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Murder, She Wrote #1
By the Time You Read This I'll Be Gone
Small town murders.
Big time thrills.
A suspenseful, modern update of the classic mystery TV series that's perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying, Sadie, and Gossip Girl.
“Killers walk among us. Statistically, at least one of them knows your name…”
Beatrice Fletcher is obsessed with unsolved murders in her small town of Cabot Cove, Maine like her great-aunt Jessica, the famous mystery writer. But when her best friend Jackson goes missing, this time the mystery is personal.
Then Jackson fails to show up for a late night meet-up, and instead, Bea stumbles upon three students from the elite Broadmoor overly-friendly and slightly vicious Leisl, her aloof twin brother, Leif, and Carlos, who knows more about, well, everything than he’s letting on. They’re worldly, secretive, and big on playing games like tenace, the hush-hush Broadmoor tradition where anything or anyone can be a clue to future fame and fortune, and players will stop at nothing -- including murder -- to get ahead.
If Bea wants to find Jackson, she too must join the game and play to win. Everyone in Cabot Cove has secrets, and it’s up to Bea to ferret them out before it’s too late in this thrilling modern update of the classic television show.
Big time thrills.
A suspenseful, modern update of the classic mystery TV series that's perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying, Sadie, and Gossip Girl.
“Killers walk among us. Statistically, at least one of them knows your name…”
Beatrice Fletcher is obsessed with unsolved murders in her small town of Cabot Cove, Maine like her great-aunt Jessica, the famous mystery writer. But when her best friend Jackson goes missing, this time the mystery is personal.
Then Jackson fails to show up for a late night meet-up, and instead, Bea stumbles upon three students from the elite Broadmoor overly-friendly and slightly vicious Leisl, her aloof twin brother, Leif, and Carlos, who knows more about, well, everything than he’s letting on. They’re worldly, secretive, and big on playing games like tenace, the hush-hush Broadmoor tradition where anything or anyone can be a clue to future fame and fortune, and players will stop at nothing -- including murder -- to get ahead.
If Bea wants to find Jackson, she too must join the game and play to win. Everyone in Cabot Cove has secrets, and it’s up to Bea to ferret them out before it’s too late in this thrilling modern update of the classic television show.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2022
108 people are currently reading
4718 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
November 20, 2022
Oh... Oh, no... I was so excited when I saw this, since I grew up watching Jessica's adventures in crimewriting and crimefighting, but I chose to ignore the negative reviews and give this a chance. Unfortunately, the plot is convoluted and nonsensical and there's nothing reminiscent of the Cabot Cove we all know and love in this book. Aunt Jess is bedridden and under special care (though she does make an appearance or two). (The main character's grandfather was one of her nephews but we don't know which one.) Cabot Cove landmarks such as the police station have been torn down and rebuilt to be sterile and officious. There is no mention of the docks but there are a couple cliffside scenes, but a lot of the story takes place in the woods or in unfamiliar neighborhoods and schools.. Basically I'm saying I didn't get a nostalgic feeling about anything.
The story was very confusing. The main character seems to have a heroine complex. She wants to "fix" everyone. Her best friend Jackson is treated unkindly by his parents so she wants to make him go to teen group therapy with her. Later, she tries to solve a decades-old murder and also find out what happened to currently-missing teens from her school. Meanwhile, she's in therapy herself because her mom died when she was a child and she's dealing with anxiety issues. Her character description was contradictory, though, in that she believes her only friend is Jackson, yet when she doesn't show up to a party, everyone notices and she gets a string of texts from girls from her school, begging her to come. It didn't make sense...
The main story is that our main character, Beatrice, is trying to make Jackson go to therapy and he never shows up. (When you find out why, you'll be mad, I guarantee it.) So she goes on a crusade to figure out why teens, especially her best friend, have gone missing. She posts her thoughts anonymously on a blog she doesn't own and meanwhile pretends in real life that she doesn't even notice he's gone. Which made no sense to me... Her anonymous article throws the whole town in an uproar, because some people don't believe teens are missing at all, some think there's a government conspiracy, and some think the parents are behind it all. And all of that turns out to be true in a bizarre link between seemingly unrelated events that happen throughout the story. I was listening to the audiobook with my wife and kept having to pause it to compare notes to try and keep the story straight.
