Fromage

Alex Grant #1

by Sally Scott

Journalist Alex Grant is enjoying the last days of her summer holiday in Croatia when she is accosted by an old school friend, Marie Puharich, and her odious brother, Brian, both there to attend the funeral of their fearsome grandfather’s two loyal retainers. The only upside of the whole sorry business is meeting Marco, the family’s resident adonis. An incorrigible foodie, Alex is unable to resist Brian’s invitation to visit the family creamery in Australia’s south-west to snoop around for stories and eat her body weight in brie. But trouble has a way of finding Alex, not least because her curiosity is the size of a giant gouda wheel. What begins as a country jaunt in search of a juicy story will end in death, disaster and the destruction of multiple pairs of shoes.

Genres: Mystery, Crime

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2021

About the author

Sally Scott wrote her first novel as an 11-year-old. It was a Famous Five pastiche and every word was precious. She kept writing cosies until an arts degree led to experimentation with short stories. None of them publishable, but joyous to write. Then ‘adulting’ happened and creative writing gave way to articles, papers and grant applications needed for her to pretend to be an academic. After lapsing from teaching, she began working as a weapons systems contractor and then at a gaming machine testing consultancy in Melbourne. After eight years interstate, Sally returned to WA to do a last hurrah at Curtin University before establishing her own business development consultancy in the engineering and construction sector. Fromage is the first novel in the Alex Grant series.

Reviews

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

3.5 stars

The first novel in the Alex Grant series, Fromage is a snazzy whodunnit tale, perfect for fans of Kerry Greenwood. Featuring a brazen amateur sleuth who also works as a food journalist, Fromage follows the colourful antics of this keen-eyed reporter as she delves headfirst into an unexpected mystery case. Murder, drugs deals, danger, mayhem, speculation, confusion, intent, mystery, underhanded antics, culinary delights and travel forms the basis of this debut novel. With lots of pizzazz, a side serving of fun and plenty of good food references, Fromage offers something a little different in the cozy crime department. Featuring a great ensemble cast and a likeable lead, Fromage offers the reader plenty of entertainment. I enjoyed following Alex on her unexpected but raring adventure to get to the bottom of a perplexing mystery case. With the additional appeal of some Croatian travel sequences, plus plenty of well-known West Australian based location references and some 1990s nostalgia, Fromage is a palatable crime tale.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fromage is a fun-filled mystery romp, set between the stunning Croatian landscape around Split and Western Australia's food mecca, Margaret River. Our heroine resists the advances of one Croatian-Australian lothario while lusting after another, samples a prodigious amount of premium cheese, busts a network of gangsters and ruins numerous pairs of shoes in the process.
Perth-based freelance journalist Alex Grant is non-plussed when her holiday anonymity is broken by the approach of an old school friend, Marie Puharich, on a Croatian beach. Marie is soon followed by her rather off-putting brother, Brian (Branko), who's always had a bit of a crush on Alex - or is it really on her connection to her Supreme Court Judge father?
Before she knows it, Alex has been pressured into attending the funeral of two murdered retainers of the Puharich family, and is exploring the plush family estate in the Dalmatian hills. She meets Marie and Brian's rather lush cousin, Marco, who also has a role in the extended Puharich family's lucrative Croatian-Australian cheese empire. But what's really going on below the bucolic surface?
The action for the last three-quarters of the book shifts to Western Australia, as Alex combines an invitation from Brian Puharich to visit the family's Margaret River estate with the opportunity to undertake a little covert investigative reporting into the Puharich family and their enterprises. It's not long before more bodies start piling up and Alex cracks an underground racket using cheese as a cover.
I've never read anything from Tassie-raised author Sally Scott, previously, but I'll be looking forward to the release of her next novel featuring journalist-sleuth Alex Grant - "Oranges and Lemons" (not yet listed on GR). Alex is a feisty and gloriously-flawed heroine and the plot had plenty of unexpected twists and turns. At 224 pages, Fromage is a quick and entertaining read.
I'd recommend Fromage to readers of both "cosy" mysteries and grittier crime fiction - it strikes a good balance between situational humour and intrigue. Readers who love the late lamented M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series will love this!
Thanks to wonderful Libraries Tasmania, from whence I was able to quickly get my hands on a copy of this great new title!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh, this is a lovely book.

Shades of your favourite childhood detective series with its combination of sleuthing and fabulous food, with an added adult flavour. You can tell Sally loved a good Famous Five, Trixie Belden or Secret Seven as a child. The style also has shades of Alexander McCall Smith’s ‘Blanc’ style of mystery (rather than Noir).

