I have read almost all of the MSW books. For awhile, the new author didn’t have a good handle on the characters, but now he seems to,

Nelson Penzell is co-owner of the former This and That Shop, now renamed. His merchandise is high end while his partner deals in souvenirs for tourists. Or so Nelson says. He’s got a reputation as a womanizer, too. It’s no surprise when he’s found murdered. The shocker is Coreen, the manicurist at the beauty shop Jessica goes to, is the main and only suspect just because she was on the scene, covered in blood and holding the murder weapon.

Coreen had an appointment to manicure Nelson’s nails but instead found him bashed with a candlestick. Everyone agrees, she’s too mild and meek to have done the deed. How to prove it to Sheriff Metzger? Jessica is drawn into the investigation.

Things take a definite turn to the weird when Michael Haggerty, Jessica’s friend and agent for MI6, shows up in Cabot Cove. He’s on the trail of international thieves and thinks Cabot Cove is involved, hard as it may be to believe but a small town is the perfect cover for crime.

In addition to helping Coreen to hire a lawyer, schedule an interview with the Sheriff, investigate on her own, feed Seth at every turn, attend meetings for Friends of the Library, get distracted by Michael, and avoid a persistent reporter, Jessica has a synopsis due to her publisher for her next book. It’s a wonder she has time to write!

This is book fifty-four in the popular series, the second penned by Moran. Jessica remains true to her roots in Cabot Cove, relying on knowing the townspeople, who to ask, and how to get the best results. She doesn’t put herself in danger and doesn’t drop everything in order to investigate because she ‘has to know,’ but as an avid people watcher and student of human nature, she’s able to discover clues the Sheriff won’t have.

Readers will be glad to see Moran’s books are more closely aligned with the Jessica we’ve known and loved, whether in print or on the screen.

One of Jessica's friends come out of a shop covered in blood with the murder weapon in her hand. She gets arrested as the murderer but Jessica knows she didn't do it. She helps her by getting her a good criminal lawyer. And then she goes on the hunt for the real killer.
Berkley Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Not only was the owner of the shop killed, they have a band of smugglers in town. These two crimes are close to each other and there are plenty of false leads but eventually Jessica figures who killed the shop owner. He was willing to sleep with almost any woman but that turned out to be his fatal mistake.

Mort runs down the smugglers with a bit of help from Jessica.

Soon Cabot Cove will be a place of peaceful tranquility again.

Debonair in Death by Terrie Farley Moran is like jumping into a Murder She Wrote episode. I loved it.

Will Jessica figure out who killed Nelson? And will she figure out who the smugglers are?

Jessica Fletcher
She doesn't need an introduction. Jessica Fletcher is a mystery writer and sleuth. She is also friends with everyone in Cabot Cove. And if you were around in the 90s, then you watched Jessica solve numerous crimes in Cabot Cove and around the world on Murder She Wrote.

This Jessica is a bit more health-conscious. She was trying to eat properly and get in exercise in this installment. Dr. Seth Haslet is one of her best friends, and he is still into food. He tries to keep up with Jessica, but she is faster than he is. It felt like I was back in her kitchen with Seth, trying to steal an extra piece of the pie.

CoStars
Debonair in Death takes place in Cabot Cove. So the beauty shop ladies, Eve Simpson, Loretta, Coreen, are there. Mort the Sheriff, with Deputies Andy and Floyd, have roles too. I already mentioned Seth, but Michael Haggerty shows up chasing some international smugglers. It was like old home week.

The Mystery
Jessica works through the mysteries that interrupt her writing. We have a new man in town who is causing a ruckus with the local ladies until he is found dead. Then, Michael is there looking for the international smugglers, which he keeps talking Jessica into assisting with. All in all, I was kept guessing for most of it. I almost thought that Jessica missed a significant clue, but she didn't and was able to wrap up everything nicely.

Five Stars
I enjoyed reading this book. I thought that someone was just writing down the television episodes, but Ms. Moran has come up with new mysteries for Jessica to solve. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Debonair in Death by Terrie Farley Moran, and therefore my rating is five stars. Check out the series if you have time.

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 Debonair in Death by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran.

Until the next time,
~Jen

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

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

It was wonderful! I greatly enjoyed this latest offering in the Murder She Wrote series. The mystery was plotted and executed with excellence and kept me guessing throughout. The characters are defined very well, and I was happy to see a couple of Jessica Fletcher’s long-time friends who occasionally grace the pages. I could understand small-town life a little better from different points of view, especially the sheriff who knows and may be friends with many in the community.

Jessica had barely heard about Nelson Penzell the first time before he was gone. He appealed to ladies of a certain age and used his good looks and charm on ladies of all ages. He lived in Cabot Cove for a relatively short time and had entered into a business partnership with Angus Michaud. Angus’s shop used to be called This and That Shop, but Nelson had changed it to La Peinture. The French name and the fine art he brought increased the shop’s clientele, especially the ladies! Jessica learned about him from Eve, the local Realtor, who has been trying to get to have a private chat with him for quite some time. Why she sounded like a smitten schoolgirl!

Over the next few days, Jessica saw or overheard Nelson’s encounters with four different people, including his business partner and three women of various ages. None of them left Jessica with a positive view of him. Hours after the fourth encounter, Nelson was found dead in his shop. Coreen, the young assistant of Loretta at the beauty salon, had gone to his shop to do his scheduled manicure. Moments later, she came out of the shop screaming, covered in Nelson’s blood, and holding a heavy candlestick that was determined to be the murder weapon.

Loretta changed from a business/ boss relationship with Coreen into a mother hen. Coreen, hysterical and unable to talk, was considered the only suspect in the murder. Loretta gained permission to keep Coreen at her home until she could speak and be questioned. There was no room for doubt in the minds of Loretta, Jessica, and all who know Coreen. The quiet, somewhat naïve young woman didn’t do it. While they knew what the evidence pointed to, they were certain that someone else did it. With a good attorney that Loretta will help pay for, Loretta desperately wants Jessica to find who really killed the womanizer.

Jessica is my favorite, but it is hard to choose second favorite. We learn more about the regular characters; there are always little changes that keep people – and series – interesting. Jessica’s talent to see and hear things that many people miss, her exacting attention to detail and considering “what-if”, make her the excellent mystery writer and sleuth she is. She, Seth, the local doctor, and Mort, the sheriff, are great friends. It is refreshing to see a sheriff willing to listen to, and consult with, Jessica. I did miss the ever-helpful Harry, her favorite PI. I liked seeing Loretta in a different behavior than the business owner and hairstylist and getting to know Coreen. I do hope we see George more often!

We have complex mysteries requiring complex solutions, including the possibility of a smuggling ring trading international secrets in little Cabot Cove. Is Nelson’s murder related to this, or to one of many women scorned? Are Michael’s investigations parallel with or separate from Nelson’s killer? Michael provides comic relief, as Harry does when he is part of Jessica’s investigations. I love to see Jessica’s thinking process, both in the preparation of the synopsis for her next novel and for considering who really killed Nelson. There are several possibilities, and I kept one person as a last resort who turned out to be the killer. I highly recommend this latest Jessica Fletcher adventure!

<b>**4.5-stars**</b>

Murder, She Wrote: Debonair in Death is the 54th-installment of the beloved Murder, She Wrote Cozy Mystery series. I was so excited when I learned that Terrie Farley Moran was going to be continuing writing this series. It seems to be a great fit. She did a fantastic job with Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond, really capturing the spirit of Jessica and the feel of the earlier books.

With Debonair in Death we return to Jessica's hometown of Cabot Cove. It was a true delight being back there with Jessica and her dynamic group of friends and neighbors. While I love when Jessica travels, which she does a lot, it always feels good to go home.

The good vibes don't last for long though after Nelson Panzell, a local art store owner and rumored womanizer, is murdered and a young nail tech at Jessica's favorite salon, Coreen, is fingered as the number one suspect. Jessica and her friend, Loretta, the salon's owner and Coreen's boss, know the meek girl would be completely incapable of killing Panzell, but how will they be able to convince Sheriff Metzger of that?

The two women pair up and luckily are able to secure a very capable attorney for Coreen. Then just as you would expect, Jessica begins a little investigation of her own. She's thrown for a bit of a loop, however, when an old acquaintance, Agent Michael Haggerty, a member of MI6, gets caught red-handed bumbling around the victim's home. He claims to be on an important investigation of his own. Could the two issues possibly be related?

