Love this books because they remind me of how much I loved to watch the show as well as the character Jessica,

This is book 50 in the Murder She Wrote. I haven't read them all but I read many of the early books. I picked this one because it's a milestone for a series. Jessica reminisces about her first murder case. Not the one she wrote about in book 1 but a more personal story when she was younger and first married. A good story and a stand alone, especially if you are familiar with the tv series. I received a copy of this ACR in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am a huge fan of Murder, She Wrote. Even though the TV show is over, I love to visit the characters again. This was another great mystery!

**3.5-stars rounded up**

When a young woman seeks Jessica out to question her about the first murder case she ever solved, under the guise of being for her high school newspaper, plenty of memories are drawn to the surface from that time 25-years previously.

Jessica was a young woman herself then, working at a high school in Abbott, Maine, living with her loving husband, Frank, and their nephew, Grady. The Principal at her school ended up being murder and Jessica helped to nab the culprit, or did she?

Once that same inquiring young lady ends up dead, Jessica discovers she wasn't who she was purporting to be. She wasn't a high school student at all.

It turns out she may be related to that same Principal who was murdered all those years ago. But why was she choosing now to ask about the case? And are the two cases related?

The plot thickens...

Racing to the conclusion, we follow both past and present timelines, as the cases converge into a wild finish.

It was such a joy to be back with one of my idols, Jessica Fletcher, for this, the 50th installment to the beloved Murder, She Wrote mystery series. As many fans of the series know, the long time author for this series, Donald Bain, sadly passed away in 2017.

The series has since been taken over by Jon Land, a veteran Thriller writer. This is the third book published since he has taken the reins and my first that I have read since the transition.

With this being said, I can definitely tell a difference in tone since the change and although it is different, I do not dislike it. I will continue to read the series as long as they are being published. If you are looking for a fun, quick and cozy mystery series with no shortage of volumes to pick up, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy to read and review! It really was such a pleasure. Keep them coming!

Even Jessica Fletcher’s closest friends don’t know the real story about her first case. They assume the first murder Jessica investigated took place at a party celebrating the publication of her first novel. However, there was an earlier investigation in Appleton, Maine when Jessica’s husband Frank was still alive that was actually the first murder she solved. This isn’t a case Jessica likes thinking about, but an interview with a young woman followed by an invitation to a retirement party for a former Appleton colleague causes the memories from twenty-five years ago to come rushing back to Jessica. While Jessica struggles with those memories, a murder occurs. Since this crime may be tied to Jessica’s first case, she can’t help but get involved with this new investigation.

This book tells the story of a past murder investigation as well as a current case. The chapters alternate between the past and present, all from Jessica’s point of view. I enjoyed seeing a younger Jessica spending time with Frank and their nephew Grady and teaching before she was a published author. It was interesting watching each mystery unfold and seeing Jessica’s observations help solve them. Fans of the television series will enjoy the appearance by Amos Tupper both in the past and the present as much as I did.

Each murder investigation is suspenseful and full of surprises. I was way off on my theory about the killer and the motive for the original murder. I was able to guess part of the secret related to the present day murder, but I was still surprised when the whole story came out. This book is equally accessible to those who have watched the television show and those who haven’t. New readers who haven’t read any of the prior books can also enjoy this one and in fact may enjoy it more than returning fans. A Time for Murder is the fiftieth “Murder She Wrote” book. The last couple of books have been written by a new author so long-time readers are still adjusting to this “less cozy” version of Jessica. In the final scenes, she looks more like an action hero than an author and former schoolteacher. In addition, the gentle teasing between Jessica and her friends Seth and Mort has become very sarcastic and sometimes, especially with Mort, a little mean-spirited. However, in spite of that, I like this installment and am glad the series has continued. I still enjoy Jessica and the cases she solves.

~ Christine

I think this is definitely one of the better Murder, She Wrote mysteries that I've read. I loved seeing flashbacks to Jessica's marriage with Frank, and seeing Amos and Mort when Jessica first met them when she moved to Cabot Cove with her husband and their nephew Grady. I also liked the ties to the Mafia and how the mystery strings you along so I instantly want the next book. J.B. Fletcher, I'm a fan!

Every Murder She Wrote mystery is perfect and this one is no different. I still didn’t know the murdered until the end and it was solved so elegantly like only Jessica fletcher could.