We have missing kids, a 1980s cold case, a teens-only mystery scavenger hunt, and an evil Homeowner's Association cult going on at the same time. And the way these things get linked together at the end...man, it just ticked me off. lol It made no sense and felt so forced. I really liked the way the characters themselves were described (especially Frankie, B's dad), but the plot was nonsensical. I'm mad I spent time reading this, to be honest. lol I don't think this author is a mystery writer and that should have been the essential element in a Murder She Wrote spinoff series. I am disappointed.
The story was very confusing. The main character seems to have a heroine complex. She wants to "fix" everyone. Her best friend Jackson is treated unkindly by his parents so she wants to make him go to teen group therapy with her. Later, she tries to solve a decades-old murder and also find out what happened to currently-missing teens from her school. Meanwhile, she's in therapy herself because her mom died when she was a child and she's dealing with anxiety issues. Her character description was contradictory, though, in that she believes her only friend is Jackson, yet when she doesn't show up to a party, everyone notices and she gets a string of texts from girls from her school, begging her to come. It didn't make sense...
The main story is that our main character, Beatrice, is trying to make Jackson go to therapy and he never shows up. (When you find out why, you'll be mad, I guarantee it.) So she goes on a crusade to figure out why teens, especially her best friend, have gone missing. She posts her thoughts anonymously on a blog she doesn't own and meanwhile pretends in real life that she doesn't even notice he's gone. Which made no sense to me... Her anonymous article throws the whole town in an uproar, because some people don't believe teens are missing at all, some think there's a government conspiracy, and some think the parents are behind it all. And all of that turns out to be true in a bizarre link between seemingly unrelated events that happen throughout the story. I was listening to the audiobook with my wife and kept having to pause it to compare notes to try and keep the story straight.
We have missing kids, a 1980s cold case, a teens-only mystery scavenger hunt, and an evil Homeowner's Association cult going on at the same time. And the way these things get linked together at the end...man, it just ticked me off. lol It made no sense and felt so forced. I really liked the way the characters themselves were described (especially Frankie, B's dad), but the plot was nonsensical. I'm mad I spent time reading this, to be honest. lol I don't think this author is a mystery writer and that should have been the essential element in a Murder She Wrote spinoff series. I am disappointed.
September 26, 2022
I liked this, but wanted to love it. A grandniece following in Jessica Fletcher's shoes? Sign me up. There was certainly action, and a number of mysteries -- only some of which were solved -- in this short book. Ultimately I think I was thrown out of the plot because it tried to do too much -- the niece is multi-racial, so there's multiple times where a racist storyline suddenly appears; at least 2 plot lines deal with commentary on the evils of suburban/rich white women and what happens behind the gates; at least 2 anti-government plot lines that don't seem related; plus the loss of a parent or unsupportive/abusive parents all over the place. Any of those on their own, or even 1-2 together would have been fine - but putting them all together, none of them were explored and they just seemed superficial. There just seemed to be too many things thrown into too short of a book, even one that's starting a new series. That said, I was engaged enough that of course I'll read book 2. I liked the main character and enjoyed the mysterious town and its secrets! And of course I loved the glimpses of Aunt Jess!
February 6, 2023
Nope. This was the most disjointed, convoluted book ever. Pick a plot. There were too many storylines with sub-storylines with even more storylines that made no sense:
1. A murder mystery from the 80s (how this is solved was so nonchalant and impractical and was such a throwaway that I am still trying to understand why so much emphasis was on this case from the beginning. 40% in the book it is solved.)
2. an abused best friend that is missing
3. a rich kid treasure hunt (??? the main character doesn't go to this school and these rich kids pop in and out of the story so frequently why is this even a thing in the book!?)
4. current missing kids
5. an evil Homeowners Association
and somehow the author flimsily tied them all together. It was so far-fetched that even in the world of fiction I could not suspend my disbelief.
Jeez. It was all over the place. And on top of all that we have a main character that was wishy-washy and just as confusing as the story.
{rant} How dare ya'll even compare this to the fabulous book Sadie{endrant}
Nope nope nope.
Also, this connection to Jessica Fletcher (great-aunt...sure) was extremely thin and made no sense at all nor had any bearing on the story other than to try to ride on the popularity of the book and tv series.
1. A murder mystery from the 80s (how this is solved was so nonchalant and impractical and was such a throwaway that I am still trying to understand why so much emphasis was on this case from the beginning. 40% in the book it is solved.)
2. an abused best friend that is missing
3. a rich kid treasure hunt (??? the main character doesn't go to this school and these rich kids pop in and out of the story so frequently why is this even a thing in the book!?)
