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.
With a delightful cast of characters, an inventive amateur sleuth, and a whole host of cheesy hijinks, Up to No Goudais the perfect cozy murder mystery to melt into.
My Review:
Four and a half stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly is her first book in her Grilled Cheese Mysteries series. This cozy mystery had me stumped until the very end and I loved the journey this book took me on.
Carly Hale has just opened her Grilled Cheese Sandwich shop in the picturesque Vermont town of Balsam Dell. Business is going well, but when an old high school boyfriend, Lyle Bagley, buys the building, he gives her only one month’s notice to vacate her shop so he can make room for a fashion boutique for his fiance. She loves her downtown location and is angry with Lyle for forcing her out of her business. The day after she gets the eviction news, Lyle is found dead behind her shop and the main suspect is Suzannah, Carly’s employee, and Carly is a close second. Carly works to find out who the real killer is in order to clear her employee and friend Suzannah and herself.
As this is the first book in the series, we spend some time getting to know Carly and the other characters in the book. The mystery is the star of this book as there are so many suspects and I was unable to figure out the mystery until the end. The characters are interesting and relatable. I loved Carly’s strength and ingenuity.
*** Note: Reading this book may cause grilled cheese sandwich cravings. Many grilled cheese sandwiches were consumed during the reading and reviewing of this book. ***
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a cozy mystery. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Linda Reilly
Armed with a degree in Criminal Justice, Linda Reilly once contemplated a career in law enforcement. But life took a twist, and instead she found her niche in real estate closings and title examinations, where the dusty tomes in the Registry of Deeds enticed her into solving mysteries of a different sort. A dyed-in-the-wool New Englander, Linda lives in southern New Hampshire with her husband and cats. A member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Cat Writers' Association, she loves solving mysteries of the cozy type. When she's not pounding away at her keyboard, she can usually be found prowling the shelves of a local bookstore or library.
[…] Book Review: Up to No Gouda by Linda ReillyTuesday: Book Review: A Letter to Three Witches by Elizabeth BassTuesday: Top Ten Tuesday! New-to-Me […]
Wonderful review, Wendy. This sounds like a great story. I absolutely love the cover and title of this one. I’m in big trouble when I read this one as I love grilled cheese sandwiches, in fact, I had one for dinner tonight.
I also enjoyed reading this book! I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series later this year. And so many grilled cheese ideas throughout the book make it even better!
I think I would enjoy it. It is still available on Edelweiss so we’ll see what happens. NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press has already pulled this one and the next in the series which isn’t due out until August. Mistake or on purpose? I guess we’ll never know. Your review is as enticing as a gooey grilled cheese sandwich!😉
Love the title. Books that cause cravings…I completely understand your consumption of grilled cheese sandwiches.
[…] Book Review: Up to No Gouda by Linda ReillyTuesday: Book Review: A Letter to Three Witches by Elizabeth BassTuesday: Top Ten Tuesday! New-to-Me […]
This is one of the cutest covers ever! Plus, I love cozy Mysteries!😍😍
It sure was a cute one! Thanks so much!!
I don’t think my poor waistline can stand me reading this one …. mmm… grilled cheese… Lol!
Great review, Wendy. I love the cover and cheesy title of this one. (pun definitely intended) 😘😂
It was fun, but I ate too many grilled cheese sandwiches.
A culinary mystery with an adorable dog on the cover!? Done!
Thank you Kami, it’s so cute. And I love a book with a dog on the cover!
OMG THE PUPPY!! So cute!
I just know I’ll be craving grilled cheese too haha!
Glad this was an enjoyable read for you, Wendy!
Wonderful review, Wendy. This sounds like a great story. I absolutely love the cover and title of this one. I’m in big trouble when I read this one as I love grilled cheese sandwiches, in fact, I had one for dinner tonight.
I also enjoyed reading this book! I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series later this year. And so many grilled cheese ideas throughout the book make it even better!
A grilled cheese sandwich sounds delicious right now! Good review, Wendy!
I’m already craving grilled Cheese sandwich and I enjoy books with Vermont setting. Great review!
This sounds really good fun and I love the cover too.
This looks like a great read, glad you enjoyed it 😊
I think I would enjoy it. It is still available on Edelweiss so we’ll see what happens. NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press has already pulled this one and the next in the series which isn’t due out until August. Mistake or on purpose? I guess we’ll never know. Your review is as enticing as a gooey grilled cheese sandwich!😉
I don’t tend to read cozy mysteries, but the book had me with a pun in the title, and one involving cheese no less.
Thank you Rae! It was fun.
I love the title! Cozies are so fun from the cover and title to the story itself. I’m glad this one fit that bill. Excellent review!
Thank you Tessa!