I’m Lee Barrett—at least that’s the name I’m known by to viewers of the Salem, Massachusetts television station WICH-TV. But very recently, in my REAL life, I became Lee Mondello! Yep! My long-time main man Police Detective Pete Mondello and I are married. We’ve bought a house less than a block away from my childhood home on Winter Street—convenient for O’Ryan, the remarkable gentleman cat my Aunt Ibby and I have long shared, to commute between the two. That happy fact of my marriage hasn’t changed my position at the TV station much—I still wear several hats. I’m officially program director, occasionally field reporter and most recently my boss Bruce Doan made me the station’s “Historical Documentary Chief Executive.” Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?

Actually, documenting Salem’s newest museum—dubbed “Seafaring New England” was a fascinating challenge—one I quickly learned to enjoy—right up until a local truck driver carrying a load of antiquities to the museum was murdered. After that my job got quite a bit more complicated. The show was undoubtedly destined to be a blockbuster, and I met some wonderful people among the many exhibitors, but a dark side of the rich history of our rock-bound coast began to reveal itself.

Pete necessarily became involved with my new job during the investigation of the driver’s death, when it turned out that nothing at all from the valuable—some might call it priceless—cargo carried in that truck was missing. For the first time ever Pete and I were in a position to work together to solve a crime that affected both of our jobs. As usual, friends, family and cat became involved. Sadly, it became apparent that there might be a murderer among the diverse group of historians, collectors, and even some very old, very distinguished Salem families who’d all become part of my documentary.

The investigation began to attract media interest outside of the city when a ship model in one of the exhibits appeared to be haunted. We’d become big news—attracted a lot of publicity—for all the wrong reasons. Worst of all, I had to admit to myself that it was possible that someone I knew, liked, and admired might be a cold-blooded killer.

Now You See It, A Witch City Mystery Book #13
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: September 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Marriage isn’t the only thing new in Lee Barrett’s life when she’s tasked with a hauntingly dangerous assignment in her job as program director for Salem, Massachusetts’s local station, WICH-TV . . .

Just married, Lee and her husband, Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello, are settling into their new home when Lee is dubbed WICH-TV’s new “Historical Documentary Chief Executive.” Her first subject is the brand-newSalem International Museum, slated to be a location for traveling blockbuster exhibits, starting with “Seafaring New England.” From research to collecting artifacts of Salem’s long-ago days as a shipping capital, the project is a challenge—but when the driver of a truckload of antiquities turns up dead under a pile of fall leaves, it’s not quite the kind of challenge Lee expected . . .

Soon, Lee and Pete are dredging up clues along with a hardy crew of helpers, including Lee’s librarian aunt, Ibby, Lee’s best friend and practicing witch, River North—and of course the clairvoyant cat, O’Ryan. But when a ship model in the exhibit’s collection appears to be haunted, Lee will have to dive into her own treasure trove of psychic gifts before a killer comes to the surface to strike again . . .

About the author
Bestselling author Carol J. Perry, Salem, Massachusetts born and now happily living in Florida with husband Dan, uses the scariest parts of each home state in her two cozy mystery series—the Witch City Mysteries and the Haunted Haven Mysteries. Visit her at caroljperry.com.

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