If you are a Murder, She Wrote devotee and follow the series, you will want to read Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage; however, it is just an average series entry and perhaps those who are not dedicated series fans may take a pass.

Emma McGill, Jessica's British performer cousin, is slated for a show in Canada, prompting the Cabot Cove gang (Jessica, Seth, Mort and his wife Maureen) to travel to Edmonton for Emma's show and to meet star Derek Braverman--Seth and Mort are huge fans.

Unfortunately, the narrative drags a bit and the actual murder doesn't occur for several chapters. Jessica and her friends are always delights, but I put the book down several times while I was reading it, so it didn't hold a grip on my attention.

Agian, a quality series, but this one had trouble finding its footing.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

I don’t read many of the Murder, She Wrote cozy mysteries by how could I resist one called Murder Backstage? “Jessica Fletcher” and Terrie Farley Moran take mystery author Jessica Fletcher and some of her friends from Cabot Cove to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in the latest in the series.

Jessica is wrapping up her latest book when she receives a call from her favorite cousin, British actress Emma Macgill. It seems international actor and entertainer Derek Braverman is wrapping up his career at age 80. He retiring following an old-fashioned musical review in Edmonton. Emma will be part of the revue, and wants Jessica and friends to come stay, visit, and see the show. It doesn’t take long to recruit Dr. Seth Hazlitt and Sheriff Mort Metzger, longtime fans of Braverman. Along with Mort’s wife, Maureen, the foursome head for Edmonton for vacation.

But, it never seems to be a vacation for Jessica. Someone at the hotel realizes she’s bestselling author J.B. Fletcher, and arranges a book signing without her consent. And, two fans stalk her, hoping for time or autographs. But, it’s a murder of a bartender who also works as a stagehand for the revue that turns her vacation into an investigation. Jessica, Maureen, and Emma use their inside knowledge of the cast and crew to look for a killer.

Although there wasn’t as much theater in the story as I would have liked, fans of the series will not be disappointed. With familiar characters such as Jessica, Seth, and Mort, along with excellent descriptions of sites in Edmonton, Murder She Wrote: Murder Backstage will satisfy cozy mystery readers.

This book dragged. It wasn’t until chapter 12 that anything occurred. Before that, were many descriptions of sights to see in Canada. There were two mysteries. One involved someone using a last name that was fake, the other was a murder. Both were resolved with little fanfare and I thought “oh well”. It really isn’t that good.