Bait & Swiss – a Cozy Mystery Review
Book cover image from MacMillan Publishers
I get a lot of advanced reader copies offered to me and I stopped taking most of them because, well, I just haven’t gotten into reading for fun much of late. So often I find contemporary stories dull or indistinctive from all the others out there. I thought I’d give Bait & Swiss a shot, though, as the premise sounded more fun than most: cozy mystery focused on cheese.
I’m delighted I gave this book a shot – and I’m thrilled to say it’s an engaging, fast-paced read full of intrigue plotting, excellent writing, and believable characters. Let’s dive in.
What is Bait & Swiss All About?
Bait & Swiss, at a quick glance, comes from the Cheese Shop Mysteries cozy mystery series by Korina Moss. The stories center on the first-person narrator, Willa, the owner of a cheese shop in a small town on the West Coast. The story follows the mystery of poisoned chocolates and murder, which Willa must solve for the sake of herself and her friends (and former friends).
How’s the Writing and Storytelling in Bait & Swiss?
Korina Moss is one of the best writers I’ve read in a while, at least in this genre. The writing is clear, succinct, and emotionally charged to just the right level for believability and enjoyment. It’s not hyped drama, nor does it fall flat of what you’d expect a person in Willa’s position to feel. And, as an editor, I usually find myself editing as I read. In this case, I didn’t need to.
Pacing is often another huge issue with cozy mysteries – there’s either not enough space for readers to breathe or there’s too much fluff and the tension drops. Korina Moss does an excellent job of negotiating the pace particularly well – with neither a dry nor an overwrought moment – with tight dialogue, clear narrative, and clean action.
What Were My Personal Impressions and Impact of Bait & Swiss?
I’m now officially a huge fan of Korina Moss and the Cheese Shop Mystery series! I plan to find older stories in the series and will always claim future books by the author, no matter what the series or genre.
I can’t say this book changed my life in any way – after all, it’s a cozy mystery – but it’s been one of the few books in the past 12 months that I’ve looked forward to reading and had to force myself to stop so that I could get work done. Well done, Korina Moss!
Would I Recommend Reading Bait & Swiss?
If you enjoy a good, cozy mystery novel, I’d highly recommend pre-ordering your copy today. It’s one of the best in the genre I’ve read in a long time. You won’t regret it! I’d also recommend find previous stories in the series to “catch up” before you get Bait & Swiss delivered on April 29, 2025.
Need more great reads? Check these other reviews out to find your next read.
- Sealfinger – Mystery Novel (series) Review
- Doggerland – Mystery series book review
- Sandraker – Mystery series Book Review
- Mimi Lee Cracks the Code – Cozy Mystery Book Review
- Jilly Came Tumbling After – Romance Novel Review
- The Vinyl Detective – Written in Dead Wax – Mystery Novel Review
- Death by Food Truck – Cozy Mystery Review
- Murder with Earl Grey Tea, a Cozy Mystery Review
Editor-in-Chief of The MockingOwl Roost, Rita Mock-Pike is the granddaughter of aviatrix, Jerrie Mock, first woman to pilot an airplane solo around the world. Rita has found inspiration from her grandmother’s life and flight and pursued many of her own dreams in theatre, podcasting, novel writing, and cooking up delicious food from around the world. She now writes on food, travel, pets, faith, and the arts. She’s happily married to Matt, and faithfully serves the very fluffy kitten queen, Lady Stardust.
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