My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 12 in the series.

Please do yourself a favor and don't start here. There's just so much going on in this one, it absolutely helps to know how we've gotten here.

It seems like all the couples in all of the series I am reading are getting married recently, which is fine, as long as the mystery is still solid.

The wedding took up a good chunk of the first part of the book, with a little bit of mystery about Aunt Ibby's new tenant.

The second part was devoted to Pete and Lee's trip to the area where Lee's parents died in a plane crash years before, and that's when things picked up and started getting good. A third mystery pops up, involving a hidden pirate treasure.

All in all, it was a good read. I enjoyed the second part more than the first, mostly because that's where the action was.

I will happily continue to read this series.

‘Til Death (Witch City 12)
4****

Well, that was a honeymoon to remember!

Welcome back to Salem, Massachusetts. In book 11 See Something, Pete proposed to Lee!
We pick up in book 12 a few months later in June. Maralee Barrett and Pete Donovan are getting married!
We watch as the couple of the hour join their lives together buying a home and getting married, we’re even treated to a portion of the honeymoon.

I have loved watching the characters and their relationship bloom over the course of this series. So I was especially looking forward to the wedding! Lee getting “closure” over her parent's passing for me ended up overshadowing the wedding. The book started a bit slow, picked up quickly but then kinda petered out for a while. The action or mystery really all takes place on Pirate Island. Her dad's sister owns the island and runs it with her second husband. This is where Lee’s parents were leaving when their plane went down. Lee doesn’t know her dad's sister, having been raised by her aunt Ibby, her mom's sister. Pete and Lee have just 10 days for their honeymoon, so they planned a road trip.

The book has 45 chapters and an epilogue.

Overall, a good solid addition to the series. 4**** Stars!

Author Carol J. Perry writes both the Witch City and Haunted Haven Mysteries.



Thank you to Carol J. Perry, her publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

I can’t get enough of Lee and her adventures! This one takes us to a private island off the Maine shore. A rehearsal dinner, wedding, new house, pirates, renovations to an old house, honeymoon and a decades old mystery with modern complications! By far the most packed book of the series, yet it is not rushed.

Loved the book from start to finish, and I am hoping this will not be the last of the series!

With long running cozy series I have noticed that occasionally books are more about character development than plot and this was definitely one of those books. The actual solving a mystery part doesn't start until about halfway through the book. There is a more minor mystery of the identity of Aunt Ibby's new tenant but that's resolved pretty quickly. As well there's all the goings on with Lee and Pete buying a house and getting married. The real mystery starts when Lee and Pete get to the Maine island that belongs to Lee's aunt and just happens to be the place where Lee's parents died years before.

Once Lee and Pete arrive at the island they must try and figure out just what is going on with her aunt and uncle, just where did the ring that Lee's mother was wearing when she died came from, and what do Lee's visions and hints from O'Ryan mean? I don't typically enjoy the character development books in the series but this was really entertaining. I liked seeing Pete in an unofficial capacity so that he and Lee could really work as a team. As well, Aunt Ibby and her friends - the Angels - are fun acting as kind of a helpline when Lee and Pete need some info. I wouldn't be shocked if this is the last book in the series as it did see a few plot points reach a conclusion but I really hope it isn't. If it is I'm hoping that a new series starts around Lee and Pete's new neighbor. That seems like it could be the start of a fun series if he doesn't become a reoccurring character in this series. While a lot of mysteries can be read in any order this series and in particular this book really should be read in order.

‘Til Death: A Witch City Mystery
By Carol J. Perry
Kensington
April 26, 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

Lee Barrett is about to take another huge step forward in her life as she leaves behind her identity as the former Maralee Kowalski, an orphan, widow, Salem TV reporter, and Late Night call-in TV psychic. Engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello, Lee is now the new WICH-TV program director planning to soon walk down the aisle and move into their new home. As Lee juggles wedding cake-making magicians and upscaling the image of their meteorologist “weathergirl,” investigative reporter Scott Palmer drops the news that Tabitha Trumbull Academy’s newest hire might be a convicted murderer. That the bestselling mystery author Professor Fenton Bishop has also booked a stay in her Aunt Ibby’s soon-to-be-bed-and-breakfast means that Lee is unable to deny the coincidence or her curiosity. For as much as Lee believes in the principle of a released prisoner having paid his dues to society and deserving the right to move on, the interest in the decades-old murder stirs up a lot of attention-grabbing news bites and rumors.

While Aunt Ibby and the Angels, a senior mash-up of the Golden Girls and Charlie’s Angels, track down the connection between their favorite mystery writer and the wife-shooting Michael Martell, Lee focuses on her wedding plans and honeymoon through Maine. The trip through New England will not only allow her producer to assign her the task of shooting promotional vacation-destination documentary footage, it will also allow Lee to visit her few remaining living relatives. The long-ago death of her parents continues to haunt Lee, especially since she saw a vision of their deaths in a reflection on her Mary-jane shoes. That trauma blocked her prophetic abilities until recently, when she recovered her gifts as a scryer, able to see visions of the past, present, and future in reflective surfaces. A new gazing incident has Lee interested in visiting some of the few remaining relatives on Pirate’s Island, where tourists and treasure hunters continue to seek a legendary pirate’s treasure of lost gold.

This fascinating novel weaves in several mysteries as it builds towards the one that has haunted Lee for most of her life. The first half tackles the weighty, complicated issue of redemption and forgiveness. It’s one thing to say a released prisoner has the right to start life anew, it’s another to have the convicted murder living next door and teaching your children. Having something of a complicated relationship with what is considered socially acceptable herself, Lee’s sympathies lie with the man who made a terrible mistake under the influence. Lee and Pete’s involvement in the mysteries of Pirate Island take the novel into a new, fascinating direction, delving into lost treasures, property rights, and possible scams. The relationship between Lee and Pete has never been more supportive or enviable, even if he is still not entirely comfortable with her prophetic gazings and accurate predictions. There are enough appearances by Aunt Ibby and their psychic cat O’Ryan to delight and charm long-time fans, making this 12th in the series reliably engaging while still having the unique twist of a separate adventure. Readers will look forward to the next lucky 13th of the Witch City mystery series, which successfully blends Salem’s reputation for witchcraft with equally compelling glimpses into the world of television programs and productions.

Lee Barrett, a programme director in Salem, Massachusetts working for WICH-TV, is now married to Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello. They will be honeymooning in Maine, but the place they're visiting, Pirate Island is near the site of the plane crash that killed Lee’s parents years ago. Lee has plenty to think about and mysteries to unravel, and what is the deal with the pirate treasure?

'Til Death is my 3rd read in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it is book 12, I was able to keep up with characters and events. Protagonist Lee brought her sparkling personality to the proceedings and I also enjoyed the contributions from techie librarian, Aunt Ibby. Her aunt and Lee's clairvoyant cat, O’Ryan really enriched the melting pot, and both Salem and Maine were effectively their own characters, too. Events moved along at a comfortable pace and the mystery itself was great. I had a ball reading this highly amusing and entertaining cozy mystery and I'm already looking forward to catching up with Lee in book #13, as well as grabbing copies of all of the books I've missed, though that will take some time! A great choice of cozy if you enjoy a dose of the paranormal.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 'Til Death was my introduction to the series, as well as the first book written by Carol J. Perry that I have read. The book is very enjoyable and the pace of the story is great. Nothing is rushed and all the elements of the story eventually fall into place. Maralee is a great main character and she conducts her investigation in a subtle and safe manner. Pete and Ibby are fun characters as well and are just as important to the story as Maralee. Although it appears that the book would have been best enjoyed in sequence with the previous books, it can be read as a standalone. Ms. Perry writes a very good mystery, and I kept wanting to find out what happens next. I have to admit that I found who the culprit was before it was revealed, but it might not be so obvious to everyone. There are very few supernatural elements, and it is just the right amount to get parts of the story into motion. I really loved this book!

Til Death was a fun read. The first part of the story I felt was a little long discussing the main character, Lee Barrett as the director at Salem's local TV station WICH-TV and getting prepared to marrying Pete Mondello, a detective sergeant for the Salem police department. The second part was their trip to Pirate Island to visit her Aunt Doris and Uncle Bill who own the Island while on their honeymoon.. When Lee was young her parents died in a plane crash on this island. The reader is taken on a journey with many twists and turns to finding out the mystery of the pirate treasure, what is going on between her aunt and uncle and what really happened to her parents The ending is exciting with the climax of what really happened to a sweet ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the ARC.

While this is the twelfth book in this series, it’s still going strong. I thought this one was less of a “fresh” murder mystery, and more of an “cold” case mystery, it was still excellent. Lee and Pete’s wedding is mostly the first part of this book, and it was great to see them finally tie the knot. The second half was their honeymoon and solving an old mystery case. Weaved in between all of that is a new man in their lives who seems to be getting chummy with Aunt Ibby. This was a fun little mystery, and it feels like a new arc in the series with Pete and Lee moving out and starting their married life. Great book for long-term fans of the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This is a series I have loved since I got my hands on the first book, Caught Red Handed. Twelve books, so far and not one a disappointment. Lee has had a lot of major events since her first mystery but this time the major event is her wedding to Pete. The fact that she will be moving out of her apartment in her Aunt Ibby's house had me a bit sad but that didn't last. Not only is Aunt Ibby still here but there are other characters to be met. The honeymoon is a road trip of the beautiful sights of Maine. What could be better?
There are several mysteries to investigate, one of them being the plane crash that killed Lee's parents. Add the mystery of pirate treasure and a new character and this was a great read. Though it works as a stand alone, reading them in order really makes this entry the best of them all. More, please.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Twelve books in, yet this series remains as fresh and enjoyable as the first book. While this one could be read as a standalone, why deprive yourself of the pleasure of watching the characters and relationships evolve as you read a crackling good mystery. Here, Lee and Pete are finally getting married, Aunt Ibby is renovating her house and what used to be Lee's apartment to create 2 B&B rooms and the possible first renter is a convicted wife killer. Lots of potential for mysterious doings and Carol Perry makes the most of them.

