Christmas and Chaos have come to Cabot Cove in the latest Murder, She Wrote Novel.

Set it the cozy Maine town Jessica Fletcher calls her home, Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas has all the charm and intrigue of the beloved television show with the added bonus of holiday cheer.

Jessica Fletcher, celebrated novelist and town hero, is quickly recruited to participate in a Christmas competition taking over the state of Maine. With television scouts on the prowl to find the best holiday traditions and wintry wonders, Fletcher and the other townspeople of Cabot Cove quickly rally together to plan elaborate events like a decorated boat parade and a series of caroling performances. Eve Simpson has other plans.

A cutthroat realtor, Eve is set to make her biggest sale yet to out of town mogul John Bragdon and will stop at nothing to impress him and his wife. The only problem? She’s trying to sell a house that shouldn’t exactly be on the market.

When Bragdon’s wife is murdered, Eve, Jessica, and the rest of Cabot Cove realize ghosts of Christmas past might have something to do with the death.

While a little slower than other Murder, She Wrote novels and the television show - the death appears more than halfway through the novel - and a bit bogged down by a bloated character list of townspeople who, while they exist in the mythos of Cabot Cove are not really relevant to the plot, A Killer Christmas gifts the reader a well-executed twist and has an ending sweeter than the cookies left out for Santa. It’s the perfect read for the holiday season.

Another entry in a series I've been reading for over 20 years! This is one of my favorite comfort series and loved the cozy feels that Terrie Moran has brought to it. The Cabot Cove ones are especially nice and she does a great job of bringing more of the characters from the TV series and their personalities than Donald Bain. While I enjoyed the story, it felt like it took a bit for the mystery to happen and there seemed to be a lot of characters and threads.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This new Jessica Fletcher mystery exemplifies the community spirit of Cabot Cove, Maine, even as Jessica helps solve a truly puzzling murder. It has been so refreshing to read about a little winter snow and a lot of community-minded people!

Cabot Cove has more heart than most fictional towns I’ve had the pleasure of visiting in print. Their Christmas events include a parade and a play. They used to have more festivities, including carolers and open houses or shops with cookies and cider.

Jessica, her close friend, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, and Dan, the new editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, attended an urgent Christmas festival committee meeting. Mayor Shevlin shares a unique opportunity for Cabot Cove. They are one of ten exclusive Maine towns chosen to compete with each other for the best Christmas festival. The winning town would be titled Maine’s Christmas Town, be featured in the state’s annual tourism brochure in the new year, and receive a financial stipend. The community will go all out to organize an exceptional Christmas festival. Jessica is involved with several events, including one she suggested – a boat parade at the marina.

Eve Simpson, the local Realtor, has a wealthy client interested in a valuable piece of property with a spectacular ocean view and an older home. John Bragdon, owner of a successful group of businesses in Boston, scheduled a visit to the property. Krista Jarvis was the sole owner of the property, since her brother Kenny was declared legally dead many years after he disappeared.

The views sold the home, and John Bragdon would pay cash, close quickly, and have the house remodeled and ready for move-in by Christmas. Eve planned a special dinner party to welcome John and his wife, Rose Marie, and introduce them to some people they would appreciate knowing.

Days before the dinner for the Bragdons, Kenny Jarvis returned to Cabot Cove. He learned his childhood home was being sold, and told folks he was stopping the sale.

The day after the dinner party, Rose Marie Bragdon was relaxing in their hotel lobby when Kenny went there and threatened her. A couple hours later, immediately after she had afternoon tea with Jessica, Eve, and a current and past employee, Rose Marie died. Labs showed she was drugged. Even though it was impossible for him to get access to her food, Kenny was picked up on suspicion of murder.

The regular characters stay true to the classic television series. Jessica, best-selling mystery author, is a wise and brilliant woman, friendly, and down-to-earth. She has probably helped solve as many murders as the number of novels she’s written. Jessica is delightfully positive and encouraging, always ready to lend a hand.

Jessica is my favorite, and Dan, editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, has become another favorite. He is a recent arrival to Cabot Cove, having moved there when accepting the position. Dan is a humble man who, instead of writing big, misleading headlines, tells the truth with minimal spin. He would help anywhere needed in the community, and would deflect accolades to others rather than receive them for himself.

