Til Death was a great book, though a bit different than others in this series. It's all about Lee confronting her heartbreaking past and meeting some of her family from her father's side. I'll admit that I knew exactly where the author was going with the story pretty early on, but the way we got there was fun to read. I'm definitely reading more in this series.

Nothing says romance quite like a wedding. And that's definitely in the air as everyone is awaiting the wedding of the year. The setting is lovely and provides the ideal backdrop for murder to occur and a mystery to unfold. Had a lot of fun reading this.

'Til Death is the 12th installment in The Witch City Mystery series by Carol J. Perry. The first half of the book involves the wedding plans of Lee and Pete, as well as a convicted murderer who has served his time moving into Aunt Ibby’s B & B, while Lee and Pete make plans to move into their new home located just a few doors down from Aunt Ibby’s home. There is no suspense in this portion of the novel, just a few strange characters that are suspicious. The second part of the novel is the honeymoon where Lee and Pete visit Lee’s Aunt Doris on Pirate’s Island, the spot where Lee’s parents died in a plane crash that was ruled “pilot error.” This is where the suspense starts to build and the novel becomes unputdownable.

Perry does a good job of developing the characters, both the main characters, Lee, Aunt Ibby, and Pete, as well as the supporting characters. Most are very likeable, especially Lee, the protagonist. The main characters are developed enough in this novel that those who haven’t read the previous novels, it will be find to read this as a standalone novel. But when being introduced to the characters most readers will want to read the novels that they missed. This novel, as well as the others, is a lighthearted cozy and can be considered a culinary mystery since there are recipes included.

This is a fun series, and it is well-written and the story flows with several surprising outcomes. Fun.

Book wasn't meant for me. Hopefully someone will enjoy it more. I will look into renting it in the future

Lee Barrett and Detective Pete Mondello are tying the knot. Before the big day, they must finalize their wedding plans and find a new place to live. Lee must also find a new car since her last one was totaled thanks to her last sleuthing expedition. The day after the wedding and reception, the newlyweds are taking off on a driving tour of Maine and New Hampshire. They plan on visiting Pirate Island which is owned by Lee’s Aunt Doris and Uncle Bill. Doris is the sister of Lee’s deceased father, Jack. It turns out that Lee’s parents died shortly after taking off in their plane from Pirate Island. Her parents’ death was ruled an accident from pilot error. That resolution never set right with Lee. Lee would like to see where her parents spent their last hours and maybe get some much needed closure. ‘Til Death by Carol J. Perry is the twelfth A Witch City Mystery. ‘Til Death can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing Lee’s backstory as well as the journey Lee and Pete have taken to get to the alter. I thought ‘Til Death was easy to read. I did feel that the first sixty percent was a little slow. It is nice to catch up with Aunt Ibby, Lee, Pete, and O’Ryan. A Witch City Mysteries is very much a character driven series. The first part of the book is about finalizing wedding preparations, Lee’s work at WICH-TV, Wanda the meteorologist’s new look, a magician kiddie show, the couple searching for a new home, Aunt Ibby renovating Lee’s old apartment into a bed and breakfast, Lee and Pete moving, and Aunt Ibby’s controversial new tenant. Once the couple depart on their honeymoon and arrive at Pirate Island, the pacing increases. The story also gets a lot more interesting. Pirate Island sounds like a beautiful place to live. The pirate history was fun plus the beautiful old lighthouse. Lee finds an employee on the island who knew her parent’s and was there the day of the crash. The mystery was fun (who doesn’t love a mystery involving pirates and treasure). The suspect list was very small, so it was easy to solve. I enjoyed the reveal which was suspenseful. I like how Lee’s visions and O’Ryan’s special help figure into the whodunit. O’Ryan is one clever cat. I keep hoping Lee will think on her gift as something positive. She seems to despair every time she has a vision. I am hoping the tidbit she learned while on Pirate Island will make a difference. I appreciated the epilogue which nicely wrapped up ‘Til Death. There are three recipes at the end for sweet treats featured in the story. ‘Til Death is a swashbuckling adventure with house hunting, tenant troubles, a cake conundrum, weather woman wardrobe worries, impending nuptials, procuring a new car, pirate plunder, vague visions, and a bewildering bonanza.

This is normally one of my favorite series. This particular book felt more like two short stories combined into a book. I'm hoping things go back to normal for the next book.

The latest book in this series and it was very different since there was no present day murder but it was about an old case very close to Lee. I really like Lee and Pete and even though they were not home and were traveling I was glad we still got a bit of her Aunt and the Angels.

‘Til Death is Carol J. Perry’s twelfth book in the Witch City Mystery series, and it’s a grabber. The eleventh in the series, See Something is now on Kindle Unlimited—check it out!

One of Carol’s writing talents is setting up complications in her books. Sometimes the complications are resolved within the book, but others are setups to be completed in future books. In ‘Til Death there are several complications that she saves for future resolution, but the entire book is a huge resolution that main character Lee hasn’t even known about her entire life, as well as Lee’s finally marrying her Detective Sergeant beau, Pete. It’s a great read.



If you haven’t read my interview with Carol about the first in her new series, Be My Ghost, here’s the link. Please welcome Carol J. Perry back to WWK. E. B. Davis


Wanda the weather girl has a master’s degree in meteorology, another in climate science, and served as a weather chaser in Texas. Why does she allow the station to dress her as a floozy? Because she is trying to get on a reality cooking show, cooking being her hobby. She’s trying to change her image and wears business suits on her weather show. Why didn’t she insist on being businesslike from the start? Why is the station helping to get her into the cooking show? Won’t that take her from the station?

Wanda was hired by Mr. Doan to dress in her flirty fashion, and the show is highly rated in Salem, so she doesn’t mind. Anyway, the station pays for the outfits. The national show, Home Town Cooks, is a competition among many TV cooks around the country. It won’t take her away from the station. They’ll air her segment, and TV watchers will vote for the best Home Town Cook in the country. Meanwhile Wanda is alternating between her businesslike outfits and her skimpy ones, and people are actually placing bets before the weather forecast as to which Wanda they’ll see.



Scott Palmer took Lee’s place when she took the job as station programmer and presents what I think is yellow journalism. He focuses on Michael Martell, who was recently paroled after serving twenty years in jail for the manslaughter of his wife. Scott asks the students at the school where Martell is teaching if it bothers them that a convicted killer is their teacher. Scott refers to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, alluding to Michael Martell as having possible similarities without evidence of such. Why does the station allow this?

Scott feels that as a reporter, and Martell’s record is well known in the city, he can dig into how people feel about having an ex-con as a teacher. Since Martell has served his sentence, Scott feels it’s fair game to ask the questions and to make the comparison to Dr J. and Mr. H. It’s mean, but not illegal and it builds audience. Mr. Doan likes that.



The head of the school where Michael Martell teaches is a friend of Lee’s Aunt Ibby. Since Lee will be moving to her own house after the wedding, Aunt Ibby has converted Lee’s old apartment within her house into a short-term stay B & B. Does Aunt Ibby need the money? Why isn’t she more concerned about her own welfare? Even Pete is keeping Michael Martell on his radar just in case.

Aunt Ibby surely doesn’t need money but likes the idea of meeting new people. Aunt Ibby and the “Angels” are fans of Martell’s successful mystery series and believe he has paid his debt to society and truly repented his crime. (That B&B also gives the author many more opportunities to introduce new and interesting characters.)



After Lee’s beloved Corvette is smashed up in a wreck, she buys a safety loaded Jeep Wrangler. I can’t help but think that the change in autos is a big reflection of changes Lee has undergone. Is it?

Lee has realized that the Corvette convertible was not a practical choice for Salem—especially in the winter. It’s also a two-seater, and impractical in that sense. She loved it because of her earlier fascination with Nancy Drew—a blue roadster! Now she’s older, more practical in many ways.



Lee is a scryer. She sees things reflected in mirrors and shiny objects—images or short sequences. How could she turn off this “gift” for so many years since she remembers having this ability as a child? When did she get the ability back?

She got it back when she replaced Ariel Constellation as a TV psychic on the Nightshades show. Ariel had a black obsidian ball, and Lee saw a vision in it. She told Aunt Ibby and her aunt took her up in the attic and showed her a pair of little black patent leather shoes in which she’d seen the plane crash that killed her parents. This had been suppressed all those years until the vision in the ball brought it back.



What was Pete’s reaction to her visions? How did she change his mind about her abilities?

It hasn’t been easy. She didn’t tell him right away, and little by little he’s come to accept that she has this “gift,” but he still doesn’t like to talk about it.



When the station’s owner asks Lee to make a documentary about Pirate’s Island off the coast of Maine, where she and Pete are going to honeymoon, I couldn’t believe his audacity and was glad that Lee finally decided to turn down the assignment. Are Camcorders still used?

She used it in a couple of other books so I let her keep using it. Mr. Doan is kind of cheap, so if it still works, it’s good enough.



I was surprised to find out that Pirate’s Island was owned by Lee’s deceased father’s sister, Aunt Doris and her husband, Uncle Bill. Why hadn’t Lee had contact with her other aunt especially given the plane crash that killed both of her parents when Lee was five? You’d think family would circle round to care for the orphaned child.

They attended the funeral but other than birthday cards, graduation checks and such have had little contact with Lee. She doesn’t remember meeting them, but she was only five. It was best that Lee stay with Aunt Ibby whom she knew well and had other Salem friends. The father’s relatives didn’t live near Salem and moving the child wasn’t necessary.



I loved Lee’s cat O’Ryan. How did he get named?

Ariel Constellation had named him “Orion.” Lee misheard it as “O’Ryan.”



Two pirates operated around Pirate’s Island—Dixie Bull and Black Sam Bellamy. Were they real?

Absolutely real. Bad dudes, both of them!



Lee finds out that her parents’ plane crash was determined to be pilot error, but she finds it hard to believe. Why hadn’t Lee ever researched the crash before?

It was always assumed to be an accident and obviously wasn’t talked about because it was such a sad happening. There didn’t seem to be any need for her to investigate it.



Was there really a fake antique clock outside the Oval Office during the Clinton Administration?

How do you find out about such things?

Yes. There was. I love research and do a lot of it for these books. Sometimes that habit leads me down a rabbit hole and I find out all kinds of miscellaneous stuff!



What’s next for Lee and Pete?

Since I’m such a “pantser”—always writing “by the seat of my pants,” I don’t know exactly what’s next—but Kensington has offered a contract for three more Witch City stories so I’d better figure it out soon!

This is book 12 in the Witch City Mystery series. All your favorite characters are back and if you're a new reader you'll enjoy this fun cast. Lee and her new husband, Pete are heading to Maine for their honeymoon and plan to stop in to see her Aunt and Uncle on the island where her parents were killed. Someone isn't happy to have them visit and stir up another investigation into their plane crash. Using her psychic gifts she and Pete solve the old mystery. A fun easy read.

