chez_jae | Entries tagged with series: witch city mysteries

Death Scene by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finished reading Death Scene last night. This is the 14th book in author Carol J Perry's "Witch City" series of paranormal cozies. The main character is Maralee "Lee" (Barrett) Mondello.

Residents of Salem, MA are excited that a movie about the Salem Witch Trials is being filmed in town. It means extra work for Lee--as program director for WICH-TV she's also been tabbed to make a documentary about the making of the film. Her husband, Detective Pete Mondello, is also busier. Their respective workloads increase when the lead actress in the film is found dead on the set. Soon both Lee and Pete are chasing down leads as they try to find out who may have killed Darla Diamond. Lee's visions aren't telling her much, but with the help of friends, family, and even her cat O'Ryan, she may just shine a spotlight on a killer.

Reading a new book in this series is like putting on a comfortable outfit. I love reconnecting with familiar characters. The author has a knack of bringing them to life, whether it's someone who's been in the series since its inception or a newly introduced character. I enjoyed the fact that Lee's documentary had her in the field more, and she was even in the right place/right time to do some on the scene reporting. I did figure out the killer fairly early, but of course I couldn't be 100% certain until the end. It was still entertaining to read along as Lee and Pete put the pieces together.

Favorite lines:
♦ "I'm here for one of those Harry Potter games for Pete's nephew's birthday." // "Good choice, Lee. They're selling like Hedwigs."
♦ That cat has a warped sense of humor sometimes.
♦ All of the wonderful, amazing things that the word home means became very real. There was enough food and a comfortable bed and some worn but good furniture. There were books and pictures and memories.

A story both lively and lovely. Five stars.

Current Mood: busy
Current Music: "Already Gone" ~ Eagles

Now You See It by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finished reading Now You See It by Carol J Perry last night. It's the 13th book in the "Witch City" mystery series, starring Lee Barrett.

Lee is enjoying her status as a newlywed, but she finds herself missing the excitement of her field reporter days with WICH-TV. When she's tasked with producing a documentary on the opening of a new historical museum in Salem, Lee jumps at the chance. Before Lee even begins her assignment, however, the driver of the armored vehicle delivering items to the museum is murdered. As nothing was missing from the shipment, there appears to be no motive for the crime. The police are stumped, including Lee's husband, Detective Pete Mondello. When Lee begins having visions related to the crime, she informs Pete, but nothing she sees seems to be helping. After a valuable dagger is brazenly stolen from the museum, Lee is drawn further into the tangled web of a crafty criminal.

I really liked this book. It was fun to go with Lee out on assignment again, especially since her assignment landed her right in the middle of an investigation. Characterizations were flawless, from familiar characters to those newly introduced. The storyline was well-paced and sensible. The author dropped just enough hints and clues to allow me to figure out who dunnit before Lee did. Woo!

Favorite lines:
♦ Can cats do an eye roll?
♦ "A found cat can be a very good thing."
♦ "Ghost hunter? Have we attracted those already? We've only been haunted for less than a week."

And the ubiquitous 'holding my breath' line(s):
♦ I avoided even the tiniest glance in the direction of the hall tree, then realized I was holding my breath as we passed it.
♦ I realized I'd been holding my breath.

Womp womp!

Very good book, five stars.

Current Mood: cold
Current Music: Capitals at Senators

'Til Death by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I finished reading 'Til Death by Carol J Perry last night. It's the 12th part of the "Witch City" mystery series, featuring news programmer Lee Barrett.

As her wedding to Detective Pete Mondello nears, Lee is busy tying up loose ends at the TV station, coordinating the ceremony, looking at houses with Pete, and planning her honeymoon. Lee and Pete decide to visit the island off the Maine coast where an accident claimed the lives of Lee's parents when she was just a child. When Lee starts getting visions relating to that day, she is determined to learn once and for all what really happened. After their wedding, Lee and Pete set out on a road trip and pay a visit to Lee's aunt and uncle on the island. They both get the impression that things aren't what they seem on the surface. Lee's Aunt Doris has episodes of forgetfulness, and her step-uncle, Bill, is taken aback by a ring that Lee is wearing, which had belonged to her mother. Pulling on Lee's experience as an investigative reporter and Pete's instincts as a cop, the two of them begin to dig deeper into the mystery surrounding the death of Lee's parents. What they learn is that someone may have killed to keep a secret and may be willing to do so again.

