Lee Barrett has her dream job as a field reporter for WICH-TV in Salem, MA. But her scoop of discovering the police diving and looking for a submerged car may lead back to her beloved Aunt Ibby. Lee's aunt, police detective boyfriend and best friend, River, are now aware she sometimes receives visions, often terrifying, off shiny surfaces. Not having to keep them secret makes them more useful, if still cryptic. Her latest vision of a red mustang plunging off a cliff ties the cold case to Aunt Ibby and her close knit group from high school.

This is one of my favorite series and I anticipate reading each new book knowing that the mystery will be solid and I love being in Salem and becoming even more attached to the characters. Highly recommended.

Salem's best field reporter, Lee Barrett, is on the job thanks to an anonymous tip when the local police find a 1970s era sports car in the water near the cliffs, which local kids used to dive off of on a dare. Lee's love, policeman Pete Mondello, is not on the case, but wouldn't give her information even if he was. So it's up to Lee to figure out what's what when there are human remains found in the vehicle when they bring it up from the water.

In the meantime, Lee's Aunt Ibby and her friends are working hard on their 45th high school reunion. When Lee finds out the body in the car is connected to Pete's cold case of a missing person, and Ibby's former boyfriend, things turn difficult, and it takes all of Lee's investigative powers to get to the bottom of things.

I sound like a broken record when I review this series, but each book is better than the last one. I love Lee and the way she goes about her job with such abandon. She savors every assignment she gets, and she does a great job with her stories. Her relationship with Pete is perfect. She and Ibby are perfect housemates, along with their cat O'Ryan, and I feel like this book brought them closer together.

This book is wonderfully plotted and it mixed the present with the past perfectly. I loved getting a look at Aunt Ibby as a high school student. Of course there is the added part of Lee's visions, which always add a great flair to the books. The worst part of the book was when I finished it and I thought, "There are no more pages. I want there to be more pages."

I highly recommend this series for lovers of magical books. There is the added bonus of Lee's job, which reminds me of my years as a journalist and makes me smile. This is one of those books that I didn't want to put down. There are some series that you get so caught up in that you just can't wait until the next one comes out. For me, that series is the Witch City mysteries.

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

This was one of my favorite books from the witch city series by Carol J. Perry! This time we follow Lee in her new role as roving investigative reporter for wich-tv in Salam, Mass. She uncovers a mysterious car that has been submerged for decades and it ends up being tied to her Aunt's high school clique. We learn so much more about Aunt Ibby's background, which is something that I really enjoy about cozy series when the reader is able to get to know the secondary characters as well as the main sleuths. Aunt Ibby is also such a strong, interesting character in the series as well! I will say that I felt this book was more murder/detective mystery vs. supernatural and Lee relied much more on her sleuthing skills vs. her scrying abilities. I personal love the magical aspects of this series so I always wish there's more, but if you're not into fantasy/supernatural books this series is more on the magical realism end and is not too out there. I feel like this series should be a lot more talked about then it is.

Will they be able to solve the murder?
Final Exam by Carol J. Perry is a fabulous mystery about a cold case. This book is the first book I have read by this author and in this series. Lee Barrett is the female sleuth she is a pretty cool character. She is a reporter, and her boyfriend is a detective. Lee is very determined to help her aunt find out what happened to her old boyfriend.

What I like:
• Lee reminds me of Nancy Drew.
• Lee comes up with a book title like the Nancy Drew books for the case that she is working.
• The mystery was pretty cool and very different.
• I felt bad for the aunt since her high school boyfriend won't return as she thought he would.
• The cat that Lee and Aunt Ibby have is pretty funny.

What I dislike:
The one thing that I didn't like is that Lee's daily tasks take over the story at times.

Five Stars
Final Exam by Carol J. Perry is a great cozy and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Ms. Perry did a fantastic job with the mystery. It kept me guessing. The cast of characters is awesome. I will definitely at some point come back and read the rest of the series.

So, if you haven't read a book from A Witchy City Mystery series, then you should. I recommend it, especially if you like cozy paranormal mysteries.

Anyways until the next time enjoy this review brought to you by,
Baroness Book Trove.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

If you would like to read more reviews like this one, please go to baronessbooktrove.com

Carol J Perry
Final Exam

Book 8 and still going strong, I loved the book and the story line.
With some paranormal abilities Lee has she is still trying to understand what they mean .
Aunt Libby is heading a committee to arrange the 45th high school reunion when the past catches up with the present.,when a old car is pulled up from the quarry.
Many thanks to Kensington and Nettgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.

