It was Christmas night and it was snowing. Not unusual for Salem, Massachusetts, but for me it was special. I’d spent the past ten Christmases in Florida, with lighted boat parades, lawn flamingos wearing Santa hats, and decorated palm trees, so it’s no wonder that sitting close to the window watching big flakes swirling in bright halos around streetlamps, and tree lights casting colorful dots onto wind-sculpted drifts was a real treat for me.
I’m Lee Barrett, thirty-one, red-haired, Salem born. I was orphaned early, married once and widowed young. Since I’d returned to Salem I’d been sharing the fine old family home on Winter Street with my aunt, Isobel Russell who’d raised me after my parents died.
So there I was, along with our big yellow cat O’Ryan, snoozing at my feet, enjoying the Christmas card scenery, complete with the muffled sound of church bells ringing in the distance, and expecting the arrival any minute of the special man in my life, police detective Pete Mondello. I was warm, my tummy full of holiday goodies, my dear Aunt Ibby nearby and looking forward to an interesting new job due to start on New Year’s day.
I’d been invited to teach a course in Television Performance and Production at the Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts. I’d worked in television, one way or another, ever since college. I’d been a weather girl, a host on a home shopping show and even a phone-in psychic. (That psychic gig, on Salem’s cable channel WICH-TV hadn’t worked out well. I’d been hired to replace the previous late show host, a practicing witch named Ariel Constellation. Unfortunately, I was the one who’d found Ariel’s dead body floating in Salem Harbor, but that’s another story.) Anyway, the “Tabby” as everyone called it, was housed in the old Trumbull’s Department Store building which had been closed since the 1960s and I was full of excited anticipation about teaching there.
So what could go wrong with this idyllic picture?
Pete arrived as expected, but almost immediately got a call from police headquarters. Something bad was going on at the Tabby. Aunt Ibby, O’Ryan and I wound up on a wild and slippery ride through the storm—with me driving—to the old store. Let me tell you, a closed up department store can be one creepy place. Ever see a stack of old mannequins piled up like body parts? How about lights flickering on an off and a piano playing in the middle of the night? A ghost woman in white floating past the top floor windows? And worst of all, the Tabby’s handy man, Bill Sullivan, going down the stairs to the store’s basement and never coming back up. Bill was gone. He’d simply disappeared.
It was a Christmas night to remember, and not in a good way!
You can read more about Lee in Tails, You Lose, the second book in the “Witch City” mystery series, published by Kensington. The first book in the series is Caught Dead Handed.
WATCH the trailer for “Tails, You Lose.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuaZQ8bfKbU&w=560&h=315]
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 p.m. eastern on April 8 for the chance to win a copy of Tails, You Lose. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
About the author
Carol was born in Salem, Massachusetts, known worldwide as the Witch City. It’s no coincidence then, that all of the action in Tails, You Lose, the second in Carol’s Witch City Mystery series, takes place in her famous home town.
Carol and her husband Dan live in Florida with a black lab and a cat. She is the author of several young adult novels and also writes articles for magazines and newspapers. When she lived in Massachusetts Carol worked for many years as the advertising manager for a large, old Main Street department store. That experience provided the background for Lee Barrett’s adventures in Tails, You Lose.
For more information, visit Carol’s website
Sounds absolutely fabulous! Can’t wait to read this book! Thanks for the chance!
I loved the first one. Happy to see a new one.
Thanks for the contest
This series is on my TBR list. I love mysteries with a touch of the paranormal. Thanks for the giveaway.
I like the sound of this…and hope to read it. Please enter me.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I just started the first book in this series and it’s awesome. Thank you.for the chance.
Moonbay7399@gmail.com
Thanks for the chance! This book sounds perfect!
This series looks like a fun read. I definitely need to read it. Would love to win!
Scouts579 (at) aol (dot) com
Sounds great, can’t wait to read it
WOW….this looks like a super exciting book to read….love the awesome cover…would love to win a copy of this! Thanks!
i have not heard of this series, thanks for the chance 🙂
Love finding a new series to read. Thanks for a chance to win the 2nd book. I am going to go look for the first book now as this series looks like a winner.
Sounds interesting. Would love to try it.
thanks.
Sounds like a fun read with a bit of Salem lore thrown in.
Sounds like something I could really get lost in. Thank you for the chance.
Me, please! I would love to have this one!
I some how missed this series. I will be getting the first book, I love witchy mysteries
This book sounds fantastic! Thank you!
I read the first book in the series and it was great. I’d love to win this one for my library. Please enter me in the contest Dru.
I love a mystery with pets, holidays, and a romance as well.
Wow! What a scene for Christmas night. I want to know what happened to Bill!
I love a cozy mystery with a touch of paranormal. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the introduction to Lee Barrett and her work. I am sure this will make my list of to be read books.
A great cozy. Many thanks.
My kind of book!! Thanks for the chance to win it!
Love the trailer, looks like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.
Tails you lose looks great, can’t wait to read it, and thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Sounds like a good book.
I spent one day in Salem, Massachuetts and wanted to stay more. That town had atmosphere! Excited that this series is set there. Thank you for the chance to win!
Thanks for the chance!
What happened to Bill?? I’ve got to find out—but let’s hope I don’t have to drive through a snow storm to do it. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Love paranormal stories, mysteries and New England. This sounds like the perfect series. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!
This one grabbed me from the start. I must know what happens. Would love to win. Thanks, Dru.
This sounds like a winner to me
Sounds great to read
Whoa! Would I like to win/read this one. Sounds so good! Thanks for the opportunity!
Sounds like another fun read
I will have to check out the books in the Carol’s Witch City Mystery series. Tails, You Lose sounds like a fun read. Thank you for a chance to win.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Looking so forward to reading this.
Loved “Caught Dead Handed” can’t wait to read this new book!
I missed this series! I am going to get caught up right away because it sounds incredible! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this book!
Yea a new book in this series! Thank you for the chance to win it.
wfnren at aol dot com
This is a new to me series. Thanks for the chance to win!
A series I am excited to start…
Thank you for the giveaway…
Lucky me, I only have to find the first one in the series now. And an author from Salem to boot.
This sounds AWESOME.
This sounds like a really good book.
Sounds like another great read! Thanks for the giveaway!
This looks like great fun!
contest is closed.