Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.
Sugar and Spite
A Witch City Mystery
Carol J. Perry
Kensington Cozies
It is Halloween time in the city of Salem, Massachusetts. To many that might sound common place but for Lee Barrett Mondello, program director for WCH TV, it is an opportunity to get out from behind her desk and visit the local sweet shops. These days Lee is watching her weight because she has been putting on a few pounds over the last 8 almost 9 months. That's right, Lee and her husband, police detective Pete are expecting their first baby. If this is your first Witch City Mystery, no worries, this is a stand-alone cozy.
Lee is feeling pretty ready for this new adventure. She is a strong character and has led a life full of change starting with losing her parents to a plane crash and being raised by her feisty librarian Aunt Ibby, she was widowed at a young age when her race car driving husband died in a car accident and then she found herself investigating one mystery after another as a reporter for WCH TV which led her to meet TV personality and tarot card reading wiccan River North who one of the few people who know something special about Lee. Lee is a "scryer" or if you prefer, a "gazer" which means she can see visions in reflective surfaces. These visions are not always straightforward, but they have all been helpful in past adventures. Unlike other paranormal cozy sleuths, Lee is not a fan of this ability or the flashing lights and unexpected visions. This time when she nearly stumbles over a dead body in the Casa de Chocolate sweets shop, she doesn't see a thing. Lee might not be getting visions, but she is getting weird vibes from the son of the victim. Salem might be a cozy sized town but that is no reason to run into the same person constantly when there is no logical reason for paths to cross. Lee says that she is looking forward to setting down the mic and picking up the stroller as she transitions to a stay-at-home mom. Stay-at-home moms don't chase down clues or put themselves into possible danger. In fact, Lee is doing her best to steer clear of this mystery, sample candies, and report on the plight of homeless fur babies.
This is a very enjoyable cozy that keeps you guessing as to how Lee's tarot card reading is going to unfold. The usual characters, Aunt Ibby is a wealth of knowledge, not to mention an excellent cook. In addition to having a slight paranormal twist, this series is also culinary. Each mystery comes complete with several recipes so you too can enjoy Aunt Ibby's cooking. For example, I made Aunt Ibby's Slow-Cooker Beef Burgundy, for Halloween dinner. It was easy to make and enjoyable to eat. This mystery was enjoyable to read and a little easy to solve once the pieces started to fall into place. There was a pretty good misdirection that had me going. This was a great Halloween season cozy, and I hope that Ms. Perry continues the series, even though Lee has settled down into the next chapter of her life.
