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Murder, She Wrote #57
Fit for Murder
Jessica Fletcher learns that exercise can be murder in this new entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series.
Former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Evelyn Phillips is back in Cabot Cove. Evelyn tells Jessica and Seth that she got a couple of really weird notes from Bertha Mae Cormier so she’s come back to town to check on her old friend. She demands that Jessica come with her to see Bertha Mae, who is a bit dithery but no more so than Jessica remembers her being in recent years.
Jessica does become somewhat concerned when Bertha Mae starts to talk about her new neighbor, Martin Terranova. He is quite charming and very health conscious and he teaches yoga and meditation in his pool house. Maureen Metzger says that she and Bertha Mae became friends in Terranova’s class and mentions how solicitous he is to his older clients.
Jessica attends one of his classes and does notice that Terranova is flirtatious with several elderly clients, especially Bertha Mae. Evelyn is becoming convinced that Bertha Mae is being mesmerized by Terranova and that he is after Bertha Mae’s money. A short while late, Martin turns up dead in his weight room. What at first blush seems to be an accident, soon proves to be murder and Jessica must put her investigative skills to the test when Evelyn becomes the prime suspect.
Former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Evelyn Phillips is back in Cabot Cove. Evelyn tells Jessica and Seth that she got a couple of really weird notes from Bertha Mae Cormier so she’s come back to town to check on her old friend. She demands that Jessica come with her to see Bertha Mae, who is a bit dithery but no more so than Jessica remembers her being in recent years.
Jessica does become somewhat concerned when Bertha Mae starts to talk about her new neighbor, Martin Terranova. He is quite charming and very health conscious and he teaches yoga and meditation in his pool house. Maureen Metzger says that she and Bertha Mae became friends in Terranova’s class and mentions how solicitous he is to his older clients.
Jessica attends one of his classes and does notice that Terranova is flirtatious with several elderly clients, especially Bertha Mae. Evelyn is becoming convinced that Bertha Mae is being mesmerized by Terranova and that he is after Bertha Mae’s money. A short while late, Martin turns up dead in his weight room. What at first blush seems to be an accident, soon proves to be murder and Jessica must put her investigative skills to the test when Evelyn becomes the prime suspect.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2024
76 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Fletcher
115 books1,060 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Jessica Fletcher (born Jessica Beatrice MacGill, and writes under the initialed J.B. Fletcher) is a fictional character from the US television series Murder, She Wrote.
In keeping with the spirit of the TV show, a series of official original novels have been written by American ghostwriter Donald Bain and published by the New American Library. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." When the first novel in the series, Gin and Daggers, was published in 1989 it included several inaccuracies to the TV series including Jessica driving a car which she could not do as she never learned to drive. Due to fans pointing out the errors, the novel was republished in 2000 with most of the inaccuracies corrected.
Source: Wikipedia
Jessica Fletcher (born Jessica Beatrice MacGill, and writes under the initialed J.B. Fletcher) is a fictional character from the US television series Murder, She Wrote.
In keeping with the spirit of the TV show, a series of official original novels have been written by American ghostwriter Donald Bain and published by the New American Library. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." When the first novel in the series, Gin and Daggers, was published in 1989 it included several inaccuracies to the TV series including Jessica driving a car which she could not do as she never learned to drive. Due to fans pointing out the errors, the novel was republished in 2000 with most of the inaccuracies corrected.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 11, 2024
Fit for Murder is the 57th, and latest installment, in the long-running and beloved Cozy Mystery series, Murder, She Wrote.
If I am counting correctly, this is the 36th-book that I have read in the series. I absolutely adore Jessica Fletcher. These are my go-to, number one, comfort reads.
They're nostalgic, relaxing and always entertaining. I just love MSW and its intrepid amateur sleuth.
This mystery is entirely set in Jessica's hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine. As much as I love when Jessica travels, getting to learn about different places and being dazzled by new settings, I do always love a story set in Cabot Cove.
I enjoy the comfort of being with Jessica at home, surrounded by her very best friends, and often nosy neighbors. This installment was no exception to that.
This mystery involves a new-to-town fitness instructor, Martin Terranova, who causes quite the stir by paying a little too much attention to some of his older clientele.
One woman in particular, Bertha Mae Cormier, whose property abuts Terranova's gym, appears to be of particular interest to the trainer, decades her junior.
When one-time Cabot Cove Gazette editor, Evelyn Phillips, points out the startlingly-unbalanced relationship to Jessica, she can't help but agree.
The optics aren't great, but what could Terranova stand to gain from a relationship with Bertha Mae?
Shortly after Terranova comes to Jessica's attention, he is found dead in his weight room. Before you even say it, no, Jessica didn't do it. We all know that, but someone did.
We go along with Jessica as she digs into Terranova's past and tries to suss out the killer.
With Jessica's friend Evelyn as the leading suspect, the clock is ticking. Jessica needs to get to the bottom of this and quickly, before Evelyn takes the fall.
This was a fun one. I love how in a tither the whole town got about this guy's presence. It was like they had never seen a personal trainer before. People flocked to him, but were also highly suspicious of everything he did.
There were a lot of interactions amongst the townspeople during Jessica's investigation and I really enjoyed that. Many of the characters, most actually, we've met before in previous installments, so it was fun seeing them again.
I also enjoyed Evelyn being back and she and Jessica working together. Evelyn is bullheaded and has a tendency to steamroll through anything in her path, but Jessica seems to be a calming force for her. That worked well here.
There was some drama included involving the town Budget Office, which I wasn't expecting and frankly, I'm not sure why was included. The book was exciting enough just following the mystery surrounding Terranova's murder.
With that being said though, that was really the only thing I felt was a little wonky. Overall, I have been so delighted with Terrie Farley Moran being at the helm of this series.
Since the passing of the series original author, Donald Bain, Farley Moran has done the best job of capturing the original tone and feel of the series. I am so happy this long-running series is still going strong and I will continue to pick them up for as long as they are published.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Another great installment from Terrie Farley Moran. These books are the epitome of Cozy to me, and I'll continue reading them until the end of time. Keep 'em coming!!!
If I am counting correctly, this is the 36th-book that I have read in the series. I absolutely adore Jessica Fletcher. These are my go-to, number one, comfort reads.
They're nostalgic, relaxing and always entertaining. I just love MSW and its intrepid amateur sleuth.
This mystery is entirely set in Jessica's hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine. As much as I love when Jessica travels, getting to learn about different places and being dazzled by new settings, I do always love a story set in Cabot Cove.
I enjoy the comfort of being with Jessica at home, surrounded by her very best friends, and often nosy neighbors. This installment was no exception to that.
This mystery involves a new-to-town fitness instructor, Martin Terranova, who causes quite the stir by paying a little too much attention to some of his older clientele.
One woman in particular, Bertha Mae Cormier, whose property abuts Terranova's gym, appears to be of particular interest to the trainer, decades her junior.
When one-time Cabot Cove Gazette editor, Evelyn Phillips, points out the startlingly-unbalanced relationship to Jessica, she can't help but agree.
The optics aren't great, but what could Terranova stand to gain from a relationship with Bertha Mae?
Shortly after Terranova comes to Jessica's attention, he is found dead in his weight room. Before you even say it, no, Jessica didn't do it. We all know that, but someone did.
We go along with Jessica as she digs into Terranova's past and tries to suss out the killer.
With Jessica's friend Evelyn as the leading suspect, the clock is ticking. Jessica needs to get to the bottom of this and quickly, before Evelyn takes the fall.
This was a fun one. I love how in a tither the whole town got about this guy's presence. It was like they had never seen a personal trainer before. People flocked to him, but were also highly suspicious of everything he did.
There were a lot of interactions amongst the townspeople during Jessica's investigation and I really enjoyed that. Many of the characters, most actually, we've met before in previous installments, so it was fun seeing them again.
I also enjoyed Evelyn being back and she and Jessica working together. Evelyn is bullheaded and has a tendency to steamroll through anything in her path, but Jessica seems to be a calming force for her. That worked well here.
There was some drama included involving the town Budget Office, which I wasn't expecting and frankly, I'm not sure why was included. The book was exciting enough just following the mystery surrounding Terranova's murder.
With that being said though, that was really the only thing I felt was a little wonky. Overall, I have been so delighted with Terrie Farley Moran being at the helm of this series.
Since the passing of the series original author, Donald Bain, Farley Moran has done the best job of capturing the original tone and feel of the series. I am so happy this long-running series is still going strong and I will continue to pick them up for as long as they are published.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Another great installment from Terrie Farley Moran. These books are the epitome of Cozy to me, and I'll continue reading them until the end of time. Keep 'em coming!!!
February 10, 2024
Dollycas's Thoughts
I have wanted to jump back into this series for a while and was happy to do it with this book. In Fit for Murder, the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Evelyn Phillips, returns to town because she is worried about Bertha Mae Cormier and her "weird" behavior. When she receives no help from Dr. Seth Hazlitt, she insists Jessica come with her to pay a visit on the woman. At first, Jessica sees no real change in Bertha Mae, but then when the over 80-year-old woman starts to talk about a "show starting" she does get a little concerned. Then they see Bertha Mae's new neighbor, Martin Terranova, appear outside his home/business and hop on a treadmill. Apparently, he is the show. Bertha Mae is clearly smitten with the man and she explains that by taking his classes she has become a new woman.
Jessica and Evelyn decide to attend the next class with Bertha Mae and they notice Mr. Terranova is very flirty and attentive to Bertha Mae and to his other elderly clients. Evelyn is positive the man is after Bertha Mae's money and she is going to prove it. But before she gets a chance, Martin Terranova is found dead and it wasn't an accident. He was murdered and sadly the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette is going to need Jessica's help because she is the #1 suspect in his death.
____
The reason I love this series is that it unfolds just like an episode of the popular television show that I have started binging on again now that all 12 seasons are available to watch on Peacock. While many of the actors from the series including Angela Landsbury have passed away I love that Terrie Farley Moran and Berkley have kept them alive and on new adventures of crime-solving in these books. I enjoy all the relationships Jessica has built over the years and that the author continues to bring new people to Cabot Cove to keep these stories current and fresh.
The author has plotted out an interesting mystery. Gym owner Martin Terranova was clearly up to something to get himself killed. Jessica is going to help Sheriff Mort Metzger prove it. She gets some assistance from the new editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Dan Andrews, as she tries to find out if the victim has a pattern of deceit. As expected the sheriff isn't always happy with Jessica's efforts but when she finds more suspects and evidence the sheriff's deputies missed he has to admit the woman has great instincts and the ability to make clues fit together. It is fun to tag along with her and see how her mind makes sense of all the information she takes in. Some clues really stood out to me and they put me on the right track to pin down the killer.
Ms. Moran tangled an intriguing subplot within the murder mystery regarding some shenanigans at the fire department. Of course, Jessica gets involved there too making sure the right person is held accountable.
My visit to Cabot Cove was fun and entertaining. Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder is well-plotted and well-written. If you are like me and have fallen behind on this series or if you a new to Jessica Fletcher and her amateur sleuthing this is the perfect book for you. Readers are given enough history about the characters and Cabot Cove to dive right in.
It looks like Jessica and her friends are going to be busy this year! Book 58, Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage will be released on April 2, 2024, followed by Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas on October 8, 2024.
I have wanted to jump back into this series for a while and was happy to do it with this book. In Fit for Murder, the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Evelyn Phillips, returns to town because she is worried about Bertha Mae Cormier and her "weird" behavior. When she receives no help from Dr. Seth Hazlitt, she insists Jessica come with her to pay a visit on the woman. At first, Jessica sees no real change in Bertha Mae, but then when the over 80-year-old woman starts to talk about a "show starting" she does get a little concerned. Then they see Bertha Mae's new neighbor, Martin Terranova, appear outside his home/business and hop on a treadmill. Apparently, he is the show. Bertha Mae is clearly smitten with the man and she explains that by taking his classes she has become a new woman.
