Late Checkout

Written by Carol J. Perry

Narrated by C. S. E. Cooney

A dead ballplayer means foul play in Salem . . .

Field reporter Lee Barrett is not happy that her hours are being cut back at WICH-TV, although it is nice to spend more time volunteering with Aunt Ibby, a research librarian at Salem's main branch. But Lee's least favorite task is going up to the stacks, a spooky, seldom-frequented upper section of the library. On this day she has good reason to be afraid-she finds a dead man, surrounded by hundreds of scattered books and torn-out pages.

Her police detective beau, Pete Mondello, is soon on the scene, and the deceased is identified as a former minor league baseball player-and ex-con-named Wee Willie Wallace, who hasn't been seen in Salem for twenty years. With help from her friend River's Tarot reading, her clairvoyant cat O'Ryan, and Lee's own psychic gifts, she steps up to the plate to catch the killer who took the old ballplayer out of the game . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Sep 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781977389602

Reviews for Late Checkout

[auntie0nanuuq · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Lee Barrett (a scryer) is an investigative reporter for WICH-TV in Salem, MA. Her current assignment is to gather popular past childrens' show stars and bring them together for a reunion.Coinciding is the murder of the father-in-law of the woman whose father (also murdered) was the sportscaster for WICH-TV & successful purveyor of sports memorabilia.While volunteering at the Library where her Aunt works, Lee finds a dead man in the stacks, connected to both the television station and the dead sportscaster.Lee has obscure visions of the murders & attempts to piece together the motive...Actually pretty boring.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Late Checkout by Carol J. Perry is the ninth A Witch City Mystery. Lee Barrett is a field reporter with WICH-TV is Salem, Massachusetts whose hours have been cut back because of nepotism (the boss’s wife has a relation who needs experience). Lee decides to volunteer her extra hours at the main branch of the Salem library where her Aunt Ibby works. Lee is shelving books when she comes across one for the stacks. She had a bad experience in the stacks as a child and is reluctant to venture up there again. She heads upstairs where she finds a man dead surrounded by books that have badly damaged. Detective Pet Mondello, Lee’s beau, quickly arrives and the victim is identified as Wee Willie Wallace. Wee Willie was a former minor league baseball player, ex-con and actor with a penchant for laying wagers. Lee soon discovers that Wee Willie also has a tie to WICH-TV. Lee has been researching the stations history for the upcoming anniversary and finds a chilling discovery. Lee, with assistance from her friend, River and her tarot cards along with O’Ryan and her psychic gift, sets out to snag the killer. Lee needs to be careful or she could end up ensnared in the killers’ web. Late Checkout can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. The author provides Lee’s background information for new readers and connection to other characters. I enjoyed the authors descriptive writing which brings Salem alive for me. It is Halloween which is a busy time for Salem. There were a variety of activities including a pet costume parade. The mystery had several suspects and Lee worked with Aunt Ibby, River and Pete to identify the guilty party. There are good clues that aid readers in solving the whodunit before the reveal. I thought the mystery had some unique aspects that I enjoyed. We also get to see Lee work on a promotional sales campaign that she pitches to her boss for the upcoming anniversary of the station. I like the relationship Lee has with her Aunt Ibby. I like that they are close and can talk to each other. They live in the same house, but they each have their own space. It is sweet the Pete is also comfortable with Aunt Ibby. Aunt Ibby is certainly handy to have around with her research librarian skills. I enjoy that paranormal element of the book with Lee’s special abilities. It does not dominate the book. I find that it enhances the story. The tarot cards, though, I find confusing despite the explanations. Late Checkout is a fun cozy mystery with book bedlam, curious clues, entrancing eyes, an accommodating aunt, Halloween hijinks, and nepotism for a nephew.