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Murder, She Wrote #30
A Slaying In Savannah
Jessica Fletcher digs up a home-grown murder mystery down South in this brand-new installment in the USA Today bestselling series.
Jessica is saddened when her eccentric old friend Tillie Mortelaine passes away—and surprised to learn that Tillie has left her a million dollars. But there are strings attached. Jessica must use the money to help the literacy fund she and Tillie established years ago in Savannah, Georgia. And she will receive the money only if she can solve a mystery within the month: the murder of Tillie’s fiancé, Wanamaker Jones.
As Jessica settles into Tillie’s Savannah mansion and meets Tillie’s boarders, she also discovers that the spirit of Wanamaker Jones haunts the grounds. And that there are those in Savannah who are looking to cash in on Tillie’s demise—and Jessica’s failure...
Jessica is saddened when her eccentric old friend Tillie Mortelaine passes away—and surprised to learn that Tillie has left her a million dollars. But there are strings attached. Jessica must use the money to help the literacy fund she and Tillie established years ago in Savannah, Georgia. And she will receive the money only if she can solve a mystery within the month: the murder of Tillie’s fiancé, Wanamaker Jones.
As Jessica settles into Tillie’s Savannah mansion and meets Tillie’s boarders, she also discovers that the spirit of Wanamaker Jones haunts the grounds. And that there are those in Savannah who are looking to cash in on Tillie’s demise—and Jessica’s failure...
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2008
59 people are currently reading
978 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Fletcher
107 books1,068 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. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." The series has been continued by authors Renée Paley-Bain, Jon Land, Terrie Farley Moran, and Barbara Early.
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. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." The series has been continued by authors Renée Paley-Bain, Jon Land, Terrie Farley Moran, and Barbara Early.
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 192 reviews
August 13, 2022
A fun story. We have been binging on Murder, She Wrote on Roku. OMG... Cabot Cove must be the 'Murder Capital of America'. All the characters were read in the voices from the show. Good whodunit... kept me guessing the whole way ... so be surprised by the ending. I was.
February 11, 2011
Post Listen Review: Well this is pretty much what I expected it would be. It was a little disappointing that Angela Landsbury wasn't the narrator of course but it was pretty much just like an episode of Murder She Wrote. Little old lady writer is wrapped up in a surprising situation in which she has to solve a murder. She does because everyone underestimates her abilities. Oddly enough this reminded me a lot of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. So for my review I am going to show the similarites and differences between Jessica Fletcher and Stieg Larson (author of Dragon Tattoo) and his character Mikael Bloomkvist. If you haven't read Dragon Tattoo, be forewarned there are mild spoilers ahead. I am comparing both the writer and character of Jessica Fletcher because she of course is a novelist just like Stieg Larson and is involved in a mystery just like Bloomkvist.
Jessica Fletcher: Writes mysteries and lives somewhere cold. (Maine)
Stieg Larson: Wrote mysteries and lived somewhere cold. (Sweden)
Fletcher: Constantly describes everything people are eating. Especially cookies and brandy.
Larson: Constantly describes everything people are eating. Toast with cheese and jam and just about every kind of alcohol.
Fletcher: Has to solve a decades old mystery where lots of elderly people do not want the mystery solved.
Bloomkvist: Has to solve a decades old mystery where lots of elderly people do not want the mystery solved.
Fletcher: Must solve the case to gain proceeds for a charity she believes in.
Bloomkvist: Must solve the case to gain proceeds for a legal battle and save his magazine.
Fletcher: Meets lots of eccentric people with colorful histories.
Bloomkvist: Meets a really eccentric person with a very complex history.
Fletcher: Uses the internet to do research and read newspaper headlines.
Blomkvist: Uses the internet to help find someone that can blow the case wide open.
Fletcher: Guys constantly flirt with her.
Bloomkvist: Seems like he will have sex with any girl that crosses his path.
Fletcher: Gathers people together to announce she solves the crime in a big way.
Bloomkvist: Well, it's complicated but has the opportunity to make some huge announcements.
Fletcher: Stumbles on more than one crime.
Bloomkvist: Stumbles on more than one crime.
So in the end I have to ask. Is Bloomkvist really Jessica Fletcher?
I don't know but I bet if she was here she could clear it up for us.
Pre-Listen Guess: Hmm... This is how I think it will go. There was a murder in Savannah that seems unsolveable. Lucky for us there is a plucky mystery writer that shows up on the scene. There are tons of suspects and one who seems like he/she just must have done it. However, the plucky mystery writer is able to solve the crime and free the innocent suspect. Everyone goes home happy except for the actual murderer. And the mystery writer has a snazzy new story to sell. (Before she sings in the animated oscar winning Beauty and the Beast film)
Jessica Fletcher: Writes mysteries and lives somewhere cold. (Maine)
Stieg Larson: Wrote mysteries and lived somewhere cold. (Sweden)
Fletcher: Constantly describes everything people are eating. Especially cookies and brandy.
Larson: Constantly describes everything people are eating. Toast with cheese and jam and just about every kind of alcohol.
Fletcher: Has to solve a decades old mystery where lots of elderly people do not want the mystery solved.
Bloomkvist: Has to solve a decades old mystery where lots of elderly people do not want the mystery solved.
Fletcher: Must solve the case to gain proceeds for a charity she believes in.
Bloomkvist: Must solve the case to gain proceeds for a legal battle and save his magazine.
Fletcher: Meets lots of eccentric people with colorful histories.
Bloomkvist: Meets a really eccentric person with a very complex history.
Fletcher: Uses the internet to do research and read newspaper headlines.
Blomkvist: Uses the internet to help find someone that can blow the case wide open.
Fletcher: Guys constantly flirt with her.
Bloomkvist: Seems like he will have sex with any girl that crosses his path.
Fletcher: Gathers people together to announce she solves the crime in a big way.
Bloomkvist: Well, it's complicated but has the opportunity to make some huge announcements.
Fletcher: Stumbles on more than one crime.
Bloomkvist: Stumbles on more than one crime.
So in the end I have to ask. Is Bloomkvist really Jessica Fletcher?
I don't know but I bet if she was here she could clear it up for us.
Pre-Listen Guess: Hmm... This is how I think it will go. There was a murder in Savannah that seems unsolveable. Lucky for us there is a plucky mystery writer that shows up on the scene. There are tons of suspects and one who seems like he/she just must have done it. However, the plucky mystery writer is able to solve the crime and free the innocent suspect. Everyone goes home happy except for the actual murderer. And the mystery writer has a snazzy new story to sell. (Before she sings in the animated oscar winning Beauty and the Beast film)
January 1, 2024
Jessica is saddened when her eccentric old friend Tillie Mortelaine passes away—and surprised to learn that Tillie has left her a million dollars. But there are strings attached. Jessica must use the money to help the literacy fund she and Tillie established years ago in Savannah, Georgia. And she will receive the money only if she can solve a mystery within the month: the murder of Tillie’s fiancé, Wanamaker Jones.
As Jessica settles into Tillie’s Savannah mansion and meets Tillie’s boarders, she also discovers that the spirit of Wanamaker Jones haunts the grounds. And that there are those in Savannah who are looking to cash in on Tillie’s demise—and Jessica’s failure...
As always, reading a Murder She Wrote book feels like being in an episode. This is a great one to be in. The writing is really good. Not only do we get a mystery but a history lesson, nature lesson, and spooky happenings.
The mystery is complex. You might be able to figure it out if you're not distracted by a supposed ghost or the ghost hunters who are fun characters. I really enjoyed it.
As Jessica settles into Tillie’s Savannah mansion and meets Tillie’s boarders, she also discovers that the spirit of Wanamaker Jones haunts the grounds. And that there are those in Savannah who are looking to cash in on Tillie’s demise—and Jessica’s failure...
As always, reading a Murder She Wrote book feels like being in an episode. This is a great one to be in. The writing is really good. Not only do we get a mystery but a history lesson, nature lesson, and spooky happenings.
The mystery is complex. You might be able to figure it out if you're not distracted by a supposed ghost or the ghost hunters who are fun characters. I really enjoyed it.
March 30, 2015
I've been wanting to read this book for awhile now, so when I found it at a used bookstore I immediately bought it. However, after my last attempt at this series, which wasn't very good, this book just sat on my shelf. But I am happy to say this book was a delightful edition to this series that makes me want to read and watch more of Jessica Fletcher.
The characters in this book were superb, and the setting was, too. I'd love to read more of these characters in Savannah and I kinda wish Jessica would revisit this city in another book. The mystery was spectacular, I never guessed the killer, but after they were revealed it really made so much sense.
My only real problem with this book was at times it felt like this was a travel guide encouraging you to go to Savannah, what with Jessica pointing out so much history, and trivia about it.
