Carly Hale, the owner of Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery, has once again found herself mixed up in a murder mystery. Fellow restaurateur, Ferris Menard turns up dead the morning after a botched food competition. Ferris is not the friendliest guy, and the suspect list is long! (Including Carly and her boyfriend Ari Mithcell) When its apparent that someone is trying to frame Ari for murder, Carly is determined to do her own investigating. Being nosy isn't winning Carly and friends, hopefully she doesn't end up face to face with a murderer!

The story overall was good. With the long list of possible suspects, you were guessing up to the very end. In the very beginning of the book I did find several clues/hints on where the story was headed a little cheesy (no pun intended). I also found two grammatical/spelling errors in the book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Cheddar Late than Dead with ETA January 2023.

I am so happy Netgalley gave me an early chance to read this second book in the series I really enjoyed it. It's a great cozy mystery the book flows beautifully I took my time, and it was amazing. Cary is a great and well written character in the book. I hope to hear more books coming and what happens between her and Ari. keep me posted PLEASE

This is the second book in the grilled cheese mystery series. Carly Hale owns the grilled cheese eatery. After a long, hot summer she is ready for the fall. The upcoming Halloween food competition is the perfect way to impress the locals.

A few days prior to the event, Ferris Menard, the owner of Sub-a-Dub-Sub, goes into the eatery and accuses Carly of sabotage and vowed to bring her down. Their shared part time employee quit the sub shop to work full time at the eatery and Menard blamed Carly. So when Menard's body is found in his kitchen the morning after the competition, a steak knife sticking out of his heart, Carly is an instant suspect.

This was a fun and quick read. I enjoyed it.

No Parm No Foul is the second book in the Grilled Cheese Mystery series. I loved it as much as I loved the first book. I really like the main character, Carly. She carefully goes about being the amateur sleuth in town; she doesn't make silly decisions. She owns a grilled cheese eatery and all the talk of the different sandwiches makes me wish there was a place like that near me. In this book, Carly has words with a fellow restaurant owner right before he is murdered. Carly looks like a possible suspect, as does someone close to her. Carly lets the murdered man's daughter work with her, which brings all kinds of suspense. There are lots of great characters in the story, an adorable dog named Havarti, and a charming man who doesn't play games (neither does Carly). It takes place around Halloween, and the story kicks off around a Scary-Licious Smorgasbord Competition. It's a good mystery, with great writing and likeable characters. I highly recommend and can't wait for the next book! I'll probably re-read this one again in a few months or so. I liked it that much!

Thank you NetGalley and Pois0ned Pen Press for this wonderful ARC. I will post this review to my blog, Goodreads, Bookbub, & Amazon accounts on the publication date, 7/26/22.

This is the second book of the Grilled Cheese Mystery.

I have read the first book of the series and so I was excited when I got the ARC for the second book. Carly, who owns the grilled cheese restaurant. Now the Halloween season is close by and Carly is looking forward to the Halloween Food Competition. But Ferris Mernard holds a grudge against Carly as one of his employees had quit his restaurant and is working at Carly's. On the day after the competition, Ferris was found dead in his kitchen. The police think it is murder and all points to Carly's boyfriend Ari. Carly must find the real murderer before it is too late.

This just like the first book was an enjoyable one! I actually devoured this book within two days. Cozy mysteries are like easy to read and this book was one of that. I like all the characters in the book which made me like this book more and enjoyable to read. Too many suspects makes the reader wonder who the real suspect can be which gives suspense to the reader which is what I like about the mysteries. The ending was unexpected. Last but not least, I like the receipes at the back which I might try out soon! Looking forward to read the third book soon!

Worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

“No Parm No Foul” is the 2nd instalment in A Grilled Cheese Mystery series by Linda Reilly set in the town of Balsam Dell, Vermont. What a great follow up to book one! This is definitely one of my favourite series.

I like the Protagonist Carly, and her co-workers Grant and Suzanne they have such a tight bond and really care about each other. The characters are well developed and I look forward to seeing how Carly’s relationship with Ari progresses as well as other relationships in the book. I liked getting to know Evelyn Fitch the retired school teacher and one of Carly’s regulars as well.

The mystery was interesting and there are plenty of red herrings, and twists to keep you wanting to find out what will happen next.

I read the book in one day it was that good, You will crave a grilled cheese and tomato soup while reading the book. Luckily there are recipes at the back, I'm dying to try the Alvin’s Panko Perfection!

I cant wait for the third instalment. I highly recommend this to cozy lovers.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CONTENT WARNING: murder, bullying

There’s so much to love about this series, which is probably why I got hooked early on. Grilled cheese were always a comfort food in my house, and I still love them, even as an adult, so the creative takes on them in this book and the punny names for them make me smile every time. Plus, someone who loves cheese enough to name her rescue dog Havarti? Irresistible.

