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Murder, She Wrote #37
Trouble at High Tide
While on vacation in Bermuda, Jessica Fletcher is surprised to hear the local population is abuzz over a trio of murders, each bearing an eerie resemblance to the 1888 Jack the Ripper killings. Jessica dismisses the panicked chatter as just that-until her friend Thomas Betterton's niece is found dead on the beach after a party. And when Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland arrives to investigate, Jessica can't help but get involved-an act that brings her dangerously close to a killer...
276 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2012
63 people are currently reading
908 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 4, 2012
Reading a Murder She Wrote mystery is like putting on a favourite set of flannel pj's. I've read 37 of them and they are a comfortable, familiar read. You know exactly what to expect and you get it. The language is clean, although there was one swear word that jumped off the page being such an odd thing to see in a MSW. Jessica isn't hopping into bed with anyone and neither is anyone else. You have to guess whodunit. This is just a perfect book to curl up with for a day of pleasant, relaxing reading. I'll be reading 38 in October.
July 18, 2019
It has been quite some time since I read a Murder, She Wrote mystery, but I was excited to pick this one up and delve back into the series once again. It was a good one that took Jessica to Bermuda and gave a good murder for her to help the authority's solve.
Trouble at High Tide is the 37th entry in a series of standalone mysteries.
Jessica is invited by a another author she met doing an author's panel, who happens to be a federal district court judge, to use a cottage on his Bermuda estate. She is prepared to enjoy a nice getaway and a chance to work undisturbed on her next book. What she gets is cocktails, caviar, family drama, and a grisly murder on the beach near her cottage with hints that the murder is part of a serial killer's island spree.
Jessica has a leg up on the local police and Scotland Yard consultants because she has access to the judge and his eccentric family and his circle of friends from an insider's perspective, but it doesn't seem to help that the victim stirred up everyone to dislike her that she encountered. Who had she prodded enough to kill her?
I enjoyed the attention to setting and background of Bermuda and the introduction to the quirky cast of characters. Yay for an Inspector Sutherland sighting. It was so easy to slip back into the engaging mystery and Jessica's narration after time away. These books are entertaining and easy reads that I can enjoy whenever and wherever.
COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt Clue: Oldest Book on TBR pile 3 pts
Trouble at High Tide is the 37th entry in a series of standalone mysteries.
Jessica is invited by a another author she met doing an author's panel, who happens to be a federal district court judge, to use a cottage on his Bermuda estate. She is prepared to enjoy a nice getaway and a chance to work undisturbed on her next book. What she gets is cocktails, caviar, family drama, and a grisly murder on the beach near her cottage with hints that the murder is part of a serial killer's island spree.
Jessica has a leg up on the local police and Scotland Yard consultants because she has access to the judge and his eccentric family and his circle of friends from an insider's perspective, but it doesn't seem to help that the victim stirred up everyone to dislike her that she encountered. Who had she prodded enough to kill her?
I enjoyed the attention to setting and background of Bermuda and the introduction to the quirky cast of characters. Yay for an Inspector Sutherland sighting. It was so easy to slip back into the engaging mystery and Jessica's narration after time away. These books are entertaining and easy reads that I can enjoy whenever and wherever.
COYER Summer Scavenger Hunt Clue: Oldest Book on TBR pile 3 pts
September 24, 2016
Good satisfactory who dun it mystery that gave me fond memories of the TV show. I think this series will be perfect for my 86 yr old mother in law, always asking for books with no swearing or sex! But I would read more in this series, entertaining enough!
November 27, 2022
I love these like I loved the show. Simple familiarity is sometimes all you want with a little mystery wrapped up by the end.
August 27, 2023
Jessica Fletcher viene invitata dal suo amico giudice Thomas Betterton a soggiornare in un bungalow sull’isola di St. George, nell’arcipelago delle Bermuda e lei, in seguito alla promozione del suo ultimo libro, decide che è giunto il momento di regalarsi una meritata vacanza.
Peccato che, appena arrivata nell’agognato paradiso, viene a conoscenza di una serie di delitti ispirati al personaggio di Jack lo Squartatore, ma non solo: sarà lei a ritrovare sulla spiaggia il cadavere di Alicia, la nipote di Thomas, «una ventiduenne molto carina, vivace e benestante che aveva appena cominciato ad affilare le armi della seduzione» (anche se c’è chi la definisce in modo peggiore)
Ovviamente Jessica verrà coinvolta nelle indagini e affiancherà gli agenti di Scotland Yard e la polizia locale nella risoluzione del caso. Come sempre, sarà necessario non lasciarsi sviare da false piste o da conclusioni affrettate ma, soprattutto, sarà fondamentale non farsi intralciare da impedimenti di natura secondaria…
“OMICIDIO SULL’ISOLA” si è rivelato un romanzo piacevole: Jessica Fletcher e Donald Bain hanno realizzato un giallo di facile intuizione e scorrevole, come del resto altri di questa serie, ma, sebbene abbiano talvolta utilizzato la tecnica dell’anticipazione e illustrato con dovizia di particolari paesaggi, ambienti e situazioni, non l’ho trovato poi così intrigante e coinvolgente.
Peccato che, appena arrivata nell’agognato paradiso, viene a conoscenza di una serie di delitti ispirati al personaggio di Jack lo Squartatore, ma non solo: sarà lei a ritrovare sulla spiaggia il cadavere di Alicia, la nipote di Thomas, «una ventiduenne molto carina, vivace e benestante che aveva appena cominciato ad affilare le armi della seduzione» (anche se c’è chi la definisce in modo peggiore)
Ovviamente Jessica verrà coinvolta nelle indagini e affiancherà gli agenti di Scotland Yard e la polizia locale nella risoluzione del caso. Come sempre, sarà necessario non lasciarsi sviare da false piste o da conclusioni affrettate ma, soprattutto, sarà fondamentale non farsi intralciare da impedimenti di natura secondaria…
“OMICIDIO SULL’ISOLA” si è rivelato un romanzo piacevole: Jessica Fletcher e Donald Bain hanno realizzato un giallo di facile intuizione e scorrevole, come del resto altri di questa serie, ma, sebbene abbiano talvolta utilizzato la tecnica dell’anticipazione e illustrato con dovizia di particolari paesaggi, ambienti e situazioni, non l’ho trovato poi così intrigante e coinvolgente.
September 29, 2025
I enjoyed the descriptions of Bermuda and her interactions with George
March 6, 2018
I love Murder, She Wrote so much, so this rating isn't comparable to another 4 stars I might be giving. I just love the opportunity to follow Jessica Fletcher on more globe-trotting, mystery-solving adventures. Also, in this one, we have the background noise of a serial killer, something I don't ever remember the show approaching (although there were a couple of times that someone committed some kind of serious crime in the past and then escaped from prison etc). I don't think the books quite capture the magic of Angela Lansbury, and I like to imagine that JB Fletcher's writing would be a bit more compelling, but nonetheless.
November 6, 2023
Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: With a twist in the conclusion of the mystery, this plot is as cozy as wearing your favorite flannel PJs and enjoying a hot cup of cocoa during the cold winters. J. B. Fletcher is more true to her TV personality in this. The details to the surroundings was not over the top like other books. A good read all in all.
Trouble at High Tide is the 37th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on April of 2012. Jessica takes up an offer of judge to enjoy a week in one of his cottages in the beautiful Bermuda. However, she arrives into a situation where locals are dealing with murders that are very much similar to Jack the Ripper murders. And then one of the guests at her host gets murdered in a similar way. Despite her best intentions she is roped into investigating the murder of the guest before more are killed.
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.
This time around when George Sutherland, the Scotland Yard Chief Inspector made his appearance, it was a pleasant feeling to read about him and the subtle romantic interactions between him and Jessica. Although he appears physically after we get to more than 1/2 the book, but he appears on phone earlier than that. And we see a little more of their romance budding further more.
Author Donald Bain has a memoriam for his good friend Craig Thomas, a fellow author of thrillers from Wales. He was noted for his Mitchell Gant and Kenneth Aubrey series of novels. It makes more sense now that he created Jessica's love interest based in United Kingdom. I wont be surprised if he had based the character on his good friend Thomas.
Mention of a police procedure and investigation blog by Lee Lofland is seen at the beginning of the book. I was curious if the said blog, The Graveyard Shift Blog (https://leelofland.com/the-graveyard-...) and it indeed still exists and is a very much alive blog.
