FONDUE OR DIE is the fifth book in the Cheese Shop Mysteries by Korina Moss. While I haven’t had the chance to read all the other books in the series (and plan to remedy that asap) this was such a fun story that it didn’t take long at all to find myself involved in the world of cheese! I also appreciated that the author carefully includes some backstory so that I never felt at a loss on the characters, yet there was never a lag in the pacing. Protagonist Willa Bauer and her Curds & Whey crew are gearing up for the annual Labor Day Dairy Days. I simply adore the camaraderie they share, whether working or playing together, or forming their “Team Cheese” amateur sleuthing group. Each character has their own unique personalities, and it’s obvious Ms. Moss has put a lot of thought and development behind each one to make them feel so authentic. She’s also brought the town of Yarrow Glen and the surrounding area to life, filled with descriptive details to make a person want to visit such a charming area.

Dairy Days may be filled with all sorts of fun festivities, but someone seems to be going out of their way to sabotage the Miss Dairy pageant. While the “pageant” may be outdated, it’s still become an important scholarship opportunity for local girls, and the organizer, Nadine, is adamant it continues. When Nadine is found murdered, the police focus their suspicions on Willa’s employee, Mrs. Schultz. Given the number of participants in the pageant and festival, there is a wide pool of suspects to draw from. Willa and her Team Cheese know Mrs. Schultz is innocent, so begin their own investigation. There are twists aplenty with danger and suspense to keep the reader turning pages. With the final conclusion leaving a smile on my face and a hint of things to come, I couldn’t help but wish I already had the next book in hand!

If you love cheese, you’re going to want to read through the recipes at the back of the book. The second I read the title, “Extra-Cheesy Alfredo,” I knew I had to make it. Using four kinds of cheese, including a smoky mozzarella, this highly satisfying dish is extra rich, creamy, and oh so yummy! Once the cheeses are shredded (don’t be tempted to buy pre-shredded since they won’t melt as creamy) the sauce comes together quickly. The addition of some garlic and pepper rounds out the flavors and when tossed with your favorite pasta, it’s a match made in cheesy heaven!

 

 

 

Amazon Synopsis

The small town of Yarrow Glen’s neighbor, Lockwood, hosts an annual Labor Day weekend bash: Dairy Days. And Willa Bauer and her cheese shop, Curds & Whey, refuse to miss out on the fun. Willa is thrilled to celebrate her favorite thing―she is a cheesemonger after all―and this festival goes all out: butter sculptures, goat races, cheese wheel relays, even a Miss Dairy pageant. Too bad the pageant runner, Nadine, is treating Dairy Days prep like it’s fondue or die and is putting everyone around her on edge. When Willa finds Nadine’s dead body under years’ worth of ceramic milk jugs, the police aren’t sure whether the death was an accident. But fingers are pointing at Willa’s employee, Mrs. Schultz, who steps in to help the pageant after Nadine’s death. Someone wanted Nadine out of the whey, and Willa is going to find out who.

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Minotaur Books for offering a print copy of FONDUE OR DIE to one lucky winner! Contest ends November 10, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.