'Til Death - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: 'Til Death (Witch City Mystery #12) by Carol J. Perry

Rating: Really Liked It
Source:   Publisher

Description:  The staff at Salem, Massachusetts’s local station, WICH-TV, is looking forward to the wedding of their program director, Lee Barrett. But when Lee heads off on her Maine honeymoon, she’ll be haunted by the ghosts of her own past . . .
Lee and Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello are finally tying the knot—and Lee is tying up loose ends before the big day. It’ll be an adjustment moving out of Aunt Ibby’s house, but the couple will stay nearby—after all, they have to share custody of O’Ryan, their clairvoyant cat. And Aunt Ibby will be renting out Lee’s old apartment . . . though she’s getting some bad vibes from her current prospective tenant.

After the celebration, complete with a cake made by the station magician, there should be time to relax—but the Maine island happens to be near the site of the crash that long ago killed Lee’s parents, a mystery she’s never been able to solve. Soon she’ll be putting wedding gifts aside and turning to her psychic gifts instead, to wrap up crimes both past and present . . .

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I love this series so of course I had to pick up this latest book.

My Impression:   With long running cozy series I have noticed that occasionally books are more about character development than plot and this was definitely one of those books.  The actual solving a mystery part doesn't start until about halfway through the book.  There is a more minor mystery of the identity of Aunt Ibby's new tenant but that's resolved pretty quickly.  As well there's all the goings on with Lee and Pete buying a house and getting married.  The real mystery starts when Lee and Pete get to the Maine island that belongs to Lee's aunt and just happens to be the place where Lee's parents died years before.

Once Lee and Pete arrive at the island they must try and figure out just what is going on with her aunt and uncle, just where did the ring that Lee's mother was wearing when she died came from, and what do Lee's visions and hints from O'Ryan mean?  I don't typically enjoy the character development books in the series but this was really entertaining. I liked seeing Pete in an unofficial capacity so that he and Lee could really work as a team.  As well, Aunt Ibby and her friends - the Angels - are fun acting as kind of a helpline when Lee and Pete need some info.  I wouldn't be shocked if this is the last book in the series as it did see a few plot points reach a conclusion but I really hope it isn't.  If it is I'm hoping that a new series starts around Lee and Pete's new neighbor.  That seems like it could be the start of a fun series if he doesn't become a reoccurring character in this series.  While a lot of mysteries can be read in any order this series and in particular this book really should be read in order.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I really enjoy this author and will read anything she writes.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy cozy mysteries I highly recommend this author and this series though I don't recommend this book as a starter.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *