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Murder, She Wrote #54
Debonair in Death
When a local art shop owner is murdered, Jessica Fletcher is surprised to once again be working alongside her old friend MI-6 agent Michael Haggerty to solve the case in the newest mystery in this USA Today bestselling series.
When Nelson Penzell, co-owner of a local art and treasure store in Cabot Cove, is murdered, the nail tech from Jessica Fletcher's favorite beauty parlor is the main suspect. After all, she's the one who ran out of the store screaming, covered in blood, and holding the murder weapon. Jessica is positive that despite the circumstances, Coreen can't possibly be guilty, and is determined to prove it.
When Michael Haggerty, handsome MI-6 agent and Jessica's old friend, is caught snooping around the victim’s home, it's quickly apparent to her that she was right. Nelson has always had a bit of a reputation for being a rake, but Haggerty is sure his sins go far beyond what anyone in town imagined. If she wants to clear Coreen's name, Jessica will have to work alongside Michael to find out who killed Nelson—and maybe help bust a crime ring in the process.
When Nelson Penzell, co-owner of a local art and treasure store in Cabot Cove, is murdered, the nail tech from Jessica Fletcher's favorite beauty parlor is the main suspect. After all, she's the one who ran out of the store screaming, covered in blood, and holding the murder weapon. Jessica is positive that despite the circumstances, Coreen can't possibly be guilty, and is determined to prove it.
When Michael Haggerty, handsome MI-6 agent and Jessica's old friend, is caught snooping around the victim’s home, it's quickly apparent to her that she was right. Nelson has always had a bit of a reputation for being a rake, but Haggerty is sure his sins go far beyond what anyone in town imagined. If she wants to clear Coreen's name, Jessica will have to work alongside Michael to find out who killed Nelson—and maybe help bust a crime ring in the process.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 2, 2021
95 people are currently reading
646 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 128 reviews
April 18, 2025
**4.5-stars**
Murder, She Wrote: Debonair in Death is the 54th-installment of the beloved Murder, She Wrote Cozy Mystery series.
I was so excited when I learned that Terrie Farley Moran was going to be continuing writing this series. It seems to be a great fit.
She did a fantastic job with Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond, really capturing the spirit of Jessica and the feel of the earlier books.
With Debonair in Death we return to Jessica's hometown of Cabot Cove. It was a true delight being back there with Jessica and her dynamic group of friends and neighbors.
While I love when Jessica travels, which she does a lot, it always feels good to go home.
The good vibes don't last for long though after Nelson Panzell, a local art store owner and rumored womanizer, is murdered and a young nail tech at Jessica's favorite salon, Coreen, is fingered as the number one suspect.
Jessica and her friend, Loretta, the salon's owner and Coreen's boss, know the meek girl would be completely incapable of killing Panzell, but how will they be able to convince Sheriff Metzger of that?
The two women pair up and luckily are able to secure a very capable attorney for Coreen. Then just as you would expect, Jessica begins a little investigation of her own.
She's thrown for a bit of a loop, however, when an old acquaintance, Agent Michael Haggerty, a member of MI6, gets caught red-handed bumbling around the victim's home. He claims to be on an important investigation of his own. Could the two issues possibly be related?
I love the feel of these stories. They're so comfortable and nostalgic for me, as I've been reading them, quite literally, for most of my life.
After the passing of the original series author, Donald Bain, I was obviously concerned about the future of my favorite comfort read series. Now with Terrie Farley Moran at the helm, I can relax with confidence, knowing some quality content will still be released.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to more. Please keep 'em coming!!!
Murder, She Wrote: Debonair in Death is the 54th-installment of the beloved Murder, She Wrote Cozy Mystery series.
I was so excited when I learned that Terrie Farley Moran was going to be continuing writing this series. It seems to be a great fit.
She did a fantastic job with Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond, really capturing the spirit of Jessica and the feel of the earlier books.
With Debonair in Death we return to Jessica's hometown of Cabot Cove. It was a true delight being back there with Jessica and her dynamic group of friends and neighbors.
While I love when Jessica travels, which she does a lot, it always feels good to go home.
The good vibes don't last for long though after Nelson Panzell, a local art store owner and rumored womanizer, is murdered and a young nail tech at Jessica's favorite salon, Coreen, is fingered as the number one suspect.
Jessica and her friend, Loretta, the salon's owner and Coreen's boss, know the meek girl would be completely incapable of killing Panzell, but how will they be able to convince Sheriff Metzger of that?
The two women pair up and luckily are able to secure a very capable attorney for Coreen. Then just as you would expect, Jessica begins a little investigation of her own.
She's thrown for a bit of a loop, however, when an old acquaintance, Agent Michael Haggerty, a member of MI6, gets caught red-handed bumbling around the victim's home. He claims to be on an important investigation of his own. Could the two issues possibly be related?
I love the feel of these stories. They're so comfortable and nostalgic for me, as I've been reading them, quite literally, for most of my life.
After the passing of the original series author, Donald Bain, I was obviously concerned about the future of my favorite comfort read series. Now with Terrie Farley Moran at the helm, I can relax with confidence, knowing some quality content will still be released.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to more. Please keep 'em coming!!!
February 5, 2022
Murder, She Wrote: Debonair in Death by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran is a 2021 Berkely publication.
Superb!
Jessica is back home in Cabot Cove, stopping by the beauty salon, sitting in committees, researching her next book, and trying to write a synopsis.
Her work in progress is placed on a back burner, when the co-owner of a local art and treasure store is murdered, and Coreen, a nail technician at the beauty salon, is the primary suspect. If that wasn’t enough excitement, MI6 agent Michael Haggerty, of all people, shows up in Cabot Cove!
Once more Michael and Jessica team up to solve a mystery, and hopefully clear Coreen's name!!
Terrie Farley Moran knows her stuff! I guffawed out loud when Haggerty made his appearance. Let’s just say Jessica got some long overdue revenge!
I loved touching base with the gang in Cabot Cover, and of course, the suave Michael Haggerty! The mystery is twofold, but also interconnects. It is a very clever plot, well executed, fast-paced and entertaining!
I love Murder, She Wrote- I’m currently 'binging' it on Peacock, so many of these characters are very fresh in my mind.
Because of that, I see how well this author is keeping the spirit of the show alive, and her respect for the show and its audience is quite evident!
Can’t wait for the next installment!!
Superb!
Jessica is back home in Cabot Cove, stopping by the beauty salon, sitting in committees, researching her next book, and trying to write a synopsis.
Her work in progress is placed on a back burner, when the co-owner of a local art and treasure store is murdered, and Coreen, a nail technician at the beauty salon, is the primary suspect. If that wasn’t enough excitement, MI6 agent Michael Haggerty, of all people, shows up in Cabot Cove!
Once more Michael and Jessica team up to solve a mystery, and hopefully clear Coreen's name!!
Terrie Farley Moran knows her stuff! I guffawed out loud when Haggerty made his appearance. Let’s just say Jessica got some long overdue revenge!
I loved touching base with the gang in Cabot Cover, and of course, the suave Michael Haggerty! The mystery is twofold, but also interconnects. It is a very clever plot, well executed, fast-paced and entertaining!
I love Murder, She Wrote- I’m currently 'binging' it on Peacock, so many of these characters are very fresh in my mind.
Because of that, I see how well this author is keeping the spirit of the show alive, and her respect for the show and its audience is quite evident!
Can’t wait for the next installment!!
