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Cheddar Luck Next Time
A cozy cheese-scented mystery with delightful characters, a dash of murder and tons of intrigue, perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and The Maid.
Bird Nichols moves to a quiet, quirky Californian town in hopes of a fresh start. With an autismdriven special interest in cheese, all she wants to do is grow her gourmet cheese board business and live out the rest of her life in peace, a plan that is suddenly upended when she stumbles across a body not too far from her new home…
As the latest arrival to town and the first on the scene, Bird is thrown into the centre of the investigation, prompting her to begin her own inquiry into what happened. But when Grizz, the closest thing Bird has to real family, becomes the sheriff department’s favourite suspect, the stakes rise even higher.
With a town full of suspects, Bird must take off the apron, pick up the magnifying glass and find the true murderer before they strike again.
Bird Nichols moves to a quiet, quirky Californian town in hopes of a fresh start. With an autismdriven special interest in cheese, all she wants to do is grow her gourmet cheese board business and live out the rest of her life in peace, a plan that is suddenly upended when she stumbles across a body not too far from her new home…
As the latest arrival to town and the first on the scene, Bird is thrown into the centre of the investigation, prompting her to begin her own inquiry into what happened. But when Grizz, the closest thing Bird has to real family, becomes the sheriff department’s favourite suspect, the stakes rise even higher.
With a town full of suspects, Bird must take off the apron, pick up the magnifying glass and find the true murderer before they strike again.
Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2025
34 people are currently reading
5150 people want to read
About the author
Beth Cato
132 books699 followersBeth Cato hails from Hanford, California, but currently writes and bakes cookies in Red Wing, Minnesota. She usually has one or two cats in close orbit. A 2015 Nebula finalist, she is the author of the cozy mystery CHEDDAR LUCK NEXT TIME as well as fantasy like A THOUSAND RECIPES FOR REVENGE. Her short stories can be found in publications ranging from Beneath Ceaseless Skies to Uncanny Magazine. In 2019 and 2022, she won the Rhysling Award for short speculative poetry. Her website BethCato.com includes not only a vast bibliography, but a treasure trove of recipes for delectable goodies. Find her on BlueSky as @BethCato and Instagram as @catocatsandcheese.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 10, 2025
3.0 Stars
This was a cute mystery story centering around cheese. I normally read darker stories but I was drawn to this one because of the representation of autism.
From my perspective, I found the presentation of autism to be authentic and optimistic. I found this one to be so much better than books like The Maid.
My main disappointment is that it didn't play up the cutesy cheese angle more. I have read other stories that involve cheese obsession that have been more fun. I wanted this one to trigger a cheese carving but sadly it did not.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a cute mystery story centering around cheese. I normally read darker stories but I was drawn to this one because of the representation of autism.
From my perspective, I found the presentation of autism to be authentic and optimistic. I found this one to be so much better than books like The Maid.
My main disappointment is that it didn't play up the cutesy cheese angle more. I have read other stories that involve cheese obsession that have been more fun. I wanted this one to trigger a cheese carving but sadly it did not.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
April 16, 2025
A cosy mystery with a cheesy flavour, that takes a twisty path to a satisfying ending.
Bird Nichols has inherited more than just her grandmother’s estate - she’s also inherited her grandmother’s inquisitive nature and predisposition to get involved with investigating crimes, especially when those crimes are close to home and threaten those she loves.
I’m somewhat wary of stories where an amateur sleuth outwits the police in solving a crime, but this book masterfully navigates that. The police are competent and thorough, while Bird has reasons to take her own road in investigations, and to make choices about what to reveal to the police (and what not to) in order to avoid incriminating herself or others.
The way the plot unfolds is very satisfying, with various twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you #NetGalley and Datura Books for the free review copy of #CheddarLuckNextTime without obligation. All opinions are my own.
Cheese-obsessed Bird Nichols has just inherited her grandmother’s estate in a quiet, quirky Californian town. But when a body is found on her property, her life begins to get rather loud…This totally delivered what it said on the tin - a cosy location; some mystery and intrigue, and a lot of cheese.
Bird Nichols has inherited more than just her grandmother’s estate - she’s also inherited her grandmother’s inquisitive nature and predisposition to get involved with investigating crimes, especially when those crimes are close to home and threaten those she loves.
I’m somewhat wary of stories where an amateur sleuth outwits the police in solving a crime, but this book masterfully navigates that. The police are competent and thorough, while Bird has reasons to take her own road in investigations, and to make choices about what to reveal to the police (and what not to) in order to avoid incriminating herself or others.
The way the plot unfolds is very satisfying, with various twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you #NetGalley and Datura Books for the free review copy of #CheddarLuckNextTime without obligation. All opinions are my own.
April 1, 2025
This book felt like it was written for me - cheese, video games, a cat and a mystery!
I loved the main character, Bird, navigating her way through life after loss and with an adult diagnosis of autism, moving to a town by herself with only one really familiar person nearby. I loved her fondness for cheese, and how the author has clearly put some of herself into that character.
With so many small town cozy mysteries, the connection of the main character to the murder investigation really makes no sense, but this one did it well!
This was an easy read, cozy and twisty - a perfect example of a cozy mystery. Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and author for the proof.
I loved the main character, Bird, navigating her way through life after loss and with an adult diagnosis of autism, moving to a town by herself with only one really familiar person nearby. I loved her fondness for cheese, and how the author has clearly put some of herself into that character.
With so many small town cozy mysteries, the connection of the main character to the murder investigation really makes no sense, but this one did it well!
This was an easy read, cozy and twisty - a perfect example of a cozy mystery. Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and author for the proof.
March 31, 2025
I enjoyed getting to know Bird and her new friends as well as following along as they tried to unravel the truth behind the murder of Chase Perkins. All of the characters were likeable and fun and I loved how no matter what they were doing, the author managed to bring the story back to cheese, including many interesting tips and making my mouth water as they were described, particularly the grilled cheeses. There is a twist in the end which most people should see coming as it’s somewhat mentioned a few times but it does surprise you in the way it plays out. Looking forward to more from this author and hopefully Bird also.
I received a copy from #NetGalley #BrilliancePublishing, and #DaturaBooks for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley #BrilliancePublishing, and #DaturaBooks for an honest review.
April 8, 2025
"Cheddar Luck Next Time" by Beth Cato has the makings to be a great first book in a series, if it gets more in the same story world. Bird is moving into her grandmother's home after her grandmother goes missing and is presumed dead. It's been a rough year for Bird from not only that loss but also the loss of both her parents to a car accident. She is finally getting established in her cheese board business too. All with navigating the world as an autistic.
Being autistic myself, I found Bird quite relatable. The need to know why behind things especially. Maybe that's why cozy mysteries are a special interest of mine. Cozy mysteries do a lot of solving the why of things. This one is all about the odd death of the town's local problem person. One of Bird's close family friends is a suspect. Bird might be as well. So, with the strong sense of justice that comes with being autistic (also very relatable to me), Bird does what she can to clear herself and her friend. She also doesn't trust the justice system since it let her parents' killer go free.
I do want to point out that though this book does fall in cozy mystery territory for the most part, there is one chapter that does get a tad on the overly detailed side for how the victim died. It's more from a medical sense. Totally worth it from my point of view but may make some truly hardcore cozy mystery readers squirm a bit. So, if detailed medical explanations of a how a death happened aren't your thing, skip chapter 16.
Being autistic myself, I found Bird quite relatable. The need to know why behind things especially. Maybe that's why cozy mysteries are a special interest of mine. Cozy mysteries do a lot of solving the why of things. This one is all about the odd death of the town's local problem person. One of Bird's close family friends is a suspect. Bird might be as well. So, with the strong sense of justice that comes with being autistic (also very relatable to me), Bird does what she can to clear herself and her friend. She also doesn't trust the justice system since it let her parents' killer go free.
I do want to point out that though this book does fall in cozy mystery territory for the most part, there is one chapter that does get a tad on the overly detailed side for how the victim died. It's more from a medical sense. Totally worth it from my point of view but may make some truly hardcore cozy mystery readers squirm a bit. So, if detailed medical explanations of a how a death happened aren't your thing, skip chapter 16.
April 5, 2025
This book was cute but I found it very predictable. I’ve never read a cozy mystery before, so maybe that’s the point? But I did enjoy my listen and I found Bird endearing. Glad to read a book with autism representation, as well!
April 8, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Cheddar Luck Next Time is a cozy mystery novel, written by Beth Cato, published by Datura Books. A really enjoyable book following Bird Nichols, a neurodivergent character having to navigate life after lost and in a new town when a corpse appears in her property, a perfect story if you love a cleverly crafted mystery, and cheese, so much cheese that you will end smelling it out of the text.
After her beloved grandmother's death, Bird Nichols inherits her grandma's home in a small village, where she hopes to continue with her cheese board business and live quietly meanwhile; however, a few days after moving, a local tough is found death, just after she and Grizz, an old friend of the family, had an altercation with him, putting Grizz in the eye of the hurricane as the main suspect. As Bird has a well-earned distrust of police, she will take the investigation herself, all while juggling with her own cheese business, adaptation to a new place, and a new obligation as the cat delivery system works its mysteries to give her Bowser.
There are multiple brilliant aspects in this novel, but especially I would like to put the spotlight on how well Cato has captured Bird's voice; not only portraying her neurodivergence and the conflict to adapt to a new place, but also creating a really relatable character, including details such as over-analyzing the conversations, preparing for a thousand scenarios or how important certain sensations are for her. She's quite a cute character, but also we see her inquisitive side that brings her into the middle of the mystery; and particularly, you can't avoid blushing seeing how she gets along Daryl.
The rest of the cast is less developed, but still giving us enough to get an idea of why they are acting as they are (even if some like Grizz are a bit mysterious); all playing along with those small village stereotypes that fit so well into this novel.
The small coastal town is a marvelous setting for this kind of mystery, especially with that closed community feeling that makes you think everybody knows the rest of them. As you could have imagined reading the title, cheese is an important part of this cozy mystery, and Cato manages to make you almost taste and smell each one through her writing, transmitting the passion felt by Bird for her job. It is a bit slow in the pacing, but it also helps with the cozy part of the book, making it a really enjoyable read; and there are enough hints to kinda guess the twists of the plot, but are not too easy to find, in a good balance.
Cheddar Luck Next Time is an excellent cheese scented cozy mystery, a read with a great autism representation, which I recommend if you are looking for a funny but still engaging book. Come for the crime, stay for the cheese and cat(s).
Cheddar Luck Next Time is a cozy mystery novel, written by Beth Cato, published by Datura Books. A really enjoyable book following Bird Nichols, a neurodivergent character having to navigate life after lost and in a new town when a corpse appears in her property, a perfect story if you love a cleverly crafted mystery, and cheese, so much cheese that you will end smelling it out of the text.
After her beloved grandmother's death, Bird Nichols inherits her grandma's home in a small village, where she hopes to continue with her cheese board business and live quietly meanwhile; however, a few days after moving, a local tough is found death, just after she and Grizz, an old friend of the family, had an altercation with him, putting Grizz in the eye of the hurricane as the main suspect. As Bird has a well-earned distrust of police, she will take the investigation herself, all while juggling with her own cheese business, adaptation to a new place, and a new obligation as the cat delivery system works its mysteries to give her Bowser.
There are multiple brilliant aspects in this novel, but especially I would like to put the spotlight on how well Cato has captured Bird's voice; not only portraying her neurodivergence and the conflict to adapt to a new place, but also creating a really relatable character, including details such as over-analyzing the conversations, preparing for a thousand scenarios or how important certain sensations are for her. She's quite a cute character, but also we see her inquisitive side that brings her into the middle of the mystery; and particularly, you can't avoid blushing seeing how she gets along Daryl.
The rest of the cast is less developed, but still giving us enough to get an idea of why they are acting as they are (even if some like Grizz are a bit mysterious); all playing along with those small village stereotypes that fit so well into this novel.
The small coastal town is a marvelous setting for this kind of mystery, especially with that closed community feeling that makes you think everybody knows the rest of them. As you could have imagined reading the title, cheese is an important part of this cozy mystery, and Cato manages to make you almost taste and smell each one through her writing, transmitting the passion felt by Bird for her job. It is a bit slow in the pacing, but it also helps with the cozy part of the book, making it a really enjoyable read; and there are enough hints to kinda guess the twists of the plot, but are not too easy to find, in a good balance.
Cheddar Luck Next Time is an excellent cheese scented cozy mystery, a read with a great autism representation, which I recommend if you are looking for a funny but still engaging book. Come for the crime, stay for the cheese and cat(s).
August 24, 2025
his book is brought to you by the letter C. C is for cozy, cheese, cats, the central California coast, and cognitive diversity. Bird Nichols is moving into her grandmother’s home after she went missing. Adjusting to life in a small town is proving difficult when trouble keeps happening and Bird keeps being the one to find it.
Cato does a great job of establishing the small town, the characters, the dynamics of said town and characters. The sense of place is STRONG and almost acts as an extra character.
Like many cozy mysteries, trouble finds Bird as much as she goes looking for it. An adult diagnosed autistic woman whose fixation is cheese, Bird has a unique way of looking at the world. Cato also got a late in life diagnosis so she did a fantastic job showing some of the realities of the condition.
Sensory overload, weird decisions your brain makes about food, the stress of masking and prolonged social interaction. As someone who only recently figured out they’re some flavor of ND, it was nice to see a character work out how to function in a world not made for her.
As the first in a potential series, Cato does a good job setting up the larger series plot. I sensed Chekov’s gun loading a few times but I was still surprised in the end.
If you’d like to ready a cozy mystery that’s a love letter to cheese and the central California coast, dig in. A big thanks to Datura and NetGalley. This was fun. 4/5
Cato does a great job of establishing the small town, the characters, the dynamics of said town and characters. The sense of place is STRONG and almost acts as an extra character.
Like many cozy mysteries, trouble finds Bird as much as she goes looking for it. An adult diagnosed autistic woman whose fixation is cheese, Bird has a unique way of looking at the world. Cato also got a late in life diagnosis so she did a fantastic job showing some of the realities of the condition.
Sensory overload, weird decisions your brain makes about food, the stress of masking and prolonged social interaction. As someone who only recently figured out they’re some flavor of ND, it was nice to see a character work out how to function in a world not made for her.
As the first in a potential series, Cato does a good job setting up the larger series plot. I sensed Chekov’s gun loading a few times but I was still surprised in the end.
If you’d like to ready a cozy mystery that’s a love letter to cheese and the central California coast, dig in. A big thanks to Datura and NetGalley. This was fun. 4/5
April 9, 2025
I found this to be a great example of what cosy crime should be! As crime books go, this was light-hearted and very funny at times, but also had the plot of a 'whodunnit' that did keep you guessing to the end!
Bird as a character was just perfect for a novel like this! Autism is portrayed in a nice, heartwarming way in regard to her cheese obsession as well as her routines and constant overthinking! She made the perfect amateur sleuth with her obsessive nature, not being able to let the case go that seems to involve all those that are around her in the small village!
Though not absolutely mind-blowing (hence, it not getting the top 5 star rating!), I really really enjoyed relaxing and reading this one. Though the climax seemed to come out of nowhere, I thought the story ended well!
If you love cheese 🧀 and cats 🐱, or just a comforting cosy crime novel/whodunnit, definitely check it out!
Rating: 8.5/10
Bird as a character was just perfect for a novel like this! Autism is portrayed in a nice, heartwarming way in regard to her cheese obsession as well as her routines and constant overthinking! She made the perfect amateur sleuth with her obsessive nature, not being able to let the case go that seems to involve all those that are around her in the small village!
Though not absolutely mind-blowing (hence, it not getting the top 5 star rating!), I really really enjoyed relaxing and reading this one. Though the climax seemed to come out of nowhere, I thought the story ended well!
If you love cheese 🧀 and cats 🐱, or just a comforting cosy crime novel/whodunnit, definitely check it out!
Rating: 8.5/10
April 25, 2025
Cheddar Luck Next Time by Beth Cato is the first book in a new Cheese Board Cozy Mystery series. Bird Eakles inherits her grandmother's estate in the quiet Californian town of Foghorn where she hopes to continue her cheese board business, Cheese Boards by Bird, where she uses her autistic special interest to design her boards along her sensory needs. However, her plans are interupted by the murder of a local troublemaker on her property. A great mystery where we learn a great deal about cheese and a recipe is included at the end. It is nice getting to know Bird and learning about how she manages her condition and her relationship with her grandmother. A surprising ending and a wonderful start to a new mystery series.
Read
April 4, 2025
December 22, 2025
I need more cheese in my life and this book made me hungry with some of the cheese board descriptions. A fun murder mystery with an autistic cheese board maker as the main character. I put down and picked up this book a bunch but kept getting pulled back in. A few twists and turns an and an ending I did not see coming. Would recommend / read a future sequel.
August 19, 2025
I can appreciate this book’s cheesy humor (get it). Other than that, this was not for me. The story felt super disjointed and the writing didn’t feel natural at all. Lots of forced dialogue throughout. I hope next month’s book club pick will be better.
January 23, 2026
Maybe 3.75 stars? After two emotionally draining books I needed something easy. This began as a cozy mystery but ended with a bang. The writing was a little awkward but the protagonist is on the spectrum so maybe that was part of it. Definitely worth reading.
July 6, 2025
really really not for me:(
January 3, 2026
DNF at 20% - really wanted to like it, but just not got into it (and I love cheese)
August 23, 2025
This was a cute cozy mystery with a sweet love interest, a charming cat, and a unique lead character. I really appreciated the representation of an autistic protagonist. Bird’s voice was clear and authentic, and her passion for cheese gave her a distinctive personality.
That said, I was hoping for a lot more cheese. As someone who loves food focused cozies (as y’all know I love me some Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery’s by Mia P. Manansala), I expected more cheese education, charcuterie board fun, or food related detail. Instead, it felt like the cheese angle was more of a character quirk than a strong theme.
The mystery itself was light but entertaining. I went into it thinking this would kick off a series, but the twist and the way the ending played out made me think this might be a standalone after all which was a little disappointing since I was just starting to get into the rhythm of Bird’s world.
That said, I was hoping for a lot more cheese. As someone who loves food focused cozies (as y’all know I love me some Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery’s by Mia P. Manansala), I expected more cheese education, charcuterie board fun, or food related detail. Instead, it felt like the cheese angle was more of a character quirk than a strong theme.
The mystery itself was light but entertaining. I went into it thinking this would kick off a series, but the twist and the way the ending played out made me think this might be a standalone after all which was a little disappointing since I was just starting to get into the rhythm of Bird’s world.
June 4, 2025
A mysterious small-town murder mystery balanced by deliciously described gooey grilled cheese sandwiches and delectable cheese platters, Beth Cato’s Cheddar Luck Next Time is a cozy mystery novel that is casual, light-hearted, and very easy to read. Besides its hallmark interest in cheeses of all kinds, the novel also provides great neurodivergent representation (at least from what I limited information I've learned from those on the spectrum) as well as trace elements of chick lit/literary fiction. I’ve previously realized that the cozy mystery genre isn’t for me, so this wasn’t necessarily my favorite overall read, but I picked this up hoping for lots of cheese highlights and Cheddar Luck Next Time did not disappoint!
Taking place in the fictional, small rural town of Foghorn, Bird Nichols moves into her grandma’s house that she inherits following her disappearance and death half a year ago. Despite having limited time together when she was growing up, Bird has fond memories of her grandmother who was a part-time instigator, a part-time community vigilante much to the ire of some of Foghorn’s other residents. Bringing her budding cheese plate business with her, the story sees Bird exploring Foghorn and rediscovering her grandma’s lasting impression on the area all while investigating the culprit of a murder she happens to stumble upon.
While Bird’s murder mystery investigation around Foghorn takes up most of the novel’s content, a good portion of the story also focuses on Bird’s cheese business which was the main highlight of the novel for me. If I’m being completely honest, I picked up this novel out of sheer curiosity partly due to the amusing pun and attention-grabbing title, as well as its promise about gourmet cheese. One of my reading book friends loves cheese so up until this book’s publication date, this novel was a bit of a fun running joke between us that I was inspired to try to read. While I’m not a cheese enthusiast myself, I found Bird’s various descriptions, explanations and methodical work on her cheese platters to be interesting and I definitely learned a thing or two about cheese pairings and less common varieties. Outside of Bird’s cheese platter business, the other Foghorn cheese business Queso-quick also had a lot of great food-porn worthy visuals courtesy of Daniel’s various assortment of grilled cheeses and breakfast bread pudding menu items.
One aspect that I haven’t seen any other reviews for this novel mention is the surprisingly detailed and accurate home-based industry references. Bird runs her cheese platter business similar to a catering operation out of her own personal home and the details mentioned about food safety and regulatory requirements are spot-on and in-line with California’s Homemade Food Operation regulations that were adjusted in 2018. Beth Cato refers to Bird’s cheese platter operation as a cottage food business, which while technically incorrect as cottage food must be non-perishable and therefore her cheese can only be done under the expanded Homemade Food Operation, but she’s still close enough that I’m willing to give her a pass on it. Throughout the story, Bird talks about the temperature requirements of cold-holding cheeses, the time limitations before they can spoil, sanitary food-handling cleanliness and various standard operating procedures. Fun fact, my main day job is an Environmental Health Inspector specifically specializing in food safety and the dairy industry and I was impressed by how much Cato got right when describing Bird’s business.
Another highlight of Cheddar Luck Next Time is its good representation and portrayal of people with autism. From what I know and have heard from those with autism, Bird’s character is honestly presented without being glamorized nor hand-held; it’s simply a part of her that is as it is. Subtle elements like being overly stimulated or certain confusions about mannerisms I thought were handled tastefully. They’re prominent enough where the representation is appreciated but it doesn’t become Bird’s entire character personality nor the story’s entire focus (her being publicly out about it but choosing not to mention it when meeting new people is a subtle yet relatable detail). Her reminiscing on memories of her grandmother as well as the town of Foghorn were also quite sweet.
While I enjoyed the cheese highlights and the food business mentions, unfortunately the mystery premise and subsequent investigation left a lot to be desired for me. The murder crime, subsequent investigation, and reveal of clues all felt quite lackluster and underwhelming. While I understand the novel is intended to be a cozy mystery read which is not going to be the most thrilling or complex narrative, the mystery development felt like it was constantly dragging or repeating itself. Outside of Bird, the cast of characters also felt quite shallow and underdeveloped. I had a mildly tricky time remembering which name matched each character because I found them forgettable or they started blending together (particularly the various detectives and the young men). Additionally, characters would frequently start tearing up or crying out of the blue which would be appropriate for the moment, except for the lack of buildup and development which make the whole conversation feel out of place or awkwardly simplified. Overall, I struggled to stay invested in the story’s plot even with its relatively short length in mind.
Additionally, the mystery investigation would typically involve Bird talking to someone, discovering a new clue, being found in an unfortunately suspicious location or situation by the police, and having disagreements with Detective Merrick. The first couple of times were interesting but the novel kept repeating the same formula and the constant repetitive reminders about how people found Bird’s grandma problematic started to get tiring; I would’ve liked to see more context or details given into why different characters arrived at the same negative impression of her. And while the police’s investigation is intentionally meant to be a bit questionable to reinforce Bird’s distrust of them and the justice system, the policework and crime scene responses were comical unrealistic throughout the story and didn’t really make much logical sense investigating/interrogating half of Foghorn in the process, granted I also read more intense and complex mystery thrillers so part of that may be my own reading preference and expectation for more realistic procedural work. I also found the culprit to be unintentionally silly like a caricature of a villain and the motives behind the mysteries to be disappointingly simple, akin to a kids show mystery reveal. The final plot twists also seemed like a peculiar narrative choice to me that kind of left certain details hanging, almost like a purposeful open-door option for a sequel should Cato decide to pursue it.
Cheddar Luck Next Time was not for me personally, but I can still see that there’s a lot to like. Featuring a straightforward mystery, simple characters, and a very basic timeline of events and character movements, this is a good cozy mystery novel for those that like cozy mystery reads that aren’t overly complex. I do think that the story could’ve been more compelling or character-focused had it been developed further as <270 pages is quite condensed, especially when you consider how many of those pages were focused on Bird’s cheese business on the side rather than the core mystery (the last few pages also inflate the total page count as they’re not part of the story and instead feature a rather tasty-sounding recipe of Bird’s favorite chevre cheese balls). However, if you’re looking for books revolving around the delights of artisan cheeses or a murder mystery that is casual and easy, Cheddar Luck Next Time can be quite delectable!
*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, checkout my blog TheBookGrind!
Taking place in the fictional, small rural town of Foghorn, Bird Nichols moves into her grandma’s house that she inherits following her disappearance and death half a year ago. Despite having limited time together when she was growing up, Bird has fond memories of her grandmother who was a part-time instigator, a part-time community vigilante much to the ire of some of Foghorn’s other residents. Bringing her budding cheese plate business with her, the story sees Bird exploring Foghorn and rediscovering her grandma’s lasting impression on the area all while investigating the culprit of a murder she happens to stumble upon.
While Bird’s murder mystery investigation around Foghorn takes up most of the novel’s content, a good portion of the story also focuses on Bird’s cheese business which was the main highlight of the novel for me. If I’m being completely honest, I picked up this novel out of sheer curiosity partly due to the amusing pun and attention-grabbing title, as well as its promise about gourmet cheese. One of my reading book friends loves cheese so up until this book’s publication date, this novel was a bit of a fun running joke between us that I was inspired to try to read. While I’m not a cheese enthusiast myself, I found Bird’s various descriptions, explanations and methodical work on her cheese platters to be interesting and I definitely learned a thing or two about cheese pairings and less common varieties. Outside of Bird’s cheese platter business, the other Foghorn cheese business Queso-quick also had a lot of great food-porn worthy visuals courtesy of Daniel’s various assortment of grilled cheeses and breakfast bread pudding menu items.
One aspect that I haven’t seen any other reviews for this novel mention is the surprisingly detailed and accurate home-based industry references. Bird runs her cheese platter business similar to a catering operation out of her own personal home and the details mentioned about food safety and regulatory requirements are spot-on and in-line with California’s Homemade Food Operation regulations that were adjusted in 2018. Beth Cato refers to Bird’s cheese platter operation as a cottage food business, which while technically incorrect as cottage food must be non-perishable and therefore her cheese can only be done under the expanded Homemade Food Operation, but she’s still close enough that I’m willing to give her a pass on it. Throughout the story, Bird talks about the temperature requirements of cold-holding cheeses, the time limitations before they can spoil, sanitary food-handling cleanliness and various standard operating procedures. Fun fact, my main day job is an Environmental Health Inspector specifically specializing in food safety and the dairy industry and I was impressed by how much Cato got right when describing Bird’s business.
Another highlight of Cheddar Luck Next Time is its good representation and portrayal of people with autism. From what I know and have heard from those with autism, Bird’s character is honestly presented without being glamorized nor hand-held; it’s simply a part of her that is as it is. Subtle elements like being overly stimulated or certain confusions about mannerisms I thought were handled tastefully. They’re prominent enough where the representation is appreciated but it doesn’t become Bird’s entire character personality nor the story’s entire focus (her being publicly out about it but choosing not to mention it when meeting new people is a subtle yet relatable detail). Her reminiscing on memories of her grandmother as well as the town of Foghorn were also quite sweet.
While I enjoyed the cheese highlights and the food business mentions, unfortunately the mystery premise and subsequent investigation left a lot to be desired for me. The murder crime, subsequent investigation, and reveal of clues all felt quite lackluster and underwhelming. While I understand the novel is intended to be a cozy mystery read which is not going to be the most thrilling or complex narrative, the mystery development felt like it was constantly dragging or repeating itself. Outside of Bird, the cast of characters also felt quite shallow and underdeveloped. I had a mildly tricky time remembering which name matched each character because I found them forgettable or they started blending together (particularly the various detectives and the young men). Additionally, characters would frequently start tearing up or crying out of the blue which would be appropriate for the moment, except for the lack of buildup and development which make the whole conversation feel out of place or awkwardly simplified. Overall, I struggled to stay invested in the story’s plot even with its relatively short length in mind.
Additionally, the mystery investigation would typically involve Bird talking to someone, discovering a new clue, being found in an unfortunately suspicious location or situation by the police, and having disagreements with Detective Merrick. The first couple of times were interesting but the novel kept repeating the same formula and the constant repetitive reminders about how people found Bird’s grandma problematic started to get tiring; I would’ve liked to see more context or details given into why different characters arrived at the same negative impression of her. And while the police’s investigation is intentionally meant to be a bit questionable to reinforce Bird’s distrust of them and the justice system, the policework and crime scene responses were comical unrealistic throughout the story and didn’t really make much logical sense investigating/interrogating half of Foghorn in the process, granted I also read more intense and complex mystery thrillers so part of that may be my own reading preference and expectation for more realistic procedural work. I also found the culprit to be unintentionally silly like a caricature of a villain and the motives behind the mysteries to be disappointingly simple, akin to a kids show mystery reveal. The final plot twists also seemed like a peculiar narrative choice to me that kind of left certain details hanging, almost like a purposeful open-door option for a sequel should Cato decide to pursue it.
Cheddar Luck Next Time was not for me personally, but I can still see that there’s a lot to like. Featuring a straightforward mystery, simple characters, and a very basic timeline of events and character movements, this is a good cozy mystery novel for those that like cozy mystery reads that aren’t overly complex. I do think that the story could’ve been more compelling or character-focused had it been developed further as <270 pages is quite condensed, especially when you consider how many of those pages were focused on Bird’s cheese business on the side rather than the core mystery (the last few pages also inflate the total page count as they’re not part of the story and instead feature a rather tasty-sounding recipe of Bird’s favorite chevre cheese balls). However, if you’re looking for books revolving around the delights of artisan cheeses or a murder mystery that is casual and easy, Cheddar Luck Next Time can be quite delectable!
*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, checkout my blog TheBookGrind!
May 20, 2025
In this cozy mystery, Bird runs a cheese board business and solves crime in her spare time. She finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation after moving to a new town. There’s plenty of cheese puns and small-town charm involved along the way. The mystery was fun and fairly original, and even though I had a hunch about where we were heading I still enjoyed the ride. The humour landed well and I really enjoyed the thoughtful depiction of our neurodivergent main character without relying on any harmful stereotypes. It was a quick engaging listen that I had a hard time pausing, with narration that really suited the tone and characters
Thanks to Datura books and Netgalley for this ALC that I chose to listen to and review
Thanks to Datura books and Netgalley for this ALC that I chose to listen to and review
June 19, 2025
This was so cute!!! I listened to the audiobook while driving and while resting a back injury.
I love the representation (fellow autistic girlie here) and all the puns.
Super cozy listen 💖
I love the representation (fellow autistic girlie here) and all the puns.
Super cozy listen 💖
March 10, 2025
Bird Nichols is not only a cheese enthusiast, but she's managed to turn that into her job, selling bespoke cheese boards, mostly through social media. After her beloved grandmother's death, hot on the heels of that of her parents, she inherits her gran's home in a small village in California, hoping to live quietly. That doesn't work out when only a few days after moving in, a local tough is found dead, after she and the friend she regards as her last remaining family, had an altercation with him. With Grizzy the main suspect, and a chronic, and merited, distrust of the police, Bird takes it upon herself to investigate.
This was a really fun modern, pretty cosy, whodunnit mystery. I'd read A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by the same author, and bounced off it, but I'm glad I gave this one a go as I thoroughly enjoyed it. The title helped sell it (I do love a good pun) but I quickly got invested in Bird and her investigation, even if I did think she was sometimes pushing her luck a bit in poking her nose in and bothering the police. I worked out the plot twist (yes, I'm pleased with myself) but was entirely taken by surprise by whodunnit.
On the food, the author really did her research. All the cheeses mentioned are real, and there's an impassioned plea to discover more local cheese to your area in the author's note at the end.
The setting feels like an American version of Midsummer Murders or something similar. It's a tiny village, not exactly isolated, but out of the way, where everyone knows everyone and their business, for good or ill. The other characters do get more fleshing out than can sometimes be the case, but I'd have liked to have seen more interactions with the landowner's agent, Rita, who is hostile to Bird from the get-go.
There's a slow burn romance as well, as Bird meets the owner of the local grilled cheese sandwich shop (somewhat inevitable, really), but the whole thing was really cute.
I also liked the depiction of Bird's autism, which comes out well through the first-person narrative. While neurotypical myself, I know enough people on the spectrum that this feels realistic and sympathetic.
I'm only a middling cheese person, but after finishing this I really wanted one of Bird to make me one of her custom boards.
Note: I got an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really fun modern, pretty cosy, whodunnit mystery. I'd read A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by the same author, and bounced off it, but I'm glad I gave this one a go as I thoroughly enjoyed it. The title helped sell it (I do love a good pun) but I quickly got invested in Bird and her investigation, even if I did think she was sometimes pushing her luck a bit in poking her nose in and bothering the police. I worked out the plot twist (yes, I'm pleased with myself) but was entirely taken by surprise by whodunnit.
On the food, the author really did her research. All the cheeses mentioned are real, and there's an impassioned plea to discover more local cheese to your area in the author's note at the end.
The setting feels like an American version of Midsummer Murders or something similar. It's a tiny village, not exactly isolated, but out of the way, where everyone knows everyone and their business, for good or ill. The other characters do get more fleshing out than can sometimes be the case, but I'd have liked to have seen more interactions with the landowner's agent, Rita, who is hostile to Bird from the get-go.
There's a slow burn romance as well, as Bird meets the owner of the local grilled cheese sandwich shop (somewhat inevitable, really), but the whole thing was really cute.
I also liked the depiction of Bird's autism, which comes out well through the first-person narrative. While neurotypical myself, I know enough people on the spectrum that this feels realistic and sympathetic.
I'm only a middling cheese person, but after finishing this I really wanted one of Bird to make me one of her custom boards.
Note: I got an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2025
First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing and Audio for the aARC of Cheddar Luck Next Time.
Format: Audiobook
Review:
Cheese, cats, and murder? Yes, please!
What an absolutely awesome palette cleanser! Cheddar Luck Next Time is a fun and cozy murder mystery centered on Bird, an autistic small business owner who, after the death of her parents a year ago, and the death of her grandmother less than a year later, is moving into her grandmother's home in the tiny town of Foghorn California with a permanent population of less than 100.
Within her first 24 hours of moving, Bird kicks the town nuisance, Chase, off her property, immediately making herself an enemy. Not long after the heated meeting, she finds his car crashed in a ravine and Chase dead. But it wasn't the car crash that killed him. Now, cheese loving and autistic Bird is thrown into a murder investigation where everyone has a motive and no one seems to have an alibi, including herself.
There wasn't a single character in this book that I didn't adore.
I found myself reflected very heavily in Bird.
Dale was adorably sweet with his cheese sandwiches and kittens.
Grizz was comforting.
Rita gave off the perfect 'HOA Karen' vibes (which while I hate, made her character perfect for what it was there for).
There were of course, more characters, but the true star of the show was Bowser, the cat Bird unexpectedly found herself caring for in the midst of the murder investigation.
There's a couple reasons I couldn't quite give it five ⭐'s
Despite it being a cozy mystery, I still would have liked a little less predictability. It felt like everything was kind of given away a bit too early on.
Why did this audiobook censor the word 'sexy'? I rewound three times to verify that when Bird thought Dale asking if he wanted him to help her or let her handle an injury on her leg was 'sexy', that word was definitely cut out. I have never experienced this in an Audiobook before, but this is my first NetGalley audio. I listened to this via the NetGalley app and wonder if this had something to do with it. Will absolutely update my review if this turns out to be the case.
All in all, it was fun, it was cozy, it was cheesy, it was everything you'd expect from a book titled 'Cheddar Luck Next Time'.
Format: Audiobook
Review:
Cheese, cats, and murder? Yes, please!
What an absolutely awesome palette cleanser! Cheddar Luck Next Time is a fun and cozy murder mystery centered on Bird, an autistic small business owner who, after the death of her parents a year ago, and the death of her grandmother less than a year later, is moving into her grandmother's home in the tiny town of Foghorn California with a permanent population of less than 100.
Within her first 24 hours of moving, Bird kicks the town nuisance, Chase, off her property, immediately making herself an enemy. Not long after the heated meeting, she finds his car crashed in a ravine and Chase dead. But it wasn't the car crash that killed him. Now, cheese loving and autistic Bird is thrown into a murder investigation where everyone has a motive and no one seems to have an alibi, including herself.
There wasn't a single character in this book that I didn't adore.
I found myself reflected very heavily in Bird.
Dale was adorably sweet with his cheese sandwiches and kittens.
Grizz was comforting.
Rita gave off the perfect 'HOA Karen' vibes (which while I hate, made her character perfect for what it was there for).
There were of course, more characters, but the true star of the show was Bowser, the cat Bird unexpectedly found herself caring for in the midst of the murder investigation.
There's a couple reasons I couldn't quite give it five ⭐'s
Despite it being a cozy mystery, I still would have liked a little less predictability. It felt like everything was kind of given away a bit too early on.
Why did this audiobook censor the word 'sexy'? I rewound three times to verify that when Bird thought Dale asking if he wanted him to help her or let her handle an injury on her leg was 'sexy', that word was definitely cut out. I have never experienced this in an Audiobook before, but this is my first NetGalley audio. I listened to this via the NetGalley app and wonder if this had something to do with it. Will absolutely update my review if this turns out to be the case.
All in all, it was fun, it was cozy, it was cheesy, it was everything you'd expect from a book titled 'Cheddar Luck Next Time'.
April 24, 2025
(4.25/5 stars)
Cheddar Luck Next Time is a cheese-filled cozy mystery debut by Beth Cato.
Bird recently inherited her grandmother's estate (after she mysteriously disappeared). Since she ran an artisanal preserves business, the property includes a capital-K Kitchen. This is the perfect location for Bird's new gourmet cheese board business to thrive. But before she could even try to settle into town, the local troublemaker ends up dead on her rural road. Law enforcement seems to be going after the wrong person, and Bird is determined to prove his innocence.
The author is writing from the lived experience of someone with an autism diagnosis, and I felt pretty seen in the autistic main character in a lot of small ways. Bird has a few sensory needs, like wearing ear plugs around loud sirens. She is very blunt and sometimes her emotions appear to be stunted.
While I did figure out who the murderer was pretty early, I still had a lot of fun reading this book. It started a little slow for me, but I still read 24% into the ebook before bed one night, so it held my interest.
Then I switched to using the accessibility setting on my Kindle Paperwhite to connect to my Bluetooth speaker and inhaled the rest of the book while I was dealing with a migraine the next day.
The publisher blurb noted this book would be good for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and The Maid and that tracks. I also got some vibes for Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, though this one is set in modern time. (The show, not the book series; I still need to read those!)
I definitely would love to read future books featuring Bird and her adorable adopted cat! And also more recipes for cheese-related snacks.
I received a complimentary review copy from Datura Books and NetGalley. All opinions contained herein are my own.
If you want to see more from me, check out my blog, Bookstagram, TheStoryGraph, or Bluesky.
Cheddar Luck Next Time is a cheese-filled cozy mystery debut by Beth Cato.
Bird recently inherited her grandmother's estate (after she mysteriously disappeared). Since she ran an artisanal preserves business, the property includes a capital-K Kitchen. This is the perfect location for Bird's new gourmet cheese board business to thrive. But before she could even try to settle into town, the local troublemaker ends up dead on her rural road. Law enforcement seems to be going after the wrong person, and Bird is determined to prove his innocence.
The author is writing from the lived experience of someone with an autism diagnosis, and I felt pretty seen in the autistic main character in a lot of small ways. Bird has a few sensory needs, like wearing ear plugs around loud sirens. She is very blunt and sometimes her emotions appear to be stunted.
While I did figure out who the murderer was pretty early, I still had a lot of fun reading this book. It started a little slow for me, but I still read 24% into the ebook before bed one night, so it held my interest.
Then I switched to using the accessibility setting on my Kindle Paperwhite to connect to my Bluetooth speaker and inhaled the rest of the book while I was dealing with a migraine the next day.
The publisher blurb noted this book would be good for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and The Maid and that tracks. I also got some vibes for Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, though this one is set in modern time. (The show, not the book series; I still need to read those!)
I definitely would love to read future books featuring Bird and her adorable adopted cat! And also more recipes for cheese-related snacks.
I received a complimentary review copy from Datura Books and NetGalley. All opinions contained herein are my own.
If you want to see more from me, check out my blog, Bookstagram, TheStoryGraph, or Bluesky.
March 20, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and I am not a cheese lover. The story moves at a fast pace and is full of surprises, some of which you will see coming and others not to much but that just makes it all the more fun. The mystery was good and while there was a fair amount of talk about cheese, it wasn't over the top and the story stayed on point. The story was well crafted to keep the mystery running and also give you background or home life drama involving Bird. Who is a great mean character, authors don't tend to acknowledge autism in cozy mystery stories, so to feature one who has found ways to cope and even thrive is great, especially as it makes for interesting characters. Actually I liked all the characters and there little quirks, the killer came as a big surprise. Of course there is usual love interest, who is a nice and the cute kitty. A series I will be keeping an eye on.
After the car crash that killed her parents and then the apparent accidental drowning of her grandmother, the year hasn't been good for Bird Nichols. Moving into her grandmother's house to start a new business is supposed to be the new start and quiet she needs. Instead she finds a teen boy causing havoc on her property grounds, who is later found dead after she and an old family friend Grizz confronts him. With the police looking closely at the two of them, Bird has no choice but to ask questions herself. Especially when a beating lands another resident in the hospital and Grizz still can't provide an alibi for his whereabouts. Can Bird keep her friend and herself out of jail by find the motive for the murder?