I enjoy this series, but this particular installment was such a departure that I was left feeling ambivalent about it. Rather than a current murder mystery, Lee and Pete are delving into a cold case. Over half the book was devoted to the pre-wedding preparations, meaning less than half was devoted to the mystery. I miss certain aspects of the series, such as Lee's career as a reporter and the fact that she's moving out of the grand old home she shared with her Aunt Ibby.

Favorite line: "Time is what it is. Live in the moments you have."

It took me longer than usual to finish this book because it simply didn't grip me like others in the series have. Giving this one an average score of three.

Current Mood: disappointed
Current Music: Panthers vs Lightning, game 4

See Something by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Earlier this evening, I finished reading See Something by Carol J Perry. This is the 11th installment in the "Witch City" mystery series with main character Maralee "Lee" Barrett.

Lee has been promoted from field reporter to program director. Although she misses the excitement of chasing a lead, she's full of ideas for WICH-TV, and she is learning to appreciate working regular hours. When Lee notices a woman has been sitting by herself on a bench on the Salem Common, she goes to introduce herself and see if the woman needs help. What Lee learns is that woman cannot even remember her own name. Lee takes her home and calls her police detective boyfriend, Pete Mondello, to apprise him of the situation. Lee is thrust into excitement again when it turns out the woman, whom they call Janie (Jane Doe), has witnessed a murder.

As the police work to find out Janie's identity, the murderer (or murderers) seem to fixate on Lee as a means to get to Janie. Soon she's being stalked, harassed, and threatened. However, Lee has a strong support system around her, including her Aunt Ibby and Ibby's friends, who throw themselves into researching the shady real estate deals that seem to be at the heart of the murder. It soon becomes a race to see if the police will close in on a killer before he can get to either Lee or Janie.

The story was fun and fast-paced, although I confess I miss going on assignment with Lee as an investigative reporter. Her visions didn't play as important a role in this book as in others, but she did have some recurring dreams that seemed to offer clues. The ending was immensely satisfying, with Lee only being on the fringes of danger this time. O'Ryan, the cat, played a big role, as did other animals in the story.

Favorite lines:
♦ "I can't tell the chief that I need another officer to protect a lady clown because my girlfriend's cat says she's in danger."
♦ Cats don't take commands, even when they understand perfectly what you want them to do. Especially when they understand perfectly what you want them to do.

Very good, five stars!

Current Mood: good

Murder, Take Two by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Last night I finished reading Murder, Take Two, which is the 10th book in Carol J Perry's "Witch City" mystery series. The main character is Lee Barrett, field reporter, amateur sleuth, and reluctant scryer.

When a college professor is murdered in Salem, the crime has eerie similarities to a murder that occurred nearly 200 years ago. Another professor, Cody McGinnis, is tabbed as the primary suspect because he and Professor Bond had argued recently, and his ladder was found at the scene. Lee doesn't believe Cody did it, and neither do his uncles, Ray and Roger, friends of Lee's. As a favor to Ray and Roger, Lee begins looking into things. She is aided by her aunt, research librarian Ibby, and two of Ibby's senior friends. With their help, Lee is able to identify some other suspects, but the evidence against Cody is mounting. Lee will need to use everything at her disposal, including her own visions, to unravel the mystery.

Part of the fun of reading these books is "tagging along" with Lee as she does her job as a reporter. It's a refreshing change from other mystery books. Her career enables her to ask questions and snoop where she might otherwise not be able to. I even enjoy reading about her down time. I appreciate the fact that the entirety of the story isn't consumed with the investigation. I also like that the author not only has her regular characters, but she also has familiar ones from earlier books put in cameos. It's disappointing at times to read about an intriguing character in a book and then never see him or her again in a series.

Favorite line: "To all readers everywhere, may their tribe increase."

Excellent characterizations, engrossing plot, and a satisfying ending. Five stars!

Current Mood: full
Current Music: "Alienation" ~ Morning Parade

Late Checkout by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Finished reading Late Checkout last night. It's the ninth book in Carol J Perry's "Witch City" series, with the main character of Maralee (Lee) Barrett. Lee lives in Salem, MA, is an investigative reporter, and has recently come to terms with the fact that she sometimes sees visions in reflective surfaces.