I love the feel of these stories. They're so comfortable and nostalgic for me, as I've been reading them, quite literally, for most of my life. After the passing of the original series author, Donald Bain, I was obviously concerned about the future of my favorite comfort read series. Now with Terrie Farley Moran at the helm, I can relax with confidence, knowing some quality content will be still be released.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to more. Please keep 'em coming!!!

Murder She Wrote always brings me fond memories. But it’s funny; when I try to watch them now, I always find fewer Cabot Cove episodes than I thought there were. The episodes set in Cabot Cove were and still are my favorites. It’s because of Jessica’s home in Maine that I had dreams, however unrealistic they were, of moving to Maine and living in a house just like Jessica’s. It would be close to the water; and, obviously, I’d be a mystery writer. Needless to say, seeing that Murder She Wrote: Debonair in Death was set entirely in Cabot Cove brought joy and nostalgia  to my heart. 

I’ve read so many cozy mystery books, but I’d never read any of the Murder She Wrote books until the previous book, Killing in a Koi Pond. Both that and this current one are written by Terrie Farley Moran, along with Jessica Fletcher, of course. I’ve enjoyed both very much, but this one is my favorite because of the setting. The Cabot Cove residents are also pleasingly familiar to me. I’m definitely hoping that Jessica and Terrie continue their “partnership.” 

In Murder She Wrote: Debonair in Death, a quiet young woman becomes the prime person of interest in a muder when she’s found screaming, covered in blood, and holding the murder weapon. Though the sheriff doesn’t really believe she is the murderer, no other suspects come into view. Jessica once again finds herself inconspicuously asking questions that may reveal further clues and motives. 

I enjoyed so much about Murder She Wrote: Debonair in Death. As I said, the familiar setting and main characters gave me a warm feeling of nostalgia. I appreciate that Farley includes small details that true fans notice: Jessica’s jogging habit, the fact that she doesn’t drive but bikes when possible, the way Seth talks to her, etc. These aspects make the story come alive to me since I could easily picture the story unfolding on the small screen. 

Murder She Wrote: Debonair in Death has a well-plotted mystery with several plausible suspects. The murder, though occurring in Cabot Cove, had far reaching affects. Therefore, there’s more than one mystery unfolding here. I loved trying to figure out how they all fit together along with uncovering the murderer. It’s an easy to read book because it’s so enjoyable. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a long time Murder She Wrote fan or are new to Jessica Fletcher and Cabot Cove, if you love cozy mystery books, you will love this intriguing book. If you’re like me, it’ll keep you up well past your bedtime trying to figure out whodunit and why. It’s a 5 out of 5 for me!

MURDER SHE WROTE: DEBONAIR IN DEATH
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Fourth Murder, She Wrote Mystery

Jessica Fletcher is home in Cabot Cove, Maine trying to finish the synopsis for her latest manuscript when murder once again interrupts. Coreen, a timid young manicurist, is found screaming in the street, covered in blood and incoherent. Nelson Penzell, a newcomer, has been bludgeoned to death in his shop. Coreen's boss and Jessica know she wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone a person, and are determined to protect the young woman. As Jessica learns more about Nelson she soon realizes there are several other possible suspects, including his business partner. When her old friend, MI6 agent Michael Haggerty, turns up in town it's apparent there's much more than murder going on in Cabot Cove.

There's something intrinsically comfortable about a Murder, She Wrote Mystery. Returning to Cabot Cove is like slipping into a comfortable old robe and settling in with a nice cup of tea. The characters are familiar, the setting perfectly charming. I enjoyed the way Jessica's daily normal life, her writing life, the murder, and the possible smuggling ring meld into a comprehensive story. The mystery is intriguing and the slow reveal about the victim's lecherous ways as well as the smuggling ring and its possible players kept my interest.

MURDER SHE WROTE: DEBONAIR IN DEATH is a steadily paced mystery with a solid plot and great character dynamics.

Remaining true to the series written by Jessica Fletcher and her various co-authors, this book will appeal to fans of both the books and much loved television series.
You will feel the breeze off the bay, smell the fish and swoon to the authentic sounds of Maine dialogue (Ayuh.)

Our favorite characters are here. In addition to Jessica, we get to visit with Sheriff Mort, Dr. Seth and the ladies at the beauty salon among others.
Facing a new deadline, fast approaching, famous author J.B. Fletcher is doing her best to stay close to home. She is struggling with her next synopsis and all the interruptions are not helping her cause.
One of her issues is perhaps she needs a stronger lock on her kitchen door!

Crime in Cabot Cove is usually spaced out and of a less tragic nature.
In this novel it is murderous and compounded.
Not only is a sweet friend accused of the dastardly dead, but this murder brings out secrets all around town. Add to the stress and confusion, Jessica is visited by an acquaintance she hoped not to come across again. She finds herself joining forces with him to convince the Sheriff to seek out other suspects. In exchange, she must help this mysterious man with another investigation.

Page turning action yet maintaining the cozy feel we appreciate with this series.
There may even be a hint of future romance.

I look forward to seeing where Ms. Moran takes this series.

Everyone in town, especially the women, seem captivated by Nelson Penzell, the new co-owner of the art gallery on the water front of Cabot Cove. Jessica Fletcher feels like something is off about him, however. Still, she didn’t expect him to be murdered. Sheriff Metzger is sure that Coreen, the nail tech from the hair salon, is a good suspect since she was seen screaming outside the gallery where Nelson was found covered in his blood. But Jessica thinks something else is going on. Can she prove it?

As much as I enjoyed the Murder, She Wrote books that came out over the last few years, I felt like something was off with the characters we loved from Cabot Cove. This book fixes so much of that. The characters and their relationships to each other feel like a natural extension of the series. The suspects are just as strong. Unfortunately, I did feel the pacing could have been better in the first half, but we get plenty of fun twists in the second half. Any fan of the TV series will be happy they picked up this book for a visit with old friends.

It’s autumn in Cabot Cove, Maine and author/amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher is hard at work on her next book. Other people in town are buzzing about Nelson Penzell, a new arrival in town who has gone into a partnership with a local merchant. Nelson is known for being an expert in the field of art, but his reputation regarding his treatment of women isn’t so good. When Nelson is murdered in his own home, the nail technician at Jessica’s hair salon becomes the prime suspect. Jessica teams up with her hair stylist, Loretta, who is the young woman’s boss to prove Coreen’s innocence and track down the real killer.

This book is part of the long-running Murder She Wrote mysteries, but is fine as a standalone if you’ve not read any of prior books. The books have had a few different authors and this is the second by Terrie Farley Moran. I love her interpretation of the characters, which is much closer to the earlier books in the series and to the television version of Jessica and her friends Dr. Seth Hazlitt and Sheriff Mort Metzger. I love the main plot of this book, as well as the interesting team of Jessica and Loretta who work together to find evidence proving to Mort that Coreen is not the killer. Jessica uncovers many other suspects since Nelson made a lot of enemies in both her personal life and on the job. I also enjoyed getting to know Coreen and the character of her lawyer, Regina. I hope Regina takes on another case in Cabot Cove soon.

As part of a subplot involving a jewelry theft ring and the possible involvement of international spies, Jessica receives a surprise visitor, MI-6 Agent Michael Haggerty. I don’t remember this character, but I think he appeared in a few episodes of the television series. He apparently has a habit of arriving unexpectedly when he needs Jessica’s help with a case. I didn’t see any charm to the character. I was surprised at how demanding he was of Jessica’s assistance and even more surprised that she went along with what he said. I think the character of Michael and the whole subplot provides unnecessary complications and detracts from the main plot of the book. I’m hoping Agent Haggerty doesn’t pop back into Jessica’s life anytime soon. The rest of the book was delightful and I recommend it to fans of the series, as well as cozy mystery readers looking for a nice Fall read.

~ Christine

I always enjoy when I catch Murder, She Wrote in reruns. There's something just so cozy and nice about Jessica Fletcher. I was happily surprised when I started reading the books a year or two ago and discovered that I enjoyed them just as much. This book and the previous book are written by Terrie Farley Moran who is a cozy mystery author though the previous few books were written by Jon Land. I enjoyed those though they had a bit more of a thriller feel to them. With Moran at the helm of the franchise we are back in cozy territory. And to make it even more fun we are back in Cabot Cove!

This is the first book in awhile that has not only taken place in Cabot Cove but that involves residents of the town. There are all the characters that I know in love from the show but the relationships are so complicated that if I can't exactly remember who is who it doesn't put me behind in the book. The downside is these characters aren't super developed but I actually preferred that as it kept the book from getting bogged down.

This isn't perhaps the most memorable of books but just like the show it is a delightfully entertaining mystery with characters that feel like old friends and a wonderfully cozy atmosphere.

Can you hear it? It’s the Murder, She Wrote jingle from the television series starring Angela Lansbury as the mystery writer and crime solver, Jessica (JB) Fletcher. Murder, She Wrote: Debonair in Death is the 54th installment of the famous series started by ghost writer, Donald Bain. Now Terrie Farley-Moran is carrying forth the torch to continue Jessica’s crime solving adventures.

In the book, Debonair in Death, Jessica’s friend, Coreen Wilson is taken into custody by Sheriff Metzger as a suspect in the murder of Nelson Penzell, a dockside shopkeeper known for his womanizing.

Determined to prove Coreen’s innocence, Jessica embarks on a quest to uncover clues that will lead to Coreen’s exoneration. Along the way, Jessica uncovers more than she bargained for as MI6 agent Michael Hagerty arrives on the scene with his own agenda that seemingly dovetails with Jessica’s discoveries.

Debonair in Death, the 54th book in the Murder, She Wrote series continues along the same vein and locale as the prior novels. The characters remain the same, with the staples being Jessica Fletcher, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, Eve Simpson, and Loretta Speigel. That being said, Debonair in Death should not be the first read in the Murder, She Wrote series. This reader had to Google the cast of characters to re-aquaint myself with them.

The plot is a simple whodunnit but at a slower place. It is a cozy mystery, afterall. As such, there is a lot of atmosphere that may or may not appeal to readers of this novel.

If you are a fan of the television series, you won’t be disappointed by the books. Five fabulous stars.

I received a digital ARC from Berkley Publishing Group. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Fall is just beginning in Cabot Cove and a new resident, Nelson Penzell, art dealer, is pretty obnoxious. Any fan of Murder She Wrote knows what happens next. When Nelson is murdered, blame falls on Coreen, a manicurist who works for Loretta. Coreen is a sweet lady and doesn’t seem to be the murdering type, so Jessica uses her sleuthing skills to figure out who the murderer really is. We have an appearance from beloved character Michael Haggerty who pitches in with some clues and his share of trouble. Jessica, meanwhile is trying to get her synopsis into her publisher, but keeps getting pulled away. This was a great Murder She Wrote read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is the perfect cozy mystery for readers who want something totally comforting and engaging. All the elements are here: the famous detective, the quaint small town, the quirky characters, and a puzzling mystery to solve right along with the author.

When Nelson Penzell, co-owner of a local art and treasure store in Cabot Cove, is murdered, the nail tech from Jessica Fletcher's favorite beauty parlor is the main suspect. After all, she's the one who ran out of the store screaming, covered in blood, and holding the murder weapon. Jessica is positive that despite the circumstances, Coreen can't possibly be guilty, and is determined to prove it. When Michael Haggerty, handsome MI-6 agent and Jessica's old friend, is caught snooping around the victim’s home, it's quickly apparent to her that she was right. Nelson has always had a bit of a reputation for being a rake, but Haggerty is sure his sins go far beyond what anyone in town imagined. If Jessica wants to clear Coreen's name, she will have to work alongside Michael to find out who killed Nelson—and maybe help bust a smuggling ring.

This is number 54 in this series, and I have read them all. I was a big fan of the television series, so when characters like Michael Haggerty come on the scene I picture the wonderful actor who played him in the television series. I am also a fan of Terrie Farley Moran, and think the last three books that she "co-wrote" have added a depth to the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read the latest in one of my favorite series.

So glad to read a new Murder She Wrote novel. I’ve missed Jessica and the friends in Cabot Cove. What started out to be a murder mystery evolved into a second story of an international smuggling ring. By books end, both mysteries were solved and our friends were safe again. A satisfying read.

I really enjoy this series, especially when the action takes place in Cabot Cove, Maine, so I was very happy with this book. Jessica jumps in to help Coreen, Loretta's helper at the beauty parlor, when Coreen is suspected of the murder of a new shop owner in town. Seth Hazlett and Mort Metzger are involved, of course, but, surprisingly, so is Michael Haggerty, the MI6 friend from Britain, who shows up unannounced in town. Happily, I solved the murder before the big reveal, but nothing detracts from the joy of spending time with old friends. Thanks to NetGalley and the Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC.