Avery Aames
Avery Aames has published 9 books across 2 series. The recommended reading order starts with Writes of Passage (2014).
Avery Aames is an American author who writes cozy mysteries, a pen name for Daryl Wood Gerber, a writer who spent years in Hollywood before turning to novels. She wrote screenplays and created the sitcom Out of This World, and even appeared on Murder, She Wrote. That background in television storytelling shaped the character work and pacing she would bring to her mystery series.
2010 marked the arrival of The Long Quiche Goodbye, a cozy mystery debut that launched the Cheese Shop Mysteries and earned Aames an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. The series, published by Berkley Prime Crime, blends small-town charm with culinary intrigue and has found a wide readership drawn to its food-themed settings.
Under her real name, Gerber writes the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, which debuted in 2013 with Final Sentence, and the French Bistro Mysteries. She has also ventured into suspense with titles like Girl on the Run and Day of Secrets. Her range is wide, but her cozy mystery roots run deep. Readers drawn to food-themed mysteries will find Aames a natural fit—her series pair murder with mouthwatering settings, from cheese shops to cookbook stores to French bistros. Start with The Long Quiche Goodbye to see where the Agatha win began.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Anthologies
- Tags---DescriptionThis anthology understands that writing is never just about the words on the page—it's about transformation, the crossing from one version of yourself to another. The stories gathered in Writes of Passage explore the liminal spaces where creativity and identity collide. Each piece examines a different threshold: the moment a character commits to their craft, the price of artistic ambition, the way storytelling can unmake and remake us. Whether it's a novelist confronting the ghosts embedded in her manuscript or a poet discovering that language holds more power than she bargained for, these narratives pulse with the tension between creation and consequence. The mood shifts from contemplative to unsettling, from wryly humorous to achingly vulnerable, but every story shares a common thread—the recognition that to write is to risk change. Avery Aames has curated a collection that feels both intimate and expansive, honoring the solitary act of writing while revealing its profound connections to memory, loss, and reinvention. For anyone who has ever felt the strange alchemy of putting pen to paper, this book will resonate deeply.Publication date9 September 2014Amazon rating4.5/5Print length218LanguageEnglishPublisherHenery Press
- TagsmysterysuspensecrimethrillerDescriptionThis cookbook brings the warmth of cozy mysteries straight to your kitchen. It's comfort food meets comfort reading, and it works. Avery Aames curates recipes inspired by the cozy mystery genre, where small towns harbor big secrets and every meal tells a story. Think hearty casseroles, homemade pies, and the kind of dishes that appear in village cafes and amateur sleuths' kitchens. These aren't fussy recipes. They're the food you'd actually want to eat while curled up with a good mystery. The recipes come with that same inviting atmosphere that makes cozy mysteries so addictive. You get the sense of community, the seasonal flavors, the nostalgic pull of home cooking done right. Each dish connects to the world of cozy fiction, making this more than just another cookbook. It's an experience, a way to step into those charming fictional worlds where danger is always solved by dessert time. Whether you're a cozy mystery devotee or just someone who loves approachable, soul-satisfying food, this collection delivers. The recipes are practical enough for weeknight cooking but special enough to make any evening feel like an event. It's the perfect companion for readers who've always wondered what that famous pie from their favorite series actually tastes like.Publication date7 April 2015Amazon rating4.4/5Print length384LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley Books
Order of Cheese Shop Mystery Books
- TagsmysteryDescriptionAs Gouda as Dead stakes its claim as a mystery that understands the quiet menace lurking beneath small-town charm, where artisan cheese and murder prove equally complex in their unfolding. The atmosphere here is one of careful craft—both in the cheese shop that anchors the story and in the way danger seeps into the everyday rhythms of a close-knit community. Avery Aames constructs a world where the sensory pleasures of aged cheddar and creamy brie exist alongside the unsettling reality that someone among the familiar faces harbors lethal intent. The cozy veneer of the cheese shop, with its wooden shelves and carefully curated selections, becomes the unlikely stage for investigation, where our protagonist must navigate both the intricacies of her trade and the darker currents of human motive. There's a particular tension in watching someone who knows the precise temperature for aging Gouda apply that same methodical attention to untangling alibis and secrets. This entry in the Cheese Shop Mystery series delivers what devotees expect: a protagonist embedded in her community, a crime that disrupts the pastoral surface, and the slow, satisfying work of detection conducted between customers and inventory. Aames writes with an appreciation for both the culinary details that ground the setting and the genuine unease that a well-placed body can generate, even in the most genteel of circumstances.Publication date1 April 2016Amazon rating4.5/5Print length304LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionWinter Wonderland should be all twinkling lights and warm cider, but in this small town, the fair brings something darker. Charlotte Bessette, owner of a local cheese shop, is busy setting up her booth when tragedy strikes close to home. An old friend turns up dead in the cottage belonging