I really loved this book even more than I first thought I would. I wasn't sure how a restaurant in a cozy could be that interesting with only grilled cheese, but this was a fun surprise. I'm not one to experiment with grilled cheese. Kinda a plain American singles and if I wanna be adventurous, a sprinkle of cheddar inside. But I loved the names of Carly's different creations, and that Grant was just a genius in the kitchen! Carly, Grant and Suzanne had a great dynamic in the restaurant...that is, until poor Suzanne was nearly charged with murder.

There were some side mysteries that did tie in with the main one, and it was pretty cool how Carly managed to sniff it out. I'd suspected someone randomly for my own reasons and was surprised when I was right. But there was another whole layer to things done and people caught for said things. I got a kick out of that crazy guy Don, the reporter and how Carly had babysat him once. The Dennis the Menace of the twenty-first century? lol. But he seemed like an okay guy now.

You know how awesome some books are, and you just want more after the showdown and perp or perps were caught? And in some books you get it and some you don't. This book was incredibly generous (thanks to its amazing author) in providing just that perfect wrap-up ending. I really loved and appreciated how every single dangling thread was explained so thoroughly. One of my favorite characters was Becca, a homeless veteran. I have a special place in my heart for veterans (LOTS of them in our family!) and was so happy with her good ending! This is a book that if I had time, I could easily read it again! I absolutely can't wait for the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. Don't miss this book when it comes out January 25, 2022!

Up to No Gouda is the first book in the author's Grilled Cheese Mystery Series. I adored our heroine Carly who, after being widowed, returned to her hometown and opened a grilled cheese restaurant, which was a long-time dream. Carly is such a likable character and I think that made the story that much better. The book takes place in Balsam Dell the beautiful small town where Carly grew up. In fact, several of the people we meet in the story have previous connections to Carly from her time in high school. The author introduced us to a lot of characters and because this is the start of the series, I am sure we will see many of them again.

This was a well paced story with a couple red herrings and twists keeping me guessing. I absolutely want to read the next book in the series and have already recommended this one to a couple of people who enjoy a good cozy mystery. This book made me crave grilled cheese! Be warned. :)
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced e-book.

This is the first book in a brand new cozy mystery series. It's about a woman who opens a grilled cheese shop. The cover is charming and I just love the title of it, so clever.
While reading I got hungry reading about the different types of cheese combinations, I really do love melted cheese. There were some surprising twists in this book I just didn't see coming. I enjoyed meeting these new characters and look forward to solving more mysteries with the main character again in future books in this series. This is my first read of this author and I look forward to seeing what she puts out next.

Pub Date 25 Jan 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a fun start to a new cozy mystery series. I don’t think I ever would have thought of a grilled cheese restaurant but now that I’ve read this book I need one to exist. The characters in this book were fun to get to know and I think they set a good foundation for a series. I liked the amateur sleuth Carly and especially loved Becca and Joyce. Carly has just got her new business up and running when her old high school boyfriend Lyle shows up and lets her know he bought the building and is going to renovate it to create a boutique for his girlfriend. When Lyle shows up dead suspicion obviously falls on Carly and her employees so Carly takes it on herself to figure out who the real murderer is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Carly Hale has moved back to her hometown of Balsam Dell in Vermont after the tragic loss of her husband. She has opened up a grilled cheese shop aptly named Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. She is leasing the space for her restaurant. She receives the news from her ex-boyfriend, Lyle, that he has bought the building, and she will have to get out at the end of the month because his girlfriend is going to open a boutique. She is not happy and neither are her co-workers. The next day she hears a scream in the back alley behind her restaurant where Lyle is found dead. There are a lot of suspects, including one of her employees who got very irate with him the day before. Apparently Lyle had a lot of enemies in life so the suspect pool is large. I loved the characters in this book. I could envision exactly what each person looked like. The description of the different types of grilled cheese sandwiches will leave your mouth watering! There is also a stray dog that Carly rescues and names him Havarti! This was a clean mystery with a wide suspect pool to ponder over. This is the first book of a new series. I look forward to seeing more of this series from Linda Reilly. It looks like there is another one set to publish in July 2022. If you enjoy a cozy mystery, you will be pleased with this one. I find myself wanting to go make a grilled cheese sandwich! As a plus there are grilled cheese recipes in the back of the book.

Reading Notes:

- Oh no, this book is gonna make me heckin hungry. So much gooey cheese. And soup. Drool.
- How is Lyle the bad guy here? Seriously. Carly poured her money into a risky lease, that knowingly ended in months, in a foreclosure. No guarantees. It sucks, sure, but Lyle bought the building and has different plans for it. That’s not on Lyle, that’s just bad assumptions made by Carly.
- A body is found and the arriving officer only asked her a couple questions and then just says “I’m going to let you off the hook for now.” A vague “[come down to the station later or tomorrow]” to give a proper statement. Not questioning her while it’s fresh? Even for a cozy mystery, that’s crap.
- The police chief just showed up to ask all the right questions. Back on track.
- It all sounds delicious but I’m really concerned about the lack of of fruit and vegetables (besides tomato soup) in Carly’s life. Nothing but bread, butter, cheese, and bacon for every meal.
- The case against evil Lyle is building.
- Oh! She’s deviated and is now consuming cotton candy.
- Poor food and business habits aside, the character is pretty strong. Many cozy mysteries build a stupid or overly naive heroine in order to further a weak plot. Not so here. Carly is a prime example of an every-woman, day to day and person to person, she moves and interacts reasonably, with a little sleuthing thrown in.
- Aw, yes, roll your eyes at the woman who only eats salads and yogurt. Her attitude may rub you wrong but when you have a heart-attack by 38, she’s gonna be thriving.
- In all seriousness, I’m never on board with this type of stereotyping against women. The woman who is concerned with her diet is seen as a bitchy calorie counter. While the women who eats whatever is automatically the hero and happy. It’s unnecessary and lazy type-casting that divides women.
- The murder/mystery is obviously being overshadowed for me. There are a lot of varied characters, which is great, but I’m not focused on the murder or feeling anticipation or drive to have it solved. Though I have an idea as to the who just not the why. The book is very character driven. I just want to know more about each and every person, that’s what’s driving me through the story.
- Toast, blueberry pie, ice cream, pink lemonade, raspberry swirl brownies. For the love of Baby Yoda, eat a plain vegetable!
- The last 30% was great, though there were a couple nitpicky things that I found too unbelievable. However, there was action and multiple puzzles to solve/reveal. Jokes aside, it was a solid food centered mystery novel with a multitude of interesting individuals. The “good” and “bad” characters all get a good arc in this one book. If cozy mystery is your thing, then give this one a shot.

I really enjoyed getting to know Carly in this new series. She is smart, loyal, and dedicated to her business (translation: she actually goes to work and sleuths in her off-time). The mystery was solid and had plenty of suspects. The writing was easy to follow and flowed well for me. The best part: the grilled cheese sandwiches were described just enough to make my mouth water. Recipes included for some of the sandwiches in the back. I will definitely try to make some of them and will check out the next in the series.

This was a wonderful start to a brand new culinary cozy series. Needing a fresh start after the sudden loss of her husband, Carly returns home to pursue her dream of owning and operating a grilled cheese diner. I loved the quaint Vermont town of Balsam Dell. I think it's going to be a great setting as this series grows. The eatery was the perfect place for the locals to quickly grab a comforting meal and share a bit of gossip. I loved the descriptions of the various grilled cheese concoctions and their cute names on the menu. Beware, you will be graving some cheesy goodness with a side of tomato soup numerous times as you read through this cozy. The book does include several recipes too!

I really liked Carly. She was strong, yet you got glimpses of her sorrow. I'm already intrigued by a few of the side characters. I loved Grant! He's a young, black student who wants to be an aspiring chef (for the best reason ever!), but his parents are pushing him into following in their footsteps and studying music. He is a fabulous cellist. I can't wait to see how his character grows and develops!! I also liked seeing Carly reconcile with an old friend. That was the most realistic moment I've seen in a cozy in quite some time. I mean it's not too overly common to move away and still keep in touch with all of your childhood / school friends. I loved that Gina makes card and using quilling. My mom use to do that intricate paper rolling so I enjoyed reading about the various shapes she created. Of course, Havarti was the cutest puppy addition to the storyline. I'm happy he got the perfect home at the end.