Lee and Pete have finally gotten married- yay! Now they're on their honeymoon, roadtripping through Maine. One critical stop is Pirate Island where her aunt and uncle live and, more importantly, where Lee's parents died in a plane crash3o years ago. Something's up on the Island- there's a lot of muttering about pirate treasure but Lee's visions tell her there's more. No spoilers from me. This latest in a long running series is fine as a standalone but those who have followed along will likely take more from it. It's a cozy, yes, but it's also about family. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A great addition to a favorite series.

Lee Barrett manages programming at a TV station in Salem, living with her aunt and a cat with mysterious powers and hanging out with friends including River, who does Tarot readings. She has visions, herself, seeing things in shiny surfaces that often hold the key to a mystery.

In this installment of the series, Lee gets married to her detective fiance and the two head north on a honeymoon which takes them to Pirate's Island, where Lee's aunt and uncle run a tourist attraction. It also turns out to be the place where Lee's parents died in a mysterious plane crash.

Meanwhile, back in Salem, Lee's aunt turns her home into a B & B, and her first guest is a convicted murderer. There are a lot of moving parts to the story, and a fair amount of supernatural hijinks, but it's also a nice, cozy mystery with recipes. A pleasant read with believable characters (except maybe for the cat). I look forward to getting to know them all better as the series continues.

'Til Death by Carol J. Perry is the 12th book in the Witch City series. A real treat for lovers of this series as we finally get the wedding of Lee Barrett and Pete Mondello. The mystery follows them on their honeymoon, traveling to the coast of Maine to the island where Lee's parents were killed in a plane crash years before.
The island is owned by her relative and also home to a pirate treasure. During the book they tackle the treasure mystery, what really happened to her parents and there's a side mystery involving Aunt Libby's new border.

Another fantastic installment of this series and although it could be read as a stand alone, do yourself the pleasure of reading the others in the series.

A enjoyable 11th in series with our favorite charcters and a engaging sleuth. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

This book answered a lot of questions for Lee as she marries and moves out of her Aunt's apartment. Family secrets come to light on her honeymoon that deapen the mysteries surrounding her parents. I enjoyed reading about her wacky relatives and finally seeing Lee have closure and begin her new life. A charming addition to this series.

An enjoyable visit with Lee Barrett and the TV station crew. I like that not only did Lee and Pete finally get married but also that this book wraps up a lot of Lee’s questions about her parents. A nice change from the usual plot where the main character stumbles over a dead body Although it could be read as a stand alone I’d recommend reading the series in order.

This series is first rate, with great characters, a paranormal theme and intriguing whodunit.
It just gets better and better with each book. I could not put this latest offering down, a great story with a whodunit that kept me guessing.
I loved that questions from the past were answered.
I strongly recommend you read this series in order and I cannot wait to read the next one.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Carol Perry packs a lot of action into this 12th entry of the Witch City Mysteries.

First, Lee and Pete move into their new house the same week they marry. Aunt Ibby’s gift of something old is the ring Lee’s mother wore when she died in the plane crash when Lee was only five.

Then, moving into Lee’s space at Aunt Ibby’s newly renovated B & B is a mystery author recently released from serving 20 years for murder. The best-selling writer also starts teaching creative writing at The Tabby.

Finally, on their honeymoon, Lee and Pete visit the site where Lee’s parents died in a plane crash after visiting her father’s sister and family. The visit opens up an old mystery around pirate treasure on the island Aunt Doris and her husband own.

O’Ryan, the feline sleuth, helps Lee and Pete, via laptop, with their activities on the island. Once again, Ms. Perry spins a swashing tale and captivates readers with her storytelling skill.

We find out what happened to Lee's parents in this book. Lee and Pete have to solve the mystery of where the ring Lee's aunt gave her that Lee's mother was wearing when she died. As well as what is going on with Lee's other aunt. I enjoyed the characters and the setting.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! Unlike the usual cozy, there was no dead body but a great mystery.

Lee Barrett and fiancée Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello buy a new home and have the perfect wedding. They decide to honeymoon in Maine, traveling up the coast with no set schedule. They visit Lee's Aunt and Uncle who own an island off the coast of Maine. She had never met them and their island was the last place her parents visited before dying in a plane crash when she was five years old.

The island is perfect and it looks like it will be a wonderful visit until Lee and Pete begin to notice some odd behavior. They decide it's time to find out what really happened to Lee's parents and feel the answers are here on the island.