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Witch City Mystery #15
Sugar and Spite
There’s no place like Salem, Massachusetts—aka “the witch city”—for Halloween. As residents embrace their historic heritage to celebrate the season, WICH-TV program director Lee Barrett is assigned the decadent task of highlighting the village’s delectable sweet shops—only to learn that some revelers prefer deadly tricks over delicious treats . . .
Casa del Chocolate is one of Salem’s most charming boutique candy shops, making it a perfect profile story. Although preoccupied with her own personal sweet news—Lee and her detective husband Pete Mondello are expecting a bundle of joy—she cheerfully agrees to interview the chocolatier. Since becoming pregnant, the radiant and exhilarated mother-to-be has discovered that she is finally free of the unwanted haunting “visions” she has endured since childhood.
Shirley Parker inherited Casa del Chocolate, housed in her beautiful ancestral home on the waterfront, continuing her family’s sweet tradition of conjuring magical treats for the folks of Salem. Mesmerized by the delightful chocolate scented aromas filling the air while touring the kitchen, Lee is shocked when she stumbles upon the murdered body of Barney Bingham, Shirley’s estranged husband.
As the police focus their suspicions on Shirley, Lee learns that many people had reasons for wanting Barney dead. Now, with help from Pete, tarot reader River North, and clairvoyant gentleman cat O’Ryan, as well as some new feline friends, Lee must unmask the true killer—and cope with the sudden return of her troubling “visions”. . .
Casa del Chocolate is one of Salem’s most charming boutique candy shops, making it a perfect profile story. Although preoccupied with her own personal sweet news—Lee and her detective husband Pete Mondello are expecting a bundle of joy—she cheerfully agrees to interview the chocolatier. Since becoming pregnant, the radiant and exhilarated mother-to-be has discovered that she is finally free of the unwanted haunting “visions” she has endured since childhood.
Shirley Parker inherited Casa del Chocolate, housed in her beautiful ancestral home on the waterfront, continuing her family’s sweet tradition of conjuring magical treats for the folks of Salem. Mesmerized by the delightful chocolate scented aromas filling the air while touring the kitchen, Lee is shocked when she stumbles upon the murdered body of Barney Bingham, Shirley’s estranged husband.
As the police focus their suspicions on Shirley, Lee learns that many people had reasons for wanting Barney dead. Now, with help from Pete, tarot reader River North, and clairvoyant gentleman cat O’Ryan, as well as some new feline friends, Lee must unmask the true killer—and cope with the sudden return of her troubling “visions”. . .
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
43 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Carol J. Perry
36 books783 followersCarol J. Perry is the author of the Witch City Mystery series and the Haunted Haven series, both from Kensington Publishers. The Witch City stories take place in the magical city of Salem, Massachusetts--the "Witch City." Carol was actually born in Salem (on Halloween eve!) and knows the city well. The Haunted Haven books take place in Carol's adopted home state of Florida. As an experienced travel writer for magazines and newspapers, Carol knows her way around the Sunshine State too. The Salem books are based of course on a real city but Haven, Florida is made up of bits and pieces of some of the Sunshine State's charming older towns--bypassed by the theme parks. Readers of the Witch City books have come to know O'Ryan, a most remarkable cat. The new series introduces Finn, a lovable Golden Retriever.
Carol lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida with her husband Dan.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Carol lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida with her husband Dan.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 12, 2025
As I said, my thoughts earlier in a update, I won’t say that again. I really like the series except for a couple things. The author didn’t say, but this almost felt like the end of the series. considering the last couple books, I think this series has run its course. There’s really no magic left in it. It was much more prevalent in the earlier books.
October 29, 2025
Sugar and Spite is the fifteenth entry in the Witch City Mystery series. Lee and her detective husband Pete are expecting a baby. This means cutting down on work. Casa del Chocolate is one of Salem’s most charming boutique candy shops, making it a perfect profile story. It seems easy so Lee agrees to interview the chocolatier. Since becoming pregnant, Lee has discovered that she is finally free of the unwanted haunting visions she has endured since childhood so she's really in a good mood.
Shirley Parker inherited Casa del Chocolate, housed in her beautiful ancestral home on the waterfront, continuing her family’s tradition of conjuring magical treats for the folks of Salem. While touring the kitchen, Lee stumbles upon the murdered body of Barney Bingham, Shirley’s estranged husband. Lee knows she shouldn't get involved, but that might be easier said than done.
Sugar and Spite takes place just before Halloween. There aren't really a lot of details about it but all the candy and chocolate talk is a nice touch. Plus Salem always has a witchy vibe anyway.
The mystery itself and how Lee goes about investigating are different this time. She truly means to stay out of danger but that doesn't mean she can avoid everything. Trouble has a way of finding her. There didn't seem to be a lot of suspects, but the main mystery for the reader wasn't necessarily about the killer but something else going on. It all works out in a satisfying way, especially the showdown with the villain.
The writing is really good. I enjoy everything that goes on in Lee's daily activities. It just feels so cozy. I've only read a couple other books in the series, but there is a nice sense of familiarity with the characters and settings..
I'm not sure if this is going to be the last book in the series. There is a sense of wrapping things up, but Lee's life is changing so it makes sense to have things presented that way. I hope not though because this is a fun read. Now I just need to read the rest!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read! All opinions are my own.
Shirley Parker inherited Casa del Chocolate, housed in her beautiful ancestral home on the waterfront, continuing her family’s tradition of conjuring magical treats for the folks of Salem. While touring the kitchen, Lee stumbles upon the murdered body of Barney Bingham, Shirley’s estranged husband. Lee knows she shouldn't get involved, but that might be easier said than done.
Sugar and Spite takes place just before Halloween. There aren't really a lot of details about it but all the candy and chocolate talk is a nice touch. Plus Salem always has a witchy vibe anyway.
