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Murder, She Wrote
Embark on a journey through the mysteries of Cabot Cove to learn whyMurder, She Wrote is a timeless classic.
Discover the secrets behind the enduring appeal of Murder, She Wrote (CBS, 1984–96) in this captivating investigation of the long-running mystery series. Author Bridget Kies details the show's lasting impact owing to several interconnecting factors tied to the series' genre, cast, and reception.Murder, She Wrote was a trailblazing "cozy" murder mystery, blending suspense and charm to captivate a wide and varied audience. Bolstered by Angela Lansbury's established star power, the iconic amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher is beloved by fans across generations and around the world. Kies also points to the series' extratextual tie-in novels, made-for-TV movies, licensed products, and crossovers and attempted spinoffs that helped create a franchise universe that lives on today. With insights into the show's twelve remarkable seasons, its rise to global fame, and data from fandom interviews, this book is a must-read for fans and newcomers alike. Embark on a journey through the mysteries of Cabot Cove and beyond to learn why Murder, She Wrote remains a timeless classic.
- GenresNonfictionTv
128 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 23, 2025
Thanks to Edelweiss and Wayne State University Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My dad’s mother was ill in the fall of 1984. She visited Green Bay often for doctor’s appointments, and I distinctly remember sitting in our living room and watching a new show, Murder, She Wrote. I had no idea my very rigid and unsmiling grandmother liked mysteries. I was in full-blown Nancy Drew mode, which was a direct gateway to cozy mysteries.
I still watch Murder, She Wrote for many reasons. Dame Angela Lansbury was a great actress, from her first film, Gaslight, to her Disney movies, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Beauty and the Beast, to the iconic television show. This book involves the history of the show that has reached legendary status.
Murder, She Wrote, was designed for Lansbury to be both Agatha Christie and one of her main characters, Miss Marple. The show was set in Cabot Cove, a New England town that oozed cozy vibes. The main character, Jessica Fletcher, was a childless widow, a retired schoolteacher, and an aspiring author. Her nephew, Grady, took it upon himself to submit her manuscript to a publisher, who loved it. In a whirlwind, Jessica’s murder mystery is fast-tracked and becomes a bestseller.
One of the things I loved about Murder, She Wrote, was the guest stars. Angela Lansbury was under contract to MGM when she first started acting and made lifelong friends. Lansbury would hire these often-forgotten actors who hadn’t worked in some time. This was because they needed to work in order to maintain their health insurance. It was great to see actors like Van Johnson, Kathryn Grayson, Eddie Albert, Edie Adams, June Allyson, Carroll Baker, Jackie Cooper, Cyd Charisse Hurd Hatfield, and more. Just as important, Murder, She Wrote introduced many up-and-coming actors as well, including George Clooney, Anthony Michael Hall, and more.
The book also goes into detail regarding the need to get Jessica Fletcher out of Cabot Cove and explore new locales. Being a best-selling author, Fletcher soon takes an apartment in New York City and becomes a writing teacher at a local university. Because she was a best-selling author, she often travelled for book junkets and to visit her friends and nieces and nephews. This kept the show fresh and was one of the many reasons the show lasted 12 years.
Murder, She Wrote, just like The Golden Girls, which aired at the same time, provided America a narrative that 50-year-old women were appealing to the masses. At the time, I did not dare tell anyone at school that I watched these shows with my parents/grandparents. As I’ve found out, all my classmates were doing the same, because these days, the shows have endured and have several generations admitting they liked and still watch the shows.
This was a fun trip down memory lane. And I have to get off the computer now because it’s almost time to watch Murder, She Wrote on one of the Retro TV channels.
My dad’s mother was ill in the fall of 1984. She visited Green Bay often for doctor’s appointments, and I distinctly remember sitting in our living room and watching a new show, Murder, She Wrote. I had no idea my very rigid and unsmiling grandmother liked mysteries. I was in full-blown Nancy Drew mode, which was a direct gateway to cozy mysteries.
I still watch Murder, She Wrote for many reasons. Dame Angela Lansbury was a great actress, from her first film, Gaslight, to her Disney movies, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Beauty and the Beast, to the iconic television show. This book involves the history of the show that has reached legendary status.
Murder, She Wrote, was designed for Lansbury to be both Agatha Christie and one of her main characters, Miss Marple. The show was set in Cabot Cove, a New England town that oozed cozy vibes. The main character, Jessica Fletcher, was a childless widow, a retired schoolteacher, and an aspiring author. Her nephew, Grady, took it upon himself to submit her manuscript to a publisher, who loved it. In a whirlwind, Jessica’s murder mystery is fast-tracked and becomes a bestseller.
One of the things I loved about Murder, She Wrote, was the guest stars. Angela Lansbury was under contract to MGM when she first started acting and made lifelong friends. Lansbury would hire these often-forgotten actors who hadn’t worked in some time. This was because they needed to work in order to maintain their health insurance. It was great to see actors like Van Johnson, Kathryn Grayson, Eddie Albert, Edie Adams, June Allyson, Carroll Baker, Jackie Cooper, Cyd Charisse Hurd Hatfield, and more. Just as important, Murder, She Wrote introduced many up-and-coming actors as well, including George Clooney, Anthony Michael Hall, and more.
The book also goes into detail regarding the need to get Jessica Fletcher out of Cabot Cove and explore new locales. Being a best-selling author, Fletcher soon takes an apartment in New York City and becomes a writing teacher at a local university. Because she was a best-selling author, she often travelled for book junkets and to visit her friends and nieces and nephews. This kept the show fresh and was one of the many reasons the show lasted 12 years.
Murder, She Wrote, just like The Golden Girls, which aired at the same time, provided America a narrative that 50-year-old women were appealing to the masses. At the time, I did not dare tell anyone at school that I watched these shows with my parents/grandparents. As I’ve found out, all my classmates were doing the same, because these days, the shows have endured and have several generations admitting they liked and still watch the shows.
This was a fun trip down memory lane. And I have to get off the computer now because it’s almost time to watch Murder, She Wrote on one of the Retro TV channels.
January 11, 2025
An excellent and brief look into the classic CBS mystery show. I really enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes glimpses, and I loved learning that I am not alone as a huge fan of the show that associates watching and loving it with my grandmother. I really hope that Bridget Kies gets the opportunity to write at more length about Murder, She Wrote in the future. I'll be there waiting to read it.
Special Thanks to Wayne State University Press and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to Wayne State University Press and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
May 21, 2025
I interviewed author Bridget Kies twice for my podcast, Advanced TV Herstory. First was back in 2022, following Angela Lansbury's death. At that time, Kies was knee deep in research and writing of this book about the television series. Upon the book's publication, the podcast episode (June 2025) focuses on Kies' research on Lansbury's role and impact on the series, the genre in publishing and television known as cozy mysteries and what her study of fans taught her about the series' timeless connection to viewers.
April 27, 2025
This is a fast read, with lots of information about the show MURDER, SHE WROTE, and the star behind it, Angela Lansbury. There are lots of references and citations provided, to show the author's research into the topic. Many of these references include weblinks that provide additional information, for those who wish to learn more. I have read some of the books the author used to write this one, but I did learn some new facts here. I highly recommend this book to MSW and AL fans.
May 13, 2025
A well researched long essay on Murder She Wrote. I disagree on the author's timeline for modern day cozies and will discuss that when I post my review on my blog. But a difference of opinion isn't enough to warrant a lower rating.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2025/com...
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2025/com...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews