Up to No Gouda

Grilled Cheese Mysteries #1

by Linda Reilly, Mia Gaskin (Narrator)

The first in a delicious new culinary cozy series featuring a grilled cheese eatery owner who must solve murders in her small town before she is put under lock and brie.

Back in Balsam Dell to heal after the death of her husband, Carly Hale is finally pursuing her lifelong dream—opening Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. After only five months, business is booming as Vermont vacationers and townspeople alike flock to lunch on her Party Havartis and other grilled cheese concoctions. All but Lyle Bagley, Carly's one-time high school boyfriend and now town bully who just bought the building that houses her eatery and wants Carly out. After a muenster of a fight, Carly's forced to put her nose to the rind and find a solution to keep her business afloat.

That is…until Lyle is discovered dead behind the dumpster of Carly's shop, and one of her employees becomes the prime 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.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Food

Audible Audio

First published January 25, 2022

About the author

Linda Reilly is a mystery writer living with her two feline assistants in southern New Hampshire. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Cat Writers' Association.

Her Grilled Cheese Mystery series featuring grilled cheese lover Carly Hale debuted in January 2022, published by Poisoned Pen Press.

Her first cozy mystery, Some Enchanted Murder, was a finalist for the 2014 Silver Falchion Award in the category "Best First Novel: Cozy, Traditional and Historical."

Linda is also the author of the Cat Lady Mysteries published by Kensington Lyrical and of the Deep Fried mysteries published by Berkley Prime Crime.

ESCAPE CLAWS, her first Cat Lady Mystery, was selected by Modern Cat Magazine, Connie's Book Club, as a "must read" in the Spring/Summer 2018 issue.

CLAWS OF ACTION, her fourth Cat Lady Mystery, was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the Cat Writers' Association in its 2019 Communications Contest.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the first book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book, and I really loved the main character (Carly) in this book. I did see some of the twists coming before they where revealed, but I did not guess all of them. I really enjoyed the mystery in this book. I think the Grill Cheese shop is a fun setting for this series, and this small town sounds like it is cute and fun. This is a great start to a new Cozy Mystery series, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I really loved getting to know all of these character, and I really cannot wait until the second book comes out. I have read this book twice. The first time I read the kindle book on October 2021, and the second time I read this book I listen to the audiobook on January 2022. The audiobook was easy to understand the narrator, and I enjoyed and liked the narrator. I was kindly provided an e-copy and e-audiobook of this book by the publisher (Poisoned Pen Press) or author (Linda Reilly) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carly Hale put her dream of owning a grilled cheese sandwich restaurant on hold when she married her college boyfriend Daniel and worked her way up to become manager of the historic Ivory Swan Inn.



Then Daniel was killed in a tragic road accident, and when Carly's grief subsided, she moved back to her hometown of Balsam Dell, Vermont and opened Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery.....



.....which specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.



The eatery, which opened five months ago, has two employees: Suzanne - a server who's supporting herself and her little son;



and Grant - a talented nineteen-year-old cook who's saving up for culinary school.



The restaurant has a central location in Balsam Dell, and Carly - who upgraded the facility using Daniel's insurance money - has high hopes for its future.



Then Carly gets a terrible shock. Her high school boyfriend, entrepreneur Lyle Bagley, has bought the building that houses the eatery and won't be renewing Carly's lease. In fact Lyle shows up at the restaurant and gives Carly one month to vacate the property, which he plans to transform into a fashion boutique for his fiancée Tiffany.



Suzanne, who'll lose her server job when the eatery closes, goes ballistic. She slams down a napkin holder, sticks her finger in Lyle's face, and says "One of these days Lyle Bagley, you're going to get what's coming to you, big time. You can bet on it."



The next morning, Lyle's corpse is found near the dumpster behind Carly's restaurant, and Suzanne is a prime suspect.

Carly refuses to believe Suzanne is guilty and sets out to find the real killer. Since Lyle was a self-centered scoundrel who made a lot of enemies, there are plenty of suspects, and Carly makes it her business to investigate them - to the dismay of the police chief.



Carly is a clever sleuth, and she's assisted by the editor of Balsam Dell's weekly free newspaper, who fancies himself an investigative journalist.



We also meet other interesting characters, including: patrons of Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery; Carly's wheelchair-bound landlady and her caretaker, who make Carly a birthday cake; Lyle's estranged brother, who thinks Lyle cheated him out of a Cadillac; a homeless Afghanistan war vet who's pulling herself up by her bootstraps; Carly's high school friend Gina, who was married to Lyle for a brief time; and more.

Most importantly we become acquainted with a handsome businessman/sports coach named Ari who makes Carly's heart flutter.....



.......and a homeless Morkie puppy that Carly feeds and names Havarti.



This is a fine debut for the 'Grilled Cheese Mysteries', with delicious-sounding sandwiches such as: Party Havarti; Vermont Classic; Bacon Grilled Cheese; Farmhouse Cheddar Sleeps with the Fishes (Grilled Cheese Tuna Melt); and more.


Party Havarti


Vermont Classic


Bacon Grilled Cheese


Farmhouse Cheddar Sleeps with the Fishes

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Mia Gaskin, who does a good job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Linda Reilly, and Dreamscape Media for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a grilled cheese? Comfort food at its best. This is a pleasant story with very little angst about a recently widowed woman pursuing her lifelong dream of opening Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. In Vermont the various townspeople and vacationers interact with each other until a man is discovered quite dead behind a dumpster of Carly's shop. In an attempt to save her eatery and prove her friend's innocence Carly and a pal or two turn sleuths to solve the case. My thanks to the author for providing a personalized signed copy of the paperback and to Poisoned Pen Press and Source Books for running the contest.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up to no Gouda has a clever premise for a new cozy mystery series. The cover art and title are both adorable.. It's a book with relatable characters, my favorite being Carly. Because I love tomato soup and grilled cheese, I was intrigued by the idea of a grilled cheese shop. My mouth watered with all the grilled cheese descriptions. This was a great read with a fast pace and great writing. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press, this is my unbiased, voluntary review.

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A yummy debut cozy mystery by seasoned Author Linda Reilly. The writing is smooth and the pacing just right for a morning, afternoon, or night’s reading pleasure. The main cast of characters are very likeable and supportive of each other. I liked them so well I feel like they’ll become one of my favorite casts in the future. I would love to have a cafe specializing in grilled cheese sandwiches nearby me!

I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend to cozy mystery and comfort food fans!

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light and cozy mystery- definitely a case of right book right time! I have been on a grilled cheese kick lately so this fit the bill perfectly- four stars for delicious grilled cheese combinations and a fun MC! The mystery is more of a subplot- fingered the murderer very easily and early on! Will move on to the second book- hopefully there are more recipes and sandwich ideas!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great start to a new series! Fun, cozy, and satisfying! But beware--it might leave you craving grilled cheese!

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Grilled Cheese, Yes Please! I have been excited about this book/series since I saw a post about it on Facebook several months ago.

Carly Hale has returned to her hometown of Balsam Dell, Vermont after the death of her husband. Doing a life reset isn’t easy but Carly has always dreamed about opening a restaurant, Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery, and serving up a delicious variety of soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. She has leased a building, remodeled it to her needs and since opening the door she has had a very successful business. Now the building has been sold to Lyle Bagley, who she once dated, and he wants her out. After her banker gives her the news she is upset but determined to find a new place for her thriving business.

But then Lyle Bagley is found dead in the alley behind a dumpster behind Carly’s eatery. But Carly isn’t the only one getting grilled about his death. The police decide one of her employees is their prime suspect and it has her cheesed off royally. She finds herself sandwiched between saving her business and saving her friend. Can she do both or will they both brie out of luck?

This is a marvelous theme for a new cozy series but don’t start reading it on an empty stomach or you will be stopping to make a grilled cheese and some tomato soup. That is exactly what we had for supper before I started reading so my appetite was taken care of for the most part. Carly has some delicious variations on her menu and I took note of each one for future reference.

Ms. Reilly has introduced her readers to a great cast of core characters. Carly is instantly likable. She is dealing with the grief of losing her husband and starting her business and reconnecting herself to her hometown. She has a top-notch staff in Suzanne and Grant. They all seem to genuinely care about each other and that really shines when one of them is a the top of the list of suspects. All these characters have loads of room for growth and I am happy about that.

There is also a diverse cast of supporting characters. They are all well-crafted with purpose. Some will appear in just this story and others I hope will pop up in future installments. I was really taken with Becca, a homeless veteran. She really added to my enjoyment of this story.

Who killed Lyle? This mystery was very well-plotted complete with cheesy strings to some clever subplots. The victim was not well-liked at all serving up several suspects with a motive to want the man six feet under. I must say the author is very talented in her ways of misdirection. After an abundance of twists and turns, I was totally surprised by the dramatic reveal. She also was able to tie up loose ends in the subplots while building excitement for the next book in this yummy series.

Up To No Gouda was really good! In fact, it was great and a true Perfect Escape. The best thing is we don’t have too long to wait for Book 2. No Parm No Foul is scheduled for release on July 26.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- The titles of cozy mysteries never fail to crack me up! 😂

I so rarely get to start a cozy mystery series from the beginning of the series. I always seem to start halfway through, so I was excited to get in on the ground floor of "Grilled Cheese Mysteries." 🧀 This was a solid start to this new series. The writing was excellent. It was well paced. The setting (a grilled cheese shop) was cute (and yummy). The plot was engaging and kept me guessing. Carly was a very likable lead character. There was a tiny hint of a future romance for Carly, and amazingly, he wasn't related to law enforcement in any way. 😂 Last, the author was kind enough to provide us with a few yummy sounding grilled cheese recipes that I can't wait to try! Bring on book two...🙌🏻

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carly Hale has always wanted to open her own grilled cheese restaurant. Although she’s still grieving the loss of her husband, she is determined to make her restaurant a success. She’s doing very well until an old flame, Lyle Bagley, shows up. He’s the new owner of the building where her restaurant is located. He makes sure to let Carly know she’s being evicted. Carly and her friends let Lyle know exactly how they feel about him.

Not long after, Lyle is found dead in a dumpster behind Carly’s restaurant. One of her employees is the prime suspect. She vows to find the real killer, but she had no idea that Lyle had made so many enemies. Carly is sure one of them is the guilty party, not her employee.

When I heard the premise of this series is a grilled cheese restaurant, I jumped at the chance to review it. It’s so unique from some of the typical cozy settings such as bakeries, coffee shops and libraries. Although I love all of those as well, this is so different. It grabbed by attention (also, I love grilled cheese - LOL).

The cast of characters is well developed right from the start. I didn’t feel the “stiffness” that sometimes happens with an introduction to a new series. They came to life immediately.

The story is filled with suspects, twists and turns from beginning to end. I was totally shocked at who the culprit turned out to be. Someone not on my list. I had such fun trying to untangle the mystery.

It’s fast-paced and one of those books I just couldn’t stop reading. I can’t wait to see if there will be more books in the series. So far, it’s off to an excellent start and it makes it to my top list of 2021!






FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Hannah Monson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When my coworkers and I saw this new series, we laughed, saying that there was a cozy mystery for everyone (and every profession)! But most cozies feature a single woman in a small town working in either books or culinary, and that’s exactly what this is. The characters are lovable, and there is certainly enough backstory implied to flesh out really interesting relationships. And, as a real grilled cheese lover, the recipes and sandwich ideas are an added perk for me!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up on Netgalley because like everyone else, I'm obsessed with the idea of a grilled cheese restaurant. This one was a great start to a new series, and although it took me a bit to get into at first, once the introductions were out of the way and the investigating got going, it was hard to put down. And there's recipes at the end!

The eclectic cast of characters quickly became like friends, I'm going to enjoy getting to know them as the series goes on. The plot, who killed Lyle and why, was a real banger; lots of twists and turns and a big pile of suspects. In the end, I never guessed whodunit, so I must've overlooked the clues. Add in the happy endings for a couple of the characters and this was a stellar read, heartwarming and endearing.

A great start to a new series, I'm already looking forward to reading the next book!

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up to No Gouda is the first book I’ve read by Linda Reilly. It is also the first book in the GRILLED CHEESE MYSTERY SERIES. I really enjoyed this book, getting to know the characters and trying to figure out who murdered Lyle Bagley and why. I thought the ending was a great twist!

[Heidi Prockish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! Great start to a new series. I would have never thought of a grilled cheese eatery but I think it's brilliant. Carly was a likable character and I felt like I could relate to her. I loved getting to know her staff and friends, & I especially loved Carly reconnecting with Gina. I know how it feels to grow distant from friends. I will be ordering book 2 and making myself a grilled cheese when I am done posting this review!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 0f the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series. Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

[ItaPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 tourists 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.

