The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery AAmes

 

 Title:  The Long Quiche Goodbye
 Author:  Avery AAmes
 Publisher:  The Berkley Publishing Group
 Publcation Date:  2010
 Pages:  326
 Version:  Signed  Paperback Copy won on Goodreads


From the back of the book:


"Welcome to the grand opening of Fromagerie Bessette.  Or as it's more commonly known by the residents os small town Providence, Ohio...The Cheese Shop.  Proprietor Charlotte Bessette has prepared a delightful sampling of bold Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, delicious tortes of Stilton and mascarpone, a taste os sauvignon blanc, and for the piece de resistance, a little crime of passion..."

"Charlotte has barely began melting like fondue in front of a handsome artisanal cheese supplier named Jordan when a blood curdling shriek disrupts the festivities.  Right outside the shop, Charlotte finds a body, the victim stabbed to death with one of her prized olive wood handled knives.  As the police leap to conclusions, it's up to Charlotte to find the real killer..."

My Review:


When I am asked what my favorite food is, I always answer that it is cheese!  So, that being said, this book was pure joy to read.  Because not only do you get a great mystery, you also get an education of pairing the perfect cheese with the perfect wine.  The cheese and wines mentioned in the story are real, I know because I looked them up.  I learned many new things about cheese, and there were many mentioned in the book that I must try!  For example, there is a dish mentioned, called artichoke hearts drenched in Taleggio!  Taleggio is from the Valtaleggio region in Northern Italy, near Lombardy.  I had never heard of Taleggio until I read this book, and now I have to find some!  I would never have guessed that I would learn so much from a murder mystery book.  But the cheese and wine information is just an added bonus to the story.

The main character, Charlotte Bessette, is taking over the cheese shop owned by her French grandparents.  Soon after she took over the shop, someone is murdered at a party that is given inside the shop.  Charlotte's Grandmere is falsely accused of the murder and Charlotte takes up sleuthing in order to prove her grandmother's innocence.  As she does this, you meet and learn much about the inhabitants of Providence, Ohio.  We meet the hunk, Jordan, that Charlotte has her eye on and we find that there is much mystery surrounding him.  We also meet Rebecca, the  shop clerk, that has left the Amish way of life for modern society.  Charlotte's Grandmere is a very interesting lady.  She is the Mayor of Providence and her hobby is putting on theatrical plays that are quite different from what would be expected from a 72 year old grandmother.  For example, she is currently working on a Ballet of Hairspray.  Avery AAmes has created an atmosphere that I would love to live in.  There are victorian houses, old china sets, and roses along with modern day subjects like website building.  Charlotte is a woman with many talents.  She is able to make everything she does a little more elegant.  For example, she decides to go see her neighbor on the spur of the moment and on her way out the door, she grabs an old wine bottle, clips some lilacs and puts a lavender ribbon on the neck of the wine bottle.  What a lovely gift to present to your neighbor!  With  this book you get good Food, and good Wine, along with a great story.  What more could anyone want?  I am literally hungry for more!

Along with the book are included several recipes and a preview of Avery AAmes next book, Lost and Fondue.  I am looking forward to reading it soon!  In the meantime, I am going to try some of her recipes, such as the Ham and Pineapple Quiche and the Polenta with Taleggio and Basil!