The “Witch City Mystery Series” by Carol J. Perry is a read set in the city of Salem, Massachusetts. With a sprinkle of historical witchcraft and a dash of modern mystery, each book in the series is a page-turner. The main heroine, Lee Barrett, navigates through mysteries, uncovering secrets and solving crimes with a mix of intuition and intelligence. Perry’s writing is engaging and makes mystery-solving fun, creating a vibrant world filled with fascinating characters and unexpected twists. If you’re seeking stories that are both light-hearted and captivating, with a blend of history and mystery, this series is a perfect choice. Explore the adventures of Lee Barrett, and enjoy the magical ride through the streets of Salem!
Witch City Mystery Books in Order
- Caught Dead Handed (2014)
- Tails, You Lose (2015)
- Look Both Ways (2015)
- Murder Go Round (2017)
- Grave Errors (2017)
- It Takes a Coven (2018)
- Bells, Spells, and Murders (2018)
- Final Exam (2019)
- Late Checkout (2019)
- Murder, Take Two (2020)
- See Something (2021)
- ‘Til Death (2022)
- Now You See It (2023)
Similar Authors
- “A Witch Before Dying” by Heather Blake (Wishcraft Mystery Series) – A charming tale of a witch using her unique abilities to solve mysterious happenings in her town, blending magic and mystery seamlessly.
- “If You’ve Got It, Haunt It” by Rose Pressey (Haunted Vintage Series) – A cozy mystery series featuring vintage boutique owner Cookie Chanel who, with the help of a ghostly companion, solves mysteries in her town.
See also: Kingdom of the Wicked Series by Kerri Maniscalco.
Most Recommended Books
- Final Exam (Witch City Mystery, #8) (4.15 Goodreads score)
- Grave Errors (Witch City Mystery, #5) (4.09 Goodreads score)
- Look Both Ways (Witch City Mystery, #3) (4.09 Goodreads score)
- It Takes a Coven (Witch City Mystery, #6) (4.06 Goodreads score)
- Murder Go Round (Witch City Mystery, #4) (4.05 Goodreads score)
Awards
Upcoming Releases
Carol J. Perry will release “Now You See It” from the Witch City Mystery series on September 26, 2023. Additionally, Perry has another upcoming book, not part of the series, titled “Halloween Cupcake Murder,” which will be available from August 22, 2023.
Book Summaries
Caught Dead Handed
In "Caught Dead Handed" Lee Barrett returns to her hometown of Salem, Massachusetts to interview for a job as a reporter. However, the only available position is as a call-in psychic for late night horror movies. Lee reluctantly takes the job and begins to question if she actually has psychic abilities when she starts seeing real events in a prop obsidian ball. As Halloween approaches, Lee must uncover the truth about a murder and a possible practicing witch, all while trying to save her career as a psychic.
Tails, You Lose
In "Tails, You Lose" Lee Barrett, a former TV psychic, finds herself volunteering at the Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts in Salem, Massachusetts. When the school's handyman is found dead on Christmas night, Lee's psychic abilities resurface. As she and her students work on a documentary about the history of the school, they uncover family secrets and a hidden network of tunnels beneath Salem. Lee becomes convinced that something evil is happening when she starts seeing visions in a mysterious black pump. With a killer on the loose, Lee must solve the case before it's too late.
Look Both Ways
In "Look Both Ways" the story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, a town known for its spooky past. Lee Barrett, the protagonist, comes across an antique mirror on a TV show and decides to buy it. The mirror has a hidden compartment and a mysterious history - it was once owned by someone involved in a local murder. Soon after Lee brings the mirror home, she discovers the owner of the antiques shop dead. While the police suspect the business partner, Lee suspects a connection between the murder and her new furniture. With the help of her psychic visions, which she accesses through the mirror, Lee sets out to find evidence to catch the killer and protect herself from becoming the next victim.
Murder Go Round
In "Murder Go Round" Lee Barrett reluctantly attends a storage auction with her Aunt Ibby, expecting to find nothing but junk. However, they stumble upon a forgotten locker containing a collection of beautiful items, including a wooden carousel horse. When Lee takes the horse to a repair shop, she has a psychic vision of murder after seeing a silver samovar. Soon after, her boyfriend, a police officer, discovers a dead man outside the shop who had been following Lee since the auction. With the horse dismantled and suspicious characters involved, Lee, guided by her psychic abilities and her cat O'Ryan, is determined to catch the murderer before she becomes the next victim.
Grave Errors
In "Grave Errors" the residents of Salem, Massachusetts are dealing with the aftermath of Halloween. Lee Barrett's TV production class suggests celebrating Dia de Los Muertos to extend the spooky season. However, when they discover that not all of Salem's dead are at peace, things take a dark turn. Lee and her policeman boyfriend uncover a connection to an unsolved missing person case, and with the help of her cat, O'Ryan, Lee must gather evidence to solve the cold case before she becomes the next victim.
It Takes a Coven
In "It Takes a Coven" Lee Barrett finds herself caught up in a mysterious series of deaths in the Wiccan community of Salem, Massachusetts. With the help of her clairvoyant cat and a talking crow, Lee sets out to uncover the truth behind these unexplained deaths. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she begins to wonder if supernatural forces are at play or if something even more shocking is behind it all.
Bells, Spells, and Murders
In "Bells, Spells, and Murders" Lee Barrett is thrilled to have her dream job as a field reporter in Salem, Massachusetts. However, her holiday plans take a dark turn when she discovers the beloved chairman of a popular walking tour murdered in his office, wearing a bloody Santa hat. With her detective boyfriend on the case, Lee follows leads with the help of her cat and her own psychic visions. As she uncovers more clues and another body, Lee braves a monster blizzard to uncover the truth and potentially put her own life at risk this Christmas.
Final Exam
In "Final Exam" the story follows Lee Barrett, a TV reporter in Salem, MA. Lee is excited to help with her aunt's high school reunion preparations, but her focus quickly shifts when she becomes the first reporter on the scene of a major news story. The local police have discovered a vintage sports car with human remains, which is connected to a cold case her detective boyfriend is investigating. With the assistance of her psychic cat, O'Ryan, Lee must uncover hidden secrets to prevent the killer from striking again.
Late Checkout
Field reporter Lee Barrett is not thrilled about her reduced hours at WICH-TV, but she enjoys spending more time with her Aunt Ibby at the library. However, her least favorite task takes her to the spooky upper section of the library, where she discovers a dead man surrounded by books and torn-out pages. With the help of her detective boyfriend, her friend's Tarot reading, her psychic cat, and her own abilities, Lee sets out to catch the killer and solve the mystery of the former baseball player's death.
Murder, Take Two
In "Murder, Take Two" reporter Lee Barrett finds herself investigating a murder that resembles a historic killing from centuries ago. When assistant professor Cody McGinnis becomes the prime suspect, Lee is asked by Cody's family to help prove his innocence. With the help of her clairvoyant cat, her tech-savvy aunt, and her detective boyfriend, Lee delves into Salem's past and her own psychic abilities to uncover the truth before someone else becomes a victim.
See Something
In "See Something" Lee Barrett, the program director of Salem's WICH-TV, is faced with the challenges of managing various TV personalities and shows. One day, she comes across a distressed woman who doesn't remember her own name. Lee takes her in and hopes to use her psychic abilities to help the woman regain her identity. However, when a body is discovered in a nearby harbor, Lee starts to question if her new houseguest may be connected to the crime. Lee's detective boyfriend, Pete Mondello, is determined to investigate, adding to the suspense of the story.
'Til Death
In "Til Death" the staff at WICH-TV in Salem, Massachusetts is excited for the wedding of their program director, Lee Barrett. However, when Lee goes on her honeymoon in Maine, she is haunted by her own past. Lee and Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello are getting married and Lee is taking care of some final tasks before the big day. They will be moving out of Aunt Ibby's house, but will still be close by to share custody of their clairvoyant cat, O'Ryan. Aunt Ibby plans to rent out Lee's old apartment, but she has a bad feeling about the potential tenant. After the wedding, Lee discovers that the Maine island is near the crash site where her parents died, a mystery she has never been able to solve. Instead of enjoying her wedding gifts, Lee must use her psychic abilities to solve both past and present crimes.
Now You See It
"Now You See" follows Lee and her husband, Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello, as they settle into their new home. Lee is given the opportunity to be the "Historical Documentary Chief Executive" for WICH-TV. Her first project is to create a documentary about the Salem International Museum, which is set to host traveling exhibits. As Lee delves into researching and collecting artifacts, she encounters unexpected challenges. When a truck driver delivering antiquities is found dead, Lee and Pete, along with their team of helpers, must uncover clues to solve the mystery. With the help of Lee's aunt, best friend, and clairvoyant cat, they navigate through a haunted ship model and use Lee's psychic gifts to catch the killer before they strike again.
