Wowzers! Just the thought of reading a cozy mystery set around a grilled cheese eatery had me intrigued....and hungry! LOL

This was a fun, interesting, and fast-paced cozy mystery. I actually did not stop reading until I was finished with the book. I just had to know what happened next. There's plenty of suspects and red herrings (I actually had my suspicions as to whodunit...but I won't say if I was right or wrong). I absolutely loved Carly, Suzanne, Grant, and all the rest of the colorful citizens who live in Balsam Dell.

The grilled cheese recipes at the of the book sound yummy delicious. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Ms. Reilly definitely has a winning recipe with this new series.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Up to No Gouda is the First Book in the New Grilled Cheese Mystery Series by Linda Reilly.
I really LOVED this cozy mystery. The series is set in Balsam Dell, Vermont.

The Main character Carly who is dealing with the loss of her husband. She heads back home to Balsam Dell and opens her own Grilled Cheese restaurant.

The characters are well written and thoughtful.

The mystery was fun and kept me guessing. I look forward to the next to the next book in this series!!!!

I am definitely trying one of the recipes too!

This is the first book in Linda Reilly's Grilled Cheese mystery series and I loved it. It was a fun and entertaining read. I liked getting to know Carley and the town of Balsam Dell. The mystery kept me guessing. I was completely wrong on my suspensions. There is also a hint of a possible romance. I can't wait to read the next book.


Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital arc in return for an honest review.

THIS was a really good read. I didn't know what to expect when I started it as this is a new to me author, but I was not even remotely disappointed; I mean, who doesn't love grilled cheese, soup, and a good murder? Carly is an excellent MC [who doesn't need a man to complete her, even when she was married, she was not one who needed her man to complete her and had her own career, yet had a wonderful and loving marriage], who is still grieving her much-loved husband, but is really trying to move on and live her best life. Add a slewful of really fun characters, a reconciliation, some amazing sounding sandwiches [from her quirky sandwich shop] and of course a murder, and you end up with one really good read.
I had the killer figured out early on, but there are enough red herrings that kept me just wondering if I was wrong [I was not] and there were some aspects that I didn't guess and that made the reveal fun. This was just really well-written and I am really looking forward to the next one in the series. Well done.

I was also able to get the audiobook ARC for this book and boy was I surprised there as well. I am really, really, particular about my audiobook narrators - I have had so many that were just awful and ruined the book experience for me to not be particular and so I was hesitant to request this, but thought I could at least try. I am so glad I did. Mia Gaskin is a terrific narrator [I am so glad that there are starting to be more really good narrators within the cozy genre - there are just so many that are just plain awful to the ones that use the same voices no matter which series they are reading so you get confused as to what place you are actually in. To have some new blood, that actually do an amazing job narrating is so refreshing] and I will be looking for other books that she has narrated in the future. She tells the story well, her character voices don't grate on your nerves and she truly made the story better for me by her reading style. Very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Linda Reilly, Mia Gaskin [narrator], Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining start to a cozy mystery series. I love the idea of a grilled cheese restaurant. Reading this book gave me major cravings but luckily there are recipes in the back! An easy cheesy read that kept me entertained over a snowy weekend, cuddled up with my pup.

Carly has just moved back to her hometown of Balsam Dell, VT after the tragic death of her husband. Using the life insurance money, she opens a grilled cheese eatery — one of her lifelong dreams. Business is booming until her landlord decides not to renew the lease. Now Carly has just a few weeks before she has to close up shop, And to make matters worse, the landlord is none other than her high school boyfriend, Lyle. When Lyle is found dead behind the restaurant, the police pin a murder charge on Suzanne, Carly’s friend and employee. Now Carly has to prove Suzanne’s innocence and find a new rental space before time runs out…

4.5★s

Five months after she opened Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery, Carly was happy with how things were going. It was great to be home in Balsam Dell after the shattering death of her husband, and she was finally feeling like everything was going right for her and the business. But when Lyle Bagley, an old school ‘friend’, informed Carly he’d bought the building where her restaurant was and told her she had to be out within a month, Carly was shattered. She’d have to find another location, but would she be able to?

