Love the Jessica Fletcher mysteries. They are always well written and engaging. This one was no exception. If you liked the TV series you'll love the books.

This is a good book for fans of the television series - it is written well, and has echoes of the series, and allows readers to remember and visualize the characters from the show to further the enjoyment of their reading experience. It was an enjoyable mystery.

Mystery writer, Jessica Fletcher, is attending a festive Labor Day barbecue at the home of her friends Hal and Babs Wirth. As the celebration winds down, Babs and Jessica discover Hal collapsed on his kitchen floor. Hal is rushed to the hospital, but passes away, seemingly from a heart attack. Jessica has a bad feeling about Hal’s death and that feeling only gets worse when Jessica witnesses other unexpected events. To help her friend Babs, Jessica puts her knowledge of crime-solving to use in getting to the bottom of a complicated situation which she hopes will help her determine what really happened to Hal.

A Date With Murder is the latest in a long line of books in the Murder She Wroteseries, based on the television series. Readers not familiar with the book are in for a pleasant surprise. Those expecting an old-fashioned story will see the plot deals with issues relevant to today, including investment scams and the use of dating apps Jessica is a main character that cozy mystery readers will enjoy. She is inquisitive, not afraid to speak her mind, and tenacious. Jessica will do whatever it takes to get answers, including going undercover. In this book, she even gets help from a computer hacker, which seems a little out of character, but shows Jessica isn’t stuck in the 1980s. What I liked about this book is it shows character depth, such as when parts of the investigation leave Jessica wondering about the “road not traveled” in her life.

This newest installment in the series has a new co-author which may explain why in many ways it more closely follows the television show than earlier books in the series. Jessica mentions that she hasn’t dated since her husband passed away. However, those who have read other Murder She Wrotebooks will remember Jessica’s ongoing, long-distance romance with a Scotland Yard detective. It is nice to see New York private investigator Harry McGraw, a memorable character from the TV show, play an important role in the book. On the other hand, I am disappointed in the way Sheriff Mort Metzger is portrayed in this book. He had always been a bit of a curmudgeon, but he and Jessica had a friendly banter and he was always a good friend to her. In this book, many of his comments to Jessica come across as rude and downright mean instead of just friendly teasing.

The case Jessica investigates is intriguing, but the ending of the book is a bit abrupt. Clues to the case are given throughout the book, and it would have been nice to have more time devoted to the ending, allowing the reader to savor the solution of Hal’s death. In spite of the flaws, I enjoyed the chance to spend time in Cabot Cove with Jessica and I look forward to future installments.

~ Christine

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I love this latest novel in the Murder She Wrote series! I was initially concerned, that with a new-to-this-series author, it wouldn’t be the same. I needn’t have worried, though. A Date with Murder far exceeds my expectations. The characters, especially Jessica Fletcher, shine as always. The mystery is superb, circumstances I had not thought possible, but apparently in our ever-changing world of technology, it is. Dialog and actions serve to define the characters as well as expedite this fast-paced novel. This novel can easily stand alone, but it makes me want to read all the earlier books when I can find them.

Jessica and her old friend Dr. Seth Hazlitt are at the annual Labor Day event at the home of Hal and Babs Wirth; Jessica is one of Babs’ closest friends. The Wirth’s will celebrate their anniversary in days, and the local Realtor, Eve, is taking videos of their friends with their best wishes. As many of the guests leave, Babs and Jessica find Hal on the floor of the kitchen. Seth sees to him as EMT’s are called. Hal has had a major heart attack and is transported to the hospital, where he is pronounced dead. Something just seems off about it to Jessica; Hal is relatively young to die from a heart attack.

Jessica is approached by a man who claims to be the Wirth’s attorney, wanting to know what she knows, and telling her to help Babs with the funeral, but to not look into anything else. When the real attorney shows up, he tells a distraught Babs that not only is there no money or property and instead, huge loans had been taken out. Babs and her daughter, Alyssa, have nothing. Except for a massive debt of $10 million that was opened in recent weeks…without a trace of where the money went. Then, Hal’s former business partner was found murdered.

What Jessica finds, with the help of a memoir that Hal was writing, a brilliant young computer hacker, and a PI/friend who has helped Jessica in the past, is chilling. It is also far-reaching, leaving a trail of deaths across the country. In spite of the risks, Jessica chooses to sign up with some online dating sites. Feeling safe with people who have her back, it is worth the risks to help get back her friend’s home and inheritance, and eliminate the enormous debt.