October 18, 2021
Can you hear it? It’s the Murder, She Wrote jingle from the television series starring Angela Lansbury as the mystery writer and crime solver, Jessica (JB) Fletcher. Murder, She Wrote: Debonair in Death is the 54th installment of the famous series started by ghost writer, Donald Bain. Now Terrie Farley-Moran is carrying forth the torch to continue Jessica’s crime solving adventures.
In the book, Debonair in Death, Jessica’s friend, Coreen Wilson is taken into custody by Sheriff Metzger as a suspect in the murder of Nelson Penzell, a dockside shopkeeper known for his womanizing.
Determined to prove Coreen’s innocence, Jessica embarks on a quest to uncover clues that will lead to Coreen’s exoneration. Along the way, Jessica uncovers more than she bargained for as MI6 agent Michael Hagerty arrives on the scene with his own agenda that seemingly dovetails with Jessica’s discoveries.
Debonair in Death, the 54th book in the Murder, She Wrote series continues along the same vein and locale as the prior novels. The characters remain the same, with the staples being Jessica Fletcher, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, Eve Simpson, and Loretta Speigel. That being said, Debonair in Death should not be the first read in the Murder, She Wrote series. This reader had to Google the cast of characters to re-aquaint myself with them.
The plot is a simple whodunnit but at a slower place. It is a cozy mystery, afterall. As such, there is a lot of atmosphere that may or may not appeal to readers of this novel.
If you are a fan of the television series, you won’t be disappointed by the books. Five fabulous stars.
I received a digital ARC from Berkley Publishing Group. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
In the book, Debonair in Death, Jessica’s friend, Coreen Wilson is taken into custody by Sheriff Metzger as a suspect in the murder of Nelson Penzell, a dockside shopkeeper known for his womanizing.
Determined to prove Coreen’s innocence, Jessica embarks on a quest to uncover clues that will lead to Coreen’s exoneration. Along the way, Jessica uncovers more than she bargained for as MI6 agent Michael Hagerty arrives on the scene with his own agenda that seemingly dovetails with Jessica’s discoveries.
Debonair in Death, the 54th book in the Murder, She Wrote series continues along the same vein and locale as the prior novels. The characters remain the same, with the staples being Jessica Fletcher, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, Eve Simpson, and Loretta Speigel. That being said, Debonair in Death should not be the first read in the Murder, She Wrote series. This reader had to Google the cast of characters to re-aquaint myself with them.
The plot is a simple whodunnit but at a slower place. It is a cozy mystery, afterall. As such, there is a lot of atmosphere that may or may not appeal to readers of this novel.
If you are a fan of the television series, you won’t be disappointed by the books. Five fabulous stars.
I received a digital ARC from Berkley Publishing Group. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 5, 2021
Everyone in town, especially the women, seem captivated by Nelson Penzell, the new co-owner of the art gallery on the water front of Cabot Cove. Jessica Fletcher feels like something is off about him, however. Still, she didn’t expect him to be murdered. Sheriff Metzger is sure that Coreen, the nail tech from the hair salon, is a good suspect since she was seen screaming outside the gallery where Nelson was found covered in his blood. But Jessica thinks something else is going on. Can she prove it?
As much as I enjoyed the Murder, She Wrote books that came out over the last few years, I felt like something was off with the characters we loved from Cabot Cove. This book fixes so much of that. The characters and their relationships to each other feel like a natural extension of the series. The suspects are just as strong. Unfortunately, I did feel the pacing could have been better in the first half, but we get plenty of fun twists in the second half. Any fan of the TV series will be happy they picked up this book for a visit with old friends.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As much as I enjoyed the Murder, She Wrote books that came out over the last few years, I felt like something was off with the characters we loved from Cabot Cove. This book fixes so much of that. The characters and their relationships to each other feel like a natural extension of the series. The suspects are just as strong. Unfortunately, I did feel the pacing could have been better in the first half, but we get plenty of fun twists in the second half. Any fan of the TV series will be happy they picked up this book for a visit with old friends.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 1, 2022
A classic Jessica Fletcher!
What more can I say, there is nothing better to listen to a great cosy mystery audiobook on a rainy day. :)
What more can I say, there is nothing better to listen to a great cosy mystery audiobook on a rainy day. :)
October 22, 2021
This is a fabulous novel! International best-selling author Jessica Fletcher and Sheriff Mort Metzger have their hands full with the current mysteries plaguing Cabot Cove, Maine. Jessica has almost two weeks to prepare and submit the synopsis for her next book and is looking forward to working through it. I was very happy to get to know a couple Cabot Cove residents a bit better, see our favorite local friends and a couple of Jessica’s old friends from far away, and meet a couple new people. One does not have to read earlier or recent novels in the series, as sufficient backstory is included for new and returning readers.
Before Jessica got far with the synopsis, Loretta, owner of the hair and nail salon, came with a desperate need. Her assistant at the salon, Coreen, was suspected of a murder she couldn’t have done, and was held at the sheriff’s office. Coreen was a sweet, unassuming young woman who was hard-working and naïve. There was no way she could kill anybody! At the sheriff’s department, they learned that Coreen was unable to speak. She had been hysterical when she was brought in. Friend and local physician Seth was going to give her something to help her sleep. With Jessica and Loretta pleading and Seth promising to keep an eye on her, Coreen was allowed to go home with Loretta until she is able to communicate.
Coreen had gone to the shop in which Nelson Penzell was a partner. He paid a premium for she to go to him to do his manicures. A relative newcomer to Cabot Cove, he had been there long enough to have a reputation with the ladies. Jessica had only heard of him and seen him in action for the past few days. Coreen ran from his shop screaming for help, clutching a heavy, bloody candlestick, with Nelson’s blood all over her.
As Jessica begins to collect information to help find whodunit, one of her old friends from across the pond shows up on a special case that includes international smuggling and espionage. Michael wants her help, as does Loretta, and Jessica is not getting her synopsis started this way! Another old friend calls from across the pond with a very different, tempting offer that I hope she finds a way to accept.
No evidence has been found that could point to any other suspect. Coreen has calmed down, the ladies helped her get an excellent attorney, but all they had were gut feelings. There are several people high on Jessica’s suspect list, but without anything concrete, she can’t go to Mort. I was stumped but with some of the obvious people, there one person yet who hadn’t been considered. A concern also is whether the smuggling ring was involved in the murder. When whodunit was revealed, it was a mixed blessing. It was someone that I was, for various reasons, sad to see as a killer. The end is very satisfactory, and I am looking forward to Jessica’s next adventure. I highly recommend this to fans of Jessica Fletcher, well-written cozy mysteries, and brilliant female protagonists.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Before Jessica got far with the synopsis, Loretta, owner of the hair and nail salon, came with a desperate need. Her assistant at the salon, Coreen, was suspected of a murder she couldn’t have done, and was held at the sheriff’s office. Coreen was a sweet, unassuming young woman who was hard-working and naïve. There was no way she could kill anybody! At the sheriff’s department, they learned that Coreen was unable to speak. She had been hysterical when she was brought in. Friend and local physician Seth was going to give her something to help her sleep. With Jessica and Loretta pleading and Seth promising to keep an eye on her, Coreen was allowed to go home with Loretta until she is able to communicate.
Coreen had gone to the shop in which Nelson Penzell was a partner. He paid a premium for she to go to him to do his manicures. A relative newcomer to Cabot Cove, he had been there long enough to have a reputation with the ladies. Jessica had only heard of him and seen him in action for the past few days. Coreen ran from his shop screaming for help, clutching a heavy, bloody candlestick, with Nelson’s blood all over her.