We hear a lot more about Jack the Ripper and that history along with fictional myth about Jersey Devil. And ofcourse history about several buildings and locations in Bermuda through Jessica's eyes. I was also pleased that Jessica enjoyed a tearoom experience in Bermuda. This is one place that I drink tea, and nowhere else. It has been so long been to a tea room with my friends. Time to go to one soon.
On a more lighter note, I loved the whole episode of Jessica trying to investigate the shop owner on the knives all the while not making it look like an investigation, rather that a scatter-brained old woman is asking for details. This was humorous.
With a twist in the conclusion of the mystery, this plot is as cozy as wearing your favorite flannel PJs and enjoying a hot cup of cocoa during the cold winters. J. B. Fletcher is more true to her TV personality in this. The details to the surroundings was not over the top like other books. A good read all in all.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Judge Thomas "Tom" Betterton's family & staff: Adam Wyse, his personal assistant; Madeline Betterton, step-daughter; Stephen Betterton, Madeline's brother and step-son; Alicia Betterton, his niece; Norlene, housekeeper and cook; Margo Silvestry, Tom's girlfriend; Claudia Betterton, Tom's fourth wife.
b. Other guests that frequent the Judge's home: Godfrey Reynolds, British publisher of Tom's book, and his wife Daisy; Daniel and Lillian Jamison, neighbors of the Judge.
c. Other characters: Richard Mann, a gallery owner; Agnes Chudleigh-Stubbs, and her grandnephew Charles Davis.
d. Law Enforcement: Constable Valentree; Commissioner Leonard Hanover; Inspector Veronica Macdonald, forensic expert; John Gilliam, criminal profiler; Freddie Moore, CID investigator; Officer Jock; Constable Andrews; Superintendent Jonathan Bird; Deputy Commissioner Allan Mumford; Chief Inspector A.M. Tedeschi.
e. I was curious about the cocktail called Side Car. May be when I start alcohol again I will try this. Seems like an easy recipe. https://www.liquor.com/recipes/sidecar/
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: With a twist in the conclusion of the mystery, this plot is as cozy as wearing your favorite flannel PJs and enjoying a hot cup of cocoa during the cold winters. J. B. Fletcher is more true to her TV personality in this. The details to the surroundings was not over the top like other books. A good read all in all.
Trouble at High Tide is the 37th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on April of 2012. Jessica takes up an offer of judge to enjoy a week in one of his cottages in the beautiful Bermuda. However, she arrives into a situation where locals are dealing with murders that are very much similar to Jack the Ripper murders. And then one of the guests at her host gets murdered in a similar way. Despite her best intentions she is roped into investigating the murder of the guest before more are killed.
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.
This time around when George Sutherland, the Scotland Yard Chief Inspector made his appearance, it was a pleasant feeling to read about him and the subtle romantic interactions between him and Jessica. Although he appears physically after we get to more than 1/2 the book, but he appears on phone earlier than that. And we see a little more of their romance budding further more.
Author Donald Bain has a memoriam for his good friend Craig Thomas, a fellow author of thrillers from Wales. He was noted for his Mitchell Gant and Kenneth Aubrey series of novels. It makes more sense now that he created Jessica's love interest based in United Kingdom. I wont be surprised if he had based the character on his good friend Thomas.
Mention of a police procedure and investigation blog by Lee Lofland is seen at the beginning of the book. I was curious if the said blog, The Graveyard Shift Blog (https://leelofland.com/the-graveyard-...) and it indeed still exists and is a very much alive blog.
We hear a lot more about Jack the Ripper and that history along with fictional myth about Jersey Devil. And ofcourse history about several buildings and locations in Bermuda through Jessica's eyes. I was also pleased that Jessica enjoyed a tearoom experience in Bermuda. This is one place that I drink tea, and nowhere else. It has been so long been to a tea room with my friends. Time to go to one soon.
On a more lighter note, I loved the whole episode of Jessica trying to investigate the shop owner on the knives all the while not making it look like an investigation, rather that a scatter-brained old woman is asking for details. This was humorous.