to Rebecca, Charlotte's assistant. Suddenly the police are circling Rebecca's boyfriend—a honeybee farmer whose quiet life is about to be upended by suspicion and small-town gossip that spreads faster than wildfire. Charlotte knows Rebecca's boyfriend didn't do this. But proving innocence means diving into a murder investigation where everyone has secrets and the real killer is still out there. The town is buzzing with theories, each more vicious than the last, and Charlotte realizes she's running out of time before someone else gets hurt—or before she becomes the next target. Armed with her knowledge of cheese, her loyalty to her friends, and a stubborn refusal to let injustice stand, Charlotte starts asking the questions no one else will. This cozy mystery delivers small-town charm with a sharp edge, where the stakes are personal and the danger is real. Perfect for readers who like their sleuths resourceful, their settings atmospheric, and their mysteries layered like a good aged Camembert.Publication date1 April 2016Amazon rating4.3/5Print length336LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysterycrimechildrenDescriptionThe quiet moments never last long in a small town where wine flows and secrets ferment. Charlotte Bessette, proprietor of a cheese shop, finds herself with rare breathing room—her fiancé is traveling, her cousin Matthew has moved out, and for once, she might actually have time to uncork a bottle and exhale. Then Matthew asks a favor: host Noelle Adams, a charismatic sommelier brought in to boost the fortunes of the local winery. Noelle arrives with expertise and charm, the kind of woman who can make a tasting note sound like poetry. But Charlotte senses something beneath the effervescence—a shadow that doesn't quite fit the bright professional veneer. Before she can puzzle it out, the unthinkable happens: Noelle is found dead, and Charlotte's brief interlude of peace shatters like a dropped glass. What begins as hospitality turns into investigation, and Charlotte must navigate the tangled vines of motive and opportunity in a community where everyone knows everyone, and grudges age like good wine. Avery Aames blends the cozy rhythms of artisan food culture with the sharp bite of murder, crafting a mystery that pairs small-town charm with genuine menace. The result is a story where the stakes are personal, the setting is richly textured, and the question of who wanted Noelle silenced lingers like a complex finish.Publication date1 April 2016Amazon rating4.4/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysteryDescriptionThe annual Cheese Festival is about to descend on Providence, Ohio, and the air is thick with anticipation—and the scent of artisanal fromage. Charlotte Bessette's cheese shop hums with activity as she stocks her shelves with homemade specialties, while her friend Erin transforms her dairy farm and inn into a hub for cheese makers, marketers, and journalists eager to celebrate all things curd and culture. But this year's festival brings an unwelcome guest: Lara Berry, a pretentious cheese whiz whose bestselling books are matched only by her reputation for crumbling careers with her extra sharp tongue. As a pungent critic with a talent for making enemies, Lara's presence threatens to sour what should be a celebration of community and craft, and her barbed commentary leaves everyone on edge. What begins as a cozy gathering of cheese lovers quickly turns into something far more dangerous when Lara's acidic personality catches up with her in the worst possible way. Charlotte finds herself navigating a mystery as layered as a good aged cheddar, where the stakes are high and the suspects are plentiful. Avery Aames serves up a delightful blend of small-town charm, culinary detail, and clever plotting that will satisfy cozy mystery fans who like their whodunits served with a side of Wisconsin sharp.Publication date1 April 2016Amazon rating4.6/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionLost and Fondue understands that small-town life is never quite as placid as it appears, and that the bonds of friendship can compel even the most unlikely amateur detective into action. When a body surfaces in a derelict winery in Providence, Ohio, Charlotte Bessette—proprietor of a local cheese shop and connoisseur of all things dairy—finds herself drawn into an investigation that has nothing to do with Gruyère and everything to do with loyalty. Her friend's niece has fallen under suspicion, and Charlotte cannot stand by while an innocent life is shadowed by doubt and accusation. What follows is a methodical unraveling of secrets buried as deeply as the winery itself, as Charlotte swaps her fondue fork for a flashlight and begins to probe the darker corners of her community. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her inquiries become—the killer, it seems, is watching, and the heat is rising. Aames crafts a cozy mystery that balances charm with genuine tension, offering readers a protagonist who is both relatable and resourceful, a woman who knows her way around a cheese plate and a crime scene with equal aplomb. This is comfort food for mystery lovers, seasoned with just enough suspense to keep the pages turning.Publication date1 April 2016Amazon rating4.3/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionCharlotte Bessette has returned to her hometown of Providence, Ohio, to help run her family's cheese shop, Fromagerie Bessette, trading her fast-paced life for wheels of aged cheddar and the quiet rhythms of small-town commerce. But when a local woman is found dead at the shop's grand opening event—a lavish cheese-and-wine tasting—Charlotte finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. The victim had plenty of enemies, and the suspect list grows longer by the hour. With the shop's reputation on the line and her own cousin under suspicion, Charlotte can't afford to wait for the police to sort through the mess. She begins her own investigation, navigating the tangled relationships