Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial

Murder, She Wrote #63

by Jessica Fletcher, Barbara Early

The newest delightful entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series, featuring mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher.

Jessica Fletcher and friends Seth Hazlitt and Maureen and Mort Metzger team up for pub trivia and crush the competition, then are stunned to learn that the prize is a chance to appear in a five-day trivia tournament filming in LA.

No one expects life-or-death stakes! But on day one of the tournament, a crew member is murdered. Who would benefit from derailing the show? Jessica has to come up with the ultimate answer.

In a metafictional twist, the investigation takes Jessica and the gang to the filming locations of their favorite mystery shows, where they discuss how Columbo, Monk, or Jim Rockford might go about solving the case.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2026

About the author

Librarian’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. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." The series has been continued by authors Renée Paley-Bain, Jon Land, Terrie Farley Moran, and Barbara Early.

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

Reviews

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

After winning a local pub trivia contest, Jessica Fletcher and friends, Seth Hazlitt, Maureen, and Mort Metzger, win a chance to participate in Pub Trivia Live, a televised 5-day trivia tournament in Los Angeles. The studio wasn’t covering much of anything. They were responsible for their own meals, lodging, and travel. Jessica’s niece, Victoria, and her husband, Howard, have a huge place that they have decided to turn into a B&B, and they invite Jessica and her friends to stay with them. Howard recently purchased an old limousine to take their guests on tours, so their travel around town is covered, too. With only airfare and meals to worry about, they decide to hop on a plane and head for LA.

Uncertain of what to expect, they arrive on day one, check in, head to hair and makeup, find their spots on the set, and get ready to answer some trivia questions. Team Mainely Brilliant did well on day 1, earning 2nd place. Yet the excitement of the broadcast is cut short when, moments after the live show ends, the soundman is found slumped over his console. Seth and Mort rush to assist, but there is nothing to be done. Jessica immediately recognizes that the trip has taken a deadly turn.

Aside from the murder investigation and the pub trivia show, Howard has made plans to take his guests to some locations where their favorite mystery shows are filmed. How would Jim Rockford, Monk, Remington Steele, or Columbo handle the murder case the Mainely Brilliant team has on their hands?

There was so much to love about this story—first, the pub trivia contest theme. Jess, Seth, Mort, and Maureen make an awesome team. They each have their strengths, which makes the game so much fun. Second, Victoria and Howard’s huge Hollywood mansion. They have a wonderful permanent guest, a mystery guest, and maybe a treasure. Third, Howard’s carefully planned outings for his visitors from Maine are equally enjoyable, blending excellent restaurants, Hollywood history, and affectionate nods to classic detective television. And, fourth, the puzzling mysteries to solve by Jessica and her friends. It isn’t Jessica’s first trip to LA, so when Lieutenant Gabriel Careras walks onto the set, she is happy because he understands her need to investigate. He also appreciates her insight and asks her to keep her eyes and ears open.

What I particularly appreciated was the way each supporting character contributed meaningfully to the investigation. Seth draws on his medical expertise, Mort puts his detecting skills to good use, Maureen emerges as especially resourceful in uncovering information, and Howard proves more useful than expected with his theories and observations. The studio setting is populated with credible suspects, simmering tensions, and acts of tampering, all of which sustain the suspense. Because the motives are not immediately obvious, Lieutenant Gabriel Careras’ eventual explanations feel both necessary and satisfying.

It was also refreshing to leave Cabot Cove for a lively excursion to Hollywood. Ms. Early’s descriptive writing brings each location vividly to life, and the various subplots integrate smoothly with the central mystery rather than distracting from it. It has been some time since Victoria and Howard last played a role, and both they and their housemate add considerable texture to the narrative. By the end of the story, they have even more good things to handle.

It is impressive that Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivia is the sixty-third installment in the series and the second written by Ms. Early. She has clearly developed a strong feel for these characters and for the tone that makes this series so enduring. As a longtime fan of both the books and the television series, I finished this entry hoping there will be many more adventures featuring the ever-reliable Jessica Fletcher.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Emelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I am truly excited for this one. As a *long* time fan of Murder, She Wrote, who has watched the show times over and read (nearly) all the books. I cannot tell you how excited I was for this opportunity to read the upcoming Murder, She Wrote book, Murder Most Trivial in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley.

Murder Most Trivial will be released on May 12, 2026. At this point the series is being written by Terrie Farley Moran switching off with Barbara Early, with Murder Most Trivial being the second written by Early. The first one written by Early was fabulous so I was super excited to see how this one would go. One thing I absolutely love about Barbar Early's writing is that you can tell she is a fan of Murder, She Wrote. She knows her stuff!

Murder Most Trivial starts with friends Jessica, Mort, Seth, and Maureen winning a trivia competition in Cabot Cove, and being whisked off to L.A. to be on a live televised trivia competition. When one of the production staff gets murdered during the live taping of an episode, our crew finds themself in the midst of a killer. Meanwhile, Victoria and Howard, Jessica’s niece and her husband, who live in L.A., have bought an old mansion intending to fix it up as a bed and breakfast and have invited our Cabot Cove Crew to stay during their trip. The catch? The Hollywood starlet who built the house back in the day, now aged and struggling, comes with the house.

Jessica, Mort, Seth and Maureen spend their days on the set of the trivia show, along with Howard who is their team alternate. There is so much fun trivia content. There are several scenes with trivia questions where you can kind of play along and answer them yourself. There are a lot of scenes of the gang figuring out the answers, which makes for some good interaction between them as a group. Jessica is perfect as the team scribe, and I really love Mort and Seth’s banter. They are such a fun duo. Maureen has some really fun bits too. The whole T.V. show plot feels very Murder, She Wrote. 

My absolute favorite thing in this book was the addition of Victoria and Howard. I cannot tell you how excited I was to see them in this book. I can’t recall if they have shown up in any other books in the series, but them being in this one made me so happy. The earlier books by Donald Bain had less of some of the characters that I feel most excited for so I’ve been really happy with the more recent books having more of them. Howard is an actor, and in one of the episodes of the show he lands a gig playing a pineapple named Pepe, which makes for some genuinely funny bits between him and Mort here. Lieutenant Caceras, the L.A. police lieutenant, also makes an appearance,which I enjoyed. Barbara Early has him down pat!

I will say I was a little surprised as to who was murdered (no spoilers). I felt like we hadn’t had enough time for me to even compute they were a character, and that I might be in part due to just how many characters there are and how much is going on. It is a bit stuffed. We have Jessica and the Cabot Cove Crew, Victoria and Howard, Danielle the starlet, and her care team, Lieutenant Caceras and his son, a ton of the trivia show’s cast and crew, etc. And several of the female characters have similar names, at least in the pre-release edition that I read, which led me to mix them up. Then for plots, the main plot with the death of the crew member, someone sending threats to the trivia host, a mystery surrounding Danielle and the house, Victoria and Howard's love life, Howard's own little mystery, the beginning chapter featuring the opening of a new Irish pub in Cabot Cove and more. I think that tightening the focus to the trivia show, and having a smaller cast of characters would have made for an easier to follow read. Maybe one less trip with Howard to a restaurant that was featured in a mystery show, as much as I love him. I'm not sure the beginning plot with the Irish pub, either of the plotlines involving twins, or the plotline about Danielle, the old Hollywood star, were necessary either, but the latter did serve to further Howard and Victoria's storyline. It was also a little odd no one on the trivia show ever mentions the fact that they have a famous mystery writer on their show. She's a household name! Surely that would be a draw. 

I can't complain too much though because overall this was such a fun read. Howard has a limo and takes them around to loads of different places around L.A. from Hollywood to Malibu stopping at different locations featured in different mystery movies and tv shows. Columbo was mentioned and I may have squealed. If you want to see Mort and Seth discussing their favorite shows, this is the book for you. Danielle and some later in the story character additions made for interesting characters and I can see that they may end up in future works, which would be great! 

You can tell that along with Murder, She Wrote, Barbara Early is a fan of old Hollywood. That came into play in the first book she wrote in the series too, and I hope she keeps that up. There is a side plot about mysterious and ~spooky~ noises happening in the mansion which breaks up the trivia show plot a bit. Maureen gets very invested in it and in Danielle's past and it is very cute. 

Oh! And another thing I really enjoyed is that the group works together to solve the mystery. Jessica often has help solving mysteries but here everyone really did have a role to play. Even Seth got to use his doctor powers.

Thank you again to Netgalley and Berkley for this Digital ARC and thank you specifically to Berkley for keeping the world of my favorite series turning.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Murder She Wrote so I was excited to read this book. It definitely gave off the same vibes as the show. I loved seeing the group (Jessica, Seth, and the Metzgers) working together to solve not one, but two mysteries. Gabriel Cacaras as the lead detective was a great addition as was Jessica's niece and nephew. Mentions of old detective shows (Rockford, Columbo, Remington Steele, etc) and how they solved mysteries was so enjoyable. The book was such a fun read and I highly recommend purchasing it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC though all opinions are my own.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pack your bags because Jessica Fletcher is jetting off to LA to compete on a live pub trivia game show with Seth Hazlitt, Sheriff Mort Metzger, and Mort’s wife Maureen. I typically prefer the Murder, She Wrote books set in Cabot Cove (just like I did the TV episodes) because I prefer the familiarity. But I made an exception for Murder Most Trivial because I couldn’t resist this sentence in the book’s description:

“In a metafictional twist, the investigation takes Jessica and the gang to the filming locations of their favorite mystery shows, where they discuss how Columbo, Monk, or Jim Rockford might go about solving the case.”

Considering that they just named three of my fave TV detectives whose methods are being discussed by my very fave TV detective, I was here for all the metafictional fun. And it did not disappoint.

But there’s much more to Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial than touring film locations and talking about beloved TV shows. Yes, I’m including the twisty mystery in that ‘much more’ but what delighted me the most were the ‘special guest stars’ of this story which happen to be occasionally recurring guest stars from the TV show too… and author Barbara Early has captured these characters perfectly. I could easily visualize (and hear) their on-page interactions with each other, as well as with Jessica and her friends, and their surprise appearance (as in, not in the book description which is why I’m not revealing their identities) made my day. Now… back to our regularly scheduled mystery! The ‘live’ game show setting adds a ready-made cast of suspects in addition to the fun behind-the-scenes look at how a production like this might operate. A murdered crew member, threats against another’s life, odd behavior from the other teams, rivalries and conspiracies, not to mention the tension of the competition itself – all of it kept me engaged and guessing.

Bottom Line: Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial by ‘Jessica Fletcher’ and Barbara Early feels like a love letter to classic television mysteries wrapped inside a clever cozy mystery of its own. (I mean… Jessica Fletcher discussing detective methods from some of my favorite mystery shows while simultaneously wielding her own skills to solve a murder? YES PLEASE.) As she did before, Early perfectly captures the charm, cadence, and personalities that longtime Murder, She Wrote fans already love while also constructing a fresh plot that keeps us entertained. Whether you can hum the theme song in your sleep or you’ve never watched an episode, you’ll enjoy this read.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I've been enjoying the newest Jessica Fletcher books, and this is another good one. This book is fun because Jessica, Seth, Mort, and Maureen travel to LA to participate in a new trivia game show. Jessica's niece Victoria and her husband play a large role in the book. Of course, there ends up being a suspicious death on the set and Jessica is on the case. There are fun shoutouts to a variety of TV detectives and the themes of friendship and found family are touching. This is another winner in the wonderful MSW series.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/m...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This new addition to the series is wrapped up in a most unusual setting: television game show and technology allowing the at-home audience to play the same game from the comforts of home. The person playing from home submits their responses via an app.

Jessica, her friend, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, and their friends, Sheriff Mort and Maureen Metzger, attended the grand opening of Riley’s Pub. It is advertised as a genuine Irish pub in Cabot Cove, Maine. The owners are Dan, the editor of the local newspaper, Pierce, the fire chief, and his wife, Riley, from Ireland. The food was delicious, the company delightful, and they played pub trivia with several other teams. Jessica, Maureen, Seth, and Mort won a special surprise.

The surprise included their team playing on a new television show that would soon begin. It sounded like great fun, until realizing they had to pay their own expenses, including airfare to LA, meals, and accommodations. Mort and Maureen wanted to go so much that they would forego their special anniversary trip, so Jessica and Seth joined them as a foursome. They practiced in their spare time. Each of the four were expert in different categories, so each person was valuable to the group.

Owners of a retired actress’s mansion in LA, Jessica’s niece Victoria, and her husband, Howard, invited the four to stay there. They were renovating the mansion into a B & B, and said it would be great practice for them. Howard was planning themes for limo tours to popular locations that he shared with them. I enjoyed hearing about some of the landmark diners and restaurants and who had frequented them in the past. One popular eatery was setting for a favorite Monk episode.

Each day, the teams heard the questions, then discussed their answers. Conflicts in their discussion groups resulted in higher ratings, as those conflicts appealed to viewers. One team had twin red-headed brothers who argued with each other to the point Seth feared one or both would have a stroke or heart attack! The home viewers entered their answers in an app and locked them in.

One of the studio crew members, Ray, died. Literally. Dead. At his console. The only positive result was that LAPD’s Lieutenant Caceras and Jessica had met some years ago on a case, and remembered how well they worked with each other.

The following day brought a more somber group of contestants. One team was eliminated each of the first three days, and the remaining three teams would add their scores from days four and five to determine the winner. A death threat had been made against the announcer, and he wanted to break his contract. One of the twin red-heads actually passed out during a discussion period! At Jessica’s suggestion, the police tested the strong-tasting coffee, based on the behaviors of those who had coffee and were the most irritable and nervous. Including Maureen. She didn’t get into a fight, but was more than edgy.

Ray, the crew member who died, had been poisoned. A medication had been mixed in the coffee set out for the crew and contestants. It could lead to edginess, rage, discomfort, and for a person with certain health challenges, even death.

I enjoyed learning more about the regular characters, the competing teams, and Danielle, a former actor and former owner of the mansion. I’ve not seen the side of Jessica before where she mentally listed the differences between Riley’s Pub and a “genuine” Irish pub. This was one of several scenes in which we see that even the most gracious authors are just like the average reader. Many protagonists, including Jessica, rarely discussed expenses (except Seth!). It was refreshing to see our fictional heroes have concerns about travel costs that most readers in a similar situation would have to consider. I also appreciated learning about one of the most vulnerable situations in Jessica’s life, and how she has responded over the years. I enjoyed the discussions about the television detectives and how they worked, especially my favorite one. It was also refreshing to see the ladies barefoot in the sand at the beach, still attired for the show.

Jessica’s team worked together to win, to find who killed Ray and why, and why the coffee pots were drugged. They and the police had several possible motives, some that would never have occurred to me! They also tried to get to the bottom of the sounds of ghosts in the mansion that Victoria and Howard purchased from Danielle, over 100 years old, who has a private suite there for the rest of her life.

Every situation was resolved, and the ending was very satisfactory. Some of the motives were more complex than I could have solved – hooray for the team from Cabot Cove! I am already looking forward to the next mystery, and highly recommend this one and the rest of the series!

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixty-three books in. SIXTY-THREE. At this point Jessica Fletcher is less a mystery novelist and more an angel of death with excellent manners. And yet Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial still managed to surprise me by asking the most chaotic question possible: what if we take Cabot Cove’s most homicide-adjacent citizens and put them on a nationally televised trivia tournament in Los Angeles?

You’ve got a bestselling mystery novelist, a cranky doctor with the observational skills of a hawk on espresso, a former NYPD sheriff who has absolutely seen some things, and Maureen quietly clocking everyone like she’s drafting her own spinoff series. This is not a trivia team. This is the most lethal friend group in North America. If they RSVP yes to your dinner party, start drafting alibis.

The setup is deliciously wholesome. Jessica, Seth, Mort, and Maureen absolutely demolish a Cabot Cove pub trivia night and win a trip to a five-day televised tournament in LA. And I love that for them. Let them flex. Let them dominate pop culture. Let Seth aggressively correct someone about 1960s baseball stats. It’s their Super Bowl.

Except this is Jessica Fletcher’s life, so of course on day one an audio engineer drops dead during taping. Just collapses mid-production. Nothing says “Welcome to Hollywood” like a corpse next to the lighting rig. The stakes go from “What year did Casablanca win Best Picture?” to “Which one of you is a murderer with a headset?” in record time.

And here’s where it gets even better. They’re staying with Jessica’s niece Victoria and her husband Howard, who have purchased an old Hollywood mansion to turn into a bed and breakfast. Because nothing screams “sound investment” like a creaky mansion that comes with a former aging starlet still in residence. Danielle, the original owner, is fragile, theatrical, and carrying more buried secrets than the studio system in 1947. There are mysterious noises. There are whispered histories. Maureen gets fully invested. I support women investigating haunted real estate.

The LA setting is such a fun switch from Cabot Cove. Howard drives them around in a limo to filming locations from classic detective shows, and when the gang starts debating how Columbo, Monk, or Jim Rockford would solve this case, I genuinely grinned. It’s meta in the most charming way. It feels like the book winking at fans without ever becoming parody.

What I really loved is that Jessica doesn’t carry this one alone. Seth uses his medical knowledge in meaningful ways. Mort actually gets to flex his cop instincts. Maureen shines, especially in the mansion subplot. Even Howard gets his moments. It feels like a true ensemble effort instead of Jessica politely solving everything while the men blink in confusion.

Now, is it busy? Yes. There’s the murdered crew member. There are threats against the trivia host. There’s Danielle’s mysterious past. There are mansion shenanigans. There’s Victoria and Howard navigating their own life changes. It’s a lot. At moments I felt like I was playing a lightning round of Clue while someone kept adding bonus suspects. But the warmth keeps it grounded. It never loses that classic Murder, She Wrote heartbeat.

Jessica herself remains iconic. Still razor sharp behind that gentle smile. She glides through interviews like she’s asking about cookie recipes while quietly dismantling your entire alibi. Underestimating Jessica Fletcher is how you end up in handcuffs by chapter twenty-two.

For someone who grew up watching Jessica with a grandmother who treated her like royalty, this one hit a sweet nostalgia nerve. Seeing Jessica thrive in book sixty-three feels almost defiant. She is still sharp. Still curious. Still outpacing law enforcement on both coasts. And honestly? That’s aspirational aging.

This one gets 4.5 stars from me. It’s clever, layered, a little chaotic, and packed with love for classic detective television and old Hollywood drama. It may juggle a few too many plates, but none of them crash hard enough to ruin the party.

Whodunity Award: For Proving That Even a Trivia Night Isn’t Safe From the Fletcher Effect

And a genuine thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. They let me back onto the ARC list and I promise to use this power responsibly. Or at least as responsibly as Jessica uses her frequent flyer miles. Truly honored to once again receive early access to Cabot Cove’s ongoing homicide economy.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I dream of the perfect village, it would have a pub with trivia night! I think it highly unlikely that I’d be an expert, but it would sure be fun. Add trivia night to Murder She Wrote, and you’ve got one feel-good cozy mystery! I loved Murder Most Trivial by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early and flew through it in a day.

By winning the first official trivia night in Cabot Cove’s brand new Irish pub, Jessica, Doc (Seth) Hazlitt, Mort and Maureen Metzger win a chance to be on a new live-ish game show where the contestants compete on national television. They’ve got to pay their own way, but the group decides it’ll be fun and heads to Los Angeles, California for a week.

There’s so much to love about this book! Jessica’s niece and nephew offer the group a place to stay in their “new” home that they’re renovating into a B&B. The house is old Hollywood with the emphasis on old and is a mishmash of styles. It’s also still occupied by the previous resident. Nope. Not a ghost. This 100 year old former actress knocks $100,000 off of the price if she and her staff of 3 aspiring actors can stay until she passes away. I’d probably do it. I mean, that’s a fair chunk of money that they can put into fixing up the house. It’s gonna take a lot more than that. I could picture certain aspects of the house so well because the authors give detailed descriptions.

As always, I love the Cabot Cove regulars and reading about them feels like a warm hug. The additional characters were well-written and believable. I felt like I was right there with them as Jessica and her friends participated in the trivia show and as they were driven around by her nephew to visit some lesser well-known restaurants. These places were used in movies and TV and had delicious food to boot! I really enjoyed this part of the book! I recognized almost all of the shows mentioned and thought it would be really fun to eat at those restaurants…as long as I was chauffeured around and didn’t have to drive or find parking!

The mystery is carefully plotted with just enough clues to get you on the right track. I’ll admit that it did take me a long time before I was able to figure out any motives. Having “worked” with him before, Jessica knew the lieutenant who was assigned to the murder case, and he was happy to have her help finding any clues. She and her friends are able to provide a lot of insight since they’re with them during filming.

As usual, I loved this Murder She Wrote book! Having grown up with the show, it always brings back good memories when I get to spend time with these characters. I highly recommend Murder Most Trivial for its setting, premise, characters, and well-plotted mystery! 5 stars!

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

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trivia Question #1: What actress was it announced would be taking on the role as a writer-sleuth in a rebooted television mystery series? (Answer at end if you somehow don't know)

It's been a while since I've read a book in this series, I must admit. As a result, the book blurb mentions of the characters discussing how various fictional sleuths might approach a case was the draw. After entering and winning a local trivia contest on a whim, Jessica Fletcher and friends find themselves headed to Hollywood to participate in a reality show like trivia contest. They make a good team and are really just planning to have fun visiting Jessica's family there and being on the show. Well, the first part is definitely a go but the contest itself winds up with a murder on set. Anyone surprised which amateur sleuth is drawn into the investigation and actually has met the detective in charge beforehand? Oh, gee, you guessed.

Jessica's family and friends were a lot of fun. It was both fascinating and amusing to see them ponder and discuss answers during the contest, particularly in contrast to some of the other teams. Despite having entered the local pub contest on a whim, each seemed to have their own areas of expertise with some crossover. On the home front, we get the first of the side stories from niece Victoria and actor husband Howard who has appointed himself as chauffeur for their stay. The concern? Well, I won't give away much more of the plot but let's just say their home may or may not be haunted. Has Jessica done much ghost hunting? Who keeps calling Howard? There's also some odd goings on at the studio that, of course, Jessica who rarely misses much, picks up on. And, who has it out for the show host?

Seriously, bottom line, I enjoyed connecting with Jessica, Doc/Seth, Mort, and Maureen and meeting Jessica's California relatives. While the tour of the mystery related dining spots got a bit too much for my taste, it was still fun to hear all the old celebrity gossip and see some of the back streets of Hollywood that we rarely see. As it turns out, they have an aging star staying with them, a plus for one of the side stories, whose star they come across. It was also fascinating to see what can be pulled off live audio/video tape. Thanks #BerkleyPublishingGroup and #NetGalley for nudging me just enough to get back into this series. Barbara Early seems to have an excellent feel for the television series as well as old time Hollywood. And, oh, back to the opening trivia question I asked. Jamie Leigh Curtis reportedly has been cast as Fletcher, though unsure if she'll be expected to step into the big shoes of the original Jessica or perhaps play a niece or some connection.

