Member Reviews
Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss is the second book in the Cheese Shop Mysteries series. This is an intriguing cozy mystery. The celebrity vegan chef, Phoebe Winston, is found dead in the bathtub at the vacation home she was renting in Yarrow Glen. Cheesemonger and amateur sleuth Willa Bauer is the one who finds her body. Once it is determined that she was murdered Willa and her group search for clues to solve the murder. After all one of their own is a prime suspect.
This is a fast-paced, action-packed story. I love the characters in this series and have enjoyed both books in the series. This book can be read as a standalone.
This is such a fun series. The second installment in a set of cheese shop based mysteries, this book builds upon the foundation set in the series debut. There’s a clear little community growing up from the cheese shop and other local store owners. We’re getting to see more and more of folks, which I always enjoy. There’s a bit of a love triangle brewing and that’s… not my favorite. But we shall see. The mystery in this book was solid. I didn’t predict all the twists and turns, so I count that as a win.
I’ve enjoyed the others in this series more than this one but it’s still worth reading. The plot is one I hadn’t previously come across
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc
When an influencer is murdered and Willa's employee Archie is accused of murder she has to step in to clear his name. The are a lot of people who the influencer has wronged- the murder suspect list is growing by the minute!
This was a fun read, although there were just too many suspects and it became a little chaotic. There's also the love triangle with Willa, the meadery owner Roman and Heath, the lead detective on the case. Hopefully it'll be resolved soon, as i'm not a fan on live triangles, especially those where nothing seems to be happening other than longing :)
I'll definitely read the next book in the series to see where this is going.
Plot: When I read the first book in this series, Cheddar Off Dead, I knew I had found a new series to add to my favorites list. I loved it, so I went into this book with high expectations, and I am happy to write it did not disappoint! This was just as good as the first book, and I loved getting to see more of Yarrow Glen, and the characters that call it home. The mystery was really well written. I managed to guess who the culprit was (it doesn't lessen my enjoyment of a book when I do, because part of the fun for me is trying to figure it out, and when I do, I'm happy!), but not the why, and I thought it all came together really nicely.
Characters: I think Willa is a great main character, and I really enjoyed reading another book about her solving a mystery! The supporting characters are all wonderful. And I thought the suspects were all well written.
The Cover: I really like it! I think the covers for this series are really good.
Overall: I was so excited when I was approved for an e-ARC of this book, because I loved the first one so much. I immediately began it that night, and it did not disappoint my high expectations! This is a cozy mystery series that I highly recommend!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher.
Willa has the opportunity to host a famous cookbook author at Curds & Whey. Phoebe will be gracing everyone's presences by doing a demo of some of her famous cheesy vegan recipes and signing autographs for her adoring fans. Or so she thinks.
Who doesn't love cheese? Really. Even people who can't eat cheese will find ways to make other things look and taste like cheese. And for people who really like cheese (you know... all of us) it almost makes you crazy to read about all the different types of cheeses (my mouth is watering right now). I also personally love reading about people running a little shop and living in an apartment above it, always close to the action. This book also features a fun cast of characters, people who probably couldn't have less in common but who make up a super cozy little family.
This mystery was really fun. The victim was pretty awful so there were no tears shed over her demise and a plethora of people who might have wanted to do her in. There were lots of little clues scattered throughout the story, none of which I caught. The killer came completely out of left field for me but not in such a way that I felt like the author had cheated me out of the opportunity to figure out who had done the dirty deed. This is a pretty rare occurrence for me given the number of cozies I've read!
I've really enjoyed this series so far and look forward to following it for many books to come!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
This was a cute little cozy read. I like the cheese shop aspect and the characters were fun. As I am having to go somewhat vegan myself due to food allergies, I found a story about a cheese shop trying vegan entertaining. The mystery was good with a lot of twist and turns to keep you guessing. Great cast off characters and story flow.
This is the second book in the series and it was just as much reading fun as the first! I love the characters and the scenery that is described. I can’t wait for the third!
Loved this story, I was so happy to read the next book in the series .
Willa is busy running her cheese shop, Curds and Whey, and getting a float ready for the festival. She is asked to host a book signing and demonstration by an upland coming author, Phoebe. But, Phoebe isn’t all she appears to be and many in town do not like her. When her body is found in her rental house, the suspect list is long and frustrating. Will and her friends do so sleuthing of their own , but seem to find trouble at every turn .
Love the character, the plot is refreshing and enjoyable, and the recipes sound delicious.. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Pub date: 9/27/22
Genre: cozy mystery, book 2 in the Cheese Shop Mysteries
In one sentence: Willa Bauer is up for a challenge - making delicious vegan cheese recipes for influencer Phoebe - until Phoebe is exposed as a fraud and turns up dead.