4. current missing kids
5. an evil Homeowners Association
and somehow the author flimsily tied them all together. It was so far-fetched that even in the world of fiction I could not suspend my disbelief.
Jeez. It was all over the place. And on top of all that we have a main character that was wishy-washy and just as confusing as the story.
{rant} How dare ya'll even compare this to the fabulous book Sadie{endrant}
Nope nope nope.
Also, this connection to Jessica Fletcher (great-aunt...sure) was extremely thin and made no sense at all nor had any bearing on the story other than to try to ride on the popularity of the book and tv series.
February 28, 2024
i was so excited to see a new book about jessica fletcher’s niece! the book was pretty good but i feel like it didn’t really clear everything up in the end (hence the cliffhanger). i hope everything comes together in the second book! :)
February 12, 2024
I picked this up because of the Murder She Wrote connection, along with the fact that I particularly love middle school and YA whodunnits. If you like either of those things, then I think you’ll have a lot of fun reading this one!
January 30, 2023
DISCLAIMER: This review will most likely contain spoilers, so be warned...
Like many of you, I grew up on Murder, She Wrote and periodically binge watch Jessica's mysterious adventures every few years, so when I first learned about the new series I couldn't wait to dig in and now I wish I hadn't.
From the start, you're plunged into a world more aligned with Netflix's Riverdale than the charming seaside village of Cabot Cove.
Within the first few chapters alone you're bombarded with an onslaught of triggers: death, death of parent (cancer), depression, anxiety, perfectionism, OCD, suicidal thoughts, emotional abuse from a parental figure, institutionalization, rasicm and bigotry.
And by the last page, you'll add: suicide, attempted suicide, murder, physical abuse from a parental figure, PTSD, bombings, political agendas, forced institutionalization, gaslighting, kidnapping, panic attack and fire.
The majority of the emotional abuse being inflicted upon the characters are by members of their own families that happen to be influential, political, or clergymen in the community.
I want to take a moment to clarify that Bea, our main character and Jessica's great-grand niece by marriage, is actually multiracial and not biracial. I don't know why this bothers me so much, other than my own personal beliefs that a connection to your history, your family and your community are important and between her parents, Bea has a genetic footprint that expands at least three indvidual cultural groups.
Shockingly, it had taken me three days to power through the first 50 pages. The amount of baggage and social hot topics being unleashed was overkill. I truly wanted to close the book and never look at it again, but I opted to continue to see how things progressed.
I can't say that my opinion changed at all. If anything, it evolved into a dissection of what not to do. If you remove the first 50 pages and any reference to Murder, She Wrote this story could have potentially, but we can't, and it now exists in the franchise.
Now I say the story could have potentially, but there'd need to be a lot of tweaking along the way. Especially considering Bea really didn't solve any "mysteries" and most of the "clues" were crumbs left by others for her to follow, friendships were left behind that could have been saved, new connections were established under false pretenses and manipulation, and any positive adult/parental interaction was uninspiring.
Yep, I said it, uninspiring... I loved the idea of Jessica having a cameo within the story, but any real charm or engagement was missing. Jessica is meant to be the inspiration behind Bea's passion for mystery. The scenes felt more like a way to bounce around ideas than a heartfelt conversation with your beloved aunt.
Sadly, since finishing the book, I've gone back and revised my recommendation to friends, I truly can't recommend the book as a must-read.
Like many of you, I grew up on Murder, She Wrote and periodically binge watch Jessica's mysterious adventures every few years, so when I first learned about the new series I couldn't wait to dig in and now I wish I hadn't.
From the start, you're plunged into a world more aligned with Netflix's Riverdale than the charming seaside village of Cabot Cove.
Within the first few chapters alone you're bombarded with an onslaught of triggers: death, death of parent (cancer), depression, anxiety, perfectionism, OCD, suicidal thoughts, emotional abuse from a parental figure, institutionalization, rasicm and bigotry.
And by the last page, you'll add: suicide, attempted suicide, murder, physical abuse from a parental figure, PTSD, bombings, political agendas, forced institutionalization, gaslighting, kidnapping, panic attack and fire.
The majority of the emotional abuse being inflicted upon the characters are by members of their own families that happen to be influential, political, or clergymen in the community.