Add to this the delight of a story set in Margaret River (and a touch of Croatia and Cottesloe) and I knew I could settle in for a couple of days of fun.

Told in the first person Alex Grant is a 30-something freelance travel journo who is a disappointment to her famous Judge father and a delight to her hippy tarot card reading and crystal wearing mother. She is a foodie who can’t cook and wears completely inappropriate shoes for sleuthing and yet she cant help having a bit of adventure which gets her into all sorts of messy scrapes with a dodgy wealthy family after she runs into an old school friend on the beach in Croatia.

Subtly self deprecating to herself and her Western Suburbs background this was a lovely way to spend a couple of days and I find myself looking forward to her next Alex Grant mystery.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea how this happens, but here I was, reading FROMAGE by Sally Scott, and I suddenly realised... shoes again. Another heroine on the "slightly ditzy side" that's obsessed with shoes. It's so not my comfort zone, although I was looking for something on the lighter, silly side, and, well mission accomplished, aside from the multiple deaths and the constant threat from lurking blokes.

As the blurb puts it, Alex Grant is enjoying the last eating / lying on the beach / doing nothing days of her Croatian summer holiday when she runs into old school friend Marie Puharich, and her brother Brian, home from Australia to attend the funeral of their grandfather's two loyal retainers. Brian, it seems, has always had a romantic interest in Alex (to say nothing of her family connections - what with her father being a well known figure in the legal world), but she's having none of it, finding him more than a bit on the creepy, slimy side. On the other hand, family adonis, and Brian and Marie's cousin, Marco could be another story altogether.

Fast-forward to Western Australia, and the Margaret River region where Alex takes up the invite to the Puharich family creamery, hoping for some foodie type stories to sell her editor, and the chance to eat her body weight in cheese. Next thing, and the sticky-nosing Alex draws a couple of lines between something she saw at the funeral in Croatia, and a warehouse in Margaret River, and she's climbing fences, hiding under trucks and getting herself into quite a pickle in search of a story.

Aside from a couple of murders, there's lots of sideways, byways, shops, pubs, meals, cars, hippy mother / straight-laced father (divorced), shoes, clothes, more shoes, odd caravan park owners, surfies, trucks, late night sea arrivals, a bit of lurking around the aforementioned warehouse, a bit more lurking around in sand dunes, a convenient cop friend, eating of cheese, drinking of wine, Croatian references, food (did I mention meals....) in FROMAGE.

This is most definitely on the lighter, chick-lit side of crime fiction, with a hefty dose of shoes thrown in. Lots of shoes (can you tell I noticed the shoes), lots of cheese and an unexpected amount of light-hearted, wise-cracking, slightly dotty fun along the way. Perfect way to distract from life, the universe, with luckily, no effect whatsoever on a life-long hatred of shoe shopping.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fromage by Sally Scott is the first book in the Alex Grant Mystery series. Food journalist Alex Grant is invited by an old school friend to review the family's creamery in Margaret River only to find that the cheese business is not all it seems especially when the body count starts rising. An entertaining and fun mystery with plenty of cheese and wine sampling. Alex is likeable and not afraid to take risks while indulging in her passion for good food and shoes, although not always making good choices. A well written, humourous and enjoyable mystery.

[Giovanna Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to 'get into' this novel, but once I did I enjoyed it. A few things jarred me at the beginning - when Marie reflects on Australia & Croatia '...coming from Perth.....I didn't understand could kill and maim each other for cultural and territorial advantage'. Um hello, Indigenous Australians? Terra Nullis? That did irk me. Some of the humour fell flat, but it got better as it went on. I'd read another. I wasn't sure why Scott set the book in the 90's?

[Sreelekha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cosy murder mystery set in Western Australia’s Perth, a place I call home, and the beautiful Margaret River in south west Australia. On a trip to Croatia, Alex Grant a freelance journalist in her 30s, runs into her school friends Brian Puharich and Marie Puharich. When Alex gets dragged into attending a funeral she meets the enigmatic cousin Marco Puharich.

Once back home Alex the takes up the offer from Brian to visit the Puharich family creamery to write an exclusive article and possibly hook up with Marco. But what awaits is death and mysterious activities in the creamery. As dead bodies pile, the Alex find herself in a perilous position. Will she be able to unravel the mystery before it is too late for her?

The book is it in the 90s with casual sexism portrayed very prominently. I would’ve loved some very vocal confrontations from the female characters.

This is a perfect holiday read. If you are a cheese lover, be warned, you will be tempted and how!

[Alida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Fremantle Press for my advanced copy.