The mystery itself and how Lee goes about investigating are different this time. She truly means to stay out of danger but that doesn't mean she can avoid everything. Trouble has a way of finding her. There didn't seem to be a lot of suspects, but the main mystery for the reader wasn't necessarily about the killer but something else going on. It all works out in a satisfying way, especially the showdown with the villain.
The writing is really good. I enjoy everything that goes on in Lee's daily activities. It just feels so cozy. I've only read a couple other books in the series, but there is a nice sense of familiarity with the characters and settings..
I'm not sure if this is going to be the last book in the series. There is a sense of wrapping things up, but Lee's life is changing so it makes sense to have things presented that way. I hope not though because this is a fun read. Now I just need to read the rest!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read! All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2025
Disappointing book. It really dragged on and then all of a sudden everything happened in the last few pages. But overall I found the way pregnancy and new motherhood was treated the most distracting and frustrating. The repeat focus on Lee’s weight, plans to lose weight, weighing herself at 2 weeks postpartum, etc. was really off putting. A number of other things were very unrealistic about late pregnancy and early motherhood, which isn’t a big deal when it’s not really the point of the book - but then again it was such a central point of this book that it was grating to have it be so off-base. It felt very much like someone writing about an experience they’d never had, through a very old fashioned lens. I’m sure I’m more bothered by it having had my own kids recently but it was a bummer to have it so distracting in the book.
September 26, 2025
First of all, thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book!
Rare is it that I don’t enjoy a cozy mystery, but this one didn’t hit for me the way I’d hoped it would. Perhaps with the inevitable baby by the end of the book the two paths (the other the murder mystery) didn’t really complement each other and instead the book felt meandering and disjointed. I have read some of the previous books in this series and they were far better, so it could just be the series getting stale.
I will add that I found it odd that a baby born at 32 weeks was so large, didn’t require any hospital stay and took to breastfeeding immediately. Also why does Lee mention holding the baby on her hip when she leaves hospital? And then the comments of how easy everything is, she has so much time to kill, she’s down a pound of baby weight quickly. The whole thing just hit wrong. Good thing this is fiction, Lee has a mythical unicorn baby that is no bother whatsoever 😅
Just not as good as previous books. If you’re a long term reader of this series then you may enjoy it more than I did. Two stars.
Rare is it that I don’t enjoy a cozy mystery, but this one didn’t hit for me the way I’d hoped it would. Perhaps with the inevitable baby by the end of the book the two paths (the other the murder mystery) didn’t really complement each other and instead the book felt meandering and disjointed. I have read some of the previous books in this series and they were far better, so it could just be the series getting stale.
I will add that I found it odd that a baby born at 32 weeks was so large, didn’t require any hospital stay and took to breastfeeding immediately. Also why does Lee mention holding the baby on her hip when she leaves hospital? And then the comments of how easy everything is, she has so much time to kill, she’s down a pound of baby weight quickly. The whole thing just hit wrong. Good thing this is fiction, Lee has a mythical unicorn baby that is no bother whatsoever 😅
Just not as good as previous books. If you’re a long term reader of this series then you may enjoy it more than I did. Two stars.
November 14, 2025
4.5 ✨. This is such a great series, even 15 books in. While visiting various Salem candy stores to report on the nearing Halloween holiday, Lee finds a dead body in the basement of Casa de Chocolate. There are few suspects this time and they include the ex wife and adult son of the victim, who are both a bit creepy. This really is mostly about Lee and Pete and their future with baby Ella Marie. It seemed like the ending was maybe the end of the series, but I hope not. I've enjoyed every book and learned a lot about Salem.
August 20, 2025
"Sugar and Spite (A Witch City Mystery #15)" by Carol J. Perry may be the final book in the series. At least how the final chapter read like an epilogue wrapping up the various characters stories. However, it did leave things open to come back to their world once Lee's daughter is a bit older. Which leads to the big life event of this book is the birth of Lee's daughter.
The mystery part was a bit lighter than usual since the pregnancy and birth did take a bit of a chunk of the story. I wish my child's birth and first few weeks was so easy I could feel like I had the running of my house and life so under control I wanted to go back go work. It wasn't, Lee is super blessed in her life and first child.
Lee can't help but want to find put what happened to the man who died in her neighborhood at a mansion turned chocolate factory. Especially since his ex-wife and son seem to be stalking her. She doesn't have time for this. She has fluff pieces to film and a baby on the way/newborn.
The mystery part was a bit lighter than usual since the pregnancy and birth did take a bit of a chunk of the story. I wish my child's birth and first few weeks was so easy I could feel like I had the running of my house and life so under control I wanted to go back go work. It wasn't, Lee is super blessed in her life and first child.
Lee can't help but want to find put what happened to the man who died in her neighborhood at a mansion turned chocolate factory. Especially since his ex-wife and son seem to be stalking her. She doesn't have time for this. She has fluff pieces to film and a baby on the way/newborn.
May 25, 2025
#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.
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.
December 29, 2025
This was a good addition to the series. I've enjoyed following along as Lee has made a place for herself in Salem and within her community; she has really developed as the series has progressed. The series itself has morphed as well, being less about the magical qualities of the town and more about how Lee sees it through the eyes of a reporter. This mystery had almost no witchiness to it, and if it hadn't been for River reading her cards a few times, there wouldn't have been any at all. This one focused more on her new roles as wife, mother, and freelance reporter, which was good, but also felt like an end to the series (not sure if that was the intent). Since it took a backseat to other things going on, the mystery wasn't very difficult to solve. I enjoyed this but miss more of the paranormal aspect that used to be in the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
June 26, 2025
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.
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.
October 20, 2025
4.5 stars
The main character of the series is Lee Barrett Mondello who is a program director for a TV station. She's married to a detective and is currently expecting their first child. She often has visions when looking into reflective surfaces and her best friend River is a practicing witch who reads tarot cards and interprets dreams. Much of this book focuses on Lee's personal life as well as the day-to-day tasks she has as program director. She is working on a story that will spotlight local candy stores, which is fun to read about. That assignment leads her to discover a dead body at a boutique candy shop. She tries to stay out of the investigation, but can't help but look for clues as to who the killer is.
This is the fifteenth book in the series. I started reading these books late in the series, but have really enjoyed them. This one is a bit lighter on the investigating than the others I've read, but I still had so much fun reading this book. It was relaxing and entertaining and a quick, easy read. The last chapter wraps up several things in Lee's life and has me wondering if this will be the end of the series. I hope not because I've really come to enjoy these books.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
The main character of the series is Lee Barrett Mondello who is a program director for a TV station. She's married to a detective and is currently expecting their first child. She often has visions when looking into reflective surfaces and her best friend River is a practicing witch who reads tarot cards and interprets dreams. Much of this book focuses on Lee's personal life as well as the day-to-day tasks she has as program director. She is working on a story that will spotlight local candy stores, which is fun to read about. That assignment leads her to discover a dead body at a boutique candy shop. She tries to stay out of the investigation, but can't help but look for clues as to who the killer is.
This is the fifteenth book in the series. I started reading these books late in the series, but have really enjoyed them. This one is a bit lighter on the investigating than the others I've read, but I still had so much fun reading this book. It was relaxing and entertaining and a quick, easy read. The last chapter wraps up several things in Lee's life and has me wondering if this will be the end of the series. I hope not because I've really come to enjoy these books.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
November 3, 2025
2025 bk 127. I have so enjoyed this series and this book brings this to a new level as new Mom, Lee, works to solve the mystery of a candy shop murder. The cast of characters are well developed and continue to show their care for each other in the midst of murder.
December 9, 2025
Long time fan of this series and this seems like the last book. Was extremely disappointed in this one. First, this books is more about Lee being pregnant, not the mystery. And she always seemed to be an smart independent career woman so some of her choices here were out of character-like all the pink for the babies room, and being surprised that she didn’t really want to be a stay at home mom. And totally missing the culprit.
Also her husband, not stopping the stalker-he’s a detective! Other things including typos and poor editing were very unlike the previous ones. If it is the last, it’s a sad way to go out.
Also her husband, not stopping the stalker-he’s a detective! Other things including typos and poor editing were very unlike the previous ones. If it is the last, it’s a sad way to go out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2025
The copyediting on this book is awful. Numerous words are split apart for no reason (Bing ham, shel ter, kill ings), and then some words are combined unnecessarily (darnednear, wellearned, everyplace, wellmaintained, thirdfloor). The plot isn’t much better. I’ve read all of the Salem books from this author, but this one was a challenge to complete. Pete just came off as controlling, while Lee talked about their baby and her name ad nauseam. We get it, you’re having a baby! And I’m a mother! I understand parenthood and pregnancy, but this book was way over the top. Lee honestly seemed simple in this one. And the labor and delivery was so ridiculous. She had one contraction and then rushed to the hospital, where she immediate gave birth. I don’t think so! Sadly, I think this series has run its course. This needs to be the last book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
This was my first time reading a book from the Witch City Mystery series, and while I liked the Salem setting and the Halloween vibe, I didn’t feel completely pulled in.
The story follows Lee Barrett, a TV reporter who gets involved in a murder investigation tied to a local chocolate shop. The premise was fun, especially with the hints of magic woven in, and I enjoyed the seasonal atmosphere — it definitely had that cozy October feel.
That said, I did feel a bit lost at times, likely because I haven’t read the earlier books. There were references to characters and backstory that seemed important but weren’t fully explained, which made it harder to connect with the story. Some of the magical elements also felt a bit vague, especially around Lee’s visions.
Overall, this was a decent cozy mystery with a fun setting, but it didn’t completely hook me. I think longtime fans of the series will enjoy it more, but as a new reader, I found it just okay.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
The story follows Lee Barrett, a TV reporter who gets involved in a murder investigation tied to a local chocolate shop. The premise was fun, especially with the hints of magic woven in, and I enjoyed the seasonal atmosphere — it definitely had that cozy October feel.
That said, I did feel a bit lost at times, likely because I haven’t read the earlier books. There were references to characters and backstory that seemed important but weren’t fully explained, which made it harder to connect with the story. Some of the magical elements also felt a bit vague, especially around Lee’s visions.
Overall, this was a decent cozy mystery with a fun setting, but it didn’t completely hook me. I think longtime fans of the series will enjoy it more, but as a new reader, I found it just okay.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
November 2, 2025
This is one of my favorite mystery series. And with my all-time preferred vacation spot as a setting (Salem, Massachusetts) how can it lose!
In this 15th Witch City Mystery we see protagonist Lee Barrett Mondello still at work, despite an upcoming arrival at home. The pregnant Lee isn't letting the eminent birth of Ella Marie slow her down.
As an important staffer at WICH-TV, Lee is busy filming interviews with owners of all the candy stores in Salem in preparation for the holidays. That turns out to be quite an endeavor, until she discovers a body on the floor of a chocolate factory.
This author keeps adding a diversity of interesting characters as the series continues to evolve. A pet-friendly atmosphere in this well-written series also provides an additional element of fun to the stories.
These books are just the thing if you want to learn about one of the most awesome tourist cities in New England.
In this 15th Witch City Mystery we see protagonist Lee Barrett Mondello still at work, despite an upcoming arrival at home. The pregnant Lee isn't letting the eminent birth of Ella Marie slow her down.
As an important staffer at WICH-TV, Lee is busy filming interviews with owners of all the candy stores in Salem in preparation for the holidays. That turns out to be quite an endeavor, until she discovers a body on the floor of a chocolate factory.
This author keeps adding a diversity of interesting characters as the series continues to evolve. A pet-friendly atmosphere in this well-written series also provides an additional element of fun to the stories.
These books are just the thing if you want to learn about one of the most awesome tourist cities in New England.
November 20, 2025
It always changes a series once the independent main female character gets married. Pregnancies tend to ruin the series for me. Such was the case for me with this book. Through most of the book, she had lost her special gift of scrying. Without it, she's just a former news reporter reduced to covering fluff pieces about Halloween candy. Throughout the book I had the feeling that this was going to be the final book in the series, but there was no grand announcement after the narrative was over. If it is the end, it was not a satisfying end. The last few chapters were a sloppy mess leaving the reader wondering just how much time had passed.It almost felt as if this book were written by a not as talented as Carol J. Perry ghost writer or poorly programmed AI. There was some sort of persistant problem with words having a space in the middle, especially for people's names. I don't know if it was only in the Kindle edition or also in the print edition. It could have been a coding error. If so, it should have been quickly found and fixed before the book was released.
I hope there will be a next book dealing with coming to realize that being a stay at home mom is not as fulfilling as she thought it would be and her getting back into being a news reporter again.
I hope there will be a next book dealing with coming to realize that being a stay at home mom is not as fulfilling as she thought it would be and her getting back into being a news reporter again.
December 9, 2025
I feel this is the end of the series but hope I am wrong. I love all of the characters
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
2.75 but I’m rounding down to two stars. Newly postpartum is hard, you are feeding every 3 hrs I think and it’s important! Also wasn’t this baby like 2 months early? I thought she said she was 7 months pregnant at the beginning.
There was a lot of weight talk. I have a hard time believing unless she was some trad wife, that she would be this obsessed with getting back to her pre baby weight two weeks post birth. Honestly gross.
Also, I’m all for her being a SAHM, she is rich which she reminds us. But it also doesn’t seem like she really wants that BUT she is working two weeks in. Her husband is too?!?! Today???? Crazy and it was very light on the mystery. Felt like an ending to the series but I think I may also be done.
Also, very little magic in this story.
There was a lot of weight talk. I have a hard time believing unless she was some trad wife, that she would be this obsessed with getting back to her pre baby weight two weeks post birth. Honestly gross.
Also, I’m all for her being a SAHM, she is rich which she reminds us. But it also doesn’t seem like she really wants that BUT she is working two weeks in. Her husband is too?!?! Today???? Crazy and it was very light on the mystery. Felt like an ending to the series but I think I may also be done.
Also, very little magic in this story.
October 23, 2025
4.5⭐
Engaging and engrossing, especially when consider this is the fifteenth book in the series, this is one of my favorites in the series. Lee continues working at WICH-TV even though she's seven months pregnant. When she discovers a body in the basement production room of a boutique choclatier, she passes on the coverage of the murder to another reporter, but things keep happening to keep her connected. The mystery is solid and the balance between it and daily life was exceptionally well done. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Engaging and engrossing, especially when consider this is the fifteenth book in the series, this is one of my favorites in the series. Lee continues working at WICH-TV even though she's seven months pregnant. When she discovers a body in the basement production room of a boutique choclatier, she passes on the coverage of the murder to another reporter, but things keep happening to keep her connected. The mystery is solid and the balance between it and daily life was exceptionally well done. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2025
Felt like the end which is sad because this one had the weakest story. I truly enjoy this series but the unfortunate formatting errors kept pulling me out of the story. I lost count of the number of times I saw Mon dello, Bing ham, choc olate, etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
With Halloween approaching, Lee is tasked with doing a series on local candy shops in Salem. Considering she’s eight months pregnant, she welcomes the easy nature of her assignment, although Lee sometimes finds herself missing the more serious investigative reporting she used to do. While touring Casa de Chocolatte, Lee stumbles upon the dead body of the owner’s ex-husband, Bernie Bingham. Shop owner Shirley Parker had divorced Bernie years ago, but she was still making palimony payments to him. The police naturally focus on Shirley. Lee, however, learns that Bernie had crossed plenty of shady characters in Salem. She tries to focus on her own assignments, but Lee keeps getting drawn back into the drama. She notices that both Shirley and her adult son, Hugh, seem to show up wherever she goes. Lee’s husband, Pete, becomes aggravated and even more protective, as does their cat, O’Ryan. Lee can’t wait for this case to be solved so she can concentrate on motherhood.
I enjoyed the first 70% of this story. Characters were real and relatable, the plot was fast-paced and exciting, and Bernie’s murder was truly confounding. Late in the book, however, things went completely off the rails. The author dropped her fudge, and the editor failed to clean it up.
Spoilers and Bitching!!!!
- Lee went into labor a month early, but no one else besides me seemed alarmed by this.
- On page 217, which seemed a couple weeks after the baby was born, the author mentioned how Lee would walk the dog as she was taking a stroll with the baby in her carriage. On page 247, however, was this quote: “I’m dying to give Ella her first carriage ride.” I was like, ‘Wait. What?’ and I flipped back several pages to assure myself I wasn’t crazy.
- How much time has actually passed? Page 247 also included discussion of Bernie’s upcoming funeral. The man was murdered well before the baby was born; how long does it take to plant him?!
- Was Bernie’s girlfriend named Tricia or Trisha? Editing, people.
- On page 248, Lee was talking to Pete about how Shirley had given money to Bernie’s buddy, Earl, to buy some decent clothes for the funeral. Funny thing is, Lee and Pete had almost that exact same conversation on page 220. Yes, I flipped back to assure myself I wasn’t crazy.
- On page 249, Pete brought lunch home for Lee, and when he left to return to work ‘...it was only one thirty and the whole afternoon loomed ahead of me.’ Lee then took Ella to see her Aunt Ibby, learned something that distressed her, went home, called Pete, he came rushing home to soothe her, and when he left...’it wasn’t even noon yet, and again, the day stretched out before me.’ Lest you think I’m crazy and these were two different days, I can assure you they were not. Lee’s co-workers were planning a baby shower for her the following afternoon, which happened as scheduled the next day.
- By page 260, Lee’s boss is asking her to do some simple fluff assignments. How old was the baby at this point?! A week, two weeks? She sure as hell wasn’t six weeks old!
- For that matter, Lee certainly seemed energetic, put-together, and accomplished for a woman who just gave birth. I’m not a mother, but perhaps those of you who are can weigh in on this. Did you shower, dress, take care of your fussy newborn, and have the house cleaned before lunch each day while wondering what you were going to do all afternoon? And if so, were you snorting cocaine?
- On page 261, Pete and Lee hooked up the baby monitor Shirley had given them as a gift and decided to test it out. They flopped into their bed and pulled up the feed on a phone, only to have O’Ryan block the view. That led them to realize that the cat was blocking someone else’s view, whereupon they quickly unhooked the monitor. On page 267, Hugh tells them he caught his mother watching Lee as she rocked and nursed the baby…but that never happened! Pete and Lee had unhooked the monitor immediately.
Since all of that ‘What-the-F*ckery’ happened late in the book, it gave the impression that the author had tired of it and was just trying to wrap things up quickly. It was sloppy. Even the resolution of the murder was just handed to them when one character came to the police to throw another under the bus, bringing the receipts along to prove it. It was disappointing. Another thing I found disappointing was the lack of the trademark paranormal element. Lee’s pregnancy seemed to have curtailed her ability to see visions in reflective surfaces. The author didn’t indicate this is the last book in the series, but with the way the final chapter ended, I wouldn’t be surprised.
I truly enjoyed most of the book until it went tits up at the end. For that reason, it gets an average score of three, and I believe that’s being lenient.
I enjoyed the first 70% of this story. Characters were real and relatable, the plot was fast-paced and exciting, and Bernie’s murder was truly confounding. Late in the book, however, things went completely off the rails. The author dropped her fudge, and the editor failed to clean it up.
Spoilers and Bitching!!!!
- Lee went into labor a month early, but no one else besides me seemed alarmed by this.
- On page 217, which seemed a couple weeks after the baby was born, the author mentioned how Lee would walk the dog as she was taking a stroll with the baby in her carriage. On page 247, however, was this quote: “I’m dying to give Ella her first carriage ride.” I was like, ‘Wait. What?’ and I flipped back several pages to assure myself I wasn’t crazy.
- How much time has actually passed? Page 247 also included discussion of Bernie’s upcoming funeral. The man was murdered well before the baby was born; how long does it take to plant him?!
- Was Bernie’s girlfriend named Tricia or Trisha? Editing, people.
- On page 248, Lee was talking to Pete about how Shirley had given money to Bernie’s buddy, Earl, to buy some decent clothes for the funeral. Funny thing is, Lee and Pete had almost that exact same conversation on page 220. Yes, I flipped back to assure myself I wasn’t crazy.
- On page 249, Pete brought lunch home for Lee, and when he left to return to work ‘...it was only one thirty and the whole afternoon loomed ahead of me.’ Lee then took Ella to see her Aunt Ibby, learned something that distressed her, went home, called Pete, he came rushing home to soothe her, and when he left...’it wasn’t even noon yet, and again, the day stretched out before me.’ Lest you think I’m crazy and these were two different days, I can assure you they were not. Lee’s co-workers were planning a baby shower for her the following afternoon, which happened as scheduled the next day.
- By page 260, Lee’s boss is asking her to do some simple fluff assignments. How old was the baby at this point?! A week, two weeks? She sure as hell wasn’t six weeks old!
- For that matter, Lee certainly seemed energetic, put-together, and accomplished for a woman who just gave birth. I’m not a mother, but perhaps those of you who are can weigh in on this. Did you shower, dress, take care of your fussy newborn, and have the house cleaned before lunch each day while wondering what you were going to do all afternoon? And if so, were you snorting cocaine?
- On page 261, Pete and Lee hooked up the baby monitor Shirley had given them as a gift and decided to test it out. They flopped into their bed and pulled up the feed on a phone, only to have O’Ryan block the view. That led them to realize that the cat was blocking someone else’s view, whereupon they quickly unhooked the monitor. On page 267, Hugh tells them he caught his mother watching Lee as she rocked and nursed the baby…but that never happened! Pete and Lee had unhooked the monitor immediately.
Since all of that ‘What-the-F*ckery’ happened late in the book, it gave the impression that the author had tired of it and was just trying to wrap things up quickly. It was sloppy. Even the resolution of the murder was just handed to them when one character came to the police to throw another under the bus, bringing the receipts along to prove it. It was disappointing. Another thing I found disappointing was the lack of the trademark paranormal element. Lee’s pregnancy seemed to have curtailed her ability to see visions in reflective surfaces. The author didn’t indicate this is the last book in the series, but with the way the final chapter ended, I wouldn’t be surprised.
I truly enjoyed most of the book until it went tits up at the end. For that reason, it gets an average score of three, and I believe that’s being lenient.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2026
As others have said, the whole pregnancy plot made no sense and was both out dated and all over the place. Her randomly wanting to be a stay at home mom on such weak grounds as "I'm going to breastfeed" is just bizarre given the character and the fact loads of modern women breast feed and work full time. There's a ton of technology out there to help working moms with this. There's a brief line that later after baby is born that tries to make it Pete's idea because he was raised by a stay at home mom, but this is only mentioned the once as she's deciding to NOT stay at home?? Which at least was what everyone else in the book said would happen when she repeatedly said she was, but her fixation on trying that didn't make any sense given past character development. Also, she starts the book at 7 months pregnant (so somewhere between say 30-34 weeks), what feels like less than 2 weeks go by and then she has a perfectly healthy baby that goes home in two days? (After planning to start her maternity leave/resigning -- it kept going back and forth -- that early despite "feeling great") I know it's possible, but that seemed really far fetched considering the goal is typically 39-40 weeks. Also, the baby is sitting up well enough to eat in a high chair within a month. Um, no. That's not how babies work. Oh, and when she goes back to work, it's only two weeks after baby is born and there's no mention of any accommodations or any changes being needed. (Not that women can't go back quickly, but my understanding is it takes a bit longer than two weeks to heal from a natural birth before you're back to normal.)
As far as the murder plot, the pacing was also all over the place. The basic plot wasn't bad, had intriguing points and a lot of potential that wasn't really used but then nothing seemed to happen to really point to which of the two prime suspects really did it. About 40 pages from the end an obvious plot twist potential is added, but then nothing happens with it. We go back to no real progress until everything then happens rapid fire. For some inexplicable reason both Pete and Lee are idiots about taking gifts from and USING gifts from one of the people who is a prime murder suspect and has been stalking Lee. This of course tells the reader in very obvious terms who dun it. But the police only find out because they go talk to the other suspect and with virtually no prompting the beans are spilled of exactly what happened. The reason given in the book is that the fact they were idiots caused the other suspect to realize just how fixated the murderer had gotten and that's why they were guilty enough to tell the full story.
A lot of stupid pills were really taken in this one. The plot did keep me reading, so I'll give it a 3-star, but there is also a lot of cringe randomness that could have easily been eliminated. There have been much better books in this series.
As far as the murder plot, the pacing was also all over the place. The basic plot wasn't bad, had intriguing points and a lot of potential that wasn't really used but then nothing seemed to happen to really point to which of the two prime suspects really did it. About 40 pages from the end an obvious plot twist potential is added, but then nothing happens with it. We go back to no real progress until everything then happens rapid fire. For some inexplicable reason both Pete and Lee are idiots about taking gifts from and USING gifts from one of the people who is a prime murder suspect and has been stalking Lee. This of course tells the reader in very obvious terms who dun it. But the police only find out because they go talk to the other suspect and with virtually no prompting the beans are spilled of exactly what happened. The reason given in the book is that the fact they were idiots caused the other suspect to realize just how fixated the murderer had gotten and that's why they were guilty enough to tell the full story.
A lot of stupid pills were really taken in this one. The plot did keep me reading, so I'll give it a 3-star, but there is also a lot of cringe randomness that could have easily been eliminated. There have been much better books in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
It is Halloween time in the city of Salem, Massachusetts. To many that might sound common place but for Lee Barrett Mondello, program director for WCH TV, it is an opportunity to get out from behind her desk and visit the local sweet shops. These days Lee is watching her weight because she has been putting on a few pounds over the last 8 almost 9 months. That's right, Lee and her husband, police detective Pete are expecting their first baby. If this is your first Witch City Mystery, no worries, this is a stand-alone cozy.
Lee is feeling pretty ready for this new adventure. She is a strong character and has led a life full of change starting with losing her parents to a plane crash and being raised by her feisty librarian Aunt Ibby, she was widowed at a young age when her race car driving husband died in a car accident and then she found herself investigating one mystery after another as a reporter for WCH TV which led her to meet TV personality and tarot card reading wiccan River North who one of the few people who know something special about Lee. Lee is a "scryer" or if you prefer, a "gazer" which means she can see visions in reflective surfaces. These visions are not always straightforward, but they have all been helpful in past adventures. Unlike other paranormal cozy sleuths, Lee is not a fan of this ability or the flashing lights and unexpected visions. This time when she nearly stumbles over a dead body in the Casa de Chocolate sweets shop, she doesn't see a thing. Lee might not be getting visions, but she is getting weird vibes from the son of the victim. Salem might be a cozy sized town but that is no reason to run into the same person constantly when there is no logical reason for paths to cross. Lee says that she is looking forward to setting down the mic and picking up the stroller as she transitions to a stay-at-home mom. Stay-at-home moms don't chase down clues or put themselves into possible danger. In fact, Lee is doing her best to steer clear of this mystery, sample candies, and report on the plight of homeless fur babies.
This is a very enjoyable cozy that keeps you guessing as to how Lee's tarot card reading is going to unfold. The usual characters, Aunt Ibby is a wealth of knowledge, not to mention an excellent cook. In addition to having a slight paranormal twist, this series is also culinary. Each mystery comes complete with several recipes so you too can enjoy Aunt Ibby's cooking. For example, I made Aunt Ibby's Slow-Cooker Beef Burgundy, for Halloween dinner. It was easy to make and enjoyable to eat. This mystery was enjoyable to read and a little easy to solve once the pieces started to fall into place. There was a pretty good misdirection that had me going. This was a great Halloween season cozy, and I hope that Ms. Perry continues the series, even though Lee has settled down into the next chapter of her life.
Lee is feeling pretty ready for this new adventure. She is a strong character and has led a life full of change starting with losing her parents to a plane crash and being raised by her feisty librarian Aunt Ibby, she was widowed at a young age when her race car driving husband died in a car accident and then she found herself investigating one mystery after another as a reporter for WCH TV which led her to meet TV personality and tarot card reading wiccan River North who one of the few people who know something special about Lee. Lee is a "scryer" or if you prefer, a "gazer" which means she can see visions in reflective surfaces. These visions are not always straightforward, but they have all been helpful in past adventures. Unlike other paranormal cozy sleuths, Lee is not a fan of this ability or the flashing lights and unexpected visions. This time when she nearly stumbles over a dead body in the Casa de Chocolate sweets shop, she doesn't see a thing. Lee might not be getting visions, but she is getting weird vibes from the son of the victim. Salem might be a cozy sized town but that is no reason to run into the same person constantly when there is no logical reason for paths to cross. Lee says that she is looking forward to setting down the mic and picking up the stroller as she transitions to a stay-at-home mom. Stay-at-home moms don't chase down clues or put themselves into possible danger. In fact, Lee is doing her best to steer clear of this mystery, sample candies, and report on the plight of homeless fur babies.