The mystery was well done and captivating. There were plenty of suspicious suspects and questionable actions surrounding this murder. I did pick up on the culprit, but couldn't quite piece together the reasoning until the big reveal.

Looks like the sequel, No Parm No Foul, is set to come out later this year. I'll be on the lookout for it!

Like author Linda Reilly, my go-to comfort food is a grilled cheese sandwich. As a result, she just made my day starting the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series. Even better, I loved it. Reilly has created likeable, realistic characters that most of us would be delighted to have in our own circle of friends. Now, true, given Grant's ability to conjure the perfect grilled cheese sandwich for the moment, I might put him high on my list but there's also more to him than his cooking skills. A talented young black man, he's being pressured by this parents to give up his dreams of becoming a chef and focus on his music. Turns out he's also a talented cello player named after William Grant Still, a composer and conductor who was the first African-American to conduct a major America symphony orchestra. Grant's parents are also talented musicians and are leaning heavily on him to choose music as a career. You'll have to read the book to see how that is sorted out. Grant obviously doesn't plan on making his career making grilled cheese sandwiches forever.

As for the murder mystery, the plot moves along as Carly and the local police force sift through a variety of suspects and clues to find Lyle's killer. Not only did Carly once briefly date the victim in high school but one of her workers becomes the main "person of interest" after Lyle exits Carly's restaurant after smugly delivering some bad news to Carly. Will this be the end of Carly's dream? Will her workers have to look for new jobs, too? What role will the fiercely independent homeless Becca play? Why is some ol' car so important to Lyle's younger brother? Would he kill for it? Can Carly trust Ari? How about with her heart? Are any of those about her too good to be true? Finally, will she ever get around to finally changing her mind and adopting the adorable little dog she discovered at about the same time she stumbled across Lyle's dead body? I'm not telling but I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series. Go add it to your "To Be Read" list while I go make myself a grilled cheese sandwich. It won't be as good as one of Grant or Carly's, alas, but it'll hit the spot this cold, snowy Alaska evening. I might even share a bite of it with my own dog who was rooting for Carly to adopt Havarti.

Thank you #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for the advance copy of this great new series and to author #LindaReilly for adding those great grilled cheese recipes at the end, too.

I love cozy mysteries involving food or restaurants and who can say no to one set in a Grilled Cheese eatery. As someone who loves grilled cheese but has to be careful of what kind of cheese she eats i loved this one. Especially the title "Up to No Gouda" as Gouda is one of the few cheeses I can eat with no problem. As a kid my dad use to make me what he called gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches good cheese such as gouda on sourdough bread. No Kraft cheese for this kid. I loved them. And I loved this book and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Nothing hits the spot quite like seeing "first in a new series" in a cozy mystery description.

This series revolves around Carley Hale, owners of a fabulous grilled cheese shop right in the center of town. It wasn't an easy journey for Carley, as she mourns the loss of her husband while slowly finding success in her new, thriving business.

We follow Carley's journey as she abruptly discovers she is being turned out by her commercial landlord, Lyle. First stop on this journey, is finding him murdered in her alley way. The reader tags along to watch Carley unfold the mystery, help clear the name of her friend, and bring a few bad people to justice.

I really enjoyed this book. The ending was a little twisty for me, but overall, I really liked these characters. I am excited to see how this series grows and will definitely be waiting for the next book to arrive.

Also, how cute is this book name? 3.5 stars.

Carly Hale moves back to Balsam Dell to pursue her lifelong dream of opening Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. After a couple of months, business is booming as people flock to lunch on her grilled cheese concoctions. Then, Lyle Bagley, Carly's former boyfriend and now town bully, buys the building that houses her eatery and wants to evict her. But, when Lyle is discovered dead behind the dumpster of Carly's shop, one of her employees becomes a major 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.
I loved this new culinary cozy mystery and hope that the author has many more stories. Carly is a very likeable character who is finding new life after dealing with a tremendous loss. She's a very inspiring character. The plot of the story was a real puzzle, and I was surprised by the identity of the culprit. I'm unsure whether a grilled cheese eatery would be a viable business in the real world, but I would love to visit Carly's eatery again. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley and this review is my honest opinion.

