The Long Quiche Goodbye (A Cheese Shop Mystery #1)

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The Long Quiche Goodbye (A Cheese Shop Mystery #1)

by Avery Aames (Goodreads Author)

3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 · rating details · 957 ratings · 150 reviews

Welcome to the grand opening of Fromagerie Bessette. Or as it's more commonly known by the residents of small- town Providence, Ohio-the Cheese Shop. Proprietor Charlotte Bessette has prepared a delightful sampling of bold Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, delicious tortes of Stilton and Mascarpone, and a taste of Sauvignon Blanc-but someone else has decided to make a little crime...more

Paperback, 314 pages

Published July 6th 2010 by Berkley (first published June 9th 2010)

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Lists with This Book

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Community Reviews

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Jun 07, 2011 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery

2.5 stars. I had heard a number of good things about The Long Quiche Goodbye, but my excitement was ultimately rewarded with disappointment. I'm really on the fence as to what I felt about this book. I neither liked nor disliked it, and I could see a lot of potential for this to become a great series. It just didn't fall into place here.

Firstly, I must say I loved everything to do with The Cheese Shop. I like cheese, but I don't have many opportunities to eat any, and frankly my knowledge of it...more 2.5 stars. I had heard a number of good things about The Long Quiche Goodbye, but my excitement was ultimately rewarded with disappointment. I'm really on the fence as to what I felt about this book. I neither liked nor disliked it, and I could see a lot of potential for this to become a great series. It just didn't fall into place here.

Firstly, I must say I loved everything to do with The Cheese Shop. I like cheese, but I don't have many opportunities to eat any, and frankly my knowledge of it barely stretches to telling mozzarella apart from cheddar. That said, I never found the cheese talk overdone or confusing. I picked up interesting tips about various cheeses when Charlotte made sales to customers and she partakes in a few delicious-sounding cheese dishes along the way that really made my mouth water. I felt that Charlotte was actually at her best when she was working in the shop; she's a capable businesswoman and is clearly passionate and possesses expertise regarding her topic.

Unfortunately, the characters and setting were weak, weak, weak. Aside from The Cheese Shop, I couldn't get any picture of what the town was like. I had actually forgotten the setting by halfway. As for Charlotte, our main character, I alternated between liking her and being so frustrated with her that I wanted to reach into the book and give her a heavy dose of reality check. She has an adorably warm relationship with her grandparents, but it's impossible to describe her as anything other than a nosey parker when she's around her cousin Matthew and her friends. Charlotte feels an inexplicable need to quiz people on their relationships and give unneeded and unwanted advice because of her "motherly instinct." Charlotte's first reaction to hearing that Rebecca has a date with someone is to warn her against her youth, but the girl is 22!

I could also ignore her penchant for minding others' business for them if she didn't have such a tendency to overreact or jump to conclusions based on circumstantial evidence. She constantly calls Chief Urso to pass him the latest bit of "information" that she's picked up. Normally I'd cheer, because so many amateur sleuths nearly get themselves killed because they simply won't give perfectly capable policemen the information they have, but here, Charlotte calls Urso with tidbits such as, "Have you investigated (view spoiler) gloves? She might have bloody gloves!" Duh, woman. If she wasn't having one of those laughable lightbulb moments (it's tragic considering she's supposed to be academically gifted), she's phoning the police with a piece of silly gossip she picked up at the bar. I'm surprised Urso didn't strangle her from irritation. What makes all this even more unbearable is that her friends praise her for being the town's own "Nancy Drew", and Charlotte herself refers to what she's doing as "sleuthing" and "investigation." Oh, please.

Aside from Charlotte, the rest of the characters all melt into one entity. I can't tell any of Charlotte's friends apart, and Kristine's lackeys are more like one person with different names. There are numerous other people scattered about town, but they aren't more than cameo appearances who are mentioned here and there, forcing me to backtrack and work out who they are. Charlotte's love interest, Jordan, shows up about 3-4 times and only gets a sentence in before he's interrupted. By the end of the book, I still didn't know the first thing about him and clearly neither did Charlotte, despite her ridiculously immature, school-girl crush on him (she's either admiring his attractiveness or moaning that he isn't interested in her).

The "murder mystery" portion was an excuse for Charlotte to run around town accusing almost everyone but the real culprit. There was no suspense or build-up; when the murder occurred, I just blinked and couldn't care less.

Having said all this, I still believe that the series has potential somewhere. Perhaps if the author made Charlotte act her age (she's in her 30s) and remove that mile-wide silly streak, we could be onto something. The constant and annoying referencing of CSI needs to stop, too. I'll be checking out Lost and Fondue in the hopes that things will improve - and really, I do like the cheese aspect. Fingers crossed!(less)

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Amanda I've read quite a few cozies, and this is definitely not a good one. A good cozy has a artsy-crafty, *likeable*, independent main character to do the...more
Feb 16, 2013 08:23am

Dhfan4life I have to say I agree with a good chunk of what you are saying in your review. Actually thought a lot of the same things. Save for that Charlotte was...more I have to say I agree with a good chunk of what you are saying in your review. Actually thought a lot of the same things. Save for that Charlotte was being too mothering. Which is kind of odd for me to miss something like that(as I'm generally the first one to observe such a quality in a character when reading most books in a group). I actually read that as her being rather caring about her young, inexperienced friend. But what annoyed me most was that I felt like the author should have made Matthew her brother or her ex husband or something. Given how much more of a connection(not a romantic one really) with Matthew, she had. I mean he not only lives with her after the wife leaves. But she is also taking over like sole responsibility for her daughters along with the grandparents pretty much. Heck there is only roughly a few times and you can count them on one hand he actually does anything parental with the girls in the story. Not to say families don't help each other out. But to me it totally read like she was the girls' mom more than anything. Even weirder is the fact even with them all being family. And there being mention to Charlotte's lack of parents. There never seemed to be any for Matthew at all. So to my mind that lack of back story would have been good for an ex-husband or something. And her love interest, she hardly knows anything about the guy at all and the with author alternating between her being "oh yea" he is hot to "I can't spare a second to talk to you because I am off gossiping and calling the cop on all these hearsay bits of info". I also wasn't all that fond of the obvious conclusions about most characters in the story either. I.e. Matthew and Meredith obviously hooking up. The mystery woman is obviously Jordan's sister (too convenient if you ask me). And overall, I was not loving the whole gossipy, everyone is taking on dual roles thing. I mean I'm from a small suburb in Ohio too. But I have not heard of any one doubling up their jobs like that. Not to say it can't happen most places, but it seemed so I don't know smurfs village for me.(less)
May 03, 2013 01:31pm

Apr 01, 2013 Book Concierge rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: concierge, cooking, food, library, mystery, series

Charlotte Besette and her cousin Matthew have taken over the cheese shop previously run by their grandparents. Their grand re-opening celebration is interrupted by a scream just outside their door, and when they rush to investigate they spy one of the shop’s special cheese knives sticking out of a dead man’s heart, and their beloved grandmother with the victim’s blood on her hands and splashed over her dress.

This has all the ingredients for a promising cozy mystery set-up: small town business o...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Christyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, mystery, series

I think the series as a whole has potential. I certainly learned a great deal about cheese, even if most if it will probably be forgotten by tomorrow. I wish the author had spent as much time with her characters and setting as she did with the cheese & the cheese shop. It was a diverting read, but a tad inconsistent at times and a bit overwhelming with people. I have to agree with several other reviewers in that Ms. Aames introduced too many characters, too quickly - it got confusing trying...more I think the series as a whole has potential. I certainly learned a great deal about cheese, even if most if it will probably be forgotten by tomorrow. I wish the author had spent as much time with her characters and setting as she did with the cheese & the cheese shop. It was a diverting read, but a tad inconsistent at times and a bit overwhelming with people. I have to agree with several other reviewers in that Ms. Aames introduced too many characters, too quickly - it got confusing trying to remember who's who at times.

Charlotte was a tough character for me, not because she was complex but because I went back and forth between liking and being completely irritated and frustrated with her. Charlotte was admirably (if foolishly) loyal to those she cared about, but she was like a dog with a bone - so focused on one person (and then several of the people in that persons circle) that she just didn't think of looking at other possibilities, and then towards the end started looking everywhere. I suspected who the villain was long before she figured it out, mostly because she had, (for the majority of the book) tunnel-vision with her regard to who was guilty. I also liked that she wasn't too foolish in regards to her safety, but with her calling the Police Chief, Urso with her updates, was a tad much. I think she needs to grow as a character. She jumps to conclusions too easily, and had a tendency to butt into other people's (particularly the people she cares about) lives - I get that she cares but people are allowed their secrets. She didn't come off to me as someone in their thirties, she came off as younger, probably because of some of her actions. As for her love interest, I don't know anything about him except his name, he makes cheese, he has a sister, (view spoiler) and he's apparently gorgeous - which is pretty much all she knows about him. I would've preferred it being Urso, except after reading this I'm left more with the feeling Urso deserves someone better (or perhaps less...shallow) than Charlotte.

Rebecca was more likable, I even enjoyed Charlotte's Grandparents, and her nieces Amy and Clair. The other characters were too periphery to get a good read on. The other 'bad' characters were flat and without depth that I could see. The story did feel a bit rough at times, but it wasn't a difficult story. It was an okay read, and I'll give the next book in the series a try. 2.5 stars.(less)

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Sep 03, 2012 Ashland Mystery Oregon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: culinary-narratives, mystery-cozies, mystery-us-ohio

The Long Quiche Goodbye is a delightful cozy read set in a small town Ohio cheese and wine shop. I knew there would be cheese shop mysteries! The protag is known not only as a cheesemonger, but is also reknown for her daily quiche specials. French family and interjections are amusing and personal and there's great support for American artisinal cheeses and local microagriculture. Hurray!

The author knows her cheese! Aames is a pseudonym for writer Daryl Wood Gerber - she has a wonderful website ...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Riccarla Roman rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When Agatha Christie wrote the Miss Marple series about a little old lady in a sleepy village solving mysteries, they were called "cozies", nice, little domestic situations. I have noticed a prolific number of new mysteries for a niche market that I call "crafties". These are mysteries set in a small town that depends on tourism to survive. They turn their downtown areas into quaint little villages with all kinds of little specialty shops. The mystery (usually a murder of someone nobody likes) i...more

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Jan 28, 2013 JoAnne rated it 3 of 5 stars

A decent mystery, but:

As others have stated, it is about a cheese shop owner - who doesn't make cheese. She gets all of her cheese from other places, and sells it. Okay. To me, that is like going to a bakery to buy cinnamon rolls and finding out they were originally from Cinnabon. It wouldn't be so bad if she at least labeled the cheese as originally from other places, but she doesn't. And she has an awful lot of it. So much so, that all anyone eats is cheese or things made with cheese. People...more

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Jul 20, 2010 Beverly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Delicious New Series by Avery Aames

Charlotte and her cousin Matthew have taken over The Cheese Shop from their grandparents. They update the interior, add a wine shop and plan a spectacular grand reopening. Things are going great until Ed Woodhouse and his overbearing wife Kristine threaten to sell the building out from under them.

Juggling the demands of running the shop, helping Matthew raise his twin daughters and trying to catch the eye of handsome cheese supplier Jordan Pace are more than...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Vicki rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: abandoned

It's my own fault for picking a book that uses a cheese pun in it's title, and I should have known better. I tried to read the entire thing, but I just couldn't get past the first ten chapters. THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE is a terribly written book set in a cheese shop of all places. I've read some of these niche mysteries before, and while they weren't great literature, they were enjoyable enough. Coffee shop--fine. Book store--sure. But cheese? Sorry. It's just not that interesting.

Boring cheese...more It's my own fault for picking a book that uses a cheese pun in it's title, and I should have known better. I tried to read the entire thing, but I just couldn't get past the first ten chapters. THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE is a terribly written book set in a cheese shop of all places. I've read some of these niche mysteries before, and while they weren't great literature, they were enjoyable enough. Coffee shop--fine. Book store--sure. But cheese? Sorry. It's just not that interesting.

Boring cheese details aside, the book is just not well planned out. The author introduces way too many characters in the first chapter, and all of the people in this little town (which we are supposed to believe is a lovely place to live) are either drunks or angry or both. People of the town have an unusual and inexplicable hatred for the main character and her family, and in the short glimpse we get of the murder victim, we learn he's a vindictive landlord who likes to drink and flirt with women -- including one of his wife's best friends. You would think this would affect the wife's relationship with said friend, but you would be wrong.

The main character's grandmother is found at the murder scene with blood on her hands and is accused of the crime and placed on house arrest. You'd think a murder on the sidewalk outside a cheese shop would elicit some sense of shock from the towns people, but not in this town. Finger pointing and nasty comments start almost immediately. The murdered man's wife struts around town the next day in an American flag ensemble because she was in the process of campaigning for mayor when her husband was killed. Charlotte (the main character and cheese shop proprietor)wants to clear her grandmother's name, but it's hard to imagine that happening when she is so quick to anger. At one point, she sees her assistant carrying a plate of cheese out to a group of reporters, and she grips the assistant's arm and yells at her to stop.

The book is full of inconsistencies, and almost none of the characters behave in any way that even slightly resembles normal human behavior. The story felt rushed and disjointed. I usually hate to abandon a book, but in this case, I've got other things to read and better ways to use my time.

The only memorable thing about this book is that I learned that the grass a cow eats will affect the way cheese tastes. While some may find the digestive process of cows fascinating, it's not my thing. In fact, I may never eat cheese again.

(less)

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Jun 23, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good cozy mystery and a new author. I pretty much liked the whole thing with a few quibbles. I loved all the cheese lore and the recipes at the end of the book.

There were a lot of characters introduced and I had trouble keeping the women straight. Charlotte and Rebecca were no problem, since Charlotte is the main character and Rebecca works for her. But, the cadre of friends, cliches and acquaintances confused me. Kristine, Tyanne Vivian, Meredith, Felicia. Had trouble remembering which were f...more

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Jul 25, 2010 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

First of all, I didn't understand how the title actually went with the book that I read. The main locale is a cheese shop that also sells quiche. The title should have been more cheese related like - Goudas Dead, or something equally cheesy.

Nevertheless, back to the story - the murder of Ed Woodhouse happens on the night of the grand reopening of the Fromagerie Bessette, also known as the Cheese Shop, in the quiet town of Providence, Ohio, which is located close to Amish Country and geared to th...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Mysterious Ed rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: amateur-detective, cozy-mystery, food-centric

#1 in the Cheese Shop mystery series. Interesting concept and the protagonist has some interesting characters as friends, if too many of them to keep the story clear.
It seems Charlotte lives in craft store village and I wonder why there would be enough outside business to support the economy, it seems everyone makes a living by selling to tourists or each other. A bit talky and slow-paced.

Cheese Shop mysteries - Welcome to the grand opening of Fromagerie Bessette. Or as it's more commonly known...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Lucy Furr rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: its-a-mystery

It should be noted that this is not my typical reading fare. I usually go for nonfiction, biographies & autobiographies, horror and humor novels. I rarely ever read mysteries. I do however really like cheese and the idea of a series of mystery novels with a cheese shop as a backdrop for the stories piqued my interest. When the first two books of the series went up on the First Reads giveaways I immediately entered and ended up winning the second book of the series, but naturally, I felt I sh...more

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Dec 05, 2011 bella rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love the cheesy titles of cozy mystery novels. There is SENTENCED TO DEATH and SPRINKLE WITH MURDER. The titles just scream at me "pick me up and read me" and of course I can't resist, as friends will tell you by my overflowing bookshelves.

With all these cheesy novels, I decided that my next read would have to involve cheese, and you can't get more cheese than THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE.

THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE is set the town of Province, with Charlotte and her cousin (and business partner) Matth...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Bonny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: families, mysteries

This is the first book I have read by this Avery Aames I have to say I can't wait for the next one! As themed cosy mysteries go, this is a really good one. I can tell I'm going to love the next to come in this series.

Not only is the plot tight and well-paced but I sat on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, on several different levels.

But I feel I should warn you, this book will make you hungry!! Rob and I had been to our favourite artisan cheese shop and we had a nice...more

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Sep 27, 2010 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A frothy tale of frommage, fraught with falsehood, framing and frippery.
Lovelorn Charlotte Bessette has converted her grandparent’s little, cheese shop into the Fromagerie Bessette, stocked with the finest wines and cheeses from around the globe and is prepared for her grand opening. Everyone in the quaint village of Providence, Ohio—bordering Amish country—will be there, as well as busloads of tourists from Cleveland including Zinnia, the gourmet food critic from Delicieux magazine.
The scene i...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Shannon Pierce rated it 3 of 5 stars

This story was good, especially for the first in the series. The characters were well developed, some very likable and some annoying - just like in real-life. The main character does more than her fair share in solving the mystery, taking care of her cousins little girls - which was a bit irritating but again, similar to real life situations. I gave it 3 stars because of the focus on the main characters pet cat. I very much enjoy characters who have pets or a fondness for animals but it was just...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Grey853 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cozy, mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 11, 2013 Melinda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy, manhattan-mystery-book-club, mystery, series-1

It was not my favorite read. I gave it two stars because it was a clean read and I was able to finish it.

Ms. Aames introduced too many characters too soon. It was difficult to remember how each was associated to the protagonist. The town and the characters were not well drawn. Jordan, the love interest, has no background and no character traits to recommend him other than his looks. This, I believe, was supposed to create mystique, but it fell flat. Charlotte, the protagonist, is swayed by every...more

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May 24, 2012 Connie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This took me a while to get into the book, because nothing seemed to be happening. Around page 30 or so, finally someone was killed and then the sleuthing started. If you like a cozy and recipes, I am sure you would love this book. It is the first in the series and is all about a cheese and wine shop owner that tried to solve a crime that her grandmother was accused of.

It seemed like there were too many characters in this book and you needed to write them down and keep track of who was who. I d...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Shrika rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was simply marvelous. I loved the theme of a cute little cheese shop and all the adventures that happen there. I absolutely loved the character Grandmere. She's so entertaining and bold. I couldn't put this book down. About halfway through the book I was simply craving cheese and went to the kitchen to get some. The book reminds of Buttercream Bump Off from the cupcake murder mysteries but instead of the grandmother being on the suspect list it was the mother. There were two difference...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy, contemporary-fiction, mystery, series

Even though the cozy genre is ridiculous and tough to explain, there are things that work for it and things that don’t. This book is definitely a cozy but it combines the cozy elements oddly, making it fall short of awesome into the decidedly meh category.

Most cozies have a moderately ridiculous plot involving a dead body being found and a woman ultimately amateur investigating the crime. The crime in this one was odd. A landlord who nobody likes is stabbed directly in front of the cheese shop o...more Even though the cozy genre is ridiculous and tough to explain, there are things that work for it and things that don’t. This book is definitely a cozy but it combines the cozy elements oddly, making it fall short of awesome into the decidedly meh category.

Most cozies have a moderately ridiculous plot involving a dead body being found and a woman ultimately amateur investigating the crime. The crime in this one was odd. A landlord who nobody likes is stabbed directly in front of the cheese shop on grand reopening night. Oh, and he’s stabbed with a cheese knife. Sometimes I think authors just don’t research and realize how hard it actually is to stab someone in the chest. A cheese knife wouldn’t cut it. (See what I did there?) So that had me rolling my eyes from the start. The ultimate whodunit was also a bit bizarre and had me scratching my head. It made some sense but it also sort of felt a bit like the author just chose whoever would be the most surprising as the killer, instead of really thinking through the logic and motivation. It’s also a bit problematic to have the murder victim be some sleaze everybody in town hates. This felt like a choice to give the mystery more easy suspects rather than, again, based on thinking through logic, motivation, and real crimes.

Then there’s the issue of the main character, Charlotte, who ultimately investigates. She doesn’t really have the get up and go gumption necessary for someone to start investigating something on her own. She’s….kind of snooty and prissy. A good cozy main character should be into her arts and crafts but also possess a lot of independent spirit and gumption. Charlotte is surrounded by people like that–her grandmother, her shop employee–but she herself isn’t like that at all. Yes, her grandmother is accused of a crime she didn’t commit and that’s a big impetus to do something, but it just feels out of character for Charlotte to do investigation. Similarly, Charlotte’s romantic interest felt forced and fake, which was awkward. In a genre where we get no sex scenes, the romance should be very well done, which it was there, but it wasn’t truly engaging.

The quirky characters in the town, besides Charlotte and her love interest, were interesting and just the right blend of quirks and reality to suit a cozy. Similarly, I was glad to see some cheese-heavy recipes in the back. I also thought the pun title was great and played in well to the mystery without giving too much away.

Personally, I think there are better, more engaging and funny cozy series out there to invest my time in. However, if you are a huge cozy fan and don’t mind the oddly snooty, timid main character and a slightly silly mystery plot, then you should give it a go. The cheese angle is certainly unique.

Check out my full review.(less)

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May 19, 2011 Charla Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I am asked what my favorite food is, I always answer that it is cheese! So, that being said, this book was pure joy to read. Because not only do you get a great mystery, you also get an education of pairing the perfect cheese with the perfect wine. The cheese and wines mentioned in the story are real, I know because I looked them up. I learned many new things about cheese, and there were many mentioned in the book that I must try! For example, there is a dish mentioned, called artichoke hea...more When I am asked what my favorite food is, I always answer that it is cheese! So, that being said, this book was pure joy to read. Because not only do you get a great mystery, you also get an education of pairing the perfect cheese with the perfect wine. The cheese and wines mentioned in the story are real, I know because I looked them up. I learned many new things about cheese, and there were many mentioned in the book that I must try! For example, there is a dish mentioned, called artichoke hearts drenched in Taleggio! Taleggio is from the Valtaleggio region in Northern Italy, near Lombardy. I had never heard of Taleggio until I read this book, and now I have to find some! I would never have guessed that I would learn so much from a murder mystery book. But the cheese and wine information is just an added bonus to the story.

The main character, Charlotte Bessette, is taking over the cheese shop owned by her French grandparents. Soon after she took over the shop, someone is murdered at a party that is given inside the shop. Charlotte's Grandmere is falsely accused of the murder and Charlotte takes up sleuthing in order to prove her grandmother's innocence. As she does this, you meet and learn much about the inhabitants of Providence, Ohio. We meet the hunk, Jordan, that Charlotte has her eye on and we find that there is much mystery surrounding him. We also meet Rebecca, the shop clerk, that has left the Amish way of life for modern society. Charlotte's Grandmere is a very interesting lady. She is the Mayor of Providence and her hobby is putting on theatrical plays that are quite different from what would be expected from a 72 year old grandmother. For example, she is currently working on a Ballet of Hairspray. Avery AAmes has created an atmosphere that I would love to live in. There are victorian houses, old china sets, and roses along with modern day subjects like website building. Charlotte is a woman with many talents. She is able to make everything she does a little more elegant. For example, she decides to go see her neighbor on the spur of the moment and on her way out the door, she grabs an old wine bottle, clips some lilacs and puts a lavender ribbon on the neck of the wine bottle. What a lovely gift to present to your neighbor! With this book you get good Food, and good Wine, along with a great story. What more could anyone want? I am literally hungry for more!

For my entire interview visit:http://booktalkswithcharla.blog...(less)

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May 06, 2012 Robert Palmer rated it 1 of 5 stars

It took me three long,long days to read this book.It was the may selection for the mystery readers group at the library that I am a part of.thier were far to many references to cheese & the meals or snacks the good people of Providence , Ohio were eating, almost a cookbook. I found all of the charters to be very annoying up to & including the protagonist ,Charlotte Bestte ,owner of the cheese shop named Fromagerie Bessette.
I was sure that the clue to whodunit would be somewhere in the ma...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

