A snowy return to Balsam Dell brings another entertaining mystery, deeper relationships, and even more reasons to want to move into Carly’s cozy little Vermont world.

Goodreads | Cheddar Late Than Dead

Release date: January 31, 2023

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Synopsis:

A bridal shower gone bad quickly becomes the swiss of death, and grilled cheese shop owner Carly Hale must sniff out the suspect.

Winter in Balsam Dell is a snowy affair, and to add in some cheer after the holidays Carly’s former classmate Klarissa Taddeo is hosting her extravagant bridal shower at the historic Balsam Dell inn. But when a double-booking throws some mold in the cheese, Klarissa is left scrambling. Dawn, the maid of honor and wedding planner, saves the day by moving the shower to her family’s mansion and books Carly to cater the party. It seems the group is going to pull off the shower without a hitch.

That is, until Klarissa’s fiancé crashes the event. She’s furious with her groom-to-be and when a loud argument ensues, everyone is shocked by what they hear. When the groom is later found dead at the bottom of the stairs, his drink spiked with a hefty dose of poison, Carly must put her nose to the rind and save Klarissa from being suspect #1.

Because you know what they say: it’s always the (almost) wife.

Review:

By book three, I’m officially settling into Balsam Dell right alongside Carly, and that might be my favorite part of this series. The characters are becoming familiar in that wonderful way that happens when you read a series back to back, and I really enjoyed getting to know everyone on a deeper level. The town is starting to feel less like a setting and more like a place I actually know.

The winter setting was especially enjoyable, and Linda Reilly continues to do a fantastic job with her scenery descriptions. I could picture the snowy Vermont landscape so clearly that I found myself wishing I could crawl into the pages and experience it for myself. There’s something about this series that makes Balsam Dell feel incredibly inviting regardless of the season.

Carly continues to be a character I really enjoy, and apparently she’s getting nosier by the book. 😂 Honestly? I respect it. Her relationship with Ari is also deepening nicely, and I love watching that relationship settle into something that feels more established while still leaving room for it to grow.

My one minor complaint this time around was that Carly spends quite a bit of time away from the eatery. I love the restaurant setting and the cozy community around it, so I missed some of that familiar atmosphere. Still, the mystery kept things moving and there was plenty of the charm I’ve come to expect from this series.

Overall, Cheddar Late Than Dead is another fun addition to a series that I’m increasingly invested in. At this point, I’m much more interested in spending time with these characters and seeing where their lives go than simply solving the mystery—and that’s a pretty good sign that a cozy series has hooked me.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

• Culinary cozy mysteries
• Snowy Vermont settings
• Small town communities
• Developing romances
• Amateur sleuths who can’t stay out of trouble
• Established casts that feel like found family

Overall rating: 3.5/5

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