I want to take a moment to clarify that Bea, our main character and Jessica's great-grand niece by marriage, is actually multiracial and not biracial. I don't know why this bothers me so much, other than my own personal beliefs that a connection to your history, your family and your community are important and between her parents, Bea has a genetic footprint that expands at least three indvidual cultural groups.
Shockingly, it had taken me three days to power through the first 50 pages. The amount of baggage and social hot topics being unleashed was overkill. I truly wanted to close the book and never look at it again, but I opted to continue to see how things progressed.
I can't say that my opinion changed at all. If anything, it evolved into a dissection of what not to do. If you remove the first 50 pages and any reference to Murder, She Wrote this story could have potentially, but we can't, and it now exists in the franchise.
Now I say the story could have potentially, but there'd need to be a lot of tweaking along the way. Especially considering Bea really didn't solve any "mysteries" and most of the "clues" were crumbs left by others for her to follow, friendships were left behind that could have been saved, new connections were established under false pretenses and manipulation, and any positive adult/parental interaction was uninspiring.
Yep, I said it, uninspiring... I loved the idea of Jessica having a cameo within the story, but any real charm or engagement was missing. Jessica is meant to be the inspiration behind Bea's passion for mystery. The scenes felt more like a way to bounce around ideas than a heartfelt conversation with your beloved aunt.
Sadly, since finishing the book, I've gone back and revised my recommendation to friends, I truly can't recommend the book as a must-read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2022
I was so excited to read about Jessica Fletchers niece in this new series. The mystery was a fun one to follow, while still keeping things fresh and new. I didn’t like that the mothers weren’t address in the end and didn’t feel a true sense of “justice being served.” I’m hoping to see that in the books to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2023
this was absolute chaos, but in a lot of ways it felt very much like an episode of Murder, She Wrote. an episode I'd skip on most rewatches, but an episode nonetheless. there were plenty of winks and nods to fans of the original series, though the mystery itself is very convoluted. I like Bea, and I'll probably check out future installments. four stars from me!
be aware going into this that there's a lot of discussion around suicidal thoughts and actions, religious trauma, and physical and mental abuse. I don't know if that could/would be triggering to some people, but it's definitely something to be aware of.
be aware going into this that there's a lot of discussion around suicidal thoughts and actions, religious trauma, and physical and mental abuse. I don't know if that could/would be triggering to some people, but it's definitely something to be aware of.
November 1, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this new Murder She Wrote caper. Jessica Fletcher's niece, Beatrice, is trying to solve the whereabouts of her best friend, Jackson. The new modern twist of Cabot Cove is inventive and intriguing. I wish Jessica Fletcher, who makes a cameo, was more involved in the plot.
I hope there will be more books in this young adult series.
I hope there will be more books in this young adult series.
May 30, 2023
Such a compulsive read, such a great mystery. Leans well on the OG Murder, She Wrote, but holds its own.
October 9, 2023
the end was a little disappointing not gonna lie. it was predictable— but not in a fun way…
February 12, 2025
I wish I'd loved it more. I didn't get the nostalgia vibe I'd been hoping for. Although there are mentions of Cabot Cove and Jessica, they could be anyone anywhere and didn't feel very tied to the series I loved.
As for the mystery, it felt convoluted and unnecessarily complex. I did this as an audio and maybe that lessened by enjoyment but I just didn't feel the mystery or the pull into this one.
As for the mystery, it felt convoluted and unnecessarily complex. I did this as an audio and maybe that lessened by enjoyment but I just didn't feel the mystery or the pull into this one.
October 14, 2024
Public library copy
Fun series. A little too long and introspective for middle school, and I don't think anyone of my students would appreciate the Jessica Fletcher connection, but a good way to spend the weekend.
Fun series. A little too long and introspective for middle school, and I don't think anyone of my students would appreciate the Jessica Fletcher connection, but a good way to spend the weekend.
October 5, 2022
Was this a perfect book? No it was not. Was this a super fun book with references to my favorite tv show of all time? Yes, yes it was. I did love the Murder, She Wrote tie ins here, especially the cameo appearance by Jessica Fletcher herself. It's a modern day twist on the television show and I loved it.
October 15, 2022
It’s not perfect, but if you’ve missed Cabot Cove, it’s a fun read, and obviously the first in a series. Bea herself does the investigating, but she visits her Great Grand Aunt Jessica to talk through ideas, and I loved that. There’s a lot going on with this mystery, probably a few too many threads for the plot to comfortably hold, but we had an elite boarding school, a gated community with a dark underbelly, reopening old mysteries, being chased through the woods, missing friends, a mysterious game, and, you know what? I had fun. The author neatly brings Cabot Cove into the 21st century with some serious social issues addressed and some good representation as well.