As Jessica begins to collect information to help find whodunit, one of her old friends from across the pond shows up on a special case that includes international smuggling and espionage. Michael wants her help, as does Loretta, and Jessica is not getting her synopsis started this way! Another old friend calls from across the pond with a very different, tempting offer that I hope she finds a way to accept.
No evidence has been found that could point to any other suspect. Coreen has calmed down, the ladies helped her get an excellent attorney, but all they had were gut feelings. There are several people high on Jessica’s suspect list, but without anything concrete, she can’t go to Mort. I was stumped but with some of the obvious people, there one person yet who hadn’t been considered. A concern also is whether the smuggling ring was involved in the murder. When whodunit was revealed, it was a mixed blessing. It was someone that I was, for various reasons, sad to see as a killer. The end is very satisfactory, and I am looking forward to Jessica’s next adventure. I highly recommend this to fans of Jessica Fletcher, well-written cozy mysteries, and brilliant female protagonists.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
December 8, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The writing style is similar to the original author of the series (D0nald Bain) and character descriptions felt the most similar to the TV series. Great book!
January 30, 2022
What a good book! I loved the Cabot Cove setting and the characters as well. The addition of Michael Haggerty made it even better! I’m also very pleased with myself for correctly guessing the murderer fairly early on.
Want to read
April 14, 2025A note for future me: this takes place in late September
July 22, 2021
I really enjoy this series, especially when the action takes place in Cabot Cove, Maine, so I was very happy with this book. Jessica jumps in to help Coreen, Loretta's helper at the beauty parlor, when Coreen is suspected of the murder of a new shop owner in town. Seth Hazlett and Mort Metzger are involved, of course, but, surprisingly, so is Michael Haggerty, the MI6 friend from Britain, who shows up unannounced in town. Happily, I solved the murder before the big reveal, but nothing detracts from the joy of spending time with old friends. Thanks to NetGalley and the Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC.
January 28, 2022
A great addition to the series! I enjoyed the audiobook very much. The characters are like friends to me now and I loved being back in Maine. I found the book less suspenseful than usual, but if it wasn't for that, this book would have gotten five stars from me. It's a solid four stars though, and I look forward to reading more from Terrie Farley Moran in this series.
April 27, 2025
If you like Murder She Wrote, this is definitely a well written fun adaptation. It’s full of the characters we love in Cabot Cove and it’s in Cabot Cove, which really suits me more. I love Jessica Fletcher and the cast of characters at the hair salon. So much fun and a realistic mystery
November 13, 2021
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Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
It was wonderful! I greatly enjoyed this latest offering in the Murder She Wrote series. The mystery was plotted and executed with excellence and kept me guessing throughout. The characters are defined very well, and I was happy to see a couple of Jessica Fletcher’s long-time friends who occasionally grace the pages. I could understand small-town life a little better from different points of view, especially the sheriff who knows and may be friends with many in the community.
Jessica had barely heard about Nelson Penzell the first time before he was gone. He appealed to ladies of a certain age and used his good looks and charm on ladies of all ages. He lived in Cabot Cove for a relatively short time and had entered into a business partnership with Angus Michaud. Angus’s shop used to be called This and That Shop, but Nelson had changed it to La Peinture. The French name and the fine art he brought increased the shop’s clientele, especially the ladies! Jessica learned about him from Eve, the local Realtor, who has been trying to get to have a private chat with him for quite some time. Why she sounded like a smitten schoolgirl!
Over the next few days, Jessica saw or overheard Nelson’s encounters with four different people, including his business partner and three women of various ages. None of them left Jessica with a positive view of him. Hours after the fourth encounter, Nelson was found dead in his shop. Coreen, the young assistant of Loretta at the beauty salon, had gone to his shop to do his scheduled manicure. Moments later, she came out of the shop screaming, covered in Nelson’s blood, and holding a heavy candlestick that was determined to be the murder weapon.
Loretta changed from a business/ boss relationship with Coreen into a mother hen. Coreen, hysterical and unable to talk, was considered the only suspect in the murder. Loretta gained permission to keep Coreen at her home until she could speak and be questioned. There was no room for doubt in the minds of Loretta, Jessica, and all who know Coreen. The quiet, somewhat naïve young woman didn’t do it. While they knew what the evidence pointed to, they were certain that someone else did it. With a good attorney that Loretta will help pay for, Loretta desperately wants Jessica to find who really killed the womanizer.
Jessica is my favorite, but it is hard to choose second favorite. We learn more about the regular characters; there are always little changes that keep people – and series – interesting. Jessica’s talent to see and hear things that many people miss, her exacting attention to detail and considering “what-if”, make her the excellent mystery writer and sleuth she is. She, Seth, the local doctor, and Mort, the sheriff, are great friends. It is refreshing to see a sheriff willing to listen to, and consult with, Jessica. I did miss the ever-helpful Harry, her favorite PI. I liked seeing Loretta in a different behavior than the business owner and hairstylist and getting to know Coreen. I do hope we see George more often!
We have complex mysteries requiring complex solutions, including the possibility of a smuggling ring trading international secrets in little Cabot Cove. Is Nelson’s murder related to this, or to one of many women scorned? Are Michael’s investigations parallel with or separate from Nelson’s killer? Michael provides comic relief, as Harry does when he is part of Jessica’s investigations. I love to see Jessica’s thinking process, both in the preparation of the synopsis for her next novel and for considering who really killed Nelson. There are several possibilities, and I kept one person as a last resort who turned out to be the killer. I highly recommend this latest Jessica Fletcher adventure!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
It was wonderful! I greatly enjoyed this latest offering in the Murder She Wrote series. The mystery was plotted and executed with excellence and kept me guessing throughout. The characters are defined very well, and I was happy to see a couple of Jessica Fletcher’s long-time friends who occasionally grace the pages. I could understand small-town life a little better from different points of view, especially the sheriff who knows and may be friends with many in the community.
Jessica had barely heard about Nelson Penzell the first time before he was gone. He appealed to ladies of a certain age and used his good looks and charm on ladies of all ages. He lived in Cabot Cove for a relatively short time and had entered into a business partnership with Angus Michaud. Angus’s shop used to be called This and That Shop, but Nelson had changed it to La Peinture. The French name and the fine art he brought increased the shop’s clientele, especially the ladies! Jessica learned about him from Eve, the local Realtor, who has been trying to get to have a private chat with him for quite some time. Why she sounded like a smitten schoolgirl!
Over the next few days, Jessica saw or overheard Nelson’s encounters with four different people, including his business partner and three women of various ages. None of them left Jessica with a positive view of him. Hours after the fourth encounter, Nelson was found dead in his shop. Coreen, the young assistant of Loretta at the beauty salon, had gone to his shop to do his scheduled manicure. Moments later, she came out of the shop screaming, covered in Nelson’s blood, and holding a heavy candlestick that was determined to be the murder weapon.
Loretta changed from a business/ boss relationship with Coreen into a mother hen. Coreen, hysterical and unable to talk, was considered the only suspect in the murder. Loretta gained permission to keep Coreen at her home until she could speak and be questioned. There was no room for doubt in the minds of Loretta, Jessica, and all who know Coreen. The quiet, somewhat naïve young woman didn’t do it. While they knew what the evidence pointed to, they were certain that someone else did it. With a good attorney that Loretta will help pay for, Loretta desperately wants Jessica to find who really killed the womanizer.