There is much I have to learn about Jessica Fletcher, since I have only read a few of these exciting mysteries, but I feel I know her a bit better after reading this novel. She seems more introspective than usual, in a good way. Long-time characters and those new in this story are very well defined. Based on the folks I’ve met, if Cabot Cove were a real place, I’d love to live there! Those who have lived there many years are down-to-earth, friendly people. Ay uh.

First, my condolences to the Bain family, losing Donald and Rene Paley Bain in a short time. Their great creative force will be missed. This mystery collaborated on by Donald Bain and Jon Land, is definitely a 21st-century novel, taking cyber crimes to a level I had not even dreamed possible! This is an excellent whodunit, with the good guys using technology against techno-killers, in a race against any more murders occurring, especially Jessica’s or Babs’. Plot twists change the landscape of the story, over and over, but none revealing who the real brains of the multi-level cyber-ring might be. I have not read a cozy mystery like it, nor have I read a cozy with as much edge-of-the-seat thrill as this one has for quite some time! While I had an idea who might be involved, I couldn’t put my finger on how, or when, so the end was still surprising. The resolution is also very satisfying, and I am so looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend A Date with Murder; it is not to be missed!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*

She's back. So glad to see Jessica again...really the whole Cabot Cove bunch. This installment brings dating/match sites into the mix. As usual, Jessica does a bit of snooping and a bit of mulling, and voila, mystery solved. Can't wait until the next installment.

I absolutely love Murder She Wrote! I watched the show faithfully each week when it was on television in the 80s and 90s, and I have my DVR set to record reruns even now. I've probably seen every episode at least 10 times. Angela Lansbury was perfect in the part of Jessica Fletcher, a retired teacher and amateur sleuth in Cabot Cove, Maine. She toodled along on her bicycle and solved murders. It was just great television.

A Date With Murder is the first novel based on the show that I have read. I'm so glad I did -- I loved it!! As I read the story, I heard the dialogue in my head in the voice of the actors....Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley, William Windom. I could visualize the picturesque seaside of Cabot Cove, the characters, the story as it unfolded...and even imagine Jessica's horror as she discovered her friend, Hal Wirth, motionless on the floor of his kitchen during a party at his home. It was like getting to enjoy a new episode of Murder She Wrote after all these years. Some books just make you happy in your heart...know what I mean?

The basics: A Cabot Cove businessman dies after having a massive coronary at his home during a luncheon. After Hal Wirth's death, it is discovered that his finances were in ruin. His memoir reveals that he was unhappy in his marriage and actually used an online dating site once trying to find happiness with someone else. When strange information pops up about the dating site, Jessica begins to investigate the service to see if the site somehow had something to do with Hal's financial ruin and subsequent death. She discovers there is a whole lot more going on at LOVEISYOURS.com than just matching people with dating partners.

I enjoyed this story. It moved along at a nice pace and there were plenty of twists and turns in the plot, plus plenty of suspects. Because this is the first Murder She Wrote book that I've read, I didn't notice any of the differences in writing that some other reviews mention. Donald Bain who wrote the earlier books in the series passed away, and this book was written by another author, Jon Land. I thought he stayed true to the characters, but I'm basing my opinion on the television show and not any prior novels in this series. I did enjoy reading a new Jessica Fletcher mystery, so I plan to go back and read the earlier books. A Date With Murder is the 47th book in the Murder She Wrote series, so I'm not sure if I will read them all....or just cherry pick a few that sound particularly interesting. But I know I will enjoy any of them! I love the television show and the characters! It's always great to re-visit Cabot Cove!

Jon Land is the author of several mystery/thriller novels including the Blaine McCracken series. I enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more of his work.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

This book brings us back to Cabot Cove as summer is ending and everyone is gathered at Babs and Hal's house to celebrate Labor Day. As the festivities are winding down Jessica helps Babs locate Hal when they find him lying in the kitchen. After rushing him to the hospital we find out Hal died and Jessica finds herself wondering how a young man could wind up dead. Could foul play be at hand or is it just a case of heart attack regardless of the age? When Jessica is confronted by someone claiming to be Hal's lawyer threatens her, Jessica really wonders what is going on?

This book takes you all over from Boston to New York and back to Cabot Cove. We get to see Jessica work with Mort the sheriff and Seth the good old country doctor as well as Harry McGraw a local private investigator in New York who helps Jessica investigate the death and where it will lead which is right back to Cabot Cove.

I am such a huge fan and this book didn't disappoint. I was like watching the show except it was reading a book which really pulled you in and didn't let go until you knew the ending which I was greatly surprised with! Can't wait to see what is next with Cabot Cove and Jessica and her friends and loved ones!