May 29, 2023
This was all over the place and had a dubious at best connection to the original Murder, She Wrote (great grand-aunt?) — the cold case was solved by one quick trip to an archive and the explanation for the missing kids was absurd. I wanted to love this and was left feeling very meh.
March 13, 2024
3.25
I think if you go into this book with low expectations of it being like a Murder, She Wrote, it will go better as a reading experience.
In terms of the book, the author is a psychologists and loves to give her characters a mental health voice. So our main protagonist has anxiety and depression. This is also the great grand niece of Jessica Fletcher. I wondered if maybe she was the child of Grady, but the ethnicity didn't fit. But there are characters from the TV show that make their appearance in this book.
However, after reading some of the other reviews, I have to conclude that there is a LOT packed into this book, and it can be hard to cipher clues and get a picture of the mystery. With a good mystery, the author will drop some bread crumbs and the reader will sort out which are red herrings and which are useful to the story and go from there. In this book, I felt like the clues were dropped, and then we were led to the next section of clues, herrings being picked out for us. It left me a bit disoriented.
That being said, 2 or 3 days before I picked this book up to read, I had a conversation with my daughter about "true crime" versus mystery novels. In novels, we have a set list of characters that play a part in the mystery. In true crime, there are MANY people that are in the life of whatever it is going on and there is a lot of eliminating to find, motive, means, and opportunity. And so reading a novel takes out that guess and tedious work and just gives you a smaller list of characters that could have had the means, motive, and opportunity. This book kind of, kind of, twisted all that. And so it was interesting to see and I think it could be done well. I think this needed a little polishing.
The mystery as a whole, wasn't in and of itself poorly. It was an interesting spin on things. I will be reading the next one, and I think anyone that picks this book up will want to read the second as well. I just have a little difficulty seeing how Beatrice is related to Jessica Fletcher... Not because she doesn't want to be a mystery writer, but because she fights within herself all the time of things she can't control. I have to give the author HUGE points for her low use of language. In a lot of YA books, the pages are saturated with one word or another. I think there was maybe half a dozen in this whole book? They were considered the "mild" ones as well. HUGE plus!
I think if you go into this book with low expectations of it being like a Murder, She Wrote, it will go better as a reading experience.
In terms of the book, the author is a psychologists and loves to give her characters a mental health voice. So our main protagonist has anxiety and depression. This is also the great grand niece of Jessica Fletcher. I wondered if maybe she was the child of Grady, but the ethnicity didn't fit. But there are characters from the TV show that make their appearance in this book.
However, after reading some of the other reviews, I have to conclude that there is a LOT packed into this book, and it can be hard to cipher clues and get a picture of the mystery. With a good mystery, the author will drop some bread crumbs and the reader will sort out which are red herrings and which are useful to the story and go from there. In this book, I felt like the clues were dropped, and then we were led to the next section of clues, herrings being picked out for us. It left me a bit disoriented.
That being said, 2 or 3 days before I picked this book up to read, I had a conversation with my daughter about "true crime" versus mystery novels. In novels, we have a set list of characters that play a part in the mystery. In true crime, there are MANY people that are in the life of whatever it is going on and there is a lot of eliminating to find, motive, means, and opportunity. And so reading a novel takes out that guess and tedious work and just gives you a smaller list of characters that could have had the means, motive, and opportunity. This book kind of, kind of, twisted all that. And so it was interesting to see and I think it could be done well. I think this needed a little polishing.
The mystery as a whole, wasn't in and of itself poorly. It was an interesting spin on things. I will be reading the next one, and I think anyone that picks this book up will want to read the second as well. I just have a little difficulty seeing how Beatrice is related to Jessica Fletcher... Not because she doesn't want to be a mystery writer, but because she fights within herself all the time of things she can't control. I have to give the author HUGE points for her low use of language. In a lot of YA books, the pages are saturated with one word or another. I think there was maybe half a dozen in this whole book? They were considered the "mild" ones as well. HUGE plus!
January 21, 2023
Unfortunately, this was not my cup of tea.
I was curious about it since it’s supposedly reminiscent of the famous TV series but I didn’t feel nostalgic in the least. In the book, the main character is related to Jessica, who is bedridden and under care at home.
