, thoughtful. Everyone is happy for them. Goldy has planned a wonderful wedding and reception at their Episcopal church in Aspen Meadows, Colorado. As a caterer she has the perfect menu planned. The Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery Series books always move at a fast pace. Goldy continues to find ways to both get herself into and out of trouble. The books are set in the1990s, so it is a time before cell phones. This required author Mott Davidon to be even creative for how Goldy will not only solve mysteries, but also keep herself safe.
This novel revolves around Goldy and Tom’s wedding, which of course has its struggles. First there is a problem with the priest, then the groom and don’t forget all the food Goldy had been preparing. Will the wedding be postponed or canceled altogether? And then…a murder victim is discovered.
The author:
Diane Mott Davidson is a New York Times bestselling author and was nominated for the Agatha Award for her first novel, Catering to Nobody. Like her protagonist, Goldy Bear, Davidson lives in Colorado. She uses the mountains as inspiration for the settings in her books. You can connect with the author on Facebook.
What is not to like?:
The novel includes many aspects of church life. Some things are specific to the Episcopal Church and some elements apply to church life in general. If you can relate to these elements it could draw you into the story even more. If you cannot relate, the church elements might not be your favorite parts.
The verdict:
This is a classic cozy mystery novel. Ms. Davidson’s novels help define the genre with solid plots and fantastic recipes. In my opinion, this novel is a great read.
Read It! 4/5 Books 📚📚📚📚
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
Assemble the Ingredients
Easy dessert to make: 4/5 on the Easy as Pie scale 🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧
Preheat the oven to 350°. Note the Amaretto liqueur, this is an almond flavored liqueur that pairs well with the dark chocolate and helps give the cheesecake its rich rounded flavor. Don’t skip it. I’ll post more recipes that you can use the leftover liqueur in soon.
Whirl the chocolate cookies in a blender until they form crumbs. I used sandwich cookies in my food processor.
Mix with the melted butter. Use to melt butter, measure and pour.
Press into the bottom and sides of a buttered 10-inch springform pan and refrigerate until you’re ready to fill and bake. There are 2 great methods for pressing the cookies onto the bottom. You can use an offset spatula or you can use the bottom of a measuring cup. This is my favorite method as it has more surface for pressing the cookies.
In the top of a double boiler over boiling water, melt the chocolate. Add plenty of water to the bottom pot as it will take a while to melt all of the chocolate.
Once the chocolate is all melted, set aside to cool.
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. You will need to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl a few times.
Add the eggs and sugar and beat until well incorporated.
Stir a small amount of this mixture into the chocolate to loosen.
Add the chocolate mixture to the cream cheese mixture and stir well.
Stir in the Amaretto, vanilla, and cream.
Stir until all ingredients are well mixed. At this point you must notice I have used 4 different measuring cups from These are the best tools for measuring liquids I have found.
Pour the filling into the prepared crust and bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until the cheesecake is puffed slightly and no longer jiggles in the center. Cheesecakes can easily crack on the top. To help prevent this, place a 9X13 dish filled with water on the lower rack to create a moist cooking environment.
Leave the cheesecake in an opened oven to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours. Decorate with whipped cream and more sandwich cookies.
Kitchen Baking Tip
Did you know you can make whipped cream in a Ninja Blender? It couldn’t be easier! Pour heavy whipping cream and 1-2 Tablespoons of sugar in the the blender and blend for 30-60 seconds. That is all it takes!
Take the cheesecake out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving for ease of slicing. Remove the sides of the pan and cut with a sharp knife. If the cheesecake is hard to slice, hold a long, unflavored piece of dental floss in 2 hands and carefully saw through the cake to cut even pieces.
Dessert Recipe 📖📖📖📖📖
So delicious 😋😋😋😋😋
Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake from a cozy mystery novel: The Last Suppers
Ingredients
Crust
- 9 ounces chocolate wager cookies
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 8 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 24 ounces cream cheese (3 8oz packages)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup Amaretto liqueur
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Whirl the chocolate cookies in a blender until they form crumbs.
- Mix with the melted butter.
- Press into the bottom and sides of a buttered 10-inch springform pan and refrigerate until you're ready to fill and bake.
- In the top of a double boiler over boiling water, melt the chocolate.
- Set aside to cool.
- In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the eggs and sugar and beat until well incorporated.
- Stir a small amount of this mixture into the chocolate to loosen.
- Add the chocolate mixture to the cream cheese mixture and stir well.
- Stir in the Amaretto, vanilla, and cream.
- Stir until all ingredients are well mixed.
- Pour the filling into the prepared crust and bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until the cheesecake is puffed slightly and no longer jiggles in the center.
- Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
- Take the cheesecake out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving for ease of slicing.
- Remove the sides of the pan and cut with a sharp knife.
- If the cheesecake is hard to slice, hold a long, unflavored piece of dental floss in 2 hands and carefully saw through the cake to cut even pieces.
What would I do differently next time?
Not a single thing. This is now my ultimate favorite cheesecake.
Will I make it again?: Absolutely Yes! 😋😋😋😋😋
I love rich creamy baked cheesecakes!
If you love chocolate like I do, try these recipes too.
Chocolate Mint Cookies from Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Scout’s Brownies from Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson
Hot Fudge Pie from Death in Four Courses by Lucy Burdette
Red Velvet Crunchies from Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell
