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Murder, She Wrote #36
The Fine Art of Murder
While on vacation in Italy, Jessica joins a tour that takes her to where lesser-known Italian masterworks are displayed-and where a pair of young Italian gunmen steal a painting off a church wall, killing an off-duty policeman in the process. Agreeing to help identify the crooks at a later date should they be caught, Jessica returns to Cabot Cove and puts the shocking experience behind her. But months later, both art and death land on her doorstep when the son of an old friend appears to beg her for help in solving his mother's murder-which may take Jessica all the way back to Italy...
277 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2011
104 people are currently reading
935 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Fletcher
117 books1,054 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Jessica Fletcher (born Jessica Beatrice MacGill, and writes under the initialed J.B. Fletcher) is a fictional character from the US television series Murder, She Wrote.
In keeping with the spirit of the TV show, a series of official original novels have been written by American ghostwriter Donald Bain and published by the New American Library. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." When the first novel in the series, Gin and Daggers, was published in 1989 it included several inaccuracies to the TV series including Jessica driving a car which she could not do as she never learned to drive. Due to fans pointing out the errors, the novel was republished in 2000 with most of the inaccuracies corrected.
Source: Wikipedia
Jessica Fletcher (born Jessica Beatrice MacGill, and writes under the initialed J.B. Fletcher) is a fictional character from the US television series Murder, She Wrote.
In keeping with the spirit of the TV show, a series of official original novels have been written by American ghostwriter Donald Bain and published by the New American Library. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." When the first novel in the series, Gin and Daggers, was published in 1989 it included several inaccuracies to the TV series including Jessica driving a car which she could not do as she never learned to drive. Due to fans pointing out the errors, the novel was republished in 2000 with most of the inaccuracies corrected.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 27, 2016
Not the best
As usual a very entertaining mystery novel, but the part about the Italian adventure could have been avoided, because it isn't needed to solve the mystery; furthermore, being Italian, I can assure whoever travels to Italy that there is much more to see and to enjoy than Mafia, and that people are not killed in churches so frequently!!
As usual a very entertaining mystery novel, but the part about the Italian adventure could have been avoided, because it isn't needed to solve the mystery; furthermore, being Italian, I can assure whoever travels to Italy that there is much more to see and to enjoy than Mafia, and that people are not killed in churches so frequently!!
August 30, 2024
3.5 stars
One of the better books in the series. New characters were well written and kept me interested in figuring out the whodunit. The story itself was well paced and both the Chicago case and Italy case tied together seamlessly. I was pleasantly surprised by this installment. I am curious to see whether Tony the art connoisseur actually shows up again.
One of the better books in the series. New characters were well written and kept me interested in figuring out the whodunit. The story itself was well paced and both the Chicago case and Italy case tied together seamlessly. I was pleasantly surprised by this installment. I am curious to see whether Tony the art connoisseur actually shows up again.
July 31, 2015
Lackluster writing. Ridiculous coincidences. Poor characterization.
Disappointing
Lackluster writing. Poor characterization and unbelievable circumstances strain credulity to the point where I laughed out loud on several occasions.
Just To Say
This book review may be longer than what some of you are accustomed to, so, by all means, read as little or as much of it as you want. If any of you find my opinions on this book to be harsh, all I can say is that I feel strongly about it. You may feel otherwise. I am not averse to trying another book from the series.
Falls Short of Expectations
I am a long-time admirer of the “Murder, She Wrote” television show. I hoped this book might be of a similar caliber; however, I was greatly disappointed.
Excessive Description
Copious geographic details, inordinate descriptions of what characters are wearing and a contrived plot make it difficult to retain the necessary motivation to finish the story.
Does Not Flow Naturally
At one point, when we have just learned that a gun is pointed in the general direction of Mrs. Fletcher, we are, yet again, forced to endure detailed clothing descriptions – because that’s what you’re thinking about when a gun is pointed your way. Even if she noticed such details, including them at that point like some kind of arbitrary fashion commentary needlessly jars the reader from the story. These details, if important, could be mentioned later.
Too Many Characters & Too Much Location Bouncing
Flitting between Rome and Chicago is tiresome. Ridiculous coincidences are rife in this tired, flimsy plot. The inclusion of too many characters makes for an exhausting reading experience. The aforementioned weak characterization makes it hard to really care what happens to any of them.
Unexpectedly Graphic for “Murder, She Wrote”
Blood spurts. “A plume of blood filled the air.” Blood even gets on Mrs. Fletcher. – Besides, it’s just a bit dramatic.
My Two Cents
While it doesn’t go as far as a shower scene in another book or show might, there is no need for narration to continue while Mrs. Fletcher is in the shower.
She has a pilot’s license? Since when? Did I miss an episode? Perhaps this was established in another book in the series.
The brief phone conversations with Seth and Mort could be better, but considering the rest of the book, they are fairly decent in comparison.
Melodrama
“One woman on the tour began wailing and collapsed.” – Such an occurrence is not impossible, but it certainly does not ring true. Really? I’m too busy shaking my head to care what happens next.
“Aside from the wailing woman, we remained in stunned silence.” – Needless histrionics. – This is precisely the kind of thing that reinforces the fact that a man wrote this story. As this is not a soap opera, I deem it quite out of place.
Dialogue
“Can’t you say something to stop them?” – Mrs. Fletcher, of all people, said this in the midst of armed thugs carrying out a crime. Why, sure, good ol’ Mrs. F. Isn’t that what she always does…suggest someone ask the bad guys to cease and desist? Right.
“Would you be offended if I preferred a glass of wine?” – Because Mrs. Fletcher is so insecure about herself as to be worried about such an absurd thing. Mhmm.
“No problem.” – No, just no. Mrs. Fletcher does not talk this way.
Dialogue Attribution
“How horrible, I murmured.” Okay, seriously. The next person to “murmur” something needs to be voted off the island. “How horrible,” I said. There. Nice and simple. If you have written your story well, the rest will take care of itself. A similar instance involved “concurred” used in the same manner. – Stephen King, in his book, On Writing, gives advice on this matter with which I agree: “Don’t do these things. Please, oh, please.”
Unrealistic Reactions
At times needlessly judgmental, at other times overly shocked, upset or wishy-washy, this book did not contain the J.B. Fletcher I know and love – merely a poor facsimile.
Phrasing/Flimsy Writing
“His dark eyes were filled with surprise, anger, and hate.” – Were they now? How marvelous for you to be able to manage such an assessment in the blink of an eye. Perhaps you might consider showing us, through your story, what we need to know, instead of summing it up based on a half second’s observation. – Stephen King wrote that description should “begin in the mind of the writer and end in the mind of the reader.” — Sound advice.
“Assuming the photographs were of recent vintage.” – No, this had nothing to do with wine. Just say “assuming the photographs were recent.” – To say “recent vintage” is grandiose and silly.
“Google foray.” – Truly, simplicity is a virtue, not a crime. “Google search.” That’s what you mean.
“I did some prowling on the Internet.” – Oh, really now? Like a tiger prowling in the night? Nope. Just an Internet search. No need for tiger mimicry.
“I was torn.” – Mrs. Fletcher is not an uncertain character (though anyone has moments, of course) in the television series and ought not to be portrayed as such in novel form. Sure, it’s not impossible for her to feel torn, but in the instance or instances where she is depicted this way in the book, it is out of place due to the extent, nature and frequency involved.
“While the washing machine performed its sudsy task.” – Sloppy, silly and just plain unnecessary.
“We eschewed dessert.” – Merriam Webster defines “eschew” as “to avoid habitually, especially on moral or practical grounds,” so, okay, just no. You can eschew violence, sure…but dessert? How about simply opting to skip it or not mentioning it at all?
“I appreciate that,” I said, meaning it.” – There was a similar statement at least one other time with “meaning it” at the end. If you mean it, fine, but let us deduce that based on what is written. Poor form. Distracts from the story and diminishes the credulity of this character being Mrs. Fletcher.
“I undressed for bed and used the adjoining bathroom for my nightly ablutions.” – Needless grandiose phrasing. Nightly ablutions, really? “I got ready for bed.” There is no need to belabor the point. – As one of my professors was so fond of saying, “KISS it…Keep It Simple, Stupid.”
“I climbed under the covers and sighed.” – Bit dramatic in my opinion. Maybe it works for some folks, but it just makes me shake my head and lament the absence of the Mrs. Fletcher I had hoped to find between the pages of this book.
Not Entirely Devoid of Merit
There are points of minor interest, but the best reason I can think of to read this book is a bit of advice Stephen King offered in his book, On Writing:
“We need to experience the mediocre and the outright rotten; such experience helps us to recognize those things when they begin to creep into our own work, and to steer clear of them.”
Disappointing
Lackluster writing. Poor characterization and unbelievable circumstances strain credulity to the point where I laughed out loud on several occasions.
Just To Say
This book review may be longer than what some of you are accustomed to, so, by all means, read as little or as much of it as you want. If any of you find my opinions on this book to be harsh, all I can say is that I feel strongly about it. You may feel otherwise. I am not averse to trying another book from the series.
Falls Short of Expectations
I am a long-time admirer of the “Murder, She Wrote” television show. I hoped this book might be of a similar caliber; however, I was greatly disappointed.
Excessive Description
Copious geographic details, inordinate descriptions of what characters are wearing and a contrived plot make it difficult to retain the necessary motivation to finish the story.
Does Not Flow Naturally
At one point, when we have just learned that a gun is pointed in the general direction of Mrs. Fletcher, we are, yet again, forced to endure detailed clothing descriptions – because that’s what you’re thinking about when a gun is pointed your way. Even if she noticed such details, including them at that point like some kind of arbitrary fashion commentary needlessly jars the reader from the story. These details, if important, could be mentioned later.
Too Many Characters & Too Much Location Bouncing
Flitting between Rome and Chicago is tiresome. Ridiculous coincidences are rife in this tired, flimsy plot. The inclusion of too many characters makes for an exhausting reading experience. The aforementioned weak characterization makes it hard to really care what happens to any of them.
Unexpectedly Graphic for “Murder, She Wrote”
Blood spurts. “A plume of blood filled the air.” Blood even gets on Mrs. Fletcher. – Besides, it’s just a bit dramatic.
My Two Cents
While it doesn’t go as far as a shower scene in another book or show might, there is no need for narration to continue while Mrs. Fletcher is in the shower.
She has a pilot’s license? Since when? Did I miss an episode? Perhaps this was established in another book in the series.
The brief phone conversations with Seth and Mort could be better, but considering the rest of the book, they are fairly decent in comparison.
Melodrama
“One woman on the tour began wailing and collapsed.” – Such an occurrence is not impossible, but it certainly does not ring true. Really? I’m too busy shaking my head to care what happens next.
“Aside from the wailing woman, we remained in stunned silence.” – Needless histrionics. – This is precisely the kind of thing that reinforces the fact that a man wrote this story. As this is not a soap opera, I deem it quite out of place.
Dialogue
“Can’t you say something to stop them?” – Mrs. Fletcher, of all people, said this in the midst of armed thugs carrying out a crime. Why, sure, good ol’ Mrs. F. Isn’t that what she always does…suggest someone ask the bad guys to cease and desist? Right.
“Would you be offended if I preferred a glass of wine?” – Because Mrs. Fletcher is so insecure about herself as to be worried about such an absurd thing. Mhmm.
“No problem.” – No, just no. Mrs. Fletcher does not talk this way.
Dialogue Attribution
“How horrible, I murmured.” Okay, seriously. The next person to “murmur” something needs to be voted off the island. “How horrible,” I said. There. Nice and simple. If you have written your story well, the rest will take care of itself. A similar instance involved “concurred” used in the same manner. – Stephen King, in his book, On Writing, gives advice on this matter with which I agree: “Don’t do these things. Please, oh, please.”
Unrealistic Reactions
At times needlessly judgmental, at other times overly shocked, upset or wishy-washy, this book did not contain the J.B. Fletcher I know and love – merely a poor facsimile.
Phrasing/Flimsy Writing
“His dark eyes were filled with surprise, anger, and hate.” – Were they now? How marvelous for you to be able to manage such an assessment in the blink of an eye. Perhaps you might consider showing us, through your story, what we need to know, instead of summing it up based on a half second’s observation. – Stephen King wrote that description should “begin in the mind of the writer and end in the mind of the reader.” — Sound advice.
“Assuming the photographs were of recent vintage.” – No, this had nothing to do with wine. Just say “assuming the photographs were recent.” – To say “recent vintage” is grandiose and silly.
“Google foray.” – Truly, simplicity is a virtue, not a crime. “Google search.” That’s what you mean.
“I did some prowling on the Internet.” – Oh, really now? Like a tiger prowling in the night? Nope. Just an Internet search. No need for tiger mimicry.
“I was torn.” – Mrs. Fletcher is not an uncertain character (though anyone has moments, of course) in the television series and ought not to be portrayed as such in novel form. Sure, it’s not impossible for her to feel torn, but in the instance or instances where she is depicted this way in the book, it is out of place due to the extent, nature and frequency involved.
“While the washing machine performed its sudsy task.” – Sloppy, silly and just plain unnecessary.