This is a very enjoyable cozy that keeps you guessing as to how Lee's tarot card reading is going to unfold. The usual characters, Aunt Ibby is a wealth of knowledge, not to mention an excellent cook. In addition to having a slight paranormal twist, this series is also culinary. Each mystery comes complete with several recipes so you too can enjoy Aunt Ibby's cooking. For example, I made Aunt Ibby's Slow-Cooker Beef Burgundy, for Halloween dinner. It was easy to make and enjoyable to eat. This mystery was enjoyable to read and a little easy to solve once the pieces started to fall into place. There was a pretty good misdirection that had me going. This was a great Halloween season cozy, and I hope that Ms. Perry continues the series, even though Lee has settled down into the next chapter of her life.
June 16, 2025
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.
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.
December 19, 2025
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry is the fifteenth title in the Witch City Mystery series… wow, the longevity of this series is awesome, and I’ve read most but still have a few to catch up on. I love it when an author’s world just continues with more adventures, it’s then that I’m completely invested in their created community and always need updates on the happenings in the neighborhood!
Because this story is a Paranormal Cozy Mystery, I won’t discuss the plot (although it was amazing and pulled me right in), but rather my emotional response to the book. I try very hard not to give away spoilers in any review, but I’m especially careful when a mystery is involved.
I loved everything that is going on in Lee’s life now, and with a baby coming soon, well, she’s in a good place mentally and emotionally. I enjoyed seeing her pulled into just one more story to solve, even though it was far from the fluff piece she thought she was doing. Between red herrings, some twists ‘n turns that I didn’t see coming, I was once again fully engaged in discovering who exactly the villain was. There was also a sense of… finality, about this story as it felt like everything was wrapped up by the final page. I’ve learned to never say the absolute end… but, we shall see. If you enjoy a well-written, engaging, cozy mystery in the paranormal world that will keep you glued to the pages from start to finish, then you’d love Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry is the fifteenth title in the Witch City Mystery series… wow, the longevity of this series is awesome, and I’ve read most but still have a few to catch up on. I love it when an author’s world just continues with more adventures, it’s then that I’m completely invested in their created community and always need updates on the happenings in the neighborhood!
Because this story is a Paranormal Cozy Mystery, I won’t discuss the plot (although it was amazing and pulled me right in), but rather my emotional response to the book. I try very hard not to give away spoilers in any review, but I’m especially careful when a mystery is involved.
I loved everything that is going on in Lee’s life now, and with a baby coming soon, well, she’s in a good place mentally and emotionally. I enjoyed seeing her pulled into just one more story to solve, even though it was far from the fluff piece she thought she was doing. Between red herrings, some twists ‘n turns that I didn’t see coming, I was once again fully engaged in discovering who exactly the villain was. There was also a sense of… finality, about this story as it felt like everything was wrapped up by the final page. I’ve learned to never say the absolute end… but, we shall see. If you enjoy a well-written, engaging, cozy mystery in the paranormal world that will keep you glued to the pages from start to finish, then you’d love Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review, giving my personal opinion about this book.*
December 9, 2025
Sugar and Spite is the 15th and potentially last book in the Witch City Mystery series. It felt with the epilogue Perry was wrapping things up, but maybe I'm wrong.
We are once again following Lee as she covers a story on Salam candy shops for Wich-TV leading up to Halloween. Lee is also 7months pregnant and preparing for her daughter's birth and her transition to a stay at home mom.
She ends up finding a body in a chocolate factory and is pulled into a murder mystery surrounding a prominent Salem Family. She tries to stay out of it, but can't get away from the drama, even being stalked by the victim's son.
Things get even more complicated when Lee gives birth early and has to juggle a newborn and snooping.
The killer reveal and motivation was a bit out of left field for me and there wasn't enough red herrings or depth to the plot to really hook me in, hence the 3.5 rating.
Also, I found Lee's obsession with her appearance, baby weight, weight loss etc. that felt unnecessary and honestly inappropriate. It was mentioned multiple times in the book, this is 2025 - who cares!
Also it felt strange how she went from not wanting to work and focus 100% on the baby when it was a newborn, to giving birth and leaving the baby to do a story in just days. Such a change in behaviour, I had whiplash. Those parts of the story took away from the mystery and even though I was so excited to read this, it made this one of my least favourite books in the series.
We are once again following Lee as she covers a story on Salam candy shops for Wich-TV leading up to Halloween. Lee is also 7months pregnant and preparing for her daughter's birth and her transition to a stay at home mom.
She ends up finding a body in a chocolate factory and is pulled into a murder mystery surrounding a prominent Salem Family. She tries to stay out of it, but can't get away from the drama, even being stalked by the victim's son.
Things get even more complicated when Lee gives birth early and has to juggle a newborn and snooping.
The killer reveal and motivation was a bit out of left field for me and there wasn't enough red herrings or depth to the plot to really hook me in, hence the 3.5 rating.
Also, I found Lee's obsession with her appearance, baby weight, weight loss etc. that felt unnecessary and honestly inappropriate. It was mentioned multiple times in the book, this is 2025 - who cares!
Also it felt strange how she went from not wanting to work and focus 100% on the baby when it was a newborn, to giving birth and leaving the baby to do a story in just days. Such a change in behaviour, I had whiplash. Those parts of the story took away from the mystery and even though I was so excited to read this, it made this one of my least favourite books in the series.
September 7, 2025
This is the first book in the series I have read, but I didn't really feel like I was missing out on much. The relationships between Lee and her aunt, husband, coworkers, etc was very close and there was a big sense of family.
While some conversations felt awkward, what bothered me the most was how the author spent so much time and attention on things like furniture and decor, and not on things like Lee and Pete finally deciding on a name for their baby. It felt clear that the author has limited experience with pregnancy and babies (or at least a very easy version of it). Lee gives birth ~6 weeks early (as far as I can tell) yet its NBD, zero complications, Lee is fully recovered from birthday as soon as they walk through the doors of the hospital. On the way out, she's even figured out how to hold the baby on her left hip. Like WTF? It's a newborn, why are you holding it there?
*spoiler alert* also why would you accept a BABY MONITOR from someone you don't know or trust?!
Anyhow, I felt it was a little too obvious who the villain was. I even forgive all the mooching of free product from all the candy stores. The FMC just didn't really feel realistic.
Loved all the pets.
I appreciated all the recipes in the back - they all sound so good.
Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
While some conversations felt awkward, what bothered me the most was how the author spent so much time and attention on things like furniture and decor, and not on things like Lee and Pete finally deciding on a name for their baby. It felt clear that the author has limited experience with pregnancy and babies (or at least a very easy version of it). Lee gives birth ~6 weeks early (as far as I can tell) yet its NBD, zero complications, Lee is fully recovered from birthday as soon as they walk through the doors of the hospital. On the way out, she's even figured out how to hold the baby on her left hip. Like WTF? It's a newborn, why are you holding it there?
*spoiler alert* also why would you accept a BABY MONITOR from someone you don't know or trust?!
Anyhow, I felt it was a little too obvious who the villain was. I even forgive all the mooching of free product from all the candy stores. The FMC just didn't really feel realistic.
Loved all the pets.
I appreciated all the recipes in the back - they all sound so good.
Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 31, 2025
Tis the season for cozy mysteries and this one was perfect as the leaves change, the weather gets cooler, and spooky season is on the horizon. I love a witchy book with enjoyable characters and fairly low stakes.
This is not the first one in the series, but I do feel as though you don't need to know too much from the other books to understand what is going on. The very first page gives a fairly decent recap so you are caught up with the things you need to know to dive in. The premise is Salem, Mass in October, so I am glad I picked it up when I did.
Lee is assigned the task of highlighting candy and sweet shops in Salem. They want her to visit some of the most popular ones and find out what their best sellers are as well as what visitors need to know. The Casa Del Chocolate is one of these boutique candy shops and Lee is eager to interview the owner and sample the wares, yet she stumbles across the body of the owner's estranged husband.
Lee joins forces with a tarot card reader and a clairvoyant cat, as she tries to clear Shirley of the murder. Lee is also pregnant so maybe not as able to do all the things she has done in the past when it comes to hunting down who did it. Just a really cute cozy mystery for the Halloween season. I can't wait to pick up more in this series as this one seemed to fly by since it was well paced and engaging.
This is not the first one in the series, but I do feel as though you don't need to know too much from the other books to understand what is going on. The very first page gives a fairly decent recap so you are caught up with the things you need to know to dive in. The premise is Salem, Mass in October, so I am glad I picked it up when I did.
Lee is assigned the task of highlighting candy and sweet shops in Salem. They want her to visit some of the most popular ones and find out what their best sellers are as well as what visitors need to know. The Casa Del Chocolate is one of these boutique candy shops and Lee is eager to interview the owner and sample the wares, yet she stumbles across the body of the owner's estranged husband.
Lee joins forces with a tarot card reader and a clairvoyant cat, as she tries to clear Shirley of the murder. Lee is also pregnant so maybe not as able to do all the things she has done in the past when it comes to hunting down who did it. Just a really cute cozy mystery for the Halloween season. I can't wait to pick up more in this series as this one seemed to fly by since it was well paced and engaging.
December 14, 2025
Princess Fuzzypants here: This has been a favourite series with the combination of paranormal, Salem, a plucky reporter and an amazing cat by the name of O’Ryan, I have followed as Lee’s career shifted from teaching to doing and then to even more responsible jobs. Her relationship with Pete from the early stages to husband has been a joy as have her other connections with her aunt and all the other wonderful characters that surround her.
Lee and Pete are expecting their first child. She is still doing her job and is asked to do a special on candy that leads her to discover another body. Her scrying powers have been curtailed by her pregnancy but there is no doubting that she is getting some very strange vibes from some the people closest to the deceased. There are some truly heartwarming bits before Ella is born and friends and family have rallied around the new mom. What neither Lee nor Pete expect is a danger to their family. It comes in a form I did not suspect and it amounts to some very suspenseful moments. But naturally, the hero of the piece, O’Ryan, comes to the rescue.
I am not sure but the way the book ended makes me think the series is winding down. I hope not because I have enjoyed every single read and I would put this one up there amongst the top. Five purrs and two paws up.
Lee and Pete are expecting their first child. She is still doing her job and is asked to do a special on candy that leads her to discover another body. Her scrying powers have been curtailed by her pregnancy but there is no doubting that she is getting some very strange vibes from some the people closest to the deceased. There are some truly heartwarming bits before Ella is born and friends and family have rallied around the new mom. What neither Lee nor Pete expect is a danger to their family. It comes in a form I did not suspect and it amounts to some very suspenseful moments. But naturally, the hero of the piece, O’Ryan, comes to the rescue.
I am not sure but the way the book ended makes me think the series is winding down. I hope not because I have enjoyed every single read and I would put this one up there amongst the top. Five purrs and two paws up.
November 8, 2025
SUGAR AND SPITE is the fifteenth book in the Witch City Mysteries by Carol J. Perry. Capturing the theme of Halloween with her strong descriptive skills, the author takes the reader on a rollercoaster of a ride with tricks and candy treats and a deadly murder. With a gentle buildup to set the theme in place—it doesn’t get any better than a TV segment featuring local candy shops—the action kicks in and protagonist Lee Mondello quickly gets involved despite being very pregnant. I appreciate that Lee takes extra care in not putting herself in harm’s way yet manages to track down information. The story is well-plotted, yet consideration is given to making this a character-driven cozy. If you’ve followed along with the series, you’re going to love the direction Lee and her detective husband are taking. If you’re new to the series, you can read as a standalone, but you’ll have missed out on the joy of watching Lee and the other supporting characters grow and change over the years. With hints of the paranormal, this fits the bill for curling up with a hot drink, a cat on your lap, and a fire roaring in the fireplace and reading late into the night!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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