Over the weekend I finished Carol J. Perry's Final Exam. This Witch City Mystery is out now from Kensington and is a great paranormal mystery read. I fell in love with this series from book one and get more excited with each mystery instalment. I love the relationships in this book, main character Lee is easy to like and understand, her relationship with her aunt and her back store is endearing. In this book we learn a little more about Lee's aunt, and about the reason why perhaps her aunt never married. I could not put this book down and am so excited that it is out and you can read it now.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I will say, I haven't read the previous seven books in this series, which can be a daunting thing. Will the characters come to life, or will there be things from previous books that I've missed and need to know? But all in all I felt like this series was very welcoming to newcomers, and it definitely made me want to read more. The author made the characters very believable, and the course of the mystery flowed with us getting to know all of them better. Of course I adored Lee, the main character, but her Aunt Ibby and boyfriend Pete made for great characters too. There were background characters like Betsy and Francine that I'd like to know more about too.

The mystery was great! I had a hunch on it, but it played out well and the hints were just enough. It was also really interesting to get a cozy mystery from a reporter's POV, because most of the times the sleuths don't have the greatest access to information and yet Lee had some good sources and went around things a little differently. Very refreshing!

If you like your cozies with a splash of magic, cats and good old fashioned tip offs, then try this series! I need to go back and read the previous books now :)

Final Exam by Carol J. Perry is the eighth A Witch City Mystery. Lee Barrett is a field reporter for WICH-TV in Salem, Massachusetts. Thanks to a tip, Lee is the first reporter on the scene when an old mustang and body are pulled from North Shore Granite Works quarry. When Aunt Ibby sees the news report, Lee notices that she has a reaction to the news. However, Lee can tell that she is not ready to talk. Ibby is busy preparing for the upcoming class reunion for the Class of 1974 and Lee has been roped into helping with the preparations. Lee continues to dig for information on the body brought up in the quarry and learns it is related to a cold missing person’s case that Detective Pet Mondello is investigating. When Aunt Ibby comes under suspicion, Lee begins researching her aunt’s classmates. With the help of O’Ryan, her cat, and her scrying abilities, Lee probes into the past in the hopes of excavating the killer.

It is May in Salem, Massachusetts. Lee and her camera woman, Francine Hunter are tracking down a lead and hope to get a juicy story. They find police divers exploring a quarry and Lee scoops other reporters when they find a mustang with bones inside about 120 twenty feet down. Unfortunately, the body turns out to be an old flame of Aunt Ibby’s who disappeared before their high school graduation. All this time, It was believed the victim had taken off after an altercation with his father. Lee begins having visions of the past which lead her to identifying the killer. Carol J. Perry’s writing style is informal writing style which makes Final Exam a pleasure to read. The story has good flow with gentle pacing. I like the variety of characters in A Witch City Mystery series with O’Ryan being my favorite. He is an astute cat who aids Lee in solving her crimes. It was cute how O’Ryan had a friend to play with in this story, and they managed to cause some misdirection and mischief. There are plenty of enjoyable moments between the characters. Lee’s scrying abilities are integrated into the storyline along with a tarot reading from her friend, River North. Her tarot card readings are always helpful. The mystery was intriguing because it involved a cold case. There are pointed clues to aid readers in solving the crime. Past misdeeds have a way of coming back to haunt us. I was appreciative of the epilogue that wrapped up the mystery. Final Exam can be read alone if you have not read any of the previous A Witch City Mysteries. I do want to let readers know that there is foul language scattered throughout the story which is unusual for a cozy mystery. Included in the book are recipes for ginger pancakes, grape nuts pudding and Lee’s bread dipping sauce. Final Exam transports readers to Salem as Lee probes into the past to excavate a killer.

A young news reporter, who has worked her way up to tougher stories, along with a cat who may have magical powers, both of whom at least experience some psychic visions, plus an experience hardened cop, with a soft spot for the reporter, who is beginning to be a believer. These are the main characters in this interesting series. Overall the book is a series of balances and opposites.
Interviewed information versus experienced intuition, promiscuous teenagers versus accomplished senior citizens, secrets aplenty both in the real world and in the cards.
When Lee Barrett gets a tip that police divers are searching for something in the off-limits quarry, she follows her hunch and finds more than she is prepared for. Having to learn as she reports, she finds it usual that her very supportive Aunt Libby can't find the time to help her search for clues, including Libby's own high school year book, even as she is preparing for a class reunion. Something is very very off.

I really like the characters and learning more about them as this story unfolds.
The time period involved intrigues me, as I could relate to being the same age back then, although not as wild. Following the clues was exciting. I figured out some connections quite quickly but the motive and details kept me interested until the end.
A very well done mystery.