I liked the narrator. She gave the characters some good voices and even a couple of accents made an appearance, all of which kept it entertaining and the story come alive. I would listen to her again.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
After the car crash that killed her parents and then the apparent accidental drowning of her grandmother, the year hasn't been good for Bird Nichols. Moving into her grandmother's house to start a new business is supposed to be the new start and quiet she needs. Instead she finds a teen boy causing havoc on her property grounds, who is later found dead after she and an old family friend Grizz confronts him. With the police looking closely at the two of them, Bird has no choice but to ask questions herself. Especially when a beating lands another resident in the hospital and Grizz still can't provide an alibi for his whereabouts. Can Bird keep her friend and herself out of jail by find the motive for the murder?
I liked the narrator. She gave the characters some good voices and even a couple of accents made an appearance, all of which kept it entertaining and the story come alive. I would listen to her again.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 12, 2025
Thank you Datura Books @daturabooks and Beth Cato @catocatsandcheese for this free book!
“Cheddar Luck Next Time ” by ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Cozy Mystery. Location: Foghorn, a fictional town north of Morro Bay on the Central coast of California, USA. NOTE: Neurodivergent accepting.
Bird Nichols is ready for a new start. Last year, her parents died in a car crash, and her beloved grandmother is presumed dead from an ocean drowning. Bird inherited her grandmother’s estate in a quiet, quirky coastal town, and just started her new business: Cheeseboards by Bird. Cheese-obsessed Bird is autistic, and designs cheese boards around her sensory needs. Then a local troublemaker ends up dead on her rural road. Grizz (the closest thing Bird has to family) is the local police detective’s main suspect, but Bird is determined to prove his innocence. She needs to unpack, assemble her cheese boards, handle her new bulldog-shaped orange cat Bowser and, influenced by her late grandmother, move beyond her comfort zone and turn amateur sleuth.
Author Cato has written a cozy mystery full of odd characters, murder, and intrigue. Her main character is a woman living with late-diagnosed autism, who uses endearingly self-accepting, nerdy humor. Cato emphasizes that this is Bird, but everyone considered “on the autism spectrum” today is different. And Cato describes combining, pairing, and eating artisan cheeses in a way that made me want to hit up every cheese shop in town! If you liked “The Maid”, this is the book for you! It’s quirky, it’s fun, and it’s full of twists and turns. As a person who thinks in patterns, counts everything, and talks out loud to calm myself, I give it 4 stars!📚👩🏼🦳#cheddarlucknexttime #bethcato
“Cheddar Luck Next Time ” by ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Cozy Mystery. Location: Foghorn, a fictional town north of Morro Bay on the Central coast of California, USA. NOTE: Neurodivergent accepting.
Bird Nichols is ready for a new start. Last year, her parents died in a car crash, and her beloved grandmother is presumed dead from an ocean drowning. Bird inherited her grandmother’s estate in a quiet, quirky coastal town, and just started her new business: Cheeseboards by Bird. Cheese-obsessed Bird is autistic, and designs cheese boards around her sensory needs. Then a local troublemaker ends up dead on her rural road. Grizz (the closest thing Bird has to family) is the local police detective’s main suspect, but Bird is determined to prove his innocence. She needs to unpack, assemble her cheese boards, handle her new bulldog-shaped orange cat Bowser and, influenced by her late grandmother, move beyond her comfort zone and turn amateur sleuth.
Author Cato has written a cozy mystery full of odd characters, murder, and intrigue. Her main character is a woman living with late-diagnosed autism, who uses endearingly self-accepting, nerdy humor. Cato emphasizes that this is Bird, but everyone considered “on the autism spectrum” today is different. And Cato describes combining, pairing, and eating artisan cheeses in a way that made me want to hit up every cheese shop in town! If you liked “The Maid”, this is the book for you! It’s quirky, it’s fun, and it’s full of twists and turns. As a person who thinks in patterns, counts everything, and talks out loud to calm myself, I give it 4 stars!📚👩🏼🦳#cheddarlucknexttime #bethcato
April 3, 2025
Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant! A stellar start to what I hope to be a long lived series. From the pun-y perfect title to the engaging characters and the cleverly crafted mystery – it’s all cozy delight from start to finish.
Love neurodivergent heroine Bird whose obsession with cheese has led her to a unique career creating cheese boards for festive events. True confession: I might have deep dived into cheese boards on the internet — and oh my, but they are glorious works of art! Colour, texture, taste, arrangement — Bird has a talent and a passion that’s etching out a niche for her burgeoning business. And inheriting her deceased grandmother’s property has provided her with the perfect home/buisness base…except for the body in the woods. Bwahahaha!
Cato has achieved the perfect balance between the cozy elements (foodie descriptions to drool over) and the amateur sleuthing. All in a quirky town full of interesting (and sometimes aggravating) characters to provide depth and intrigue. Plus, there’s a potential for romance. Eeep! I am so on board for more Bird stories…even after that jaw-dropping , whhhaaattttt-just-happened?! ending. What is Bird going to do with that?
A compelling and captivating compulsive read…or listen in my case. I totally enjoyed Dominque Salvacion’s narration. She brought Bird’s personality to life along with a myriad of secondary characters which made for an entertaining ‘reading’ experience.
My thanks to Brilliance Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.
Love neurodivergent heroine Bird whose obsession with cheese has led her to a unique career creating cheese boards for festive events. True confession: I might have deep dived into cheese boards on the internet — and oh my, but they are glorious works of art! Colour, texture, taste, arrangement — Bird has a talent and a passion that’s etching out a niche for her burgeoning business. And inheriting her deceased grandmother’s property has provided her with the perfect home/buisness base…except for the body in the woods. Bwahahaha!
Cato has achieved the perfect balance between the cozy elements (foodie descriptions to drool over) and the amateur sleuthing. All in a quirky town full of interesting (and sometimes aggravating) characters to provide depth and intrigue. Plus, there’s a potential for romance. Eeep! I am so on board for more Bird stories…even after that jaw-dropping , whhhaaattttt-just-happened?! ending. What is Bird going to do with that?
A compelling and captivating compulsive read…or listen in my case. I totally enjoyed Dominque Salvacion’s narration. She brought Bird’s personality to life along with a myriad of secondary characters which made for an entertaining ‘reading’ experience.
My thanks to Brilliance Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.
March 13, 2025
What a fun book! Bird Nichols is entirely herself, and entirely relatable. I loved the autism representation that creates part of what makes Bird, Bird. Actually, the entire cast of characters in the small town setting were convincingly real and well-rounded. Not one became a cutout cardboard character, and shades of gray instead dominated--just as in real life. Having grown up in a small town myself, I was drawn in by these true-to-life dynamics.