“We eschewed dessert.” – Merriam Webster defines “eschew” as “to avoid habitually, especially on moral or practical grounds,” so, okay, just no. You can eschew violence, sure…but dessert? How about simply opting to skip it or not mentioning it at all?
“I appreciate that,” I said, meaning it.” – There was a similar statement at least one other time with “meaning it” at the end. If you mean it, fine, but let us deduce that based on what is written. Poor form. Distracts from the story and diminishes the credulity of this character being Mrs. Fletcher.
“I undressed for bed and used the adjoining bathroom for my nightly ablutions.” – Needless grandiose phrasing. Nightly ablutions, really? “I got ready for bed.” There is no need to belabor the point. – As one of my professors was so fond of saying, “KISS it…Keep It Simple, Stupid.”
“I climbed under the covers and sighed.” – Bit dramatic in my opinion. Maybe it works for some folks, but it just makes me shake my head and lament the absence of the Mrs. Fletcher I had hoped to find between the pages of this book.
Not Entirely Devoid of Merit
There are points of minor interest, but the best reason I can think of to read this book is a bit of advice Stephen King offered in his book, On Writing:
“We need to experience the mediocre and the outright rotten; such experience helps us to recognize those things when they begin to creep into our own work, and to steer clear of them.”
March 16, 2025
I really liked this one! Art and Italy and Jessica Fletcher? Oh yes!
August 6, 2021
carino, ma niente di che.
July 20, 2025
This one had that old Jessica Fletcher charm
August 31, 2018
Another entry in the Murder, she Wrote series. In this one, Jessica travels to Italy for a little vacation and witnesses an art theft and murder! Returning home, the step-son of a friend shows up on her doorstep from Chicago, his father just murdered. Jess travels again with him to Chicago, where he accuses Jess' friend, his step-mother, of murder. In the midst of all this, Jess has to travel back to Italy for a line-up as the police have caught the murderer/thief. There's a lot of travelling going on!
The Murder she Wrote series isn't one of my favorites, but this one had an interesting story line with art forgeries and thefts from Italian churches (and the art market). Not sure if it is all true, but it was interesting. Some interesting characters as well. I did figure out who the murderer in Chicago was, but it was a pleasant read none-the-less.
The Murder she Wrote series isn't one of my favorites, but this one had an interesting story line with art forgeries and thefts from Italian churches (and the art market). Not sure if it is all true, but it was interesting. Some interesting characters as well. I did figure out who the murderer in Chicago was, but it was a pleasant read none-the-less.
November 9, 2011
Jessica is traveling in Italy, visiting old churches to see the paintings and murals of old. She witnesses a murder and travels home to Cabot Cove to get the murder out of her mind. She has a surprise visit one night. It is the stepson of one of her friends in Chicago. The stepson Wayne needs help as her friend is a person of interest in the death of Wayne's father. Jessica certainly earns frequent flyer miles in the book.
Just a quirk - Jessica is viewing Italian art but the paintings on the front cover are Van Gogh's distinctive work, which are housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Just a quirk - Jessica is viewing Italian art but the paintings on the front cover are Van Gogh's distinctive work, which are housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
October 13, 2017
When it comes to cozy mysteries, Murder She Wrote is pretty much the TV icon. While the books aren't always on point, this one was quite good. I think I'm done buying paper versions though. There's nothing quite like listening to the audiobook when the narrator does such a great job of the accent and Jessica's personality.
It's going to take awhile but I will get through these suckers.
It's going to take awhile but I will get through these suckers.
November 25, 2011
I was wondering if Jessica was going to solve the murder. It was getting so close to the end before she did. I was also wondering how everything fit together for awhile.
August 23, 2017
Love these books Jessica , is a lovable character. Full of smarts quick thinking
June 19, 2022
Oh bè, ritorno nell’universo GoodReads con questo best seller in incognito.
Jessica è in Italia, per fare del turismo culturale. Mentre lei e la comitiva stanno visitando una chiesa in Abruzzo -che io che sono una zotica conosco per gli arrosticini ma che la Jessica che è studiata dice che è la patria di streghe e licantropi (ma seriamente?)-, si assiste ad un furto di un quadro e all’assassinio di un ex poliziotto proprio di fronte agli occhi di chi? Di Jessica, ma scherziamo?!
Lei va dalla polizia e poi da la sua disponibilità a tornare a Roma nel caso in cui ci sia da testimoniare. Bon, dopo aver seminato morte anche all’interno dei nostri confini, Jessica torna a Cabot Cove dove scopre che, a Chicago, è stato ucciso il marito di una sua vecchia e cara amica, guarda caso, un collezionista di arte. L’omicidio resterebbe marginale se non fosse che il figliastro di questa sua amica le capita a casa, così da nulla. E taaaaac, ecco l’anello che unisce Jessica all’ennesima morte per mano violenta!
Questo episodio della serie presenta una trama più complicata di quello che mi aspetterei da questo genere di libro, ma niente di sconvolgente, anzi contribuisce a renderlo più interessante.
Piccola grande nota di demerito: la maniera così fastidiosamente stereotipata in cui è stata rappresentata l’Italia.
Jessica è in Italia, per fare del turismo culturale. Mentre lei e la comitiva stanno visitando una chiesa in Abruzzo -che io che sono una zotica conosco per gli arrosticini ma che la Jessica che è studiata dice che è la patria di streghe e licantropi (ma seriamente?)-, si assiste ad un furto di un quadro e all’assassinio di un ex poliziotto proprio di fronte agli occhi di chi? Di Jessica, ma scherziamo?!
Lei va dalla polizia e poi da la sua disponibilità a tornare a Roma nel caso in cui ci sia da testimoniare. Bon, dopo aver seminato morte anche all’interno dei nostri confini, Jessica torna a Cabot Cove dove scopre che, a Chicago, è stato ucciso il marito di una sua vecchia e cara amica, guarda caso, un collezionista di arte. L’omicidio resterebbe marginale se non fosse che il figliastro di questa sua amica le capita a casa, così da nulla. E taaaaac, ecco l’anello che unisce Jessica all’ennesima morte per mano violenta!
Questo episodio della serie presenta una trama più complicata di quello che mi aspetterei da questo genere di libro, ma niente di sconvolgente, anzi contribuisce a renderlo più interessante.
Piccola grande nota di demerito: la maniera così fastidiosamente stereotipata in cui è stata rappresentata l’Italia.
June 8, 2022
Jessica e' sempre Jessica, anche quando si trova a districarsi da situazioni decisamente spiacevoli quali furti di opere d'arte e minacce di morte da parte di sconosciuti. E questa volta deve mettere in campo tutte le sue competenze eil suo sange freddo per superare le avversita' di questa complicata avventura.
