Christmas is a busy season for Lilah Drake. Between her secret "Undercover Dish" business and her daytime employment at a catering company, Lilah has more than enough work to do. Unfortunately, her latest secret delivery of a kid-friendly meal results in her witnessing the murder of a Santa at a local elementary school. Worse yet, Lilah's former love interest, Detective Jay Parker, is assigned the case. Is someone now after Lilah for what they think she knows about the murder?

CHEDDAR OFF DEAD is the second book in Julia Buckley's Undercover Dish series. While the relationship between Jay and Lilah first sparked in the prior book, Julia Buckley provides all the character background one needs to enjoy CHEDDAR OFF DEAD. However, I will definitely read the first book, THE BIG CHILI, sometime soon as I love these two characters and want to see more of them.

CHEDDAR OFF DEAD takes some intriguing twists. Typically, I'm not a fan of any storylines involving the mob but Julia Buckley succeeds in making me care about Enrico Donato. Is he behind the murder or is has he truly left behind his old lifestyle? Ah... that is part of the fun of this intriguing mystery!

CHEDDAR OFF DEAD is a tantalizing mystery that is sure to appeal to fans of culinary cozy mysteries. I love the whole concept of Lilah's business (and wish there was one just like it here locally!) and the scrumptious sounding recipes have me willing to give them a try to see if they are as tasty as they sound. I can't wait to see how this series- and the relationship between Lilah and Jay- progresses!