This book was awesome. The author has developed a fabulous world of cheese and friendship. You can’t help but love the characters in this series. They continue to grow and surprise with each book. The plot was non-stop excitement and intrigue. I didn’t guess the killer and that’s always a sign of a five star mystery.

This review is entirely voluntary and reflects my personal opinions.

The last thing that cheesemonger Willa Bauer expects when she goes to the grand opening of Yarrow Glen, California’s new cake store is to run into her ex-fiance and ex-best friend. Pearce Brenner and Riley Stephens broke her heart a decade ago when the two fell in love while all three were working to open a chocolate store together. Willa hasn’t been able to stomach chocolate ever since, and feels even sicker when she sees that Pearce and Riley have started a pop-up location of their chain, Chocolate Bliss, in the brand-new Hope’s Cakery.

A mix of emotions – including a need to pretend that she’s less bothered by her exes’ presence than she really is, and a strong desire to get out of there as quickly as possible – leads her to volunteer to deliver a box of chocolate accidentally set aside with the cake she’d ordered from Hope. She’s known A. J. Stringer, the editor of the Glen Gazette, for quite a while now, and is happy to deliver the box to his office.

She’s surprised, however, to find that not all is well in the local newspaper’s bullpen. The Gazette’s newest reporter, Kevin Wallace, is more than willing to step on toes to advance his career. He offers to take the box of chocolates off of Willa’s hands, but there’s something about him that Willa doesn’t quite trust. Instead, she leaves the box on A.J.’s desk with a little note of reprimand for the tension he’s allowing to build in his newsroom.

It’s thus a huge shock when Kevin is found dead later that night, after having apparently ingested poisoned chocolates from the box Willa delivered. Everyone becomes a suspect, as no one really knows who was the target. Had someone meant to kill A.J.? Had Kevin’s greed caused his death, or had someone deliberately induced him to sample the fatal sweets? The worst theory – in Willa’s opinion anyway – is that she added the poison in order to ruin Chocolate Bliss’ reputation.

No one really takes that last theory seriously, but no one in Yarrow Glen is eager to risk shopping at businesses linked to suspected poisonings either. With her cheese shop and reputation on the line, Willa and the rest of Team Cheese will plunge into solving the mystery, racing to figure out who the poisoner is before anyone else gets hurt.

This sixth installment of the Cheese Shop mystery series finds Willa confronting one of the greatest heartbreaks of her past, even as she navigates her own current relationship with Police Detective Jay Heath. I really identified with her romantic struggles in the present day, as having necessary conversations can be a surprisingly difficult thing to do. I also really enjoyed the playfulness of her friendships with the various townsfolk, and especially with the other delightful members of Team Cheese.

There were three delicious recipes included, and I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Pizza Smashed Potatoes

15 baby potatoes, scrubbed
1 tablespoon salt
1-2 tablespoon olive oil or spray bottle
⅓ cup marinara sauce
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese
2-3 oz. sliced pepperoni or mini pepperonis
Red pepper flakes (optional)

Parchment paper will be needed.

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Put the potatoes in a large pot and just cover with water. Boil potatoes with salt for about 12 minutes until fork tender. (Don’t overcook.) Drain.

Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper. Put the potatoes on the parchment and score them with a sharp knife about halfway down in a crisscross pattern. Flatten them carefully by pressing down on each potato with a potato masher or use the bottom of a glass with parchment or wax paper between the glass and the potato (to keep them from sticking). Drizzle or spray with olive oil and season with salt. Bake in oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until they start to turn golden brown on their edges.

Remove the potatoes from the oven. Cover each potato with about 1 teaspoon of marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Top with mozzarella and cheddar. Top that with pepperoni. Put the potatoes back in the oven until the cheeses are melted and golden. Add red pepper flakes if desired.
END QUOTE

Cheese and potatoes are one of my favorite food combinations, and this was a wonderful way to meld the two! The dish is both easy and forgiving: I mostly eyeballed the ingredients, adding more or less as I saw fit. If you use a variety of differently colored baby potatoes, you also get a visual feast to accompany the treat for your tastebuds. I was also surprised by how well these keep as leftovers: they’re not quite as good as fresh and crispy from the oven, but they do reheat nicely in the microwave.

Next week, we travel to the Midwest to make a delicious soup while investigating the death of a stranger to town. Do join me!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the DRC of Bait and Swiss! All opinions in this review are my own.

In Bait and Swiss, we meet Willa's ex-fiancee and ex-best friend who are trying to open a chocolate shop in Yarrow Glen. Unluckily for them, someone is poisoned by chocolates from their shop. Now the two people who broke Willa's heart and inspired her move to Yarrow Glen in the first place are asking for her help in clearing her name.

Bait and Swiss is another fantastic Willa adventure! I love that we get more of her backstory in this one, especially since this is the sixth book! The Cheese Shop Mysteries is my favorite cozy mystery series so I'm always looking forward to the next one!

Bait and Swiss

A Cheese Shop Mystery

By: Korina Moss

Publish Date: April 29, 2025

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Mystery and Thriller

200 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

This is the 6th book in the series. I haven’t read the other books even though I do have some of the e-arcs. With that being said you don’t have to read them in order, but I recommend that you do so you know the characters from the start. The author does a good job with some background information on each character as needed. I love the friendships in this book and the way the stand up and support each other even when they are stabbed in the back.

In this book Willa is about to celebrate her second year as a cheese shop owner. The day before a new shop is about to open and that owner used to be the girlfriend of one of Willa’s workers. During the grand opening there is a surprise for several people, and the surprise isn’t a good one for Willa. Willa’s ex-best friend and ex-fiancé have joined with the new owner to open up the cakery/chocolate bliss shop. Things don’t end up going well after the opening because a reporter is found dead with an open box of chocolate on his desk. Come to find out the chocolates have been poisoned. Who would have done it and why? Was the reporter the target or was it a mistake? Willa is on the case because she dropped them off for the manager of the chocolate shop/cakery.

During all the goings on you find out what happened between the three and why they are no longer speaking to each other.

This book was fast paced and fun to read. I gave it 4 stars.

This one starts off with a shock, when Willa’s ex & ex bff open a chocolate shop across from her store. When they’re on the suspect list, Willa is the bigger person & chooses to help. As this series has gone on, I find each book better than the last. And this one is my favourite, so far. The group of friends Willa has are well established, as is the cheese shop & the neighbourhood. The descriptions of cheese are mouth watering but also happily informative. This mystery was such a page turner! Not only to find out who the killer was, but who is even the intended victim? Definitely a series you should be checking out!
🧀

Read if you like:
* Grilled Cheese series by Linda Reilly
* Bake Shop series by Ellie Alexander
* Deep Dish series by Mindy Quigley

This is my favorite of the series! The shop and the characters have come so far. I don’t know if it’s just me, but when I first read the words, Detective Heath, my heart just warms automatically along with a smile on my face. Now, I know what Willa must feel like! There was so much drama with Willa’s ex-fiance and ex-best friend being in town. The mystery had me constantly guessing and it was a lot of fun. I am ready for the next one!
 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for a review.

Willa's ex boyfriend and ex best friend surprise her with opening a chocolate shop in Yarrow Glen. But when chocolates meant for reviewing are consumed by the wrong person who ends up dead, Willa finds herself talked into helping her ex friends. This is a twisty tale that leads with several suspects and plenty of motives. Just when Willa finally believes she knows who the killer is, she is surprised by another suspect who turns out to be the real killer. Well written and plotted. Love the continued progression of these books and the group working together to solve the mystery.
I was given an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

"Bait and Swiss (Cheese Shop Mystery #6)" by Korina Moss has Willa and her team celebrating the 2 year anniversary of her cheese shop and the re-opening of their friend's bakery as a cakery. However, the cakery has a surprise business partner. The chocolate company Willa's ex-fiancé and ex-best friend started together. Unfortunately, there's something off about the chocolate's and someone ends up dead.