Ditto everything that Hannah said, only I will add that I thought that Aames did a very good job of establishing "family" in this story. The familial aspects seemed very authentic and honest to me, and I would say that I thought the grandmother and grandfather were perhaps the best drawn, most lovable and most realistic characters in the story. There were moments between them that really did choke me up, and I really did *care* about what happened to them. I really wish they had been the sleuths...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Desiree rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm glad I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, because it isn't something I would normally grab off the shelf. I can appreciate a mystery that I can't predict. However, I felt some of the characters, who were supposed to be grown women, acted very much like teenage girls and it felt almost like the book was an outlet for cheese trivia -- which is both good and bad. Bad because it was boring at first and I didn't see what it had to do with the story, but good because now I know a lot more abou...more

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Nov 20, 2011 Lori Henrich rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the theme of this series of mysteries. I love cheese, maybe being from Wisconsin has something to do with it. The development of the characters, makes you fall in love with them. The twins were adorable and you just want to wrap them up in a hug. Rebecca, formerly Amish, has an exuberance that makes me chuckle. The Bessette family, the main characters of this story, are great. Charlotte reluctantly takes over the part of sleuth, amongst her other duties, to help save her Grandmother from...more

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Oct 21, 2010 Elentarien rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was my first of this type of mystery. And I have to say I quite enjoyed it. It was a murder mystery, but rather than being 'gruesome', or violent like so many of the 'classic' murder mysteries, this one was very understated.

The main character had nothing to do with the murder, nor was the description of the actual event all that detailed. (Just enough to give you the picture, but not enough to be gory.) It was then 'turned over' to the police.

The character went on about her life, and job,...more

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Aug 12, 2010 Evelyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, first-novels

Just as Charlotte Bessette thinks everything is going perfectly at the grand opening of her small town cheese shop Fromagerie Bessette, a scream is heard and a victim is found outside, stabbed with one of her olive wood handled cheese knives. When her grand-mere is accused of the crime, Charlotte begins her own investigation.

First in a series of Cheese Shop mysteries set in Ohio's Amish country. Full of quirky characters and lots of yummy cheese recipes. The plot keeps you guessing and the autho...more

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Jul 25, 2010 *Babs* rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who love Cheese & Mysteries

Shelves: mysteries, favorites

I rather enjoyed reading this book. Charlotte is a wonderful character who along with her cousin Matthew, have taken over the cheese shop from their grandparents. It gets really interesting just in the first few chapters to keep you hooked through out the whole book. Matthew and his daughters are so cute and funny. The grandparents keep you on your toes and are a cute couple. Then there is Jordan and Urso, makes you wonder what is going to happen between them and Charlotte down the road. I did n...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Jeannie and Louis Rigod rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an excellent book for a first in series. I loved the characters from page one. Important to me, was that they stayed in Character until the last page.

You get the sense of who did the unspeakable just about when the Author wants you to. This increased the enjoyment for me.

The book ends very strongly when you realize Charlotte is entering another completely different mystery within her relationships.

I, also, enjoyed the Amish touch. It was done with complete respect and honesty.

Lastly, ch...more

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Mystery

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Mystery > Cozy Mystery

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Food And Drink > Culinary

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Food And Drink > Food

4 users

Thriller > Mystery Thriller

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Adult

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Adult Fiction

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Mystery > Murder Mystery

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Womens

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Food And Drink > Cooking

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About Avery Aames

Avery Aames, author of A Cheese Shop Mystery for Berkley Prime Crime, is the pseudonym for Daryl Wood Gerber. Daryl created the format for the popular sitcom, "Out of this World" and has won awards for her screenplays. She also writes short stories and suspense novels. Not one to simply read and cook, she tends to look for adventure. She has hitchhiked around Ireland by herself and she has jumped...more

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Books by Avery Aames

Lost and Fondue (A Cheese Shop Mystery #2)

Clobbered by Camembert (A Cheese Shop Mystery #3)

To Brie or Not To Brie (A Cheese Shop Mystery #4)

Days of Wine and Roquefort (A Cheese Shop Mystery, #5)

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“Life is great. Cheese makes it better.” — 23 people liked it

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The Long Quiche Goodbye (A Cheese Shop Mystery #1)

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