Clobbered by Camembert (CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY) [Mass Market Paperback]

Avery Aames (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 7, 2012 | Series: CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY (Book 3)

Agatha Award winner.

This is the third in A Cheese Shop Mystery series.

Charlotte Bessette--proprietor of Fromagerie Bessette, affectionately known in Providence, Ohio, as the Cheese Shop--is busy setting up her tent for the town's Winter Wonderland faire, where she'll offer fine wines and scrumptious cheeses. In the midst of the preparations, Charlotte meets an old friend of her mother, Kaitlyn Clydesdale, who has come back to Providence with plans to start a new honeybee farm.
 
When Kaitlyn is found dead in the cottage of Charlotte's assistant Rebecca, suspicion falls on Rebecca's boyfriend, a honeybee farmer himself. Charlotte knows this beekeeper wouldn't hurt a fly, so she decides to find the real killer. While the town buzzes with gossip, can Charlotte catch the culprit without getting stung herself?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Add the moments of romance and a great deal of humor, and Clobbered by Camembert is a gift."

- Lesa's Book Critiques

lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2012/02/clobbered-by-camembert-by-avery-aames.html

"If the success of a book is measured in whether or not it meets a reader's expectations, then Clobbered by Camembert makes the grade."
~Hidden Staircase

"For those who are unfamiliar [with The Cheese Shop Mysteries], we strongly recommend that you give these books a read."
~Exclusive review
culturecheesemag.com/news/clobbered_by_camembert

"The setting may be winter but that makes this is a perfect cozy to curl up in front of the fire to read."
~Dollycas
escapewithdollycas.com/2012/02/09/special-edition-of-cozy-wednesday-with-author-avery-aames-giveaway-too/

Kings River Life Magazine:
"Visiting Providence is like going home again, only to a better home that you ever had..."
~Lorie Lewis Ham
kingsriverlife.com/02/25/clobbered-by-camembert-by-avery-aames/

From the Author

Say Cheese!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (February 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042524587X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425245873
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Avery Aames is the nationally bestselling author of A CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY series for Berkley Prime Crime. The first, The Long Quiche Goodbye, won the Agatha Award for "Best First Novel." Avery is the pseudonym for Daryl Wood Gerber. Daryl has a new series coming 2013, THE COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERIES. Daryl also created the format for the popular sit-com, "Out of this World" and has won awards for her screenplays. Both Avery and Daryl like to read, cook, and garden.

Avery & Daryl blog at Mystery Lovers Kitchen, http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com -
a blog for foodies who love mysteries.

And some of their characters show up at the Killer Characters blog, http://killercharacters.com

Visit Avery at her website: http://www.averyaames.com to see a sneak preview, her book trailer, find recipes, and more.
Visit Daryl at her website: http://www.darylwoodgerber.com for the same.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buzz-worthy! February 8, 2012

By Heather Webber

Format:Mass Market Paperback

It's so much fun to revisit this colorful cast of characters! With a lovable protagonist, wonderful setting (I want to visit!), tasty (cheesy!) tidbits, and a buzz-worthy plot that keeps you guessing, you can't go wrong with Avery Aames' latest installment in the Cheese Shop series. As this book leaves some plot lines open-ended, I'm already looking forward to the next book. Write faster, Avery!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed with this book. March 13, 2012

By andiesenji VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I became very annoyed while reading this book because the protagonist constantly allows herself to be pushed into questionable actions by a somewhat hysterical employee, often failing to consider how this affects her business. It is simply not believable that a supposedly concerned business owner would allow an employee to not only neglect her duties but to also take the owner away from the business during important times.
The description of the various cheeses was interesting, the recipes also, for which I gave it two stars, but the story was often juvenile and contrives. Also there were just too many weird characters, seemingly included simply as red herrings.
I don't recommend this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Tasty Treat February 7, 2012

By Cindy Chow

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Charlotte Bessette was excitedly preparing cheeses for her cheese shop's tent in the Providence, Ohio's Winter Wonderland Fair when her young Amish assistant Rebecca Zook rushes in with the devastating news that a woman is buying up land to start up a honeybee farm. This is devastating not at all to Charlotte, but her assistant assures her that Kaitlyn Clydesdale's plans will put out Rebecca's boyfriend out of business. Far more disconcerting to Charlotte is Kaitlyn's disclosure about the real cause of Charlotte's parents fatal car accident. Before Charlotte can learn much more, though, Kaitlyn is killed in Rebecca's home with the most likely culprit being Ipo Ho, the rival honeybee farm and Rebecca's unlikely suitor. Despite warning from her good friend who happens to be the police chief and her own need to focus instead on own boyfriend's mysterious past, Charlotte finds herself probing into the lives of her fellow Providence residents. Which, unfortunately, may soon include the man who once shattered her heart.