Overall, however an amazing book that I'd easily recommend!
The characters in this book were superb, and the setting was, too. I'd love to read more of these characters in Savannah and I kinda wish Jessica would revisit this city in another book. The mystery was spectacular, I never guessed the killer, but after they were revealed it really made so much sense.
My only real problem with this book was at times it felt like this was a travel guide encouraging you to go to Savannah, what with Jessica pointing out so much history, and trivia about it.
Overall, however an amazing book that I'd easily recommend!
March 17, 2021
Very fun to listen to. It brought me back to the tv series that I watched many years ago.
January 26, 2020
Já gostava da série e da Angela Lansbury, uma senhora que me inspira simpatia. E também gostei muito desta adaptação para livro.
January 8, 2024
Felt flat for me, she managed to solve the crime but barely interviewed the suspects. Also not a fan of the mention of spirits
October 9, 2025
This felt like watching a new and delightful episode of Murder, She Wrote (and that's the highest praise a book like this could be given). An eccentric millionaire dies and as part of her will says Jessica Fletcher must solve the mystery of who killed her fiance...40 years ago! If she doesn't, the widower won't give a literacy program 1,000,000 bucks!
Savannah, Georgia is used to fantastic effect here. Great stuff and an ending I truly didn't see coming.
Savannah, Georgia is used to fantastic effect here. Great stuff and an ending I truly didn't see coming.
October 27, 2018
There really is nothing cozier than curling up with a Jessica Fletcher story, I absolutely love these books.
Great memorable characters, delightful plots and good writing.
Great memorable characters, delightful plots and good writing.
August 29, 2021
Non ci vuole Jessica Fletcher per capire che questa serie è la mia comfort reading. Parlando in generale, è una serie che ha molti limiti e che solo una fissata con La Signora In Giallo può amare a prescindere ma nasconde anche delle piccole perle degne di nota... A Slaying in Savannah è una di queste.
Jessica è stata contattata dall'avvocato di Tillie, una sua amica recentemente scomparsa, perché nel testamento di quest'ultima viene espressamente richiesta l'expertise di Jessica nell'individuare assassini. Si tratta di scoprire l'assassino di Wanamaker Jones, avvenuto a casa di Tillie nell'anno 1967. "Eh porcoboia adesso si esagera", dice Jessica che però decide di andare perché tanto cos'ha da perdere?!
La Jess arriva a Savannah; viene accolta in una casa di stampo coloniale, bellissima con tanto di house guests simpatici come un calcio nei denti e un fantasma. Jessica non perde tempo e si mette subito a lavorare per risolvere il caso. Fa colpo su un medico stimato; cade per ben due volte (descanta bauchi, sveia macachi); viene derisa da tutti (polizia compresa) ma riesce a risolvere il mistero che in realtà è doppio. Il tutto corredato dalla descrizione della città di Savannah, che quasi quasi la vado a visitare (su Google Maps street view).
Modestamente, stavolta io ho capito tutto. Prima di Jessica. Sono soddisfazioni.
Non posso dare quattro stelle anche a questo libro, non si può dai! Mi rifiuto però sappiate che gliele do moralmente.
Jessica è stata contattata dall'avvocato di Tillie, una sua amica recentemente scomparsa, perché nel testamento di quest'ultima viene espressamente richiesta l'expertise di Jessica nell'individuare assassini. Si tratta di scoprire l'assassino di Wanamaker Jones, avvenuto a casa di Tillie nell'anno 1967. "Eh porcoboia adesso si esagera", dice Jessica che però decide di andare perché tanto cos'ha da perdere?!
La Jess arriva a Savannah; viene accolta in una casa di stampo coloniale, bellissima con tanto di house guests simpatici come un calcio nei denti e un fantasma. Jessica non perde tempo e si mette subito a lavorare per risolvere il caso. Fa colpo su un medico stimato; cade per ben due volte (descanta bauchi, sveia macachi); viene derisa da tutti (polizia compresa) ma riesce a risolvere il mistero che in realtà è doppio. Il tutto corredato dalla descrizione della città di Savannah, che quasi quasi la vado a visitare (su Google Maps street view).
Modestamente, stavolta io ho capito tutto. Prima di Jessica. Sono soddisfazioni.
Non posso dare quattro stelle anche a questo libro, non si può dai! Mi rifiuto però sappiate che gliele do moralmente.
