Someone’s spreading deadly holiday cheer through Salem, Mass . . . Lee Barrett has landed her dream job at Salem’s WICH-TV. As the new field reporter, she’ll be covering events live as they’re unfolding. Next on her holiday checklist is an interview with the beloved chairman of a popular walking tour through Salem’s historic districts. But it may be his ghost walking this snowy Noel season … snowy Noel season after Lee finds him murdered in his stately offices, bloody Santa hat askew.
With her police detective boyfriend working the case and a witch’s brew of suspects—including some bell-ringing Santas—Lee chases down leads aided and abetted by her wise cat O’Ryan and some unsettling psychic visions of her own. When a revealing clue leads to another dead body, not even a monster blizzard can stop Lee from inching closer to the truth . . . and a scoop that could spell her own demise this killer Christmas.
Praise for the Witch City Mysteries
“Perfectly relaxing and readable.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This rewarding paranormal cozy series debut will have Victoria Laurie fans lining up to follow.”
—Library Journal
“An entertaining story that keeps readers guessing until the very twisted and eerie end.” —RT Book Reviews
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Bells, Spells and Murders by Carol J. Perry is the seventh bewitching tale in A Witch City Mystery series. Lee Barrett is starting her new job as field reporter for WICH-TV in Salem, Massachusetts. Lee is set to interview Albert Eldridge regarding the Holiday Walk, but she ends up with breaking news. Albert is dead in his office from blunt force trauma. Detective Pete Mondello, Lee’s boyfriend, is assigned the case which means late nights for him until the killer is apprehended. Lee starts nosing around, gathering clues and questioning those close to Albert. She must work in her sleuthing in between work assignments, shopping for Christmas presents, decorating her tree and participating in a Salem holiday tradition. Lee, with the aid of her visions and O’Ryan, sets out to wrap up the case before sleigh bells ring out on Christmas Eve.
I enjoyed reading Bells, Spells and Murders. The author captured the holiday spirit in this merry cozy mystery. While Bells, Spells and Murders is the seventh story in A Witch City Mystery series, it can be read alone. Ms. Perry provides Lee’s backstory allowing you to know her and how she came to live and work in Salem. Christmas in Salem was brought alive in this book. Cold weather, shopping, baking, tree decorating, a Christmas play, Santa’s ringing bells for donations, family flying off for the holiday and twinkle lights are all included. I loved how the bell theme was spread throughout the story (some of the references will have you giggling). The mystery was interesting with several suspects, a red herring or two and pointed clues. I wish the solution had not been so obvious, and I could have done with less repetition of case details. I did tire of Pete telling Lee to stay out of the investigation. He should know by now that she will keep investigating even if her life is in peril (there is no stopping Lee). All the storylines are nicely wrapped up at the end of the book. My rating for Bells, Spells and Murders is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). Bells, Spells and Murders is my favorite book in A Witch City Mystery series. There is love, humor, murder, family, friends and Christmas fun in one festive cozy mystery.
A cat, a redhead, a cop, a librarian, and a touch of Salem magic mixed with murder is a story you’ll want to curl up to read. Carol J. Perry has another winning story that had me turning pages wondering what would happen next.
I am a big fan of this series and have read all the books. I was excited for the next installment and Bells, Spells, and Murders is no disappointment. Lee is a wonderful lead character and during the course of the series she went through a lot of changes in her professional development which keeps everything fresh and interesting.
The paranormal elements are adding just a dash of suspense without interfering or being necessary to solve the mystery. Just the right amount for my taste.
In her new job as a field reporter Lee and her photographer are out to interview Mr. Eldridge, a supporter of several charities in Salem. They find him sitting dead at his office desk, a bloody Santa hat on his head…..
Grab a copy of the book, a nice cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the cozy Christmas spirit within the gripping mystery.
Bells, Spells, and Murders can be read as a stand alone but I think it is a lot more well rounded with knowledge of the previous installments.
I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Kensington and the author provided me with an advance copy.
This is the second book in this series that I have read and once again, I missed reading them in order. It was obvious to me that I had missed at least one as I read it but only because of changes in Lee Barrett’s life. I want to read the ones I missed more than ever now. .Last time I saw Lee, she was teaching a class at a local type of college. Now, she’s a reporter for the local tv station. It seems a very natural fit. We definitely learn more about the town this way and I loved it as it made the world building even more real.