This was a challenging mystery as neither Jessica nor the police could find anyone with a motive to kill Rose Marie! The police held Kenny but had not yet charged him with murder. There was one tiny sentence made by the killer that didn’t even allude to a motive that made that person my “pet suspect”. Surprisingly, it was my “pet suspect” with an outlandish excuse who finally confessed to the crime. You won’t want to miss this mystery, or the festival with its well-organized events and boat parade. You will definitely want to find out if Cabot Cove became Maine’s Christmas Town! I highly recommend this novel, and any of the other Jessica Fletcher mysteries in the series, especially during this 40-year anniversary of the first Murder She Wrote episode!

**3.5-stars rounded up**

I'm rounding up for nostalgia, but either way, this was still an enjoyable Cozy Mystery. It's set in Cabot Cove in the festive days leading up to Christmas. While A Killer Christmas didn't contain the most compelling mystery for me, taking over half the book to get to our murder, I still had fun sitting front row to all the town drama. You know I'm always down for that!

This is the 59th-installment of my all-time favorite Cozy Mystery series. I cherish my time with Jessica Fletcher; always have, always will. If I'm counting correctly, this is the 48th-book that I have read in this series.

In case you are new to the Murder, She Wrote books, these can be read in any order and can really be divided into two types: the Cabot Cove mysteries, which are set in Jessica's hometown and involve a recurring cast of local characters, and the ones that are set around the world during the course of Jessica's travels as a best-selling mystery author. It would be difficult for me to select my favorite type. I think I prefer the travel ones, because I like to go along with Jess to the various places, however, there is something to be said about the comfort of returning to Cabot Cove.

In this one, as Christmas approaches, the entire town is getting into the holiday spirit. In fact, for the first time, the town is competing in a state-sponsored competition to be voted the Christmas Town of Maine. With cash for the town's non-profits and local businesses on the line, the locals are ready to put on the most festive holiday events that the town has ever seen.

In the midst of all this, local realtor and friend of Jessica, Eve Simpson has a marlin on the line, by way of Boston-based businessman, John Bragdon, who is hoping to buy the old Jarvis homestead. Eve is in a tizzy trying to impress Bragdon and see the sale through.Eve organizes a dinner where Bragdon and his wife will be able to rub elbows with the who's-who of Cabot Cove. Of course, as one of the most successful authors currently in the Mystery biz, Jessica secures an invite. Although she's not crazy about the idea, Jessica does agree to help Eve. A few of her other friends will be there too, so it can't be all bad.

Dinner is going well, when the party is suddenly interrupted by the long-missing, and assumed dead, Kenny Jarvis. He heard his sister was putting their family home on the market and has returned to stake his claim. He announces that the Bradgons will never live in his house. When Rose Marie Bragdon, John's wife, dies unexpectedly days later, Kenny is quickly the number one suspect. He was witnessed by many threatening her, but Jessica isn't so sure it's as simple as all of that. Doing what she does best, Jessica digs in, determined to find out the truth about what happened to Rose Marie.

As mentioned above, this mystery wasn't super compelling for me, but everything else going on in the town certainly made up for it, IMO. The realtor, Eve, a recurring character, always drives me a little batty. She's abrasive, frequently steam-rolling over those around her. It's just her personality. Jessica puts up with her in good grace, and I always feel schooled in the patience department. Why she is even friends with this woman, I will never know.

Eve needed this sale. She reeked of desperation and was willing to do anything to get the Jarvis property sold. Bless Jessica and the others for being willing to help her out. More than the sale though, the Christmas competition was providing quite a bit of tension in town as well. People were divided on where the winnings should go, if they were actually to win, and the planning of the events themselves got stressful.

Overall though, I did love the holiday vibes pouring from the pages. And all this stuff that I'm talking about, the stress, the tension, it did succeed in pulling me in. It made me invested. I love these characters and this town. I mean, at this point, even I feel like a local, so I was into it. It made me ready to start my own Christmas planning.

Terrie Farley Moran has done a great job with her contributions to this series. This is her 6th, I believe. I've read them all and I have really enjoyed them all. I love how she has kept the original tone of the series, and she for sure has Jessica's character and mannerisms down. I love this series with my whole heart. I will never, ever stop reading them. If you are looking for a Cozy Mystery series, a true Cozy, I can't recommend this one highly enough. I know for me there is a level of nostalgia that others may not have, but even without that nostalgia, I think these are still highly enjoyable mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I always look forward to the latest Murder, She Wrote. Please keep them coming!