Berkley Prime crime titles usually come out at the beginning of the month. This month they have 4 to choose from and they are set to release on 11/05/2019.
Goodreads and Amazon links will be posted.

Enjoy!




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Air Warden Mystery Book 1

The start of an exciting new World War II historical mystery series featuring charming, quirky Air Raid Warden Poppy Redfern....

Summer 1942. The world has been at war for three long and desperate years. In the remote English village of Little Buffenden, the Redfern family's house and farmland has been requisitioned by the War Office as a new airfield for the American Air Force.

The village's Air Raid Warden, twentysomething Poppy Redfern, spends her nights patrolling the village and her days writing a novel of passion. It is a far cry from the experience of the other young women in town: within days, two of the village's prettiest girls are dating American airmen and Little Buffenden considers the "Friendly Invasion" to be a success.

But less than a week later, Doreen Newcombe, the baker's daughter; and the popular Ivy Wantage are both found dead. Poppy realizes that her community has been divided by murder, and the mistrust and suspicion of their new American neighbors threatens to tear this town, already grappling with the horrors of war, apart. Poppy decides to start her own investigation, but she soon unearths some unfortunate secrets and long-held grudges. She will have no choice but to lay a trap for a killer so perilously close to home, she might very well become the next victim....

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Chocoholic Mystery Book 17

In the newest mystery from nationally bestselling author Joanna Carl, a dive into house flipping becomes a deadly flop....

When a house near Lee and Joe's home goes up for sale, the couple teams up with Lee's aunt and uncle, Nettie and Hogan, to buy it, remodel it, and resell it for a sweet profit. But after the owners of the house, the Baileys, accept their offer, a local developer, Richard "Spud" Dirk, suddenly swoops in with a higher one, and it seems their dreams might be snatched away.

Lee, never as passionate about the plan as her husband and uncle, is anxious to get back to focusing on managing TenHuis Chocolade. But when a long-hidden gun is found behind a pipe in the Baileys' basement, she begins to suspect a mystery is afoot. And when Spud turns up dead in the Baileys' carport a few days later, it becomes clear there's something rotten at the foundation....

To solve the murder, Lee will have to strip away layers of secrets--that is, if someone doesn't level her first....

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Murder She Wrote Book 50

In the fiftieth entry in this USA Today bestselling series, two timelines converge as Jessica Fletcher returns to high school to investigate the murder of an old colleague, while we meet Jessica as a young teacher solving her very first murder--that of the high school principal.

Young Jessica Fletcher's life couldn't be more ordinary. She teaches at the local high school while she and her loving husband, Frank, are raising their nephew Grady together. But when the beloved principal dies under mysterious circumstances, Jessica knows something is off and, for the very first time, investigates a death.

Present-day Jessica returns to high school for a colleague's retirement party and has fun seeing familiar faces. That is, until the colleague winds up dead--and his death has mysterious links to Jessica's very first murder case.

With nothing but her own instincts to guide her, Jessica embarks on a quest to find out what really happened all those years ago and who's behind these murders. Because time is running out to catch this killer....

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Counterfeit Lady Book 3

Elizabeth Miles finds herself in a position no con can help her escape. Her beloved fiancé, Gideon Bates, is awaiting his turn in the draft to fight in the Great War. Elizabeth is finding it hard to think of anything else, but Gideon has thrown himself into his work, preparing wills for soldiers before they ship out. Corporal Tom Preston is part owner of Preston Shoes, a company that is making footwear for the army, so he has a rather large estate. He needs a new will, however, because he has just been secretly married to a woman whom his family would never approve. He wants to make sure she and their unborn child are provided for if he does not return.

When Tom is later reported killed, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the new will has gone missing after Tom's bride revealed her identity to his family. Unless the new will is found and validated, the original will, which leaves everything to Tom's brother, will prevail and the wife and child will get nothing. If Tom's new bride survives, that is. Some terrible threats have been leveled against her, and Elizabeth and Gideon must figure out a way, legal or not quite, to secure Tom's fortune for his wife and child while saving her life in the process.