Another great Witch City cozy, complete with Angels, tarot readings, romance, and recipes, plus the wedding! Lee and Pete are set and ready to not only say their vows but to also move into a new forever home. All seems to be falling into place complete with honeymoon plans to visit Lee’s aunt and uncle who own an island off the coast and whom she has had no contact with other than cards sent throughout the years. An island with a pirate mystery and a family mystery since this is the place where Lee’s parents’ plane went down. As is customary, Lee turns to her best friend River (who is also a witch), do a tarot card reading and the cards have an interesting tale to tell. There are so many unique and interesting characters in the Witch Lee’s past and present converge as she relives a memory by way of the reflection in a shiny child’s shoe. Lee has learned that this is a gift or curse known as scrying. Sounds like Lee has a lot on her plate right before the wedding right? That’s not all; Aunt Ibby has decided to rent out Lee’s former living space, to an author who spent a bit of time in prison for killing his wife, though he contends that he didn’t do it and investigative reporter Scott Palmer has marginally succeeded in creating a Jekyll and Hyde story potential. I do believe this could be the makings of a post honeymoon book…once they figure out what is hidden on Pirate’s Island, is it gold, precious gems, the truth about that fatal crash??? I would suggest starting at the end of the book with the recipes, especially Marie’s Butterfinger Cookies, to enjoy while you follow the clues with Lee.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have always enjoyed this series with scryer Lee, her cat O’Ryan and her boyfriend Pete. This book is two separate stories. In the first Lee and Pete are finishing up the last minute details in preparation for their wedding. They buy a house, and clear up an work details that include making sure the former murderer who wants to rent Lee’s old apartment is harmless enough to let in Aunt Libby’s house. They should know once O’Ryan has decided he is a good person, everything is okay.

Too bad they don’t take the cat on their honeymoon where they visit the island where Lee’s parents died in a tragic plane crash. They meet Lee’s aunt and uncle who own the island but they get a feeling that things are not what they seem on the surface. O’Ryan would have picked it right up. In fact, when they Face Time with him, he gives them a clue. Smart kitty.

Between Lee and Pete, they do figure out what is going on and there are some huge surprises for them before it is over. Some of them are good and some of them are painful. I wasn’t at all surprised when the villain was revealed nor why he did what he did. In the end, justice will be served and Lee and Pete are off to a strong start in married life. Five purrs and two paws up.

Lee Barrett and Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello are getting married. They plain to honeymoon in New England and just go where the winds take them. They receive a card from Lee's Aunt in Maine. Lee doesn't know her since her father (Aunt Doris' brother) passed away when Lee was little. The couple decides to visit and maybe put ghosts to rest regarding the plane crash that killed her parents. Lee has "visions" and see's things in shiny objects. She also inherited a witches cat who seems to be very smart. Hey, she lives in Salem, Massachusetts so what do you expect.

This is a fun story. The mystery revolves around the death of Lee's parents. The book is easy to ready and I like the main character and her family and cat. The book has it's quirky characters as well.

Lee and Pete are finally getting married in this one! Lee is getting used to the idea of moving out of her aunt's house. She's doing all the last-minute preparations. She finds out that she has family that she's never met on the island that her parents crashed to their deaths on. When Lee and Pete travel to the island during their honeymoon, they find some secrets that they need to get to the bottom of.

I love this series so much. I love Lee and Pete and Aunt Ibby. This might be my favorite cozy series. This one wasn't my favorite of the series, though. I felt it took too long to get to the mystery. I loved seeing their everyday lives, but the point of the book is the mystery. I still adored this one and I can't wait to see what happens next!

4.5 stars

I’m so happy to be back in Salem; I really miss it in between the books of this series. By this point, Perry is so comfortable in Lee’s voice that it flows effortlessly with humorous turns of a phrase every so often, making it a real pleasure to read.

On to the plot: when a major change happens in the situation of a comfortable set of characters, it can be a minefield. Perry makes every right choice, including an atypical mystery, and we end up feeling closer than ever to Lee, Pete, Aunt Ibby, and O’Ryan. I was fully prepared to give the book a straight 5-star review until a very clunky reveal for in the way. I devoured the read and loved it wholeheartedly up to that point. Ultimately, I can look past it (mostly) and say that Book 12 is absolutely fantastic.

Thank you to Carol J. Perry, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

‘Til Death Earns 5/5 Honeymoons...Engaging Fun!

This twelfth book in Carol J. Perry’s Witch City Mystery series was totally engaging with more than one mystery needing attention: Lee Barrett is finally marrying her long-time boyfriend local detective Pete Mondello and their honeymoon will be spent on Maine’s Pirate Island riddled with rumors of pirates, treasure, and unanswered questions about the death of Lee’s parents and Aunt Ibby’s new B&B resident is a recently released convicted murderer who is now a famous author planning to teach creative writing classes. The diverse investigations from personal tragedies to finding truths were well-developed, but not all answers are ultimately provided. Perry’s writing style is easy to read, descriptive, and includes a variety of entertaining, multi-generational characters, and the inclusion of witch lore, Lee’s own psychic talents, and a clairvoyant feline is not juvenile hocus-pocus; it’s fun and clever. I think newbies to the series can easily start here since enough background and connections are revisited to keep anyone engaged.

I really enjoy this series, although it has changed over the years. It’s more character focused than it is on the mysteries, which is fine, but this tends to slow the story down and drag on. This one, for example, spends the first half of the book on Lee and Pete’s wedding and it isn’t until the honeymoon where the focus of the story changes. It was nice to get some answers to what happened to Lee’s family but the mystery took too long to show up so I lost interest before the halfway mark. I still love Lee and Ibby’s adventures and look forward to the next one.

I've always enjoyed this series. This book has a lot going on. The wedding last was great but the mysteries had me a little confused. I wasn't sure anything was going to happen in the story and when it did, I wasn't sure where it was going.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read

Book 12 in the Witch City Mystery series. I have read these from the beginning and enjoyed them all. Same goes for this one which is a little different because the second part occurs in Maine where Lee and Pete are on their honeymoon. There a several references to events in previous books so this is not the place to begin this series.
I hope this is not the end of a very pleasant cozy series. The ending did seem like it was going to go on and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

‘Til Death had a very sedate pace until about 75% of the way through the book. Lee is preparing for her wedding to Pete.
Aunt Ibby is turning Lee’s apartment into a B&B type rental and is considering whether prospective tenant Dr. Martell is okay or not. A big part of the book revolves around Dr. Martell, but he isn’t the mystery we are meant to solve. That mystery comes into play after the 50% mark. So I feel a bit confused on why so much of the book revolved around Dr. Martell.
The wedding is low key and lovely. Lee and Pete go on their honeymoon, a road trip to Maine.
Lee goes to visit her father’s sister Doris on Pirate Island. The main mystery revolves around this island and the death of Lee’s parents when she was just a little girl.
I like the book. I had to adjust my expectations while reading because this didn’t follow the path that most cozy mysteries do. Even other mysteries within the Witch City series.
I have read some of the early books in the series (1-4), then none of the intervening books until ‘Til Death which is book #12. I was able to follow the storyline so this would meet my criteria for being okay as a stand-alone without reading the rest of the series. I’m sure I missed some of the relationship build up, but I didn’t feel lost as to what was happening.
Give ‘Til Death a try if you like weddings and mysteries surrounding families.

This is my first experience with the Witch City Mystery Series and I so wish I would have discovered it before now. ‘Til Death was a fantastic, edge of your seat and engaging cozy Mystery.

Lee is a local program director for Salem’s WICH-TV network. She loves her job and is very good at what she does. She has worked her way up from almost the bottom and has made a wonderful name for herself. In this installment of the series, Lee Is about to marry the local detective and her love Pete. With the plans of a honeymoon to be more like a road trip finishing up the last minute things for the station is all she wants to get done. Parts of Lee’s past and family show up in the story. Making her honeymoon into an info gathering adventure while celebrating her marriage. Not everything goes as planned and some family secrets are unearthed.

Oh I absolutely love this story. From the concept of the series to the themes that are sprinkled all throughout the book and a strong woman who is bound and determined to figure out something that has happened in her past. Carol Perry Has created a fan of me with just one book and that’s the 12th book in the series. ‘Til Death 'is the 12th book in the series but even A newbie like me was able to catch on quickly and enjoy this very intriguing tale. Also making me want to go back and start at the beginning of the series and see how we ended up where we are at now.