When Carly arrived to open up the next morning, she was shocked to discover Lyle's body behind the dumpster at the back of the shop. Immediately the police closed the restaurant and began their questioning. With one of Carly’s staff high on the suspect list, Carly decided to ask some questions of her own. But what would happen to Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery now that the owner was dead? And who killed him? There were plenty of suspects as Lyle was not a nice person…

Up to No Gouda is the 1st in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries by Linda Reilly and I quite enjoyed it. Fun and entertaining, I enjoyed Carly’s character, that of her friend Gina, Suzanne and Grant. A good mystery, I was completely wrong with my suspicions, and I’m looking forward to the 2nd in the series when it’s released. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly has Carly Hale enjoying the success of her new business venture. After the death of her husband, Carly returned to her hometown to open Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery. Carly is surprised when the bank tells her the building has been purchased in the foreclosure auction by a man who does not wish Carly to remain. Lyle Bagley is the town bully, and he is giving Carly one month to get out before renovations begin. Lyle’s girlfriend wants to open a high-end fashion boutique in Carly’s spot. Suzanne, Carly’s parttime employee, does not take the news well and gives Lyle her two cents. When Lyle is found dead behind Carly’s shop, Suzanne finds herself the prime suspect. Carly knows that Suzanne would not kill someone and put her son in jeopardy. She sets out to prove Suzanne’s innocence and serve up the killer up to the police. Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly is the debut of A Grilled Cheese Mystery series. I thought Up to No Gouda contained good writing, steady pacing, and relatable characters. I enjoyed getting to know Carly and the rest of the cast. I thought a grilled cheese diner was a clever idea for a cozy mystery series. I looked online and discovered it is a new trend in restaurants. Balsam Dell, Vermont is a charming town. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the scenery, shops, and homes. The mystery was nicely plotted out. There are a variety of suspects since Lyle was not well liked (putting it mildly). It depends on your sleuthing level on when (or if) you solve the whodunit. I thought the reason for the crime was clever. Carly conducted a good investigation. The case was nicely wrapped up at the end and I enjoyed the drama. I loved the little puppy in the story that gets named Havarti. He is a cutie pie. I do want to warn readers that reading this story will have you craving grilled cheese and tomato soup. There are certainly some unique grilled cheese combinations served at Carly’s eatery. I never thought of making grilled cheese dippers for tomato soup (I will be serving them to my mother soon). Up to No Gouda is a quick paced story that was over too soon. This is my favorite book by Linda Reilly. Up to No Gouda is a tasty tale with grilled cheese cuisine, a dead dirtbag, a framed friend, a precious puppy, an interfering editor, a sexy sports coach, and a curious Carly.

Carly Hale has her dream of a grilled cheese eatery. Just 5 months in things start to go wrong. The building her restaurant is in goes into foreclosure and it’s purchased by a slimy business Carly knew growing up. The new owner, Lyle, gives her a month or so to vacate because he is going to convert the space into a clothing boutique for his girlfriend. Then Lyle is found dead behind the building by the dumpster and it’s murder.
The main suspect is Carly’s friend and employee Suzanne. Carly thinks the police can handle finding the killer but the local newspaper owner, Don, convinces Carly to investigate with him.
The setting is Balsam Dell, Vermont. It sounds like a fabulous place to visit. The book descriptions are well done and draw the reader into this fictional place.
Overall, this is a very nice series debut. Carly is friendly with the chief of police. She has a possible love interest outside the police force. She has a lovely landlord and great employees. Carly is a thoroughly nice person and makes a great main character for this series.
I didn’t really see the murderer coming because there were lots of reasons Lyle could have been murdered. I didn’t anticipate the one that was behind Lyle’s death.
I would recommend Up to No Gouda as a fun new cozy mystery read.

An amazing new cozy mystery series that’s going to make you crave a huge gooey grilled cheese during every other chapter. I alternated between the ebook and audio book and found both equally enjoyable. Narrated outstandingly by Mia Gaskin, grilled cheese shop owner Carly comes to life. Carly’s host of suspects, including old and new friends in Balsam Dell, will make future visits to this cozy little town land straight on the top of my too be read pile.

