Jessica Fletcher is the best! I've always loved watching reruns of the show version of Murder, She Wrote so I loved reading the books based on it. I would highly recommend these books to any fans of cozy mystery books.

In "Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond," Jessica Fletcher embarks on a much-needed getaway to visit her dear friend Dolores and her new husband Willis in South Carolina. The opulent historic home is the perfect setting for a week of shopping, gossiping, and relaxing. However, Jessica's plans for a peaceful vacation quickly come to a halt when she finds Willis facedown in the koi pond. Despite the police's initial assessment of the situation, Jessica is convinced that foul play is involved.

With her signature sleuthing skills, Jessica sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding Willis's death. As she delves deeper into the case, she realizes that Willis was not well-liked by those around him, and the list of potential suspects grows. With her friend's reputation at stake and the truth about Willis's murder waiting to be uncovered, Jessica is determined to solve this case and bring the culprit to justice.

As always, Jessica's intuition and sharp mind make for a captivating mystery in this latest installment of the "Murder, She Wrote" series that feels back to normal after Jon Land's more creative approach. With a gripping plot and well-developed characters, "Killing in a Koi Pond" is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

It was so great to return to Jessica Fletcher's world, which is in great hands with Terry Farley Moran now manning the helm of this long-running series. I've read every single book in this series, and Moran adds just the right mix of mystery, likeable characters, and cozy setting that we came to love under Donald Bain's previous authorship. In this instalment, Jessica is visiting an old friend when said friend's wealthy husband is murdered and found floating in a koi pond on the property. Suspects and motives abound as Jessica races to solve the crime, which, of course, she does! I'm looking forward to more instalments in what has become one of my favorite series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and author Terry Farley Moran for a complimentary copy of this novels. All opinions are my own.

Jessica is spending some time with her friend Dolores who she hasen't seen in a while and who has recently gotten married to Willis. Jessica overhears something between Willis and his son in law and wonders what Willis is up to? When Jessica goes running the next day she finds Willis dead in the Koi Pond who hated him so much to kill him?

While Dolores has her hands full with the police and trying to figure out who killed him. Jessica is hot on the trail of another murderer who had the most to gain from his death? Was it various people he had loans out of with? Or maybe it was a business associate felt wronged? Or was it his son-in-law Clancy who had his own issues?

I love MSW and this book didn't disappoint had all the ear markings of a fabulous episode if it was still on tv which Jessica working to help her friend and prove she had nothing to gain by his death. Definitely an incredible page turner can't wait to see what is next with these amazing writers!

This was a bridge book from the previous author, Jon Land, to the new author Terrie Farley Moran, and it suffered from that distinction. This addition to the series felt entirely disjointed and I have to admit that I was a little rankled by the depiction of Southerners. Being a South Carolina native myself, the characterizations just didn't ring true unless you assume this book was set in the late 80's to early 90's. It felt like Moran threw in a cell phone reference here and there to ground it in the present day, but it wasn't convincing. With this addition to the series, we are seeing Jessica Fletcher being dragged back in time to the Jessica fans will be familiar with from the TV series. The mystery itself dragged a little bit. I'm anxious to see what the next installment from Moran will look like since it will hopefully be set back in Cabot Cove. I want to see, given how drastic the changes were in this book, how Moran deals with how Land left off. I may be in the minority on this one, but I didn't mind the more modern Jessica he was creating and I hope Moran can figure out how to meld their two styles into something that makes a little more sense going forward.

Jessica’s college friend, Delores, has just married her third husband, Willis Nickens. Her first two marriages were terrible mistakes that left her with major financial problems, but Delores claims Willis is perfect for her. Jessica was a guest speaker at a mystery writer’s conference and decided to extend her time away from Cabot Cove to visit Delores.

It seems Delores made a good choice this time—or has she? Their home is a mansion, there are people to care for the house and grounds, and Willis adores Delores. He’s not as nice to others and that concerns Jessica. Willis is a cutthroat businessman, an egotist, and the way he treats guests invited for dinner, it’s like watching a cat play with a mouse.

Jessica’s an early riser and likes to jog before the day gets too warm. As she runs past the koi pond, she finds Willis, face down in the water, long dead. As his heir, Delores is the most likely suspect. Jessica knows that’s not possible and sets out to help her friend.

Other suspects include Willis’ son-in-law, Clancy, a widower. Willis doted on his only grandchild but wasn’t so fond of Clancy. There’s also a couple in desperate need of a loan—Willis wouldn’t give a definite answer, putting their business in jeopardy. In fact, the way Willis acquired the mansion was pretty underhanded, leaving hard feelings with the previous owner, who is now living in a small cottage on her former property. Delores doesn’t know much about Willis’ businesses even though her signature appears on multiple documents. Jessica has her work cut out for her to solve the murder and prove Delores is innocent.

This is book fifty-three in the long running series. Jessica first had to convince local law enforcement that Willis’ death was murder, not an accident. Then she had to convince them Delores was innocent. With the help of her private detective friend, she’s able to find out more about Willis.

As always, Jessica ferrets out the truth. With plans to return for the relaxing vacation she’d originally planned, readers will wonder what she and Delores will be up to when they meet again.

Look for Jessica’s next case in Murder She Wrote: Debonair in Death, available for pre-order now, shipping on November 2, 2021.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond (Murder, She Wrote #53). By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran. 2021. Berkley Publishing Group (ARC eBook).

I’ve always liked watching the tv mysteries that were on or in syndication when I was a kid; Columbo, Matlock, and of course, Murder, She wrote. This is the first book about J.B. Fletcher I’ve read. Perhaps I would’ve bought into it a bit more if Jessica was in Cabot Cove instead of visiting with an old college friend. Her having to call her friend Seth in Cabot Cove and Harry McGraw in Boston didn’t seem organic to me. And at time the pacing slowed and the story meandered. But overall, there was still a charm thanks to the busybody investigator J.B. Fletcher. The author seemed to have Jessica’s tone down pat. I wouldn’t mind picking up another of these books some time.

Murder, She Wrote: Killing in Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran is a 2021 Berkley publication.

In this 53rd installment, Jessica is on one of her many trips away from Cabot Cove. This time she’s off to South Carolina for a small vacation, where she plans to visit Delores, an old college friend.

Delores is blissfully happy in her third marriage, but her happiness is short lived, when Jessica discovers her husband, Willis, dead in the Koi Pond. Jessica immediately suspects foul play, but unfortunately, she has a hard time convincing law enforcement to dig a little deeper. But once it has been established that Willis was indeed murdered, there seems to be no shortage of suspects…. Including Delores!

This is Moran’s first book in the MSW series, and it is the first book I’ve read in the series since 2018. If you are wondering if that is a coincidence- it’s not- and we’ll just leave it at that.

I am so happy the writing is back within the cozy format, and Jessica’s character traits are back to normal.

While I want the series to retain the charm we grew to love through the television series, and keep all the recurring characters, and their unique personalities and mannerisms pretty much the same, in that regard, that is not to say Jessica must stay in her quaint 1980s bubble.

Moran brings her up to date a bit, technology wise, while remaining true to everything else we love about this series- and I think it's about time.

Another thing that is back to normal is the pacing. If you remained loyal to the series, even after Donald Bain's death, you might need to adjust yourself back from the tempo of a thriller to the stride of a cozy- but that's as it should be- and I for one am happy to see the author reign that back in.

When it came to the plot and execution, it is possible Moran played it a little too safe. There were a few warbles, but overall it was a solid mystery.

I’m quite pleased with this addition to the series. Hopefully, I can go back to auto adding MSW to my TBR list again!!

4 stars

I never tire of the Jessica Fletcher mysteries, whether on TV or in print. In this episode, Jessica travels to South Carolina to visit an old friend who has recently married a wealthy businessman. But, instead, she ends up investigating a murder that occurs on the grounds of their estate. It's classic Fletcher method, and is a fun read!

One of the most comforting books I've read with 'Murder' in the title.
Jessica Fletcher is looking forward to shopping, gossip and catchup with her dear friend from college, Dolores Nickens.
Dolores has found true love with her third and richest husband, Willis NIckens. But Jessica's first view of the man is Willis at his worst, insulting and firing the help and Jessica suspects she's seen the man's true nature.

Out for a jog the day after she arrives, Jessica comes across a dead body and it's Willis. When the police arrive, they're quick to poo-poo Jessica's verdict of murder and brush off her concerns.

A true friend, Jessica immediately rethinks her stay from vacation to murder investigation --but the only thing that's more plentiful than the good food and beautiful surroundings in this story, is the number of suspects and it's a twisty hunt for clues. Terrie Farley Moran is the perfect match for Jessica's cowriter.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for my advance copy--loved it.

What happens when a dearly beloved, long running series, based on a hit TV show, gets a new author? You get, MURDER SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND, one of the best MSW books I have read to date! 5 Stars all the way!

Author Terrie Moran Farley, now in the driver’s seat of the MSW series, brings a freshness to the 53 book series, while managing to keep true to the integrity and legacy of the Murder She Wrote brand. No offense to author Jessica Fletcher, but she has met her match with her new co-author. Moran’s writing voice is strong from the first to the last page.

KILLING IN A KOI POND is a quick paced tale the will keep readers turning the page faster and faster as the mystery builds. It’s a whodunit in every sense of the word. With a list of suspects and motives expanding, my brain was given a true workout trying to solve this mystery. In the end, I was left with my mouth agape, completely stunned by the reveal. Brava Ms. Moran.

MURDER SHE WROTE purists will find that this wonderful series is in very capable hands.

As a lifetime fan of Angela Lansbury and her long-running TV show, I was looking forward to reading my first Murder She Wrote Mystery, and Killing in a Koi Pond did not disappoint.

Eager to discover Jessica Fletcher on the page, I had no trouble slipping into the world created by the much-beloved television series. The crime scene was cinematic, Jessica was her pragmatic and practical New England self, and the friend possibly framed for murder was a common series favorite the Southern Belle.

When Jessica arrives at the South Carolina mansion—Manning Hall to be exact—you know things have to go wrong for the rude new husband of her college friend, Dolores Nickens. Men who act as horribly as Willis are either going to end up in the morgue or in jail, so it’s no surprise when the lord of the manor ends up dead in the fish pond.

From there, Moran does an excellent job of portraying characters and plot lines that fans of the show expect. This cozy mystery keeps readers guessing, but leaves the violence off the page. Like sipping your favorite tea, Killing in a Koi Pond is guaranteed to put a smile on your face whether it’s your first foray into the novels or your 53rd.

Previous authors of the series include Donald Bain and Jon Land, who have 52 between them, always co-written with “Jessica Fletcher.” Terrie Farley Moran takes over now with book #53, #54 launching in November, and #55 TBA.

There’s something delightful about imagining television actors in your head as you read the book. Harry McGraw, better known to some of us as Jerry Orbach, is still alive and well and cracking wise in the universe Moran creates. And Angela Lansbury never ages, her 1980’s image and distinctive voice as clear in my imagination as if I watched her in reruns.

Things get complicated as the police search in the wrong direction as they investigate the nefarious happenings going on at the big house, but Jessica is there to put things to rights, along with making new friends and protecting an old one.

With the challenging year we’ve all been through, hanging out with the cast of Murder, She Wrote is a charming way to spend a little time. So pull up a chair, grab your favorite mug, and settle in for a fun and comfortable read. You’ll be glad you did.

“Mrs. Fletcher, why don’t you leave the detective work to us? You are looking for a crime that probably never happened. We have techs and a deputy coroner on the way. You just toddle along. We got work to do.“—said the clueless local Sheriff in the latest Murder She Wrote book, Killing in a Koi Pond.

Jessica is visiting her college pal, Delores, when Delores’ husband, Willis, is found murdered. By all accounts, Willis was a cantankerous man who lived to start trouble for others. The site of his death was his enormous South Carolina mansion. The house is filled with suspects. The local police are bumblers at best. So, Jessica steps in to solve the crime.

It’s nice to hang out with Jessica again. This series entry (#53!) is by a new “co-author”, who also writes scrapbooking cozy mysteries under the pen name Laura Childs. I can see her cozy past in the more leisurely pacing of this Murder She Wrote novel. Though I missed Cabot Cove, it was pleasant to visit Columbia, South Carolina. My one complaint is that Jessica seems to be less independent in this book. She spent quite a while calling her friends for investigation advice. But that is a minor quibble.

If you like Jessica’s stories, you will enjoy Killing in a Koi Pond too. It’s amazing how relaxing a murder investigation can be when Jessica is involved. 4 stars!

Thanks to Berkley, Great Escapes Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran is a fantastic book that made me think that it was an episode of Murder, She Wrote.

Who had the best motive to kill Willis Nickens?

Jessica Fletcher
Jessica Fletcher is a sleuth that everyone should know about if they saw a commercial for Murder, She Wrote, or even seen these books in a bookstore. She is a mystery writer that also somehow stumbles onto a body. Ms. Fletcher has the worst luck ever when it comes to finding dead bodies. This is my first time reading a book that is based on the show, and I have to say that I liked it. The author did a good job of capturing Jessica. I liked how Jessica uses all of her resources to help her old college friend out of the bind that she's in. Jessica is a great friend, and I wouldn't mind knowing a person like her. Well, except for the dead bodies always hanging around her.

The Mystery
Now comes the whole reason why Jessica Fletcher is our sleuth. Jessica was out running the morning after she arrived in Columbia, South Carolina, and finds the dead body of Willis Nickens in his wife's koi pond. Well, not all the way in the koi pond, but enough to warrant them to get taken away to make sure they didn't eat any evidence. Someone lured the old man outside, killed him, and tried to mask what they did. As in true Jessica Fletcher fashion, she is on the case to see why someone would kill this man.

Could it be the son-in-law that is stealing from his daughter's trust fund? Maybe the business partner who seems like a joke? Could it be the lady that Willis is letting stay on the property? Could it be a servant? Or even more, could it be neighbors? What motive could have lead to this death? Jessica is on the case, especially when her best friend is on the verge of being arrested.

Four Stars
Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran is a fantastic book that I'm happy to have picked up to read. Ms. Moran did a fantastic job capturing Jessica and maybe two other people from the show that we fans truly adore. I won't say who since you will need to read the book, know that the author has done a great job. For the mystery, I did figure out who did it but not why they did it. I was actually surprised by the motive for it. I am giving this four stars and recommending it to any fan of the show to try this one out.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

I was so excited to start this one when I saw a cozy mystery author would be taking over the series. While I had enjoyed the previous author his work was a little more thriller-y then I expected from Jessica Fletcher. It was fun but this book mirrored the show more closely in feel.

In this book Jessica is visiting an old friend who is newly married. Instead of the charming prince Jessica had heard about the new husband seems to be nothing short of a bully - something everyone but his besotted wife is aware of. It's not particularly shocking when after a very awkward and unpleasant dinner he is discovered dead in the koi pond. Suspects are thick on the ground but the local sheriff seems zeroed in on just one - the new bride and Jessica's old friend. So of course Jessica has to get involved!

This was a fun read with lots of yummy food descriptions and even more interrogations. I did guess who the killer was and why but I enjoyed the read enough that that didn't bother me. The secondary characters are a bit flat and I would have enjoyed a bit more of an explanation as to what was going on between the killer and victim. However, this was such a fun fast paced read that these felt like pretty minor issues. I'm really hoping that Moran continues with this and I'm especially looking forward to one set in Cabot Cove!

MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Third Murder, She Wrote Mystery

After a fun mystery conference Jessica Fletcher heads to South Carolina to catch up with her old college friend, Dolores Nickens. It seems that her marriage to Willis, husband number three, agrees with her as Dolores appears happier than she's been in years. As delighted as Dolores is with her new husband, the wealthy businessman has a dark side. Willis changes abruptly from charming host to a belittling, nasty, and cruel man, seeming to take delight in ratcheting the tension and making his other guests uncomfortable. The next morning Jessica's morning jog on their property takes an unexpected turn when she sees a body in the koi pond. Willis is dead. Although they won't get to do touristy things and have fun reminiscing, this may turn out to be the best time for Jessica to visit. Once the sheriff determines that Jessica is correct and Willis was murdered, Dolores is sure to be the main suspect.

Reading MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND was a nostalgic trip to a comforting past. My mom and I loved watching Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher when the original TV series aired and even though Jessica wasn't in Maine, that good feeling remained as I read this enjoyable mystery. I loved the little details, talking about Malice Domestic, food descriptions that had my mouth watering, and red herrings that I thought for sure would have some bearing on the murder.

