Final Exam by Carol J. Perry: A Review and a Giveaway!

Final Exam 

(A Witch City Mystery)

by Carol J. Perry

About the Book

Final Exam (A Witch City Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

8th in Series

Kensington (February 26, 2019)

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages

ISBN-10: 1496714601

ISBN-13: 978-1496714602

Kindle ASIN: B07DBQQRHF

A cold case update in Salem, Massachusetts . . .

Life at the house on Winter Street is abuzz with preparations for Aunt Ibby’s 45th high school reunion, and Lee Barrett is happy to pitch in, tracking down addresses and licking envelopes. But as a field reporter for Salem’s WICH-TV, her priority is to be on top of the town’s latest news before anyone else.

When the local police dredge up a vintage sports car containing human remains, Lee is thrilled to be the first reporter on the scene. Once she learns the car is connected to the cold case her boyfriend Pete happens to be working on, her powers of investigation are quickly alerted. But it’s her Aunt Ibby’s emotional reaction to Lee’s TV report that puts her on the case. With the help of O’Ryan, her psychic feline sidekick, she’ll have to unravel a tangled past of secrets and promises to stop a killer from making history again . . .

About the Author

Carol J. Perry knew as a child that she wanted to be a writer. A voracious reader, whose list for Santa consisted mostly of book titles, she never lost sight of that goal. While living in Florida, Carol was on assignment for Southern Travel Magazine, preparing an article on the world’s largest sand castle which was being built near her home. That combination of events inspired her first young adult novel, Sand Castle Summer. That book was soon followed by half a dozen more.

Carol has always been an avid reader of mysteries. Her debut mystery novel is set in Salem and involves O’Ryan, a most mysterious cat, several witches and some strange Halloween happenings. Appropriately enough, this Salem-born author celebrates her birthday on Halloween Eve! Carol and her husband, Dan live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida with two cats and a Black Lab. Visit her at www.caroljperry.com.

My Thoughts

It is May in Salem, Massachusetts.  Lee and her camera woman, Francine Hunter are tracking down a lead and hope to get a juicy story.  They find police divers exploring a quarry and Lee scoops other reporters when they find a mustang with bones inside about 120 twenty feet down.    Unfortunately, the body turns out to be an old flame of Aunt Ibby’s who disappeared before their high school graduation.  All this time, It was believed the victim had taken off after an altercation with his father.  Lee begins having visions of the past which lead her to identifying the killer.  Carol J. Perry has an informal (casual) writing style which makes Final Exam a pleasure to read.  The story has good flow with gentle pacing.  I like the variety of characters in A Witch City Mystery series with O’Ryan being my favorite.  He is an astute cat who aids Lee in solving her crimes.  It was cute how O’Ryan had a friend to play with in this story, and they managed to cause some misdirection and mischief. There are plenty of enjoyable moments between the characters.  Lee’s scrying abilities are integrated into the storyline along with a tarot reading from her friend, River North.  Her tarot card readings are always helpful.  The mystery was intriguing because it involved a cold case.  There are pointed clues to aid readers in solving the crime.  Past misdeeds have a way of coming back to haunt us.  I was appreciative of the epilogue that wrapped up the mystery.  Final Exam can be read alone if you have not read any of the previous A Witch City Mysteries.  I do want to let readers know that there is foul language scattered throughout the story which is unusual for a cozy mystery.  Included in the book are recipes for ginger pancakes, grape nuts pudding and Lee’s bread dipping sauce.  Final Exam transports readers to Salem as Lee probes into the past to excavate a killer.

Final Exam is available at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and Google Play. Late Checkout is the next book in A Witch City Mystery series (find a complete list here on Amazon) and it comes out on September 24.  In honor of the tour, there is a giveaway of three (3) print copies of Final Exam (open to US residents only).  Click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below. Please take the time to visit the other stops on the tour for character guest posts, spotlights, reviews, recipes and author interviews (schedule below). I will be back tomorrow with my review of Silent Night by Danielle Steel.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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Tour Participants

March 4 – The Montana Bookaholic - CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 4 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

March 5 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW, RECIPE

March 5 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 5 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 6 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

March 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

March 6 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 7 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

March 7 – I'm Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

March 7 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 8 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW, RECIPE

March 8 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

March 8 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

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March 9 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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March 10 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

March 10 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 10 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW