Bait and Swiss

Cozy mysteries have a template of sorts. They are usually set in a small town, and often set in a small business with a friendly, plucky, sleuthy heroine. Trouble, sometimes from the past, drops into the mix to spoil the perfection. Bait and Swiss is a fine example of the genre, with all the proper elements in place from chapter one. Willa and her incredibly simpatico team from her cheese shop, Curds & Whey, preparing for their second anniversary celebration, pause to attend the grand opening of a neighboring cake shop. Surprisingly, the cake shop includes a chocolatier run by Willa’s ex-fiancé and best friend from 10 years ago. In the chaos of the opening, Willa delivers samples of the chocolates to the newspaper editor, a reporter is poisoned, and the lovely town is in a panic. Willa’s relationship with the hunky local detective is in danger, but she sleuths on, partnering in a somewhat slapstick style with the editor. Food sales are down all over the town as the population fears poison from all quarters, but friendships hold firm and instincts are strong though the who-done-it is a surprise. The recipes at the end underscore the power of cheese. Fun all around from Moss (Cheddar Off Dead, 2022).