‘Oh huckleberry is more like it.’ 88%

I saw a ton of amazing reviews for this book when it came out and added it to my tbr pile and I can honestly say they were right and I wish I’d gotten to it sooner! Korina Moss has created an amazing cheese shop set in a picturesque town full of cast of characters I can’t wait to jump into book 2! ( )

This is a good cozy mystery. There is a cheese shop. There is a pet fish. There is a compelling personal backstory (TM) we find out about over time. Again, there is so much cheese. I wanted to eat so much cheese while reading this. I'm originally from the Dairy State, I loved it. There is a lady who is starting a new business. She is making unlikely friends in a small town - her employees, the retired high school drama teacher and the young shop boy. They are all plucky. There are the fellow entrepreneurs-allies-suspects-potential romance. There is the sudden friendly next door neighbor. There is the detective, who is either scary or attractive or both. There is not listening to the scary-and/or-hot detective even when your life is threatened. There is the main character who continually forgets to eat real meals. There are truffle fries that, criminally, get cold. There is no explanation except possibly vague hand-waving about "Sonoma County wine tourism" to explain how what sounds like an incredibly small town can support all these fancy artisanal shops. There is a depressing lack of a bookstore mentioned. Maybe someone opening a bookstore can be part of the sequel. There is, again, so much cheese.

I am sure this review sounds sarcastic but no, this is exactly what I want out of a cozy mystery. Except for the lack of bookstore. This town needs a bookstore.

I received a free eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Did someone say cheese? 🧀

I’d love to visit with Cheesemonger Willa Bauer at her French-inspired cheese shop, Curds & Whey in Yarrow Glen, California. I also loved Willa’s pet Loretta who adds unmatched charm especially when she's watching her favorite television show. The generational differences of employees and new friendships in town create twinkles, sparkles, and smiles.

Learning Willa had a standing order for bread loaves from Rise & Shine Bakery every morning made me homesick for the phenomenal Bread & Cheese Cupboard in Stone Harbor, New Jersey that was always our last stop on vacation before driving home to pick up bread loaves and cheese spreads.

It was also interesting to learn of Roman Massey’s Golden Glen Meadery. I had never heard of drinking mead or honey wine with the difference between wine and honey wine the base ingredient grapes vs. honey. Willa started introducing pairings of her cheese with the mead and simply increased my shopping list as I learned there are several meaderies in easy driving distance. Road trip!

Delightfully 2 recipes that sound scrumptious are included at the end of the cozy.

The only question: When will Book 2 be released? ( )

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. ( )

I love finding new cozy mystery series, and even better when it’s one that has lots of great characters, a solid mystery, and a town I want to come and visit.

Korina Moss shines in so many different areas of Cheddar Off Dead, the first being her diverse and well developed characters. Baz is Willa’s next door neighbor, and he becomes one of her sleuthing partners aka part of the Scooby gang. What I really enjoyed about Baz was that instead of being a love interest, he’s more of a brother figure to Willa. This is a nice change from the usual strong male leads in cozies.
I love that Moss has such an age range with Willa’s employee’s; Archie is a recent high school graduate and Mrs. Schulz is a retired school teacher.

And don’t get me started on the cheese descriptions and history! I love learning new things and being a Wisconsin native, I do love my cheese. There were a couple kinds that I have never heard of before and am excited to track down and try.

Finally, the mystery. There were lots of suspects and some false leads. I actually didn’t realize who the killer was until close to the end, which I always enjoy.

Cheddar Off Dead is a great first book in the Cheese Shop Mysteries, and I am looking forward to book two. ( )