Tutto inizia con una vacanza nientemeno che in Italia, a Roma, durante la quale la nostra eroina desidera immergersi nel mondo dell'arte. Purtroppo rimane coinvolta in uno spiacevole evento: il furto di un quadro e la successiva uccisione di un uomo che quel furto ha tentato di sventare. Ritornata nella sua amata Cabot Cove, tuttavia, non riesce a trovare la pace che desidera in quanto un ospite inatteso si presenta alla sua porta, aprendo il cassetto dei ricordi e scoperchiando un vaso di Pandora di segreti e bugie.
Scrittura fluida e rilassata, i personaggi ironici e arzilli come sempre, ciascuno con le proprie quelita' e i propri difetti. Grazie alle doti dell'autore ci e' semplice immedesimarci in Jessica e provare con lei simpatia e fastidio verso questa o quella persona, stupirci di fronte alla cattiveria dell'animo umano e rallegrarci dei semplici piaceri della vita, come una tazza di te con gli amici o la possibilita' di ammirare un'opera d'arte. Si tratta di un romanzo piacevole e scorrevole, accattivante e ben articolato.
Tutto inizia con una vacanza nientemeno che in Italia, a Roma, durante la quale la nostra eroina desidera immergersi nel mondo dell'arte. Purtroppo rimane coinvolta in uno spiacevole evento: il furto di un quadro e la successiva uccisione di un uomo che quel furto ha tentato di sventare. Ritornata nella sua amata Cabot Cove, tuttavia, non riesce a trovare la pace che desidera in quanto un ospite inatteso si presenta alla sua porta, aprendo il cassetto dei ricordi e scoperchiando un vaso di Pandora di segreti e bugie.
Scrittura fluida e rilassata, i personaggi ironici e arzilli come sempre, ciascuno con le proprie quelita' e i propri difetti. Grazie alle doti dell'autore ci e' semplice immedesimarci in Jessica e provare con lei simpatia e fastidio verso questa o quella persona, stupirci di fronte alla cattiveria dell'animo umano e rallegrarci dei semplici piaceri della vita, come una tazza di te con gli amici o la possibilita' di ammirare un'opera d'arte. Si tratta di un romanzo piacevole e scorrevole, accattivante e ben articolato.
September 3, 2025
This was such a different flow from the regular mystery and even Murder She Wrote mystery. I loved it! There were a few slower moments, but this was very refreshing. 😃
October 31, 2023
Stars: 2 / 5
Recommendation: This was a little under the weather kind of book with so many hostile characters and standoffish. We get to see beautiful Italy and also see the dark world of art, but the end conclusion was partially completed for my taste. Not a bad read, but not something remarkable either.
The Fine Art of Murder is the 36th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on October of 2011. Jessica is vacationing in Italy enjoying the museums and fine art of lesser known Italian masterworks when she witnesses the murder of an off-duty policeman and the stealing of a painting. However, she returns to Cabot Cove after agreeing to help the authorities. But months later the son of an old friend reaches out to her asking her help to exonerate his step-mother from the murder of his father which takes her back to Italy and to the murder / theft.
This is my take on the series of books written by a plethora of authors and Jessica Fletcher (fictional author) based on the 80s and 90s popular American crime drama television series Murder, She Wrote. These books are ghost written by Donald Bain and fictional author Jessica Fletcher for the first 43 books until 2015. Then Donald Bain wrote these with Renee Paley Bain and Jon Land for four more books. After Donald Bain passed away in 2017, Jon Land alone took the baton and continued with Jessica Fletcher for 5 more books until 2020. Starting 2021 the series was picked by Terrie Farley Moran again pairing with the fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. As of 2023, 56 books have been written in this series. They are all written in first person narration.
I found the primary character very standoffish and at times rude to Jessica, when she herself forced Jessica to be involved in the investigation. I didn’t find gratitude on her part at all. And Jessica as always is very forgiving towards her and her family who have done nothing but hinder the investigation. It's a testament to Jessica's good nature and penchant to hunt for the truth that kept her going. If I was in her place, I would leave them to their fate and get myself free of everything.
As always we get a tour of lesser-known places in Italy through Jessica's eyes; a history of several locations in Italy as well as in Chicago. And this time around we get an education in the art of mixology specially around the various ways one can make a Martini, as well as the pure way of drinking it.
We come to know that there are something called Bond Bars in Italy in honor of James Bond 007 which serve the true form of Martini just like Bond would have wanted. We are also taken into the dark underbelly of the artistic world involving art, forgery and murder.
It was obvious towards the first quarter of the book as to at least one party's involvement in the murder. However, again the Author Bain did not give a complete conclusion on the art thieves. It was more of conjecture and hypothesis than factual.
Also Jessica still feels impressed by one of the characters, even though she was put through harrowing experiences. I wonder why she is so forgiving and accepting of everyone despite the dangers or interesting experiences they bring her.
This was a little under the weather kind of book with so many hostile characters and standoffish. We get to see beautiful Italy and also see the dark world of art, but the end conclusion was partially completed for my taste. Not a bad read, but not something remarkable either.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Law Enforcement in Italy: Detective Sergio Maresca; Detective Filippo Lippi; Detective Amato.
b. Jonathon Simsbury's family & friends: Marlise Morrison Simsbury, his second wife; Wayne Simsbury; his son; Willard Corman, attorney representing Marlise in the murder trial; Consuela, cook; Mrs. Simsbury, Jonathon's mother; Mrs. Tetley, live-in housekeeper; Carl Grundig, chauffer; Joe Jankowski, Jonathon's attorney; Edgar Peters, partner.
c. Other characters: Ms. Robertson, Corman's paralegal; Detective Larry Witmer; Detective Walter Munsch; Susan Hurley, Jonathon's executive assistant; Anthony "Tony" Curso, art appraiser, historian and professor.
2. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt, long-time friend in Cabot Cove, Maine; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his wife Maureen; Eve Simpson, realtor friend working at Cabot Cove Realty; Sam Booth, mayor of Cabot Cove; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder;
b. Literary contacts and friends: her publisher Vaughan Buckley of Buckley House, his fashion model wife Olga Buckley and their dogs Sadie and Rose; Harry McGraw, her private eye friend; Matt Miller, her literary agent & his wife Susan; Paulette, Matt's assistant;
c. Other Characters appear frequently: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, only bush pilot for Cabot Cove and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia / Barbara?; Mara, restaurant owner of Mara’s Luncheonette; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; Charlene Sassi, a baker; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim, Mayor of Cabot Cove; Professor Donskoy; Roberta Dougherty, bookstore owner; Richard Koser, photographer, and his wife MaryJane; Barbara DePaoli, Chamber of Commerce's secretary; Anthon Colarusso, dentist; Beth and Peter Mullin, owners of flower shop Old Tyme Floral; Sam Davis, investment advisor; Jack Decker, publisher of Cabot Cove's monthly magazine; Peter Eder, Cabot Cove's symphony orchestra; Bob Daros, owns Heritage Fuel; Tim Purdy, treasurer of chamber of commerce and historian and president of Cabot Cove's historical society, also an investment advisor, and his wife Ellen; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; Gloria Watson, Wendell's mother; Joseph "Joe" Turco, an attorney; Marcia Davis, costume designer; David and Jim Raneri, owners of Charles Department Store; Ralph Mackin, town attorney; Ed and Joan Lerner, retirees; Brenda Brody, copy editor of Cabot Cove Insider; Doug Treyz, dentist, and his wife Tina; Jack and Marilou Decker, publishers of Cabot Cove Insider; Peter and Roberta Walters, owners of the radio station; Horace Teller, publisher of Cabot Cove News; Doris Sitar, assistant manager at Cabot Cove Savings Bank; Dmitri, owner of local taxi company; Phil Wick, field manager of the phone company; John St. Clair, professor of business law at Cabot Cove Community College; Dr. Jennifer "Jenny" Countryman, Seth's partner; Reginald "Reggie" Weems, insurance agent; Richard Jenkins & Sal Marterella, city council members; Jack Wilson, the Veterinarian, and his wife Tobe; Evelyn Phillips, editor of Cabot Cove Gazette; Maniram Chatterjee & his wife Hita, jewelry shop owners;
d. Sheriff Metzger’s office staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher.
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank.
f. We continue to see Mort Metzger's wife being called as Maureen. Although we now know the reason why Mort's wife is different than the TV series, I distinctly remember her name being changed to Adele in the 50th book, A Time for Murder. Looks like the confusion is not completely alleviated.
g. I remember reading one of the later books (and couldn’t figure out which one was that) where we see Sam Booth as the mayor of Cabot Cove. However, since I started reading the series from the beginning, looks like the mayor of Cabot Cove is Jim Shevlin. I wonder if Sam Booth surfaces as I remember from way back read.
h. The prominent photographer of Cabot Cove's last name is spelled differently in the 30th book A Slaying in Savannah. Up until then he was "Koser" and now he is "Kaser" in that book. Wonder if it will change back in future.
i. In the 27th book Coffee, Tea or Murder? we see that Jed's wife is named Barbara. But up until then she was named Alicia. Wonder if Bain will have a backup story for that in future books.
j. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
k. From the 10th book, Murder in Moscow:
i. There is still no resolution as to who or how Ward Wenington was killed in D.C. and why Vladislav "Vlady" Staritova was killed in Russia. What was the connection?
ii. Alexandra Kozhina disappears at the end of the plot. And will she surface in another book?
l. From the 3th book:
i. Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.
ii. There is reference to a very expensive luxury perfume called Shalini in the book. The name sounded Indian so I was curious why it was called a luxury perfume. Turns out it is a French Parfum but made with exotic flowers of rare occurrence. No wonder its very pricey.
iii. There is no closure as to who actually kills the person in the first murder.
iv. Will Jennifer Kahn, the alleged jewel thief, walk away free since they could only find circumstantial evidence against her and nothing concrete?
m. In the 50th book, A Time for Murder, Jessica is shown at Hill House, Cabot Cove’s very own Inn due to a fire at her Victorian home at 698 Candlewood Lame. I wonder if the 49th book, Murder in Red, has anything to do with her house getting caught fire which almost killed her.
n. From the 51st book, The Murder of Twelve:
i. Author Land gives considerable mystery to Seamus McGilray’s character. I wonder if he resurfaces in a future book.
ii. Towards the end of the book, Mort jokes that Jessica should run for mayor. Hmm…something to look forward to I suppose.
Recommendation: This was a little under the weather kind of book with so many hostile characters and standoffish. We get to see beautiful Italy and also see the dark world of art, but the end conclusion was partially completed for my taste. Not a bad read, but not something remarkable either.
The Fine Art of Murder is the 36th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on October of 2011. Jessica is vacationing in Italy enjoying the museums and fine art of lesser known Italian masterworks when she witnesses the murder of an off-duty policeman and the stealing of a painting. However, she returns to Cabot Cove after agreeing to help the authorities. But months later the son of an old friend reaches out to her asking her help to exonerate his step-mother from the murder of his father which takes her back to Italy and to the murder / theft.
This is my take on the series of books written by a plethora of authors and Jessica Fletcher (fictional author) based on the 80s and 90s popular American crime drama television series Murder, She Wrote. These books are ghost written by Donald Bain and fictional author Jessica Fletcher for the first 43 books until 2015. Then Donald Bain wrote these with Renee Paley Bain and Jon Land for four more books. After Donald Bain passed away in 2017, Jon Land alone took the baton and continued with Jessica Fletcher for 5 more books until 2020. Starting 2021 the series was picked by Terrie Farley Moran again pairing with the fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. As of 2023, 56 books have been written in this series. They are all written in first person narration.
I found the primary character very standoffish and at times rude to Jessica, when she herself forced Jessica to be involved in the investigation. I didn’t find gratitude on her part at all. And Jessica as always is very forgiving towards her and her family who have done nothing but hinder the investigation. It's a testament to Jessica's good nature and penchant to hunt for the truth that kept her going. If I was in her place, I would leave them to their fate and get myself free of everything.
As always we get a tour of lesser-known places in Italy through Jessica's eyes; a history of several locations in Italy as well as in Chicago. And this time around we get an education in the art of mixology specially around the various ways one can make a Martini, as well as the pure way of drinking it.
We come to know that there are something called Bond Bars in Italy in honor of James Bond 007 which serve the true form of Martini just like Bond would have wanted. We are also taken into the dark underbelly of the artistic world involving art, forgery and murder.
It was obvious towards the first quarter of the book as to at least one party's involvement in the murder. However, again the Author Bain did not give a complete conclusion on the art thieves. It was more of conjecture and hypothesis than factual.
Also Jessica still feels impressed by one of the characters, even though she was put through harrowing experiences. I wonder why she is so forgiving and accepting of everyone despite the dangers or interesting experiences they bring her.