Jessica is my favorite, but it is hard to choose second favorite. We learn more about the regular characters; there are always little changes that keep people – and series – interesting. Jessica’s talent to see and hear things that many people miss, her exacting attention to detail and considering “what-if”, make her the excellent mystery writer and sleuth she is. She, Seth, the local doctor, and Mort, the sheriff, are great friends. It is refreshing to see a sheriff willing to listen to, and consult with, Jessica. I did miss the ever-helpful Harry, her favorite PI. I liked seeing Loretta in a different behavior than the business owner and hairstylist and getting to know Coreen. I do hope we see George more often!
We have complex mysteries requiring complex solutions, including the possibility of a smuggling ring trading international secrets in little Cabot Cove. Is Nelson’s murder related to this, or to one of many women scorned? Are Michael’s investigations parallel with or separate from Nelson’s killer? Michael provides comic relief, as Harry does when he is part of Jessica’s investigations. I love to see Jessica’s thinking process, both in the preparation of the synopsis for her next novel and for considering who really killed Nelson. There are several possibilities, and I kept one person as a last resort who turned out to be the killer. I highly recommend this latest Jessica Fletcher adventure!
February 13, 2025
(WARNING: This review was written under the influence of Cabot Cove hype.)
I’ve always been hard on this series and that’s because it’s very low-hanging fruit that somehow rarely gets picked properly.
Original author Donald Bain had a rocky start, details-wise, but his mysteries were always pretty good. He eventually rectified his prior continuity gaffes and settled into a post-season eight groove, writing solid whodunnits starring bestselling authoress and world traveller JB Fletcher. The books read like travelogues but Bain was very good at it and he went on to write or co-write 47 books in total.
The 48th book, Manuscript for Murder, was Jon Land’s first solo effort. (Bain was credited on Land’s first book, and a few before that were co-written by Bain and a family member.) Manuscript for Murder was steaming hot garbage. Clearly Land had lazily just reworked an old unpublished thriller of his and added a frame where Jessica read the novel. How exciting! Not. It was very much like those mid-series episodes prevalent in seasons 6 and 7 of the show: failed back-door pilots that JB would introduce by reading a letter from an old friend. This ballsy stunt, to me, was a red flag, proudly planted by the publisher to declare in no uncertain terms to the reader “We don’t give a toss about you or this dumb IP! Buy this crap, dummy!”
Much to my surprise, Jon Land improved exponentially with each successive novel. JB had finally found herself a worthy co-writer since Bain’s last good effort ( maybe Close-up on Murder.) Until his last, book 52, which was complete, um, excrement***. Maybe Land had seen his impending sacking written on the wall or maybe he’d gotten sick of the job, but Murder in Season sucked. Suuuuuucked. All the more disappointing as it’s the most Christmassy of all the books. There were a few positives and a few nice scenes, sure, but not enough to rank it higher than a 1 out of 5.
Enter Terrie Farlie Moran with book 53: Killing in a Koi Pond. Talk about terrible books. Dear Lord! This was beyond awful. Koi Pond was worse than the most milquetoast, stupidly boring episode of all the series and all the novels. At least Bain’s and Land’s worst efforts were at least morbidly, excitingly moronic. Moran’s first was just a cringey bore. The murder plot was tame and lame, and Jess was written completely out of character. I don’t know what Moran’s previous writing experience was but evidenced by this book it must have been writing copy for the Lane Bryant catalog. Suddenly Jessica, because nothing, was a poor man’s Anna Wintour. The less said about that one, the better. Thankfully, with Debonair in Death the author has toned down her tendency to overly describe the fashions of the characters. Really doesn’t fit Jessica, that.
Suffice it to say, long story short (“too late!” cried all the Clue fans), I’d so utterly lost faith in this series that it took me a year and a half to check back in. Hoping, mind you, that Moran had been a one-off writer and somebody else now shared JB’s byline. Much to my chagrin, that wasn’t the case. Much much-er to my surprise, Moran actually did a good job!
First things first: finally, they gave the readers what they want—Cabot Cove! And not just some glorified cameos, and not diluted by Bain’s superfluous inventions. Bain’s major creation, Inspector Sutherland, JB’s long distance beau, does make a cameo and one of Bain’s more memorable stories is referenced, but that’s all to the good. This, along with the writer’s treatment of Cabot Cove and its denizens, prove that Moran has done her homework and boned up on the novels and television show both.
Here we have the residents of that infamous hellmouth as they appeared on our screens. They even have starring roles and speak and behave as viewers would expect them to. I have all the time in the world for JB puttering around Cabot Cove. If she was puttering around Manhattan, I’d have no patience for it.
That said, be careful what you wish for. “Readers want Cabot Cove? Ok, Moran! Give ‘em a whole chapter on a Friends of the Library Committee meeting!” Holy crap! I felt like I was at that meeting. And I didn’t want to be. There was another similar episode earlier in the book, too. Give me Cabot Cove but with a mystery unfolding. I don’t care what the library’s up to in this much detail if it’s not germane to the plot.
Now, the mystery itself isn’t anything to write home about. Which is why I’m not. In fact, it’s pretty slim. Honestly I’m so fussed about Moran getting the details right I’m kind of glossing over the plot. Funnily, with Bain it was the opposite: forgiving the details because the murder plot was solid.
The lacking plot probably explains the padding with the false peril storyline and the reading of the minutes of the committee meeting. But like Land before her Moran has rebounded from a terrible, soulless debut to what amounts to a pretty good effort. Hopefully the following two books, which I haven’t yet read, keep the momentum coming and she doesn’t crash and burn a la Land.
So congrats to Moran and all involved. More Eve Simpson next time. And how about Ethan Craig? Maybe visit Maine and talk to some locals. There’s more up there than lobster and blueberries. Mainers are a particular people. It’s not all tony coastal towns peppered with fishermen.
Now for a list of things that irked me. What? It wouldn’t feel like a MSW review without some nitpicking! And some of these nits are sizable.
-JB Fletcher, maybe because real world politics, is bizarrely almost anti-cop here. For some reason she is dead set on shielding a key witness in a murder investigation from the sheriff, her good friend. She’s extremely gung ho about it. This Jessica seems to completely mistrust Mort and the Cabot Cove justice system. Why? It’s never failed before. This just seems like bending over backwards to make sure JB doesn’t get “cancelled” by morons for being too cozy with law enforcement. As stupid as that sounds, nothing else accounts for it. And it leads to even more stupidity…
-The aforementioned false peril is extremely trite and annoying to read about. The manicurist witness’s ordeal as a suspect is unbelievable. Not for a second would you believe she may actually be found guilty or, heaven forfend, believer she may actually be guilty. None of this is helped by the fact that she is written as a completely gutless airhead. That’s all there is to her character, too. Where are her family and friends, by the way? In her time of needs she only has her boss and her local bestselling authoress?
-Almost in the same vein, and worst of all, part of the reason JB gives for shielding that witness is because after discovering the dead body she’s “not fit to talk to any men.” Mm hmm. So a guy hit on her while she was giving him a manicure then immediately backed off when she wasn’t interested, then she finds his dead body… How would that make a grown woman scared of ALL men? Excepting of course the good Doctor Seth Hazlitt who tends to her. This is pure malarkey. I guess this is what the academics call toxic femininity. Hysteria trumps reason, don’t even ask? I thought we left that kind of thinking far behind? I guess we’re back to infantilizing women, Moran? Got it.
-There’s another small episode of bowing to lunatics when Jessica grumbles that men are always telling her to lock her doors. Oh, men! Always looking to protect women! This just seemed like an old-fashioned “oh, men!” moment, but you don’t see much of those anymore, especially “oh women!” moments. I think they’re fine and true to life, I just don’t think they’re part of Jessica Fletcher’s vernacular.