This is a cozy on the lighter side, with a protagonist who generally has no business investigating but manages to allow herself to be pushed into territory that is both dangerous and illegal. While Rebecca Zook is supposed to be naive and sheltered, Charlotte's nine-year old cousins show more maturity and knowledge of the world. Rebecca literally pokes, prods, and pushes her employer into interrogating suspects, with some foot stomping and tantrums thrown in for color. As an employee, Rebecca is less than ideal and Charlotte either deserves a medal or is a complete glutton for punishment.... Normally I don't use a list of characters at the beginning of books, but with the sheer number of Providence residents who flit in and out of the chapters I did find myself flipping back to it. Couples fall apart and come together so quickly that I wish that more time was spent focusing on fewer relationships rather than providing only brief glimpses into so many. An entirely new complication is introduced with Charlotte's boyfriend Jordan Pace, only to have it abandoned and be put off until a probable future novel. This was rather frustrating, but does have me anxious for the next in this series to discover the direction the many characters' lives are going. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another interesting read about cheese and wine. February 7, 2012

By F. Yoder

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Clobbered by Camembert is the third book in The Cheese Shop series by Avery Aames.

It's always enjoyable to take a trip to Holmes County, OH and visit with Charlotte Bessette at the Fromagerie Bessette, and this book is no exception.

Charlotte and her cousin, Matthew are putting the final touches to tent they have for the Winter Wonderland faire that is about ready to begin. Matthew causally mentions that Charlotte ex-fiancee is back in town. She doesn't want to believe that, as she has gotten over that bad time in her life. But he is. He is suppose to manage a honey bee farm on a farm that Kaitlyn Clydesdale has a contract on. Before the deal can be finalized, Kaitlyn is found dead under mysterious circumstances.

Ipo Ho, who has an established honey farm business, is soon arrested as it appears that the wound inflicted on Kaitlyn's neck came from, apparently, from Kala'au rods that Ho happens to own. Rebecca, Charlotte's able assistant, is beside herself that the police have taken her boyfriend, Ho, into custody. Charlotte doesn't really have the time to do any snooping, but Rebecca is constantly pushing her into doing some sleuthing of her own.

All the wonderful characters from the other books are there for a little comic relief. Rebecca with all her whinging did get on my nerves, but then her boyfriend had been arrested. Other than that another great story in an enjoyable series. Recipes and descriptions of various cheeses are also included.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Crime and mayhem at a small town winter festival May 21, 2012

By J. Alter

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Charlotte is getting ready to showcase her cheese selections and accomaniments at the town's annutal winter faire when an old friend of her mother's wanders in, bringing up all Charlotte's old memories of the death of her parents when she was very young. Kathryn Clydesdale is in town to establish a bee farm--and maybe a dynasty. Charlotte never gets a chance to ask Kathryn much, though, because the older woman is found murdered. Suspicion falls on Ipo, the boyfriend of Charlotte's assistant, Rebecca. Ipo is a bee farmer who stood to lose if Kathryn established a larger farm. But Charlotte knows instinctively that he's innocent, and with Rebecca urging her on, she launches her own investigation, much to the dismay of Chief Urso or U-ey as she calls him from school days. As usual, Charlotte puts herself in danger and ignores the wise counsel of her grandparents and her cousin, Matthew. And thene there's Matthew's outrageous ex-wife who is over the top and complicates matters right and left. It all makes for good, fast reading. Jonathan makes only occasional appearances as Charlotte's devoted lover, but he does hint some more at all the serecy in his past. Clearly, there's more to be learned about Jonathan and more murders for Charlotte to solve in books to come. Aames does a great job of capturing the festive atmosphere of a small town as well as the gossip that pervades. Watch for more in this popular series.(