As cozies go, this was a really good one. Cute, delicious, a little predictable, and of course more than a little cheesy ;) But I did enjoy the descriptions of Carly's sandwiches and her restaurant. I love grilled cheese, and so I would love to sit at one of Carly's tables. The killer was a surprise to me, and of course I loved little Havarti. I may read the next one in this series. Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc.

Carly Hale has returned to her hometown to open a Grilled Cheese Eatery. The restaurant is going well until the location is sold and the new owner doesn’t want to renew the lease. When the new owner is found murdered in the back lot, Carly needs to find the murderer to protect herself and employees. This book has some wonderful characters that I definitely want to know more about. I look forward to more in this series.

UP TO NO GOUDA, the first book in the brand-new Grilled Cheese Mystery series by Linda Reilly, is a scrumptious feast for the reader! Ms. Reilly is known for writing captivating cozy mysteries, and this hits the mark on all accounts. With a small-town setting in Vermont, a yummy grilled cheese shop, and a well-paced plot that balances mystery with friendships, I couldn’t put the book down. I’ve long appreciated that the author also creates kind, sweet characters, people you’d like to hang out with on a consistent basis. The protagonist, Carly Hale, is a delightful woman set on making a new life for herself and making her dreams become a reality after the death of her husband. Assisting her in her new grilled cheese eatery is her friend, Suzanne, and an older teen, Grant, who has his sights set on culinary school. I love the comradery of the trio and the care they take with each other.

It’s no wonder that when Suzanne is suspected of murdering Lyle, Carly’s ex-boyfriend, Carly and Grant jump in to clear her name. It doesn’t help matters that Lyle ended Carly’s lease and she has no choice but to close her restaurant and move out within thirty days. Ms. Reilly sets the murder up with strong motives for the suspects, and plenty of townspeople who disliked the victim. The plot was well-paced with some twists I didn’t see coming. I fell for the author’s misdirection several times and was taken by surprise at the suspenseful reveal. And best of all, you can always count on a heartwarming conclusion in Ms. Reilly’s books, making me eager for the chance to visit with Carly and her friends soon!

I’ve always enjoyed grilled cheese sandwiches but reading this book made me crave one! The author includes several grilled cheese sandwich recipes at the back of the book and they all sound fantastic.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Linda Reilly introduces us to her new protagonist, Carly Hale, in Up To No Gouda, the first book in the Grilled Cheese Mystery Series. Carly has returned to her hometown of Balsam Dell after the unexpected death of her husband in a car accident. She has found a storefront and opened the shop of her dreams, a sandwich shop where she has created a number of different grilled cheese sandwiches using unique ingredients and combinations. She soon discovers that the building her shop is in has been purchased out of foreclosure by her high school boyfriend Lyle. Upon the purchase, Lyle informs Carly that he is not renewing her lease because his current fiancee wants to open her own fashion boutique. The next morning Carly discovers that Lyle has been murdered just outside her shop and the investigation begins to point to her waitress Suzanne as being the killer. Carly decides to investigate on her own to prevent Suzanne from being railroaded for a crime she didn't commit.

I feel that this book was somewhat of a slow starter but can understand because, as a first in series, the author needed to introduce and develop the characters in order to create a sense of vested interest in the reader's mind. As the story developed, the author offered up a number of viable suspects and motives allowing the reader more insight into the community and its residents. As the investigation continued, it became clear that this was more a question of why wasn't this guy bumped off sooner and less who ultimately did the deed. Navigating the red herrings and plot twists was at times confusing but by the end of the story all were explained and straightened out. As a result of the many possible motives and culprits, the final identity of the killer and motive was a total surprise and made for an interesting ending.

I look forward to more stories in this series to see how the characters and relationships continue to develop and while waiting for the next installment to be released, I will be reading this author's other cozy mystery series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.

You're going to want a grilled cheese or two after you read this delicious first in a new series book.

Carly Hale has returned to her hometown to deal with the loss of her husband and to open her dream restaurant: A place that serves many kinds of grilled cheese. When her dream is possibly going to be pulled out from under her by an old high school boyfriend who buys her building, Carly feels her loss deeply. Someone is clever enough to murder the man and although Carly is hopeful about the fate of her restaurant, she is not thrilled when her server and single mother is fingered for the crime.