Jessica and Evelyn decide to attend the next class with Bertha Mae and they notice Mr. Terranova is very flirty and attentive to Bertha Mae and to his other elderly clients. Evelyn is positive the man is after Bertha Mae's money and she is going to prove it. But before she gets a chance, Martin Terranova is found dead and it wasn't an accident. He was murdered and sadly the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette is going to need Jessica's help because she is the #1 suspect in his death.
____
The reason I love this series is that it unfolds just like an episode of the popular television show that I have started binging on again now that all 12 seasons are available to watch on Peacock. While many of the actors from the series including Angela Landsbury have passed away I love that Terrie Farley Moran and Berkley have kept them alive and on new adventures of crime-solving in these books. I enjoy all the relationships Jessica has built over the years and that the author continues to bring new people to Cabot Cove to keep these stories current and fresh.
The author has plotted out an interesting mystery. Gym owner Martin Terranova was clearly up to something to get himself killed. Jessica is going to help Sheriff Mort Metzger prove it. She gets some assistance from the new editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Dan Andrews, as she tries to find out if the victim has a pattern of deceit. As expected the sheriff isn't always happy with Jessica's efforts but when she finds more suspects and evidence the sheriff's deputies missed he has to admit the woman has great instincts and the ability to make clues fit together. It is fun to tag along with her and see how her mind makes sense of all the information she takes in. Some clues really stood out to me and they put me on the right track to pin down the killer.
Ms. Moran tangled an intriguing subplot within the murder mystery regarding some shenanigans at the fire department. Of course, Jessica gets involved there too making sure the right person is held accountable.
My visit to Cabot Cove was fun and entertaining. Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder is well-plotted and well-written. If you are like me and have fallen behind on this series or if you a new to Jessica Fletcher and her amateur sleuthing this is the perfect book for you. Readers are given enough history about the characters and Cabot Cove to dive right in.
It looks like Jessica and her friends are going to be busy this year! Book 58, Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage will be released on April 2, 2024, followed by Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas on October 8, 2024.
February 25, 2024
We all know the hesitation we have when one of our favorite books becomes a TV show or a movie. But what about when one of our favorite TV shows becomes a book? I have been a Murder, She Wrote TV show fan since its original run (yes, I’m dating myself) and even now it’s one of my ‘comfort shows’. And the only reason (besides lack of time) that it’s taken me until book 57 to give this series of novels a try is that I was nervous as to how it would match up with all the things I love about the TV show. Well, I needn’t have worried. As I was reading Murder She Wrote: Fit For Murder I could hear the beloved characters’ voices (especially Seth’s!) and see them on the screen of my mind just as clearly as if I was watching it as a TV episode. Terrie Farley Moran has done an excellent job of staying true to the cadence and tone of the show while continuing to keep the characters engaging and the plot original.
In our new visit to Cabot Cove (and I’m so glad that my first dip into this series is one that’s set in this fave locale), Jessica welcomes back an old friend and becomes concerned about another one. There are several ever-evolving layers to this mystery, preeminent among them being murder, and the growing suspect list covers longtime residents and newcomers alike as well as doing double duty when a secondary mystery comes to the forefront too. Jessica’s first person POV allows us to tag along for the investigation and get a taste of life in Cabot Cove in the process – if only we could taste the delicious food they eat too! The mysteries took some turns I didn’t predict, and I enjoyed ‘helping’ Jessica figure out whodunit.
Bottom Line: Author Terrie Farley Moran excels at staying true to the voice and vibe of the original characters and maintaining the timeless nature of Cabot Cove while also creating new people and stories to entertain us. Fit For Murder may start with innocuous neighborly concern for an elderly Cabot Cove resident but it soon moves into some interesting subplots as twisty as the most complex yoga pose. Fans of Murder, She Wrote will be delighted by this return to the world of Jessica Fletcher, whether they’ve been following the books from the beginning or – like me – are just tuning in.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
In our new visit to Cabot Cove (and I’m so glad that my first dip into this series is one that’s set in this fave locale), Jessica welcomes back an old friend and becomes concerned about another one. There are several ever-evolving layers to this mystery, preeminent among them being murder, and the growing suspect list covers longtime residents and newcomers alike as well as doing double duty when a secondary mystery comes to the forefront too. Jessica’s first person POV allows us to tag along for the investigation and get a taste of life in Cabot Cove in the process – if only we could taste the delicious food they eat too! The mysteries took some turns I didn’t predict, and I enjoyed ‘helping’ Jessica figure out whodunit.
Bottom Line: Author Terrie Farley Moran excels at staying true to the voice and vibe of the original characters and maintaining the timeless nature of Cabot Cove while also creating new people and stories to entertain us. Fit For Murder may start with innocuous neighborly concern for an elderly Cabot Cove resident but it soon moves into some interesting subplots as twisty as the most complex yoga pose. Fans of Murder, She Wrote will be delighted by this return to the world of Jessica Fletcher, whether they’ve been following the books from the beginning or – like me – are just tuning in.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
March 8, 2024
I don't want to be unduly harsh here, but I really, really miss Donald Bain. While Terrie Farley Moran "understands the assignment" to a degree, I continue to find that her MSW books hit the marks only on the most surface-level elements of these mysteries that so many of us love.
For instance, this Cabot Cove-based outing has plenty of cozy elements: you know we all want to go to Mara's with Seth, maybe have a cup of tea with Maeve o' Bannon, maybe swing by Charles' department store ... we do all that AND more, but I just can't shake the feeling that these books are ultimately under-written and lack even the tiniest element of grit or drama. Jessica, as a result, is bland. Every conversation is functional and is written without a unique voice, then plugged into the mouth of whatever townie needs to be speaking at the moment.
I also would have liked to see the multiple threads/storylines actually inform each other, rather than just existing in parallel. Why bother having Evelyn Phillips teased as an early suspect if Evelyn doesn't wind up having any small character arc in the story? Why have a subplot about the fire department if this subplot doesn't impact the main mystery? Why is Jessica randomly working on a book about San Diego?
The biggest problem with writing a cozy ONLY as a cozy is that there are no stakes to Jessica's success. Jon Land, during his brief tenure as writer of these books, often elevated the stakes to the level of the thriller genre. Donald Bain even elevated the stakes to a degree that was sometimes comical (Jessica is kidnapped, threatened, bonked on the head, set adrift on a lobster boat, etc) -- but he knew how to do it without unduly stressing the reader. By contrast, the worst thing that happens in this book is that Jessica startles Hilly Davis by calling out "Hello?" at Martin Terranova's house, and that people gossip about Oscar Cisneros so much that HE GOES TO THE LIBRARY AND CHECKS OUT BOOKS ABOUT OTHER CITIES. Lol I am not making that up. That was the highest drama here!
I don't want to just be rude about this book, so here are some things I did like: I liked spending time with Dan Andrews and the scenes where he and Jessica did research. TFM would do well to emphasize this kind of sleuthing in future books.
For instance, this Cabot Cove-based outing has plenty of cozy elements: you know we all want to go to Mara's with Seth, maybe have a cup of tea with Maeve o' Bannon, maybe swing by Charles' department store ... we do all that AND more, but I just can't shake the feeling that these books are ultimately under-written and lack even the tiniest element of grit or drama. Jessica, as a result, is bland. Every conversation is functional and is written without a unique voice, then plugged into the mouth of whatever townie needs to be speaking at the moment.
I also would have liked to see the multiple threads/storylines actually inform each other, rather than just existing in parallel. Why bother having Evelyn Phillips teased as an early suspect if Evelyn doesn't wind up having any small character arc in the story? Why have a subplot about the fire department if this subplot doesn't impact the main mystery? Why is Jessica randomly working on a book about San Diego?
The biggest problem with writing a cozy ONLY as a cozy is that there are no stakes to Jessica's success. Jon Land, during his brief tenure as writer of these books, often elevated the stakes to the level of the thriller genre. Donald Bain even elevated the stakes to a degree that was sometimes comical (Jessica is kidnapped, threatened, bonked on the head, set adrift on a lobster boat, etc) -- but he knew how to do it without unduly stressing the reader. By contrast, the worst thing that happens in this book is that Jessica startles Hilly Davis by calling out "Hello?" at Martin Terranova's house, and that people gossip about Oscar Cisneros so much that HE GOES TO THE LIBRARY AND CHECKS OUT BOOKS ABOUT OTHER CITIES. Lol I am not making that up. That was the highest drama here!
I don't want to just be rude about this book, so here are some things I did like: I liked spending time with Dan Andrews and the scenes where he and Jessica did research. TFM would do well to emphasize this kind of sleuthing in future books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
Any trip back to Cabot Cove will be wonderful for me cause those episodes were always my fave. Even if the mystery sucks. But this one was fun. The book could have been longer to tighten up a few things in said mystery. But what a joy returning to this world with these people. Love love love!!!
August 25, 2024
Fans of cozy mysteries and the Murder She Wrote series will probably love this newest installment of the Murder She Wrote series. It has everything you want from the genre as a whole and the quaint nostalgia of the series.
I don’t know why I thought I should have my first Murder She Wrote book be the newest in the series. This was my first time delving into one of these beloved books, and I’m sorry to say that I wasn’t a big fan.
All of the good aspects of the series sound somewhat appealing for a good story. Famous mystery book author, Jessica Fletcher, is the main character surrounded by her closest friends and the many townspeople in the quaint Maine town of Cabot Cove. When there is a murder of a fairly new resident of the community, Jessica sleuths alongside others to try to solve the mystery and find the killer.
I presume this book follows a similar format to the others in the series. It has a lot going for it in line with the genre.
But for me it was so corny and cheesy and annoying. It just went on and on. So many details and descriptions that I didn’t care about, and so many random people were added to the story as it went along. I kept wishing it would be over! I considered not finishing, but I hate to DNF. I could give it 4⭐️’s because it does what it sets out to do. But I can’t say I’d recommend this to anyone as a really great book. Unless you’re a huge fan of Murder She Wrote. I can see how many will love it. But it wasn’t enjoyable for me.
I don’t know why I thought I should have my first Murder She Wrote book be the newest in the series. This was my first time delving into one of these beloved books, and I’m sorry to say that I wasn’t a big fan.
All of the good aspects of the series sound somewhat appealing for a good story. Famous mystery book author, Jessica Fletcher, is the main character surrounded by her closest friends and the many townspeople in the quaint Maine town of Cabot Cove. When there is a murder of a fairly new resident of the community, Jessica sleuths alongside others to try to solve the mystery and find the killer.
I presume this book follows a similar format to the others in the series. It has a lot going for it in line with the genre.
But for me it was so corny and cheesy and annoying. It just went on and on. So many details and descriptions that I didn’t care about, and so many random people were added to the story as it went along. I kept wishing it would be over! I considered not finishing, but I hate to DNF. I could give it 4⭐️’s because it does what it sets out to do. But I can’t say I’d recommend this to anyone as a really great book. Unless you’re a huge fan of Murder She Wrote. I can see how many will love it. But it wasn’t enjoyable for me.
March 19, 2024
The older ladies of Cabot Cove are gushing over the new gym owner, Martin Terranova, who is offering up yoga classes, exercise classes, weight lifting classes in his newly opened Perfection Gym.
Bertha Mae lives right next door to Martin and has found a new lease on life after attending Martin's yoga and meditation classes and getting an unusual amount of extra attention from the fit young man.
Until the day he is found dead in his gym. And Jessica is hot on the trail of whodunit.
Another good solid Jessica Fletcher novel.
Bertha Mae lives right next door to Martin and has found a new lease on life after attending Martin's yoga and meditation classes and getting an unusual amount of extra attention from the fit young man.
Until the day he is found dead in his gym. And Jessica is hot on the trail of whodunit.
Another good solid Jessica Fletcher novel.
February 20, 2025
Stars:3 / 5
Recommendation: Although less complex, the plot is not straight forward, and you will not know until the killer is revealed as to who that is. They are nostalgic and entertaining. Definitely takes you back to the TV show, even though many actors from the TV show including Angela Lansbury have passed away, a praise to Berkley and the plethora of ghost writers to keep them alive.
Fit for Murder is the 57th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Terrie Farley Moran & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on January of 2024.
This is my take on the series of books written by a plethora of authors and Jessica Fletcher (fictional author) based on the 80s and 90s popular American crime drama television series Murder, She Wrote. These books are ghost written by Donald Bain and fictional author Jessica Fletcher for the first 43 books until 2015. Then Donald Bain wrote these with Renee Paley Bain and Jon Land for four more books. After Donald Bain passed away in 2017, Jon Land alone took the baton and continued with Jessica Fletcher for 5 more books until 2020. Starting 2021 the series was picked by Terrie Farley Moran again pairing with the fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. As of October 2024, 59 books have been written in this series. They are mostly written in first person narration.
I was glad to see Angela Lansbury's estate allowed author Terrie Farley Moran to continue writing books using Jessica Fletcher, Angela's alter ego, as co-author. However it took a year before the next book was published.
In this installment Cabot Cove Gazette's former editor, Evelyn Phillips returns to Cabot Cove to check on her longtime friend Bertha Mae Cormier only to find her mesmerized by her new neighbor Martin Terranova, a yoga instructor. But Evelyn herself become prime suspect when Martin is murdered, and Jessica has to use all her wits to rescue her dear friend.
We are back in Cabot Cove with this book and get to see some regulars from past books in this tale. Author however dedicates the book to her son Robert Adam Moran. In Debonair in Death (#54), we saw that Evelyn Phillip had left Cabot Cove and was settling either in Baltimore or Chicago. In this book we see that she comes back to Cabot Cove from Chicago.
Another thing we see is that in helping Coreen Wilson in the murder in Debonair in Death (#54), Loretta promises Jessica that she will never ask her to do a change-up, yet in this book looks like Author Terrie forgot about that, and Loretta goes back to being Loretta again. :)
The story is no way related by bits and pieces I see reflected in her from the episode 6, A Body to Die For in Season 7. At least the fitness center is common although the purpose is different. :). Atleast we got to read about a few Yoga poses, itching me to get back to my Yoga again. :)
We never wonder what happens to the innocent bystanders who get exposed albeit they might have not committed a crime. Author touches on that fact subtly with the character Oscar Cisneros in the plot.
Eve Simpson and Evelyn Phillips, are two characters from this series that always grated on me. Although Evelyn Phillips was not part of the TV show, Eve Simpson was. And true to that tone, Evelyn gets on Jessica's nerves with her brash investigatory nature. Yet, I am amazed that Jessica outs herself on the line with the killer to save her. I guess Jessica cannot resist a good murder mystery. :)
Nora Roberts novels changed the pace from being strong and deep for her characters in her books or plot prior to 2009, since 2009 her book have become more placid, serene and although deep less complex in both plot and her characters. I feel the same thing with Terrie Moran. As much as these are cozy mysteries, Donald Bain's books are a little more filled with complexity to the plot and characters, while Terrie's are more serene.
Although less complex, the plot is not straight forward, and you will not know until the killer is revealed as to who that is. They are nostalgic and entertaining. Definitely takes you back to the TV show, even though many actors from the TV show including Angela Lansbury have passed away, a praise to Berkley and the plethora of ghost writers to keep them alive.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. Andy Broom becomes Andy Bloom in this. We saw him named as Andy Broom in Debonair in Death (#54) by the same author. :)
b. The second paragraph on Pg. 59, makes little sense to me. Who was speaking those lines? Who was that who wrote it? What does author mean at the end on line 7, "…that’s all she wrote". Very confusing.
c. On Pg. 232, Line 9, Jim had already left in the previous paragraph. Yet Jim is mentioned here instead of Pierce.
d. On Pg. 232, Line 18, there is an extra "to" in the sentence.
2. Plot Reveals:
a. Characters we see here: Bertha Mae Cormier, descendant of one of the first settler; Martin Terranova, owns gym called Perfection; Hillard Davis, an eccentric Cabot Cove resident; Peter Whitlock, Fruit and Veg's delivery truck drive, and his sister Pennyr; Greta Pacyna, ex-housekeeper for Bertha Mae, and her husband Lucius; Oscar Cisneros, town junk man; Charles Evans, who used to run a gas station, now retired and gardens and gossips; Viola Shaw, teacher at elementary school; Jasper Boxley, loan shark;
b. We see that Walter Hendon, the harbormaster, who we saw had a prominent role in Debonair in Death (#54) by Terrie Farley Moran (https://galavantreflections.com/2025/...), retires in this book from his duty as harbormaster. A new person is appointed.
c. Tim Purdy is also a recently retires history teacher but retains his post as Cabot Cove's historian.
3. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard, formerly with British Special Air Service; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his second wife Maureen; Eve Simpson, realtor friend with Cabot Cove Realty called Simpson Realty; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim, Current Mayor of Cabot Cove; Charlene Sassi, baker;
b. Literary contacts and friends: Harry McGraw, her private eye friend; Matt Miller, her literary agent & his wife Susan; Paulette, Matt's assistant; her British Publisher Griffin Semple, son of her original publisher Archibald Semple; Herb Mason, her accountant; Nancy Pollard, Jessica's new publisher as of #55;
c. Other Cabot Cove characters: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, bush pilot and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia, His brother Harvey, owns the local Gas-and-Go; Mara, owns Mara’s Luncheonette, as of #54, Mara has branched out into NH and VT; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel per the 51st book / Thomas Wilkerson per the 47th book; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; Professor Donskoy; Roberta Dougherty, bookstore owner; Richard Koser, photographer, and his wife MaryJane; Barbara DePaoli, Chamber of Commerce's secretary; Anthon Colarusso, dentist; Beth and Peter Mullin, owners of Old Thyme Floral; Sam Davis, investment advisor; Jack Decker, publisher of Cabot Cove's monthly magazine; Peter Eder, Cabot Cove's symphony orchestra; Bob Daros, owns Heritage Fuel; Tim Purdy, treasurer of chamber of commerce and historian and president of Cabot Cove's historical society, and investment advisor, and his wife Ellen; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; Joseph "Joe" Turco, an attorney; Lean, Joe's assistant; Marcia Davis, costume designer; David and Jim Raneri, owners of Charles Department Store; Ralph Mackin, town attorney; Ed and Joan Lerner, retirees; Brenda Brody, copy editor of Cabot Cove Insider; Doug Treyz, dentist, and his wife Tina; Jack and Marilou Decker, publishers of Cabot Cove Insider; Peter and Roberta Walters, owners of the radio station; Horace Teller, publisher of Cabot Cove News; Doris Sitar, assistant manager at Cabot Cove Savings Bank; Dmitri, owner of local taxi company; Phil Wick, field manager of the phone company; John St. Clair, professor of business law at Cabot Cove Community College; Dr. Jennifer "Jenny" Countryman, Seth's partner; Reginald "Reggie" Weems, insurance agent; Richard Jenkins & Sal Marterella, city council members; Jack Wilson, the Veterinarian, and his wife Tobe; Dan Andrews, editor of Cabot Cove Gazette; Maniram Chatterjee & his wife Hita, jewelry shop owners; Sanford Teller, public relations agency; Lee, postmistress; Loretta Spiegel, owns beauty salon; Barnaby Longshoot; Brad Crandall; SeaBasket, a supermarket; Father Donald Barnes; Becky Thayer, owner of Cabot Cove Catering; Doris Ann, librarian; Ansell Hodges, homeless veteran; Clara, Seth's longtime receptionist; Carl Cragg, Ethan's cousin and Building inspector; Demetri and his cousin Nick, Cabot Cove Taxi Service; Ideal Molloy, Jessica's long time neighbor; Lavinia Wahl, another friend; Maeve O'Bannon, Jessica's another neighbor; Dr. Gregory Leung, Cabot Cove Hospital Deputy Administrator; Rosie Santangelo, teaches arts and crafts; Pierce Collymore, harbormaster; Sally Thomson, sales associate at Charles Department Store; Margo Linwood, front desk at Hill House; Edward, Library aide; John Martinez, a library patron; Lorna Mason, Library Committee treasurer; Nancy, a newish committee member; Joseph, maitre d' at Hill House; Coreen Wilson, Loretta's longtime assistant;
d. Sheriff Metzger’s staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks / Broom/ Bloom??; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson and his mother Gloria; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Deputy Evan; Deputy Chip; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher; Officer Edgar; Gladys, a civilian dispatcher; Deputy Billy Simms; NYPD lieutenant with Major Case Squad Artie Gelber; Deputy Muldoon; Deputy Floyd McCallum
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank. Grady plans to open his own accounting firm in book #52.
f. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
g. From the 10th book, Murder in Moscow:
i. There is still no resolution as to who or how Ward Wenington was killed in D.C. and why Vladislav "Vlady" Staritova was killed in Russia. What was the connection?
ii. Alexandra Kozhina disappears at the end of the plot. And will she surface in another book?
h. From the 30th book:
i. Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.
ii. There is no closure as to who actually kills the person in the first murder.
iii. Will Jennifer Kahn, the alleged jewel thief, walk away free since they could only find circumstantial evidence against her and nothing concrete?
i. From the 37th book: If I ever try the sidecar recipe I will have to post it again referring the 37th book. But Angela Lansbury did print a cookbook based on the food items shared either in the episodes or by characters of the series. https://www.silverscreensuppers.com/t...
j. From the 47th book:
i. Mort jokes that Jessica is a magnet for murder; and Jessica quips that can she use that as a title. We know that this title has never been done so far in her books or the fictional ones she wrote on the TV show. May be a future book?
ii. Again we don’t see the criminal Armand Dejong's body found. So did he succumb to the injuries caused by fire or escape?
k. From the 48th book, Manuscript for Murder:
i. We come to know that Mort was in Vietnam that we had never heard either on TV show or the earlier books.
l. From the 51st book, The Murder of Twelve:
i. Author Land gives considerable mystery to Seamus McGilray’s character. I wonder if he resurfaces in a future book.
ii. Towards the end of the book, Mort jokes that Jessica should run for mayor. Hmm…something to look forward to I suppose.
m. From the 54th book, Debonair in Death: Deputy Andy's full name become Andy Broom vs Andy Jenkins.
Recommendation: Although less complex, the plot is not straight forward, and you will not know until the killer is revealed as to who that is. They are nostalgic and entertaining. Definitely takes you back to the TV show, even though many actors from the TV show including Angela Lansbury have passed away, a praise to Berkley and the plethora of ghost writers to keep them alive.
Fit for Murder is the 57th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Terrie Farley Moran & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on January of 2024.
This is my take on the series of books written by a plethora of authors and Jessica Fletcher (fictional author) based on the 80s and 90s popular American crime drama television series Murder, She Wrote. These books are ghost written by Donald Bain and fictional author Jessica Fletcher for the first 43 books until 2015. Then Donald Bain wrote these with Renee Paley Bain and Jon Land for four more books. After Donald Bain passed away in 2017, Jon Land alone took the baton and continued with Jessica Fletcher for 5 more books until 2020. Starting 2021 the series was picked by Terrie Farley Moran again pairing with the fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. As of October 2024, 59 books have been written in this series. They are mostly written in first person narration.