The mystery was well-done and we jump right into it. I kept bouncing around as to who did it, then I thought it was a conspiracy but I couldn’t figure out why, then I went back to trying to figure out who it was on an individual basis. All in all, it was a very satisfactory conclusion that neatly answered all the questions brought up during the book.
I am truly enjoying Carol J. Perry’s works and she’s become a new author I have to follow.
Thank you so much to Carol J. Perry, Kensington, NetGalley, and Penguin Random House Publisher Services for allowing me to read this book and share my thoughts and opinions with others.
Really liked this book would definitely recommend.
I love this series. Amazon sent me an e-mail that the latest book in the series, Final Exam, has shipped. I can not wait.
A funny whodunit with interesting characters
Typical cozy mystery
I am new to this series and author, and this author has picked up a new fan. I also must say even though I’ve never read a book in this series, the author did a great job of making sure new readers knew what was going on, or had gone on the past, so we wouldn’t be lost. I liked all of the characters (I think the cats were my favorite!) and will have to read the previous books to see what all I’ve missed. I do have to mention that some of the book could have been cut out and still would have been a good read. The plot got bogged down a little bit by a lot of description and by Lee’s new job as a reporter. These things weren’t terrible, but I don’t think were completely necessary to the book. There were also a few timeline inconsistencies in this book that I hope will be corrected by publication. However, overall, this book was a great paranormal cozy that flowed along smoothly even with those minor hiccups. Even if you don’t like paranormal, there were few elements that were so I think you’d still like this. Give it a try! Highly recommend! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
Lee Barrett has landed her dream job at Salem’s WICH-TV. As the new field reporter, she’ll be covering events live as they happen. On her holiday checklist is an interview with the chairman of a popular walking tour through Salem’s historic district. Unfortunately, it may be his ghost walking on this snowy Noel season after Lee finds him murdered in his office, his bloody Santa hat askew.
With her police detective boyfriend working the case and a plethora of suspects—including some bell-ringing Santa’s. Lee chases down leads aided by her wise cat O’Ryan and some unsettling psychic visions of her own. When a revealing clue leads to another dead body, not even a blizzard can stop Lee from inching closer to the truth, and a scoop that could spell her own demise this Christmas.
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Series: A Witch City Mystery – Book 7
Author: Carol J. Perry
Genre: Cozy/Witch Mystery
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publishing Date: September 28, 2018
Rating 4-books
Carol Perry is a talented writer who obviously enjoys her characters and seeks to flesh them out as much as possible. The writing is smooth and balanced with just enough adventure, action and emotion to make the reader care about the characters and thrill at turning the page.
Bells, Spells, and Murders is the 7th book in the “Witch City Mystery” series. It is a pleasurable read, easy to follow and filled with all the things and characters that make this a great series. There was a little less of River North, and other ongoing characters than most readers would expect but the story overall was enjoyable as always.
Lee Barrett is a very likable character with issues that plague most people in the world today. Her excitement over her new job is contagious. Yet her compassion for the victim is palpable even though she never met him. Trying to figure out a murder while maintaining her boss’s expectation of her work is a balancing act that Lee pulls off with no problem. However, add in the fact that she and her boyfriend, Pete, have recently moved in together, and it is taking a bit more work than she had thought it would to adjust, makes for a very absorbing story. Aunt Ibby never plays a big enough role in this series, or at least not as much as most readers would like. Unfortunately, this does not change in the new addition to the series.
When the killer is finally unmasked in this story, it doesn’t come as that big of a surprise to those who know this author’s style and the way she structures her stories. This does not detract from the delight of the book, and in fact, helps enhance the reader’s interest.
Bells, Spells, and Murders is a pleasant read that will take the reader away on a trip to Salam, and into a world, most people never get to experience. I highly recommend this book and the series to anyone that wishes to sit down with a book that doesn’t leave them scratching their head or having unanswered questions.
I haven’t actually read any of the other books in this series but I felt right at home and managed to find my way amongst the various previous plot lines.
Lee is settling into her new job at WICH-TV. She is finally going to get hard hitting stories in amongst the fluff. First up is a piece on the immense charity works undertaken by the elderly Mr Eldridge. But less is dropped into hot water big time when she finds him dead!
Her boyfriend may be the lead detective on the case but he is professional to the core and treats her like any other witness, which Lee both commends and condemns, especially when she can’t get her unique input to her viewers.
Salem itself is a great background character in the book. Aunt Ibby is a hoot and Pete, well he’s all smouldering charm. I likes this book a lot and the weaving lot laid lots of red herrings!