I adored this book and didn't want to put it down. The town of Balsam Dell sounds absolutely charming (as cozy settings are wont to do) and I would love to have a grilled cheese restaurant in my city. The clever punny descriptions of the sandwiches make them all the more toothsome. What really wins here is the cast of supporting characters: Carly's server Suzanne, her sous chef Grant and her friend the chief. I don't want to add any more to the list lest I give away some plot points. I was happily stumped until the very end about whodunit. I appreciate authors who can do that yet when they tidy everything up it all makes sense.

I am a fan of Linda Reilly's other series about a cat rescue in Whisker Jog, so if you like those you'll definitely like this one. And if you love grilled cheese and/or foodie mysteries, this is a winner. I look forward to the second book in the series!

I really loved the start of this series. I thought this was a really great cozy mystery. I loved that every part of this story totally fit within the mystery and there were so many layers to what was happening around Lyle's murder. The ending was so surprising and not something that I completely expected, but Arlene was starting to act a little odd and I was beginning to wonder why. I loved Havarti and I thought that the dog was such a cute addition to the storyline. I can wait to read the next book in this series!

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly.
Grilled Cheese Mystery, book one.
I did not enjoy this book as much as most other readers seemed to. I thought it was kind of boring. The most entertaining thing turned out to be the variety of cheese sandwiches.
Maybe I’m just off cozies right now but this one didn’t do it for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this title. This is first in a new culinary cozy series.Carly has returned to her home town after losing her husband and opened a grilled cheese restaurant. Her building is sold, and her new landlord evicts her. He is discovered dead outside the restaurant, and one of Carly's employees, Suzanne, is the prime suspect. To save her friend, Carly investigates.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. The descriptions of the grilled cheese sandwiches had me craving one. The cast of characters is interesting. The relationships with some of the characters is a little weird in that progress through problematic issues in a breeze, trust super quickly, or just feel weird. I will give this series another book or so.

This is review is given freely.

I've chosen to read this book because its cover is just too cute, and fortunately the story is a good, intriguing one too.

Up To No Gouda is the first book in a new series written by Linda Reilly, it's the first time I've read one of her works and I was easily caught into the web of episodes and characters she wrote.

Carly Hale went back to Balsam Dell after her husband died in an accident. Here she decided to open her dream restaurant, a grilled cheese eatery. The few months since she opened looks promising and she has high expectations for the Summer season, or better known as the tourist season, until the new owner of the building where she has the eatery comes in and tells her she has to leave. Carly is dejected but she tries to think to a plan B. When the owner is found dead in the alley behind her restaurant she diecides to investigate about it to take suspicion off herself.

I enjoyed this story, the plot and the mystery were well thought and delivered, I've adored to find all the clues and to try to solve it. The characters are well-crafted and relatable. I particularly liked how the author gave to our heroine a sad past story and how Carly showed her strong personality, not giving up, througout the book.

I can't wait to go back to Balsam Dell and have a cheese toast with Carly again.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the first in a new cozy cuisine mystery series. This one is cheesy! This is a fun cozy mystery with lots of good eats. Super interesting people as well. I really liked Grant. Possibly a hint of romance is in the air as well. I am not sure how Carly got so involved in the investigation but it made for a fun book. 3.5 stars

I really liked this debut by Linda Reilly. I gave it 5 stars.

Carly Hale was a very likeable sleuth and it was also fun to get to know the other characters in this little town.

What I think stood out compared to other cozies is that it takes place in a grilled cheese restaurant. It made me soo hungry reading about the food I had to go to the store and buy ingredients to make my own tomato soup and sandwich. There are a couple of recipes in the end that I would like to try out in the future.

About halfway through the book I figured out the motive for the murder but I didn't know who was behind it. I was surprised when it was presented to me so I give a thumbs up for the mystery-part in this book.

I am really looking forward to the upcoming book. We didn't get enough of the cute little companion Havarti in this book but I am sure we will see more of him in the next one. I am also curious to see if Carly will open up to love a man again and if there will be some romance blossoming.

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