The plot is just nonsensical and confusing. Teenagers are going missing and no one in town cares. There are rumours of a government conspiracy, and that the parents are behind everything. But no one actually does anything. The link between the disappearances, the conspiracy in town, and everything basically, makes no sense to me. Some of the events in the story don’t lead up or connect to anything at all.
The end was just… blah. I felt like it was the easy way out, leaving everything with loose strings. In the end many questions and points were left unanswered.
Then we have the characters. The protagonist, Beatrice, is a walking paradox with a heroine complex. First, she says Jackson (the main male character) is her only friend, only to see her having relationships with other students from her school. She wants to help everyone and everything, and always feels like everything is on her shoulders. It’s a bit too much.
When Jackson goes missing, she embarks on a mission to find him and the other missing teens.
When she eventually finds him, she doesn’t have a ‘normal’ reaction, and quickly forgives him even though her life was turned upside down, that she got blamed by the parents and the police for his disappearance, and lost sleep worrying over him. It’s not a credible reaction in my opinion.
The police in this book is a complete joke. It’s idiotic that they basically exist to attack and discredit Beatrice. That’s it. They don’t even properly investigate the disappearances. It was very annoying to read their questioning and lack of action.
Just… no. I like a well rounded mystery where everything comes together in the end. This plot when all over the place, but not a decent one.
I was curious about it since it’s supposedly reminiscent of the famous TV series but I didn’t feel nostalgic in the least. In the book, the main character is related to Jessica, who is bedridden and under care at home.
The plot is just nonsensical and confusing. Teenagers are going missing and no one in town cares. There are rumours of a government conspiracy, and that the parents are behind everything. But no one actually does anything. The link between the disappearances, the conspiracy in town, and everything basically, makes no sense to me. Some of the events in the story don’t lead up or connect to anything at all.
The end was just… blah. I felt like it was the easy way out, leaving everything with loose strings. In the end many questions and points were left unanswered.
Then we have the characters. The protagonist, Beatrice, is a walking paradox with a heroine complex. First, she says Jackson (the main male character) is her only friend, only to see her having relationships with other students from her school. She wants to help everyone and everything, and always feels like everything is on her shoulders. It’s a bit too much.
When Jackson goes missing, she embarks on a mission to find him and the other missing teens.
When she eventually finds him, she doesn’t have a ‘normal’ reaction, and quickly forgives him even though her life was turned upside down, that she got blamed by the parents and the police for his disappearance, and lost sleep worrying over him. It’s not a credible reaction in my opinion.
The police in this book is a complete joke. It’s idiotic that they basically exist to attack and discredit Beatrice. That’s it. They don’t even properly investigate the disappearances. It was very annoying to read their questioning and lack of action.
Just… no. I like a well rounded mystery where everything comes together in the end. This plot when all over the place, but not a decent one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2022
By the Time You Read This I’ll Be Gone by Stephanie Keuhn os a great YA murder/mystery and throwback novel that is the first in a new series: Murder, She Wrote.
While this is initially labeled as directed towards YA, adults can easily delight in this updated and new-generation view of the classic TV and book series.
I really enjoyed the concept of bringing the traditional murder/mystery to the newest generations, however keeping some of the iconic threads and concepts that were foundational to the original narratives.
This centers around Beatrice Fletcher ( Jessica Fletcher’s great-niece) in Cabot Cove, Maine. There is a mystery to solve and it wraps up delivering us to the start of the next book.
A great idea that was quite entertaining.
4/5 stars
Thank you EW and Scholastic Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/4/22.
While this is initially labeled as directed towards YA, adults can easily delight in this updated and new-generation view of the classic TV and book series.
I really enjoyed the concept of bringing the traditional murder/mystery to the newest generations, however keeping some of the iconic threads and concepts that were foundational to the original narratives.
This centers around Beatrice Fletcher ( Jessica Fletcher’s great-niece) in Cabot Cove, Maine. There is a mystery to solve and it wraps up delivering us to the start of the next book.
A great idea that was quite entertaining.
4/5 stars
Thank you EW and Scholastic Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/4/22.
June 7, 2023
Not exactly the right tone of the Murder, She Wrote series or books, which generally have a lighter tone, more cozy mystery than heavy, depressing drama. I do like that the main character is a person of color and related to Jessica. This book just seems a bit stodgy at times (maybe the author is working out the kinks in this new series) and there is too much information presented in this book. I know there will be a new one in the series in the fall, but there should really be minimal setup, but there was so much setup of tenace, of another murder (of Carlos's girlfriend), etc. that did not have to do with the mystery in the first book. I will read the second to see if the series gets better.
