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.

This is the second Witch City cozy crime boom by Carol J Perry, which I’ve read, and as always, the author captures the appropriate seasonal atmosphere, the crimes often take a few guesses to identify the whodunnit and I love the cats. Especially O’Ryan. However, I’d love to know more about him, and I’d love to hear how Ibby gets on with Nigel in the UK on New Years Eve. Please let us know. My only bugbear is, yes, I know he’s a cop, but Pete can be a bit condescending towards Lee and she just shuts up and does as she’s told. A bit more fight please. Otherwise another great, fun read

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.

I love this series.
Lee is spunky, smart and intuitive. Starting her new job with the local TV station, she once again finds herself in the middle of another murder. Its Christmas and of course, Lee is covering the holiday festivities and human interest stories for her viewers. She finds a body while doing a story about the historical society. Of course the  murder investigation involves Pete, her detective boyfriend. He warns her to leave the police work to the professionals for her own safety.. 

As she starts tracking the clues down, she stumbles upon another story. One that winds up being connected to the murder. As Lee puts the pieces together, someone is watching her. The threats to mind her own business ratchet up as she gets closer to unmasking the killer.. The twists and turns with all the suspects leads the reader down a surprising path. 
Her cat gives her clues, that help her discover the killer's identity almost too late as the killer plans to make her the next victim. Lee fast actions save her life.

The reference to Agatha Christie was a nice touch, that for those readers who love her will encourage to reread the great mysteries. And for those who have not read the great lady, will encourage to pick up a book.

All in all an enjoyable read. I cannot wait for Lee's next mystery.

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.

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.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, atmosphere, and characters.  I would recommend the book to friends and family for their reading pleasure.

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.

Lee Barrett has landed her dream job at Salem's WICH-TV as a field reporter. One of her first assignments is meeting the beloved chairman of a popular walking tour through Salem's historic districts. But when she gets to his office she finds him dead, with a bloody Santa hat on his head.

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.

This series gets better with each book, and I read this one as fast as I could, and then went back and reread parts to see if I had missed the clues, because there was a twist I didn't see coming.

Lee is a great protagonist. She has worked hard in the previous books, trough various jobs and troubles, to rebuild her life after the death of her husband. She is strong willed and smart, and following her adventures is a great deal of fun. She always finds herself in trouble, but it's never from moves that I consider to make main characters too stupid to live. Lee and her Aunt Ibby make a great pair. Lee's ability to see visions gives great insight into the plot, but does not give away too much, leaving the reader to figure things out on their own.

The romance in this book is a perfect addition, and does not overshadow the mystery. It is realistic and adds so much to the story.

Perfectly drawn characters and a tightly woven mystery make for a great story. I hope this series continues for a long time to come.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through 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.