I don’t read Murder, She Wrote mysteries often, but I always enjoy them. I grew up watching Jessica Fletcher and the other characters on tv and still turn it on occasionally. It’s Christmastime in Cabot Cove and everyone is gearing up for the holidays. This year, the town is going all out as it tries to be named the state’s best holiday destination. Eve, however, is more concerned with selling the old Jarvis place. Her job gets more difficult by the minute, First, missing, presumed dead, Kenny Jarvis shows back up. Then, the potential buyer’s wife dies, possibly murdered.

This one takes its time getting to the killing, but it’s fun to get caught up in all the town drama and Christmas planning. I loved the small Thanksgiving dinner and all the Christmas events, but if you’re here solely for the murder mystery you might be disappointed. The mystery was fine. There were several suspects even if it was rather obvious who the killer was.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Cabot Cove is pulling out all the stops for Christmas this year as they are vying to be named Christmas Town in Maine’s tourist brochure. Many events are planned including Christmas caroling parties, readings, cookies, along with visiting elves, a boat parade, and a Christmas Day Parade.

While most of the residents of Cabot Cove are working on plans for the holiday, Realtor Eve Simpson has another iron in the fire. She has found a buyer for the old Jarvis homestead. Boston tycoon John Bragdon is ready to sign on the dotted line and get renovations started immediately. Then a man thought to be dead because he has been missing for years returns to town. Kenny Jarvis is back and he is livid that his sister was trying to sell their childhood home.  He plans to stop her at any cost.

Eve basically ignores all the drama and organizes a dinner to welcome John Bragdon and his wife Rose Marie to Cabot Cove.  She invites many of the town's prominent citizens including Jessica Fletcher and Dr. Seth Hazlitt and the Bragdons bring several of their employees.

A couple of days later Kenny finds Rose Marie at Hill House and threatens her saying the woman will never live in his family's home. Just a few hours later Rose Marie is found dead in her room. The easy assumption is that Kenny Jarvis is responsible for the woman's death but Jessica believes it will be someone else's holiday that will be ruined. She just needs to figure out who.

_____

Christmas in Cabot Cove didn't disappoint. All my favorite characters were back. The author brings them all to life so well. So much so, that I hear their voices loud and clear as if I watching an episode of the television show. Jessica is a dynamic character with a keen mind. She gets along with everyone and volunteers to help in any way she can. This time she was fully involved in the Christmas festivities in the quest to make Cabot Cove, the Christmas town. She gets her friends involved too, sometimes when they don't want to be. :-) She juggles it all even when she gets caught up in another murder.

Readers were introduced to some interesting new characters too. All unique, they quickly develop throughout the story with some finding their names on Jessica's suspect list.

The story unfolds at a very comfortable pace. I enjoyed following along with Jessica on all her tasks. Surprisingly while doing a common everyday task she had her A-ha moment making all the clues fall into place. I gave myself a quick pat on the back for being right. I had pinned down the killer earlier in the story but wasn't positive about how they did it.

I loved everything about this cozy mystery. Cabot Cove is the ultimate cozy town all decked out in its Christmas finery and Ms. Moran captures it all with her wonderful descriptions. The residents of this cozy town feel like old friends, fresh and genuine after almost 60 books penned by different authors. It takes a special author who can capture the characters and continue their storylines seamlessly. Ms. Moran does an excellent job. She also plotted an intriguing mystery bringing out her reader's armchair sleuthing skills.  And after the murder mystery was solved Jessica got her wish. I treasure a happy ending.

Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit with a little murder mystery to solve on the side. Festive, fun, and heartwarming. I truly recommend you visit Cabot Cove this holiday season.

I thoroughly enjoyed this return to Cabot Cove! It has been some time since I visited Jessica Fletcher and the other marvelous characters. Terri Farley Moran certainly has written a wonderful addition to the series. Cabot Cove is planning festivities throughout the town to compete with other small towns in Maine in a statewide Christmas competition, and Jessica is part of all the planning. The early part of the book was quite a pleasant look at Cabot Cove, as Jessica works with the rest of the town to make Cabot Cove the best Christmas town in the state! Just when I thought there would be no crime for Jessica to solve, one of the visitors dies mysteriously and Jessica is once again working with the authorities to discover what happened. The plot takes several unusual twists, and it takes her superior skills at detecting to ensure the culprit is found. I also want to note that I particularly enjoyed those parts of the book where Jessica provides insight into the writing process for a novel. It was quite interesting! This book will put you in the spirit of the holidays and a visit with Jessica. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. The opinions of this review are my own.

As Cabot Cove plans its biggest Christmas season ever, someone adds murder to the holiday Calendar of Events.

A Killer Christmas is the 59th novel in the long-running Murder, She Wrote mystery series penned by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran, and this latest tale does not disappoint. All the regulars are present and accounted for, with some newbies on hand, just in time for the holidays and a homicide.

Reading a new mystery set in Cabot Cove is like returning to your cozy book hometown. Jessica Fletcher, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, Sheriff and Maureen Metzger, and so many others feel like family. With each added adventure, I’m always left in awe of how the authors maintain such perfect continuity from story to story and are able to work in so many familiar residents. In this story, the whole town comes together to plan a Christmas calendar of events to rival any in the state to win the title of Maine’s Christmas Town.

The plot unfolds quietly with a lot of focus on the planning of the holiday events, setting arrangements in motion, and Eve trying to secure the sale of a large mansion on the cliffs overlooking the cove that will net her substantial commission. While interesting because I like Jessica and her circle of friends and acquaintances, I thought the build-up toward the murder took too long, Rose Marie’s death not occurring until over halfway into the book. Her death occurs almost on the page, in front of several women, including Jessica, and no one saw anything to make them believe that her time was imminent. And a recent altercation with another character distracts everyone on the case. However, the truth does not stay hidden long, and there is an interestingly calm yet tragic resolution to the investigation.

I recommend A KILLER CHRISTMAS to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy holiday-themed stories.

Mystery writer Jessica Fletcher is preparing for a visit from her nephew and his family for Christmas, but she also has her hands full with the town’s Christmas festivities committee. The mayor is encouraging residents to participate in a statewide contest to increase tourism to Maine in the off season. The mayor wants to up the excitement from the usual parade and pageant so Cabot Cove will have a chance to win. Most residents are excited about the contest, but real estate agent Eve Simpson is excited that a large commission may be coming her way. A wealthy client is planning to buy a huge home that has been vacant for a while, but there could be an obstacle to the sale. Things get worse when the tycoon’s wife is killed during a welcome dinner that Eve had planned. Now it’s up to Jessica to find out who the real killer is.

This book series is based on the Murder, She Wrote television program, but it’s not necessary to have watched the tv show to enjoy the books. If you are a fan of the series, you will be happy with the way Farley Moran portrays the main characters from the show, especially Jessica, Mort, and Seth. Along with Mort’s wife, Maureen, the friendship and camaraderie between these characters is one of my favorite parts of this book series. Jessica is more forgiving of side-character, Eve, than I would be. I find Eve to be self-centered and pusy, but Jessica is supportive of her friend throughout the book, showing what a loyal friend she is.

This book is a fun way to spend time with favorite characters in a heartwarming holiday story. The emphasis is definitely on the Christmas festivities over the mystery. The murder doesn’t occur until close to the halfway point of the book, and it was very easy to figure out who the killer was. The book is still entertaining as a whole, and I enjoyed reading it, but this installment of the series is more a cozy holiday story than a murder mystery.

~ Christine

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Jessica is looking forward to the holiday season. When a woman is murdered, Jessica will do anything to find the guilty party. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next one.

While this is the 59th in the Murder, She Wrote book series, it is the first one I have read. Being in the middle of the 5th season of the show myself, starting at book 59 did not bother me. I knew the recurring side characters and the vibe of Cabot Cove, Maine.
This really felt like a (long, kind of drawn out) episode of the show. The murder didn't occur until after halfway through the book which was kind of a bummer for me personally. I like more figuring out and less lead up.
In this volume, a house is being sold in Cabot Cove. One of the 2 owners (a sister and brother) disappeared years ago and was declared legally dead by his sister. But now, Kenny comes back to Cabot Cove saying that he still owns the house and that it cannot be sold. When the wife of the man wanting to purchase the house dies, Jessica needs to help figure out if it was Kenny trying to make sure his house doesn't get sold, or if someone else wanted her dead.
I just love Jessica Fletcher as a character. I loved the characters coming in that I already knew like Seth the doctor and then we get the new characters (who of course could all be suspects) specific to the volume. There were a lot of characters, but if you already know the recurring ones, it was easy to keep everyone straight.
The plot was very slow moving throughout the first half. Not much happened, but we did get to know the new characters. Even after the death occurred, it was still slow moving, but more interesting. Jessica and the ladies who were with her at tea before Rose Marie died were questioned by the police and we just kind of moseyed along. There was a very big emphasis on the "cozy" in "cozy mystery" in this one for me. The way Jessica found out who it was (because of course it was her) made sense and the reason behind it made sense and it wrapped up nicely just in time for Christmas.

