Caffeinated Reviewer

Sophia Rose is here with a paranormal cozy from the Witch City Mystery series. Come check out her thoughts on Death Scene by Carol J. Perry. Be sure to grab a pumpkin spice latte before curling up with this one!

It takes a lot for Salem locals to get excited about their historic Massachusetts town being known as “the witch city.” But when a major studio arrives to shoot a witchcraft-themed movie, folks go Hollywood. For WICH-TV’S program director and chief documentary-maker, Lee Barrett, however, the project may come complete with a real-life death scene . . .

Between documenting the progress of the movie, corralling starstruck autograph seekers and fans, and managing unmanageable traffic on Salem’s narrow streets, Lee and her police detective husband, Pete Mondello, are beyond busy. Even Lee’s best friend, River North, tarot card reader and practicing witch, gets in on the action, landing a job as a stand-in and body double. But it only takes one interview for Lee to realize that the male and female leads—whose roles include torrid love scenes—despise each other. Yet the problem is short-lived, literally . . .

When the gorgeous lead actress is found dead on a set staged to replicate the room where suspected witches were tried in 1692—and her on-screen lover, in full costume, is discovered sound asleep in her trailer—the hunt is on for a killer on the loose. Nevertheless, the producer decrees “the show must go on!” Now, even with help from River, Lee’s Aunt Ibby, and O’Ryan, a remarkably clairvoyant gentleman cat, sorting out a witch’s brew of secrets, sorcery, and special effects might turn Lee’s documentary into her own final act . . .

Sophia Rose’s Review

Was it just last year I picked up my first Witch City Mystery and enjoyed following along as Lee, her Aunt Ibby, her psychic cat O’Ryan, her bestie, and her detective hubby solved a supernatural crime on All Hallow’s Eve in Salem?  I had such a good time that I was delighted to keep going with the next installment in Carol J Perry’s engaging cozy mystery series.

Death Scene is the fourteenth in a series of standalone paranormal cozies set in the bewitching old New England town of Salem.  While I likely would have gotten more out of Death Scene if I had read the series sequentially, Carol J Perry writes in such a way that readers can pick up any book in the series and do alright jumping in wherever.

I was glad the time period was back in the fall during spooky season.  This time Salem is hosting a movie crew filming on site in the building where the Salem Witch Trials took place.  Lee has to put back on her journalist had and step into the interviews and getting the spilt tea on the actors, crew, and all that’s going on.  The whole town is in a fervor about it and even her best friend, River has a bit role. 

Not long on the set and Lee realizes the romance leads despise each other and there is a whole lot of dangerous undercurrents here.  Then the leading lady gets bumped off on the set.  There are so many people who have a motive and then there is the sabotaging of the film that Lee is determined to help her detective husband, Pete get to the bottom of it all.

O’Ryan remains my favorite character with his uncanny abilities and Ibby and her older gal pal friends are scene stealers, too.  The setting of Salem and the spotlight on the Witch Trials was a real shining bit especially in the fall season and mysteries related to the movie set on location.  Lee and Pete are a good partnering and I appreciated the low drama related to her amateur detecting at his professional side.  She’s smart and doesn’t horde what she knows.  The paranormal element is low key, but a fun addition.  The pacing is steady and swift in places unlike many cozies, but I appreciated this as this could have slogged down with all the movie staff and locals who were in the circle of suspects and witnesses.  Sadly, I missed being right about the culprit because I changed my mind. 

All in all, this was a fabulous fall light spooky read to get me charged up for the season.  I appreciated my second encounter with the Witch City Mystery series as much as the first and now would like to go back for the earlier mysteries.  Paranormal cozy fans need to nudge this one onto the fall reading stack.

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About Carol J. Perry

Carol J. Perry was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween eve, and that magical city serves as the backdrop for her Witch City Mystery series. She is also the author of several young adult novels. Her nonfiction articles on travel, antiques, and ecology often appear in regional and national publications.

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About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

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About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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