"Murder, Take Two" A Witch City Mystery By Carol J. Perry: Review/Giveaway

Review by Cynthia Chow
Details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of the review and links to purchase it.  

Maralee Kowalski has gone through many transitions in her professional life, which has included being a home shopping channel host, TV weather girl, call-in psychic, instructor of television production at the Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts, and now a reporter for Salem’s WICH-TV news. It was as a teacher that Lee met the Temple twin Roger and Ray, retired Boston police officers on their way to becoming successful television consultants. They are returning to Salem to help their nephew Cody McGinnis, a history professor at Essex County University and prime suspect in the murder of one of his fellow instructors. That the killing of Professor Samuel Bond eerily mimics that of a murder from 1830 makes it a perfect investigative story for Lee, who recently discovered her own talent in the witchy town as a gazer able to see prophetic images in mirrors.

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Lee isn’t alone in her adventures, as her retired-ish librarian Aunt Ibby and a Golden Girls/Charlie’s Angels AARP squadron assist in tracking down gossip running through the University. A recent cruise ship had the late professor acting cozy but also aggressive with a few of his coworkers, while a blue-haired student may be either a stalker or “just” a problematic relationship. As students rally and set up a GoFundMe in support of their instructor, evidence mount against Cody and not even Lee’s boyfriend Detective Pete Mondello can prevent an arrest. It will take Lee’s visions, her helpful familiar O’Ryan, and a strategic live-action game of Clue to help them solve an academic murder.

This tenth in the series continues to surprise with its delightful characters and an ending that should catch readers off-guard. Lee’s unpredictable visions are often more helpful in hindsight than during her actual investigations, but her best friend River North’s tarot card readings provide thoughtful and instrumental insight into the lives of the participants. Romantic intrigue between Aunt Ibby, the Trumbull Academy’s director, and now one of the Temple twins lends no small amount of humor, as do the contributions of their fellow senior Angels. Lee proves herself as an effective journalist not easily deceived, especially when it comes to the overly charming attentions of an egotistical professor. The town of Salem, Massachusetts, is the perfect setting for this mystery that blends the paranormal with a very practical police investigation, especially one that closely links the present murder to one of the past. Author Carol J. Perry uses a very real murder from 1830 to inspire this current tale, one that relishes the origin of the Parker Brothers games in Salem to tie in the nostalgic and exuberant game of Clue. Whether it was Colonel White in the Library with a Knife or Professor Plum in the Study with a Candlestick, this case of murder among professors is a fun and frolicking mystery perfect for the Halloween season.  

To enter to win a copy of Murder, Take Two, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "two,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 31, 2020. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. BE AWARE THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT CRISIS THERE MAY BE A DELAY IN SHIPPING THE WINNING BOOK. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode went up this week.

You can use these links to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

Murder, Take Two: A Humorous & Magical Cozy Mystery (A Witch City Mystery #10)

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.