and long-held grudges that simmer beneath Providence's placid surface. Aames crafts a cozy mystery that balances genuine intrigue with the warmth of a community bound by food, family, and the occasional felony. The cheese knowledge is rich without being pedantic, the characters feel lived-in, and the stakes—both personal and professional—give Charlotte real urgency. This is comfort reading with a spine, a mystery that knows a well-aged Gouda and a well-placed clue both require patience and attention to detail.Publication date1 April 2016Amazon rating4.1/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionThis is a cozy mystery that understands the quiet power of place, where a cheese shop becomes the heart of a community and the stage for something darker. Charlotte Bessette runs Fromagerie Bessette in the charming town of Providence, Ohio, surrounded by wheels of aged cheddar and the comforting scent of artisanal brie, but when murder disrupts the pastoral calm, she finds herself drawn into an investigation that threatens everything she's built. The world Aames creates feels lived-in and warm, a place where neighbors know each other's orders and gossip travels faster than the morning delivery truck, yet beneath that coziness lies genuine tension and the unsettling reality that someone in this tight-knit community is capable of violence. Charlotte is the kind of amateur sleuth you want to spend time with—competent, curious, and deeply rooted in her world, navigating the investigation with the same care she brings to pairing the perfect cheese with a glass of wine. The mystery unfolds at a gentle but compelling pace, offering enough twists to keep you guessing while never losing sight of the relationships and daily rhythms that make this series so inviting. If you're drawn to mysteries that balance genuine intrigue with the comforts of small-town life, where the stakes feel personal and the setting wraps around you like a favorite sweater, this will satisfy in all the right ways.Publication date1 April 2016Amazon rating4.5/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherBerkley
Frequently Asked Questions about Avery Aames
Avery Aames writes two main series: the Order of Anthologies and the Order of Cheese Shop Mystery Books. For the Order of Anthologies, the only listed book is Writes of Passage, published in 2014. The Cheese Shop Mystery series began with As Gouda as Dead in 2016. It is generally recommended to read series in the order they were published to fully appreciate character development and plot progression. Therefore, starting with Writes of Passage and then moving to the Cheese Shop Mystery series in its publication order is the most logical approach.
A good starting point for Avery Aames's books is the first book in the Cheese Shop Mystery series, As Gouda as Dead, published in 2016. This series is what the author is primarily known for. Reading this book will introduce you to the author's style and the cozy mystery elements that define her work. If you prefer to read chronologically by publication date, Writes of Passage (2014) would be the very first book. However, the Cheese Shop Mysteries offer a clear entry point into her most recognizable stories.
While some readers enjoy diving into any book within a series, it is generally advisable to read Avery Aames's books in order, especially within the Cheese Shop Mystery series. The books follow a narrative with recurring characters and plotlines that develop over time. Reading them out of order may lead to confusion regarding character relationships, past events, and the overall progression of the story. For the best experience and to avoid spoilers or missed context, adhering to the publication order is recommended.
Avery Aames primarily writes series. Her notable works include the Order of Anthologies and the Order of Cheese Shop Mystery Books. While the Order of Anthologies currently has only one listed entry, the Cheese Shop Mystery series is a collection of interconnected novels. These books are designed to be read sequentially, with each installment building upon the last. Therefore, readers looking for standalone novels might not find them within these main series.
Avery Aames has written a significant number of books, primarily within her Cheese Shop Mystery series. While the provided information lists eight books in this series, the prompt indicates there are at least two more. Combined with the Order of Anthologies book, this suggests a substantial body of work. A precise total count would require access to a complete bibliography, but it is safe to say she has authored more than ten books.
The first book written by Avery Aames that is listed is Writes of Passage, published in 2014. This book is part of the Order of Anthologies. Following this, the author began the popular Cheese Shop Mystery series in 2016, with the first installment being As Gouda as Dead. Therefore, Writes of Passage marks the earliest known publication from Avery Aames.
The most recent book listed for Avery Aames is within the Cheese Shop Mystery series. The prompt indicates there are at least two more books beyond the initial six listed for 2016. Without specific publication dates for these later entries, it is difficult to pinpoint the absolute most recent. However, it is clear that her recent work has been focused on continuing the popular Cheese Shop Mystery series.
Avery Aames writes in the cozy mystery genre. Her books are characterized by a lighthearted tone, amateur sleuths, and a focus on small-town settings, often with culinary or artisanal themes. The Cheese Shop Mystery series, for instance, revolves around a cheese shop owner who solves crimes. This genre typically avoids graphic violence and focuses more on puzzle-solving and character interactions.
We verified the reading order for Avery Aames's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: April 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Avery Aames Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/avery-aames