Willa ends up investigating partly as a favor to her ex-friend and ex-fiancé. Mostly because the bad pr over the bad chocolates are affecting her business too. The head of the local paper is her primary investigative partner because her boyfriend, the detective has to distance himself from her on this one. She pretty much stumbles on the correct culprit by accident and ends up only really solving it all because of the accidental discovery.

4.25⭐
Totally enjoyed my visit with Team Cheese in Yarrow Glen. While preparing for the two year anniversary celebration of Curds & Whey, Willa and all head over to the grand opening of the Cakery. However, she finds that there's also a pop-up chocolatier opening in the space. Unfortunately, the owners of that are Willa's ex-fiance and ex-best friend. Awkward with a side of tension. Plus the owners of the local candy store were not pleased with the surprise competition. When someone dies from poison chocolates, Willa and others immediately become persons of interest. Team Cheese is found family at its best, comprised of her employees and neighbor, Baz. All are characters you love and respect. The mystery is well plotted with plenty of reasonable suspects. Count me in when the next book comes out!

Bait and Swiss is the sixth installment of the Cheese Shop Mystery series. It's a typical whodunit with a cheese centric theme.

In Bait and Swiss, Team Cheese -- comprising of Willa, Archie, Mrs. Schultz and Baz, must clear Willia and town newspaper editor, A.J. of any wrongdoing in the death of A.J's new star reporter, Kevin Wallace. But as fate would have it, all the evidence points towards A.J's and Willa's guilt. Will Team Cheese be able to uncover the clues needed to exonerate A.J. and Willa?

I really enjoyed this installment. Team Cheese is back to their usual antics and Archie as well as Mrs. Schultz got their groove back from the last installment. Some new transient characters were introduced. But the regulars are still their with their wry sense of humor.

Being a cozy mystery, the story is all about atmosphere -- whether it be in a restaurant setting, garden setting, or a B&B. As such, the pacing can be a little slow for some. But in this particular series, and this novel, there are numerous clues dispersed throughout the novel that kept me engaged. With an unexpected perpetrator, the novel's ending was a surprise. Five stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

4.5 stars
I've enjoyed all the books in this series, and this is a really good one. Willa Bauer is celebrating the two-year anniversary of her California cheese shop, Curds & Whey. Another Yarrow Glen shop is having a celebration, too. The town's bread bakery has been revamped into a cake shop that also includes exclusive chocolates. Willa has an unwanted connection to the chocolatiers (they are her ex-fiancé and former best friend!) and when a reporter at the town's newspaper is poisoned, Willa becomes a suspect.

Willa's almost boyfriend, Heath, is one of the detectives on the case, but has to keep his distance from Willa so nobody questions the fairness of the investigation. I was disappointed that they weren't able to collaborate on the case. Luckily, Willa isn't on her own, though. She has Team Cheese (Archie, Mrs. Schultz, and Baz) on her side. The investigation is interesting, and Willa does a great job finding other suspects and possible motives to help prove her innocence. I thought I had guessed the killer, but I was surprised when all was revealed. The ending of the case and of the overall book is satisfying and left me already looking forward to more in this series!

I received an advance copy of this ebook for review consideration from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Bait and Swiss is the sixth book in the Cheese Shop Mystery Series by Korina Moss. The amateur sleuth is Willa Bauer, a cheesemonger with a French-inspired cheese shop in Yarrrow Glen, a small town in the Sonoma Valley.

In this installment, Willa's ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, who are now a couple, open a chocolate store near Willa's cheese shop. Willa is less than thrilled about this new development. And when someone is poisoned by one of their chocolates, things go from bad to worse.

Willa soon finds herself caught up in a mystery that she needs to solve if she wants to save her town and avoid getting blamed for the toxic candy.

Willa's ex-boyfriend (Pearce) and ex-best friend (Riley) and Willa's aversion to chocolate have been mentioned in past books, so it was rather nice to have all of that play a role in the story.

It is the two-year anniversary of Willa's shop opening. Having the toxic couple from Willa's background pop up on this anniversary created a full circle sort of moment.

This installment was a page turner. I read it in two sittings during a 24- hour period. The mystery was very twisty but fair and had me guessing right up to the big reveal.

Team Cheese (Willa, Archie, Mrs. Schultz, and Baz) were as entertaining as ever. And there were some really sweet moments of friendship in the story. The found family aspect is one of the best parts of this series.

As usual, there were lots of delightful cheese descriptions to support the theme. The book ends with three delicious recipes for dishes that were mentioned in the story. I'm looking forward to trying all of them!

I love the Cheese Shop Mystery Series and can see why it is so popular among cozy mystery readers. I can't wait to read more!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the ARC.

You don't have to be a cheese lover to enjoy this story. Willa's Curd's and Whey cheese shop is doing well, and she is celebrating its second birthday. Meanwhile, Hope is opening her cakery which brings a terrible blast from the past for Willa, and it also turns out to be disastrous for Hope.

I really like the characters and how well they work together in this story. This is the first book I've read in the series and based on some of the hints and references in the story, I feel like I've missed out on some great tales. I definitely need to catch up on the earlier books.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yarrow Glen’s favorite cheesemonger is back—and murder is once again on the menu. In Bait and Swiss, Willa Bauer’s peaceful life in her thriving cheese shop, Curds & Whey, is interrupted by the arrival of her ex-fiancé and ex-best friend, who have set up a chocolate pop-up right across the street. Things take a dark turn when a local reporter dies from an all-too-literal case of death by chocolate. Now, Willa’s ex wants her help solving the crime. As much as she wants to chuck a wheel of Swiss at him, she reluctantly agrees. With Team Cheese behind her, Willa dives into another case full of quirky suspects, small-town gossip, and dangerously good snacks.

This cozy mystery delivers everything fans have come to love about Korina Moss’s series—pun-filled dialogue, charming Sonoma Valley vibes, and a heroine who’s equal parts sharp and stubborn. The pacing slows a touch in the middle, but the satisfying twists and community feel more than make up for it. If you like your mysteries clever and your cheese aged to perfection, Bait and Swiss is a solid pick for your TBR. Pair it with your favorite snack and settle in for a murderously fun time.

Korina Moss has done it again. Another terrific story about Willa and Team Cheese. It was like a breath of fresh air to come back to Willa's cheese shop of Curds and Whey and revisit all of my favourite characters.

The plot has lots of twists and turns and you are never sure who you can trust. The town of Yarrow Glen would be the perfect place to live (except for the murders) and it's always fun to see the development of the romance between Willa and the town's lead detective.

The only thing wrong with these mysteries is I read them too fast and then feel sad when they are done. :)

This is the best cheese shop mystery yet! Willa Bauer is settling into Yarrow Glen after two wonderful years at her beloved cheese shop. But her past comes to haunt her when her ex-fiance and ex-best-friend come to establish their own chocolate shop in Willa's town. Even worse is when Willa finds herself a suspect to a murder--in what will be one of the most twisty cases she's solved yet!

Moss kept me turning pages and devouring this book like a slice of muenster. Even until the ending, I had no idea who the murderer was, despite Moss's carefully placed clues. This is one of the best plotted cozy mysteries I've ever read. Moss is an expert at writing the coziest stories that still keep you guessing!