In this book, it’s Halloween in Vermont, and Balsam Dell is having their annual food competition. Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery is competing for the first time, and when loyal Grant finally makes the leap and quits working at Sub-a-Dub-Sub, the owner, Mr. Menard, seems to think it’s all Carly’s fault. He blames Carly for it, and makes some threats against her. Not cool, bro. It amps up the tension in the town, and Mr. Menard seems kind of unhinged, since it’s obvious that poor Carly not only has nothing to do with it, but she’s such a sweetheart (and a local crime-solving hero).

But when Menard turns up murdered, it isn’t looking good for Carly. Even worse, it looks like her boyfriend Ari is suspect number 1. Although Carly promises to keep her nose out of this case, as the evidence piles up against Ari, she worries that if the police are convinced that Ari is guilty, they won’t bother to find out who really killed Mr. Menard. So she decides to just do a little investigating, and naturally finds herself in over her head.

I have to admit that I love Carly, and I was so happy to see her get together with Ari. I hope that we get to see their relationship develop further in future books, because they’re such a cute couple, and they both deserve to be happy. In this book, we learn a little bit about Ari’s background and some of his early experiences that have a profound impact on his personality, which explain some of his behavior, and it was kind of intriguing to see heavier topics dealt with in this way. Carly’s own confusion about starting her first relationship after the death of her husband is also brought into the story, and I felt like it added a bit more depth to a relatively light and fun story.

This book is fast-paced and fun, with a ton of red herrings, making me constantly wonder who was really behind Menard’s murder. I already knew that Carly was going to be putting herself in danger, because she’s the kind of person who puts the needs of others in front of herself. But Menard wasn’t really a likable character, Inevitably, there were quite a few people who didn’t like him, but did any of them have a good enough reason to want to kill him?

There were so many questions that I had while reading, and like any good cozy mystery, they were all answered by the time I finished reading. And like my favorite cozies, the book finished with a few great recipes for some fantastic grilled cheese sandwiches. The only reason I didn’t give this one the full five stars is because I’ve worked in restaurants for a good portion of my 20s and some of my 30s, and the way that Carly runs her restaurant wasn’t completely realistic. But the story is fun and a quick, enjoyable read, and I am definitely looking forward to more of this series!

Carly Hale is in Balsam Dell Vermont at her Grilled Cheese Eatery. The upcoming Halloween food competition is the perfect way to impress the locals. Her competition Ferris Menard the owner of the Sub-a-Dub-Sub is carrying a serious grudge against Carley. Two days before the competition one of Carley’s employees quit his part time job at the sub shop sending Menard into a serious snit accusing Carly of sabotage and vowed to bring her down. When Menards body is found in his kitchen after the competition a steak knife sticking out of his heart Carley takes on the job of solving the murder and to find out who sabotaged the competition by stuffing the ballot box with extra votes. Chief Holloway warns Carly not to get involved but when her boyfriend is considered a suspect how can she stay out of it. This is a very well written book with lots of different suspects and twists to keep the reader interested. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Carly Hale is getting grilled by her competition in the local Halloween festival food competition. Ferris Menard publicly accuses her of poaching his employees until several of Carly's friends step in to defend her. Though Carly is satisfied to let the competition be settled by the voters, Ferris has other plans.

There were many twists and turns in this book and even the most seemingly innocent news takes on a whole new significance. Carly is faced with several puzzles and the stakes are very high as the police hone in on their favorite suspect - Carly's new boyfriend, Ari.

I loved the ending, there were so many things tied together and it was very clever. One thing I didn't care for was how Carly got upset with Ari, seeing him as being controlling and predicting the demise of their blossoming relationship over something that I felt was quite insignificant and justified on Ari's part. Ari's a great character and I hope he sticks around. The rest of the characters are also fun, though everyone is perhaps overly goody-goody. Nothing wrong with that necessarily but it eliminates all of them as potential suspects in future books, which is unfortunate.

Overall I've enjoyed this series so far and do plan to continue reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

The second book in the Grilled cheese eatery series finds our MC Carly back to becoming a suoer sleuth once again as this time her beau is the one accused. I enjoyed this mystery and the process of elimination I did to solve it. Though at times Carly goes overboard on some aspects and the red herrings a tad obvious, I still like her and
the series overall. Looking forward to book 3. Thank you, Netgalley for this ARC.

