Late Checkout

Late Checkout by Carol J. Perry is the ninth A Witch City Mystery. Lee Barrett is a field reporter with WICH-TV is Salem, Massachusetts whose hours have been cut back because of nepotism (the boss’s wife has a relation who needs experience). Lee decides to volunteer her extra hours at the main branch of the Salem library where her Aunt Ibby works. Lee is shelving books when she comes across one for the stacks. She had a bad experience in the stacks as a child and is reluctant to venture up there again. She heads upstairs where she finds a man dead surrounded by books that have badly damaged. Detective Pet Mondello, Lee’s beau, quickly arrives and the victim is identified as Wee Willie Wallace. Wee Willie was a former minor league baseball player, ex-con and actor with a penchant for laying wagers. Lee soon discovers that Wee Willie also has a tie to WICH-TV. Lee has been researching the stations history for the upcoming anniversary and finds a chilling discovery. Lee, with assistance from her friend, River and her tarot cards along with O’Ryan and her psychic gift, sets out to snag the killer. Lee needs to be careful or she could end up ensnared in the killers’ web. Late Checkout can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. The author provides Lee’s background information for new readers and connection to other characters. I enjoyed the authors descriptive writing which brings Salem alive for me. It is Halloween which is a busy time for Salem. There were a variety of activities including a pet costume parade. The mystery had several suspects and Lee worked with Aunt Ibby, River and Pete to identify the guilty party. There are good clues that aid readers in solving the whodunit before the reveal. I thought the mystery had some unique aspects that I enjoyed. We also get to see Lee work on a promotional sales campaign that she pitches to her boss for the upcoming anniversary of the station. I like the relationship Lee has with her Aunt Ibby. I like that they are close and can talk to each other. They live in the same house, but they each have their own space. It is sweet the Pete is also comfortable with Aunt Ibby. Aunt Ibby is certainly handy to have around with her research librarian skills. I enjoy that paranormal element of the book with Lee’s special abilities. It does not dominate the book. I find that it enhances the story. The tarot cards, though, I find confusing despite the explanations. Late Checkout is a fun cozy mystery with book bedlam, curious clues, entrancing eyes, an accommodating aunt, Halloween hijinks, and nepotism for a nephew.

Loved this book! This is a wonderful murder mystery set in Salem and out just in time for Halloween. Lee is a reporter for the local news channel and Pete is her detective boyfriend, when Lee stumbles upon a dead body. She begins reporting on it, and investigating the deceased, even as Pete is investigating the homicide. As they investigate, Lee gets the chance to delve into the history of her news channel, along with beloved characters from her favorite shows when she was a young child. However, as one might expect, meeting your childhood idols is a mixed bag, both much better and much worse than one might expect. Add in the crazy costumes that they used to wear and weave in a compelling mystery and you've got a great tale that kept me completely engaged. Each book in this series is better than the one before. I love how the characters have grown and developed over the series and can't wait to read more about them. Each book is a stand alone novel. If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book. Put it at the top of your TBR as it's the must read seasonal release this fall. The author is on my must read authors' list.

Amusing mystery with a very interesting cast of characters. I couldn't put it down & was up nights way later than I should have been because I had to see what happened next.