April 12, 2019
Jessica's dear friend, Tillie, is dead and has left a bequest in the will. She wants Jessica to find out who murdered her fiancee 40 years ago. If Jessica can solve the murder in one month, a large amount of money will be going to a Literacy Project they started together. Jessica who wants that money for the Project goes to Savannah. She is attacked and injured and learns a lot about what happened 40 years ago and what happened to her friend, as many do not believe that she fell down the stairs.
This was an interesting story and it piqued my interest in the things done to hide slaves when they were running to freedom. It also mentioned the book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." I had read the book several years ago.
This was an interesting story and it piqued my interest in the things done to hide slaves when they were running to freedom. It also mentioned the book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." I had read the book several years ago.
October 16, 2019
Jessica incontra Agatha Christie
May 10, 2020
I never thought I would love this as much as I did but Jessica fletcher is my new role model.
January 16, 2021
Pretty cool beans!! Warner was not ish for totallllllly knowing the entire time lmfboooo and I hated Pettigrew from jump! But at least Jess figured it out... Tilly def had her fun until 91! Whooop.....I loved the scenery, readers and set up...not the amount of twist and turns im used to. But good enough!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2021
I enjoyed this! I love the tv show and this gave so much detail that I felt like I could really see the characters and see the development of the story.
June 6, 2020
Beautiful setting, delicious southern food and a romantic 40 year old murder to solve. PERFECTION.
May 1, 2022
Loved the audiobook narrator! The story line was good in this one but I missed some of the Cabot Cove members.
May 25, 2023
An interesting Murder She Wrote adventure. The story was well written with a number of red herrings, although the premise was over the top. Jessica was expected to solve a 40 year old cold case murder of her deceased friend’s fiancé in order to earn 1 million dollars for a literacy project Jessica, the deceased, and her best friend had founded. She was only given a month to solve the murder.
The audiobook helped bring the story to life.
The audiobook helped bring the story to life.
October 19, 2023
Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: This was a decent plot although a couple characters irritated me. Another fun story with expected outcome, but the path to it was surprisingly interesting and also added benefit of the ghost making it a perfect read for me when Halloween is right around the corner.
A Slaying in Savannah is the 30th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on September of 2008. Jessica is left a large sum of money by her old friend, Tillie Mortelaine, in her will. And she is now summoned to Savannah to solve a 40 yr murder in a month's notice or she may lose that money and an opportunity to help the Literacy initiative that she and Tillie had started years ago.
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.
Jessica is in the midst of greedy heirs, reluctant tenants and the ghost of the long dead Wanamaker Jones, Tillie's fiancee, in this book. I remember reading the 44th book, The Ghost and Mrs. Fletcher https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c... a while ago that deals with paranormal aspect as well. Looks like Bain touched on the paranormal aspect in more than one book.
Jessica reminisces that she met Tillie Mortelaine during her trip to Washington D.C. for the National Coalition of Literacy. However in that book (the 22nd book A Vote for Murder https://galavantreflections.com/2023/...) doesn’t show Tillie as a character. May be she met her but was not mentioned in that book.
I also was irritated with Melanie's portrayal. She had no concern for an elderly person as her passenger and keeps rushing to her car while Jessica has to run behind her. Also she has the most stupidest reason for the way she parks her car. Despite that Jessica is charmed by her. I would not have given her that benefit at all. She should have been more considerate and a little less flighty.
As always we get to see the history and various locations in Savannah through Jessica's eyes. Added benefit is that we get a first hand knowledge on the police procedures followed in Savannah such as procedure followed to investigate a murder or how to do a ballistics test.
We see references to Paula Deen and her cooking expertise and recipes. Obviously this book was published at least 5 yrs prior to her controversy of racial and sexual discrimination which subsequently had reduced her popularity and lost her programs on various food channels and book deals. I am sure she would have not be referred to in of the later books post-2013.
