A charming small town culinary cozy mystery featuring gourmet grilled cheese, found family, and a likable amateur sleuth you’ll want to follow through the entire series.
Release date: January 25, 2022
Publisher: Poisoned Pen
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Synopsis:
The first in a delicious new culinary cozy series featuring a grilled cheese eatery owner who must solve murders in her small town before she is put under lock and brie.
Back in Balsam Dell to heal after the death of her husband, Carly Hale is finally pursuing her lifelong dream—opening Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery. After only five months, business is booming as Vermont vacationers and townspeople alike flock to lunch on her Party Havartis and other grilled cheese concoctions. All but Lyle Bagley, Carly’s one-time high school boyfriend and now town bully who just bought the building that houses her eatery and wants Carly out. After a muenster of a fight, Carly’s forced to put her nose to the rind and find a solution to keep her business afloat.
That is…until Lyle is discovered dead behind the dumpster of Carly’s shop, and one of her employees becomes the prime suspect. In order to save her eatery and prove her friend’s innocence, Carly must sleuth out the killer before she’s the one who gets grilled.
Review:
Up to No Gouda is exactly the kind of cozy mystery I love settling into. Balsam Dell is a charming Vermont town filled with memorable locals, and Linda Reilly does a wonderful job establishing both the community and the series from the very first book. The summer setting makes everything feel especially inviting, from the bustling downtown to Carly’s welcoming little restaurant.
I immediately liked Carly as a protagonist. She’s a young widow who’s still rebuilding her life, which gives her a little more depth than the typical amateur sleuth. She’s capable without feeling perfect, and I found myself rooting for her from the beginning. Her employees quickly become one of my favorite parts of the story too, bringing warm found family energy that makes the eatery feel like home.
As a fan of culinary cozy mysteries, I especially appreciated the food. I never knew grilled cheese could sound so gourmet, but every menu item had me wishing Carly’s restaurant actually existed. The mystery itself kept me engaged, and there’s just enough romance sprinkled in to hint at where the series might go without overshadowing the investigation.
Overall, this is a strong series opener that introduces an appealing cast, a cozy small town atmosphere, and plenty of delicious comfort food. It left me excited to spend more time in Balsam Dell, and I couldn’t wait to pick up the next book.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
- Culinary cozy mysteries
- Small town Vermont settings
- Found family dynamics
- Gourmet food and mouthwatering descriptions
- Amateur sleuths with heart
- Light romance alongside the mystery
Overall rating: 4/5
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