Caught Dead Handed

In the city of Salem, Massachusetts happening upon a witch isn’t out of the ordinary or unexpected; finding a dead one is. Lee Barrett is returning to her hometown, and it’s long overdue.  Aunt Ibby, the woman who raised her after the tragic death of her parents, still lives in the same house Lee grew up in and is happy to have her home. Lee is scheduled for an interview as a reporter at WICH-TV.  The problem is once she gets there, she finds out that the job has already been filled. A position opens up just as Lee is leaving, a call-in psychic that hosts a late-night horror movie show, Nightshades.  The only reason the job is open is that the last host, Ariel Constellation, was murdered. Having discovered Ariel’s body on the rocks below the TV station, Lee becomes entwined in the investigation and may even be a suspect.

Even though it isn’t her ideal job, Lee accepts the position so she can be on the spot in case something else opens up. But strange things start happening when she’s working on the set of Nightshades. Lee starts seeing visions in a prop Ariel used, a gazing ball made from obsidian. She talks to her Aunt Ibby about the visions and finds out it isn’t the first time she has had them. At first, she is frightened by the images, but after a while, she becomes intrigued. She starts studying the subject, finding out there is more to it than she ever thought. While working at the TV station, she discovers that Ariel Constellation was a real witch. This is revealed when a coven of witches comes to the station to help Ariel move on to the afterlife.

This first time Lee sets eyes on River, her soon-to-be confidant and best friend; she is wearing a cloak with a black hood and is surrounded by protesters.  Lee is intrigued and sets out to meet the young woman. Finding in River a true friend and a knowledgeable ally. Lee and Aunt Ibby rescue Ariel’s cat, who has been hanging out at the TV station, only to find out that O’Ryan,  isn’t a typical house cat. He has some very unusual abilities of his own. With Halloween just around the corner, Lee needs to find the killer before it’s too late.

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Series: A Witch City Mystery – Book #1
Author: Carol J. Perry
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Publisher: Kensington Books

Rating:

Not knowing when the visions will happen or how to explain to the police how she is getting the information she passes on to them is a constant complication. This is made easier by the attractive Detective Pete Mondello, who seems to have taken a liking to Lee. The question of whether or not she can disclose her abilities to him becomes an additional cause for concern. Will he think she’s crazy?

The loss of Lee’s first husband made her a widow at a young age, but she is in no hurry to move on to another relationship. She fights her own urges and attraction for the handsome detective even though she knows she won’t be able to keep it up for long.

The first time Lee sees a vision in the obsidian gazing ball and talks herself into believing it was a trick of the light is memorable because it is the beginning of the discoveries she makes later on.

Lee is a fascinating character filled with drive and talent. She knows when to seek the advice of someone more in tune with the witch world, as well as someone older and wiser than herself. She grows throughout the story but remains a loving, kind-hearted person that you want to cheer on to succeed.

The characters in this story are wonderfully developed; they have very distinct personalities. Lee slowly develops into a top-notch investigator with the help of her bibliophile Aunt Ibby, her BFF, River, and Detective Mondello. All of the characters are well thought out, well-rounded, and entertaining.

With Salam as the backdrop for this book, it would be expected to have more of the town’s history in the story. However, as it wasn’t a factor or integral to the plot, it wasn’t necessary; it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the location, the descriptions of the businesses, or the residents.

This book is fast-paced without sacrificing detail, and the characters are a pleasure to learn about. The story and the characters evolve together, making it hard to wait for the second volume in the series. Readers will enjoy this book if they like the work of writers such as Amanda M. Lee or Emma Watts.