I was glad to see Angela Lansbury's estate allowed author Terrie Farley Moran to continue writing books using Jessica Fletcher, Angela's alter ego, as co-author. However it took a year before the next book was published.
In this installment Cabot Cove Gazette's former editor, Evelyn Phillips returns to Cabot Cove to check on her longtime friend Bertha Mae Cormier only to find her mesmerized by her new neighbor Martin Terranova, a yoga instructor. But Evelyn herself become prime suspect when Martin is murdered, and Jessica has to use all her wits to rescue her dear friend.
We are back in Cabot Cove with this book and get to see some regulars from past books in this tale. Author however dedicates the book to her son Robert Adam Moran. In Debonair in Death (#54), we saw that Evelyn Phillip had left Cabot Cove and was settling either in Baltimore or Chicago. In this book we see that she comes back to Cabot Cove from Chicago.
Another thing we see is that in helping Coreen Wilson in the murder in Debonair in Death (#54), Loretta promises Jessica that she will never ask her to do a change-up, yet in this book looks like Author Terrie forgot about that, and Loretta goes back to being Loretta again. :)
The story is no way related by bits and pieces I see reflected in her from the episode 6, A Body to Die For in Season 7. At least the fitness center is common although the purpose is different. :). Atleast we got to read about a few Yoga poses, itching me to get back to my Yoga again. :)
We never wonder what happens to the innocent bystanders who get exposed albeit they might have not committed a crime. Author touches on that fact subtly with the character Oscar Cisneros in the plot.
Eve Simpson and Evelyn Phillips, are two characters from this series that always grated on me. Although Evelyn Phillips was not part of the TV show, Eve Simpson was. And true to that tone, Evelyn gets on Jessica's nerves with her brash investigatory nature. Yet, I am amazed that Jessica outs herself on the line with the killer to save her. I guess Jessica cannot resist a good murder mystery. :)
Nora Roberts novels changed the pace from being strong and deep for her characters in her books or plot prior to 2009, since 2009 her book have become more placid, serene and although deep less complex in both plot and her characters. I feel the same thing with Terrie Moran. As much as these are cozy mysteries, Donald Bain's books are a little more filled with complexity to the plot and characters, while Terrie's are more serene.
Although less complex, the plot is not straight forward, and you will not know until the killer is revealed as to who that is. They are nostalgic and entertaining. Definitely takes you back to the TV show, even though many actors from the TV show including Angela Lansbury have passed away, a praise to Berkley and the plethora of ghost writers to keep them alive.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. Andy Broom becomes Andy Bloom in this. We saw him named as Andy Broom in Debonair in Death (#54) by the same author. :)
b. The second paragraph on Pg. 59, makes little sense to me. Who was speaking those lines? Who was that who wrote it? What does author mean at the end on line 7, "…that’s all she wrote". Very confusing.
c. On Pg. 232, Line 9, Jim had already left in the previous paragraph. Yet Jim is mentioned here instead of Pierce.
d. On Pg. 232, Line 18, there is an extra "to" in the sentence.
2. Plot Reveals:
a. Characters we see here: Bertha Mae Cormier, descendant of one of the first settler; Martin Terranova, owns gym called Perfection; Hillard Davis, an eccentric Cabot Cove resident; Peter Whitlock, Fruit and Veg's delivery truck drive, and his sister Pennyr; Greta Pacyna, ex-housekeeper for Bertha Mae, and her husband Lucius; Oscar Cisneros, town junk man; Charles Evans, who used to run a gas station, now retired and gardens and gossips; Viola Shaw, teacher at elementary school; Jasper Boxley, loan shark;
b. We see that Walter Hendon, the harbormaster, who we saw had a prominent role in Debonair in Death (#54) by Terrie Farley Moran (https://galavantreflections.com/2025/...), retires in this book from his duty as harbormaster. A new person is appointed.
c. Tim Purdy is also a recently retires history teacher but retains his post as Cabot Cove's historian.
3. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard, formerly with British Special Air Service; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his second wife Maureen; Eve Simpson, realtor friend with Cabot Cove Realty called Simpson Realty; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim, Current Mayor of Cabot Cove; Charlene Sassi, baker;
b. Literary contacts and friends: Harry McGraw, her private eye friend; Matt Miller, her literary agent & his wife Susan; Paulette, Matt's assistant; her British Publisher Griffin Semple, son of her original publisher Archibald Semple; Herb Mason, her accountant; Nancy Pollard, Jessica's new publisher as of #55;
c. Other Cabot Cove characters: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, bush pilot and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia, His brother Harvey, owns the local Gas-and-Go; Mara, owns Mara’s Luncheonette, as of #54, Mara has branched out into NH and VT; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel per the 51st book / Thomas Wilkerson per the 47th book; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; Professor Donskoy; Roberta Dougherty, bookstore owner; Richard Koser, photographer, and his wife MaryJane; Barbara DePaoli, Chamber of Commerce's secretary; Anthon Colarusso, dentist; Beth and Peter Mullin, owners of Old Thyme Floral; Sam Davis, investment advisor; Jack Decker, publisher of Cabot Cove's monthly magazine; Peter Eder, Cabot Cove's symphony orchestra; Bob Daros, owns Heritage Fuel; Tim Purdy, treasurer of chamber of commerce and historian and president of Cabot Cove's historical society, and investment advisor, and his wife Ellen; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; Joseph "Joe" Turco, an attorney; Lean, Joe's assistant; Marcia Davis, costume designer; David and Jim Raneri, owners of Charles Department Store; Ralph Mackin, town attorney; Ed and Joan Lerner, retirees; Brenda Brody, copy editor of Cabot Cove Insider; Doug Treyz, dentist, and his wife Tina; Jack and Marilou Decker, publishers of Cabot Cove Insider; Peter and Roberta Walters, owners of the radio station; Horace Teller, publisher of Cabot Cove News; Doris Sitar, assistant manager at Cabot Cove Savings Bank; Dmitri, owner of local taxi company; Phil Wick, field manager of the phone company; John St. Clair, professor of business law at Cabot Cove Community College; Dr. Jennifer "Jenny" Countryman, Seth's partner; Reginald "Reggie" Weems, insurance agent; Richard Jenkins & Sal Marterella, city council members; Jack Wilson, the Veterinarian, and his wife Tobe; Dan Andrews, editor of Cabot Cove Gazette; Maniram Chatterjee & his wife Hita, jewelry shop owners; Sanford Teller, public relations agency; Lee, postmistress; Loretta Spiegel, owns beauty salon; Barnaby Longshoot; Brad Crandall; SeaBasket, a supermarket; Father Donald Barnes; Becky Thayer, owner of Cabot Cove Catering; Doris Ann, librarian; Ansell Hodges, homeless veteran; Clara, Seth's longtime receptionist; Carl Cragg, Ethan's cousin and Building inspector; Demetri and his cousin Nick, Cabot Cove Taxi Service; Ideal Molloy, Jessica's long time neighbor; Lavinia Wahl, another friend; Maeve O'Bannon, Jessica's another neighbor; Dr. Gregory Leung, Cabot Cove Hospital Deputy Administrator; Rosie Santangelo, teaches arts and crafts; Pierce Collymore, harbormaster; Sally Thomson, sales associate at Charles Department Store; Margo Linwood, front desk at Hill House; Edward, Library aide; John Martinez, a library patron; Lorna Mason, Library Committee treasurer; Nancy, a newish committee member; Joseph, maitre d' at Hill House; Coreen Wilson, Loretta's longtime assistant;
d. Sheriff Metzger’s staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks / Broom/ Bloom??; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson and his mother Gloria; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Deputy Evan; Deputy Chip; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher; Officer Edgar; Gladys, a civilian dispatcher; Deputy Billy Simms; NYPD lieutenant with Major Case Squad Artie Gelber; Deputy Muldoon; Deputy Floyd McCallum
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank. Grady plans to open his own accounting firm in book #52.
f. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
g. From the 10th book, Murder in Moscow:
i. There is still no resolution as to who or how Ward Wenington was killed in D.C. and why Vladislav "Vlady" Staritova was killed in Russia. What was the connection?
ii. Alexandra Kozhina disappears at the end of the plot. And will she surface in another book?
h. From the 30th book:
i. Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.
ii. There is no closure as to who actually kills the person in the first murder.
iii. Will Jennifer Kahn, the alleged jewel thief, walk away free since they could only find circumstantial evidence against her and nothing concrete?
i. From the 37th book: If I ever try the sidecar recipe I will have to post it again referring the 37th book. But Angela Lansbury did print a cookbook based on the food items shared either in the episodes or by characters of the series. https://www.silverscreensuppers.com/t...
j. From the 47th book:
i. Mort jokes that Jessica is a magnet for murder; and Jessica quips that can she use that as a title. We know that this title has never been done so far in her books or the fictional ones she wrote on the TV show. May be a future book?
ii. Again we don’t see the criminal Armand Dejong's body found. So did he succumb to the injuries caused by fire or escape?
k. From the 48th book, Manuscript for Murder:
i. We come to know that Mort was in Vietnam that we had never heard either on TV show or the earlier books.
l. From the 51st book, The Murder of Twelve:
i. Author Land gives considerable mystery to Seamus McGilray’s character. I wonder if he resurfaces in a future book.
ii. Towards the end of the book, Mort jokes that Jessica should run for mayor. Hmm…something to look forward to I suppose.
m. From the 54th book, Debonair in Death: Deputy Andy's full name become Andy Broom vs Andy Jenkins.
May 26, 2024
Two plots going on + lots of action. Always a good mystery. Really enjoyed this book.
October 13, 2023
It was fun going back to Cabot Cove and its cast of characters (Jessica Fletcher, Sheriff Metzger, Seth, Eve and many more). As I was reading this book, I felt like I was watching an episode of Murder She Wrote. This is a great way to spend an evening with a cup of tea, biscuits and Jessica Fletcher. En Enjoyable and quick read that you need to pick up. Evelyn Phillips, former Cabot Cove reporter is back because she is concerned about Bertha Mae, an elderly resident who is being conned by Martin Terranova, a gym owner. Evelyn believes that Martin is romancing Bertha and is planning on stealing her money. Evelyn convinces Jessica to help her find out what is happening and his Martin a con artist. Martin ends up dead and there are plenty of people in Cabot Cove that had motive to want him dead, especially Evelyn. This murder and her concern for Bertha and Evelyn leads Jessica to investigate and to help the Sheriff Metzger solve this case. Even if she does a little breaking and entering. Find out if Jessica can solve this mystery and clear Evelyn. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2024
Another good one in the Jessica Fletcher series. I do love them. I sometimes wish Cabot Cove was a real place so I could wander up and visit. I just hope I wouldn't be involved in a murder.
September 27, 2023
If you are a Murder, She Wrote devotee (the books or the classic television series), then get the kettle out and brew up a cup of tea because you're in for a delightful return to Cabot Cove in Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder.
In this entry, venerable mystery writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher is concerned about Bertha Mae Cormier, an elderly resident whom former Cabot Cove reporter Evelyn Phillips believes is being conned by new neighbor Martin Terranova. Terranova is a gym owner who seems intent on isolating Bertha Mae from her friends while making his own romantic overtures. Of course, as sketchy characters are wont to do in Cabot Cove, Martin winds up dead, and there are a plethora of residents who might be responsible for the deed, including Evelyn.
With this series, the fun is always in seeing how Jessica puts the puzzle pieces together and points Sheriff Mort Metzger in the right direction, but not before she does a little investigating of her own that includes an unauthorized visit to the dead man's home.