I really enjoy this series. I have read all the books in the series and am always pleased with Carol J. Perry’s clever story line, interesting characters and side stories. It’s Lee Barrett's Aunt Ibby’s 45th high school reunion and she is the chairperson of the planning committee. Lee is happily working as a TV field reporter for WICH TV and is assisting her aunt with the reunion planning where necessary. Lee and her camera woman follow a tip and ends up being the lead reporter on the finding and recovering an abandoned vintage Mustang found in the quarry. Of course there are remains in the car and when she told Aunt Ibby about the car, she seems very upset, but says nothing. With Lee's special abilities as a scryer (seeing visions in glass), River's tarot card readings, O'Ryan, her psychic cat and her police detective boyfriend, Pete, Lee knows that this mystery needs to be solved with all their input.The characters in this story are one of the things that make it so enjoyable for me. I really like Lee as a main character. She is smart, caring, loyal and has wonderful skills and support and what every reporter needs, a little luck. Aunt Ibby is still a lovable, quirky character, but has a different role in this story. I still enjoyed her role and liked seeing that she is not only nurturing to Lee, but to her friends as well. I continue to enjoy the easy, relationship that Lee and Pete share. I wish there had been more of River in this story. She was almost non-existent. The mystery was well plotted with a few twists. I did figure out who the murderer was early in the story, but I still enjoyed the story; following the trails, learning about Aunt Ibby's past and discovering the motive. I was happy to see that my guess was accurate, as I really did not like that particular character. When I finished the story I was very satisfied with the plot and how the story played out. I will definitely continue reading this series to see what is next for Lee, Aunt Ibby, Pete and the rest of the characters. This is a series that has not disappointed and I recommend it to lovers of cozy mysteries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

For those who like cozy mysteries, this is the book for you! Suspense plot with lots of mystery to keep you on your toes.

Protagonist Lee (Maralee) Barrett is a field reporter for Salem's WICH-TV news station. She lives with her Aunt Ibby (Isobel Russell) in a three-story Victorian walk-up, her little apartment being on the third floor. She has a boyfriend who is a local police investigator currently working a cold case, which is handy! Lee and her main camera person, Francine, get a tip regarding a sunken Mustang and manage to scoop the story being first on scene. The scoop is perfect for boyfriend Pete, not so for Aunt Ibby currently in the throes of working with her high school reunion committee for their 45th.

This is a fun little romp into a cozy that garners fascination quickly and keeps engagement throughout with one development after another in a well-plotted cold case mystery that begins to turn topical fairly quick. The supernatural belongs to Lee who possesses a special "gift," which she apparently revealed to Pete. However, the psychic belongs to the resident kitty, O'Ryan. Mysterious cat, O'Ryan. Must say, the characters in this novel are all appealing and I enjoyed the author's writing style.

While the mystery of the who is easy to solve, the narrative is still curiously compelling, including Lee's "on the scene" or studio spots. Book 8 functions quite well as a standalone and kept my attention engaged throughout. Lee is not the interrogation of the suspect type sleuth, albeit investigative journalist, she is pretty subtle. Touristy tidbits of Salem provided location information and the dialogue felt natural.

Overall, an enjoyable and fast-paced read and a logical and satisfying conclusion. I had a problem with the three-story walk-up as descriptions of it had me confused more than once. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to book 9. I received this ebook download from the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended for cozy mystery fans, fans of the supernatural kitty characters, and light reads.

This is the "8th" book in the series and as fun and exciting as the previous books in series. I highly recommend the entire series. This series has the unique and fun setting of Salem, Mass. and a quirky paranormal side that is just perfect for the location.
In this next in series our protagonist Lee Barrett who lives with her Aunt Ibby in Salem, Massachusetts continues to see visions. She has just recently landed her dream job news reporting at the local TV station. Her visions help her to solve mysteries and now she has come upon a most unique mystery to solve using her ability to see the visions of the case.
.A car is found below the surface of a quarry and Lee has a vision of it launching 70 feet above. When she gets to the scene the next day to watch the car hauled out it is found that the car has a skeleton in it. Mysteriously it is tied to her Aunt during her high school years. With the high school reunion pending in the future both Lee and her Aunt are determined to solve the mystery before the reunion. Lee as always has a good relationship with her boyfriend, Pete (the police detective) who shares the mysterious facts of the case with her as she attempts to solve the case with his help. Their romance is not overdone and a nice addition to the series. Each mystery in this series is a perfect balance of mystery, paranormal and fun. I loved this next in series and look forward to the next in series. Well done to the author. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

A sprightly and heartwarming cozy mystery with a suspenseful plot plus romance (then and now), FINAL EXAM is Book #8 in the Witch City Mystery Series (the reference, of course, is to Salem, Massachusetts, the setting of this delightfully engaging series). Lee (Maralee) Barrett lost her folks at a young age but thankfully was raised by her Aunt Ibby (Isobel), long-time town Librarian, with whom Lee still lives, in an upstairs apartment her aunt had renovated for Lee's use. As a fairly new on-camera field reporter at WICH-TV, the local station, Lee is frequently out and about with cameraperson Francine, but they could not have expected the consequences when they follow an anonymous tip to an abandoned quarry outside of town. The tipster claimed a car was submerged in the quarry, and that proved out; but there is far more to that situation than anybody expected. The discovery inspires grief, mystery, and fear, because what happened stayed concealed for forty-five years, and the individual responsible might well be living among the townspeople of Salem still. Now a portion of the truth is revealed; what will happen next?

Author Carol Perry keeps her readers glued to the page with excitement, intrigue, suspense, and yes, romance. FINAL EXAM is a cozy mystery I couldn't stop reading.

I came into this series late; in fact, this is only the second book I’ve read. I have never felt I have missed much, if anything, and I think this latest could be an excellent starting point. Speaking of this book, I really enjoyed this second book more than I did the one I read before. There was more depth, and I really didn’t figure out who had committed the murder until the end. I had my suspicions on a couple of the characters, but I didn’t know for sure. This series has an innocent, 50s vibe to it which I think many people will enjoy; it’s a cozy, with a teeny, tiny paranormal element, that transports you back to…simpler times. Maybe that’s just me, but that’s what it feels like. I really enjoyed this latest because of the great writing, interesting characters, and tight plot, and I think you will, too, whether you are new to the series or a regular. I highly recommend this book! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Book 8 of the series but first book for me, I was introduced to field reporter Lee Barrett of Salem's WICH-TV and her Aunt Ibby. One tip and Lee reports the car with human remains dredged up by the cops. The case has 2 fold effects, Aunt Ibby's emotional one and her boyfriend Pete's investigative one.

Carol J. Perry has written this book with an interesting and captivating murder mystery with a tinge of paranormal and witch-y talent along with psychic cat O'Ryan. The story pulled me in even when I joined it at the 8th step, I could understand the characters and get to love them. Though I could guess the killer, I didn't know the reason and that kept me hooked to it.

Aunt Ibby was one quirky but warm character, and she fascinated me in the entire book. Lee and Pete kept me involved in their romance and investigation. Overall a quick read on a lazy afternoon.

This is the 8th book in the Witch City mystery series, a series that continues to stay on my must read list. Lee Barrett lives with her Aunt Ibby in Salem, Massachusetts and has a witchy power - she sees visions in shiny surfaces. Eight books along and she still struggles with her unwelcome gift. She found herself a young widow and moved to Salem, taking a job as a late night movie host reading Tarot cards during the breaks. From there she moved on to teach a class on tv at the local arts school. Now she is back doing tv news reporting at the same tv station she worked for when she came to town. This story comes to her own doorstep when a red Mustang is found 100 plus feet below the surface of a quarry and Lee has a vision of it launching off the edge of the quarry 70 feet above. When she gets to the scene the next day to watch the car being hauled out using a huge crane, it becomes a deeper story than a dumped car - this car has a skeleton in it and it ties back to Aunt Ibby and her high school classmates. On top of that, many of them are gathering for their 45th anniversary and there are lots of long buried secrets trying to join the event.
Besides Lee and Aunt Ibby, there are Lee's friend, River (who is very skilled at Tarot readings), Lee's boyfriend, Pete (the police detective) and last but not least, O'Ryan, her cat, who adds his own mysterious touch to the stories. Each mystery has a good balance of mystery, paranormal and romance - a little bit of everything.

Another great addition the the Witch City Mysteries I love this world and characters! I am always hypnotized by this author. THanks!

Final Exam by Carol J. Perry, is the 8th book in the Witch City Mysteries, and another great addition. I love this series, the books are never dull. This book does not disappoint. Lee Barrett now has her dream job, a field reporter on WICH-TV, in Salem, MA. Lee is covering a tip about police divers looking for something. Lee is excited to be the first reporter on the scene when they pull out an old car. Lee's Aunt Libby is acting strange when she hears about the car, as her and her former classmates plan their 45th high school reunion. I really enjoy the relationship between Lee and her detective boyfriend Pete, and Orion, the psychic cat. This book has everything you want in a cozy mystery, plus a little paranormal thrown in. The story kept me intrigued and reading page after page. I am looking forward to reading Lee's next adventure. 

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Interesting character and winding tale of the past never truly stays in the past. People try to change but secrets endure