Cheddar Off Dead - (Cheese Shop Mysteries) by Korina Moss (Paperback)

Willa Bauer is thrilled to be opening her new cheese shop, Curds & Whey, in the town of Yarrow Glen in the Sonoma Valley. She’s hoping to make her dream a huge success, and part of that is a good review from local food critic Guy Lippinger. However, Guy has a reputation for being harsh, and when he shows up to the shop, things don’t go well at all. Hours later, Willa finds Guy’s dead body in the alley next to her shop with a knife from her shop as the murder weapon. With the police looking at her as the killer, Willa begins to try to find alternative suspects. Can she solve the crime? While the cheese drew me to the book, I loved the setting since I grew up in Sonoma County myself. I appreciate how the background we needed on Willa was doled out instead of being dumped on us at the beginning. The result is a mystery with a steady pace and several secrets to be uncovered before we reach the logical ending. I really liked the cast of characters, both potential series regulars and suspects. In fact, I wanted to see more of them, but I’m sure that will come in later books. If this book leaves you craving cheese (it sure did for me), you’ll be happy to see the recipes at the end of the book. I’ll definitely be back to check in on Willa in the future.

Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss has Willa Bauer opening Curds & Whey in Yarrow Glen, California. She is hoping for a complimentary review from food critic, Guy Lippinger. Unfortunately, Guy ends up dead after an unpleasant encounter at the shop with one of Willa’s cheese knives in his neck. The suspect list is small because only the members of her inaugural cheese making class had access to the murder weapon. The publicity surrounding the murder has caused a lack of customers in the cheese shop. Willa feels she has no choice but to solve the crime before her shop closes before it even gets off the ground. Willa gets help from her two employees plus her neighbor, Baz. The killer does not appreciate Willa’s sleuthing and warns her off. Willa will need to keep her wits about her if she is solve the case without finding herself facing off with a killer. Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss is the first book in A Cheese Shop Mystery series. Willa Bauer has traveled since college learning all about the different variety of cheeses available in the world. She is now ready to open her own shop. Willa picked Yarrow Glen in Sonoma Valley for Curds & Whey. It has only been open a short time when the murder occurs. Willa lacked personality. She is nice, but she is only okay as a protagonist. We get to meet Willa along with her two shop employees (Archie and Mrs. Schulz), Baz (I love his real name), and various townspeople. I found the pacing to be a little slow for my liking. The author provides descriptions on the town, the shops, the people, and various cheeses (this slows down the pacing but allows readers to visualize the scenes). I liked the various secondary characters in the series. It is a well-rounded cast that is diverse in age and experience (from teen to retired drama teacher). The mystery involves a food critic who is disliked in the town. It was easy to figure out that the nasty critic would be murdered and there is a small cast of suspects. There are clues to help readers solve the crime. It is a light, simple whodunit that can be solved long before the final clues are given, and the reveal occurs. The mystery is nicely wrapped up at the end, but I felt the ending was incomplete (if I said why, it would be a spoiler). Willa actively investigated the crime by asking questions and eavesdropping on conversations. She gets help from her two employees and her neighbor, Baz (I like all three of these characters). Detective Heath is a handsome man (according to Willa) who warns Willa about the dangers of sleuthing. For some reason, Willa doubts the detective’s ability to solve the case. My favorite scene in Cheddar Off Dead is when Archie, one of Willa’s employees, comes out in a large cheese costume made by her other employee, Mrs. Schulz. It is a cute scene. I hope the author will cut back on romance in future books. I do not mind a little light romance that plays out throughout the series (I just do not like our fair protagonist admiring the various eligible men and debating the merits of relationships with them). I read a cozy mystery for the mystery along with friendly characters, charming small town, and that extra bit (whether it is a culinary cozy, pet themed, craft related, etc.). Cheddar Off Dead is okay, but I do not know if I will continue with the series (it cannot compare to Daryl Wood Gerber’s cheese shop mystery series). The novel is not long, but it felt like it thanks to the slow pacing and writing style. Cheddar Off Dead has readers traveling to the Sonoma Valley for delectable cheeses, a knifed critic, several suspicious suspects, an understanding neighbor, eager employees, a dedicated detective, and a curious cheesemonger.