Brenda H. (booksinvt) - , reviewed on 2/7/2018 + 458 more book reviews

Who Moved My Goat Cheese is the first in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series set in the small town of River Vista, Idaho featuring Angie Turner. Angie has inherited her Grandmother's farmhouse and along with best friend Felicia Williams has moved back home to open a Farm to Fork restaurant, The County Seat.

Goat farmer Gerald Moss plummets to his death on a canyon trail and despite having only met the man twice Angie suspects his death was more than an accident and sets out to find the killer accompanied by her Saint Bernard puppy, Dom.

I was looking forward to reading this book but overall was very disappointed even though there's so much potential for a great series. So many things stuck out that I just couldn't get over - Angie who is the owner/head Chef of The County Seat, spends about two hours total in her new restaurant prior to it's grand opening and seems to shove most of the work on Felicia. As head Chef, even on opening night the author pens the phrase "she steps into the kitchen and takes over the expediting". Other than a recipe for Potato Soup at the end of the book there is basically no reference to recipes or ingredients although Angie does seem to cook a little at home.

The title of the series gives the impression that Angie will be buying her produce and essentials for the restaurant from the Farmer's Market and local farmers, yet not one vendor or farmer other than Old Man Moss is ever introduced. Old Man Moss' goat cheese and secret cheese cave are mentioned but the author leaves the question of what the cheeses are and what will happen to them after his death totally unanswered. Ian McNeal is the owner/manager of the Farmer's Market and other than an occasional mention of his looking in on Moss' goats he has nothing to do with farming and lives in a tiny upstairs apartment.

Real estate development and one agent in particular is introduced but the circumstances surrounding her relationship with Old Man Moss are abandoned about halfway through the book and she's never mentioned again. With Precious the goat on the cover, you'd think she would be featured prominently but again, after the first couple of chapters other than an occasional reference to feeding her she also seems to disappear from the story line (not sure the purpose of adopting a baby goat if you are only going to leave it unattended in a stall - the responsible thing would be to either get a companion or return her to the goat farm - or better yet, have Precious and Dom form a bond).

Perhaps others will not be as critical as I and really love this book. I enjoy the authors other series so will give Book #2 in the Farm-to-Fork series, but will not be listing it at the top of my must read list.

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