I enjoyed reading this book. I didn't know who the killer was. Aunt Ibby is my favorite character.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

A good book. Well written with great characters and a good plot. The storyline flows and the mystery is enjoyable. I highly recommend.,

The premise of the book is great and the author really delivers. Great read. Highly recommended. .

This series just keeps getting better! I love Lee's new job as a reporter and the access it gives her to crime scenes and investigations. I love her relationship with her Aunt Ibby and Pete and was so glad to see the crew of the news station being regular side characters. The mystery was a solid one with lots of clues and questions and side angles. I had a few things figured out but there were still some surprises in the final reveal. And as usual I found O'Ryan's (Lee's big orange cat and former witch's familiar) contributions absolutely delightful.

Our protagonist, Lee Barrett, is a new reporter in Salem, at the appropriately named WICH-TV. In this, the 7th books of the series, Lee is determined to find the killer of the local walking tour guide, Albert Eldridge. She is supposed to interview him, but instead finds him murdered. With her boyfriend, Detective Pete Mondello, Lee is spending her holiday time investigating this murder. While I had not read any of the series prior to this one, I had no trouble keeping up with the characters and story line. The book was very atmospheric and who doesn't love a good holiday cozy. I gave this book a solid 4 star review.

Lee Barrett has had several careers since the series started from faux psychic, to instructor at an arts school and to an investigative reporter at the tv station where she started as a psychic. As a reporter, she goes to interview the chairman of a historic walking tour. She enters the room and he appears to be sleeping. She nudges his shoulder and he slides to the floor. He has been murdered. This starts the tale of Bells, Spells and Murder.

This is the 7th book of the series. While I have enjoyed the characters and I enjoyed the first book a lot but subsequent books just have not been as good. Hopefully this gets back on track soon.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This was a fun cozy mystery!

Another great installment to one of my favorite cozy mystery series. Lee is now an investigative reporter which suits her perfectly. As I’ve been getting into tarot I really appreciated River’s readings giving clues to the case and how the tarot was used in the book. Can’t wait for to see what adventure comes next in the series. *ARC provided by NetGalley for review.

Lee is back in Salem full time now that she's landed her dream job at WICH-TV. With Christmas fast approaching, Lee is going to interview Albert, beloved head of the local Charity drives and she finds him dead at his desk. Lee and Pete, her boyfriend detective combine forces to find out who would kill someone so good to the community. Lee is also busy with the ladies practicing for the bell ringing charity event and fielding the visions she has about the murder. Lots of help from her cat re-arranging the Christmas ornaments and patrolling the house. Not quite as much "magic" in this book and it is easily read as a stand alone. This is book 7 in the Witch City series. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bells, Spells, and Murders (Witch City Murder, #7) by Carol J. Perry
Kensington, 2018
Crime Fiction (Cozy); 371 pgs
Source: Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Lee Barrett loves her job as the new field reporter for WICH-TV in Salem. While on assignment to interview the head of the city's Holiday Walk Committee, Lee finds him dead at his desk. Lee evidently is not new to murder investigations (after all, this is the 7th book in the series), but it does not make stumbling on a dead body any easier. Putting her investigative reporter skills to good use and piecing together her psychic visions, Lee sets out to find a murderer and uncover the cause of some unusual occurrences she has begun to observe. Can she do it before too many more bodies pile up and before the big blizzard comes to town?

Bells, Spells, and Murders is my first introduction to Lee Barrett, Aunt Ibby and their perceptive cat O'Ryan. I enjoy a good paranormal cozy mystery, and I am happy to say this was a good one. A reporter makes a good protagonist in the mystery genre. They have the perfect excuse for interfering in a police investigation--not only to get to the bottom of the crime for justice sake, but also to get their scoop. Lee Barrett is a likeable character: conscientious, good at her job, and clever. Her romantic relationship with a police detective gives her a bit of an edge, even if he is not as forthcoming with information as she might like.

The paranormal element in the novel is definitely there, but is not overwhelming. Lee has visions that offer her clues, but the clues are often unclear. There is also an appearance or two by a witch who reads Tarot cards. And, of course, O'Ryan's helpful direction now and then. It is all subtle enough that I do not think either particularly lended to the solving of the crime, and so for those who may not care as much for the paranormal, you still might enjoy this cozy.

This made a great holiday read, given the holiday time setting, as Lee gets in some of her Christmas shopping, picks out her tree, and does stories on various holiday events around Salem. I enjoyed going along with Lee and her camera woman as they carried out their various assignments. I liked the mystery itself--the occasional twist and the resolution was satisfying, even if not a complete surprise. Bells, Spells, and Murders was an entertaining read, a perfect way to ring in the Christmas season!

Lee Barrett, citizen of Salem, Massachusetts and investigative reporter was just supposed to be working on puff pieces with Christmas frivolity when she ends up investigating the death of the town's local Santa, Albert Eldridge. In addition to Lee's great investigative skills she also has the "witchy" ability to see things in shiny surfaces. Cryptic clues lead Lee hither and yon while she keeps her viewers in the "know" while trying to not get in her boyfriend Pete's way (police detective and all). Someone is on Santa's naughty list but there are so many twists and turns and who is going to take care of the vets and the kiddies? And what is with the creepy Santa who keeps popping up? Lee is a great character and who wouldn't adore to be related to her Aunt Ibby, super cyber sleuth, and O'Ryan the all knowing feline roommate. Great story as usual! Can't wait to read the next installment Final Exam.

Carol J Perry brings us another delightful story with Lee Barrett. This time she is field reporter and does a great job as always following the clues to figure out who dun it! This series continues to be a hit!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

This is the 7th in the series but I have not read any of the other books. But this book makes me want to go back and pick up all the others.