This was a little under the weather kind of book with so many hostile characters and standoffish. We get to see beautiful Italy and also see the dark world of art, but the end conclusion was partially completed for my taste. Not a bad read, but not something remarkable either.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Law Enforcement in Italy: Detective Sergio Maresca; Detective Filippo Lippi; Detective Amato.
b. Jonathon Simsbury's family & friends: Marlise Morrison Simsbury, his second wife; Wayne Simsbury; his son; Willard Corman, attorney representing Marlise in the murder trial; Consuela, cook; Mrs. Simsbury, Jonathon's mother; Mrs. Tetley, live-in housekeeper; Carl Grundig, chauffer; Joe Jankowski, Jonathon's attorney; Edgar Peters, partner.
c. Other characters: Ms. Robertson, Corman's paralegal; Detective Larry Witmer; Detective Walter Munsch; Susan Hurley, Jonathon's executive assistant; Anthony "Tony" Curso, art appraiser, historian and professor.
2. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt, long-time friend in Cabot Cove, Maine; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his wife Maureen; Eve Simpson, realtor friend working at Cabot Cove Realty; Sam Booth, mayor of Cabot Cove; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder;
b. Literary contacts and friends: her publisher Vaughan Buckley of Buckley House, his fashion model wife Olga Buckley and their dogs Sadie and Rose; Harry McGraw, her private eye friend; Matt Miller, her literary agent & his wife Susan; Paulette, Matt's assistant;
c. Other Characters appear frequently: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, only bush pilot for Cabot Cove and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia / Barbara?; Mara, restaurant owner of Mara’s Luncheonette; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; Charlene Sassi, a baker; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim, Mayor of Cabot Cove; Professor Donskoy; Roberta Dougherty, bookstore owner; Richard Koser, photographer, and his wife MaryJane; Barbara DePaoli, Chamber of Commerce's secretary; Anthon Colarusso, dentist; Beth and Peter Mullin, owners of flower shop Old Tyme Floral; Sam Davis, investment advisor; Jack Decker, publisher of Cabot Cove's monthly magazine; Peter Eder, Cabot Cove's symphony orchestra; Bob Daros, owns Heritage Fuel; Tim Purdy, treasurer of chamber of commerce and historian and president of Cabot Cove's historical society, also an investment advisor, and his wife Ellen; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; Gloria Watson, Wendell's mother; Joseph "Joe" Turco, an attorney; Marcia Davis, costume designer; David and Jim Raneri, owners of Charles Department Store; Ralph Mackin, town attorney; Ed and Joan Lerner, retirees; Brenda Brody, copy editor of Cabot Cove Insider; Doug Treyz, dentist, and his wife Tina; Jack and Marilou Decker, publishers of Cabot Cove Insider; Peter and Roberta Walters, owners of the radio station; Horace Teller, publisher of Cabot Cove News; Doris Sitar, assistant manager at Cabot Cove Savings Bank; Dmitri, owner of local taxi company; Phil Wick, field manager of the phone company; John St. Clair, professor of business law at Cabot Cove Community College; Dr. Jennifer "Jenny" Countryman, Seth's partner; Reginald "Reggie" Weems, insurance agent; Richard Jenkins & Sal Marterella, city council members; Jack Wilson, the Veterinarian, and his wife Tobe; Evelyn Phillips, editor of Cabot Cove Gazette; Maniram Chatterjee & his wife Hita, jewelry shop owners;
d. Sheriff Metzger’s office staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher.
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank.
f. We continue to see Mort Metzger's wife being called as Maureen. Although we now know the reason why Mort's wife is different than the TV series, I distinctly remember her name being changed to Adele in the 50th book, A Time for Murder. Looks like the confusion is not completely alleviated.
g. I remember reading one of the later books (and couldn’t figure out which one was that) where we see Sam Booth as the mayor of Cabot Cove. However, since I started reading the series from the beginning, looks like the mayor of Cabot Cove is Jim Shevlin. I wonder if Sam Booth surfaces as I remember from way back read.
h. The prominent photographer of Cabot Cove's last name is spelled differently in the 30th book A Slaying in Savannah. Up until then he was "Koser" and now he is "Kaser" in that book. Wonder if it will change back in future.
i. In the 27th book Coffee, Tea or Murder? we see that Jed's wife is named Barbara. But up until then she was named Alicia. Wonder if Bain will have a backup story for that in future books.
j. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
k. From the 10th book, Murder in Moscow:
i. There is still no resolution as to who or how Ward Wenington was killed in D.C. and why Vladislav "Vlady" Staritova was killed in Russia. What was the connection?
ii. Alexandra Kozhina disappears at the end of the plot. And will she surface in another book?
l. From the 3th book:
i. Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.
ii. There is reference to a very expensive luxury perfume called Shalini in the book. The name sounded Indian so I was curious why it was called a luxury perfume. Turns out it is a French Parfum but made with exotic flowers of rare occurrence. No wonder its very pricey.
iii. There is no closure as to who actually kills the person in the first murder.
iv. Will Jennifer Kahn, the alleged jewel thief, walk away free since they could only find circumstantial evidence against her and nothing concrete?
m. In the 50th book, A Time for Murder, Jessica is shown at Hill House, Cabot Cove’s very own Inn due to a fire at her Victorian home at 698 Candlewood Lame. I wonder if the 49th book, Murder in Red, has anything to do with her house getting caught fire which almost killed her.
n. From the 51st book, The Murder of Twelve:
i. Author Land gives considerable mystery to Seamus McGilray’s character. I wonder if he resurfaces in a future book.
ii. Towards the end of the book, Mort jokes that Jessica should run for mayor. Hmm…something to look forward to I suppose.
May 3, 2014
Jessica vacations in Italy, where she joins a tour that takes her to a variety of private homes, restaurants, and rural churches where lesser-known Italian masterworks are displayed. Her idyllic time is interrupted by a pair of young Italian gunmen who steal a painting off a church wall, killing a retired policeman in the process. Agreeing to help identify the crooks at a later date should they be caught, Jessica returns to Cabot Cove and puts the shocking experience behind her.
Months later, both art and death land on her doorstep in the form of Wayne Simsbury, stepson of a woman with whom Jessica was friends years ago. Wayne's father~~a wealthy Chicago businessman and owner of an impressive art collection~~has been shot to death. Not only is Wayne's stepmother, Marlise Simsbury, a suspect in the murder investigation, but Wayne himself claims to have witnessed the crime. Unsure of what to do, he has searched out Jessica~~the one person his stepmother always claimed could help out with any problem.
Now Jessica has a seemingly open-and-shut murder case to crack in Chicago and also must travel back to Italy to help the police make their case against the church bandits. And she faces a looming danger that may connect the Italian killers to the fate to her old friend...
My Thoughts...
In the 1980s I was a fan of the TV show, Murder, She Wrote. It came on each Sunday evening and I tried never to miss it. Now years later when I get a hankering for a visit with Jessica Fletcher I reach for a book. Therefore, I chose this book for my first book for the month of May 2014.
