Enjoyed this one very much, another great cozy mystery from author T.C. LoTempio. Never disappoints, highly recommend

Fans of the original “Nick & Nora” stories will appreciate this 21st century version of the mystery-solving duo. I appreciate the fact that Nora is the star here, with Nick in a (very) supporting role.

This is a well-written and plotted cozy mystery that will easily appeal to fans of the genre. I’ll be seeking out more from this author.

Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio is a delightfully eerie addition to the Nick and Nora mystery series, perfectly suited for fans of cozy mysteries with a Halloween twist. Set against the supposedly haunted backdrop of Waincroft Manor, the seventh book in the series follows Nora Charles, a clever and persistent coffee shop owner and amateur sleuth, who is drawn into a murder mystery just as she’s preparing for a Halloween fundraiser. With its history of witchcraft and rumours of vampires, Waincroft Manor is the perfect spooky setting—and it only gets creepier when Nora stumbles upon a corpse in a coffin, drained of blood and bearing two mysterious bite marks on its neck.

What truly makes Bell, Book and Corpses shine is its blend of eerie ambiance with an engaging mystery that challenges readers to separate reality from the supernatural. LoTempio keeps readers guessing, with the story weaving through legends of vampires, local family feuds, and hidden motives. Each clue adds depth to the mystery, and the plot's twists and turns make it a true page-turner. The character of Nora is as endearing as ever—witty, resourceful, and unafraid to face danger in her quest for the truth. Her sleuthing is further enhanced by her feline companion, Nick, a tuxedo cat with an uncanny knack for leaving her clues by arranging Scrabble tiles.

LoTempio skilfully balances suspense with humour, creating a fast-paced narrative that brings the world of Cruz, California, to life. The haunted house setting, complete with family secrets and a touch of romance, adds a layer of charm and intrigue. While newcomers to the series will find it accessible, longtime fans will appreciate the familiar camaraderie between Nora and Nick. The climax builds to a satisfying resolution, leaving just enough mystery hanging in the air to make you eager for the next book.

With its spooky atmosphere, clever detective work, and a protagonist who doesn’t give up, Bell, Book and Corpses is the perfect Halloween cozy mystery. T.C. LoTempio has crafted a charming and suspenseful tale that’s highly recommended for fans looking to dive into a whodunit with a dash of supernatural suspense. Whether you’re in it for the Halloween vibes or the thrill of the chase, this book will keep you hooked from start to finish.

4.5 upped to 5
I've been reading and loving this series since the first installment and was very happy when new stories were being published
This is an excellent Halloween story featuring an ancient curse, a gothic mansion, a group of ghost-busters, and plenty of characters from the previous stories.
I had a lot of fun and it kept me reading till late in the night as there's twists, surprises, and a lot of fun.
I appreciated the solution and can't wait to read the next story.
Two notes: it would be nice if the love triangle was solved as it seems a bit too long, I don't find Lacey a nice character and would be great if she could find a way to be independent and solve her unsolve romantic issues.
Nick and Nora are as lovely as usual.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you so much to NetGalley and T. C. LoTempio for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Bell, Book and Corpses, which was released September 24, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I need to read the other books in the series, but I love cozy mysteries. I’m obsessed with Salem, so I think this was the perfect setting. The manor and the Halloween atmosphere were so fun! I really loved it. I love the old Hollywood and classic book references to Nick and Nora and Bell, Book and Candle. I’m obsessed with old movies. I would definitely check out more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

A spooky read perfect for the Halloween season. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. I hope there will be more in the series.

I jumped into this series with this book, which I believe is book seven, so it took me a little bit to get my bearings with the various characters but the author did a great job of filling in the backstory. This was a great seasonal read, chocked full of a haunted mansion and vampire, although neither created a supernatural solution to the mystery. The mystery was solved through great sleuthing of clues.

This is the seventh book in the Nick and Nora Mysteries written by T. C. LoTempio.

Nora runs a sandwich shop and has her PI license. She has a great mentor and an intuitive cat that saves her bacon often.
Nora wants to save the fundraiser and prove it wasn’t a vampire that caused the man’s death in the ‘haunted” decrepit mansion.
The jealous detective isn’t working for me in this story. I basically wrote her off.

The twists, turns, and mis-directions were great! Waiting anxiously for the next book in this series.

This story maybe read as a standalone.

Netgalley provided me an e-copy of an Advance Readers Copy. I am not required to leave a positive review.

Nick (the cat) and Nora are at it again! This time the stage is an abandoned mansion set to be the scene of a fundraiser at Halloween. When Nora joins others to check out the mansion, she finds a bloodless body in a coffin! Our chef/detective gets her wheels turning as she tries to prove the innocence of the mansion's owner while juggling her FBI beau and a band of ghostbusters. But who is the guilty party or are there several neer do wells? What about the young boy fleeing on the bike when the body is found? This was an enjoyable read as clues comes together to unveil the guilty party. Of course, Nick, swishes his tail at all the right times to help Nora! Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Book Review: Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio, and this cozy mystery is the perfect treat for the Halloween season! Set against the eerie backdrop of Waincroft Manor—a mansion steeped in tales of witchcraft and curses—Nora Charles finds herself in the middle of a spine-tingling whodunit when a body is discovered laid out in a coffin, complete with two peculiar bite marks on its neck. As the whispers of vampires begin to circulate among the local gossips, Nora is determined to clear the air and prove that the real murderer is human.

This installment of the Nick and Nora Mystery series brings back familiar faces that fans will adore. I always enjoy revisiting characters I've come to love, and Nora, Nick, and their quirky supporting cast fit seamlessly into this spooky narrative. Nick, the most cleverest of cats is my favorite character. He communicates through Scrabble tiles and "meows", always one step ahead of Nora!

The author also has a knack for immersing readers in the Halloween spirit. A haunted mansion, vampires, ghostbusters, all set the stage for a cozy and festive Halloween themed read. Plus, can we take a moment to appreciate the cover? It's absolutely perfect for capturing that Halloween ambiance!

Overall, Bell, Book and Corpses earns a solid four stars from me. It’s an engaging read that combines humor, suspense, and just the right amount of spooky vibes. It works well as a standalone. Has great writing, a well plotted mystery, and fun characters. So if you're in the mood for a cozy mystery that captures the essence of Halloween, this book is definitely worth adding to your reading list!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

While I love this series, Nora makes me angry. She is intelligent and yet she makes such stupid and dangerous decisions. First of all, Nick the cat is a wonderful and intelligent cat, but Nora doesn’t seem to always understand him, or she is deliberately obtuse. In this case, there was no red herring. It was quite clear once introduced what Nick was trying to say. Which means I knew who the killers were right away.

Second, I cannot stand the officer versus amateur detective animosity. In this case, Dale Anderson seems jealous of Nora because of Samms, and Samms seems not at all supportive of Nora. Can we please get this whole situation fixed in the next book, please? It's frustrating and thus distracting.

Third, because I knew who the killers were, it was frustrating to see Nora ignoring the OBVIOUS clues. The ultimate motive was good. It's a classic theme but one that will never get old because it's still a reality. I just wish there had been more of a play with the “vampire” and the abandoned mansion.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

It’s Halloween trick-or-treachery at its finest in the latest Nick and Nora mystery! This book perfectly captures the eerie charm of a classic haunted house story, complete with a cursed mansion, rumors of witchcraft, and whispers of vampires. The setting of Waincroft Manor is atmospheric and chilling, making it the ideal backdrop for a thrilling Halloween read.

Nora Charles is a fantastic protagonist—sharp, witty, and determined to uncover the truth no matter how deep she has to dig. The mystery is well-paced, with plenty of red herrings and surprising twists that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved how the story blended elements of the supernatural with a classic whodunit, creating a perfect mix of suspense and intrigue.

The addition of the local legends and family rivalries adds layers to the mystery, making the final reveal all the more satisfying. And, of course, Nick is as charming as ever, playing a key role in unraveling the clues.

This book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries who love a touch of Halloween spookiness. Highly recommended for anyone looking to get into the Halloween spirit with a side of clever detective work!

New to me author but I enjoyed this quick cozy that was a great Halloween read

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read.and review this book

It’s Halloween and the people of Cruz are ready for a party. They are planning to hold a fundraiser at Waincroft Manor. However, it’s not just any manor. There is history and gossip about witchcraft and curses there. When Nora and her faithful feline Nick go to check it out, they find a dead body in a coffin. The townspeople immediately suspect a vampire since the body was drained of all its blood.

