Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: Death on a Platter - 7th in the Mystery Shopper series
Author: Elaine Viets
Publisher: Obsidian (Penguin)
ISBN-13: 978-0-451-23524-4
Release Date: November 2011
Genre/Sub-genre: Mystery Romance
Year/Setting: Current/ St. Louis Missouri
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Elaine's Website/Blog: www.elaineviets.com
Josie supports herself and her daughter by working as a mystery shopper. This can often times lead her to having experiences she hasn’t anticipated. This particular assignment requires that she try some St. Louis culinary specialties. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? Josie isn’t so sure. She gets to try things like brain sandwiches and snoots and pig’s ears. But with her boyfriend Ted beside her, she does get through those. She also gets to visit Tillie’s On The Hill for toasted ravioli with her friend Alyce.
This one wasn’t a particularly hard sell as far as the food but Josie was concerned because Tillie is one of her mother’s oldest, and dearest, friends. So having to possibly give it a bad review weighs heavily on her. While the ravioli was fabulous, the atmosphere quickly went downhill when one of the patrons dies and the police say it is murder. Then Tillie is arrested for that murder.
Josie’s mother is beside herself worrying about her friend and backs Josie into a corner to help the police find the real killer. While Josie is good at picking up subtle nuances (mystery shopping will do that for you), she feels very under qualified to help with this. However, she really could use the free babysitting her mother gives her. So Josie takes a shot at this and quickly gets drawn in.
Once again, Josie’s adventures create a quirky way to spend an afternoon. Elaine Viets’s latest adventure in the world of mystery-shoppers doesn’t disappoint. Death on a Platter serves up entertainment, laughs, a few misty eye moments, and mystery combined. What could be better as you spend time with a great bunch of characters?
Just a side note – if the St. Louis Department of Tourism (or whatever it is called) doesn’t hand this book out as part of their come to St. Louis package, they are missing the boat. I have never wanted to visit St. Louis before but I now feel prepared to do so. Love it!!
Lori
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