As always I was never in doubt that Jessica would get to the bottom of the case. However, the fun is trying to catch the clues that leads Jessica to solving the case. I caught some of the clues to the puzzle, which is why I like cozy mysteries. The story kept me on my toes until the very end.... Another case solved by the renowned Jessica Fletcher.
This book is a part of my personal library and I enjoyed it enough to award it 4 picturesque stars.
Months later, both art and death land on her doorstep in the form of Wayne Simsbury, stepson of a woman with whom Jessica was friends years ago. Wayne's father~~a wealthy Chicago businessman and owner of an impressive art collection~~has been shot to death. Not only is Wayne's stepmother, Marlise Simsbury, a suspect in the murder investigation, but Wayne himself claims to have witnessed the crime. Unsure of what to do, he has searched out Jessica~~the one person his stepmother always claimed could help out with any problem.
Now Jessica has a seemingly open-and-shut murder case to crack in Chicago and also must travel back to Italy to help the police make their case against the church bandits. And she faces a looming danger that may connect the Italian killers to the fate to her old friend...
My Thoughts...
In the 1980s I was a fan of the TV show, Murder, She Wrote. It came on each Sunday evening and I tried never to miss it. Now years later when I get a hankering for a visit with Jessica Fletcher I reach for a book. Therefore, I chose this book for my first book for the month of May 2014.
As always I was never in doubt that Jessica would get to the bottom of the case. However, the fun is trying to catch the clues that leads Jessica to solving the case. I caught some of the clues to the puzzle, which is why I like cozy mysteries. The story kept me on my toes until the very end.... Another case solved by the renowned Jessica Fletcher.
This book is a part of my personal library and I enjoyed it enough to award it 4 picturesque stars.
June 24, 2013
Perhaps I especially liked this book because a good portion of it takes place in areas of Italy where I have visited a number of times. Jessica is on a tour of Italy, seeing paintings and works of art that are not located in museums, but in churches where they are not protected. Because of this, many great works of art are being stolen and sold to unscrupulous collectors around the world. While Jessica and the tour group are in one such church, two young men dressed in the robes of priests attempt to steal a valuable painting. One of the men on the tour, a retired policeman, tries to stop them -- only to be killed in the process.
Jessica sees the shooter up close and personal, as she was standing with the former policeman. It looks like Jessica may be next, as the killer has his gun pointed directly at her and is staring her in the eyes. She even hears the hammer cocked as she looks down the barrel of the gun.
Arriving back in Cabot Cove, after agreeing to return to Italy if the murderer is ever caught, Jessica receives the news that the wealthy husband of a friend she met while living in New York City has been murdered in Chicago. Does the fact that he is also a well-known art collector have anything to do with what she has just witnessed? When his son arrives on her doorstep asking for help, and Jessica convinces him to return to Chicago with her, is this the beginning of a tangled web of deceit and crime in the art world?
Read on to find how it all connects, and to find one of the better books in this series.
Jessica sees the shooter up close and personal, as she was standing with the former policeman. It looks like Jessica may be next, as the killer has his gun pointed directly at her and is staring her in the eyes. She even hears the hammer cocked as she looks down the barrel of the gun.
Arriving back in Cabot Cove, after agreeing to return to Italy if the murderer is ever caught, Jessica receives the news that the wealthy husband of a friend she met while living in New York City has been murdered in Chicago. Does the fact that he is also a well-known art collector have anything to do with what she has just witnessed? When his son arrives on her doorstep asking for help, and Jessica convinces him to return to Chicago with her, is this the beginning of a tangled web of deceit and crime in the art world?
Read on to find how it all connects, and to find one of the better books in this series.
September 15, 2012
Not exactly one of the better books in the series, but a fun, light read nevertheless. Jessica Fletcher always entertains me with a wide variety of locales, topics, interesting characters and murderers, and intriguing motives for murder. She is quite the jetsetter with trips all over the world and adventures with different cultures.
This time around, the topic was art, forgery, and martini making, and the exotic locale that Jessica visited was Italy, which sounded like a very beautiful vacation spot. Jessica's holiday was cut short, however, after witnessing a robbery and a murder in a church. As if that wasn't enough, soon after returning home to Cabot Cove, she was embroiled in solving the brutal murder of an old friend's husband in Chicago. Murder certainly seems to follow that woman around! :)
The plot wasn't too bad up until the very end, and then it seemed to fizzle out a bit. The murderer and the motive didn't feel like they quite fit the storyline up to that point. It was a little disappointing. But, I'm an avid fan of this series, so I will certainly continue to read any future books.
This time around, the topic was art, forgery, and martini making, and the exotic locale that Jessica visited was Italy, which sounded like a very beautiful vacation spot. Jessica's holiday was cut short, however, after witnessing a robbery and a murder in a church. As if that wasn't enough, soon after returning home to Cabot Cove, she was embroiled in solving the brutal murder of an old friend's husband in Chicago. Murder certainly seems to follow that woman around! :)
The plot wasn't too bad up until the very end, and then it seemed to fizzle out a bit. The murderer and the motive didn't feel like they quite fit the storyline up to that point. It was a little disappointing. But, I'm an avid fan of this series, so I will certainly continue to read any future books.
October 12, 2012
The latest entry in the Donald Bain's "Murder, She Wrote" series "The Fine Art of Murder" is actually a slightly better than average story spanning 2 continents & a pair of murders. The book opens up with Jessica Fletcher being witness to the death of a retired police officer in Italian in conjunction with an art theft & then returns to the states & eventually Chicago where she becomes involved in the murder of Jonathan Simsbury who is a good friend of hers. The Simsbury murder is complicated by the confession of her stepson, Wayne, who claims he saw her murder his father. What should be an open & shut case gets tossed back to Italy for the conclusion of that case. Bain's story is actually well played out & the use of the Mafia & paparazzi in Italy come in handy along with the issues with the art forgery. Yes, the Chicago storyline is a bit weaker save a rather powerful grandmother, but the connection between it & the other one make this latest entry in the series better than normal.
September 24, 2017
Jessica was really zooming around in this one!
There are two storylines, the Italy storyline, in which Jessica is vacationing in Italy and witnesses the murder of a fellow tourist, and the Chicago storyline, in which Jessica goes to help an old friend and her stepson get to the bottom of the murder of the old friend's husband.
In Chicago there was a day where Jessica got up late, had breakfast, met someone for lunch, and directly afterwards met someone for dinner. She actually spent the entire day eating! And yet she blamed possible weight gain on her visit to Italy, where she got more exercise. I had to laugh.