Astute readers may pick up a vital clue early in the story. I did and figured out the who, if not the why, but then as I kept reading I kind of forgot about it so near the end I wasn't sure who did it...until Jessica explained and I was like, "Oh yeah".

MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND is a delightful addition to this long running series. Fully developed characters, both new and old, inhabit these pages providing rich detail bringing the story to life.

Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond is the 53rd Murder, She Wrote mystery, this one "co-written" by Terrie Farley Moran. Released 8th June 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a comfortably reliable cozy series with an iconic protagonist (everyone's favorite mystery author Aunt Jessica) and a well known supporting cast of characters. The plots are easy to understand and the puzzles are generally cleverly constructed and well written. This installment revolves around a visit to a friend from Jessica's past who has recently married a wealthy businessman. Jessica's not the only guest however, as the house is full of a stable of potential suspects with good reasons to do away with her friend's husband (who is, admittedly, a world class jerk to everyone except Jess's friend Dolores (who is his wife) and a young granddaughter named Abby).

If it's a bit formulaic, it's a well known quantity and precisely why most readers are drawn to the sub-genre. The plot does lag at a few places; I found myself skimming just a bit. All in all though, it's a sweetly clean murder mystery without on-page violence, bad language, or sexual content. The murder victim is a (mostly) unlamented jerk who makes his exit around page 30 and the rest of the book is spent in information gathering and clever deduction.

I enjoyed the book, but I daresay I'd avoid any college reunion, wedding, or christening to which "Aunt Jess" is invited for fear of tripping over a recently murdered friend or acquaintance. "We know you're busy, just send a card, Auntie!".

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Jessica Fletcher is excited to visit her dear friend Dolores in South Carolina. What she didn’t bargain for is stumbling upon the body of Dolores’ new husband, Willis, dead in the Koi Pond. Sheriff Halvorson is quick to target Dolores as the killer, which Jessica isn’t having any part of. She begins to investigate, immediately discovering a long list of people that hated the victim. In order to clear her friend from suspicion, Jessica sets out to find the real killer.

Willis held many secrets, and used them to get what he wanted from his friends and business associates. Jessica and Dolores begin looking through his business and personal files, peeling back the layers to find a motive for his murder. Unfortunately, the list of suspects keeps growing, and the stakes of finding the killer are getting higher every day.

This cozy mystery series is as delightful as the popular television series of the same name. It is true to form for the cozy mystery genre. The murder is done “off stage” and found by Jessica Fletcher. She begins sleuthing when her friend is in trouble. There are several suspects, and the end is always tied up neatly.

It is fun to read as well as trying to figure out the identity of the killer and his or her motive before the reveal in the final chapters. If you are a fan of the television series, like me, you may just hear Angela Lansbury’s voice in your head when reading Jessica’s conversations.

Killing in a Koi Pond is not Shakespeare, nor are is intended to be. It is a perfect cozy, containing one of the most iconic amateur sleuths ever immortalized in print. The solid plot and engaging characters are satisfying and entertaining. I highly recommend it.


DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2021 Laura Hartman

Jessica Fletcher is traveling down to South Carolina to visit a college friend. Delores has just married Willis, and she is over the moon. She is also blind to the way that Willis treats the majority of those around them, but Jessica observes the way others are reacting to his almost abusive behavior at dinner. When Jessica sets out for a run the next morning, she finds Willis dead in the Koi Pond. While Delores doesn’t want to believe that anyone could have killed Willis, the police being to treat Delores as a suspect. Can Jessica figure out what is really happening?

Although I’ve been a fan of the TV show for years, I just started reading the books a couple of years ago. While I enjoyed those books, they felt a little off for the franchise. This book captures the feel of the show much better, especially Jessica on a trip episode (which were the majority). Jessica is her charming best here, and I enjoyed several other characters as well as appreciating the growth in Delores. I did feel that Delores’s step-granddaughter was a bit young for the age she was supposed to be and the suspects were thin. The plot was good, although the pacing was off. Still, it did provide some enjoyable red herrings before we reached a classic Murder, She Wrote climax. Fans of the series will feel right at home here.