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Jessica Fletcher is back! Or rather, back to the future? Things change in Cabot Cover, Maine, but some things remain the same - the wonderful mystery author J.B. Fletcher still calls it home, and retired doctor Seth still meets here every afternoon for his afternoon pie. However, Jessica's home has been greatly damaged in a fire (see previous volume) and in the meanwhile Jessica is staying at Hill House bed and breakfast. Reminiscing about the house has Jessica remembering when Frank first purchased it for her, and the substitute teacher job she had then - and what was technically her very first murder investigation. Out of the blue a high school newspaper reporter interviews Jessica, and seems to want to know about this long-ago murder especially. When the news writer is found dead only a short while later, Jessica is back on a case that connects back thirty years. This is the J.B. Fletcher that readers have loved for years, very true to the characters and other stories.

If you’re looking for a solid murder mystery without the gory details, this is a great book to check out. It’s even more fun to read if you’re a fan of the “Murder She Wrote” series, like I am, as it was great to read about the familiar characters.

This book contains a dual-murder mystery, switching from past to present, which was a nice twist. It was great to “see” Jessica and Amos work together for the first time, as well as get a glimpse into Jessica as a teacher. The characters felt like their TV counterparts, which I loved. The ending was a bit unbelievable, even when compared to the show. However, overall, I really enjoyed the trip back to Cabot Cove.

I absolutely loved Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote. I watched the show every week when it was on television and still re-watch the series today. I love the characters, the setting and the cozy-ness of the series. No spurting blood.....no graphic sex or violence. Just an author sleuthing out killers with grace and skill.

A Time For Murder is the 50th Murder She Wrote novel.....so lots of people still enjoy Jessica Fletcher! I've read several of the MSW books, by Donald Bain...and after his death, Jon Land. While I wish that Angela Lansbury had come back to do a couple MSW movies, or even a new series, it's really too late now (and NOBODY ELSE could play Jessica Fletcher like her! If they put on a new series with someone else in the part, I completely refuse to watch it. Nope. Nope. Double nope. Triple dog Nope.), so I love the fact that I can get new Jessica Fletcher mysteries in these books with a smiling lovely Angela Lansbury on the cover!It makes this cozy mystery fan happy in her soul. A cup of coffee, my chihuahua curled up next to me, and Jessica Fletcher finding yet another murder to investigate! Perfect evening!

This time around, Jessica flashes back to her first ever murder investigation....the mysterious death of a high school principal.....as she returns to the high school to celebrate a friend's retirement decades later. When the friend ends up dead, there are links to that very first case.

I love the fact this story flashes back to Jessica's life when she was first married to her husband, Frank. It was nice having the two eras of her life come together....her married life....and her later life as an author and widow. The mystery moved at a nice pace, had all the characters I love....and Jessica still is a dead body magnet and skilled amateur sleuth. I do see the differences in Land's portrayal of the characters and Donald Bain's vision. The plots of Land's books are a bit more complex....and Jessica is just a bit different. A bit more snarky maybe? But.....anytime another author takes over a beloved character, there are going to be differences. I still enjoy the stories....and I'm willing to accept a bit edgier Jessica Fletcher. The more complex plots are actually nice. I think the extra snark and harder hitting Jessica is necessary now that she's solving cases with a bit more to them. So, I'm ok with the Land vision of the character. I can always visit the more grandmother-ly Jessica by watching the old show, or reading a Bain novel.

Love, love, love, love Jessica Fletcher! Full stars to this book just because I'm a huge fan of the series! I'm always up for a visit with Jessica!

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

I started reading these books many years ago as I was a big fan of the series on television. For years, Donald Bain penned these books but this is the first one by Jon Land and I see the difference in the styles. This one has a bit more complex plot but still has the same lovable characters. I had read up to #47 and then skipped two in order to get an ARC from NetGalley on this one. Usually you can read them out of order, but nuances in this once to previous events will make me go back and read the two I missed very soon. In this one, there is a flashback to young Jessica Fletcher's life which couldn't be more ordinary. She substitute teaches at the local high school while she and her loving husband, Frank, are raising their nephew Grady together. But when the beloved principal dies under mysterious circumstances, Jessica knows something is off and, for the very first time, investigates a death. Present-day Jessica returns to high school for a colleague's retirement party and has fun seeing familiar faces. That is, until the colleague winds up dead--and her death has mysterious links to Jessica's very first murder case. Jessica embarks on a quest to find out what really happened all those years ago and who's behind these murders.