April 3, 2025
I read this book in two halves, about a month apart, and perhaps that's why I ultimately enjoyed it more than I expected to at the midpoint. What begins as overly dramatic and often eyeroll-inducing bridges into a genuinely interesting mystery with unexpected twists that kept me gripped after I passed the halfway mark. My biggest complaint is that it's relationship to Murder, She Wrote is only surface level. Change some nouns, cut out two small, redundant chapters, and it could be set anywhere in the world. It isn't even tonally consistent with the legendary cozy show. But then, I wouldn't have read it if it didn't carry the brand name. I think I'll read the sequel, and perhaps more in the series, if such books exist.
November 4, 2022
As a HUGE fan of the original Murder, She Wrote series-both the television show and book series. when I first saw this book advertised, I wasn't sure if I would read it or not. I decided to take a chance when I saw Hoopla had it. It's an interesting take on a story and the threads of the original. I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it. Being a YA read, it definitely has the angst that isn't present in original series (which is to be expected). I will read more of this series, but for me it's definitely missing the charm of the original series.
October 20, 2022
All the ingredients for a really good read, even if it doesn't quite come together, though its hyper-anxious young protagonist Beatrice (who also happens to be Jessica Fletcher's grand-niece) is as plucky and insightful as Nancy Drew ever was. A very sympathetic treatment understanding of mental illness goes along with a more superficial treatment of racism and snobbery in a small New England town. Kuehn certainly lays out a complex puzzle, in a style reminiscent of Maureen Johnson's great Stevie Bell books. That cliffhanger really leaves the reader wanting more. But gosh, that's what sequels are for, right?
This review is in honour of Angela Lansbury, who I firmly believed would have been delighted to make a cameo in the film of this book.
This review is in honour of Angela Lansbury, who I firmly believed would have been delighted to make a cameo in the film of this book.
February 10, 2023
Look it wasn't the best thing I've ever read, but it fondly brought back my absolute feral love for Murder She Wrote. Once I watched eight season in four days when I was having a bad anxiety episode but that's not a story for here. I really appreciate Bea as a narrator, she's open about her struggle with mental health and a love of the macabre and sometimes how those two things can coexist but not in a good way. I appreciated the little glimpses we get of Jessica as this kind matronly figure for Bea (she reminds me a lot of my own great aunt). I'm really glad this is going to become a series, I'm very interested in hearing more from this narrator.
April 13, 2024
DNF @ page 102
This was so dumb. This book was WAY too political/conspiracy for my liking. The story was hard to follow, and everyone was unlikable. It’s a shame “Murder, She Wrote” is even on the title because it’s NOTHING like it.
This was so dumb. This book was WAY too political/conspiracy for my liking. The story was hard to follow, and everyone was unlikable. It’s a shame “Murder, She Wrote” is even on the title because it’s NOTHING like it.
May 28, 2024
i really loved it and i cant wait for the next part to come out
October 9, 2022
Loved it until the ending ... waiting to see how book 2 pans out (assuming book 2 since there is a 'to be continued')
December 8, 2022
Really it’s more like 2.5 stars for the inaccuracies of the area that I just couldn’t get over.
This book was decent. It’s a shorter, easier read so I was able to get it done in one late-night sitting. The plot was good and set up the story for the sequel that I may or may not read. I am invested in wanting to know more about a particular death that will be featured, but I’m not nearly as invested in the characters.
There were multiple mysteries going on at once in this book; missing kids, a cold case murder, and possible recent murder that might be tied to the missing kids. Only 2 get solved, and the last is investigated but set up to be the primary plot of the sequel. The book made it seem like it would all be connected in some giant scheme, but it wasn’t really and I felt like that was actually pretty realistic. Sometimes things really are just coincidences.
A lot happens in this little book, so be prepared to have something important happen in almost every chapter. I think this is what kept me reading this book, as the plot is much better than the characters.
All of the characters felt either flat or flighty. Bea seemed very one-dimensional for a lot of the book, only really gaining any sort of depth in her Epilogue reflections, and Jackson never seemed to be anything other that “all-star smarty with a tragic backstory” that wasn’t flushed out enough to make you understand what was happening. Like we knew, she told us, but in such a flat tone that it felt like I was reading a checklist of sadness instead of about a truly tormented child.
