Diane Mott Davidson (1949–2022) was an American mystery writer and one of the pioneers of the culinary cozy mystery subgenre. Her Goldy Schulz series, which ran from 1990 to 2013, was among the first mystery series to make food and recipes integral to the narrative.
Davidson lived in Evergreen, Colorado, and the mountain setting of her books reflects her own surroundings. She was known for the exceptional quality of her recipes — she developed, tested, and refined every recipe herself, and her cookbooks drawn from the series are still popular. Davidson studied at Stanford University and later attended the Cordon Bleu cooking school, giving her genuine culinary credentials.
Her protagonist Goldy Schulz is one of the more complex characters in the cozy genre. Goldy's backstory — her escape from an abusive marriage and her determination to build a new life through her catering business — gives the character depth and resilience that readers found inspiring. Davidson's handling of the domestic violence theme was praised for its sensitivity and realism.
Back to all authors.