-Continuity errors strike again! Mort should know Michael Hagerty, right? In the books and the show. At least he’d have heard of him. Anyway, that whole stunt of Jessica’s was extremely out of character. She’d never mislead Mort, for one. Maybe she realized how awful a friend she’d been to Mort the whole book and that’s why she left him those brownies.
***Upon reading Murder in Season again, I have changed my opinion.
I’ve always been hard on this series and that’s because it’s very low-hanging fruit that somehow rarely gets picked properly.
Original author Donald Bain had a rocky start, details-wise, but his mysteries were always pretty good. He eventually rectified his prior continuity gaffes and settled into a post-season eight groove, writing solid whodunnits starring bestselling authoress and world traveller JB Fletcher. The books read like travelogues but Bain was very good at it and he went on to write or co-write 47 books in total.
The 48th book, Manuscript for Murder, was Jon Land’s first solo effort. (Bain was credited on Land’s first book, and a few before that were co-written by Bain and a family member.) Manuscript for Murder was steaming hot garbage. Clearly Land had lazily just reworked an old unpublished thriller of his and added a frame where Jessica read the novel. How exciting! Not. It was very much like those mid-series episodes prevalent in seasons 6 and 7 of the show: failed back-door pilots that JB would introduce by reading a letter from an old friend. This ballsy stunt, to me, was a red flag, proudly planted by the publisher to declare in no uncertain terms to the reader “We don’t give a toss about you or this dumb IP! Buy this crap, dummy!”
Much to my surprise, Jon Land improved exponentially with each successive novel. JB had finally found herself a worthy co-writer since Bain’s last good effort ( maybe Close-up on Murder.) Until his last, book 52, which was complete, um, excrement***. Maybe Land had seen his impending sacking written on the wall or maybe he’d gotten sick of the job, but Murder in Season sucked. Suuuuuucked. All the more disappointing as it’s the most Christmassy of all the books. There were a few positives and a few nice scenes, sure, but not enough to rank it higher than a 1 out of 5.
Enter Terrie Farlie Moran with book 53: Killing in a Koi Pond. Talk about terrible books. Dear Lord! This was beyond awful. Koi Pond was worse than the most milquetoast, stupidly boring episode of all the series and all the novels. At least Bain’s and Land’s worst efforts were at least morbidly, excitingly moronic. Moran’s first was just a cringey bore. The murder plot was tame and lame, and Jess was written completely out of character. I don’t know what Moran’s previous writing experience was but evidenced by this book it must have been writing copy for the Lane Bryant catalog. Suddenly Jessica, because nothing, was a poor man’s Anna Wintour. The less said about that one, the better. Thankfully, with Debonair in Death the author has toned down her tendency to overly describe the fashions of the characters. Really doesn’t fit Jessica, that.
Suffice it to say, long story short (“too late!” cried all the Clue fans), I’d so utterly lost faith in this series that it took me a year and a half to check back in. Hoping, mind you, that Moran had been a one-off writer and somebody else now shared JB’s byline. Much to my chagrin, that wasn’t the case. Much much-er to my surprise, Moran actually did a good job!
First things first: finally, they gave the readers what they want—Cabot Cove! And not just some glorified cameos, and not diluted by Bain’s superfluous inventions. Bain’s major creation, Inspector Sutherland, JB’s long distance beau, does make a cameo and one of Bain’s more memorable stories is referenced, but that’s all to the good. This, along with the writer’s treatment of Cabot Cove and its denizens, prove that Moran has done her homework and boned up on the novels and television show both.
Here we have the residents of that infamous hellmouth as they appeared on our screens. They even have starring roles and speak and behave as viewers would expect them to. I have all the time in the world for JB puttering around Cabot Cove. If she was puttering around Manhattan, I’d have no patience for it.
That said, be careful what you wish for. “Readers want Cabot Cove? Ok, Moran! Give ‘em a whole chapter on a Friends of the Library Committee meeting!” Holy crap! I felt like I was at that meeting. And I didn’t want to be. There was another similar episode earlier in the book, too. Give me Cabot Cove but with a mystery unfolding. I don’t care what the library’s up to in this much detail if it’s not germane to the plot.
Now, the mystery itself isn’t anything to write home about. Which is why I’m not. In fact, it’s pretty slim. Honestly I’m so fussed about Moran getting the details right I’m kind of glossing over the plot. Funnily, with Bain it was the opposite: forgiving the details because the murder plot was solid.
The lacking plot probably explains the padding with the false peril storyline and the reading of the minutes of the committee meeting. But like Land before her Moran has rebounded from a terrible, soulless debut to what amounts to a pretty good effort. Hopefully the following two books, which I haven’t yet read, keep the momentum coming and she doesn’t crash and burn a la Land.
So congrats to Moran and all involved. More Eve Simpson next time. And how about Ethan Craig? Maybe visit Maine and talk to some locals. There’s more up there than lobster and blueberries. Mainers are a particular people. It’s not all tony coastal towns peppered with fishermen.
Now for a list of things that irked me. What? It wouldn’t feel like a MSW review without some nitpicking! And some of these nits are sizable.
-JB Fletcher, maybe because real world politics, is bizarrely almost anti-cop here. For some reason she is dead set on shielding a key witness in a murder investigation from the sheriff, her good friend. She’s extremely gung ho about it. This Jessica seems to completely mistrust Mort and the Cabot Cove justice system. Why? It’s never failed before. This just seems like bending over backwards to make sure JB doesn’t get “cancelled” by morons for being too cozy with law enforcement. As stupid as that sounds, nothing else accounts for it. And it leads to even more stupidity…
-The aforementioned false peril is extremely trite and annoying to read about. The manicurist witness’s ordeal as a suspect is unbelievable. Not for a second would you believe she may actually be found guilty or, heaven forfend, believer she may actually be guilty. None of this is helped by the fact that she is written as a completely gutless airhead. That’s all there is to her character, too. Where are her family and friends, by the way? In her time of needs she only has her boss and her local bestselling authoress?
-Almost in the same vein, and worst of all, part of the reason JB gives for shielding that witness is because after discovering the dead body she’s “not fit to talk to any men.” Mm hmm. So a guy hit on her while she was giving him a manicure then immediately backed off when she wasn’t interested, then she finds his dead body… How would that make a grown woman scared of ALL men? Excepting of course the good Doctor Seth Hazlitt who tends to her. This is pure malarkey. I guess this is what the academics call toxic femininity. Hysteria trumps reason, don’t even ask? I thought we left that kind of thinking far behind? I guess we’re back to infantilizing women, Moran? Got it.
-There’s another small episode of bowing to lunatics when Jessica grumbles that men are always telling her to lock her doors. Oh, men! Always looking to protect women! This just seemed like an old-fashioned “oh, men!” moment, but you don’t see much of those anymore, especially “oh women!” moments. I think they’re fine and true to life, I just don’t think they’re part of Jessica Fletcher’s vernacular.
-Continuity errors strike again! Mort should know Michael Hagerty, right? In the books and the show. At least he’d have heard of him. Anyway, that whole stunt of Jessica’s was extremely out of character. She’d never mislead Mort, for one. Maybe she realized how awful a friend she’d been to Mort the whole book and that’s why she left him those brownies.
***Upon reading Murder in Season again, I have changed my opinion.
February 3, 2022
3.5 stars. My favorite episodes of the series are the ones set in Cabot Cove, and I have a soft spot for the books set there as well. This one opens with a scene in Loretta's Beauty Shop, and most of the gang is there, even Ideal Malloy! That was certainly a welcome opening scene.
The plot is exactly as it says on the tin: a newcomer to town, Nelson Penzell, is found murdered by Coreen Wilson, the manicurist at Loretta's. She's found covered in blood and holding the murder weapon, so naturally she is the #1 suspect. Jessica doesn't believe for a second that Coreen could've murdered a man, so she sets about trying to rustle up other suspects. In the meanwhile, secret agent Michael Haggerty shows up, sniffing around Penzell's home, and he soon ropes Jessica into his current mission - trying to bust up an international smuggling ring. Between helping Coreen and Michael, Jessica is also trying to finish the synopsis for her next book, but she barely has time to breathe!
It's very obvious that Ms. Moran has seen the show and read the Bain novels, because she sprinkles all sorts of little details that harken back to both throughout the story. As a fan of the canon, I just adore that! ♥ Even deputy Floyd is back!! Michael Haggerty was not one of my favorite recurring characters, and I kinda like that Jessica has little patience for him here, but once he shows up halfway through the book, he sorta takes over the story. The murder of Nelson Penzell becomes an afterthought, and the denoument of that particular storyline goes over like a lead balloon. Which is unfortunate, because the first half was exactly what I love about this series: Jessica & the gang in Cabot Cove, working to help each other out as best they can.
I appreciated the cameo appearance of Jessica's beau, George Sutherland, and I hope he returns sooner rather than later ♥
Interestingly enough, the D-plot of this novel is that Evelyn Philips, the boisterous (novel-series only) editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, is finally retiring and moving on to greener pastures. Evelyn is a supremely abrasive character, so I wonder if this is a not-so-subtle attempt to move less popular characters off the canvas. Either way, I salute it - she was often more trouble than she was worth.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next novel, which is set in the tennis world!
The plot is exactly as it says on the tin: a newcomer to town, Nelson Penzell, is found murdered by Coreen Wilson, the manicurist at Loretta's. She's found covered in blood and holding the murder weapon, so naturally she is the #1 suspect. Jessica doesn't believe for a second that Coreen could've murdered a man, so she sets about trying to rustle up other suspects. In the meanwhile, secret agent Michael Haggerty shows up, sniffing around Penzell's home, and he soon ropes Jessica into his current mission - trying to bust up an international smuggling ring. Between helping Coreen and Michael, Jessica is also trying to finish the synopsis for her next book, but she barely has time to breathe!
It's very obvious that Ms. Moran has seen the show and read the Bain novels, because she sprinkles all sorts of little details that harken back to both throughout the story. As a fan of the canon, I just adore that! ♥ Even deputy Floyd is back!! Michael Haggerty was not one of my favorite recurring characters, and I kinda like that Jessica has little patience for him here, but once he shows up halfway through the book, he sorta takes over the story. The murder of Nelson Penzell becomes an afterthought, and the denoument of that particular storyline goes over like a lead balloon. Which is unfortunate, because the first half was exactly what I love about this series: Jessica & the gang in Cabot Cove, working to help each other out as best they can.
I appreciated the cameo appearance of Jessica's beau, George Sutherland, and I hope he returns sooner rather than later ♥
Interestingly enough, the D-plot of this novel is that Evelyn Philips, the boisterous (novel-series only) editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, is finally retiring and moving on to greener pastures. Evelyn is a supremely abrasive character, so I wonder if this is a not-so-subtle attempt to move less popular characters off the canvas. Either way, I salute it - she was often more trouble than she was worth.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next novel, which is set in the tennis world!
November 7, 2021
MURDER SHE WROTE: DEBONAIR IN DEATH
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Fourth Murder, She Wrote Mystery
Jessica Fletcher is home in Cabot Cove, Maine trying to finish the synopsis for her latest manuscript when murder once again interrupts. Coreen, a timid young manicurist, is found screaming in the street, covered in blood and incoherent. Nelson Penzell, a newcomer, has been bludgeoned to death in his shop. Coreen's boss and Jessica know she wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone a person, and are determined to protect the young woman. As Jessica learns more about Nelson she soon realizes there are several other possible suspects, including his business partner. When her old friend, MI6 agent Michael Haggerty, turns up in town it's apparent there's much more than murder going on in Cabot Cove.
There's something intrinsically comfortable about a Murder, She Wrote Mystery. Returning to Cabot Cove is like slipping into a comfortable old robe and settling in with a nice cup of tea. The characters are familiar, the setting perfectly charming. I enjoyed the way Jessica's daily normal life, her writing life, the murder, and the possible smuggling ring meld into a comprehensive story. The mystery is intriguing and the slow reveal about the victim's lecherous ways as well as the smuggling ring and its possible players kept my interest.
MURDER SHE WROTE: DEBONAIR IN DEATH is a steadily paced mystery with a solid plot and great character dynamics.
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Fourth Murder, She Wrote Mystery
Jessica Fletcher is home in Cabot Cove, Maine trying to finish the synopsis for her latest manuscript when murder once again interrupts. Coreen, a timid young manicurist, is found screaming in the street, covered in blood and incoherent. Nelson Penzell, a newcomer, has been bludgeoned to death in his shop. Coreen's boss and Jessica know she wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone a person, and are determined to protect the young woman. As Jessica learns more about Nelson she soon realizes there are several other possible suspects, including his business partner. When her old friend, MI6 agent Michael Haggerty, turns up in town it's apparent there's much more than murder going on in Cabot Cove.
There's something intrinsically comfortable about a Murder, She Wrote Mystery. Returning to Cabot Cove is like slipping into a comfortable old robe and settling in with a nice cup of tea. The characters are familiar, the setting perfectly charming. I enjoyed the way Jessica's daily normal life, her writing life, the murder, and the possible smuggling ring meld into a comprehensive story. The mystery is intriguing and the slow reveal about the victim's lecherous ways as well as the smuggling ring and its possible players kept my interest.
MURDER SHE WROTE: DEBONAIR IN DEATH is a steadily paced mystery with a solid plot and great character dynamics.
February 12, 2022
It's always interesting to see another co-author working with Jessica Fletcher. To my tastes, Terrie Farley Moran is an improvement, although the motive of the murder struck me as farfetched. The nice young girl who does manicures at the local salon is suspected of the murder of a local art dealer--well, Coreen was found screaming, drenched in his blood, and holding the murder weapon--but the salon owner, Jessica, and all Coreen's customers are sure she is innocent. An old friend of Jessica's appears, a secret agent for the British government, with his own take on the murder. And--whaddayaknow--it turns out that Jessica is right in her intuitions.
November 19, 2021
LOVED IT! Debonair in Death, the 54th "Murder, She Wrote" book and the 2nd by author Terrie Farley Moran (and JB Fletcher, of course!), takes us back to Cabot Cove, Maine and all of our fave residents make appearances! The narrator does a fantastic job, and she perfectly captures each and every character - listening to the book was just like watching one of the old tv show episodes. There was a lot going on, and the mystery kept me guessing. 5 stars!!!
November 5, 2021
Another great read! I am so happy this series is continuing after the death of Donald Bain.
I especially love the ones where Jessica is in Cabot Cove and old friends make appearances. Although in the TV show she seems to like Michael a little more than she does in the book, but maybe she will come around :)
I especially love the ones where Jessica is in Cabot Cove and old friends make appearances. Although in the TV show she seems to like Michael a little more than she does in the book, but maybe she will come around :)
February 21, 2024
2.5⭐
This is one of the most disappointing books in this series. These characters were just too unlikable too much of the book!
And this author needs to realize that she didn't create these characters. So, pleeeease don't give them personality transplants. 🤦🏽♀️🙄
Hopefully, the next book is back on track.