With a twist in the conclusion of the mystery, this plot is as cozy as wearing your favorite flannel PJs and enjoying a hot cup of cocoa during the cold winters. J. B. Fletcher is more true to her TV personality in this. The details to the surroundings was not over the top like other books. A good read all in all.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Judge Thomas "Tom" Betterton's family & staff: Adam Wyse, his personal assistant; Madeline Betterton, step-daughter; Stephen Betterton, Madeline's brother and step-son; Alicia Betterton, his niece; Norlene, housekeeper and cook; Margo Silvestry, Tom's girlfriend; Claudia Betterton, Tom's fourth wife.
b. Other guests that frequent the Judge's home: Godfrey Reynolds, British publisher of Tom's book, and his wife Daisy; Daniel and Lillian Jamison, neighbors of the Judge.
c. Other characters: Richard Mann, a gallery owner; Agnes Chudleigh-Stubbs, and her grandnephew Charles Davis.
d. Law Enforcement: Constable Valentree; Commissioner Leonard Hanover; Inspector Veronica Macdonald, forensic expert; John Gilliam, criminal profiler; Freddie Moore, CID investigator; Officer Jock; Constable Andrews; Superintendent Jonathan Bird; Deputy Commissioner Allan Mumford; Chief Inspector A.M. Tedeschi.
e. I was curious about the cocktail called Side Car. May be when I start alcohol again I will try this. Seems like an easy recipe. https://www.liquor.com/recipes/sidecar/
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.
December 27, 2017
This was my least favorite Murder She Wrote book. The characters are very single-layered and the mystery is very easy to solve early on.
May 27, 2019
Loved it😍
July 24, 2023
I'm really enjoying listening to this series.
March 31, 2025
Jessica Fletcher just wanted a nice little island escape — sun, sand, and maybe some gentle eavesdropping over daiquiris. What she got instead in Trouble at High Tide was a tropical murder spree straight out of a Victorian fever dream. Apparently even paradise isn’t safe from serial killer cosplay.
Book #37 in the Murder, She Wrote series yeets our cardigan-clad queen to Bermuda, courtesy of her buddy Judge Thomas Betterton, who’s like, “Come chill in my beach cottage and unwind.” Love that for her. But Bermuda’s serving less “escape to the tropics” and more “unsolved serial murder vibes,” complete with victims turning up in Jack the Ripper-style crime scenes. I mean, relax much?
Things go full Agatha Christie with a side of Dateline when Thomas’s niece Alicia — young, gorgeous, and so aggressively flirtatious she practically weaponizes it — is found dead on the beach after a raucous party. Everyone on this island is acting shady as hell, the family is one martini away from melodrama, and the guest list looks like it was curated for maximum chaos. Jessica, naturally, starts sleuthing the way other people start journaling — instinctively and with suspicious levels of free time.
Enter Inspector George Sutherland (yes, that George — we’re getting continuity, folks), flying in from Scotland Yard like an emotionally repressed dreamboat. The chemistry? Still crackling. The tension? Subtextually British. The murder motive? Oh, it’s messy. Let’s just say Alicia had the charisma of a soap villain and the survival instincts of a squirrel on an espresso bender.
What makes this entry sing isn’t just the mystery — though the twists are juicy and the red herrings are swimming laps — it’s how seamlessly the Bermuda setting works with the series’ cozy murder formula. Think cabanas, cocktails, and casual corpse discovery. Jessica’s narration is as sharp and polite as ever, giving main character energy while quietly solving everything in her spare time.
If you’re already 36 books deep into this series, you know what you’re signing up for: comfort, cleverness, and a body count that oddly pairs well with a beach read. This one's got all the vibes — rich people secrets, British inspectors with unresolved sexual tension, and a killer who apparently has a flair for Victorian murder cosplay. What more do you want?
Solid 4 stars, although I almost want to award a bonus half-star for Jessica’s ability to pack both swimwear and detective skills. Queen behavior.
Book #37 in the Murder, She Wrote series yeets our cardigan-clad queen to Bermuda, courtesy of her buddy Judge Thomas Betterton, who’s like, “Come chill in my beach cottage and unwind.” Love that for her. But Bermuda’s serving less “escape to the tropics” and more “unsolved serial murder vibes,” complete with victims turning up in Jack the Ripper-style crime scenes. I mean, relax much?
