A dead ballplayer means foul play in Salem . . . Field reporter Lee Barrett is not happy that her hours are being cut back at WICH-TV, although it is nice to spend more time volunteering with Aunt Ibby, a research librarian at Salem’s main branch. But Lee’s least favorite task is going up to the stacks, a spooky, seldom-frequented upper section of the library. On this day she has good reason to … has good reason to be afraid—she finds a dead man, surrounded by hundreds of scattered books and torn-out pages.
Her police detective beau, Pete Mondello, is soon on the scene, and the deceased is identified as a former minor league baseball player—and ex-con—named Wee Willie Wallace, who hasn’t been seen in Salem for twenty years. With help from her friend River’s Tarot reading, her clairvoyant cat O’Ryan, and Lee’s own psychic gifts, she steps up to the plate to catch the killer who took the old ballplayer out of the game . . .
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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Late Checkout by Carol J. Perry is the ninth A Witch City Mystery. Lee Barrett is a field reporter with WICH-TV is Salem, Massachusetts whose hours have been cut back because of nepotism (the boss’s wife has a relation who needs experience). Lee decides to volunteer her extra hours at the main branch of the Salem library where her Aunt Ibby works. Lee is shelving books when she comes across one for the stacks. She had a bad experience in the stacks as a child and is reluctant to venture up there again. She heads upstairs where she finds a man dead surrounded by books that have badly damaged. Detective Pet Mondello, Lee’s beau, quickly arrives and the victim is identified as Wee Willie Wallace. Wee Willie was a former minor league baseball player, ex-con and actor with a penchant for laying wagers. Lee soon discovers that Wee Willie also has a tie to WICH-TV. Lee has been researching the stations history for the upcoming anniversary and finds a chilling discovery. Lee, with assistance from her friend, River and her tarot cards along with O’Ryan and her psychic gift, sets out to snag the killer. Lee needs to be careful or she could end up ensnared in the killers’ web. Late Checkout can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. The author provides Lee’s background information for new readers and connection to other characters. I enjoyed the authors descriptive writing which brings Salem alive for me. It is Halloween which is a busy time for Salem. There were a variety of activities including a pet costume parade. The mystery had several suspects and Lee worked with Aunt Ibby, River and Pete to identify the guilty party. There are good clues that aid readers in solving the whodunit before the reveal. I thought the mystery had some unique aspects that I enjoyed. We also get to see Lee work on a promotional sales campaign that she pitches to her boss for the upcoming anniversary of the station. I like the relationship Lee has with her Aunt Ibby. I like that they are close and can talk to each other. They live in the same house, but they each have their own space. It is sweet the Pete is also comfortable with Aunt Ibby. Aunt Ibby is certainly handy to have around with her research librarian skills. I enjoy that paranormal element of the book with Lee’s special abilities. It does not dominate the book. I find that it enhances the story. The tarot cards, though, I find confusing despite the explanations. Late Checkout is a fun cozy mystery with book bedlam, curious clues, entrancing eyes, an accommodating aunt, Halloween hijinks, and nepotism for a nephew.
This book is a bibliophile’s dream, from the lessons on the dewey decimal system to the murder happening in a library with a book being the key to the killer, it really has something for all book lovers. Yet this book offers so much more. picturesquely set in the historical town of Salem, MA during Halloween gives this story the perfect setting for this murder mystery. The author further elevates this with themes of tarot cards and mysterious visions, when added to the perfect set of loveable characters that will leave you laughing out loud and routing for them to find the killer, it makes this one story you will definitely not want to put down.
Wished for one or two more visions but Carol J Perry always gives a great story, interesting tidbits and wonderful characters to the reader. Looking forward to reading the next one!
Just Another Halloween!
Great story, but it was one of those books where I was yelling at the characters about a major clue that they were missing from almost immediately after the crime. That is more than a bit frustrating, especially when it was major to solving the crime. But, they finally got to it 73% of the way through the book! There is a lot of product name dropping, worse than a movie. I found the story to be a bit slow, way too much unnecessary detail, and somewhat repetitive. The ending was like a Hitchcock movie. In all, not a bad way to kill some time. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
I came to this series late, but I have read the last couple of novels. I really enjoy Salem and its residents as they are fun, hometown people. I just love that feel. The residents are all fun and quirky, too, though at times I feel Lee only interacts personally with Pete and her aunt Ibby. She needs more friends! This book has Lee knocked down to part time at the TV station, so she starts volunteering at the library where she comes across a body. Of course, she has to find the killer. While I really enjoyed this book, there were a couple of times it was a little repetitious, and the killer was fairly obvious. However, that didn’t spoil my enjoyment too much, and I’m looking forward to the next installment. Oh, and why can’t Lee see that O’Ryan has special abilities, at least from my point of view? LOL! Recommend! I was provided a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
This story is set in Salem Massachusetts. I loved this story and it’s certainly getting me in the mood for Fall and Halloween but more towards Fall.
I still like the Fudge bites more but I”m enjoying each book as they come along and this one is no exception.
Great plot, I love the characters especially Aunt Ibby.
I think that I would be a little bit freaked out finding a dead body in one of my favorite places in the whole world. I don’t know. Kind of made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. However; this book has done it’s job whenever I say that lol!!
I like the mystery of who done it even though it was obvious. Just because it took awhile that is the whole idea. It is to keep the reader reading to find out the mystery. That’s the joy of reading this series!!
There are some awesome characters that come along and some you’ll like and some you won’t but that’s with anything I guess.
If you want to read a fun series then I really recommend this. The books will get you in the mood for Fall that’s for sure at least in my opinion anyway.
My thanks to Netgalley and all opinions are my own.
Halloween in Salem, MA – what’s not to like about a mystery with such a setting? In this, the 9th Witch City mystery, Lee Barrett is a young widow who has returned to Salem and shares a house with her Aunt Ibby and her cat, O’Ryan. Aunt Ibby is a research librarian and Lee is a tv reporter for WICH-TV. Lee has a witchy power that she would rather not have – she sees visions via shiny surfaces. Since returning to Salem she has moved from job to job at the tv station and now that she is a field reporter things should be great. Nope, not when the station manager’s wife’s nephew shows up and is given some of her hours because he needs “some experience”. Hello cut hours for Lee and some time on her hands, time she decides to spend volunteering at the library. Looking into a mirror gives her a vision of a pile of books and a shoe poking out from under it. The two turn out to be connected – she finds the pile of books and the shoe is attatched to the dead body of Wee Willie Wallace. He was a minor league baseball player and ex-con who had come home to Salem. Was his death in any way connected to the death of a sports caster from the tv station that Lee is researching?
This is one of my favorite series and I enjoy the characters of Aunt Ibby, Lee, her friend River (who reads Tarot) and Lee’s cop boyfriend, Pete. They work well as an investigative team when the occasional corpse shows up. The witchy theme is never over the top and the mysteries are well constructed with enough twists and red herrings to keep me guessing.
Series: A Witch City Mystery – Book 9
Author: Carol J. Perry
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Paranormal/Witch
Publisher: Kensington Mystery
Page Count: 336
Publishing Date: September 24, 2019
The latest cozy in the “A Witch City Mystery” series Late Checkout from Carol J. Perry arrives on September 24, 2019, from Kensington books.
Lee Barrett is the beloved main character in this cozy series and one that keeps readers coming back for more. Her Aunt Ibby and Lee’s wonderful cat O’Ryan would be the second most important equally. I think Ibby and O’Ryan could carry a series all on their own, and I would be the first person to buy the books!
In this new addition to the series, Lee once again finds the body of a stranger, and in all places, Ibby’s library. She is shocked but also determined to find out why the man was killed and why at the library. This is typical behavior for Lee. Her curiosity knows no bounds, and as a field reporter, it benefits her greatly. Lee’s personality can be that of the hard-hitting reporter and the lovable, compassionate friend and niece. The character always leaves readers smiling and craving the next installment in the cozy series.
All of the characters readers have come to love and admire are present, but some are not as important in this new book as others and play a tiny part. This is also a problem with this book. Beloved characters such as River North do not play a significant role, and this puts a bit of a damper on the story. The killer, although present in the book, is barely noticeable and may even come off as unbelievable to many readers. The suspects are few, so it isn’t hard to follow them and the clues.
This cozy did not have the number of paranormal twists that I have come to expect, and feel is needed. Many readers will know from the beginning how the murder was committed, but not necessarily the who. Unfortunately, I also found the ending far too confusing and unsatisfying.
In general, this is a quick read with a nice plot. Even though I found issues with Late Checkout I still happily recommend the book and series to readers who like a touch of the paranormal in their mysteries.
Fun cozy mystery.
Enjoyable. Good cozy mystery even if suspect’s tell tale actions were a bit inexplicable.
A really enjoyable series
Was a fun read and a good who done it storyline and very enjoyable.