"Up to No Gouda” the first instalment in A Grilled Cheese Mystery series by Linda Reilly set in the town of Balsam Dell, Vermont. What a great start to a new series!

I like the Protagonist Carly, she’s working through grief after losing her husband in a tragic accident. She decides to return the night to her hometown of Balsam Dell to open up a Grilled Cheese restaurant.

The characters are well developed and I loved the bond between Carly, Suzanne and Grant. I look forward to seeing how Carly’s relationship with them and her childhood BFF will continue to develop and could there be romance in the air for Carly in book 2

One character who I loved and hope to see more of in book 2 is Harvarti the dog …

The mystery was interesting and there are plenty of red herrings, and twists to keep you wanting to find out what will happen next.

I read the book in one day it was that good, I even ate a grilled cheese and tomato soup while I read the last few chapters. Luckily there are recipes at the back, that you will be dying to try I know I am.

I cant wait for the second instalment No Parm No Foul to come out in July 2022. I highly recommend this to cozy lovers.



I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A promising start to a new series which is full of mystery but also mixed with some heartwarming moments. Plus, some enjoyable characters which I look forward to seeing more of in future books of the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series. Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

It was the title of this book that grabbed me, I didn't even read the blurb and I am so pleased that I didn't as I may not have chosen this. I really enjoyed the whole story and with so much going on within the pages. I would recommend this but the title alone, read it and enjoy it as I have done. 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this early ARC

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press for the complimentary digital review copy of Up To No Gouda in advance of publication. Up To No Gouda comes out January 25, 2022.

Carly Hale has moved back to her hometown, Balsam Dell after her husband dies in a accident. She opens up Carly's Grilled Cheese Factory, in the downtown stretch, and is looking forward to an amazing summer until the building is sold to Lyle Bagley, an ex boyfriend from high school, who is determined to get Carly out before the end of the summer. The next day, Lyle is discovered dead in the alley behind Carly's store.

This cozy mystery was a great, cold January read. Picturing the summer in Balsam Dell was appreciated on the coldest day so far this winter. The story followed a similar premise to many other cozies, amateur sleuth working outside the police force to solve the mystery that has occurred near them. Sometimes when I'm reading books in this genre I find myself bored with the speed of the story, but I didn't find that with this one. The story kept moving along nicely, and I found this to be a quick read.

I'm lucky enough to have actually been to a Grilled Cheese restaurant in a nearby town, and they are everything they are cracked up to be. After reading this book I wish I had Carly's Grilled Cheese Factory as my local haunt.

I'll be looking out for the next book in the series for sure.

3.5 stars rounded to 3.

I’m a sucker for a cozy mystery especially those with a pun for a title because usually that means the author is going to share my sense of humor. This one was great! It is the first in a new series so everything was being introduced. I loved everything about it from the characters to the small town feel to the grilled cheese restaurant and especially the mysteries! I can’t wait to read the next in the series!

I have to admit that the adorable cover and the cute name totally caught my attention even before reading the synopsis. Once I read the though I was in! This is a perfect culinary cozy mystery with a dash of romance and an adorable dog that will have you hooked from page one. Who doesn’t love the idea of a grilled cheese restaurant?

The story was well written and had a great pace. There was a good balance of twists and turns that had me guessing to the end.

This is a great start to the series and I am definitely a fan who will be looking forward to the next book.

I want to thank NetGalley, Linda Reilly and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

The first in the new Grilled Cheese Mystery series will definitely have you craving a hot, melty sandwich with crisply grilled bread and adding some different cheeses to your grocery list. It got off to a slightly clunky start with huge chunks of text describing things I didn't care about because I didn't even know the protagonist yet, but it picks up quickly. The mystery was intriguing and there are some characters I look forward to learning more about.

A thrilling start to what appears to be the start of a excellent series! Her dream is of opening a grilled cheese themed restaurant turns into a nightmare, when Carly is faced with eviction shortly after opening. But things turn worse when the evicter is found murdered. Carly starts sleuthing, hoping to clear a friend and may be getting in over her head! I absolutely loved this book. It had a great plot, interesting characters and an intriguing who dunnit that I didnt see coming! Also the grilled cheese recipes are awesome! Cant wait for the next!