As I was browsing through the local bookstore last weekend, my eyes were drawn to a captivating cover featuring a crystal ball and a mysterious silhouette. The title “Caught Dead Handed” by Carol J. Perry immediately piqued my curiosity. Being a fan of both mysteries and the supernatural, I couldn’t resist picking it up. Little did I know that this impulse purchase would lead me on a thrilling journey through the streets of Salem, Massachusetts.
From the first page, I was transported into the world of Lee Barrett, a widowed TV producer who returns to her hometown of Salem for a job interview. The author’s vivid descriptions of the historic witch city brought back memories of my own visit there years ago. I could almost smell the salty sea air and hear the whispers of centuries-old secrets as Lee navigated her new life.
What struck me most about this book was how seamlessly Perry blended the elements of a classic whodunit with the mystical atmosphere of Salem. The murder mystery at the heart of the story – the death of a local psychic TV show host – was intriguing enough on its own. But add in Lee’s unexpected psychic abilities and the colorful cast of Salem residents, and you’ve got a recipe for a page-turner that kept me up way past my bedtime.
One of the strongest aspects of “Caught Dead Handed” was the character development. Lee Barrett felt like a real person to me – flawed, relatable, and endearing. Her struggle to come to terms with her newfound abilities resonated with my own experiences of self-discovery. I found myself rooting for her as she pieced together the clues, both mundane and mystical.
The supporting characters were equally well-crafted. Aunt Ibby, Lee’s librarian aunt, was a particular favorite of mine. Her warmth and wisdom provided a perfect counterbalance to the darker elements of the story. And O’Ryan, the cat with an uncanny ability to sense danger, added just the right touch of whimsy to the proceedings.
However, I did find that the pacing lagged a bit in the middle of the book. There were a few chapters where the investigation seemed to stall, and I found my attention wandering. But just when I thought I might put the book down, Perry threw in a twist that had me frantically turning pages again.
One passage that particularly stuck with me was when Lee first realized the true extent of her abilities. Perry writes: “The images came faster now, a blur of faces and places, some familiar, some strange. It was like watching a movie on fast-forward, except I was in the movie, living each scene as it flashed by.” The visceral description of this psychic experience sent shivers down my spine and made me wonder what it would be like to possess such a gift – or curse.
Perry’s writing style is accessible and engaging, with just the right balance of description and dialogue. She has a knack for creating atmosphere, whether it’s the cozy warmth of Aunt Ibby’s home or the eerie chill of a Salem graveyard at midnight. At times, I felt the dialogue could have been a bit sharper, but overall, the prose flowed smoothly and kept me immersed in the story.
Reading “Caught Dead Handed” made me reflect on the nature of intuition and the secrets we all carry. It reminded me that sometimes the most important clues in life aren’t always visible to the naked eye. I found myself paying more attention to my own gut feelings in the days after finishing the book, wondering if I might have a touch of the psychic about me too.
I would definitely recommend this book to friends who enjoy mysteries with a supernatural twist. It’s perfect for those cozy autumn nights when you want to curl up with a cup of tea and lose yourself in a good story. However, I might hesitate to suggest it to hardcore mystery fans who prefer their whodunits firmly grounded in reality.
In conclusion, “Caught Dead Handed” was a delightful surprise that combined my love of mysteries with my fascination for the supernatural. While not without its flaws, the book provided me with hours of entertainment and left me eager to read the next installment in the Witch City Mystery series. Carol J. Perry has crafted a world that I’m excited to return to, and I have a feeling Lee Barrett and I will be spending many more late nights together, unraveling the mysteries of Salem.