Carol J. Perry

Maureen is learning to manage the inn that was left to her by a stranger, but she's still wondering how to make it a permanent paying business. She loves her new home in Haven, Florida, and is becoming familiar with everything, including the fact her new plans for a gift shop on the premises is firming up.

While walking her golden retriever Finn on the beach one morning she sees what appears to be a body floating next to shore. She calls her friend Officer Frank Hubbard. He discovers that show more the dead man is Eddie Manuel, a charter boat captain, but doesn't know why he would be there, or who would have wanted to kill him -- because he's sure it wasn't an accident.

While Maureen tries to stay out of the investigation, she digs into her benefactor's old trunk and finds enough information on an old fishing tournament that she decides to revive in order to bring business to the town and, of course, to her inn. With the town and fishermen on her side, she has enough people to make it worthwhile.

But one of her guests is a photographer for a small birding magazine -- and once Maureen meets his boss, she thinks the man is creepy. Another guest who is an archaeologist, puts thoughts in Maureen's head that things around there aren't on the up and up, and Eddie might have stumbled across something he shouldn't have. Should Maureen stay out of it and just plan the tournament? Or should she go with her gut feelings and put herself in harm's way?...

This is the third book in the series and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love books that have friendly spirits in them, and even if the scenes were sparse, they were still fun to read. At times, Maureen's ghosts do give her the information and unexpected turns that she needs. I'd love to say more on the subject, but I don't want to spoil the book for others.

The plot was done very well, with enough twists and turns to keep me interested throughout. I love how the author weaves together different storylines that connect somehow, and eventually the key to finding the truth shows up in an unusual way.

By this I mean that when the climax does come, it is unexpected, although we are given a clue a little earlier on by what actually might occur, but it still surprises, and the ending itself is rather a treat to read. There is also an epilogue that tells us the outcome, and gives us something to look forward to in the next book, of which I eagerly await. Highly recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Maureen finds an old brochure in a trunk at her inn which inspires her revive a fishing tournament to drum up interest in the town and business for her inn. To complicate matters, she and her dog Finn find a body on the beach, and now she is involved in what turns out to be a probable homicide. It also leads her to a cold case that ties into the current one. This mixture of ghosts in a cozy mystery is interesting and entertaining. The mystery works as a stand-alone, but perhaps to get the show more most out the story and understand the characters, including the ghosts, the series should probably be read from the beginning. I have not read the other books in the series, and perhaps that is why I felt the characters were lacking development. show less

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 show more 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 Salem, 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. show less