Carly Hale has returned to her small hometown of Balsam Dell, Vermont after losing her husband to an accident. She has already been involved in one murder since arriving back and now finds herself involved again. Her Grilled Cheese Eatery is doing well enough, but she is thrilled to enter the annual Halloween Scary-Licious Smorgasbord for some extra publicity. She has a talented part-time cook Grant and a server Suzanne as well as a supportive family and regular customers. Unfortunately, there is a rival sub shop nearby owned by the obnoxious Ferris Menard and he is murdered after the event. When Ari Mitchell, who Carly has been dating, seems to be the chief suspect, she starts asking questions that cause resentment and put her in danger. The town characters are likeable, but there are also enough untrustworthy characters to keep readers involved and the setting and season are enjoyable. I was a bit disappointed that Carly did not share more with the local Police Chief Fred Holloway, but she does not reach the overly foolish amateur detective level. I look forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

A series for grilled cheese sandwich lovers: A Grilled Cheese Mystery series by Linda Reilly!

Reading this book will definitely make you crave grilled cheese sandwiches. I found this book unique and fun to read. This book also includes recipes and tips for readers as well. I found the characters charming and the plot/mystery very good. If readers are looking for something different to add to the reading list, I recommend checking out this series!

No Parm No Foul finds Carly Hale back at her sandwich shop, creating grilled-cheese masterpieces and planning for the big community cook-off/Halloween event. Unfortunately, Carly's biggest rival is found dead in his sub shop and Carly's boyfriend is the prime suspect! Carly puts all her senses to use to uncover the truth, even as her family AND the police chief are telling her to stay clear. I love that there are recipes in the back, too!

I’m repeating the advice I gave after reading the first book; if you’re going to read this series, make sure you have a stock of grilled cheese supplies in your kitchen. Once again, I had to actually put the book down to go and make myself a grilled cheese because of the magical suggestive powers this book has.

This was an enjoyably written read with a mystery that keeps you guessing.

I read the first book in this series and was so excited to get the chance to read the second!

Its Halloween and Carly is competing in the town festival with her Halloween themed Grilled Cheese offering. Her nemesis and competitor is found dead in his sub shop and Carly's boyfriend Ari is the prime suspect. Carly, along with her Maltipoo Havarti, are determined to find the killer and get Ari off the suspect list.

The cast of characters are fun and feel like friends. The mystery is top notch and had me guessing until the end. I can't wait till the next one!

I absolutely love cozy mysteries and "No Parm No Foul" was a wonderful addition to the genre. Great read!

Carly is relaxing a little with her grilled cheese cafe and living in a small town. She is happy busy, but then one of her employees is injured and needs time off, right when the Halloween competition is happening. Ferris has won the competition for the last few years, and wants Carly to know he is watching her, especially since he is positive that she encouraged his employee to quit and work for Carly only. Then he is murdered...

This second helping in the series is absolutely delicious!
I devoured this in one helping.
This is one of my top five!
I could not put it down, it grabbed me from the get go.
The characters were realistic and interesting and the whodunit was well written and the pacing was top notch.
The premise is unique and you will be craving a grilled cheese guaranteed!
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

No Parm No Foul is the first book I've personally read in Linda Reilly's Grilled Cheese Mystery series, and I ended up loving it. I was appreciative that it pretty much reads like a stand alone, and that I didn't feel like I was truly missing out on anything by not having read the first title before this one.

I thought the plot and mystery were both well done and original, and there's a plethora of suspects that keep our protagonist Carly guessing over the course of the story. There's a touch of romance that I really enjoyed, and plenty of warm fuzzy moments with Carly's many family and friends, and other secondary characters like the regular customers who visit her grilled cheese eatery on a regular basis.

I really enjoyed the quick witted writing style, and I never found that the story dragged or grew uninteresting throughout the development of the mystery. Perhaps my favorite part of all was honestly the setting though. I tend to love cozy mysteries that are set during the fall or winter, as I think it adds another element to the ambience, and the fact that this one takes place over the time period surrounding Halloween just made it that much more atmospheric. I also loved how the setting is Carly's grilled cheese eatery, and I found my mouth watering over the amazing descriptive passages about the sandwiches she serves her customers.

The only downfall with this one for me personally was that I had figured out the majority of the mystery quite awhile before the final reveal. However, I think that was more just a lucky guess on my behalf, and I don't feel that the author wrote it in a way that was too easy to figure out what was going on.

Overall, I feel that I've now found a new favorite cozy mystery series and this is right up there with ones from Krista Davis, Barbara Ross, and Julie Anne Lindsey. I can't wait to go back and read the first book in the series, and to read future books to come.

Final Rating: 5/5.

I can't recommend this one enough!

Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press for providing a copy of this one for me to read and review!

I voluntarily read a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Poisoned Pen Press) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.