As far as this series goes, this was a pretty good entry. Jessica protested a bit much about helping solve the crime in Chicago, but of course she eventually did it. There was also a lot of praise of Jessica as a writer. Sometimes the characters only know that she's a writer but go on about how great she is, which is strange.
There are two storylines, the Italy storyline, in which Jessica is vacationing in Italy and witnesses the murder of a fellow tourist, and the Chicago storyline, in which Jessica goes to help an old friend and her stepson get to the bottom of the murder of the old friend's husband.
In Chicago there was a day where Jessica got up late, had breakfast, met someone for lunch, and directly afterwards met someone for dinner. She actually spent the entire day eating! And yet she blamed possible weight gain on her visit to Italy, where she got more exercise. I had to laugh.
As far as this series goes, this was a pretty good entry. Jessica protested a bit much about helping solve the crime in Chicago, but of course she eventually did it. There was also a lot of praise of Jessica as a writer. Sometimes the characters only know that she's a writer but go on about how great she is, which is strange.
July 30, 2012
While on vacation in Italy, Jessica joins a tour that takes her to where lesser-known Italian masterworks are displayed-and where a pair of young Italian gunmen steal a painting off a church wall, killing an off-duty policeman in the process.
Agreeing to help identify the crooks at a later date should they be caught, Jessica returns to Cabot Cove and puts the shocking experience behind her. But months later, both art and death land on her doorstep when the son of an old friend appears to beg her for help in solving his father's murder-which may take Jessica all the way back to Italy...
Another success for Donald Bain. Of course, if Jessica Fletcher really lived these mysteries, she would be 104 years old! I love these books and picture Angela Lansbury solving each one.
Agreeing to help identify the crooks at a later date should they be caught, Jessica returns to Cabot Cove and puts the shocking experience behind her. But months later, both art and death land on her doorstep when the son of an old friend appears to beg her for help in solving his father's murder-which may take Jessica all the way back to Italy...
Another success for Donald Bain. Of course, if Jessica Fletcher really lived these mysteries, she would be 104 years old! I love these books and picture Angela Lansbury solving each one.
February 5, 2012
Here comes another comfort book from Jessica FLetcher. I loved this mystery and Jessica hit home run again. What I love about Murder, She Wrote series is that it always provides some interesting information about different things. In this one, Jessica provides us with an interesting insight to the fine art of Martini making as her friend enlightens her. So many interesting recipes for Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn. I am going to try and make the perfect Martini with Gin and not with Vodka :-)
As usual, Jessica travels to another fantastic location in Italy and provides us some good information about painters and paintings. Jessica, keep writing. I am looking out for the next one!
As usual, Jessica travels to another fantastic location in Italy and provides us some good information about painters and paintings. Jessica, keep writing. I am looking out for the next one!
February 13, 2016
Interesting story - I was wondering how it was all going to tie in together... Jessica witnesses the theft of a valuable painting and a murder while on a vacation in Italy. Not long after she gets back home she discovers a old friend's husband has been murdered. When her friend is accused of the murder, Jessica travels to Chicago to see if she can help. There is a wide cast of interesting characters and it turns out one of those characters also has some connections back to the case in Italy.
June 28, 2016
OK, I admit it, I picked this book because it was available at my local library and helped me to finish a reading challenge that I was working on, OK and also some nostalgia from watching Murder She Wrote on TV at my grandmother's house years ago. That said, I am surprised how much I enjoyed this book.
The book is an entertaining, light read that at the same time deals with some fairly serious crimes. I enjoyed the look into the art world, and that of art forgery and theft. I also enjoyed the plot twists and the way that everything was wrapped up at the end.
The book is an entertaining, light read that at the same time deals with some fairly serious crimes. I enjoyed the look into the art world, and that of art forgery and theft. I also enjoyed the plot twists and the way that everything was wrapped up at the end.
June 13, 2017
This should really be 3.5 stars. I liked this one but I didn't enjoy it as much as most of the others in this series. The format was a little different, jumping between two locations as opposed to one. The second half and conclusion definitely held more interest for me than the beginning. I also had a hard time feeling any compassion or connection to Jessica's friend Marlies. She was shallow and overall a very unsympathetic character. I, of course, will continue this fantastic series, this just won't be up there in my favorites.
November 30, 2017
This book was what I expected it to be, a very formulaic murder mystery. The show from which the book is derived from was very formulaic as well, but was buoyed by its quirky characters. Unfortunately, as this story was set in Chicago, it did not have that support for the story.
While I expected hack writing in this book, the author was a step below that. He (Bain) several basic, factual mistakes about the Chicago setting. He referred to the Mag Mile (Magnificent) as the Miracle Mile, and kept on referring to members of the State's Attorney's Office as District Attorneys.
While I expected hack writing in this book, the author was a step below that. He (Bain) several basic, factual mistakes about the Chicago setting. He referred to the Mag Mile (Magnificent) as the Miracle Mile, and kept on referring to members of the State's Attorney's Office as District Attorneys.
October 25, 2011
This is the absolute definition of fluffy. A nice break from the heavy I've been reading lately, but I think this went too far down the spectrum. I feel like I need to read Angela's Ashes to make amends.
The TV show is infinitely better than these books. They really turn Jessica Fletcher into a Mary Sue. But the other one I read was much more fun than this one. Convoluted is the only real way to describe it.
The TV show is infinitely better than these books. They really turn Jessica Fletcher into a Mary Sue. But the other one I read was much more fun than this one. Convoluted is the only real way to describe it.
January 13, 2012
A trip to Europe lands Jessica Fletcher in the midst of a violent art theft. Later, back in Cabot Cove, she puts it behind her, only to be called to help an old friend, Marlise, when her art-collector husband is murdered. Marlise is one of the leading suspects, especially after her stepson makes a statement implicating her. But although Jessica hasn't seen Marlise for years, she finds it difficult to see her friend as a murderer.
June 5, 2013
Another fun addition to the Murder, She Wrote series. I really liked how the story spanned multiple locations and had unrelated murders, but still tied together nicely. This story seemed to have more "red herrings" than others in the series and I think that was a great aspect if yhe story. Plus, as always, everyhing wrapped up well and there was a good summary of what happened to/ what the characters have been up to. Overall, a fun read that is one of the better in the series.
October 27, 2021
Leggo le avventure di Jessica Fletcher quando ho voglia di distrarmi senza pensare, ma trovando sempre ambientazioni piacevoli e personaggi mai noiosi. Questo libro ha rispettato le aspettative, specialmente per l'ambientazione italiana, anche se la scoperta dell'assassino è stata facilitata da un particolare della trama nel risvolto di copertina. Particolare che per allenati lettori di gialli è quasi uno spoiler. 😄
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