The Cabot Cove cast of characters are all present, including Seth Hazlitt, Mort Metzger, and Eve Simpson. There is also a subplot about embezzled Fire Department Funds that requires Jessica's expertise at exposing the guilty party as well.
All in all, Fit for Murder is a well-written cozy that will please series fans and newcomers alike.
Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
In this entry, venerable mystery writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher is concerned about Bertha Mae Cormier, an elderly resident whom former Cabot Cove reporter Evelyn Phillips believes is being conned by new neighbor Martin Terranova. Terranova is a gym owner who seems intent on isolating Bertha Mae from her friends while making his own romantic overtures. Of course, as sketchy characters are wont to do in Cabot Cove, Martin winds up dead, and there are a plethora of residents who might be responsible for the deed, including Evelyn.
With this series, the fun is always in seeing how Jessica puts the puzzle pieces together and points Sheriff Mort Metzger in the right direction, but not before she does a little investigating of her own that includes an unauthorized visit to the dead man's home.
The Cabot Cove cast of characters are all present, including Seth Hazlitt, Mort Metzger, and Eve Simpson. There is also a subplot about embezzled Fire Department Funds that requires Jessica's expertise at exposing the guilty party as well.
All in all, Fit for Murder is a well-written cozy that will please series fans and newcomers alike.
Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
January 11, 2024
Solid installment in this fun series.
January 30, 2024
https://openbooksociety.com/article/m...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Every time I open a new mystery in this series, I know I will enjoy how every mystery is as fresh as the ones preceding it. Another is the wonderful, three-dimensional characters and how most people of Cabot Cove work together and help each other.
Cabot Cove’s new resident is fitness instructor Martin Terranova. He moved next door to a delightful senior, Bertha Mae, who has been friends for many years with Evelyn, the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette. After some of their recent communications, Evelyn flew back to find out what was wrong with her friend. She was writing and talking weird, and Evelyn wonder if she should no longer live alone.
Jessica didn’t see Bertha Mae often enough know anything was wrong until Evelyn arrived and asked Jessica to visit her. She was at the crucial research and synopsis preparation stage for her next mystery, but she listened and understood Evelyn’s concerns.
Martin opened a gym and yoga studio in the pool house of his luxury home. He offers substantial attention to older ladies in his classes. A caress here, a lightly massaged shoulder there, treating Bertha Mae as his favorite. Evelyn was concerned that Martin was making plans to live off Bertha Mae, especially when she talked about marrying a younger man.
Bertha Mae began to seem confused. Items of hers were disappearing. Her medicine bottles were hidden in odd places, and family memorabilia couldn’t be found. She fired her part-time housekeeper, accusing her of stealing, and Martin contacted the police claiming that a local man had some of Bertha Mae’s family treasures, which were found in his shed. It looked as if Martin were her hero and would-be caretaker, and Evelyn was concerned that he would steal her substantial assets.
Within days, Martin was found dead, possibly from an accident while lifting weights. Bertha Mae was devastated and became unable to function, especially when the autopsy indicated that he had been murdered. Had there been other women set up in a similar fashion? He had purchased his home with cash. Jessica, Mort, the local sheriff, and Dan, the newspaper editor, want to find who killed Martin, and restore another man’s reputation by proving he didn’t steal. A witness put Evelyn on Martin’s property the night he died. Was it the old snooping habits of an investigative reporter, or payback for what she thought he was doing to Bertha Mae?
The hours spent visiting Jessica and the people in Cabot Cove are among my favorite. I liked getting to know Dan, editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, better. He made an excellent partner for Jessica’s “snooping”. Dan has access to many avenues of research that Jessica doesn’t. He is a newspaperman with scruples that others appreciate. Her longevity in Cabot Cove and knowledge of many of the departmental workings are invaluable to him.
Pierce, the new fire chief, Angus, the retired fire chief, and Dan needed her expertise in handling an embezzlement scheme for which Angus was set up to take the fall. Her years of involvement with the Fire Department could provide direction for them to deal with a thief in the town’s budget office.
Jessica continued to help learn who killed Martin and how best to help Bertha Mae. She is not alone in any of these ventures, and she is able to solicit help from others, especially those who know Bertha Mae better than she does, so she can get back to her new mystery.
The suspect list was short, as little evidence was found. Dan joined Jessica at some places, including those out of town, to help prove Evelyn innocent and learn more about Martin’s past. If they can find others he may have conned, it might point out the real killer. While I guessed who did kill Martin and why, this time it gave me no joy to be right. Every loose end for every challenge, including Jessica’s research and synopsis, were resolved. I highly recommend this mystery and series!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Every time I open a new mystery in this series, I know I will enjoy how every mystery is as fresh as the ones preceding it. Another is the wonderful, three-dimensional characters and how most people of Cabot Cove work together and help each other.
Cabot Cove’s new resident is fitness instructor Martin Terranova. He moved next door to a delightful senior, Bertha Mae, who has been friends for many years with Evelyn, the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette. After some of their recent communications, Evelyn flew back to find out what was wrong with her friend. She was writing and talking weird, and Evelyn wonder if she should no longer live alone.
Jessica didn’t see Bertha Mae often enough know anything was wrong until Evelyn arrived and asked Jessica to visit her. She was at the crucial research and synopsis preparation stage for her next mystery, but she listened and understood Evelyn’s concerns.
Martin opened a gym and yoga studio in the pool house of his luxury home. He offers substantial attention to older ladies in his classes. A caress here, a lightly massaged shoulder there, treating Bertha Mae as his favorite. Evelyn was concerned that Martin was making plans to live off Bertha Mae, especially when she talked about marrying a younger man.
Bertha Mae began to seem confused. Items of hers were disappearing. Her medicine bottles were hidden in odd places, and family memorabilia couldn’t be found. She fired her part-time housekeeper, accusing her of stealing, and Martin contacted the police claiming that a local man had some of Bertha Mae’s family treasures, which were found in his shed. It looked as if Martin were her hero and would-be caretaker, and Evelyn was concerned that he would steal her substantial assets.
Within days, Martin was found dead, possibly from an accident while lifting weights. Bertha Mae was devastated and became unable to function, especially when the autopsy indicated that he had been murdered. Had there been other women set up in a similar fashion? He had purchased his home with cash. Jessica, Mort, the local sheriff, and Dan, the newspaper editor, want to find who killed Martin, and restore another man’s reputation by proving he didn’t steal. A witness put Evelyn on Martin’s property the night he died. Was it the old snooping habits of an investigative reporter, or payback for what she thought he was doing to Bertha Mae?
The hours spent visiting Jessica and the people in Cabot Cove are among my favorite. I liked getting to know Dan, editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, better. He made an excellent partner for Jessica’s “snooping”. Dan has access to many avenues of research that Jessica doesn’t. He is a newspaperman with scruples that others appreciate. Her longevity in Cabot Cove and knowledge of many of the departmental workings are invaluable to him.
Pierce, the new fire chief, Angus, the retired fire chief, and Dan needed her expertise in handling an embezzlement scheme for which Angus was set up to take the fall. Her years of involvement with the Fire Department could provide direction for them to deal with a thief in the town’s budget office.
Jessica continued to help learn who killed Martin and how best to help Bertha Mae. She is not alone in any of these ventures, and she is able to solicit help from others, especially those who know Bertha Mae better than she does, so she can get back to her new mystery.
The suspect list was short, as little evidence was found. Dan joined Jessica at some places, including those out of town, to help prove Evelyn innocent and learn more about Martin’s past. If they can find others he may have conned, it might point out the real killer. While I guessed who did kill Martin and why, this time it gave me no joy to be right. Every loose end for every challenge, including Jessica’s research and synopsis, were resolved. I highly recommend this mystery and series!
November 2, 2024
I loved visiting Jessica Fletcher and the folks in Cabot Cove, Maine again! She will face several challenges this time, including murder, embezzlement, and theft. Suspects are surprisingly few, but the “victim” had not lived in town long enough to do anything except get a following of older women in some of the fitness classes and yoga sessions he led.
Jessica is starting on her new mystery, beginning with the initial research and a synopsis for her editor. It began to look as if her home was Grand Central Jessica! She is gracious to all, despite the visitors, phone calls, and urgent or special missions. I would have had to get a hotel in another town!
Evelyn had left town and her beloved job as editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette to travel around the country and visit family and friends. She had referred an excellent young man, Dan, to take her place, and he is doing a great job! Dan also has a much different, less abrasive personality. He gets the job done very well, and he is first concerned about people and justice, then the news.
Evelyn returned to visit her old friend Bertha Mae, with whom she is in regular contact. She was concerned that the older woman’s memory was seriously slipping, and came to help her. Bertha Mae felt fine. She was a regular at classes and yoga at her next-door neighbor’s fitness gym and yoga studio. Martin moved to Cabot Cove a short time ago, paid cash for the home in the well-to-do neighborhood, and opened his business that catered during the day to older women. Martin seemed to flirt with the older ladies, especially Bertha Mae.
Evelyn felt the younger man was taking advantage of Bertha Mae due to some of the things she said, including that she would be happy marrying a younger man. He was an enigma, however, telling almost nothing about his past to anyone. Evelyn was sure that Bertha Mae’s mind was slipping and he was there to collect every nickel from her retirement savings, then move on.
He did move on, but not how they hoped he would. One evening, Martin was alone lifting weights, and was thought to have had an accident. The autopsy, however, showed that he had been murdered. Evelyn was the first suspect, as one of Bertha Mae’s neighbors saw Evelyn on Martin’s property that evening.
Dan, the editor of the Gazette needed her advice on another matter. Angus, the retired Fire Chief, had lost his wife a couple years ago. Someone in the budget office asked him to cash checks from suppliers that were made out to him, and give her the cash. They were actually kickbacks. She told him it was to correct overbilling, and in his grief, didn’t ask anyone. He refused to continue, so she threatened him with embezzlement. Jessica had been on the Fire Department Developmental Committee for twenty years and helped formulate a plan.
Dan and Jessica worked together on aspects of the murder and whether Martin had taken advantage of other older women. It was almost as if Martin had not existed before moving to Cabot Cove, until Jessica overturned a clue that gave new direction. It wasn’t long before they discovered whodunit and helped Bertha Mae get her life together anew. Each of the challenging situations, including Jessica getting her outline and summary completed, were resolved without leaving loose ends. I highly recommend this novel to fans of well-written cozy mysteries, of Jessica Fletcher and Murder She Wrote novels or the television show.
Jessica is starting on her new mystery, beginning with the initial research and a synopsis for her editor. It began to look as if her home was Grand Central Jessica! She is gracious to all, despite the visitors, phone calls, and urgent or special missions. I would have had to get a hotel in another town!
Evelyn had left town and her beloved job as editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette to travel around the country and visit family and friends. She had referred an excellent young man, Dan, to take her place, and he is doing a great job! Dan also has a much different, less abrasive personality. He gets the job done very well, and he is first concerned about people and justice, then the news.
Evelyn returned to visit her old friend Bertha Mae, with whom she is in regular contact. She was concerned that the older woman’s memory was seriously slipping, and came to help her. Bertha Mae felt fine. She was a regular at classes and yoga at her next-door neighbor’s fitness gym and yoga studio. Martin moved to Cabot Cove a short time ago, paid cash for the home in the well-to-do neighborhood, and opened his business that catered during the day to older women. Martin seemed to flirt with the older ladies, especially Bertha Mae.
Evelyn felt the younger man was taking advantage of Bertha Mae due to some of the things she said, including that she would be happy marrying a younger man. He was an enigma, however, telling almost nothing about his past to anyone. Evelyn was sure that Bertha Mae’s mind was slipping and he was there to collect every nickel from her retirement savings, then move on.
He did move on, but not how they hoped he would. One evening, Martin was alone lifting weights, and was thought to have had an accident. The autopsy, however, showed that he had been murdered. Evelyn was the first suspect, as one of Bertha Mae’s neighbors saw Evelyn on Martin’s property that evening.
Dan, the editor of the Gazette needed her advice on another matter. Angus, the retired Fire Chief, had lost his wife a couple years ago. Someone in the budget office asked him to cash checks from suppliers that were made out to him, and give her the cash. They were actually kickbacks. She told him it was to correct overbilling, and in his grief, didn’t ask anyone. He refused to continue, so she threatened him with embezzlement. Jessica had been on the Fire Department Developmental Committee for twenty years and helped formulate a plan.
Dan and Jessica worked together on aspects of the murder and whether Martin had taken advantage of other older women. It was almost as if Martin had not existed before moving to Cabot Cove, until Jessica overturned a clue that gave new direction. It wasn’t long before they discovered whodunit and helped Bertha Mae get her life together anew. Each of the challenging situations, including Jessica getting her outline and summary completed, were resolved without leaving loose ends. I highly recommend this novel to fans of well-written cozy mysteries, of Jessica Fletcher and Murder She Wrote novels or the television show.
February 4, 2024
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran sees Jessica letting Evelyn Phillips direct her to an interesting dilemma with Bertha Mae and a certain yoga teacher named Martin Terranova.
Will Jessica solve the mystery?
Jessica Fletcher
All Jessica Fletcher wants to do is work on her latest novel, but everyone keeps pulling her into doing something else. Especially Evelyn Phillips when she returns to help her friend Bertha Mae. Once they do, Evelyn has it in her head that there is a story, and Jessica doesn't know what to think. Except that something does seem suspicious. Jessica is a great character, and I always feel like I'm curled up at home whenever I enter these stories. I love how she can solve this one and the other things that happen in Cabot Cove.
Martin Terranova, the Victim
Martin Terranova is the victim and someone that Evelyn Phillips isn't happy with as he's being overly friendly with Bertha Mae. Basically, he is flirting with her when he should be teaching her yoga and not feeling her up. Martin is flirty with many of his clients, who are all older, mature women. Could they be leaving him money to keep his business going? Jessica seems very suspicious of his intentions on some of his clients during a session she saw. To make matters worse, when Martin dies, Evelyn convinces Jessica to be on the case because Bertha Mae spirals even worse.
I honestly didn't see who did it. I was so off-base on it, but it actually makes sense now that I'm thinking about it.
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. If you like reading a book that plays out like a television episode, this series is perfect for you. At least from the few books that I have read, it seems to be. I love reading this series. It makes me try to solve the mystery with Jessica. Ms. Moran has done a perfect job writing with Jessica and portraying all of the characters like they are still on the show.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. Check out the other stops and giveaway if you have time.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Jessica solve the mystery?
Jessica Fletcher
All Jessica Fletcher wants to do is work on her latest novel, but everyone keeps pulling her into doing something else. Especially Evelyn Phillips when she returns to help her friend Bertha Mae. Once they do, Evelyn has it in her head that there is a story, and Jessica doesn't know what to think. Except that something does seem suspicious. Jessica is a great character, and I always feel like I'm curled up at home whenever I enter these stories. I love how she can solve this one and the other things that happen in Cabot Cove.
Martin Terranova, the Victim
Martin Terranova is the victim and someone that Evelyn Phillips isn't happy with as he's being overly friendly with Bertha Mae. Basically, he is flirting with her when he should be teaching her yoga and not feeling her up. Martin is flirty with many of his clients, who are all older, mature women. Could they be leaving him money to keep his business going? Jessica seems very suspicious of his intentions on some of his clients during a session she saw. To make matters worse, when Martin dies, Evelyn convinces Jessica to be on the case because Bertha Mae spirals even worse.
I honestly didn't see who did it. I was so off-base on it, but it actually makes sense now that I'm thinking about it.
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. If you like reading a book that plays out like a television episode, this series is perfect for you. At least from the few books that I have read, it seems to be. I love reading this series. It makes me try to solve the mystery with Jessica. Ms. Moran has done a perfect job writing with Jessica and portraying all of the characters like they are still on the show.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. Check out the other stops and giveaway if you have time.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
March 31, 2025
In Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder, Jessica Fletcher is back in Cabot Cove, trying to enjoy a little local peace and low-impact Pilates. Her good friend Dolores Nickens has just opened a wellness center for seniors — all water aerobics, green smoothies, and a whole lot of well-intentioned stretching. It’s supposed to be relaxing. Gentle. Crime-free.
But it’s still Cabot Cove. And in this town, if more than three people gather in a room with good intentions, somebody’s getting murdered.
It happens fast: a beloved local man, known for his activism and long-standing community ties, turns up dead. At first it’s ruled a tragic accident — but Jessica hears the word “unexplained” and immediately starts snooping. Naturally, the more questions she asks, the more things unravel. There’s bad blood simmering under Cabot Cove’s polite surface, including long-buried secrets, real estate drama, and a whole lot of people pretending they weren’t furious at the victim yesterday.
This entry leans more contemplative than cutthroat. It’s slower, yes — but it uses the pace to dig into some real emotional depth. Jessica reflects (without getting sentimental) on what it means to keep showing up in a town that never quite lets her rest. Dolores is a solid character, not just a sidekick — her presence gives the whole book a grounded, human core. And while the mystery isn’t the flashiest in the series, the payoff is thoughtful, tidy, and laced with just enough danger to keep your pulse up.
This is Book #57 in the series, but it absolutely works as a standalone. The case is self-contained, there are no dangling plot threads from earlier books, and everything you need to know about Jessica Fletcher is right there in her first perfectly phrased question that quietly destroys a suspect’s entire alibi.
3.5 stars. Fit for Murder is cozy with a kick — a slower, more meditative take on the classic Cabot Cove crime scene, where the wellness vibes are fake, the community smiles are tight, and Jessica Fletcher is still out here solving murders before her first cup of tea.
But it’s still Cabot Cove. And in this town, if more than three people gather in a room with good intentions, somebody’s getting murdered.
It happens fast: a beloved local man, known for his activism and long-standing community ties, turns up dead. At first it’s ruled a tragic accident — but Jessica hears the word “unexplained” and immediately starts snooping. Naturally, the more questions she asks, the more things unravel. There’s bad blood simmering under Cabot Cove’s polite surface, including long-buried secrets, real estate drama, and a whole lot of people pretending they weren’t furious at the victim yesterday.
This entry leans more contemplative than cutthroat. It’s slower, yes — but it uses the pace to dig into some real emotional depth. Jessica reflects (without getting sentimental) on what it means to keep showing up in a town that never quite lets her rest. Dolores is a solid character, not just a sidekick — her presence gives the whole book a grounded, human core. And while the mystery isn’t the flashiest in the series, the payoff is thoughtful, tidy, and laced with just enough danger to keep your pulse up.
This is Book #57 in the series, but it absolutely works as a standalone. The case is self-contained, there are no dangling plot threads from earlier books, and everything you need to know about Jessica Fletcher is right there in her first perfectly phrased question that quietly destroys a suspect’s entire alibi.
3.5 stars. Fit for Murder is cozy with a kick — a slower, more meditative take on the classic Cabot Cove crime scene, where the wellness vibes are fake, the community smiles are tight, and Jessica Fletcher is still out here solving murders before her first cup of tea.
March 1, 2024
Author Jessica Fletcher has started writing her latest mystery novel and the research is going well until a real-life mystery begins interrupting her work. The former editor of Cabot Cove’s newspaper is back in town because she’s concerned about a friend and wants Jessica’s assistance. Evelyn is afraid Bertha Mae’s memory may be failing and that fitness guru, Martin Terranova, may be taking advantage of that to charm the older woman out of her money. When Martin is found murdered in his own weight room, Evelyn becomes the prime suspect and needs Jessica’s help more than ever to find the real killer.
I like watching the Murder, She Wrote television program, but you don’t need to be a fan of the show to enjoy this series of books. There have been a couple different authors, but Terrie Farley Moran does a great job of portraying these beloved characters. It’s nice spending time with Jessica, Mort, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, and the other Cabot Cove residents. Jessica and Seth’s banter is amusing and the author captures the right notes of joking and affection between them. Jessica is always willing to help a friend and she can’t resist an intriguing mystery, so she is willing to put her writing aside to help investigate Martin’s murder. I like that Cabot Cove Sheriff Mort Metger respects Jessica’s sleuthing skills and takes any clues she finds seriously.
Evelyn can be an annoying character, but nobody deserves to go to prison for a crime they didn’t commit, so it’s good she has Jessica in her corner. Jessica goes above and beyond to find out more about Martin and who had a motive to kill him, as well as making sure Bertha Mae is doing okay. In addition to helping the former newspaper editor, Jessica also helps the current editor, Dan Andrews, look into a possible case of embezzlement. Jessica has a lot going on in this book, but it keeps the story moving and the reader engaged. I like the way all of the loose ends come together for a satisfying ending to the case and the book.
~ Christine
I like watching the Murder, She Wrote television program, but you don’t need to be a fan of the show to enjoy this series of books. There have been a couple different authors, but Terrie Farley Moran does a great job of portraying these beloved characters. It’s nice spending time with Jessica, Mort, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, and the other Cabot Cove residents. Jessica and Seth’s banter is amusing and the author captures the right notes of joking and affection between them. Jessica is always willing to help a friend and she can’t resist an intriguing mystery, so she is willing to put her writing aside to help investigate Martin’s murder. I like that Cabot Cove Sheriff Mort Metger respects Jessica’s sleuthing skills and takes any clues she finds seriously.
Evelyn can be an annoying character, but nobody deserves to go to prison for a crime they didn’t commit, so it’s good she has Jessica in her corner. Jessica goes above and beyond to find out more about Martin and who had a motive to kill him, as well as making sure Bertha Mae is doing okay. In addition to helping the former newspaper editor, Jessica also helps the current editor, Dan Andrews, look into a possible case of embezzlement. Jessica has a lot going on in this book, but it keeps the story moving and the reader engaged. I like the way all of the loose ends come together for a satisfying ending to the case and the book.
~ Christine
February 11, 2024
MURDER, SHE WROTE: FIT FOR MURDER
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Seventh Murder, She Wrote Mystery
Former newspaper editor, Evelyn Phillips, is back in Cabot Cove for a visit, but instead of relaxing she's causing a ruckus. She's concerned her friend Berthe Mae is losing her marbles, so smitten is she with the new yoga instructor. Convinced the man is up to no good Evelyn convinces Jessica to help her check into things. After taking a class with the man Jessica does notice his familiarity with the much older women in the group. Before they can determine if he truly does have bad intentions, he's found dead in his gym...and it's no accident. With Berthe Mae inconsolable and Evelyn a suspect, Jessica will have to look into the fitness guru's past to determine just who killed him.
Cabot Cove is such a charming town with its friendly citizens and lovely scenery. I can picture Jessica cycling through town, waving at her neighbors, and enjoying good food and company, even if at times she'd rather be alone. Just being in Cabot Cove is relaxing and enjoyable...even with all the murders! And in FIT FOR MURDER we have more than one crime to attend to.
I really enjoyed the mystery here. A variety of events clouded the picture, making me wonder what was relevant. In fact, when a second crime was committed, I wondered if it was related to the murder. For a little town, there sure is a lot of crime and drama!
While light-hearted, the fifty-seventh Murder, She Wrote Mystery tackles a serious subject, the exploitation of the elderly. The authors tackle the subject with grace, but I'm glad awareness is brought to a subject often hidden; young, fit lotharios ingratiating themselves with elderly women just to get their money.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: FIT FOR MURDER is a classic mystery that leaves you with a feeling that, despite some problems, all's right with the world.
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Seventh Murder, She Wrote Mystery
Former newspaper editor, Evelyn Phillips, is back in Cabot Cove for a visit, but instead of relaxing she's causing a ruckus. She's concerned her friend Berthe Mae is losing her marbles, so smitten is she with the new yoga instructor. Convinced the man is up to no good Evelyn convinces Jessica to help her check into things. After taking a class with the man Jessica does notice his familiarity with the much older women in the group. Before they can determine if he truly does have bad intentions, he's found dead in his gym...and it's no accident. With Berthe Mae inconsolable and Evelyn a suspect, Jessica will have to look into the fitness guru's past to determine just who killed him.
Cabot Cove is such a charming town with its friendly citizens and lovely scenery. I can picture Jessica cycling through town, waving at her neighbors, and enjoying good food and company, even if at times she'd rather be alone. Just being in Cabot Cove is relaxing and enjoyable...even with all the murders! And in FIT FOR MURDER we have more than one crime to attend to.
I really enjoyed the mystery here. A variety of events clouded the picture, making me wonder what was relevant. In fact, when a second crime was committed, I wondered if it was related to the murder. For a little town, there sure is a lot of crime and drama!
While light-hearted, the fifty-seventh Murder, She Wrote Mystery tackles a serious subject, the exploitation of the elderly. The authors tackle the subject with grace, but I'm glad awareness is brought to a subject often hidden; young, fit lotharios ingratiating themselves with elderly women just to get their money.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: FIT FOR MURDER is a classic mystery that leaves you with a feeling that, despite some problems, all's right with the world.
January 31, 2024
I always love returning to Cabot Cove, Maine with Jessica Fletcher. It makes me happy and brings back nostalgic memories. I thoroughly enjoyed Murder She Wrote: Fit For Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran.
Poor Jessica! She always seems to get stuck right in the middle of a murder just as she’s on a deadline for her next book! Well, it wouldn’t be Murder She Wrote otherwise! In Murder She Wrote, Fit for Murder, the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Evelyn Phillips, comes back to town in a panic! She’s worried about her good friend Bertha Mae whose texts have been kind of wonky lately. It turns out, she’s right to be worried! Something is just not right with the new fitness center and teacher!
One of the reasons I love the Cabot Cove setting so much is the familiar characters. Jessica’s good friend Dr. Hazlitt frequently visits her for dinner or meets her for breakfast at the diner. I love their friendship! Sheriff Mort Metzger along with his deputies trust Jessica’s instincts though she often interferes a little too much for his liking. Other newer characters and brand new characters make appearances too. All of the characters are well-written and have a variety of personalities which make for much more interesting interactions.
The mystery is well-plotted with clues scattered throughout to lead you to the murderer. The mystery takes Jessica and newspaper editor Dan on a couple of road trips to look for clues. Pay close attention to the clues, and try not to get led astray by red herrings!
I enjoyed reading Murder She Wrote: Fit for Murder, and I recommend it for its cozy Cabot Cove setting, wonderful characters, and well-plotted mystery! I’m looking forward to Jessica’s next adventure!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Poor Jessica! She always seems to get stuck right in the middle of a murder just as she’s on a deadline for her next book! Well, it wouldn’t be Murder She Wrote otherwise! In Murder She Wrote, Fit for Murder, the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Evelyn Phillips, comes back to town in a panic! She’s worried about her good friend Bertha Mae whose texts have been kind of wonky lately. It turns out, she’s right to be worried! Something is just not right with the new fitness center and teacher!
One of the reasons I love the Cabot Cove setting so much is the familiar characters. Jessica’s good friend Dr. Hazlitt frequently visits her for dinner or meets her for breakfast at the diner. I love their friendship! Sheriff Mort Metzger along with his deputies trust Jessica’s instincts though she often interferes a little too much for his liking. Other newer characters and brand new characters make appearances too. All of the characters are well-written and have a variety of personalities which make for much more interesting interactions.
The mystery is well-plotted with clues scattered throughout to lead you to the murderer. The mystery takes Jessica and newspaper editor Dan on a couple of road trips to look for clues. Pay close attention to the clues, and try not to get led astray by red herrings!
I enjoyed reading Murder She Wrote: Fit for Murder, and I recommend it for its cozy Cabot Cove setting, wonderful characters, and well-plotted mystery! I’m looking forward to Jessica’s next adventure!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
March 22, 2024
3.5 stars. Another lovely few days spent in Cabot Cove! The book summary gives off shades of S7E6 "A Body to Die For," although unlike Wayne Bennett, Martin Terranova seems to especially have a thing for elderly ladies who are lonely and sitting on a lot of wealth. When Terranova ends up dead, there are plenty of people who might've done it. There's also a secondary storyline weaving through this one, regarding misappropriation of funds for the Fire Department. This was a rather refreshing change of pace: two crimes solved in the space usually devoted to one!
I was very pleased when Evelyn Phillips was shuffled off the Cabot Cove canvas. I've never liked her, and was not exactly pleased to see her back in the guise of caring for Terranova's chosen victim. Evelyn has always only cared about Evelyn, and thus it is here as it always was. I hope she doesn't make any return visits anytime soon, and I thought the subplot with the FD showed a very nice contrast between the especially prickly Evelyn and the man who replaced her as the editor of the Gazette, Dan Andrews, who is preternaturally calm and collected. I know which one I'd rather have in my corner!
The murder whodunit was a bit of a disappointment , and the subplot sorta makes up for it, because that criminal is caught in the act of being a complete jackass.
All the faves from Cabot Cove are here: Mort, Seth, Loretta and the ladies at the beauty parlor (Ideal Malloy!!), Eve Simpson. There are also book faves, like Mara and Mauve O'Bannon. If you enjoy the novel series set in the MSW world, you'll very likely enjoy this one!
I was very pleased when Evelyn Phillips was shuffled off the Cabot Cove canvas. I've never liked her, and was not exactly pleased to see her back in the guise of caring for Terranova's chosen victim. Evelyn has always only cared about Evelyn, and thus it is here as it always was. I hope she doesn't make any return visits anytime soon, and I thought the subplot with the FD showed a very nice contrast between the especially prickly Evelyn and the man who replaced her as the editor of the Gazette, Dan Andrews, who is preternaturally calm and collected. I know which one I'd rather have in my corner!
The murder whodunit was a bit of a disappointment , and the subplot sorta makes up for it, because that criminal is caught in the act of being a complete jackass.
All the faves from Cabot Cove are here: Mort, Seth, Loretta and the ladies at the beauty parlor (Ideal Malloy!!), Eve Simpson. There are also book faves, like Mara and Mauve O'Bannon. If you enjoy the novel series set in the MSW world, you'll very likely enjoy this one!
February 6, 2024
Martin Terranova makes a big splash in Cabot Cove with his new yoga and meditation classes. He has especially become friends with the older women in town. Jessica Fletcher hears that one of her friends, Bertha Mae Cormier, has been acting strange and is enchanted by Terranova.
Jessica decides to check up on Bertha Mae and see how true the rumors are. She quickly learns that they are very true, and Bertha Mae seems totally taken with Terranova. When he turns up dead in his gym, the town doesn’t know what to think. Was it an accident or is there something nefarious behind his death.
Jessica and her friends throw themselves into the investigation. They are determined to not only find a killer, but help Bertha Mae get back on her feet after this terrible loss.
This is a traditional and charming mystery series that keeps you guessing. I was totally taken by surprise at the ending. I didn’t suspect the culprit at all.
Although I haven’t read the entire series, it didn't matter. I believe they are truly standalone stories contained in each book. As I read this book, I felt as if I was watching an episode of the TV show with Angela Lansbury in the starring role. It was a fun visit for me to Cabot Cove. I must do it more often.
I look forward to more in this series, as well as reading the ones I missed from the backlist. Maybe even catching the TV show every once in awhile.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Jessica decides to check up on Bertha Mae and see how true the rumors are. She quickly learns that they are very true, and Bertha Mae seems totally taken with Terranova. When he turns up dead in his gym, the town doesn’t know what to think. Was it an accident or is there something nefarious behind his death.
Jessica and her friends throw themselves into the investigation. They are determined to not only find a killer, but help Bertha Mae get back on her feet after this terrible loss.
This is a traditional and charming mystery series that keeps you guessing. I was totally taken by surprise at the ending. I didn’t suspect the culprit at all.
Although I haven’t read the entire series, it didn't matter. I believe they are truly standalone stories contained in each book. As I read this book, I felt as if I was watching an episode of the TV show with Angela Lansbury in the starring role. It was a fun visit for me to Cabot Cove. I must do it more often.
I look forward to more in this series, as well as reading the ones I missed from the backlist. Maybe even catching the TV show every once in awhile.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 2, 2025
I love the show Murder, She Wrote. I watch the rerun episodes so much I can now tell the plot just from watching the first 5-10 minutes of the episode. Having a book series with mystery queen Jessica Fletcher is just as fun as the show. I have a few so far, and none have disappointed.
"Fit for Murder" was a good read and actually had 2 mysteries dealt with. Both involved money scams, but only one led to murder. The murder victim was a predator, suckering elderly women out of their money. Sadly, one ended up taking her own life out of pure despair over being so easily and expertly conned. In the end, her grandson got vengeance for her....at the cost of his freedom.
Now, the 2 mysteries were interesting to follow. However, the confession regarding the murder seemed a little abrupt. Jessica doesn't have that "Of course! That's it!" moment that we all know so well. Also, the character of Evelyn, former Cabot Cove Gazette reporter, is absolutely rude! First off, she acts as if she can blow into town and run the show as she sees fit. She has a brash way of speaking to everyone, except apparently the one character (Bertha Mae) everyone was so concerned about. I'm glad Jessica put her in check, but her chagrin doesn't last but a second. If she wanted to be such a hard-nosed reporter, she should have gone to a big city where being brash is an unspoken job requirement.
Kudos to the writing of Terrie Farley Moran. She did an admirable job portraying Cabot Cove and its residents, including the illustrious J. B. Fletcher.
"Fit for Murder" was a good read and actually had 2 mysteries dealt with. Both involved money scams, but only one led to murder. The murder victim was a predator, suckering elderly women out of their money. Sadly, one ended up taking her own life out of pure despair over being so easily and expertly conned. In the end, her grandson got vengeance for her....at the cost of his freedom.
Now, the 2 mysteries were interesting to follow. However, the confession regarding the murder seemed a little abrupt. Jessica doesn't have that "Of course! That's it!" moment that we all know so well. Also, the character of Evelyn, former Cabot Cove Gazette reporter, is absolutely rude! First off, she acts as if she can blow into town and run the show as she sees fit. She has a brash way of speaking to everyone, except apparently the one character (Bertha Mae) everyone was so concerned about. I'm glad Jessica put her in check, but her chagrin doesn't last but a second. If she wanted to be such a hard-nosed reporter, she should have gone to a big city where being brash is an unspoken job requirement.
Kudos to the writing of Terrie Farley Moran. She did an admirable job portraying Cabot Cove and its residents, including the illustrious J. B. Fletcher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2025
Are you "Fit for Murder"? I am. Whether it be reading goals, fitness goals, or sleuthing goals Jessica Fletcher is a capable role model.
Remember how Jess is always biking around Cabot Cove or getting in a quick morning jog before she starts her day? Impressive. In Fit for Murder, Jessica attends a yoga/meditation class to determine for herself if the young, "dishy" instructor is taking advantage of female clients of a certain age and socioeconomic status. Jess would never jump to conclusions after just one exercise class; she could not learn enough in that short amount of time. Someone else, however, already reached a verdict and took justice into their own hands!
My absolute favorite aspect of this series is the detailed descriptive writing Terrie Moran crafts about Jessica's life in Cabot Cove. "The following morning was both cloudy and chilly. I threw on a heavy sweater and covered it with my bright yellow fisherman's slicker in case the rain the television forecaster predicted for later in the day arrived earlier than expected. I rode around local streets as the sky grew darker. For the past day or so l'd been stumped by a plot point in the mystery I was currently working on. I pedaled along, convinced the combination of fresh air and exercise would nudge the solution."
May these nostalgic murder mysteries always continue!
Remember how Jess is always biking around Cabot Cove or getting in a quick morning jog before she starts her day? Impressive. In Fit for Murder, Jessica attends a yoga/meditation class to determine for herself if the young, "dishy" instructor is taking advantage of female clients of a certain age and socioeconomic status. Jess would never jump to conclusions after just one exercise class; she could not learn enough in that short amount of time. Someone else, however, already reached a verdict and took justice into their own hands!
My absolute favorite aspect of this series is the detailed descriptive writing Terrie Moran crafts about Jessica's life in Cabot Cove. "The following morning was both cloudy and chilly. I threw on a heavy sweater and covered it with my bright yellow fisherman's slicker in case the rain the television forecaster predicted for later in the day arrived earlier than expected. I rode around local streets as the sky grew darker. For the past day or so l'd been stumped by a plot point in the mystery I was currently working on. I pedaled along, convinced the combination of fresh air and exercise would nudge the solution."
May these nostalgic murder mysteries always continue!
April 12, 2025
The latest entry in the "Murder, She Wrote" series, Terrie Farley Moran's "Fit for Murder" continues this series in a way that stays true to the original books and series but also adds a rather unique secondary storyline to our characters in Cabot Cove, Maine. The main premise this time around is a fitness guru Martin Terranova has opened a gym near an elderly woman Bertha Mae who appears instantly smitten with him, but all is not as it appears. When Terranova turns up dead with a barbell to the neck, the twists and turns of this character could be a story straight out of real life. Farley Moran brings back former Cabot Cove Gazette editor Evelyn Phillips who causes her own bit of mischief in this case as well. What does make this book different from the others is there never really is a true prime suspect in this case. There is an arrest of an individual for theft, but that story is at times secondary to the characters and events in this novel. We the reader also get a secondary plot of corruption and bribery which has no bearing at all on this story but does prove useful as a secondary plot along with the major growth of Dan Andrews. The shocking ending to this book could be ripped from the headlines and is a reminder of at times the cruel scams that can be played on the elderly as this beloved series yet again hits the mark.
February 8, 2024
Jessica Fletcher steps in to solve a mystery when an older lady in Cabot Cove is enamored of a much younger fitness instructor who is mysteriously killed. When a kindly man in the neighborhood is suspected, Jessica works to find the truth and clear her neighbor's name.
I wanted to read Murder, She Wrote: Fit For Murder because I absolutely love this series of mysteries. (And of course I loved the TV series Murder, She Wrote as well.) The books are always such cozy reads. I enjoy Jessica's detection skills, her details about writing mysteries, and Cabot Cove and Jessica's familiar friends.
This was a well written, well paced mystery. There were several strong leads for Jessica to follow, including traveling to a neighboring town to do some detecting. She even takes a chance exploring the crime scene on her own.
There was a great deal of detail about Jessica's writing process in this book, and that was particularly interesting to read. I loved little details like her membership in Sisters in Crime.
This was a great addition to the Murder, She Wrote series, and I enthusiastically recommend it to other fans of cozy mysteries. (I recommend the entire series!)
I wanted to read Murder, She Wrote: Fit For Murder because I absolutely love this series of mysteries. (And of course I loved the TV series Murder, She Wrote as well.) The books are always such cozy reads. I enjoy Jessica's detection skills, her details about writing mysteries, and Cabot Cove and Jessica's familiar friends.
This was a well written, well paced mystery. There were several strong leads for Jessica to follow, including traveling to a neighboring town to do some detecting. She even takes a chance exploring the crime scene on her own.
There was a great deal of detail about Jessica's writing process in this book, and that was particularly interesting to read. I loved little details like her membership in Sisters in Crime.
This was a great addition to the Murder, She Wrote series, and I enthusiastically recommend it to other fans of cozy mysteries. (I recommend the entire series!)
June 6, 2025
Absolutely nothing exciting or page-turning happens in this book. I was waiting for the sub-plot about the fire department financial discrepancies to tie in with the main plot…spoiler alert - it did not! I was left very disappointed!
As someone who enjoys cozy mysteries with a touch of ✨danger or thriller✨elements, I found this book lacking in tension. I was hoping to see Jessica placed in some measure of danger…something to heighten the stakes before the inevitable resolution. Viewers of the show like myself understand that such danger is usually fleeting, but it adds a necessary spark to the narrative. Sadly, that sense of urgency was missing here.
The climax was particularly underwhelming. The killer’s reveal felt rushed and unearned, with little foreshadowing or build-up. The story would have benefited greatly from a more gradual unveiling and the inclusion of stronger red herrings or more compelling suspects. Instead, it felt as if the author chose a culprit at the last minute and tacked on an obvious motive.
In short, this lacked the complexity, suspense, and narrative cohesion I’ve come to expect. A missed opportunity, and a disappointing read.
As someone who enjoys cozy mysteries with a touch of ✨danger or thriller✨elements, I found this book lacking in tension. I was hoping to see Jessica placed in some measure of danger…something to heighten the stakes before the inevitable resolution. Viewers of the show like myself understand that such danger is usually fleeting, but it adds a necessary spark to the narrative. Sadly, that sense of urgency was missing here.
The climax was particularly underwhelming. The killer’s reveal felt rushed and unearned, with little foreshadowing or build-up. The story would have benefited greatly from a more gradual unveiling and the inclusion of stronger red herrings or more compelling suspects. Instead, it felt as if the author chose a culprit at the last minute and tacked on an obvious motive.
In short, this lacked the complexity, suspense, and narrative cohesion I’ve come to expect. A missed opportunity, and a disappointing read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2024
Jessica gets to solve a mystery in Cabot Cove, my favorite backdrop for the crime-solving mystery writer. One of the things I like about the Murder She Wrote Series is the different "worlds" the writers take us through. This time, Jessica is investigating the murder of Martin Terranova, a fitness guru who is a little too slick, and a little too interested in older women with big bank accounts. We get to hop around Cabot Cove with Jessica and visit familiar characters. I've noticed other reviews where the reader felt that was repetitive, but for a true fan, that's exactly what we want. What's going on at the diner, the newspaper, the beauty shop?
Terry Farley Moran does a great job of keeping these characters and places alive. The only negative I have was Jessica kept "dieting" during the book which made me feel guilty for the snacking I did while reading it. On the positive side, I liked the friendship forming between Jessica and the new editor of the newspaper. If you love Jessica Fletcher and her world, I would recommend this book.
Terry Farley Moran does a great job of keeping these characters and places alive. The only negative I have was Jessica kept "dieting" during the book which made me feel guilty for the snacking I did while reading it. On the positive side, I liked the friendship forming between Jessica and the new editor of the newspaper. If you love Jessica Fletcher and her world, I would recommend this book.
November 14, 2025
Former Cabot Cove Editor Evelyn Phillips returns to Cabot Cove to check on her old friend Bertha Mae, who has been sending her disturbing and cryptic message.
She soon discovers Bertha Mae is quite smitten with Martin Terranova, the new fitness instructor in town. Evelyn's radar is on high alert when she discovers just how close Bertha Mae and Martin have become. Suspicious of his motives, Evelyn's opinion of the man makes her a prime suspect when Martin is found murdered. Can Jessica help Evelyn clear her name?
The stories set in Cabot Cove are my favorites. This one is timely with the cautionary tale of modern romance swindling. While the whodunit was not a total surprise for me, that did not mar my enjoyment of this book. This is a solid addition to the long-running series.
Terrie Farley Moran had found her groove writing as Jessica Fletcher. I love touching base with these characters, and solving a crime on of the best amateur sleuths around. I'm looking forward to my next adventure with Jessica and the gang!
She soon discovers Bertha Mae is quite smitten with Martin Terranova, the new fitness instructor in town. Evelyn's radar is on high alert when she discovers just how close Bertha Mae and Martin have become. Suspicious of his motives, Evelyn's opinion of the man makes her a prime suspect when Martin is found murdered. Can Jessica help Evelyn clear her name?
The stories set in Cabot Cove are my favorites. This one is timely with the cautionary tale of modern romance swindling. While the whodunit was not a total surprise for me, that did not mar my enjoyment of this book. This is a solid addition to the long-running series.
Terrie Farley Moran had found her groove writing as Jessica Fletcher. I love touching base with these characters, and solving a crime on of the best amateur sleuths around. I'm looking forward to my next adventure with Jessica and the gang!
November 28, 2025
This is Jon Land all over again! I crapped on his first couple of Murder, She Wrote books but then gave credit where credit was due and sang the praises of the rest of his Murder, She Wrote output. Well, knock me down with a dodo feather drenched in hopes and dreams! I have deja vu.
Terrie Farley Moran wrote the worst Murder, She Wrote book of them all with her debut entry. She did show signs of improvement by her fourth but it was too little, too late to impress. But with this book, the ship is righted. (NB: I’ve yet to read the follow-ups.) This is what should have been done years ago (by Bain, really, but he was off in his own little world.) It’s about time the ancillary characters and locations and story history of the show were incorporated into the novels. And I’m glad they’re keeping Bain’s stuff. He did a lot of world-building and kept his own continuity together (if not the show’s.)
Only a few chapters in and we have all of our favorite Cabot Covers, including the gals at Loretta’s salon and both Andy and Floyd. On top of that we have Bain and Moran’s original characters. The only character MIA is Eve Simpson. Which is a ghastly oversight or a bad omen! In other good news, the vibe of the book is very A Good Cabot Cove Episode with small town humor and village-y hijinks. I am leaving this review as-is for now, even though I haven’t finished it, in lieu of sending Moran congratulatory flowers. I’ll update this when I finish, but suffice it to say I’m very pleased.
(I’m intrigued by how similar this plot is to A Body to Die For.)
(I wish Moran would find a way to bring back Mayor Booth…)
UPDATE: pretty good, no huge complaints. The mystery aspect wasn’t as strong as the Cabot Cove characterizations but that’s fine. That Eve Simpson has such a small role is kind of galling, though.
Terrie Farley Moran wrote the worst Murder, She Wrote book of them all with her debut entry. She did show signs of improvement by her fourth but it was too little, too late to impress. But with this book, the ship is righted. (NB: I’ve yet to read the follow-ups.) This is what should have been done years ago (by Bain, really, but he was off in his own little world.) It’s about time the ancillary characters and locations and story history of the show were incorporated into the novels. And I’m glad they’re keeping Bain’s stuff. He did a lot of world-building and kept his own continuity together (if not the show’s.)
Only a few chapters in and we have all of our favorite Cabot Covers, including the gals at Loretta’s salon and both Andy and Floyd. On top of that we have Bain and Moran’s original characters. The only character MIA is Eve Simpson. Which is a ghastly oversight or a bad omen! In other good news, the vibe of the book is very A Good Cabot Cove Episode with small town humor and village-y hijinks. I am leaving this review as-is for now, even though I haven’t finished it, in lieu of sending Moran congratulatory flowers. I’ll update this when I finish, but suffice it to say I’m very pleased.
(I’m intrigued by how similar this plot is to A Body to Die For.)
(I wish Moran would find a way to bring back Mayor Booth…)
UPDATE: pretty good, no huge complaints. The mystery aspect wasn’t as strong as the Cabot Cove characterizations but that’s fine. That Eve Simpson has such a small role is kind of galling, though.
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