I expected more from the BA students. Information about them takes up half of the back cover synopsis but they show up infrequently, for short periods of time, and all 3 are cryptic to the point that you never really know what their motivations are and if they even like Bea or just exist in her sphere.
The part that really pulled me out of the book was the inaccuracies of the location. Having had the privilege of living in Maine for 25 years I was startled from the very beginning that things weren’t exactly correct. There were 3 moments that really stuck out to me. First, in the beginning of the book Bea states “there’s a saying in ME that the farther north you go, the more resilient Mother Nature makes you.” Please correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve never heard anyone say that.
Secondly, Bea also states that fear is one of the states top exports. I had never hear this until today and I get it, we have Stephen King, but I’d be surprised if people in-state actually consider it one of our biggest exports.
Lastly is a fact that I would be surprised most Mainers would know, I just know weird things. It is illegal to have Koi in Maine. ME is the only state in the US where you cant own them so I would be very surprised to actually see a Koi pond in ME that would be easily visible in the yard in this kind of area.
These pulled me out of the book personally, and made me start fact-checking everything about the book (I’m assuming Lake Paloma is made up for the story as Paloma Pond is hours away from where Cabot Cove could theoretically be). Most people probably won’t have an issue with it, and maybe as I teen I also wouldn’t have an issue with it, but I think if you’re going to be writing a book you should research the area. The original Murder She Wrote books avoided these issues and maintained a level of area accuracy by not trying to include some of these things, and making sure to do research if they did. No offense of the author, but if you’re going to be writing about an area you’ve never lived in, you need to do your research.
This book was decent. It’s a shorter, easier read so I was able to get it done in one late-night sitting. The plot was good and set up the story for the sequel that I may or may not read. I am invested in wanting to know more about a particular death that will be featured, but I’m not nearly as invested in the characters.
There were multiple mysteries going on at once in this book; missing kids, a cold case murder, and possible recent murder that might be tied to the missing kids. Only 2 get solved, and the last is investigated but set up to be the primary plot of the sequel. The book made it seem like it would all be connected in some giant scheme, but it wasn’t really and I felt like that was actually pretty realistic. Sometimes things really are just coincidences.
A lot happens in this little book, so be prepared to have something important happen in almost every chapter. I think this is what kept me reading this book, as the plot is much better than the characters.
All of the characters felt either flat or flighty. Bea seemed very one-dimensional for a lot of the book, only really gaining any sort of depth in her Epilogue reflections, and Jackson never seemed to be anything other that “all-star smarty with a tragic backstory” that wasn’t flushed out enough to make you understand what was happening. Like we knew, she told us, but in such a flat tone that it felt like I was reading a checklist of sadness instead of about a truly tormented child.
I expected more from the BA students. Information about them takes up half of the back cover synopsis but they show up infrequently, for short periods of time, and all 3 are cryptic to the point that you never really know what their motivations are and if they even like Bea or just exist in her sphere.
The part that really pulled me out of the book was the inaccuracies of the location. Having had the privilege of living in Maine for 25 years I was startled from the very beginning that things weren’t exactly correct. There were 3 moments that really stuck out to me. First, in the beginning of the book Bea states “there’s a saying in ME that the farther north you go, the more resilient Mother Nature makes you.” Please correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve never heard anyone say that.
Secondly, Bea also states that fear is one of the states top exports. I had never hear this until today and I get it, we have Stephen King, but I’d be surprised if people in-state actually consider it one of our biggest exports.
Lastly is a fact that I would be surprised most Mainers would know, I just know weird things. It is illegal to have Koi in Maine. ME is the only state in the US where you cant own them so I would be very surprised to actually see a Koi pond in ME that would be easily visible in the yard in this kind of area.
These pulled me out of the book personally, and made me start fact-checking everything about the book (I’m assuming Lake Paloma is made up for the story as Paloma Pond is hours away from where Cabot Cove could theoretically be). Most people probably won’t have an issue with it, and maybe as I teen I also wouldn’t have an issue with it, but I think if you’re going to be writing a book you should research the area. The original Murder She Wrote books avoided these issues and maintained a level of area accuracy by not trying to include some of these things, and making sure to do research if they did. No offense of the author, but if you’re going to be writing about an area you’ve never lived in, you need to do your research.
March 24, 2022
I don't know how many current teens really care about Murder, She Wrote. Not all of the mysteries were solved as there will be a second book.
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