How to Read the Cheese Shop Mysteries
If you love culinary cozy mysteries filled with small-town charm and mouthwatering recipes, the Cheese Shop Mysteries by Avery Aames (a pen name for Daryl Wood Gerber) is a perfect fit. The series centers on Charlotte Bessette, the owner of Fromagerie Bessette in the fictional town of Providence, Ohio, who repeatedly finds herself solving local murders.
We recommend reading this series in publication order. Because the characters' relationships, personal lives, and business developments progress from book to book, reading them in sequence ensures you won't encounter major spoilers or miss out on important character growth.
Cheese Shop Mysteries in Publication and Chronological Order
The series consists of seven novels published between 2010 and 2016. The chronological events align perfectly with the publication order listed below:
- The Long Quiche Goodbye (2010) — The award-winning debut where Charlotte must clear her own name when a body is found in her shop, stabbed with one of her cheese knives.
- Lost and Fondue (2011) — Charlotte gets involved in a case at an old winery to help a friend's niece.
- Clobbered by Camembert (2012) — A local honeybee farmer is found dead, sending shockwaves through the community.
- To Brie or Not to Brie (2013) — A cheese-tasting event at a local estate goes terribly wrong when a guest is murdered.
- Days of Wine and Roquefort (2014) — Mysteries deepen during a local wine and cheese festival.
- As Gouda as Dead (2015) — Charlotte investigates a murder that hits extremely close to home.
- For Cheddar or Worse (2016) — The final installment, featuring a locked-room mystery during a local cheese festival that ties up the series.
Tips for Reading the Series
Keep these tips in mind as you dive into Providence, Ohio:
- Don't skip the recipes: Each book includes delicious, cheese-heavy recipes and cooking tips at the end.
- Watch for Easter eggs: Daryl Wood Gerber also writes the popular Cookbook Nook Mysteries under her real name. If you read both series, keep an eye out for fun references to Charlotte's Fromagerie Bessette in the Cookbook Nook books.
- Complete Series: The series was wrapped up in 2016 with For Cheddar or Worse, making it a great choice for readers who want a complete, self-contained story arc without waiting for new releases.