A Plattering of Murder is the 4th book in J.C. Eaton's Charcuterie Shop Series and it is a fun addition. Katie Aubrey owns Char-Board which is a charcuterie restaurant and they also do catering. There is a big author event and Katie's Aunt Regina is attending. Katie has a house that came with Edith who is a ghost and causes trouble while she is trying to help. Katie has to juggle her catering responsibilities, Aunt Regina, Edith and another ghost Rosalind. One of the authors ends up dead and Aunt Regina is a suspect. Katie, her boyfriend Ian, and friends need to sort through information to find the culprit. There is a lot going on and the cozy mystery kept me guessing. This is a fun paranormal cozy mystery. #APlatteringOfMurder #CharcuterieShopSeries #NetGalley #LevelBestBooks

This is the fourth and final book in this cozy mystery series. It continues the story of Katie who is a charcuterie chef. She is an amateur sleuth who ends up investigating murders at the library that happen during a writers convention in this final book. I really liked this book and think it's perfect for those who love cozy mysteries like I do.

I am thankful to the Author and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Poor Katie. Getting her grumpy aunt dumped on her doorstep was bad enough. When the same aunt is being framed for murder it gets more complex. Good cozy mystery. Enjoyed this one and would recommend it.

I love cozy books, I love charcuterie, and I EXTRA love ghosts. This one should have hit right for me. I'm wondering if cozy mysteries just aren't my thing. I have a few series that I love, but generally I'm left a little, well... bored :/ And based on the other reviews for this book, I'm the minority, so it's possible I'm just not the audience for this.

A Plattering of Murder almost lost me. After the crime was committed and it still felt like it was dragging, I almost gave up. Ultimately, I'm glad I didn't.

The characters are quirky in a kind of goofy way that's sometimes enjoyable, sometimes irksome. (E.g. The main character talking to ghosts with other humans in the room. Kinda funny. Also kinda think it makes Katie seem dumb or impulsive, which she's generally not!)

The food descriptions were lovely and I liked the main character's business. Katie is a good sleuth, someone you want to succeed, and she's surrounded by strong friends and family. It hit all the cozy notes (down to the pet with a weird name and punny title). So it had its charm, for sure. The ghostly acquaintances popping up and having their own agendas was a fun addition.

Still, even with the meddling spirits, I had trouble getting into this. The dialogue was the hardest bit for me, a lot of it felt clunky and unnatural. An early example:

"You'd think the publisher would print a promo pic or something on the back cover or the jacket."

"Some authors prefer to remain anonymous as far at that goes. Anyway, regarding our event, there's the Friday meet and greet..." [Proceeds to list scheduled events for the entire weekend]

And that list isn't the only info-dump. The large chunks of explanatory dialogue contributed to the pacing being a bit choppy. The chapter titles with the days of the week felt unnecessary and the pacing was bogged down by constant play-by-play of every day. This isn't super uncommon in cozies but it's something that makes it hard for me to stay engaged.

Once the mystery got going, I was interested enough to keep going. I never try to guess twists and a general rule. I like to be surprised if possible when the reveal comes. This one made it easy.

I can see how readers who are looking for murder with light tension and lots of character will enjoy this. The ghost antics were my favorite part. If you're a big cozy mystery fan, give it a try!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to provide an honest review.

PS. I had no idea this was part of a series until I finished. Thinking back, there were a couple spots where I wanted more context or backstory, and now I’m guessing those were references to earlier books. It reads fine as a standalone!

RI’ve been reading this series since it came out and absolutely adore. Each entry is delicious and has me craving charcuterie as I read. I may, or may not, have made charcuterie board for dinner last night, and served it along or the bottle of wine.

This talented husband and wife writing team at least delivers a solid mystery. Filled with red herrings, twists and turns ,and mouth watering descriptions of charcuterie board combinations, you’ll find yourself coming for the mystery and staying for the charcuterie.

J.C. Eaton serves up a deliciously entertaining mystery in A Plattering of Murder, the first in the Charcuterie Shop Mystery series. Set against the backdrop of a high-profile library event featuring world-renowned mystery authors, the story introduces us to Katie Aubrey, a talented charcuterie chef whose life takes a sharp turn from savory spreads to sinister secrets.

Katie’s world is already complicated—juggling her business, an overbearing aunt (who just happens to be a high-powered editor), and the ghost of a meddling food critic named Edith. But when a famous author is found dead in the library’s fountain, and Aunt Regina becomes the prime suspect, Katie is thrust into a whodunit that’s as layered as her charcuterie boards.

The novel shines with its quirky characters, witty dialogue, and a strong sense of place. Edith, the ghostly sidekick, adds a humorous and supernatural twist that sets this mystery apart from others in the genre. The pacing is brisk, the clues are cleverly planted, and the red herrings keep readers guessing until the very end. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and J.C. Eaton for the ARC of this book.

I didn’t realize that this was the fourth book in a series when I started reading it so there were some references to past events that I wasn’t familiar with. But it didn’t take long to get up to speed. The story had lots of action and enough plot twists to keep me interested.

This is the fourth book in A Charcuterie Shop Mystery series and I have to say I enjoyed it. I had not read the previous books and therefore some of the references to previous events were vague but it did not take away from the overall experience.

I love a cozy mystery with a strong FMC and Katie is definitely that. Even better, her boyfriend is supportive and believes in her and her instincts, Ian sounds like a keeper.

Throw in a few ghosts, one who “shares” Katie’s house with her and swore she would move on once Katie found her killer (3 guesses if she followed through and the first two don’t count), add her and her ghost friend Rosaline’s obsession with fashion and you have unexpectedly funny moments of Katie trying her best not to look like she is losing her marbles. Then there is the fact that Katie’s finally getting recognition for her hard work and the fact that her resident ghost was a once feared food critic who still held a grudge with someone who could make her life difficult and it makes for a quick, cozy read.

The question at the center of it all is what would you do to save a family member for taking the wrap for something they didn’t do? Katie is lucky she has a well trained and supportive staff who believe in her doing everything she safely can to clear her family member, who unfortunately is not taking the charges seriously. Also, this isn’t their first time going through this with Katie. They know how she is.

I would recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries, culinary mysteries or even someone looking for a fun read with a great cast of characters.

I would like to thank Level Best Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237374755-a-plattering-of-murder" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Plattering of Murder: A Charcuterie Shop Mystery" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1750995681l/237374755._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237374755-a-plattering-of-murder">A Plattering of Murder: A Charcuterie Shop Mystery</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15931568.J_C_Eaton">J.C. Eaton</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7763840399">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book is a cute mystery had me guessing to the end. there's slight romance and an adorable furry side kick. An annoying family member helps you relate to the main character. The "love interest" actually SUPPORTS the main in her sleuthing! Solo many books they say don't to get hurt be in danger viable blah but this 1 he's right in the thick of it helping.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/112655442-destiny">View all my reviews</a>

Sooooo good I love how the story line came together how the characters were linked !! Food is always makes for a good storyline with murder great book !!! Thank you

Loved reading this book and series if had a hard time putting this book down. If you haven't read this series yet. I highly recommend doing so. Happy reading. I suggest reading in order.

Plattering of Murder is the latest mystery by JC Eaton. I really enjoy books by this author duo and was saddened to learn that the husband of this husband and wife team had recently passed away. They certainly have left a legacy of joyful reading in my life and the lives of their readers. I love the humor in this series and the supernatural elements. A ghost who’s obsessed with fashion, what could be better? The way the main character tries to deal with the ghost without her friends thinking she had lost her mind is also very humorous and leads to some very funny moments. I also like that the main character and her crew know they are meddling in police business and just don’t care. They are willing to do what it takes to save their friends/family and it’s refreshing to not have a main character that promises to not get involved and then breaks that promise every five minutes. The mystery was very twisting and turning in this book and I loved trying to figure it out. A Plattering of Murder is a great summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.