Tails You Lose

Tails You Lose
A Witch City Mystery, #2

Carol J. Perry
Kensington Publishing, 2015

From the back of the book: “After losing her job as a TV psychic, Lee Barrett has decided to volunteer her talents as an instructor at the Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts—known as “The Tabby”—in her hometown of Salem Massachusetts. But when the local handyman turns up dead under seemingly inexplicable circumstances on Christmas night, Lee’s clairvoyant capabilities begin bubbling to the surface once again.

“The Tabby is housed in the long-vacant Trumbell’s Department Store. Ass Lee and her intrepid students begin work on a documentary charting the store’s history, they unravel a century of family secrets, deathbed whispers—and a mysterious labyrinth of tunnels hidden right below the streets of Salem. Even the witches in town are spooked, and when Lee begins seeing visions in the large black patent leather pump in her classroom, she’s certain something evil is afoot. But ghosts in the store’s attic are the least of her worries with a killer on the loose…”

This second book in the Witch City mysteries is better than the first one. The mystery is tightly woven and I wasn’t able to figure out who the murderer was this time. That’s the way I like my mysteries! The main character, Lee, is still afraid of using her gift of scrying which was a bit frustrating (but in a good way); and the budding romance between Pete and Lee is moving along at a nice, old-fashioned pace. Of course, the wonderful orange tabby, O’Ryan, was outstanding but not used as much in this book as in the first or the fourth. I’m starting the 3rd book soon and I hope the super-smart kitty will be more prominent in the story line. This story is set in the middle of a New England winter and the author writes in a way that made me believe I was in the middle of Salem on a cold, winter afternoon.

Rating 4 out of 5 paws – if you don’t mind a bit of ghostly and witchly happenings with your cozy mystery, you’ll love this book as much as I did. This series is definitely on my list to read!

Reviewer:

BobbieSue

Caught Dead Handed

Caught Dead Handed
Witch City Mystery #1

Carol J. Perry
Kensington Publishing Corp., 2014

From the back of the book, “Most folks associate the city of Salem, Massachusetts with witches, but for Lee Barrett, it’s home. This October she’s returned to her hometown—where her beloved Aunt Ibby still lives—to interview for a job as a reporter at WICH-TV. But the only opening is for a call-in psychic to host the late night horror movies. it seems the previous host, Ariel Constellation, never saw her own murder coming.

“Lee reluctantly takes the job, but when she starts seeing real events in the obsidian ball she’s using as a prop, she wonders if she might really have psychic abilities. To make things even spookier, it’s starting to look like Ariel may have been an actual practicing witch—especially when O’Ryan, the cat Lee and Aunt Ibby inherited from her, exhibits some strange powers of his own. With Halloween fast approaching, Lee must focus on unmasking a killer—or her career as a psychic may be very short lived…”

This is the first book in the Witch City Mystery series – I’ve already read and reviewed the 4th book, Murder Go Round, (mom found it displayed at the library and brought it home thinking I would like it – she was right!) and it was so good, I had to go back and start over from the beginning! It was good to find out how O’Ryan adopted Lee and how Lee recovered her scrying abilities. The mystery was fun and compelling, with lots of twists and turns. However, I did figure out the overall big secret of the murderer and who he or she was, but not the details. As I read I kept wanting to shout at Lee, “The murderer is …..!” As per the genre, no on stage violence or sex but a teensy bit of romance (shades of things to come!). Caught Dead Handed is a thoroughly enjoyable, tightly written mystery with all the questions wrapped up neatly in the end.

Rating: 4 out of 5 paws – great book, fabulous cat!!

Reviewer:

BobbieSue

 

Illuminata

Illuminata, Thoughts, Prayers, Rites of Passage

Marianne Williamson

Random House, 1994

This book was written in the early 90’s when the year 2000 loomed large on the horizon and has the perspective that many religious/spiritual thinkers of the day had: that big changes were coming our way spiritually-speaking (or so my Person tells me). And while 20 years on now, it seems a little dated when referring to the Millennium, there is still a treasure trove of spiritual truth in this little book.

Part I: Thoughts – In this section there are 3 essays that focus on a spiritual renaissance, an illuminous mind and mystical power. All three essays are powerfully written giving insight into the mystery of spirituality and mysticism.

Part II: Prayers – This section contains many different types of prayers, practically one for every occasion. The value of written prayer is demonstrated in the prayers that my Person may need to use one day when words fail her. There are prayers for the soul, the body, relationships, work and creativity and the world.

Part III: Rites of Passage – As a modern society humans may have forgotten how important rites of passages are. This section helps them with that. There are written rites for birth, transitioning into man/womanhood, marriage, divorce, transitioning into an elder and into memory. The rites are well written and short, allowing for expansion as the participants require.

Part IV: Hallelujah! – The author’s take on the Rapture is odd and I’m not sure what to make of it. There are jewels of wisdom in there to be sure, but mainly, its’ just strange. But my favorite part is: “He is us. The whole thing. The big picture. The new, the old. The answer. The hope. And you don’t have to join a religion. You don’t have to believe in him. You don’t have to believe what I say. You can do whatever you want. But he is here. And he has power. And he has desire. To set you free.”

I read this book slowly, so as to savor every morsel and I can say without a doubt it will on my re-read shelf for a long time to come. The wisdom that can be gleaned cannot be done so with one reading. The author does get somewhat loquacious at times and she does use a lot of grand words but rather than drag the writing down into gimmick, it elevates it because her subject matter is elevated.

Rating: 5 paws for passing along the wisdom of the ages.

 Reviewer: Rufus

 

Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed spiritual author and lecturer. Six of her eleven published books have been New York Times Best Sellers. Four of these have been #1 New York Times Best Sellers. A Return to Love is considered a must-read of The New Spirituality. A paragraph from that book, beginning “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…” is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers.

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