In "Bait and Swiss," life takes a sharp turn for Willa Bauer, the dedicated cheesemonger and owner of Curds & Whey. The serene cheese-infused atmosphere of Yarrow Glen is shattered when Hope's Cakery announces a grand opening, paired with the arrival of the Chocolate Bliss pop-up shop. To Willa's dismay, the chocolatiers are none other than her ex-fiancé, Pearce, and ex-best friend, Riley. As if the circumstances weren't complicated enough, Willa accidentally finds herself caught up in a murder mystery when she delivers a box of Chocolate Bliss candies—meant for the local newspaper editor, AJ—that leads to the death of the newest reporter, Kevin. Her note she included to AJ, laced with a hint of her annoyance with his recent actions, places her in a sticky situation on the suspect list alongside Pearce and Riley. Now, with the town of Yarrow Glen in a state of unease, Willa must team up with her trusted friends in Team Cheese to uncover the truth before the killer melts away like fondue.
From the opening page, "Bait and Swiss" captivated me like an indulgent piece of chocolate. As a passionate admirer of culinary mysteries, this book presented a delightful mix of suspense and humor, keeping me on the edge of my seat right until the very conclusion. Team Cheese, with their unique blend of personalities and clever camaraderie, makes the investigation both engaging and entertaining. Their dynamic interactions, filled with wit and a touch of humor, remind me of a well-aged cheese—complex, satisfying, and impossible to resist. The storyline is packed with twists and turns, and scattered red herrings, keeping me guessing and eagerly turning pages to see who would crumble under the pressure.
Korina Moss has crafted a deliciously intriguing mystery. The descriptions are so vivid, that I could practically taste the nostalgia of Sweet Tooth's vintage candies and the inviting aroma of Golden Glen Meadery's golden mead. The plot's twists are as smooth and unexpected, with each development adding layers to the mystery. Once again, Korina Moss has delivered a perfectly crafted cozy mystery tale, leaving me with an ending that ties everything up in a perfectly neat little bow, while still whetting my appetite for more.
In conclusion, if you're a fan of culinary mysteries that blend suspense with a touch of humor, "Bait and Swiss" is a must-read. Korina Moss has created a delectable mystery that offers the perfect balance of intrigue and charm. So, if you're looking for a story that's truly the cream of the crop, grab a copy and enjoy the flavorful journey through Yarrow Glen with Team Cheese. Reading this book is like savoring a slice of Swiss cheese—it's hole-some and gouda for your soul!
Book Rating:
Originality: 5.0 / 5.0
Plot Structure: 5.0 / 5.0
Pacing: 5.0 / 5.0
Dialogue: 5.0 / 5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 5.0 / 5.0
Cover Design: 5.0 / 5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Team cheese is back! Willa was not happy when her ex Pearce and her former BFF Riley open a chocolate shop right access from her cheese shop but she's making the best of it even dropping off a box of chocolates to the local paper. So when it turns out that one of those chocolates was poisoned, she's back on the case, not so much for her exes but because she just can't help herself. She investigates, with her pals. It's a classic cozy with good characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, Don't worry if you missed the earlier ones-this will be fine as a standalone.

Bait and Swiss is the 6th book in the Cheese Shop Mystery series by Korina Moss. Willa Bauer should be enjoying her wonderful new life with a thriving cheese shop in Yarrow Glen. Instead she is dealing with the intrusion of her ex-finance and ex-best friend that picked her town of all places to open a new location of their chocolate business. When the two become entangled in a murder, Willa reluctantly agrees to help investigate. But could the two people that used to be the most important to her actually be involved in this crime?

I really enjoy this series. It was one I found earlier this year and flew through the first five books in no time. If this is your first book in the series I think you would be able to pick things up but I highly recommend starting from the beginning because the series is so fun. I really like Willa as our main character. She is smart and empathetic. I always love when cozy mysteries have strong communities. Willa has a great support system of friends. The importance of that was really clear in this one. I enjoyed the mystery itself. There were plenty of suspects and some very interesting twists. I can't wait to see where this series goes!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I could give this book 6 billion stars I would. I adore Willa the main character and her little squad of people. (team cheese) The town and all the descriptions of chocolate, cheese , and atmosphere. (Don't think I won't be trying some pizza potatoes btw) I love that Willa got to deal with her past and also put a few bricks down for her future. Korina Moss writes the most perfect cozy mysteries, and I just want to gobble them up with a cracker and a slice of cheese. This mystery had me on the edge of my seat. I stayed up way too late because I couldn't stop reading. I want more team cheese! Thank you so much Net Galley for providing me this ARC.