Alex Grant is a likeable 30-something journalist, who specialises in food writing, but also likes to throw serious investigative pieces into the mix. We meet her while on summer holiday in Croatia, where she has crossed paths with Marie, an old school friend – who, surprisingly, invites her to a funeral that has some suspicious undertones involving the renowned (infamous?) Purarich family. Soon after, we find her in Margaret River, Western Australia, by invitation of her friend’s brother, Brian, ostensibly to write about the food and wine industry, but in reality, she’s sniffing out the possible shady, underworld business affairs of his family’s international cheese empire.

This debut, the first in a new series, is set in the early 1990s, is a quirky, fast-paced mystery, with many laugh-out-loud scenes. Highly visual, all our senses are engaged, especially in regards to the cheese (that is eaten in copious amounts!) Alex is a sassy, thoughtful, fiercely strong female lead, and it’s fun to accompany her through her introspections and investigations.
Characters are clearly drawn, from the surfer dudes, through to the old ‘Baba’; the witty, banter-filled dialogue is entertaining; and the descriptions of the locations, fashion and pop-culture references are authentic. This offbeat ‘whodunnit’ contains suspense and surprises. I wonder what Alex will get up to next… Cheese anyone?

[Tracy Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read and thank you to Better Reading Preview, Fremantle Press and author Sally Scott for my copy. The story had me hooked by chapter 2 and also snorting and giggling my way through the book. I loved the humour, even the black humour had me laughing and the references to Brian’s rather large nose throughout the book were a crack up. If you’re a food lover this book will have you drooling over the dishes and I’m amazed the main character Alex could eat so much. Alex has a passion for food, especially cheese which makes her an excellent food critic, but she’s also super nosey which makes her a great journalist. I loved the scenes where Alex goes sleuthing Ninja style, these had me laughing but also there were tense moments where she truly put herself in danger spying on the crazy Croatians. The first part of the story is in Croatia, which I found really interesting and entertaining. Then the story goes to Perth and “down south”. The author captures Perth and the south of WA really well and the description of the painfully slow drive down to Margaret River in the 90’s was spot on. There are some gorgeous guys in the book too and why oh why does Alex’s hunky/cook/Policeman friend have to be gay, he’s sooo perfect. A lot of fun, food and a great juicy story with some dangerous undercurrents was such an enjoyable read. My only tiny gripe, I wouldn’t complain if the book was a little longer and would have loved to find out more about Alex’s story she writes about her adventure.

[Chel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fromage by Sally Scott is an adventurous, cosy mystery tale set in Croatia and Australia. Food reviewer journalist Alex Grant is impulsive, fun and always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Reconnecting with an old school friend in Croatia, she suddenly finds herself attending the funeral of one of their family members because they want more support. She requires little convincing to visit the family creamery of the old school friend when she returns home to Western Australia. Foodie Alex enjoys discovering many cheeses at the creamery. She had intentions to write about the family business, but she discovers some dodgy business affairs, and she’s going to uncover it all…. While sampling all the cheeses along the way. This novel has beautiful settings – from Croatian beaches to Western Australian beaches – and the writing style grabs you from page one, as you get to know Alex. Typical of cosy mysteries, this book is more character driven than edge-of-your-seat thriller, and Alex is certainly one character to love. She has crazy antics, quirkiness, and wears her heart on her sleeve.

If you like ‘who done it’ books, quirky characters, and food, this is a wonderful book that I’d recommend to you. This is the first novel in the Alex Grant series, and I look forward to seeing what the others have to uncover, and getting to know Alex even more.

Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Fremantle Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Eugiluam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first problem with this book is that *all* the characters are unlikeable. And not in the live to hate you way. They are just not nice. How exactly is it okay, for example, to constantly use (for cheese no less) a man you find unstomachable primarily because of his unfortunately big nose? Yes, he’s also annoying and arrogant and misogynist, but the character hates him because he’s ugly and won’t stop making totally chaste, vaguely romantic overtures, which she mostly disdains because he’s ugly. How do we know this? Because personality and kindness are not actually important to her. She makes that clear by trying to hook up with the ugly guy’s cousin, who behaves poorly toward her and everyone solely because he’s “hot.” That’s really not likable. And even less so for a person in their mid-30s who can’t blame their choices on immaturity.

The second major problem of the book is it’s sheer predictability. The gist of the denouement was clear from murder 1, and I was fooled in to thinking the journey to the main character’s discovery of the truth would be the point of the book. It was not. It’s not at all clear what the point is.

