A review by tonyaf
Cheddar Luck Next Time by Beth Cato

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

 I hadn't heard of this book when I received an offer for the eARC, but I love cozy mysteries and I love books with neurodivergent characters so I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. Plus, the title was just too good to pass on. 

Cheddar Luck Next Time is about an autistic woman who has just inherited her grandmother's home. Shortly after settling in, a local troublemaker is murdered, and Bird realizes that she'll have to solve the crime since the police seem to be considering herself and her friend as suspects. 

Bird was an instantly likeable character. Her special interest is cheese, and she runs a small business that sells cheese boards. She's empathetic, kind, and so relatable. Grizz was her grandmother's friend, and Bird considers him to be somewhat of a grandfather. He helps her stand up to a local troublemaker and then becomes the prime suspect when that man is murdered shortly afterward. Bird pushes past her anxieties and works to find out who really committed the murder. Along the way, she makes friends, unravels some secrets, and acquires a very chonky cat. 

All the supporting characters are delightful, too. A love interest, various townies, old friends, and very frustrated law enforcement officials are included in the quirky cast of characters. 

The plot in this is absolutely addictive. I love mysteries, especially cozy mysteries, but I've never had one hook me so quickly and thoroughly. A large part of this was my love for Bird, but the mystery is also plotted and paced really well, with no filler. 

This book wasn't on my radar, but I'm so glad it was pointed out to me and that I made time to read it. I highly recommend picking up Cheddar Luck Next Time. It's under 300 pages and can easily be read in a day or two, and you won't want to put it down once you start. It's smart, charming, and has great neurodivergent representation. I genuinely hope that this is the start of a series! 
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