Book Review: A Time for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land (Murder, She Wrote #50)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Strong mysteries – past and present

Cons: Climax is over the top, characters sniping at each other

The Bottom Line:

Revisit murder

In light of current events

Milestone entry

Jessica’s First Murder Mystery Comes Back to Haunt Her

This year marks thirty-five years since Jessica Fletcher first graced our TV screens in Murder, She Wrote.  And this month, the franchise reaches another milestone with the publication of A Time For Murder, the fiftieth novel based on the long running show.

Years before she wrote her first novel, Jessica was involved in a murder case.  At the time, she and her husband, Frank, were living in Appleton, Maine, and raising their eight-year-old nephew Grady.  Jessica was a long-term substitute English teacher at the high school.  One morning, the principal of the high school was found in his office, and Jessica finds herself involved in figuring out what happened to him.

What brings this case from twenty-five years ago to mind?  A reporter from Cabot Cove High School asks Jessica about it in an interview.   Jessica dodges talking about the case, as she normally does, but when she decides to go and share a little more with the reporter, she realizes she was talking to an imposter.  Who interviewed her?  What is her interest in the case?

I picked up the book skeptical since it has been long established that Jessica’s first real life murder case was the murder she solved in the pilot episode.  (Speaking of which, they spoil that particular mystery in the first chapter here.  But after thirty-five years, I doubt there are many fans who haven’t seen it yet.)  I was happy to see how they explained that away so that this new book still fits with what has come before.  Since this is set twenty-five years in the past, we are obviously outside of real time with these novels.  With as young as Grady is, I’m not sure that even works with the timeline of the series, but I’d have to go back and rewatch the pilot to verify that.  Either way, I just accepted the books logic and moved on.

And I’m glad I did because this book was a lot of fun.  We spend part of the time in the past, and I enjoyed getting a glimpse of Jessica’s life with Frank and Grady as a boy.  There are some other surprises and cameos from the past that fans will absolutely enjoy.  Plus, the mystery is good.  This story is dribbled into the action of the present, and each time we returned to now, I was a little disappointed since I wanted to find out what had happened all those years ago.  And don’t worry, it is always clearly marked when we are moving to the past, so both timelines are easy to follow.

The majority of the book takes place in the present as Jessica works to figure out how the past is impacting what is happening to in the present.  Both storylines are compelling, so when it was time to return to the past, I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to know what would happen next in the present.  (Never happy, am I?)  In other words, I was once again pulled into this book and had a very hard time putting it down.

Unfortunately, my issues with the books I’ve read continue here.  The climax is an over the top action scene that stretches credibility.  It is page turning, but it also doesn’t feel right for this franchise.  Likewise, Jessica, Mort, and Seth snipe at each other a bit too much for my recollection of their relationships in the later seasons of the show.

On the other hand, Jessica has stopped swearing, which I appreciated tremendously.

It is obvious this book was written with its milestone status in mind.  The mystery from the past allows us to introduce a few Easter eggs that fans will love as they read.

It is a testament to the characters that Murder, She Wrote has so many fans so long after it debuted.  If you are one of them, I recommend you pick up A Time For Murder.  You’ll be glad you did.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Giveaway!

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of this book to give away.  Because it is a physical book, the contest is limited to residence of the US.

Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address so I can get in touch with you if you win.  I will pick the winner Monday, December 2nd, so please leave your comment before midnight Pacific Time on 12/2.  You will have until midnight on 12/7 to get back to me, or I will choose a new winner on 12/8.