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when an ex-boyfriend flexes his muscles, for his new love interest, by buying the building your successful new restaurant is located in? Well, if you're Carly Hale you and your loyal staff try to figure out options. One of the options someone decides on is murder! Now, Carly has to find out who killed her ex-boyfriend Lyle and clear her staff of murder before a killer strikes again!

When I saw the charming cover, I knew this was a series I'd love! This new series has it all - a "keep you guessing" mystery, a feisty main character that has seen heartbreak and is determined to start over; Havarti, a sweet rescue dog and of course the unique and delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and recipes! The author creates mysteries (this new series and The Cat Lady Mysteries) with twists and turns and with relatable main and supporting characters. In this new series, life has not been easy for Carly, but she never gives up. I loved the positive but realistic outlook on life Carly possesses and the quirky and fun people in Balsam Dell.

I'm looking forward to the next mystery in Balsam Dell, Vermont!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Melissa P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I found a new cozy mystery series that I really love!! I'm just on a cozy mystery kick. I love them. The main character, Carly is really cool. I love that she opened a grilled cheese restaurant. Oh man, I'd be a regular customer for sure! These series always make me hungry and this one was no different. The sandwiches and the details that went into the book about them definitely made me crave them. I just may go home and make one when I get out of work. This mystery really did keep me guessing. So many characters, I had to keep them in order. These are pretty popular at my local library. I have the next one on order and it's on the way😊. One thing that made me giggle was the pure innocence of the main character's good language. No cursing in these books. She says stuff like "Jumping grasshoppers in July!" Or something like that. Honestly, if someone I knew said that, I would give them a chuckle, in a good way. I really like this series and am looking forward to more! Highly recommend. Happy reading. 🥰🍞🧀📒

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4++

This is the first book in the Grilled Cheese Mystery series.
Story is based in the small town of Balsam Dell, Vermont.
After our protagonist, Carly Hale’s husband Daniel dies in an auto accident, she decided to open “Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery”.
After five successful months, Carly finds out that the building has been bought and the new owner, Lyle Bagley, a former boyfriend wants her out. Carly isn’t pleased with this situation but knows she needs to find another place soon; that is until Lyle is found dead near a dumpster behind Carly’s eatery.
I have been a mystery fan ever since I was eight years old reading Trixie Belden and then Nancy Drew. I graduated to psychological thriller but I still love a fun Cozy Mystery.
Any cozy fans know that Cozies have a bit of a formula:
• Fun entertaining - character based
• The crime-solver is typically a female who is well liked, has a dog or a cat, and of course, is an amateur sleuth
• Love Interest ~ usually they don’t like each other at first.
• All the residence know each other and are likeable
• Mystery but no blood and gore
• Little to no profanity.

Cozy Mysteries typically have a big twist but usually not a big shock as the bad guys are usually obvious. This story had far more twists than I expected. This is truly an enjoyable read and I look forward to Linda Reilly's Grilled Cheese Mystery Book #2
The audiobook narrator Mia Gaskin did a great job in performing all the characters.

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media ~ for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 25, 2022.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical, engaging, and delightfully satisfying!

Up to No Gouda is a well-paced, amusing murder mystery that takes you into the life of Carly Hale, a young woman who, after losing her husband and heading back to Balsam Dell to fulfil her dream of opening a speciality grilled cheese restaurant, finds her life turned upside down when the owner of the building winds up murdered right outside the back door, and one of her employees quickly becomes the prime suspect for committing the crime.

The writing is playful and light. The characters are unique, clever, and supportive. And the plot develops nicely and has just the right mix of misdirection, deduction, clues, suspects, mishaps, drama, amateur sleuthing, and murder.

Up to No Gouda is the first book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series, and if you’re a fan of cosy mysteries this novel won’t disappoint. It’s a fun, quirky, entertaining read by Reilly, and I can’t wait to read what she cooks up next in No Parm No Foul, releasing later this year.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Moondance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carly Hale ladled tomato soup into a ceramic cup, then placed the cup on the oval plate next to a grilled cheese sandwich.

This is the first book in the Grilled Cheese series. Carly has returned to Balsam Dell, Vermont following the death of her husband. Her dream has always been to own a grilled cheese cafe and she has been open for several months. A former high school boyfriend buys the building and gives Carly only 6 weeks to vacate the premises. Carly slips into sleuth mode when he is found dead behind the cafe.

This is a very good start to the series. The characters are likeable, believable, and well presented. The small town is charming. Carly is a strong woman who has endured hard times and loss. It is nice to see her working towards her dream.

