Lee Barrett is seven months pregnant and so has been given fluffy assignments at the station she works at, WICH-TV. The latest - as it’s the Halloween season - is all about the decadent sweets shops in Salem. All is going well, including getting lots of the samples requested by the station manager, until Lee arrives at the Casa del Chocolate and finds the body of the proprietor’s ex husband. She’s been forbidden to get involved with the case by her husband, but somehow the case keeps pulling her in.

This is the first book in the Witch City series that I’ve read, and I suspect if I had read others, I would have enjoyed it more. The characters were easy to keep track of, but somehow the whole book felt dated and tired. Part of it was what felt like dated references - to delivery room procedures, to the dilemma of being a stay at home mom, to the different types of candy, even to painting the baby monitor (wouldn’t impede it working properly?). The other part was all the references to previous books - it felt like the author was trying to wrap up a long running series (not having read other books, forgive me if this standard in the series). The plot felt a bit weak too - to me, the villain didn’t have a real motive for the murder.

Again, I haven’t read other books in the series, and there are series that I enjoy where the whodunit part is secondary to the lives of the characters. This maybe one of the series, and I just need to read previous books to appreciate it.

Recommended to fans of the series. I’m not sure how people new to the series would enjoy it. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

This was a strong fifteenth entry in the Witch City Mystery series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the previous entries in the series. I was engaged with the characters and how it worked with the mystery going on. Carol J. Perry wrote this perfectly and am excited for more as I've enjoyed the previous entries.

Sugar and Spice is small town cozy. I enjoyed reading about all the characters . It seemed like the story was a little all over the place for me to keep up with story.

This is the first book in the series I have read, but I didn't really feel like I was missing out on much. The relationships between Lee and her aunt, husband, coworkers, etc was very close and there was a big sense of family.

While some conversations felt awkward, what bothered me the most was how the author spent so much time and attention on things like furniture and decor, and not on things like Lee and Pete finally deciding on a name for their baby. It felt clear that the author has limited experience with pregnancy and babies (or at least a very easy version of it). Lee gives birth ~6 weeks early (as far as I can tell) yet its NBD, zero complications, Lee is fully recovered from birthday as soon as they walk through the doors of the hospital. On the way out, she's even figured out how to hold the baby on her left hip. Like WTF? It's a newborn, why are you holding it there?

*spoiler alert* also why would you accept a BABY MONITOR from someone you don't know or trust?!

Anyhow, I felt it was a little too obvious who the villain was. I even forgive all the mooching of free product from all the candy stores. The FMC just didn't really feel realistic.
Loved all the pets.
I appreciated all the recipes in the back - they all sound so good.

Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Lee Barrett, program director for WICH-TV, is working on one last project before going on maternity leave. Her series on candy stores around Salem takes her to Casa del Chocolate. While touring the boutique’s candy manufacturing plant in the basement of the Parker mansion, Lee discovers the dead body of Shirley Parker’s ex-husband. Barney Bingham had a bad reputation around Salem, and there is a long list of suspects who might have wanted him dead. Unable to resist a good story, Lee continues looking into the murder while her husband, Detective Pete Mondello, conducts the official police investigation. Not even the birth of her daughter can stop Lee from finding the killer.

SUGAR AND SPITE is the Witch City Mystery that I’ve read. The main reason I read it was because it took place in Salem around Halloween. Unfortunately, I struggled with the timeline of the story. With the baby being born and then references to Christmas, I felt like a lot more time had passed than really had. There were also several times the characters did something and then, a few pages or chapters later, making a reference to still having to complete the task (ex: having the baby's room repainted and later saying that it still needs to be done). Between my confusion over the timing of events and other questions, I just could not get into the story. For readers of the series, I’m sure it’s an enjoyable addition to the series. It just wasn’t for me.