Cozy mysteries can be read as standalones, but I think you'll like this one more if you read book 1, Cheddar Off Dead!
If you love cozy mysteries or are just looking for a light read, this is a great choice! Willa and shop employee Archie continue to be delightful characters, and I loved following Willa's work to clear Archie's name. Plus the vegan cheese dilemma was super entertaining! Yarrow Glen is a lovely small town to visit, and I look forward to continuing the series. Just don't read this one without some cheese on hand!
Narrator: first person, Willa Bauer
Animals: Tiny white dog
Location: Yarrow Glen
Sub-location: Cheese shop: Curds & Whey
Notes on the puns of the title: 100% incredible
Series #: Cheese Shop Mystery 2
Copaganda/police involvement: Literally no recollection whatsoever
Recipes: YES. Bavarian Beer Cheese (Obatzda), Cheesy Apple Pockets, Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese.
Mystery notes: It was kind of far-fetched but like,,,, whatever! It's a cozy mystery! I don't care!
This book honestly gets four stars from me because of the cheese references and the recipes. I'm looking forward to more, and I will probably go back and try to read the first.
cozy-mystery, murder, murder-investigation, friendship, friction, celebrities, cheesemaker, small-business, small-town, fraud, law-enforcement, pets, dogs, cheese-lore, lies, California****
It wasn't hard to guess who the victim would be! Willa has agreed to a lot of expense to showcase a celebrity chef who turns out to be more like evil personified. Guess who gets murdered and who gets to do the sleuthing to protect Willa's friend/employee. A really nice cozy.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from the St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley. Thank you!
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from St. Martin’s Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own..
Delightfully entertaining cozy mystery full of charming characters and whimsical twists.
I like Willa and friends and found the story an engaging read. The ending was a tad preposterous though.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Willa is back in the second book of the cheese shop mystery series, Gone for Gouda.
Willa Bauer's cheese shop is doing well. She even snags a vegan influencer to visit her shop for a special event. Things couldn't be better for her shop and all the publicity this event will bring. Things quickly take a turn when the influencer is murdered and Archie, Willa's employee is a prime suspect.
I really liked this book and how the series is progressing. The characters are entertaining and the setting is fresh, which is always nice to find.
Thanks St. Martin's Press for the ARC
I just finished Gone For Gouda by Karina Moss. I love cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint. There were enough suspects that it was hard to pick the right one. See if you get the real killer the first time.
All words and opinions are my own. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion.
Gone for Gouda is the second installment in the new cheese shop mystery.
Willa Bauer loves cheese, her new shop is doing well, and when she lines up a vegan influencer to visit the shop, she couldn't be more pleased.
Those pleasant thoughts turn dark very quickly when said influencer is murdered and Willa's employee is a suspect.
I really like this book, the characters are entertaining, fresh and new, which is always nice to find.
I'm looking forward to reading this series as it continues.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#UpToNoGouda #NetGalley
The second cheese shop mystery! Willa is hosting an event for a vegan cheese influencer. When that influencer turns up dead, her employee Archie falls under suspicion as he was the last known person to see the victim. Willa must investigate to clear his name!
Another great entry! I found parts of the middle a bit slow compared to the first half of the book, but overall a solid cozy mystery! Plus it’s set in the cheese world, so that’s great.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Willa has managed to snag a popular influencer to do a book signing and vegan cooking demonstration at her cheese shop. When the influencer is uncovered as a carnivore and found dead, Willa is on the case when her young assistant becomes the primary suspect. The gang comes together to try and find out who killed the young woman and why. With several suspects but no evidence, Willa and the gang have their work cut out for them. Can they figure it out or will the killer get away with murder?
I adore this series. The cheeses make me want to run out to my nearest cheese case and but some tasty morsels to go along with my reading. The recipes are also great additions, though I REALLY wanted that cheese soup recipes! Likable characters, a fabulous setting and an adorable beta fish make this one of my must read series!
Book 2 in this series is stronger than Book 1, so I'm really glad I gave the series another chance. The dialog is more believable and it just feels like a must more engaging mystery. I like the elements of both the cheese shop and the meadery that work their way into the plot. Willa feels like a well developed character, and I love the Buttercup/Bruiser little subplot throughout the entire book. I liked this one a lot! While it still follows many of the basic cozy mystery tropes, it does so in a way that makes for a fun read. I didn't care for the very last page, but that just has to do with the romance element...nothing that undercuts the mystery part of the book.
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.