I have always loved the show, and I have enjoyed many of the books in this series. However, for this one, the murder seemed like a secondary part of the plot, and it occurred far later in the story than expected. As always, it was wonderful to see familiar characters, but there really wasn't much mystery surrounding who the killer was. If you are looking for small-town drama and a bit of the Christmas spirit, this book is a good one to add to your holiday reading list.

Murder, She Wrote stories (both the TV show and the books) are my favorite comfort reads, and this latest entry (number 59!) was a festive five star read! If you’re looking for a mystery to put you in the holiday spirit, look no further. I also grabbed this one on audio from the library and it was a delight to my ears.

What I love most about this series are the cozy descriptions of the settings – whether Jessica is traveling or staying home in Cabot Cove (like she is in this most recent entry), I find myself immersed by the strong sense of place. I adore the cozy details added in as well – such as when Jessica is working on her latest book or having a cup of tea. It all blends so seamlessly together. Cabot Cove’s holiday preparations were fun to be a part of. I loved that we got to experience both Thanksgiving and Christmas with Jessica and her friends. The characters are well developed and their friendships with each other heartwarming.

And of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the mystery. I love tagging along with Jessica as she discovers clues and pieces them together, just as she plots her mysteries. I just knew the first suspect wasn’t guilty, but I certainly didn’t guess the true culprit like Jessica did. Even if you’re not caught up on the series, these can be read as standalones and readers shouldn’t miss out on this treat!

MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Ninth Murder, She Wrote Mystery

Cabot Cove, Maine is gearing up for the holidays, but this year, instead of the usual events, they're going all out. As Cabot Cove tries to be named the state's best holiday destination Jessica Fletcher finds herself on more than one committee! But holiday planning is interrupted when real estate agent Eve Simpson tries to sell the old Jarvis place to Boston tycoon John Bragdon and his wife, Rose Marie. Not only do the rich couple arrive in town, but so does long lost Kenny Jarvis. It's not long after Kenny threatens Rose Marie, saying she'll never live in his house that death comes to Cabot Cove. Was it natural causes, an accident, or murder? Jessica will have to add solve a mysterious death to her holiday to do list.

It's always a treat to visit Cabot Cove, a charming town with fun characters we know and love and murder! The majority of MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS concentrates on providing a holiday atmosphere. From the Thanksgiving preparations and meal to the organization of multiple holiday events there was a hint of mystery with the long lost Kenny and sale of his childhood home, but no dead bodies until halfway through the book. That didn't bother me, however, as I enjoyed hanging around town with Jessica and getting into the holiday spirit.

There were a few mysteries going on in this fifty-ninth Murder, She Wrote Mystery. Where is Kenny and what is he planning to do? Are the judges for the Christmas contest coming to town? Just what's going on with this power couple and their entourage? The murder itself was curious; was it even a murder? It was. And a unique one at that. I love how Jessica goes about solving the case, quietly and unobtrusively, all the while preparing for the holidays.

If you're looking for a charming holiday themed mystery MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS might just be your perfect cup of tea.

Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas is book 59 in the Murder, She Wrote series by Jessica Fletcher; Terrie Farley Moran.
A well plotted out and interesting mystery.
This was a delightful mystery set in Cabot Cove, which are always my favorite anyway, and it was solid. The characterizations of the townspeople we've come to know and love from the series are perfect.
I enjoyed this Jessica Fletcher mystery. It was my first, and it won't be my last. It's better than the TV show. The writing is good, and the characters are well drawn out. There's good tension and pacing.
I will definitely be reading more from this series.

Thank You NetGalley and Berkley for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I just love Murder She Wrote so much! Murder She Wrote: Killer Christmas gave me that warm, fuzzy, cozy feeling that I get when I read a cozy mystery like this! It’s set in Cabot Cove, my favorite Murder She Wrote location, and it takes place during the Christmas season! What could be better?

Though I love following Jessica on her trips across the globe, home is where the heart is, and Cabot Cove is home. I think part of the reason is the familiar characters that I’ve known for years. They’re old friends. Seth, Mort, Maureen, Mara, Dan, Eve, etc. are a big part of what makes Cabot Cove, Cabot Cove! It’s the holiday season beginning with the end of October until Christmas. The town gets the opportunity to compete for the title of Christmas Town in Maine’s tourist brochure, so planning the events takes up quite a bit of the book. I loved that because I love Christmas! I really enjoyed the Thanksgiving dinner Jessica had with her neighbor Maeve and a couple of friends. It was such a cozy scene.

The mystery involves a house that has been sitting empty for years, the seller, the buyers, and the long lost brother of the seller. And poor Eve, the realtor who always has some disaster or another happen when she’s about to make a big sale with a big commission. Just as she’s preparing to make the sale, the long lost brother comes home telling her that he’ll never sell the house! Eve’s not deterred though. She never is. Then the buyer’s wife dies under suspicious circumstances. Poor Eve. I thought that the mystery was well-plotted, and it was fun to follow the clues with Jessica and the police.

If you’re a Murder She Wrote fan, you’re going to love Killer Christmas! I highly recommend it for its very cozy setting, Christmas-y events, familiar characters that we’ve grown to love, and the mystery. I give it five stars!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Nothing gets me in the Christmas spirit quite so well as a trip to Murder She Wrote’s Cabot Cove, Maine. Jessica is expecting A Killer Christmas, what with her nephew, his wife, and their adorable son coming to visit. However, Christmas is a killer this year in more ways than one.
The entire town is competing to become Maine’s Christmas Town with a whirlwind of carols, cookies, kids’ story times, elves, and a Christmas Day parade. Jessica, Seth, Mort and the gang are heavily involved in planning all the events when a woman dies mysteriously. Of course, Jessica must investigate.

All the books in this series are a delight to read. However, this one really amps up the Christmas spirit. Even though it is in the high 90s as I write this in early October, I feel a bit of snowy chill in the air and smell the aroma of gingerbread cookies wafting by. The atmosphere is perfect for reading in a comfy chair with a cup of tea nearby.

If you feel more in a New Year’s Eve mood, you could always take a shot whenever Jessica pours herself some tea or coffee. I guarantee that you will be feeling no pain within the first 100 pages. That lady loves her caffeine!

A Killer Christmas is a fun and relaxing cozy mystery. The whodunnit is easy to solve but that really isn’t the point. The setting, the upbeat characters, and just being with what feels like family is the reason to read this book. It is so enjoyable to hang out with Jessica forty years after first meeting her. She hasn’t aged at all, and now I am suddenly, or so it seems, her contemporary. Weird how that works! 4 stars!

Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced review copy.

I always enjoy a Murder, She Wrote book but this one was an extra special treat as it takes place in Cabot Cove with lots of appearances from series regulars. It's hard not to feel cozy with Jessica and Seth and all the other familiar characters dashing around Cabot Cove trying to get it ready for Christmas. There's the pressure of a Christmas competition and realtor Eve is driving everyone crazy stressing over a sale to a weathy Bostonian.

While all the side stories get going very quickly it does take awhile for the murder to show up. I was enjoying the story and had forgotten that where Jessica Fletcher goes murder follows. When the body finally drops it was fun to get pulled into the investigation as only Jessica can investigate with the help of Seth and Sheriff Metzger of course. I did guess the whos and whys but I enjoyed getting to the solutiohn and seeing how Jessica worked everything else.

This was a fun cozy mystery that's a good cozy Christmas-y read especially if you are a fan of Murder, She Wrote and enjoy a good cozy mystery. It's not the most memorable of reads but it was fun and entertaining which is pretty much exactly what I expect when I pick up a book in this series (or watch an epsidoe of the show)!

Reliable as ever, this Murder She Wrote book was a fast and satisfying read. All the expected characters were here and most of the town was involved with Christmas preparations when there is an unexpected death…whether it was an accident, murder or suicide was not determined immediately. During a tea break with Maureen Metzger, Jessica gets a clue that cracks the case open. Now Jessica can have her happy holiday with her family, Grady, Donna and young Frank.

Murder, She Wrote never gets old for me. I love re-watching the shows and reading the books in the series. I was very excited to read A Killer Christmas.

The book is set in Cabot Cove in the Christmas season. Jessica Fletcher and the rest of the community are trying to plan a Christmas festival. Jessica attends a dinner and witnesses someone make dramatic threats. She then gets pulled into a whodunnit-style mystery involving an old homestead, a long-lost family member, and a mysterious death.

The author, Terrie Moran, does an amazing job of getting Jessica's character just right in this series. She really hits the mark in A Killer Christmas. I can almost hear Angela Lansbury's voice as I read it.

The story incorporates many recurring characters, including Realtor Eve Simpson, beauty parlor owner Lorretta, physician Seth, and the mayor. The holiday adds to the fun. The mystery is good and included several well-laid clues.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Killer Christmas and recommend it to anyone who likes Murder, She Wrote and seasonal mysteries.

Thanks to Net Galley and Berkley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.