This is one of the most disappointing books in this series. These characters were just too unlikable too much of the book!
And this author needs to realize that she didn't create these characters. So, pleeeease don't give them personality transplants. 🤦🏽♀️🙄
Hopefully, the next book is back on track.
February 2, 2022
This book was wonderful. I loved it! It's set in Cabot Cove and the whole crew is here. It completely feels like a episode of the show to me and the respect that this author shows all these characters is so wonderful. The mystery was fun. It was all around great! I can't wait for the next to come out.
August 5, 2023
3.5🌟 If you’re looking for gossip, pastries, and some light-hearted murder - this is the book for you!
January 30, 2025
Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: As opposed to the previous book, author had less errors attesting to the editor's keen eyes. :). She also has fixed so many flaws that we had seen in Jon Land book compared to Donald Bain's. Guess we are back to the original form of books in this cozy mystery series. Cant wait to read the remaining ones in Terry's series.
Debonair in Death is the 54th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Terrie Farley Moran & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on November of 2021.
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 October 2024, 59 books have been written in this series. They are mostly written in first person narration.
In this installment, Jessica has to prove that her favorite nail tech, Coreen Wilson, didn’t murder Nelson Penzell, so-owner of a shop in Cabot Cove. Despite the fact that Coreen ran out screaming holding the murder weapon and covered in blood. It surely becomes nail biting for Jessica specially when her good friend Michael Haggerty, an MI5 agent, gets involved.
Author Terrie dedicates the book to her daughter-in-law Shannon Larkin-Moran. Cute. The mayor of Cabot Cove is back to Jim Shevlin. I fail to remember what book I read with Sam Booth as the mayor.
Since Michael Haggerty makes an appearance, we are bound to see the characters reminiscing on past episodes we saw on the TV show. Similarly seeing Michael Haggerty held in Cabot Cove jail for a few hours, Jessica reminisces about the Season 5 Episode 1 "J.B..As in Jailbird" where Michael and her nephew Grady conspire to keep Jessica in jail for her safety, so they thought.
George Sutherland, Jessica's beau, also makes an appearance albeit only on a phone call. He asks Jessica to visit him in Paris for a few days. Jessica declines as she has a book due during the same time. She gets a tad bit annoyed with Haggerty in this book, perhaps his constant disappearances and the call with George colored Jessica.
As opposed to the previous book, author had less errors attesting to the editor's keen eyes. :). She also has fixed so many flaws that we had seen in Jon Land book compared to Donald Bain's. Guess we are back to the original form of books in this cozy mystery series. Cant wait to read the remaining ones in Terry's series.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. In all of Donald Bain books, Deputy Andy was called "Andy Jenks", but in this book he is named "Andy Broom". Mix-up perhaps??
2. Plot Reveals:
a. Characters we see here: Ideal Molly, Jessica's long time neighbor; Angus Michaud and Nelson Penzell, co-owners of the antique shop La Peinture; Erica Davenport, niece of Lavinia Wahl, another friend; Maeve O'Bannon, Jessica's another neighbor; Ryan Hecht, accountant, and his wife Julie; Jeremy Brewington, owns the biggest yacht; Dr. Gregory Leung, Cabot Cove Hospital Deputy Administrator; Rosie Santangelo, teaches arts and crafts; Walter Hendon, harbormaster; Tom Middleton, contractor; Joe Turco, attorney; Lean, Joe's assistant; Regina Tremblay, Coreen's lawyer; Sally Thomson, sales associate at Charles Department Store; Dan Andrews, Evelyn's replacement; Clark Geddings, real estate agent; Jonas Carpenter, Senior nuclear medicine technologist; Margo Linwood, front desk at Hill House; Edward, Library aide; John Martinez, a library patron; Lorna Mason, Library Committee treasurer; Nancy, a newish committee member; Joseph, maitre d' at Hill House
b. We see in this plot that Evelyn Phillips decides to leave Cabot Cove and has Dan Andrews from New York City as her replacement. She might go to Chicago or Baltimore.
3. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard, formerly with British Special Air Service; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his wife Maureen / Adele; Eve Simpson, realtor friend with Cabot Cove Realty called Simpson Realty; Sam Booth, one-time mayor of Cabot Cove; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim, Current Mayor of Cabot Cove.
b. Literary contacts and friends: her American 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; her British Publisher Griffin Semple, son of her original publisher Archibald Semple; Herb Mason, her accountant.
c. Other Cabot Cove characters: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, bush pilot and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia / Barbara?, His brother Harvey, owns the local Gas-and-Go; Mara, owns Mara’s Luncheonette, as of #54, Mara has branched out into NH and VT; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel per the 51st book / Thomas Wilkerson per the 47th book; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; Charlene Sassi, baker; 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 Old Thyme 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, and investment advisor, and his wife Ellen; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; 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; Sanford Teller, public relations agency; Lee, postmistress; Loretta Spiegel, owns beauty salon; Barnaby Longshoot; Brad Crandall; SeaBasket, a supermarket; Father Donald Barnes; Becky Thayer, owner of Cabot Cove Catering; Doris Ann, librarian; Ansell Hodges, homeless veteran; Clara, Seth's longtime receptionist; Carl Cragg, Ethan's cousin and Building inspector; Demetri and his cousin Nick, Cabot Cove Taxi Service;
d. Sheriff Metzger’s staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks / Broom??; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson and his mother Gloria; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Deputy Evan; Deputy Chip; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher; Officer Edgar; Gladys, a civilian dispatcher; Deputy Billy Simms; NYPD lieutenant with Major Case Squad Artie Gelber; Deputy Muldoon; Deputy Floyd McCallum
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank. Grady plans to open his own accounting firm in book #52.
f. We know the reason as to why Mort Metzger's wife is called Maureen as of the 20th book A Slaying in Savannah. Mort and Adele get divorced and Adele goes back to New York. Mort marries Maureen who becomes his second wife. All of Donald Bain's novels starting 20th book have this scenario. However Jon Land novels they remain married and his wife is back to being called Adele. Adele is a former marine per this book.
g. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
h. 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?
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. Now that Bain is gone and Land has taken over, will there be a back story or will he just leave it as one of the names without explanation.
j. From the 30th book:
i. Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.
ii. There is no closure as to who actually kills the person in the first murder.
iii. Will Jennifer Kahn, the alleged jewel thief, walk away free since they could only find circumstantial evidence against her and nothing concrete?
k. From the 37th book: If I ever try the sidecar recipe I will have to post it again referring the 37th book. But Angela Lansbury did print a cookbook based on the food items shared either in the episodes or by characters of the series. https://www.silverscreensuppers.com/t...
l. From the 47th book:
i. Mort jokes that Jessica is a magnet for murder; and Jessica quips that can she use that as a title. We know that this title has never been done so far in her books or the fictional ones she wrote on the TV show. May be a future book?
ii. Again we don’t see the criminal Armand Dejong's body found. So did he succumb to the injuries caused by fire or escape?
m. From the 48th book, Manuscript for Murder:
i. We come to know that Mort was in Vietnam that we had never heard either on TV show or the earlier books.
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: As opposed to the previous book, author had less errors attesting to the editor's keen eyes. :). She also has fixed so many flaws that we had seen in Jon Land book compared to Donald Bain's. Guess we are back to the original form of books in this cozy mystery series. Cant wait to read the remaining ones in Terry's series.
Debonair in Death is the 54th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Terrie Farley Moran & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on November of 2021.
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 October 2024, 59 books have been written in this series. They are mostly written in first person narration.
In this installment, Jessica has to prove that her favorite nail tech, Coreen Wilson, didn’t murder Nelson Penzell, so-owner of a shop in Cabot Cove. Despite the fact that Coreen ran out screaming holding the murder weapon and covered in blood. It surely becomes nail biting for Jessica specially when her good friend Michael Haggerty, an MI5 agent, gets involved.
Author Terrie dedicates the book to her daughter-in-law Shannon Larkin-Moran. Cute. The mayor of Cabot Cove is back to Jim Shevlin. I fail to remember what book I read with Sam Booth as the mayor.
Since Michael Haggerty makes an appearance, we are bound to see the characters reminiscing on past episodes we saw on the TV show. Similarly seeing Michael Haggerty held in Cabot Cove jail for a few hours, Jessica reminisces about the Season 5 Episode 1 "J.B..As in Jailbird" where Michael and her nephew Grady conspire to keep Jessica in jail for her safety, so they thought.
George Sutherland, Jessica's beau, also makes an appearance albeit only on a phone call. He asks Jessica to visit him in Paris for a few days. Jessica declines as she has a book due during the same time. She gets a tad bit annoyed with Haggerty in this book, perhaps his constant disappearances and the call with George colored Jessica.
As opposed to the previous book, author had less errors attesting to the editor's keen eyes. :). She also has fixed so many flaws that we had seen in Jon Land book compared to Donald Bain's. Guess we are back to the original form of books in this cozy mystery series. Cant wait to read the remaining ones in Terry's series.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. In all of Donald Bain books, Deputy Andy was called "Andy Jenks", but in this book he is named "Andy Broom". Mix-up perhaps??
2. Plot Reveals:
a. Characters we see here: Ideal Molly, Jessica's long time neighbor; Angus Michaud and Nelson Penzell, co-owners of the antique shop La Peinture; Erica Davenport, niece of Lavinia Wahl, another friend; Maeve O'Bannon, Jessica's another neighbor; Ryan Hecht, accountant, and his wife Julie; Jeremy Brewington, owns the biggest yacht; Dr. Gregory Leung, Cabot Cove Hospital Deputy Administrator; Rosie Santangelo, teaches arts and crafts; Walter Hendon, harbormaster; Tom Middleton, contractor; Joe Turco, attorney; Lean, Joe's assistant; Regina Tremblay, Coreen's lawyer; Sally Thomson, sales associate at Charles Department Store; Dan Andrews, Evelyn's replacement; Clark Geddings, real estate agent; Jonas Carpenter, Senior nuclear medicine technologist; Margo Linwood, front desk at Hill House; Edward, Library aide; John Martinez, a library patron; Lorna Mason, Library Committee treasurer; Nancy, a newish committee member; Joseph, maitre d' at Hill House
b. We see in this plot that Evelyn Phillips decides to leave Cabot Cove and has Dan Andrews from New York City as her replacement. She might go to Chicago or Baltimore.
3. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard, formerly with British Special Air Service; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his wife Maureen / Adele; Eve Simpson, realtor friend with Cabot Cove Realty called Simpson Realty; Sam Booth, one-time mayor of Cabot Cove; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim, Current Mayor of Cabot Cove.
b. Literary contacts and friends: her American 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; her British Publisher Griffin Semple, son of her original publisher Archibald Semple; Herb Mason, her accountant.
c. Other Cabot Cove characters: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, bush pilot and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia / Barbara?, His brother Harvey, owns the local Gas-and-Go; Mara, owns Mara’s Luncheonette, as of #54, Mara has branched out into NH and VT; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel per the 51st book / Thomas Wilkerson per the 47th book; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; Charlene Sassi, baker; 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 Old Thyme 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, and investment advisor, and his wife Ellen; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; 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; Sanford Teller, public relations agency; Lee, postmistress; Loretta Spiegel, owns beauty salon; Barnaby Longshoot; Brad Crandall; SeaBasket, a supermarket; Father Donald Barnes; Becky Thayer, owner of Cabot Cove Catering; Doris Ann, librarian; Ansell Hodges, homeless veteran; Clara, Seth's longtime receptionist; Carl Cragg, Ethan's cousin and Building inspector; Demetri and his cousin Nick, Cabot Cove Taxi Service;
d. Sheriff Metzger’s staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks / Broom??; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson and his mother Gloria; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Deputy Evan; Deputy Chip; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher; Officer Edgar; Gladys, a civilian dispatcher; Deputy Billy Simms; NYPD lieutenant with Major Case Squad Artie Gelber; Deputy Muldoon; Deputy Floyd McCallum
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank. Grady plans to open his own accounting firm in book #52.
f. We know the reason as to why Mort Metzger's wife is called Maureen as of the 20th book A Slaying in Savannah. Mort and Adele get divorced and Adele goes back to New York. Mort marries Maureen who becomes his second wife. All of Donald Bain's novels starting 20th book have this scenario. However Jon Land novels they remain married and his wife is back to being called Adele. Adele is a former marine per this book.
g. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
h. 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?
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. Now that Bain is gone and Land has taken over, will there be a back story or will he just leave it as one of the names without explanation.
j. From the 30th book:
i. Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.
ii. There is no closure as to who actually kills the person in the first murder.
iii. Will Jennifer Kahn, the alleged jewel thief, walk away free since they could only find circumstantial evidence against her and nothing concrete?
k. From the 37th book: If I ever try the sidecar recipe I will have to post it again referring the 37th book. But Angela Lansbury did print a cookbook based on the food items shared either in the episodes or by characters of the series. https://www.silverscreensuppers.com/t...
l. From the 47th book:
i. Mort jokes that Jessica is a magnet for murder; and Jessica quips that can she use that as a title. We know that this title has never been done so far in her books or the fictional ones she wrote on the TV show. May be a future book?
ii. Again we don’t see the criminal Armand Dejong's body found. So did he succumb to the injuries caused by fire or escape?
m. From the 48th book, Manuscript for Murder:
i. We come to know that Mort was in Vietnam that we had never heard either on TV show or the earlier books.
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 29, 2025
Cozy as always
December 9, 2021
A great read with Jessica Fletcher is always a fun story. So glad I was able to get this new book
and really enjoyed it.
and really enjoyed it.
April 28, 2022
This was great it had the charm of both the tv show and Donald Bain's version of Cabot Cove. I have always been a fan of the Cabot Cove episodes, and this felt like it belonged.
September 30, 2023
Come sempre delizioso 😋
November 6, 2023
10/7/2023 - Started this in the summer but put it aside until now.
March 29, 2022
I said to myself after I read "Murder in a Koi Pond," in which I couldn't even recognize Jessica Fletcher, that it would be the last Murder She Wrote book I would read. (I've read every one of them up to this point.) Against my better judgment, I read many reviews that said, "Jessica is back," the new author has portrayed the characters perfectly, great to read another Jessica mystery, etc., etc. I'm sorry to say that I've had it. I've given the new author two tries and I won't be coming back to the series.... unfortunately. Jessica has always reminded me of a good friend of mine and every time I'd read something, I would say, "Sharon would do that!" or "Sharon would say the exact same thing!" Never once in these two books, did "Sharon" come to mind. In this latest, Debonair in Death, again I didn't recognize Jessica but, more importantly, the story was lame. The tunnel-visioned focus on the manicurist, Coreen, was ridiculous. A review of the victim's cellphone would've revealed the murderer. Perhaps I missed something, but why the usually very sharp previous-NYPD cop, Sheriff Metzger, never got hold of the phone, is just baffling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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