Also not clear is why the book is set in the 1990s. There was not much period about it. It didn’t add to the story. And it made for some random anachronisms. For example, the main character makes a reference to El Chapo, and there’s no way he was a pop culture reference in 1990s Australia. No way.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fromage by Sally Scott starts on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. Alex Grant is enjoying the last day of her holidays when she is confronted by an old school friend who desires her support to face an upcoming funeral. Marie’s grandfather is burying his faithful retainers and she believes something is amiss. Alex would prefer to say no but Brian, Marie’s brother and Alex’s prior suitor, refuses to accept a no and in true arrogant Croatian male style arranges to collect Alex. At the funeral Alex’s journalistic instincts are aroused. As she leaves, Brian extends an invitation for her to visit the family’s creamery in Margaret River, WA.

Once back in WA, Alex realises there might be a story and decides to investigate the family business. Accepting the invitation she sets in motions a series of events that finally leave her traumatised and in the middle of a special crime investigation.

Sally has woven an interesting and fast paced plot with a lot of humour. From the very first page the reader is drawn into the storyline, needing to find out who is involved in the secret activities. It is a very easy and enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to more Alex Grant mysteries.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Enid Blyton inspired tale of a brazen, fashionable and amateur sleuth is mixed with the culinary delights of cheese and array of shoes in a comical whodunnit.
Alex Grant has arrived on the scene.
On her final days in Croatia she reacquainted with an old school friend who has family ties in the area.
Invited to a funeral, she as a journalist gets the vibe not all is above board in the deaths.
The distraction of the hot brother diffuses the suspicion.
Back in WA she is invited to the family’s cheese making operation.
A sucker for cheese and always on the lookout for a story to write she heads down.
The country getaway with a family that can only be referred to as dubious at best takes a sharp turn north when Alex discovers the truth and faces dangerous consequences.
The country, beach and being kidnapped takes its toll on most types of shoes and Alex doesn’t hesitate letting us know.
Told in the first person I bonded with Alex immediately.
She is funny, wears her heart on a sleeve and has an investigative flair and instinct. It’s a short and fun read that whisk you away to Croatia and it’s customs.
A modern day Phyrne Fisher.

[Terese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fromage is great fun, a cozy style mystery set in Croatia and the Margaret River region. Alex Grant reconnects with an old school friend, Marie Puharich, on a Croatian beach, only to find herself persuaded to attend a family funeral. Alex finds the deaths of the family’s loyal retainers puzzling. Returning to WA, she decides to visit the Puharich family’s creamery in Margaret River in search of answers and a scoop.
Alex is a feisty journo who loves cheese and shoes and goes through a quite a lot of both traipsing around the creamery, farm and surf beaches. An Australian sister-in-crime to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum

To tell the truth, I was hooked the moment I read the first line of the author’s bio ‘born in the shadow of Mt Roland’. Sally Scott has had a varied career but has returned to her first love, writing. I for one am very pleased that she did, and I look forward to the future adventures of Alex Grant.
Thanks to the author, Fremantle Press and Better Reading for the opportunity to preview Fromage.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️ This cozy whodunnit mystery follows journalist and food reviewer Alex Grant who whilst holidaying in Croatia runs into her old school friend Marie who unusually invites her to a funeral involving the notorious Puharich family. From here her story begins as she becomes knotted up in a murder case and a crime syndicate associated to the family and their cheese making empire.

As soon as I started reading this book I knew immediately that I was going to be absorbed straight into it and I simply couldn't put it down. I adored it. The first thing that captivated my attention was the adroitly articulate writing style and magnificent visual imagery. I reveled in all the various themes related to the story including murder, romance, mystery, intrigue, peril and the many references to delectable comestibles. There was a myriad of humour and wit throughout. I enjoyed the first person narration and the storyline and wacky characters were cleverly mastered. Highly recommend!!

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy thanks to Better Reading and Fremantle Press. The protagonist is Alex Grant – journalist and food reviewer. Alex is impulsive, somewhat naïve, somewhat quirky, and has an uncanny ability to often be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The characters Alex encounters along the way have depth of character, meaningful interactions and varying and intriguing personalities and relationships. As a fellow cheese lover, Alex’s vivid descriptions of her cheese tasting opportunities had my mouth watering!! It’s a light hearted read, amusing in parts, surprising in parts and whilst somewhat unbelievable in parts, it’s written in such a way that you can just enjoy the ride and not over analyse it too much. There is another book in the series on its way and I look forward to continuing the Alex Grant journey.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fromage by Sally Scott is a surprisingly fun read. Set predominantly in Australia’s prestigious Margaret River region, the narrative follows the ever-inquisitive Alex Grant’s quest to uncover the true reason behind the success of the Puharich family business. With her penchant for a good story (and good cheese), Alex quickly embroils herself in complex family dynamics in the pursuit of truth, which has deadly consequences. The juxtaposition of Alex’s witty, comedic prose against the sheer seriousness of the book’s themes make this a highly enjoyable read. It is the perfect blend of mystery and comedy, with touches of crime, drama and adventure. What a delectable delight - thank you Better Reading for the advanced copy!

[Ayesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really appreciated the chance to read an advance copy of this entertaining book courtesy of Better Reading. I really liked Alex and found her relatable with her penchant for good food (especially cheese, which is where all the trouble starts...) But how she can eat so much and not end up as big as a hippo is a mystery I wish I had the answer to! The shoe fixation I don't share so much - if it was boots rather than shoes in general I'd get it, but undoubtedly there's plenty of people who have the same addiction who will find the footwear descriptions fascinating. I look forward to the next installment of the Alex Grant Mysteries

[Weirdfi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received a review copy from Fremantle Press and Better Reading Preview.
~~~

I enjoy a good murder mystery, and this was definitely that. However, the main character annoyed me a little, going from smart to idiotic in different circumstances and not just over her ill-advised shoes which detracted from the story for me a few times. Ballet flats to sneak around in? No, thank you.

I stuck with it, because the other characters were well fleshed out, from parents to her best friend Ben. And the great Croatian dynasty who made the amazing cheese you could practically taste.

I'd suggest this as a pool read or a semi-light vacation read.

[Renee Hermansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a murder mystery this book actually had me laughing at times enjoying Alex Grant's adventures. She is a lovable character who gets herself into all kinds of troubling situations.
Who would of thought the cheese business could be so exciting. Alex meets up with old friends in Croatia who's family own a cheese company and that is where the trouble begins. She catches up with them in Australia and in search of a good story journalist Alex just doesn't know when to stop.

This is the first in this series and I would be happy to follow Alex again wherever she ends up.

Thanks to Beauty & Lace, Fremantle Press and Sally Scott for my copy of Fromage to read and review.

[Marit · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most enjoyable read, with laugh out loud moments. Adventure, mystery, clever observations on city and country living,set partly in Croatia and then moving to Perth and Margaret River, an upcoming wine, cheese and foodie destination. I got the impression it’s set around the time of the Millennium so references to pop culture of that time were fun. Lighthearted but with undercurrents of family dysfunction, menace, drug smuggling and a powerful patriarch pulling all the strings. Alex Grant is a likeable amateur sleuth and journalist. Highly recommended.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the light, humorous style and recognisable locations of Perth and Margaret River. Downsides: caricature-ish characters, unrealistic dialogue and really needs a good proofread (so many dangling participles and other jarring issues). As a mystery, it's not very suspenseful: the main character doesn't actually figure out the truth, merely watches and listens to things happening before the murderer presents himself to her.

[Lydia Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever wondered what would happen if a Stephanie Plum-like character was dropped into Croatia and then the decadent Margaret River region of WA, read this book and find out.
I loved so much about this main character and enjoyed reading about her slumming it in the Gracetown Caravan Park and losing multiple shoes to the wilderness, only to then have to eat her feelings of despair. And what better place than the cheese and wine mecca of Margaret River. I really hope there is a sequel!

[Zoe Deleuil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first cosy crime novel in a while and I loved it - easy reading, ghoulish humour, atmospheric settings in Margaret River and Croatia - the freezing Margaret River cabin felt very familiar – and so much delicious food. Had to go and attack some Parmesan halfway through. A great gift for someone who loves cheese.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new protagonist ...
Humour amongst the murders and mayhem “You were so impatient you cut your own umbilical cord.”
Croatian mafia and cheese...who would have thought !

An unchallenging fun read competently written: await the next instalment of the Alex Grant series.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the read, and especially the Western Australian and Croatian settings, but found the pacing a little off in the story, and the ending a little rushed.
I'll be looking out for the next novel from this author.

[Dogsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable definitely would read more. Hoopla via DPL

[Marianne Rivett · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst book I have read for a long long time ... a predictable and contrived plot, full of cliches and dare I say it really “cheesy” dialogue.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a light holiday read, so I can't be surprised when that's what I got. Mildly entertaining, but filled with unlikeable characters who fail to hold your attention. The shoes were an unnecessary addition that only made the protagonist appear even more shallow. The ended suggested a looming deadline with very little resolved. Difficult to recommend.

[Julian Chu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly entertaining but not much else to recommend it.