This novel proved to be an enjoyable read, though its central mystery was somewhat underdeveloped. I was able to solve the puzzle quite early on, with only occasional moments of uncertainty. While the characters involved in the homicide plot could have used more depth, I found it endearing to witness Lee and Pete as they nervously anticipated the arrival of their baby. They have a wonderful support system, but I did have to stretch my imagination at times regarding Pete's ability to drop everything and rush to Lee's side instantly. Ultimately, if this book concludes the series, it offered a satisfying resolution; if not, I can absolutely envision Lee becoming involved in more action as she takes on just one more community-focused piece!

My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my genuine feedback.

Sugar and Spite by Carol Perry

Sugar and Spite is the latest Witch City mystery by Carol Perry. I’m not sure if this will be the last mystery in the series, but the end kind of felt like a wrap up. If there is another mystery, I expect there will be a time jump to when Lee’s new daughter is older. I really enjoy this series and this mystery was fun, easy reading. The mystery was easy to solve, but I feel like this book was more about the birth of Lee and Pete’s baby than about the mystery itself. There were several parts of the book that were pretty unbelievable. Who has a new, much awaited baby and then is so bored they go back to work after a couple of weeks? Who has time to clean their house everyday with a newborn baby? I wish newborn life was really that easy! In the end, it was a good book with a satisfying ending and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good Halloween mystery.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

This was an entertaining read, but a bit weak on the mystery. I figured it out fairly quickly with only a bit of self-doubt at moments. The characters involved in the murder mystery were not as well-developed as I would have liked, but overall it was sweet to watch as Lee and Pete anxiously awaited the birth of their first child. They have a great community surrounding and supporting them, but I did find myself needing to suspend belief at times when Pete just seemed to drop everything to be at Lee's side at a moment's notice. I appreciated Lee's concern for both herself and her unborn child as she passed on stories she clearly wanted to follow. Knowing a few journalists, I know what a struggle that had to be for her and Doan's continued belief that she could and would do just one more story is so in keeping with most managing editors I have encountered. All in all, if this is the series finale, it tied things up well, if not, I can totally see Lee getting involved in more action as she does just one more community interest story!
My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the chance to read this arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Book review: Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

There’s cozy, and then there’s Salem-in-October-cozy-with-a-black-cat-and-handmade-chocolate cozy—and Sugar and Spite delivers exactly that in spades, with a murder mystery tossed in like a cinnamon stick in cider. Carol J. Perry’s fifteenth installment in A Witch City Mystery is everything you’d want from a fall read: warm, witchy, and just a little bit wicked.

Our heroine Lee Barrett, ever the determined WICH-TV program director-slash-accidental sleuth, is very pregnant and, supposedly, on the verge of slowing down. Keyword: supposedly. But when you’re eight months along, still working fluff pieces, and sent to interview the owner of Salem’s most enchanting chocolate shop, things have a way of spiraling. Especially when said chocolate shop comes with a murdered ex-husband sprawled on the floor. Surprise! It’s not just ganache and ganache this season.

The murder victim, Barney Bingham, is as unpleasant as a melted candy bar in a back pocket—estranged from his wife Shirley Parker, the chocolatier at Casa del Chocolate, and universally disliked by just about everyone. So when his body turns up in the middle of the shop, suspects start lining up like trick-or-treaters. Shirley looks guilty enough, but Lee, unable to resist a mystery (or possibly just craving justice with her salted caramels), jumps into sleuth mode—despite doctor’s orders and a husband who would really prefer she not chase killers while pregnant.

And yet, it works. It works because Perry knows how to blend tones like a seasoned chocolatier blends truffles. The mystery holds its own—clever, twisty, and not immediately obvious—and the new additions to Lee’s life (read: crib shopping, baby showers, and hormonal hunches) actually add depth rather than dilute the tension. There’s something oddly satisfying about watching Lee juggle murder leads while also coordinating diaper deliveries. It’s not multitasking—it’s multi-thrilling.

Of course, the gang’s all here: Pete, the ever-patient detective husband, Aunt Ibby with her classic charm, tarot-reader River North, and the most important character of all—O’Ryan, the clairvoyant cat who somehow manages to steal every scene without uttering a word. (Don’t worry—he’s not alone. There are more feline friends this time around. It’s practically a coven.) And yes, for fans who’ve followed the series from book one, this entry feels like a soft, glowing epilogue. Threads are tied. Futures hinted at. Pumpkin-scented closure, if you will. But don’t panic—it’s not a definitive the end. More like a “we’ll see.”

The setting continues to be one of Perry’s secret weapons. Salem is lovingly rendered as a city steeped in history, charm, and just the right amount of mystical flair. The Halloween season adds a crisp edge to the plot, with fall foliage and festival vibes keeping things atmospheric without getting kitschy. Perry doesn’t lean on the aesthetic—she weaves it in like it’s just another part of the town’s DNA.

And then there’s the quote that sums up Lee’s mindset perfectly:
“I wasn’t sure if it was the pregnancy hormones or the smell of warm fudge, but I knew something was coming—and not just a baby.”
If you’re not charmed by that line, this may

"Sugar and Spite (A Witch City Mystery #15)" by Carol J. Perry may be the final book in the series. At least how the final chapter read like an epilogue wrapping up the various characters stories. However, it did leave things open to come back to their world once Lee's daughter is a bit older. Which leads to the big life event of this book is the birth of Lee's daughter.

The mystery part was a bit lighter than usual since the pregnancy and birth did take a bit of a chunk of the story. I wish my child's birth and first few weeks was so easy I could feel like I had the running of my house and life so under control I wanted to go back go work. It wasn't, Lee is super blessed in her life and first child.

Lee can't help but want to find put what happened to the man who died in her neighborhood at a mansion turned chocolate factory. Especially since his ex-wife and son seem to be stalking her. She doesn't have time for this. She has fluff pieces to film and a baby on the way/newborn.

This was such a cute and cozy book! I really enjoyed reading it and thought it was very engaging. I would recommend it if you are looking for a cozy read for the fall. (Do note that it is part of a series)

Murder, mystery… and maternity leave?
I read this as a standalone (didn’t realize it’s part of a series!) and it works great on its own.

Lee can see visions in shiny objects that help her solve murders. Right before maternity leave, she finds a body—so of course, she has to investigate.

I enjoyed the mystery, but the second half focused a lot on pregnancy and the baby, which wasn't really my thing. I am a huge fan of Halloween and have visited the Witch City myself. That said, readers who enjoy a mix of crime-solving and family life will probably love it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC—thoughts are my own!

I so enjoy Carol Perry’s Witch City series and was delighted to find Perry at the top of her game in this newest entry. Lee and Pete and their Salem crew of friends and co-workers are back in a story that clocks in as a bit more serious and mysterious than some earlier entries. All the familiar faces are there, along with a new set of old acquaintances, one of whom shows up dead early. on. Perry is excellent as playing “cat and mouse” with her readers, and that is surely how I felt while reading this one. I kept going back and forth between two suspects and was truly surprised at the end.

The mystery is clever and well-plotted, the characters by turns charming and provocative. All in all, a winner. If you haven’t read Witch City mysteries, you could read this as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the entire series. I will say though that the last couple pages really felt a bit like a chapter closing on this series. If that is the case, I hope Perry might consider picking it up again and making Ella Marie the star in a new middle grade series!

I enjoyed this book, and I've read it as a standalone. I had no idea it was part of a series, but it stands just fine on its own.

We follow Lee who can see visions in shinny things, that help her solve murders, and before going into her maternity leave, she finds a body, and of course she must investigate and see what happened.

The only thing I disliked about this book is the focus on the pregnancy and the baby itself, as I thought we would be focusing more on the crime-solving, cause I would have never picked it up if I knew. I don't like reading about pregnancy or babies and the second half focused quite a lot on this.

Of course this is a personal preference, and anyone else might enjoy this better than I did, which is why I would still recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion! Needless to say, as always, all thoughts are my own and I have not been influenced in any way.

