The Long Quiche Goodbye

Writing as Avery Aames, Daryl Wood Gerber is the author of several series, including "The Cookbook Nook" mysteries, the "French Bistro" mysteries, and the "Cheese Shop" mysteries ( 7 so far); this is the first in that last named series. It won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel (2010). Charlotte Bessette and her cousin Matthew have bought out Charlotte's grandparents who have been running the cheese shop in Providence, Ohio for some time. Because Matthew knows wine, they have annexed the space next door for a wine shop and are revamping the shops for a new look and a new name, Fromagerie Bessette. But at the opening event, their landlord is found murdered--stabbed to death with one of Charlotte's elegant olive-wood handled cheese knives. But the person who discovers him, the mayor of Providence and local theatrical/dance booster is none other than Charlotte's grandmother, Bernadette. The mayoral race is just days away and to complicate things, the wife of the dead man is running against Bernadette and insisting that she be locked up in jail. Charlotte feels she has to investigate, egged on by a friends and employees, in order to clear her grandmother's name. Overall, although I loved the discussions of cheese dishes, I found this disappointing. Little too much silly female dithering over gossip, hurt feelings and heart throbs, and too little good character development. I had to agree with one reviewer that I could hardly tell the characters apart--whether they were the sycophants of Kristine, the political rival, or Charlotte's own friends. Which may be why, I never guessed who the real killer was. And the juicily baited fish hook at the end about love interest Jordan was just trite. Read only if you are desperate for a cozy. Or better yet, read some good ones, like Laura Childs or Miranda James or the original Miss Marple series by Agatha Christie.