For anyone who misses watching Jessica Fletcher solve a mystery every week, can go on another crime solving adventure with Jessica yet again. But this time we get a glimpse in the life of a young Jessica Fletcher when she was first married. As always, the Jessica Fletcher books are appealing to those who want a mystery/crime solving story without the gore or the extreme violence. This is a good choice for someone who craves a cozy mystery without all of the cats or knitting.

This is the second Jessica Fletcher novel by Jon land and I liked it even more than the first. First of all the "Tup" is back. Amos Tupper shows up in this one in modern-day and as a detective in a mystery that goes way back into Jessica's past when Frank was still alive. It was wonderful hearing some of the backstories on Jessica, Amos, Frank, and Grady and finding out about the very first murder she ever solved as a substitute teacher. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The body count in this one was a little high, but I was riveted to the unfolding of the mystery and getting to visit with some of my favorite characters..

Good mystery. Keeps you involved and questioning everyone. As I noticed since Jon Land has taken over writing this series, he likes to constantly refer to Frank, the long-dead husband who was never in the series. In this book it was nice to see Amos again, but I felt Land changed his character into a weak and inept man. The story is good but I preferred Donald Bain’s writing.

I have to say I have always love MURDER, SHE WROTE, whether the television series, or the fabulous books. I only see Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher when a read a book from the series - this is the 50th! I love the convergence of the time lines - seeing "both" Jessica's. The change in co-authors has brought about a different aspect of the mystery, but that is not a bad thing. Thoroughly enjoyable. Can't wait for the 51.

Jessica Fletcher is back and the murders are piling up once again in Cabot Cove. Cozy mystery fans will love this caper combining mobsters, memories, mayhem and Maine’s favorite amateur detective.

Another wonderful addition to this series which brings back to life well remembered characters from the tv show.
This story tells of a long ago time when Jessica was working as a substitute teacher and investigated and solved her very first murder mystery to clear one of her students who had been accused of the crime. I always look forward to this series and I am never disappointed.

I've read several of the MSW books before, all of the previous ones have been penned by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain. This was my first Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land. I have to say, I'm probably biased, but based on this one, I am more of a fan of the Donald Bain ones.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy this one, I did, for the most part! There were several positive aspects to this installment. The first thing that I really enjoyed was that this was a dual-murder mystery and we get to flashback to twenty-five years prior to seeing how Jessica and Amos teamed up and solved their first murder. It was entertaining to attempt to solve two murders at once and to see how each one fed the other. It was enjoyable to see Jessica as a teacher. It was heartwarming to get moments of Jessica with Frank and Grady and to see how she came to move to Cabot Cove and to live in her amazing home at 698 Candlewood Lane.

As a megafan of both the television show and the book series, it was also neat to see the characters refer back to prior murders that took place for those of us who have been watching and reading for a while now.
The book overall was well-written despite the fact that there were a few glaring grammatical and spelling errors, but honestly, I tend to find at least one of those in every cozy mystery that I read. And really, who am I to talk, just read any of my reviews to see me call the kettle black. The characters felt true to the show as well as the previous books that I have read. Jessica spoke and acted like Jessica and there were the same "Maine-isms" tossed in ayuh that I'll just never get. I was able to solve one of the murders, but couldn't get a hand on the other one, which made the book compulsively readable right up to the end.

Now, speaking of the end, let's get on to the things I didn't so much like about this book. Not giving away any spoilers, I just have to say that a certain aspect of the ending felt entirely unbelievable and totally forced. It felt like something that was more akin to an action movie starring The Rock than a cozy mystery. It was excessive, far-fetched, and a little too inconceivable, even for an installment of Murder, She Wrote, which admittedly did have some "wait, whaaaat?!" moments over the years (remember the episode where the dog was the murderer!)

Now, I know I said earlier that Land seemed to have a good handle on how Jessica spoke and acted, but there was one moment that made me pause, stop, re-read, and grow furious. About 75% of the way through the book: "She was taller than I, and I'd forgotten how strong she was, given she'd once pushed my car from a snow drift while I stayed behind the wheel working the gas pedal." As if that wasn't enough blasphemy for any MSW fan, literally the very next page has Jessica and Wilma talking about how Jessica bikes all over Cabot Cove and...NEVER DRIVES! This is like that Monk book where he drinks milk all over again!!!
Overall, all things considered, I did enjoy this book and I will be reading more of the Jon Land MSWs that come out.