Public disputes are never a good idea, especially in a cozy mystery. When one of the parties ends up murdered, the police are going to focus on the other one. In this tale, Carly is accused by Ferris of advising one of his employees to quit. Fortunately for Carly, there are others who disliked Ferris. She just has to figure out who hated him the most. This is a delightfully entertaining cozy, and is peopled with likable characters. The mystery is a good one, and following these characters as they cope with normal, everyday problems - as well as murder! - is also interesting. The setting is Vermont, the season is Hallowe’en, and delicious food is being served, along with a side order of murder. Enjoy! ( )

No Parm, No Foul is the second book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series by Linda Reilly.

Carley and her part-time grill cook Grant are looking forward to Balsam Dell’s annual Halloween Scary-Licious Smorgasbord competition. Grant has created a new sandwich for the competition and has named it Brie-ng on the Apples, Granny. Grant has also been working part-time at Sub-a-Dub-Sub, a sandwich shop, but tiring of his boss, Ferris Menard, Grant quits. Ferris comes to Carley’s grilled cheese shop and has a heated argument, accusing her of getting Grant to leave. On the first day of the smorgasbord competition, they have another argument. The next morning the body of Ferris is found in the sub shop, having been stabbed with a steak knife. Carly will soon become the prime suspect, as will her boyfriend, Ari. With the help of her friend Gina and Grant, Carly set out with their investigation to clear Ari’s name.

This is a tasty series. The book is well-written and plotted. There’s an interesting and believable cast of characters. Most of the characters from the first book are back in this book. The book reads at a nice even pace. There were enough twists and turns that I kept guessing until the end who the killer was.

Delicious sounding recipes are also included in the book.

I’m hungrily awaiting the next book in this wonderful series. ( )

A Delicious Addictive Read

If you have no willpower you might want to skip this but you’ll regret it! I thought I was free and clear, 78% of the way through the latest installment of Ms. Reilly’s Grilled Cheese Mystery series, when I had to sit it aside and go make a grilled cheese for myself. Nine months in Carly’s diner is thriving until another death puts a pall over her happiness. When her boyfriend Ari is the prime suspect she’s back on the case to find the real culprit before she’s served him his last meal. ( )

A grilled cheese shop and a Halloween themed book that takes place in Vermont, could this mystery get any more cozy!

No Parm No Foul by Linda Reilly is the second book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries and this one serves up a double helping of wonderfully written characters and fantastic food scenes, with bonus recipes at the end.

We get to learn more about one of Carly’s employees, Grant, in this one and I love the direction his life ends up taking. I’m still waiting to learn more about her other employee, Suzanne… here’s hoping we do in the next book.

Ari and Carly’s relationship progresses… although Carly has a moment where she starts questioning everything… and I’m really glad that didn’t last too long. We also get to meet some more of the customers that come into the grilled cheese shop, and one of them helps Carly solve the mystery with her beautiful, poetic notes that she leaves.

I was completely taken aback with who the killer was. I’m sure there had been some clues before we got to the speedy end where everything came together, but I completely missed them. This always makes me enjoy the cozy a bit more when I have no idea whodunnit.

I devoured No Parm No Foul over a day, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. ( )

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

The second volume in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series is just as fun as the first! Carly Hale is eager for the town of Balsam Dell's autumn food competition. Life is pretty good. Her restaurant has brisk business, and her romance with local election Ari has a positive zing to it. But when a cranky nearby restauranteur with a major grudge against Carly ends up dead, Ari is set up to be the main suspect. Carly goes into full-meddlesome mode to delve into past and present town drama to uncover who is truly at fault.

I love cheese, so the central conceit of the book delights me to no end. The mystery is good, too, loaded with twists and turns. The book has a great cozy vibe--no major violence, no cursing, just a mild romance. Balsam Dell is such a good murder village. I thought I had guessed the identity of the murderer, but I was wrong--and I love that, because the book kept me in suspense all the way through. ( )