Another thing to love is, obviously, the cheese. I found myself longing for some of the grilled cheese sandwiches from the food truck Quesoquick. And also some of the cheeses from Bird's own cheese boards (note: you *will* buy cheese after reading this book. I think that's another plus.). The food here is half the draw, and it's perfectly balanced, so it never felt like the food bits pulled me away from the plot, or vice-versa either.
Finally, the plot itself was just tense enough to keep me intrigued and guessing all the way until the ending, where I found a very satisfying conclusion--as well as a way for these characters to come back for another book (hopefully!). I managed to read this while engaged in a cross-country move, so the "cozy" was a huge draw for me. I didn't need anything crazy stressful, as my life was already giving me that. This book was perfectly tailored for my reading needs, and I'll be recommending it to my friends.
Another thing to love is, obviously, the cheese. I found myself longing for some of the grilled cheese sandwiches from the food truck Quesoquick. And also some of the cheeses from Bird's own cheese boards (note: you *will* buy cheese after reading this book. I think that's another plus.). The food here is half the draw, and it's perfectly balanced, so it never felt like the food bits pulled me away from the plot, or vice-versa either.
Finally, the plot itself was just tense enough to keep me intrigued and guessing all the way until the ending, where I found a very satisfying conclusion--as well as a way for these characters to come back for another book (hopefully!). I managed to read this while engaged in a cross-country move, so the "cozy" was a huge draw for me. I didn't need anything crazy stressful, as my life was already giving me that. This book was perfectly tailored for my reading needs, and I'll be recommending it to my friends.
March 30, 2025
First, I loved that the leading lady is autistic. And that no one treated her poorly. Bird Nichols is still mourning the loss of her grandmother so soon after the death of her parents in car accident. She has reluctantly moved into her grandmother's home. Second, cheese boards. There are cheese based mysteries but this is my first one based around a cheese board cottage business. I like learning more about that. Third, diverse cast of characters. There are different nationalities and ethnic groups represented.
Grandma's mystic floats throughout the story. She was seen in distress and presumed drowned. But her impact on her town persists. This both helps and hinders Bird as she tries to the solve the murder the local troublemaker she found dead on the side of the road.
Dale was charming and of course a good match, being the owner of a Grilled Cheese restaurant and all.
I was surprised about the killer but not the reason. There was a clue early on that I thought was strange so it stuck with me. While the murder was solved I was left wondering, who was Grandma Lucille? This story was a reminder that no one is all good nor all bad, we’re made up of layers. I hope there is another book in the works so Bird gets to learn more about the person her parents kept her away from.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #DaturaBooks and #BrillianceAudio for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!
Grandma's mystic floats throughout the story. She was seen in distress and presumed drowned. But her impact on her town persists. This both helps and hinders Bird as she tries to the solve the murder the local troublemaker she found dead on the side of the road.
Dale was charming and of course a good match, being the owner of a Grilled Cheese restaurant and all.
I was surprised about the killer but not the reason. There was a clue early on that I thought was strange so it stuck with me. While the murder was solved I was left wondering, who was Grandma Lucille? This story was a reminder that no one is all good nor all bad, we’re made up of layers. I hope there is another book in the works so Bird gets to learn more about the person her parents kept her away from.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #DaturaBooks and #BrillianceAudio for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!
April 8, 2025
Get yourself a blanket, a comfy place to sit, and some cheese and crackers, cause this cozy murder mystery will have you wanting to stay in and escape the world for a few hours.
The story follows Bird, she has a passion for cheese and runs her own business creating charcuterie boards for events (the way she talks about cheese will have you salivating, hence the suggestion above to get some cheese and crackers ready before you start). Bird inherits her grandmother's estate and moves to the Californian coastal property. Unfortunately for Bird, not long after she arrives, a local is found dead on her property. Bird must now try and figure out who the murderer is before she herself falls victim.
This was such a fabulous little story. It's a fairly quick read. There is some character building, the author also maintains good pacing with little twists and turns throughout the book.
Our main character Bird is autistic. I like how the story is told from her pov. We experience the world through her eyes. Her special interest is cheese so she shares a lot of factual information on that, by the end of the book I'd learnt quite a lot from her. She also talks about what things overwhelm her and what she does to try and help herself in those situations.
Bird is a very relatable character. I think most people could see little snippets of themselves in her.
I really enjoyed Cheddar Luck Next Time, I look forward to reading more in the future from this author.
The story follows Bird, she has a passion for cheese and runs her own business creating charcuterie boards for events (the way she talks about cheese will have you salivating, hence the suggestion above to get some cheese and crackers ready before you start). Bird inherits her grandmother's estate and moves to the Californian coastal property. Unfortunately for Bird, not long after she arrives, a local is found dead on her property. Bird must now try and figure out who the murderer is before she herself falls victim.
This was such a fabulous little story. It's a fairly quick read. There is some character building, the author also maintains good pacing with little twists and turns throughout the book.
Our main character Bird is autistic. I like how the story is told from her pov. We experience the world through her eyes. Her special interest is cheese so she shares a lot of factual information on that, by the end of the book I'd learnt quite a lot from her. She also talks about what things overwhelm her and what she does to try and help herself in those situations.
Bird is a very relatable character. I think most people could see little snippets of themselves in her.
I really enjoyed Cheddar Luck Next Time, I look forward to reading more in the future from this author.
April 10, 2025
In Cheddar Luck Next Time, Beth Cato has created a cozy mystery with cheese with delightful characters, a dash of murder and tons of intrigue. She’s also written an authentic presentation of a character with autism Bird who uses her skills and her special interests to dig into the truth even when its complicated and messy unlike her cheese boards.
One of the elements that makes this story so unique is the cheese as Beth Cato describes different cheeses and presentations, all in a way that is important to the story and to the character, helping to develop Bird and create a world that we might want to revisit, especially the small town down the road that is full of unusual characters, including one orange cat and other cheese aficionados. I also like how Bird gets others to open up to her with kindness even as she attempts to solve the murder.
The mystery of who killed the victim, when there are many possibilities along with the mystery of what and who Bird’s grandmother was up to adds layers to the intrigue. It is a great mystery with a hard to guess ending and threads that leave room for future mysteries, especially surrounding Bird’s grandmother and her past.
If you like cozy mysteries with authentic and memorable characters, I recommend this one. It is a cozy mystery with cheese, lots of fun and heart, tons of intrigue and a whole lot of using kindness to help others and solve the mystery.
One of the elements that makes this story so unique is the cheese as Beth Cato describes different cheeses and presentations, all in a way that is important to the story and to the character, helping to develop Bird and create a world that we might want to revisit, especially the small town down the road that is full of unusual characters, including one orange cat and other cheese aficionados. I also like how Bird gets others to open up to her with kindness even as she attempts to solve the murder.
The mystery of who killed the victim, when there are many possibilities along with the mystery of what and who Bird’s grandmother was up to adds layers to the intrigue. It is a great mystery with a hard to guess ending and threads that leave room for future mysteries, especially surrounding Bird’s grandmother and her past.
If you like cozy mysteries with authentic and memorable characters, I recommend this one. It is a cozy mystery with cheese, lots of fun and heart, tons of intrigue and a whole lot of using kindness to help others and solve the mystery.
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