The murder victim is not very well liked. The list of suspects is large and varied. Carly knows that her friend is not the culprit and tries to clear her name.

The mystery is well done with just enough twists and turns to keep my interest. The storyline moves at a great pace, and I often found it hard to put the book down.

Who doesn't love a scruffy dog? I look forward to getting to know little Havarti better in coming books.

The descriptions of the food was vivid and I found myself wanting a grilled cheese with a side of tomato soup. I was pleased that there were recipes at the end of the book along with tips for making a great sandwich.

I enjoyed my visit to Balsam Dell and look forward to the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for allowing me to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Wendy W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly is her first book in her Grilled Cheese Mysteries series. This cozy mystery had me stumped until the very end and I loved the journey this book took me on.

Carly Hale has just opened her Grilled Cheese Sandwich shop in the picturesque Vermont town of Balsam Dell. Business is going well, but when an old high school boyfriend, Lyle Bagley, buys the building, he gives her only one month’s notice to vacate her shop so he can make room for a fashion boutique for his fiance. She loves her downtown location and is angry with Lyle for forcing her out of her business. The day after she gets the eviction news, Lyle is found dead behind her shop and the main suspect is Suzannah, Carly’s employee, and Carly is a close second. Carly works to find out who the real killer is in order to clear her employee and friend Suzannah and herself.

As this is the first book in the series, we spend some time getting to know Carly and the other characters in the book. The mystery is the star of this book as there are so many suspects and I was unable to figure out the mystery until the end. The characters are interesting and relatable. I loved Carly’s strength and ingenuity.

*** Note: Reading this book may cause grilled cheese sandwich cravings. Many grilled cheese sandwiches were consumed during the reading and reviewing of this book. ***

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a cozy mystery. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up to No Gouda is the first book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series by author Linda Reilly and I found it to be a terrific start. To begin, it has a unique premise in terms of the restaurant. On top of that, the main characters were instantly likable with Carly being a very sympathetic protagonist.

Carly has returned home after the death of her husband to start over and pursue her dream of opening a Grilled Cheese restaurant. She is well on her way to establishing herself when she is told that the new owner of her building will not renew her lease and she will need to find a new location. Before that can happen, the new owner is found dead behind the restaurant and one of Carly's employees is the prime suspect.

Ms. Reilly crafted a well-plotted mystery that keeps readers engaged. The victim was not overly well-liked, even by his own family, and so she presents us with plenty of plausible suspects with very believable motives. It's up to Carly to figure out the killer's identity and along the way, she rekindles an old friendship that helps her settle more into her new life.

This was a terrific start to this new series and I am eager to see what Ms. Reilly has in store in the next installment. I will definitely be back, not only for the mystery but for the delicious-sounding variations on the classic grilled cheese sandwich.

I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the manner in which I received this book.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

After her husband passed away Carly Hale moved back to Balsam Dell, Vermont and opened a grilled cheese restaurant. It had been a life long dream of hers and business is booming! People can't get enough of her delicious varieties of grilled cheese. When the new owner of the building is found murdered there is no shortage of suspects. I loved all the characters and how they are described. Well written mystery and the book will have you craving grilled cheese!! This is the first book in a new series and I can't wait for the next one! As an added bonus there are several grilled cheese recipes included. I highly recommend this book!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up To No Gouda is book 1 in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series by Linda Reilly. After her husband dies, Carly Hale needs a change. When she saw a shop for sale in Balslam Dell, she saw it was a sign to follow her dream of opening a cafe. After five months, Carly Hale got the awful news that Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery needed to close due to the non-renewal of her lease. However, when the new owner was found dead outside her cafe Carly Hale had to start investigating after one of her employees, Suzanne, to prove her innocence. The readers of Up to No Gouda will continue following Carly Hale's investigation to discover what happens.

Up To No Gouda is an excellent start in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series by Linda Reilly. How Linda Reilly describes her cheese sandwiches makes me want one too. I aged with this book from the start and continued to the end. I love Linda Reilly's portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other. Up To No Gouda is well-written and researched by Linda Reilly. I like Linda Reilly's descriptions of Up To No Gouda's settings, which complement this book's plot.

The readers of Up To No Gouda will learn about the Morkshire Terrier's beautiful small mix dog breed. Also, the readers of Up To No Gouda will understand the role of carers for homes elderly in their homes.

I recommend this book.