Nora takes it upon herself to figure out what happened. She is afraid no one would want to attend a fundraiser at a place where a vampire might be killing people. Not to mention a friend is arrested for the murder and Nora knows she's innocent. Nick and Nora are on the case, and they enlist the help of their friends for this one.

This is the perfect cozy mystery for this time of year. The author puts you right into the Halloween spirit even if it’s a little early in the season. It comes complete with the backdrop of a haunted mansion and a group of ghostbusters. Even the cover is perfect.

In this 7th book of the Nick and Nora Mystery series we get a chance to revisit old friends. That’s always a fun thing. Nora, Nick and their supporting cast are a perfect fit in this series. Of course Nick is always my favorite character and it’s so clever that he communicates through scrabble squares. He seems to always be one step ahead of Nora.

As often is this case with a cozy mystery series, the actual mystery is contained in this one book, but you really would enjoy it even more if you read the entire series starting with the first book. There are a couple of continuing threads throughout the series.

This author has become a favorite of mine in the cozy mystery field. She has several other cozy series and all are wonderful. I can never turn down one of her books. She’s such a master of the cozy mystery writing craft and she’s perfect at including the kitties.

I’m looking forward to the next book.







FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nora finds another dead body, this time in an old manor and staged to appear as if a vampire is on the loose. But Nora’s not biting and is determined to stake her claim to outing the true killer. With Nick’s help can she do it and not only save the fundraiser but also herself?

A great series! I can’t get enough of Nick and Nora! Well written and always plenty going on.

Nora Charles and her feline sidekick, Nick, are back in Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio. This is the seventh book in the Nick and Nora Mystery series, and it’s just as delightful as the previous books! If you haven’t read them, don’t worry; you can read this as a standalone and enjoy it just as much!

It’s the Halloween season, and Nora has been asked to cater a Halloween fundraiser at the purportedly cursed Waincroft Manor. When she meets at the manor with her friends who will be helping prepare for the fundraiser too, Nora is the first to enter. She’s almost bowled over by a teenager as she’s entering, and she sees why the teen was in such a hurry to leave. There’s a casket in the manor! The casket holds the corpse of a man with two holes in the side of his neck that look eerily like a vampire bite! Of course, Nora is going to do some snooping, er investigating, to find out just who the corpse is, why his body was there, and who put him there. Shortly after this shocking discovery, Nora finds another body in the manor! An old high school acquaintance is accused of both murders, and Nora is even more determined to find out the truth!

I loved Bell, Book and Corpses! I enjoy reading “seasonal” books because they put me in the mood for the season. Reading this definitely got me in the mood for fall weather and all that goes along with it! It also made me really hungry for grilled cheese! You see, Nora owns a sandwich shop, and several grilled cheese sandwiches are consumed here! She also serves sandwiches with clever names of celebrities. You’re going to crave sandwiches! One of the grilled cheese lovers is part of a ghost hunting group who added to the mystery. In this case, they think they’re going to connect with a vampire…it’s a long story! You’ll have to read this to find out more!

Once again, I loved the characters in Bell, Book and Corpses! Many of the series regulars show up in addition to the main characters. Nora’s sister is still living with her, but the poor girl has a cold the whole book! Who can relate?! Nora’s BFF, her current flame, her police detective arch nemesis…okay, that might be too dramatic…are still just as well-written as ever. They feel like old friends. I enjoyed getting to know some new characters who I hope will become regulars!

This mystery is well-plotted and will have you chasing lots of leads…many of which turn out to be red herrings! I always enjoy following along with Nora and Nick (and others) as they follow the clues and solve the mystery. Nick loves giving Nora hints with Scrabble tiles and well-timed yowls and meows!

I highly recommend Bell, Book and Corpses for its wonderful characters, spooky Halloween feel, drool-worthy sandwiches, and exciting mystery! It gets five stars from me!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Where better to hold a community fundraiser on Halloween than in a mansion said to be linked to fatal curses and witchcraft? Waincroft Manor has been vacant for years and the current owner willingly gives her approval. But when Nora, her detective cat Nick and a few committee members arrive to check out the creepy place a young boy runs out the door, struggles with Nora, pushes her down, and runs into the woods. While all that is happening Nick escapes into the house. When Nora catches up with him she finds a coffin in the room. A coffin complete with a dead body.  A dead body with two bite marks on its neck. A body that was drained of all its blood. Witchcraft, curses, okay, but there was no mention of vampires!

Will Nick and Nora be able to figure out who sucked the blood out of the victim in time to save the fundraiser? Or will Nick spell out more doom and gloom? Will Nora's snooping go too far and cost her her life? And one of Nick's too?

_____

This is such a fun series! Ms. LoTempio's characters are so well-crafted. She gives a twist to the characters of The Thin Man movies. This Nick is a cool cat with a unique talent and flair for solving murders. This Nora owns a sandwich shop and just passed a private investigator course making her even more credible butting into the investigation. Or so she thought. Her previous FBI boyfriend is off on a case but she has now started dating Leroy Samms, another FBI agent she had an "intimate moment" with in college. Nick's former human, also named Nick is a PI and possible spy whose whereabouts are unknown, which is a mystery Nora hasn't been able to solve.

The author has written a complex mystery. The motive was hard to define but Nora with Nick delved in to follow each clue and came up with some interesting theories. Then there was another murder which gave Nora more things to figure out. It wasn't until a ballpoint pen burst and brought back an important memory that the clues started to fall into place. But was Nora too late? She needed to follow through to see if she was right. This led to a surprising finding, reveal, confrontation, and a scary situation. I loved all the red herrings, twists, and turns, and that mystery was compelling and not easy to solve. It made me think. I also loved the humor of the ending and Nick's Scrabble tiles.

Bell, Book, and Corpses was a totally entertaining read and I escaped right into it. I love the unique investigative team of Nick and Nora and can never get enough. I am keen to see what Ms. LoTempio has planned for them next. I hope this series continues for a long time.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

A spooky cozy story! It’s perfect for October and Halloween. My only qualm with the book is that the extensive amount of character names was confusing for a while before I settled into the story. Overall, it was a fun time. Thanks for letting me read it early.

Bell, Books and Corpses is a fast easy read, and like many cozy mysteries it is packed with clues to help readers solve the crimes. This is the 7th novel in T. C. LoTempio's Nick and Nora Mystery series. This series is LoTempio's take on the Thin Man series. Bell, Books and Corpses pairs Nora Charles with a talented and smart Tuxedo cat, named Nick. While Nora sometimes encounters danger, readers do not need to worry about Nick. He is always smart enough to escape danger. While not a thriller, there is some tension, but the goal is to offer enough clues so that readers are solving the mystery along with Nora. Nick, however, always solves the mystery first. Although to be totally honest, I solved the mystery as fast as Nick.

This LoTempio novel is the 5th of this series that I have read. These cozy mysteries are easy and enjoyable, especially for cat lovers. I am not sure about the title, which does not seem to fit the content of the novel, unless in the most oblique way, as a play on words, which is good enough for me. Thank you to Beyond the Page and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️ 𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 ⭐️
Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

sᥡᥒ᥆⍴sіs:
Waincroft Manor has long been tied to rumors of witchcraft and fatal curses, and to Nora Charles, that makes it the perfect place for a Halloween fundraiser. But her first trip to the deserted old mansion turns out to be truly ghoulish when she discovers a dead body. What’s more, the corpse is laid out in a coffin—with two bite marks on its neck. Then the autopsy comes back showing that the body was drained of blood, and there’s no stopping the local gossips from whispering the word vampire to anyone who will listen.

Determined to dispel the rumors and save the fundraiser, Nora sets out to prove the murderer was quite human after all. Sifting through the clues, she learns of a bitter family rivalry that spans generations, and a more recent conflict that may point to the motive for the murder. And when Nick spells out a clue that proves to be the missing piece of the puzzle, Nora knows she’ll have to watch her back—because there’s a killer out there who wants to keep some secrets buried, and they’ll happily bury Nora right along with them . . .
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mᥡ rᥱ᥎іᥱᥕ:
I’ve been really getting into reading cozy mysteries and this one didn’t disappoint! This was the first book by this author that I’ve read and it can absolutely read as a stand alone. I was never confused who the characters were or what was going on. It was beautifully written and perfect for the spooky season.

The best part of this book is Nick who is the cat side kick of Nora. Nick is not your average cat though, helping solve the towns mysteries by communicating through scrabble tiles he is one step ahead of your average house cat. I highly recommend this book for the cat lover readers who want to dive into the spooky season vibes, this book will not disappoint!

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC. Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio is available for purchase today, September 24!