[Pattie Tierney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a devoted fan of the Murder, She Wrote book series for years, and I haven't encountered a single Jessica Fletcher mystery that didn't captivate me. As soon as I finish one, I'm already counting down to the next. While I've genuinely enjoyed them all, the latest release—Murder Most Trivial—truly stole my heart. It's an absolute standout!

From the opening chapter, I felt like I'd been transported right back into an episode of the beloved TV show. I could practically hear Jessica's thoughtful narration, Mort's gruff sheriff voice, and Seth's warm, witty remarks leaping off the page. The author's spot-on portrayal of these iconic characters makes every scene feel authentic and immersive.

The story kicks off with a delightful twist: Jessica teams up with her Cabot Cove friends—Seth Hazlitt, Maureen, and Sheriff Mort Metzger—for a local pub trivia night. They dominate the competition and win an unexpected prize—a spot in a high-stakes, five-day trivia tournament being filmed in Los Angeles. What starts as a fun getaway quickly turns deadly when a crew member is murdered on the very first day. Suddenly, the game show has life-or-death stakes, and Jessica must uncover who stands to gain from sabotaging the production.

One of the book's biggest joys is its game show setting, which offers a fascinating peek behind the scenes of live TV production. Add in clever pop culture references to classic detective series, and you've got the perfect blend of nostalgia and whodunit intrigue that longtime fans will adore. The metafictional elements are pure genius: the investigation leads Jessica and her crew to filming locations from their favorite mystery shows, where they playfully debate how Columbo, Monk, or Jim Rockford would crack the case. It's a loving homage that had me smiling throughout.

What makes these novels so special is how faithfully they capture the spirit of the original series. The characters feel exactly like their on-screen counterparts—I can hear the actors' voices in my head and vividly picture Jessica pedaling her bicycle through Cabot Cove, Mort in the sheriff's office, or Seth in his clinic. The vivid, visual storytelling makes immersion effortless.

If you're a Murder, She Wrote fan, Murder Most Trivial is a must-read. It delivers cozy mystery, clever twists, and that signature Jessica Fletcher charm. I loved every page and can't wait for the next adventure!

I received a copy from NetGalley.

[Devi · Rating 2 out of 5]

📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 320 pages
⏱ 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Berkley
📌 ARC provided by NetGalley | Expected Publication: May 12, 2026

Look, I'll start by saying this: It's me. It really is. When a series has sustained itself for over 60 books with near-consistent ratings, something is clearly working, and working well, for a very devoted readership. I came in as a total outside, with no prior books, no deep TV nostalgia. Just a cozy mystery premise that sounded charming enough. Trivia tournaments! Hollywood! A murder on a game show set! I was sold on the concept before I even opened the first page.

But somewhere around the 30% mark, I had to put it down and ask myself a genuinely uncomfortable question: do I actually know what's happening here? The honest answer was no. I could see the pieces moving, but I never felt fully invited into the story. I realized I was just... floating. The multiple subplots layered on top didn't help either. Haunted mansions, mysterious phone calls, love triangles, Irish pub openings back home. It was a lot to hold without a foundation.

By the time I put the book down, it wasn't with anger, just a kind of resigned disappointment, at myself I could intellectually see why this series has stayed alive for decades and why it absolutely work for its core fans, but I never found that emotional anchor or narrative spark I need to stay up late reading "just one more chapter". If you've got history with Jessica Fletcher, this is probably a delightful reunion. If you don't, you might feel like you walked into someone else's family dinner and smiled politely for four hours.