Things go full Agatha Christie with a side of Dateline when Thomas’s niece Alicia — young, gorgeous, and so aggressively flirtatious she practically weaponizes it — is found dead on the beach after a raucous party. Everyone on this island is acting shady as hell, the family is one martini away from melodrama, and the guest list looks like it was curated for maximum chaos. Jessica, naturally, starts sleuthing the way other people start journaling — instinctively and with suspicious levels of free time.
Enter Inspector George Sutherland (yes, that George — we’re getting continuity, folks), flying in from Scotland Yard like an emotionally repressed dreamboat. The chemistry? Still crackling. The tension? Subtextually British. The murder motive? Oh, it’s messy. Let’s just say Alicia had the charisma of a soap villain and the survival instincts of a squirrel on an espresso bender.
What makes this entry sing isn’t just the mystery — though the twists are juicy and the red herrings are swimming laps — it’s how seamlessly the Bermuda setting works with the series’ cozy murder formula. Think cabanas, cocktails, and casual corpse discovery. Jessica’s narration is as sharp and polite as ever, giving main character energy while quietly solving everything in her spare time.
If you’re already 36 books deep into this series, you know what you’re signing up for: comfort, cleverness, and a body count that oddly pairs well with a beach read. This one's got all the vibes — rich people secrets, British inspectors with unresolved sexual tension, and a killer who apparently has a flair for Victorian murder cosplay. What more do you want?
Solid 4 stars, although I almost want to award a bonus half-star for Jessica’s ability to pack both swimwear and detective skills. Queen behavior.
March 4, 2025
"Trouble at High Tide" by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain delivers a satisfyingly classic "Murder, She Wrote" experience, this time set against the picturesque backdrop of Bermuda. Jessica's vacation is, as always, interrupted by a series of murders, this time eerily reminiscent of the infamous Jack the Ripper killings.
Bain skillfully captures the essence of Jessica Fletcher's character, her keen observational skills, and her unwavering determination to uncover the truth. The Bermudian setting adds a refreshing twist to the familiar formula, and the historical connection to the Jack the Ripper murders provides an intriguing layer of suspense.
The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with a well-constructed mystery that keeps the reader engaged. The cast of characters is diverse and well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations. Jessica's interactions with Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland are particularly enjoyable, and their collaborative investigation adds a touch of professional expertise to the amateur sleuthing.
While the story follows a familiar pattern, it's executed with a level of skill and charm that makes it a thoroughly enjoyable read. "Trouble at High Tide" offers a perfect blend of cozy mystery and island atmosphere, making it a delightful addition to the "Murder, She Wrote" series.
★★★★☆
#TroubleAtHighTide #JessicaFletcher #DonaldBain #MurderSheWrote #CozyMystery #BookReview #Mystery #Bookstagram #BookLover #BookWorm #Reading #Books #Bookish #BookRecommendation #CozyReads #Whodunnit #MysteryBooks #Bermuda #IslandMystery #JackTheRipper #AmateurSleuth
Bain skillfully captures the essence of Jessica Fletcher's character, her keen observational skills, and her unwavering determination to uncover the truth. The Bermudian setting adds a refreshing twist to the familiar formula, and the historical connection to the Jack the Ripper murders provides an intriguing layer of suspense.
The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with a well-constructed mystery that keeps the reader engaged. The cast of characters is diverse and well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations. Jessica's interactions with Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland are particularly enjoyable, and their collaborative investigation adds a touch of professional expertise to the amateur sleuthing.
While the story follows a familiar pattern, it's executed with a level of skill and charm that makes it a thoroughly enjoyable read. "Trouble at High Tide" offers a perfect blend of cozy mystery and island atmosphere, making it a delightful addition to the "Murder, She Wrote" series.
★★★★☆
#TroubleAtHighTide #JessicaFletcher #DonaldBain #MurderSheWrote #CozyMystery #BookReview #Mystery #Bookstagram #BookLover #BookWorm #Reading #Books #Bookish #BookRecommendation #CozyReads #Whodunnit #MysteryBooks #Bermuda #IslandMystery #JackTheRipper #AmateurSleuth
February 6, 2022
Il mio amore per Jessica e la mia stima nei suoi confronti risale a quando, ancora bambina, guardavo ogni giorno la serie TV con la nonna o con la mamma, al rientro da scuola. Ne ho sempre ammirato la sagacia, l’astuzia e la compostezza, insieme all’eleganza ed all’energia che la contraddistinguno.
Lo so, ne parlo come fosse una persona reale, un’amica...a tal punto fa parte delle mie routine quotidiane e tanti sono i ricordi piacevoli collegati con questa ora quotidiana di investigazione senza splatter, ragionamenti e deduzioni senza arroganza.
Questo libro e’ stato, a mio avviso, leggermente sotto tono rispetto ad altri della serie: la prima parte si e’ svolta piuttosto lentamente con un’acellerazione apprezzabile solo nelle ultime pagine. Tuttavia si tratta sempre di una storia ben costruita, con personaggi interessanti e credibili ed un intreccio solido, che non fa acqua da nessuna parte.
Un giallo piacevole, scorrevole ed avvincente, che ha il sapore dei ricordi e delle strade conosciute, delle chiacchiere con la nonna cercando di indovinare il colpevole e delle considerazioni tra amiche su quanto ci piacerebbe invecchiare con la grazia e lo spirito combattivo di Jessica.
Lo so, ne parlo come fosse una persona reale, un’amica...a tal punto fa parte delle mie routine quotidiane e tanti sono i ricordi piacevoli collegati con questa ora quotidiana di investigazione senza splatter, ragionamenti e deduzioni senza arroganza.
Questo libro e’ stato, a mio avviso, leggermente sotto tono rispetto ad altri della serie: la prima parte si e’ svolta piuttosto lentamente con un’acellerazione apprezzabile solo nelle ultime pagine. Tuttavia si tratta sempre di una storia ben costruita, con personaggi interessanti e credibili ed un intreccio solido, che non fa acqua da nessuna parte.
Un giallo piacevole, scorrevole ed avvincente, che ha il sapore dei ricordi e delle strade conosciute, delle chiacchiere con la nonna cercando di indovinare il colpevole e delle considerazioni tra amiche su quanto ci piacerebbe invecchiare con la grazia e lo spirito combattivo di Jessica.
May 27, 2019
Jess heads ✈ to Bermuda for a lot of R & R (relaxing & reading📚) but unfortunately for her she visits at a terrible time for the island. There has been as series of murders that are reminiscent of Jack the Ripper. When one of the young female👩 houseguests where Jess is staying is murdered and Jess comes upon the body moments afterward, she makes it her mission to find the killer. Her visit gets a little better ☺ when her beau George Sutherland 👨comes to the island to help with the investigation until the press 📰 runs photos 📷 of them snuggling👫 together. With a newfound anger😡 at the press 📰 and the help of a unconventional investigator Jess not only finds the killer but exposes a blackmailing schemer.
February 18, 2022
If you are a fan of Murder She Wrote on TV, you will like the books. The books are all about setting and character. I about figured out the whodunit answer before the end but I still enjoy the path Jessica takes to get there. Also most stories have a scary moment that threatens Jessica's life. This one didn't have that tense moment and I appreciated that. It did have lots of information about Bermuda, a lovely setting, and Jack the Ripper theories and lore, not so lovely. I hesitated reading this knowing it would dwell on these classic unsolved cases but it was okay even for the very squeamish like me.
April 24, 2020
My mum loved this tv show. I recently came across the book series through SCRIBD. I thought I’d give one book a try and see how close they were to the tv show. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing. The books are presented as being written by the primary character Jessica Fletcher which I think is brilliant. The actual writer was a ghost writer named Donald Bain. If you like murder mysteries give one of this authors books a go. They are an entertaining read.
This one takes place in Bermuda. I could not guess who the killer actually was until they were exposed. Love it.
This one takes place in Bermuda. I could not guess who the killer actually was until they were exposed. Love it.
August 2, 2021
Another great book in the 'Murder, She Wrote' series! In this one, two murder investigations are taking place, so it was fun to follow both. It did concentrate more on the one that followed the character's murder. The writing was good, the story was engaging and had a good flow (like all MSW novels I've read), and as I neared the end of the story, I couldn't wait to know who the killer was. I didn't see it coming, like most MSW novels or tv episodes, which is what I love about it! It keeps you hooked until the end!
May 19, 2025
Jessica is invited to Bermuda by an author acquaintance who also happens to be a judge in New Jersey. When the island is beset my unscrupulous reporters eager to get a scoop on three Jack the Ripper type murders that have occurred on the island, Jessica becomes their prey after she discovers the murdered body of the judge’s niece on the beach. What follows is a disturbing story of family rivalries and relationships punctuated by a visit from Inspector George Sutherland of Scotland Yard. A great plot and well written book.
February 9, 2018
Another good installment in the Murder She Wrote series. Jessica takes an invitation to stay at an acquaintance s guest house in Bermuda, and becomes involved in a dysfunctional family drama that includes a murder. At the same time, there is a Jack the Ripper style killer on the loose in Bermuda. Very interesting secondary characters in the investigation team. I enjoyed the look at Bermuda s ties to the British legal system too. Read on my Kindle Fire.
April 12, 2020
I loved the Murder She Wrote tv program back in the day along with its reruns for many years. I’ve been reading the cozy mystery book series for years now. I love the series. This particular story was not one of my favorites. I felt more could have been done with the setting for the storyline. It felt as if the whole story took place in one room. I would have enjoyed more expansion. I will continue the series until I’ve read them all. They are one of my favorite cozy mystery series.
February 19, 2021
The end of a major book tour leads to an invitation to spend a week in Bermuda at a judge's vacation home.Taking a walk on the beach leads Jess to the body of one of the supper guests whose throat has been slit .The next day she learns there have been 3 previous deaths. Because Bermuda is British, the FBI and Scotland Yard is involved./Which one will solve the case and will Jess again meet her friend Inspector Sutherland?
July 17, 2022
I wanted to read this book because I was in the mood for something simple. I just didn't realize how simple this series was. (if this book is an indicative of the whole series). People confessing to all sorts of things to Jessica Fletcher for no reason. Jessica telling the police about things that even a rookie police person would know. It wasn't a waste of time because I got to see mystery writing at its basic element.
November 27, 2017
Rece: la signora in giallo: assassinio sull'Isola.
Io lo so che state storcendo il naso ma a me la Fletcher piace, mi piace quella donnetta un po' impicciona a cui cadono sempre gli omicidi tra i piedi.
Questa volta va in vacanza alle Bermuda e subito muore la nipote del suo ospite!
Come voto oltre 7 non posso dare, sono libri da spiaggia, ma a volte per rilassarci vanno bene pure loro!
Io lo so che state storcendo il naso ma a me la Fletcher piace, mi piace quella donnetta un po' impicciona a cui cadono sempre gli omicidi tra i piedi.
Questa volta va in vacanza alle Bermuda e subito muore la nipote del suo ospite!
Come voto oltre 7 non posso dare, sono libri da spiaggia, ma a volte per rilassarci vanno bene pure loro!
June 14, 2019
Quick read that follows similar formula as the TV series, which I liked. Jessica Fletcher is a neat character and seems to know a lot of people as well as a lot of things ... kind of like Miss Marple did. Nothing too obscure that the reader has a hard time figuring things out but enough clues were left unrevealed so not all was shown beforehand.
December 22, 2018
Yet another enjoyable interlude with 'Jessica Fletcher'. I did not know who the murderer was until about five pages from the end when there was somewhat of a rush of information. Excellent filler books between those demanding more intense reading.
August 10, 2022
I love Jessica, but this one was so flat and uninteresting, and Jessica herself so kind and fair (more than her usual self) that it felt stiff and dull, and I just wanted to end it. And move to another installment of the series.
Avoid this one, read6the others.
Avoid this one, read6the others.
December 1, 2023
Jessica travels to Bermuda to vacation at her friend Tom's beach cottage. A series of Jack the Ripper style murders has recently impacted the community. It comes closer to home when another murder is disovered not far from Jessica's cottage.
May 22, 2025
A cozy mystery- as enjoyable as all the other ones I've read. I'm glad I found this series- there are so many of them!
Recommended for people who like cozy mysteries, especially fans of the TV show.
Recommended for people who like cozy mysteries, especially fans of the TV show.
July 1, 2025
Jessica is in the Caribbean for R&R when a murder of a young woman gets her involved. As always she figures out who did it. I was able to figure out the motive and culprit but only later in the story when certain information was revealed.
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