There was a bit of everything in this story. Some paranormal, murder, humor and so much more. I loved the characters and loved the writing.

This is a great book to start a fire, grab a warm drink and cuddle up and enjoy. It definitely puts you in a holiday mood.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Lee Barrett leads a full life. She lives in a renovated house in Salem, Massachusetts with her awesome Aunt Ibby and a cat with a spooky past. She's excited about her blossoming career as an investigative reporter. She's dating a handsome police detective. And as Christmas draws near, her social calendar is filling up.

When a local philanthropist is murdered, though, she finds time to follow the clues through local charities and bigwigs. With a blizzard on the way and a sudden holiday performance on her plate, she's determined to find the killer before the killer finds her.

The story is tightly plotted and filled with interesting and likeable characters. There are supernatural overtones which don't add much to this book in the series, and plenty of surprises up to the last minute. The holiday details make this a perfect fireside read.

I'm a self-confessed series junkie. She's now in book seven and I've been following Lee's career and life since the first of the series. Lee came to Salem after losing her husband to stay with her amazing Aunt Ibby (a delightful character). Through the series she has changed jobs but all have been related to the television industry. It's been fun to see her learn a new aspect of the industry and excel.

This time she is field reporter for the WICH-TV station and we get to see her cover both serious and Christmas fluff pieces. As always, murder ensues, Lee and the amazing Aunt Ibby investigate and discover a complicated scheme to siphon funds from charitable organizations. With the (getting less in each book) reluctant boyfriend Pete the police detective and the somewhat psychic cat O'Ryan, the mystery is solved and the culprit is apprehended. A very short side-story including sidetracked butterflies lost in Salem on their way to Mexico cracked me up!

This book can be read as a stand alone but is even more fun if you've been following the characters as they evolve. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

I really really liked this book! It was such a fun mystery to read. All of the characters are well developed and easy to fall in love with. The story was fun and engaging, really keeping your interest from start to finish. I will definitely be looking for more of Lee and the other characters to come!!

I voluntarily reviewed a reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Bells, Spells, and Murders by Carol J Perry is the seventh book in the Witch City Mystery series. Lee is the new field reporter for WICH-TV in Salem. One of her first assignments is interviewing a local man who oversees a charity. It turns into a breaking news story when she finds the man dead in his office. In spite of the fact that I figured out a large portion of the mystery early on, I enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting, and Aunt Ibby is my favorite. I also enjoy the cats features in the book. The Salem setting is a favorite of mine as well. The book does include tarot cards which might be off putting to some readers. It is not a focal point of the story however.

This was the first book that I have read from Carol Perry. The story is set in Salem, Massachusetts. The magic of the season comes alive and I enjoyed all the ambiance of all the touches of small town Christmas events. The mystery was suspenseful and I did not feel lost having not read the previous books. I will certainly read more from this series.

Another great edition of the witch city mysteries with a holiday theme. We follow Lee has she try’s to solve the murder of a person she was suppose to feature on her first investigative report at her new job as a field reporter for WICH-TV. With the help of her aunt Ibby, her boyfriend detective Pete and her witch familiar cat she tries to figure out the clues she uncovers through her visions and her investigations. The events take place in the lead up to Christmas and there’s lots of holiday fun added in. I thought the book was a lot of fun and my only complaints was I’d have loved more from River and the local witches. I felt this book relied more on Lee’s investigative skills and less in her psychic abilities and it read more like a standard cozy vs. a magical one. Perhaps this was because her last book was more witch centric? Or because of Lee’s new job? I also felt the book dragged about 30%-50% in but then it picked up and finished strong. A solid cozy!

Bells, Spells and Murders by Carol J. Perry is the seventh book in A Witch City Mystery series and was as good as the rest in this series. There is no sign that this series is running its course. Chang is good in life as well as in books, so in this outing, Lee Barrett is starting her new job as field reporter for WICH-TV. Lee is assigned to interview Albert Eldridge, the organizer of the Holiday Walk and financial supporter of a number of charities in Salem, Mass. When she arrives for her interview, she ends up with a different story, as she finds Mr. Eldridge dead in his office from blunt force trauma. Detective Pete Mondello, Lee’s boyfriend, is assigned the case. Lee begins an investigation of her own, gathering clues and questioning those close to Albert. She is busy with her snooping, assignments for work and getting her home ready for Christmas. Luckily for Lee, with the aid of her visions, and O’Ryan her cat, she hopes to wrap up the case before sleigh bells ring out on Christmas Eve.

Christmas in Salem was brought alive in this book. Cold weather, shopping, baking, tree decorating, a Christmas play, many Santa’s ringing bells for donations, and the generosity of people around Christmas all add to the setting and ambiance of the story. The mystery was interesting with several suspects, a red herring or two and pointed clues. Even though Pete continually asks Lee to stay out of the investigation, she does not stop, even if it means she puts herself in danger. The characters are the strength of the series. Lee is smart and independent. She lives on the third floor of her Aunt Ibby's house in her own apartment. She has O'Ryan, a cat, who is a real character in the stories, who just happens to have been a witch's familiar before she died. Aunt Ibby, who is sixty something, is a vibrant caring character. She is a retires librarian and does research for Lee. She is also a wonderful cook and they share many tasty meals together. I like that the authors portrays her as a vibrant personalty and there is also a bit of a love triangle for her in this book. There are several characters in this book that have not been in the others, but they all help to flesh out this book. There is a little paranormal in the book as Lee can see images in reflective images (she is a scryer). She doesn't really embrace this and seems to be apprehensive at what she will see. This is one of the ways she gathers information, but it is not overdone. I was not able to figure out the culprit until just before the clues gave it away, which I always enjoy. I will continue to look for more books in this series, as I continue to enjoy them. The publisher, Kensington Publishing, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.