by Sandra Murphy

Details on how to win a copy of Killing Cupid at the end of this review, along with a link to purchase the book.

It’s Valentine’s Day and Charlotte Bessette, cheese shop owner, is marrying artisanal cheese farmer Jordan Pace. First, however, Charlotte has to endure a bachelorette party with Deputy Devon O’Shea as the entertainment. During the festivities, Devon gets a frantic phone message regarding his uncle and the town’s beloved bartender, Tim.
The bad news is that Tim is dead and his body is on Jordan’s property, and now it’s in Charlotte’s best interests to find the real killer so she can take that walk down the aisle. Running the cheese shop is almost a distraction with all she has going on.

In other news, Jordan is giving some thought to selling his farm—not to move out of the area, but to get back into the restaurant business. Urso, the police chief, has decided to stay in town instead of running his brother’s political campaign.

Councilwoman Bell is in the running as a suspect; one of her plans is to reduce the noise level in town and another is to eliminate dancing and frivolity.

But Tim’s isn’t he only body that’s shown up. Paige is running amok with her anti-sugar, anti-fat program, which she’s sure is right for everyone. Dottie runs the local bakery, and Paige isn’t a big fan. When Charlotte finds Dottie dead in the bakery, the town is in an uproar. Losing two popular citizens to murder is beyond comprehension, especially during a week that is supposed to celebrate love and romance.

But there’s more: Rebecca, Charlotte’s assistant, is dating Deputy O’Shea. He’s distraught about Tim’s death so that means she is, too. And when Rebecca’s distraught, Charlotte’s life is miserable until the case is solved. Add that to her misery over the deaths and postponed wedding and anxiety about a change in lifestyle for Jordan, and Charlotte has a lot of incentive to solve whatever’s going on.

With side plots, red herrings, and lots of cheese, this book—the sixth in the series—has an ending as satisfying as a good cheese course. Recipes include Cheese Pops, Macaroni and Cheese Appetizer, Goat Cheese Cookies, Apple Bacon Gouda Quiche, Chicken Pot Pie, and Triple Chocolate Pudding.

To enter to win a copy of As Gouda as Dead, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Gouda,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen February 21, 2015. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

For more food fun check out our monthly food column How I Met My Dinner.

Use this link to purchase a copy of the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore:

As Gouda as Dead

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the arch, in the land of blues, booze and shoes—St Louis, Missouri. While writing magazine articles to support her mystery book habit, she secretly polishes two mystery books of her own, hoping, someday, they will see the light of Barnes and Noble. You can also find several of Sandra’s short stories on UnTreed Reads including her new one Bananas Foster. Sandy’s latest short story “The Tater Tot Caper” is one of eleven stories in The Killer Wore Cranberry: Fourths of Mayhem. The annual Thanksgiving anthology has eleven stories and this year, includes recipes. And it’s on sale! Available in all e-versions and in print.