April's Featured Cozy Mystery

Cheddar Off Dead

Book One in the Cheese Shop Mystery Series

Cheddar Off Dead

Korina Moss
Cheese Shop Mystery Series
Paperback, ebook, audiobook

Amazon

Audible

Barnes and Noble

Chirp

Bookshop

Everand

Books-A-Million

Kobo

Cheddar Off Dead is the first book in the Cheese Shop Mystery Series by Korina Moss. The story takes place in Yarrow Glen, a small town in the Sonoma Valley of California. The protagonist, Willa Baur, is a cheesemonger with a French-inspired cheese shop called Curds & Whey.

Willa firmly believes that "most of life's problems can be solved with cheese," so she is feeling optimistic about starting her new cheese shop in a new town. She has even hired two excellent employees: Mrs. Schultz, a widowed former drama teacher who is over a certain age, and Archie, a friendly nineteen-year-old store clerk who is always eager to help.

Things are going gouda for the new shop until a picky food critic meets the sharp end of Willa's cheese knife. Willa must uncover who wanted him out of the whey to protect herself and her shop's reputation.

Reasons to Read Cheddar Off Dead

Cheddar Off Dead is a really delightful series debut. It has a great amateur sleuth with an interesting profession, a likable supporting cast, a charming setting, a well-plotted mystery, and a generous helping of fun cheese facts. The book even ends with yummy cheesy recipes you can make at home!

The writing is also top-notch. Author Korina Moss has a real knack for crafting stories that balance the lightheartedness of a fun cozy and the suspense of a puzzling whodunit. As the tale unfolds, you find yourself wanting to visit Yarrow Glen, eat all the cheeses, and solve mysteries with Willa and the gang.

Willa and her friends are a big part of the reason why this series is so good. Willa is easy to admire. She moved to Yarrow Glen to make a fresh start and live her dream of working with cheese. She is kind, thoughtful, and willing to work hard to achieve her goals. And her love of cheese is contagious (prepare yourself for cheese cravings).

The other residents of Yarrow Glen are a varied and likable bunch. In addition to the other shop owners, you have a core group of recurring characters around Willa who are like a found family. They genuinely care about each other and help to create touching moments within the story.

Cheddar Off Dead has great reviews from readers and has been given special commendations by several organizations. It was named one of USA Today's “Best Cozy Mystery Series.” It also won the prestigious Agatha Award for Best First Novel the year it was released. (The Agatha Award is given to outstanding traditional mysteries typified by the works of Agatha Christie.) Other books in the Cheese Shop Mystery Series have also been shortlisted for the award.

Cheddar Off Dead is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. The paperback is 304 pages, and the Kindle book is 285 pages. The audiobook is 7 hours and 45 minutes long and narrated by Erin Moon, who does a great job of bringing Willa and Team Cheese to life.

Cheddar Off Dead Reviews

“A fresh, complex mystery with a fabulous heroine.”

— Cate Conte, author of the Full Moon series

“Readers will love the cheese shop employees, Mrs. Schultz and Archie, as well as Willa’s neighbor, Baz. ”

— Kings River Life

“There were quite a few suspects and enough red herrings to have me guessing (wrongly) more than once. What a fantastic ride!”

— Book Frolic

“A series that readers will be eager to revisit.”

— Brian Kenney, Librarian, Co-Founder of First Clue

Cheddar Off Dead Book Club Kit

See a free Cheddar Off Dead book club kit with spoiler-free discussion questions and activity suggestions.

Cheese Recipes From Author Korina Moss

Cheddar Off Dead includes two delicious recipes inspired by scenes in the book. The other books in the Cheese Shop Mysteries also include cheesy recipes you can make at home.

You can find additional recipes from author Korina Moss on her website (like this recipe for Double Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole) and on Mystery Lovers Kitchen, where mystery writers cook up crime and recipes! I recommend trying Korina’s Short-cut Croque Monsieur, a decadent French sandwich that translates to “Mr. Crunchy Bite” in English.

Interview With Author Korina Moss

Check out this Cozy Crime Reads interview with Korina Moss to learn what drew her to cozy mysteries, how she creates her cozy settings and characters, and what advice she offers to aspiring writers. You’ll also learn about Korina's developmental editing services for cozy mystery writers. (If you are looking to write your own cozy, you may benefit from her insider knowledge as an author for a Big 5 publisher!)

Books 1-6 in the Cheese Shop Mysteries

Other Books in the Cheese Shop Mystery Series

There are six books so far in the Cheese Shop Mystery Series by Korina Moss:

Cheddar Off Dead (Book 1): Winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel
Gone for Gouda (Book 2): Woman’s World Magazine Book Club Pick
Curds of Prey (Book 3): Named one of Parade Magazine’s “Books We Love”
Case of the Bleus (Book 4): Woman’s World Magazine Book Club Pick, Agatha Award Finalist for Best Contemporary Mystery Novel
Fondue or Die (Book 5): Agatha Award Nominee for Best Contemporary Mystery Novel
Bait and Swiss (Book 6): Coming April 29

All six of the books are well-reviewed by critics and readers alike. All of them have been selected as book club picks or nominated for awards.

Team Cheese is Korina Moss’ free monthly newsletter. It includes book news and fun extras. Sign up for Team Cheese.

Korina Moss Cozy Mystery Bookshelf

Use the arrows on either side of the images below to see all of the books in the Cheese Shop Mystery Series. Click on the image to see the book on Amazon.