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.

Lee Barrett Mondello is the program director for WICH-TV in Salem, Massachusetts. Although she's had to cut back on her time and duties due to the fact that she and her husband are expecting their first child. When she's given an assignment to cover the candy shops in Salem, it's one she can sink her teeth into -- literally. So when she sees that a shop named Casa de Chocolate has opened up, she naturally wants to interview them.

Casa de Chocolate is housed in an historic mansion owned by Shirley Parker, who greets Lee, ready for the interview. When Lee is given an opportunity to see the shop's inner workings in the basement, she's more than ready. But what she's not ready for is the dead body she comes across. The dead body that happens to be the ex-husband of Shirley.

When Lee's husband Pete starts investigating, he discovers that Bingham had more than his share of enemies..but which one was willing to kill him? With no clues and a missing murder weapon, it may take longer to solve this case than it will for Lee to have her baby.

Pete wants Lee to stay out of this case, and she has every intention to do so, since she has a couple of baby showers to look forward to; and of course, all those sweet shops to visit and sample. But when it seems someone is stalking Lee, she begins to worry. So does Pete. Will she be able to stay of this case and stay safe? Or is someone going to make sure she's never involved in any murder mystery again...

This is the fifteenth book in the series, and I must say that I enjoyed it very much. I love the characters in this series, and the fact that Lee has a "partner in crime" in her husband, who understands about her visions and accepts them because he loves her.

There is a lot going on here, and the two plots are intertwined nicely. While Lee is mainly sidelined from investigating, she does her own, but makes sure she's not on her own entirely. With a little one on the way, she needs to be careful.

The descriptions of autumn in Salem are also nice, although a bit sparse, as the action is centered on the dead man, which is how it should be. I loved the fact that this book made me actually look for the killer along with Lee, and didn't make it too easy to do so.

When the ending comes, we figure it out almost at the same time as our protagonist, and that's the best way to do it. It's an intriguing climax, and I enjoyed it immensely. I love Ms. Perry's books and this one fits right in, being written well with a terrific plot. Highly recommended.

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

There's a lot of pink in this story but there's also a twisty and dark undercurrent that perfectly balance the pink avoiding any too-much-sugar trap.
Lee is involved in the discovery of a corpse while working for WICH-TV and this is the start of a twisty story that involves the weird family and friends of the victim, a daughter who's going to be soon in the world.
Excellent storytelling and pace, the right level of suspence and a lot of places in Salem I would like to visit.
O'Ryan, Toby and the other pets are great and play a relevant role.
I can't wait to read the next novel and I want to know what will happen.
Have fun, read this series to appreciate this instalment in full.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Having read several of Ms. Perry's books in this series, I was happy to that I was allowed to read her latest. I love following Lee and Pete as their relationship has progressed. As always, this cozy mystery was not a slam dunk, keeping me guessing up to the end (you might want a box of chocolates next to you). I thoroughly recommend this series, but starting at the beginning is best. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry (Witch City Mystery #15) 4 stars

Lee Mondello (nee Barrett) is in the late stages of her pregnancy and working on features for WICH-TV. Since it is close to Halloween, she is interviewing various candy stores in Salem. Casa del Chocolate is a boutique candy shop that is next on the interview schedule. While looking at the candy making equipment, Lee discovers a body. Who is dead man and why was he at the candy factory? This and other questions move the plot of the 15th entry of the Witch City Mysteries.

With the very first book in this series “Caught Dead Handed” taking place during Halloween, this book seems to be taking the series in a full circle. Lee Barrett starts off trying to get a job at WICH-TV in “Caught Dead Handed” and with subsequent books this series provides milestones of her life and career. With her marriage in ‘Til Death (#12) and then her pregnancy and birth of her child in (#15) we are presented with all the major moments. I enjoyed the book, especially the interactions between Lee and her family and friends. I thought the villain was a bit caricatured. I don’t know if there will be more books in this series, but if this is the end, I think everything is tied up well.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for his ARC,

This is the second book by this author that I have read. This author does a great job of character development and a suspenseful storyline. It is my opinion that this is definitely a cozy mystery that everyone would enjoy.

Another winner in the Witch City series! This novel is entertaining and engaging. I loved seeing how Lee and Pete have moved on to the next stage of life as they prepare to welcome their first child to their lives.

Along the way, there's a murder to investigate and lots of crazy happenings that kept me flipping pages just as quickly as possible. Fans of the genre will love this one. The author is on my must read authors' list.

#SugarandSpite #NetGalley is an amazing addition to this much loved series by Carol J. Perry.
Lee and Pete are awaiting the arrival of their sweet baby girl, and Lee is excited to become a stay at home mom.
With Halloween approaching in historic Salem, MA, it seems appropriate to do a fun series on candy and the different sweet shops in town.
Working for WICH-TV has been something that Lee loves, but a visit to a chocolate shop turns her life upside down, and puts her directly in the killer's line of fire.
I loved everything about this book, the mystery really kept me guessing , and O'Ryan is a definite hero in my book.
I'm going to recommend this book to other readers who love a great cozy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.