Lee's hours are being scaled back at the TV station, so that the nephew of the boss' wife can get his feet wet in the industry. Lee is hoping that Howard's stay will be temporary. In the meantime, she is making use of her free time to volunteer at the library, where her Aunt Ibby works. While reshelving books in a seldom-used section of the library, Lee stumbles across the body of Wee Willie Wallace--former minor league baseball player and ex-con. Lee's boyfriend, Detective Pete Mondello, is soon on the case, but Lee and Ibby can't resist doing some sleuthing of their own. For Lee, Wallace's murder ties in with one of her TV projects, which is an upcoming celebration of the station's 70 years on-air. She learns that Wee Willie was a regular on WICH-TV back in the day. While tracking down some of the other 'oldtimers', Lee discovers more about Wee Willie, and her snooping may have put her in the sights of a killer.

I enjoyed most of the story. It was set around Halloween, which turns Salem into a madhouse, and I liked reading about how the sports collectible industry tied in with the murder. Lee is always an enjoyable character, and her Aunt Ibby was back to being her usual helpful, charming self (unlike the irascible snot she turned into in the last book, but I digress). I am also appreciating the slow build of Lee's relationship with Pete. O'Ryan, the cat, adds his own flair to the series. However, the resolution of this story was so out of left field (pardon the pun) that I was left with a faceful of 'WTF?'.

( Spoiler Alert )

Favorite line: In Salem a witch's familiar is always much respected and often feared.

This book was headed for a solid five-star rating, but that ending just killed it for me. It's earning an average.

Current Mood: disappointed
Current Music: "Oh Yeah" ~ Yello

Final Exam by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Last night, I finished reading Final Exam, which is the 8th in Carol J Perry's "Witch City" mystery series about investigative reporter (and reluctant scryer) Lee Barrett.

Lee is excited and happy to assist her beloved Aunt Ibby with plans for Ibby's 45th class reunion. However, Lee's job as a reporter demands most of her attention when she covers the removal of an old Mustang from the pool in a local quarry. Suddenly, Lee is chasing down leads and trying to scoop other news teams in an effort to learn more about how the car came to be at the bottom of the quarry. When it's discovered that the car contains human remains, the story takes a sinister turn. Normally, Lee can rely on Ibby to help her with research, but her aunt seems to want nothing to do with the situation. Eventually, the body is identified as one of Ibby's classmates--a boy who disappeared decades ago. Lee can't help but think one of her aunt's other school mates is a killer, but the trick will be figuring out which one.

The plot in this one was fascinating, as it wove together past events with current ones. Once again, Lee's job puts her at odds with her boyfriend, detective Pete Mondello, but I enjoy how the two of them handle such situations. Each can acknowledge that the other is just doing his/her job, and they don't let it come between them. Characters are multi-dimensional, including those that are temporary, and it's always a pleasure to follow along as Lee puts together clues both real and those gleaned from her visions.

Favorite lines:
♦ "Master of the Gordie Howe hat trick."
♦ Yeah, I know most people don't let cats walk on the kitchen table, but they do it when you're not home anyway.

SPaG in this one was not entirely clean, but markedly better than the last book in the series. Again, the author seems to overuse parentheses that don't seem at all necessary.

Very good--four stars

Current Mood: tired

Bells, Spells, and Murders (Witch City Mystery #7)

Bells, Spells, and Murders by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finished reading Bells, Spells, and Murders this morning. It's the 7th book in Carol J Perry's "Witch City" mystery series. Main character is Lee Barrett, young widow and aspiring investigative reporter.

On assignment for WICH-TV, Lee is scheduled to interview Salem's most beloved philanthropist, Albert Eldridge. When she arrives at his office, however, Lee finds the man dead behind his desk, killed by a blow to the head. Now she has a real story to sink her teeth into. Her boyfriend, Detective Pete Mondello, is on the case, and Lee is able to give him some vital clues, gleaned from her work as a reporter, her contacts, and the visions she occasionally sees in reflective surfaces. Helping the cause is Lee's cat, O'Ryan, reputed to have once been the familiar of a powerful witch. He provides subtle clues in the form of items and books knocked onto the floor.

With Christmas fast approaching, along with a monster blizzard, it's up to Lee and Pete to nab a killer before someone silences Lee forever.

Once again, the killer was fairly easy to guess, but it was still interesting to see the clues come together and the resolution fall into place. As per usual, the story was fun and exciting, with excellent characterizations. What wasn't usual about it was the hot mess of editing. I was utterly dismayed with the poor editing job. Quotation marks were misused, parentheses were overused and misused, and word usage was off. On top of that, in one chapter we have Lee addressing holiday cards and packages and mailing them, only to have her tell her aunt later that she hadn't even started on her cards. Gah! Editing, people.

Favorite lines:
♦ There's something so comforting about being in my own space, surrounded by familiar things.
♦ "A nice, warm cat is always welcome on a cold, snowy night like this."

The story was great, but I'm knocking off a star for the poor editing job.

Current Mood: disappointed
Current Music: "Make Me Lose Control" ~ Eric Carmen

It Takes a Coven (Witch City Mystery #6)

It Takes a Coven by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On Thursday night, I finished reading It Takes a Coven, which is part of the "Witch City" mystery series by Carol J Perry. Main character is Lee Barrett--young widow, college instructor, and reluctant scryer.

After classes wrapped up at the Tabby, Lee thought she would have a quiet summer. Instead, she's been asked to be the maid of honor in a wedding, and she's been offered an internship as an investigative reporter for the local TV station. Lee isn't lacking for subjects to investigate; there have been some mysterious deaths among local witches, and Salem has been inundated with crows. The deaths were initially ruled accidental, but Lee's visions indicate otherwise. She tells her boyfriend, Detective Pete Mondello, and he delves into the cases.

There was good pacing to the story. The narrative included plenty of Lee's day-to-day activities, which I always appreciate. She's getting better at scrying, and her cat, O'Ryan, has begun to help her in that respect. I put clues together before Lee did. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Favorite line: "She actually had a whole room devoted to hats." I can relate!

Very good book, four stars:

****

Current Mood: chipper
Current Music: "When Doves Cry" ~ Prince

Just completed reading Grave Errors by Carol J Perry. It's part of the "Witch City" mystery series, which features teacher and reluctant scryer, Lee Barrett.

A new semester at the academy of the arts brings a new group of students to Lee's class on television production. She soon learns that one of the students, a young woman named Dorothy, is only taking the class to learn how to be an investigative reporter so she can investigate her sister's recent death. Initially, it was ruled an accident, but Dorothy is convinced that Emily was murdered. Also taking Lee's class are a pair of retired police officers, twin brothers named Roger and Ray. Soon, the entire class is caught up in Dorothy's investigation, even as Lee struggles to rein them in and keep them focused on their class project to introduce Salem, MA to the Dia de los Muertos celebration.

Lee relates Dorothy's concerns to her police officer boyfriend, Pete, but he dismisses them at first. It's not until the school receives a threatening note, directed at Lee, that Pete begins to take the students' investigation seriously. With a creepy stalker or two, a mysterious white cat, a new million-dollar real estate deal, Lee's visions, and another murder thrown in, the investigation becomes even more imperative.

Certainly a fast-paced, engrossing story. I had planned to spend the weekend reading the book, but instead, I knocked it back in about 24 hours. I enjoyed reading about the interactions of the students and how they quickly gelled into a team. It's refreshing to see that Pete supports Lee and takes an interest in her visions, even though he doesn't understand her ability. Lee barely understands it herself, but she's learned to pay attention to the visions, rather than trying to hide from them, as she used to.

Favorite line: Cops need hard facts. Real truths. They can't accuse people of crimes because of visions in mirrors or messages from cats.

Excellent story! Five stars:

*****

Current Mood: crappy
Current Music: Islanders at Blackhawks

Sunday night, I finished reading Murder Go Round by Carol J Perry. It's part of her "Witch City" mystery series, featuring reluctant scryer Maralee "Lee" Barrett.

Lee's Aunt Ibby convinces her to go to a storage auction, and they end up bidding on and winning the contents of a locker. Among the items are a samovar that Ibby spotted and coveted, some old doll dresses, a carved carousel horse, a Cuckoo clock, and some nesting dolls. Shortly after their win, Lee and her boyfriend Pete take the horse to a local man to restore. That evening, the man's shop is broken into, Lee's horse is broken apart, and a man has been murdered outside of the shop.

Lee can't help but think the murder is related to the contents of the storage locker, but police officer Pete isn't so sure. Aided by her aunt, her cat, her best friend, and her visions, Lee begins putting the pieces together, and what she finds is that the current crime may have ties to a bloody part of Russia's history.

This was a great story. There was so much going on, and I loved how all the clues added up, one leading to another, until the mystery was solved. For once, the identity of the killer was fairly obvious throughout the book, but there was still the matter of proving it and discovering the reasons behind it.

Favorite line: "Books and magazines. Papers and ink. You love the printed word. Kindles and Nooks have their place, but they don't have that smell."

Enjoyable! Five stars:

*****

Current Mood: okay
Current Music: fan

I finished reading Look Both Ways before bedtime last night. It's the third book in author Carol J Perry's "Witch City" mystery series.

Lee Barrett finds herself at loose ends. She no longer has a TV show, nor does she have any classes to teach over the summer. To keep busy, she volunteers to act as property manager for the three plays being put on by the local college. In addition, Lee has a new apartment to furnish. While scrounging for props, she can do a bit of both. When Lee purchases a beautiful old bureau, she learns it belonged to a woman who was murdered several years ago. The bureau has hidden compartments, which yield some fascinating ephemera from its previous owner. However, the woman's missing pink diamond is not one of the objects secreted away in the bureau. Someone seems to think it's there, though, as shortly after Lee buys the piece, the woman who sold it to her is murdered, and Lee's name and address have been stolen from the company that delivered the bureau. When Lee begins to see visions of both murdered women, she must decide whether or not to share her gift with her boyfriend, police officer Pete.

Very good story. I enjoyed how the past and the present paralleled one another. It was fun to read about Lee's adventures in antiquing, and I was happy to see her relationship with Pete progressing.

Favorite line: And why am I holding a conversation with a cat?

Charming! Five stars!

*****

Current Mood: okay
Current Music: "If This World Were Mine" ~ Luther Vandross

Once again, I stayed up too late to finish a book, but I had to know who done it!

I read Tails, You Lose, which is the second installment in Carol J Perry's "Witch City" mystery series.

After losing her job as a TV psychic, Lee volunteers to teach at Salem's Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts. During renovations, a local handyman disappears in the basement of the "Tabby" and is later found dead near the water. As a result, Lee reluctantly taps into her clairvoyant abilities to see if she can help with the police investigation.

In the meantime, Lee involves her students in making a documentary of their building, which used to be Trumbull's Department Store. She's also juggling her budding romance with police detective Pete. As things begin to converge, Lee is afraid one or more of her students may be involved with something other than their classwork, and she still has to figure out the meaning of the vision she had, of a young woman showing her two antique keys.

There was quite a bit going on in the story, but everything came together neatly in the end. The author did a good job of dropping clues without making things either too easy or difficult to discern.

Favorite line: "It's always nice to be welcomed home with purrs and kisses."
Least favorite line: "They seem to be birth dates. Here's John Junior 9/4/1951. And Joseph 11/11/1970..."
Why? Why must even my reading taunt me so?!

Four of five:

****

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: "Slow Down" ~ Selena Gomez

My goal for the year was to read 35 books, so...GO TEAM ME!

Anyway, I stayed up late last night to finish reading Caught Dead Handed, which is the first book in author Carol J Perry's "Witch City" mystery series.

The story features main character Maralee (Lee) Barrett, who has just flown to Boston and traveled to her hometown of Salem for an interview at a local TV station. Lee wants the job of reporter, only to find it was awarded to someone else before she even interviewed. However, the station manager offers Lee the position of call-in psychic, since the previous hostess walked out the night before and never returned. Lee agrees to think it over, and when she leaves the station she discovers the body of the woman who held the job before her. Lee reluctantly accepts the job that was offered to her, but when she begins to experience actual visions in the obsidian crystal ball on the set, she is drawn further into the murder of her predecessor.

This was a charming cozy mystery, and it was just creepy enough not to be too fluffy. I have one more book in the series, and the third installment is already on my Amazon wish list. Can't wait to read more! Five stars:

★★★★★

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Lightning at Rangers, game 7