This was a decent plot although a couple characters irritated me. Another fun story with expected outcome, but the path to it was surprisingly interesting and also added benefit of the ghost making it a perfect read for me when Halloween is right around the corner.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Tillie's family & friends: Roland Richardson the Third, Attorney; Mrs. Emmanuela Goodall, housekeeper; Charmelle O'Neill, a dear friend; General James J. Pettigrew, retired army person and a resident at one of Tillie's guesthouse; Professor Arthur "Artie" G. Grogan and his wife Samantha "Sammy", residents at one of Tillie's guesthouse and paranormal researchers; Dr. Warner Payne, Tillie's family doctor; Francis "Frank" O'Neill, a retired judge & Charmelle's brother; Rosa Margaret Kendall and Roy Richard Kendall "Rocky", Tillie's niece and nephew;
b. Other characters: Melanie Goodall, Mrs. Goodall's daughter; Harold, Mayor; Amber Smith, Richardson's secretary; Joseph Jones, Wanamaker's nephew; Detective Sherry Buchwalter; Pastor Penny; John and Mabel Jones, Joseph Jones' parents; Mr. Dailey, general manager of the hotel next door to Tillie's house; Captain Mead Parker;
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;
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. But she was named Adele in the TV show. We finally get to see the reason behind Mort's wife's name confusion. Seems to be that Adele left Mort for big city lights and he marries Maureen later. But why did the wife's name go back 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. 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.
i. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
j. 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?
k. 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.
l. 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.
3. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. On Pg. 14, Line 6, A missing quote for Sassi's Bakery.
b. Buchwalter was referred to as Officer in some pages and as Detective in some.
c. On Pg. 189, Line 12, it should be "…of them started to yell…"
d. The prominent photographer of Cabot Cove's last name is spelled differently in this. Up until now he was "Koser" and now he is "Kaser" in this book.
Recommendation: This was a decent plot although a couple characters irritated me. Another fun story with expected outcome, but the path to it was surprisingly interesting and also added benefit of the ghost making it a perfect read for me when Halloween is right around the corner.
A Slaying in Savannah is the 30th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on September of 2008. Jessica is left a large sum of money by her old friend, Tillie Mortelaine, in her will. And she is now summoned to Savannah to solve a 40 yr murder in a month's notice or she may lose that money and an opportunity to help the Literacy initiative that she and Tillie had started years ago.
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.
Jessica is in the midst of greedy heirs, reluctant tenants and the ghost of the long dead Wanamaker Jones, Tillie's fiancee, in this book. I remember reading the 44th book, The Ghost and Mrs. Fletcher https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c... a while ago that deals with paranormal aspect as well. Looks like Bain touched on the paranormal aspect in more than one book.
Jessica reminisces that she met Tillie Mortelaine during her trip to Washington D.C. for the National Coalition of Literacy. However in that book (the 22nd book A Vote for Murder https://galavantreflections.com/2023/...) doesn’t show Tillie as a character. May be she met her but was not mentioned in that book.
I also was irritated with Melanie's portrayal. She had no concern for an elderly person as her passenger and keeps rushing to her car while Jessica has to run behind her. Also she has the most stupidest reason for the way she parks her car. Despite that Jessica is charmed by her. I would not have given her that benefit at all. She should have been more considerate and a little less flighty.
As always we get to see the history and various locations in Savannah through Jessica's eyes. Added benefit is that we get a first hand knowledge on the police procedures followed in Savannah such as procedure followed to investigate a murder or how to do a ballistics test.
We see references to Paula Deen and her cooking expertise and recipes. Obviously this book was published at least 5 yrs prior to her controversy of racial and sexual discrimination which subsequently had reduced her popularity and lost her programs on various food channels and book deals. I am sure she would have not be referred to in of the later books post-2013.
This was a decent plot although a couple characters irritated me. Another fun story with expected outcome, but the path to it was surprisingly interesting and also added benefit of the ghost making it a perfect read for me when Halloween is right around the corner.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Tillie's family & friends: Roland Richardson the Third, Attorney; Mrs. Emmanuela Goodall, housekeeper; Charmelle O'Neill, a dear friend; General James J. Pettigrew, retired army person and a resident at one of Tillie's guesthouse; Professor Arthur "Artie" G. Grogan and his wife Samantha "Sammy", residents at one of Tillie's guesthouse and paranormal researchers; Dr. Warner Payne, Tillie's family doctor; Francis "Frank" O'Neill, a retired judge & Charmelle's brother; Rosa Margaret Kendall and Roy Richard Kendall "Rocky", Tillie's niece and nephew;
b. Other characters: Melanie Goodall, Mrs. Goodall's daughter; Harold, Mayor; Amber Smith, Richardson's secretary; Joseph Jones, Wanamaker's nephew; Detective Sherry Buchwalter; Pastor Penny; John and Mabel Jones, Joseph Jones' parents; Mr. Dailey, general manager of the hotel next door to Tillie's house; Captain Mead Parker;
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;
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. But she was named Adele in the TV show. We finally get to see the reason behind Mort's wife's name confusion. Seems to be that Adele left Mort for big city lights and he marries Maureen later. But why did the wife's name go back 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. 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.
i. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
j. 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?
k. 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.
l. 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.
3. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. On Pg. 14, Line 6, A missing quote for Sassi's Bakery.
b. Buchwalter was referred to as Officer in some pages and as Detective in some.
c. On Pg. 189, Line 12, it should be "…of them started to yell…"
d. The prominent photographer of Cabot Cove's last name is spelled differently in this. Up until now he was "Koser" and now he is "Kaser" in this book.
July 23, 2024
So far (and we're exactly halfway through this series of 60(!)) the best. Non-Maine, non-New York setting, a decades-old murder to solve, and Jessica is challenged to solve a murder on purpose rather than being her usual death-magnet self and solving whatever mess she finds attracted to her. Finally!
November 23, 2018
This is my 4th Murder, She Wrote book. Also, the best so far. This ending was clever and quite surprising. If you love the tv series, you will love these books. Be sure to definitely read this one.
September 4, 2017
Opinião completa em http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...
June 14, 2020
Interesting characters and fun descriptions of Savannah.
August 30, 2012
A fun, old-fashioned murder mystery with a wonderful sense of southern atmosphere. I always enjoy the books in this series, more than the television series they're based on, and this one is one of the best I've read so far.
Jessica Fletcher gets called to Savannah, Georgia to the reading of the will of her old friend, Tillie Mortelaine, and discovers that one of the provisions in the will is that a literacy program in Savannah will receive a million dollars...if Jessica can solve the murder of Tillie's fiance Wanamaker Jones, which occurred 40 years ago. (The literacy program as beneficiary is a bit silly, imo, but it's necessary to avoid making Jessica look greedy. She receives no money herself for solving the crime.)
I thought it was a delightful murder mystery. Not too hard to figure out, but hard enough to keep me guessing about whether I'd really pinpointed the murderer. All the classic elements are there and done well, which I confess is more important to me than being surprised by the ending. Some people read for the mystery; I read more for the atmosphere. So I recommend this novel because I found it a lot of fun with interesting characters and atmosphere, but if you're good at solving mysteries, you probably won't find it hard to solve this one.
Jessica Fletcher gets called to Savannah, Georgia to the reading of the will of her old friend, Tillie Mortelaine, and discovers that one of the provisions in the will is that a literacy program in Savannah will receive a million dollars...if Jessica can solve the murder of Tillie's fiance Wanamaker Jones, which occurred 40 years ago. (The literacy program as beneficiary is a bit silly, imo, but it's necessary to avoid making Jessica look greedy. She receives no money herself for solving the crime.)
I thought it was a delightful murder mystery. Not too hard to figure out, but hard enough to keep me guessing about whether I'd really pinpointed the murderer. All the classic elements are there and done well, which I confess is more important to me than being surprised by the ending. Some people read for the mystery; I read more for the atmosphere. So I recommend this novel because I found it a lot of fun with interesting characters and atmosphere, but if you're good at solving mysteries, you probably won't find it hard to solve this one.
July 22, 2010
I think i've seen every episode of Murder, She Wrote since it started. A family past time, if you will. This book was... not as good as the show. But had that charm, that... Fletcher corneyness that i was raised to know and love. That being said, if i hadn't been raised on Murder, She Wrote, I probably would have not liked it as much. But isn't that the whole point of this series? To experience good ole J.B. once more for the first time? Definitely.
August 7, 2023
This had a very interesting mystery as Jessica is asked by an old friend to solve a murder from 40 years ago. Set in Savannah, Georgia, the old southern town was a perfect setting to the mystery. It was a fun and easy read with great characters and a few twists and turns along the way. Another great Murder, She Wrote read!
November 23, 2022
If you love the “Murder She Wrote” television series, you’ll equally enjoy the books! This particular story is ghostly, set in Savannah, and has a slew of wonderful, colorful Southerners. (Plus a ghost.) As always, Jessica is neat, punctual, and clever, and the mystery is solvable for the reader, which is half the fun, in my opinion.
May 18, 2018
I loved the TV show and now the book series. This one included one of my favorite subjects, ghosts!
December 21, 2020
It's full of cliches and tropes. It's badly written and it's entirely predictable. Having said that - it was fun! :-)
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