I've enjoyed this series very much as a simple cozy series, but this latest entry did not live up to the rest of the books. It makes me sad to note, but the second half was kind of baffling. The sections about giving birth and tiny Ella Marie's first few weeks were confusing, and hard to follow. There were several simplistic timeline errors (Pete calls and says they're going to dinner at a specific restaurant - the next chapter starts with 'since we didn't have a place in mind, we decided to go the "specific restaurant" and it just didn't hold together as well as they usually do. There is still a lot of good, I enjoyed the candy research and the characters all remain familiar and lovely, but it couldn't overcome the feeling that it needed another run with a good editor.

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC from Netgalley

Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry is the 15th book in A Witch City Mystery series. Each book works as a standalone.

The characters are an interesting group, with mostly close relationships, so it is a fairly nice series except for the bad guys that pop up in every book. The main character, Lee, works for a television station and has the ability to see clues as visions in shiny surfaces. In this book she is over eight months pregnant and preparing to take maternity leave from her job when she finds a dead body while doing a series on Halloween candy. Her husband, a police officer, is doing his best to keep her safe, and it doesn't seem as if she should be getting into any trouble, but after all, it is Lee!

The book is neatly wrapped up by the end. It's a great series for cozy book lovers.

I just love this series, the characters, and the setting, and this latest isn’t an exception. Poor pregnant Lee discovers a body while visiting a possible video assignment for her TV station, and then, of course, an investigation happens with Lee trying to stay out of it. I just loved this book, and I am wondering if that will be the last. I really hope not, as I enjoy Aunt Ibby, Michael, Pete, Lee, and all the rest. They really are like family. Fans of this series will definitely love this latest. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry is a great cozy mystery that is the 15th book in A Witch City Mystery series. This is one of my newest favorites.

I am so glad I discovered this series. I knew it existed, but for some reason I never delved into it. I have always been obsessed with Halloween and Salem, Massachusetts since a child, and while this does take place in Salem (yay!!!) it thankfully showcases the area throughout the year.

I love Lee Barrett and the full cast of characters. Yes, I read this newest book out of order from the previous 5 I have read, but no matter. I was still able to follow along amazingly and honestly it just encouraged me to continue reading all 9 books I have not made it through yet.

I loved the murder mystery, the plot, the pacing, and O’Ryan!

Let the journey continue!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/28/25.

Halloween is coming, and is Lee Barrett Mondello's favourite time of year. Now in the third trimester of her first pregnancy work is beginning to take second place but an assignment to visit and film the many and varied candy stores in Salem wasn't a job she was going to turn down! Casa del Chocolatte, a boutique chocolate shop, is also the stunning ancestral home of its proprietor, Shirley Parker, and Lee is looking forward to trying a few of their artisan chocolates while she's there. Unfortunately, also, there is a very dead body, and once again, Lee finds herself reluctantly investigating alongside her husband and Salem PD Detective, Pete. As she looks into who would want to kill the victim, it becomes clear he wasn't universally loved. But with other things vying for her attention, such as nursery furnishings and baby showers, Lee has to prioritise her tasks. When it appears the killer has a new target, will she be able to step back and let the police deal with it?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cosies, but the opinions expressed are my own. I love this series, but it did seem as if the author was tying up all the loose ends as well as writing another excellent instalment of one of my favourite series. I hope I'm wrong, but if not, book 15 was a very worthy final visit to WICH-TV in Salem.

Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry is the latest installment in the witch city mysteries. Lee Barrett, program director of WICH-TV is doing a segment on the best sweep shops in Salem. While visiting Casa del Chocolate which is located in a beautiful older home, Lee finds a dead body in the kitchen. The victim is Barney Bringham, who happens to be the shop’s owner, Shirley Parker’s ex-husband. Will Lee be able to solve the case with the help of her detective husband, Pete Mondetto while doing her regular job and being pregnant with her first child?

Sugar and Spice is a fun read with the setting in a real historic American town.