Would I recommend it?
With a heavy heart and full awareness that I am not the target audience here: not as your first entry into the series. For longtime Murder, She Wrote readers, this will likely be another comfortable, familiar visit with Jessica Fletcher and friends, especially if you enjoy TV-style mysteries and meta nods to classic detective shows. For the cozy mystery curious who haven't met Jessica Fletcher yet? Start elsewhere, then work your way here.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 63—yes, there are now 63 books in the series—proves to be another captivating read, written this time by Barbara Early. In Murder Most Trivial, her second contribution to the title, Early follows the lead of coauthor Terrie Farley Moran by reviving some of the beloved characters from the television series who have yet to grace the pages of the novels.

This installment sees the return of Jessica’s realtor niece, Victoria (originally played by General Hospital actress Genie Francis), and her husband, struggling actor Howard (played by Jeff Conaway in two of the three television appearances the couple made), as well as Lieutenant Gabriel Caceras (played by actor Gregory Sierra, in the Murder, She Wrote episodes “Day of the Dead,” “The Petrified Florist,” and “Film Flam“). Victoria and Howard have purchased a mansion they hope to transform into a charming bed and breakfast—a deal that includes the home's original owner, an eccentric older actress.

After Jessica, Seth Hazlitt, and Mort and Maureen Metzger win a trivia contest at Cabot Cove’s new Irish pub, grand prize: an appearance on a television game show in Hollywood, California, they agree to fly west and stay with Victoria and Howard, who are eager to test out their new B&B and Howard’s Hollywood sightseeing tour.

When a crew member is mysteriously poisoned and an anonymous threat targets the show’s host, Jessica and her friends must unite to unmask the killer. Or could it be... killers?

It was great to check in and see what Victoria and Howard have been up to since we last saw them last—36 years ago, to be exact! They start a new chapter in their lives by the book’s end, which was wonderful to read. This installment incorporates far more technology than previous entries (YouTube, apps, etc.), a shift that makes sense given the mystery. This element makes it clear that the series is no longer frozen in time. While the world has modernized, Victoria and Howard appear to be the same age as they were in the show, creating an interesting blend of change and consistency.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

MURDER, SHE WROTE: MURDER MOST TRIVIAL
By Jessica Fletcher & Barbara Early
The Sixty-Third Murder, She Wrote Mystery

There's a new Irish themed pub in Cabot Cove, and though Jessica Fletcher is skeptical about its authenticity, she willingly joins her friends Seth Hazlitt and Maureen and Mort Metzger for opening night. The group also decides to join in the fun and compete in the pub's first trivia night. With a victory the friends not only win a pub gift certificate, they also win entry to compete in a live televised pub quiz. Deciding they're due for a vacation the foursome head to Los Angeles, staying at Jessica's niece's home which is being converted into a B&B. Amid brushing up on their trivia and sightseeing, they also have to deal with a possibly haunted house and, when a soundman keels over on the set, murder! Teaming up with her old friend, Lieutenant Caceras, Jessica, along with Seth, Mort, and Maureen will do their best to remain in the competition so they can help solve the case.

There are several delightful aspects to the sixty-third Murder, She Wrote Mystery. The pub quiz theme is great fun reminding me of my days on the It's Academic team in high school and playing Trivial Pursuit in college. I love how each member of the team has their strengths and they all work together. I really love the haunted B&B that while owned by Jess's relatives, is still home to an old Hollywood movie star, giving readers more nostalgia and a touch of Old Hollywood glam...and a possible ghost! And hidden treasure too!

Of course, the mystery is the main thing-and it's a good one. Complex with many possible suspects and motives, I enjoy how our friends investigate; channeling former television detectives, along with using Jessica Fletcher's intuition and Mort's background as Cabot Cove Sheriff. And of course, working hand in hand with local law enforcement.

With a penchant for puzzles Jessica Fletcher tackles both trivia and murder in MURDER, SHE WROTE: MURDER MOST TRIVIAL, a delightfully fresh addition to this long running series.

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Murder Most Trivial by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early has Jessica, Seth, Mort, and Maureen go to California for a pub trivia game show.

Will Jessica and her friends get through the first day of the competition? Who wanted one of the crew members dead?

There is a new pub in the town of Cabot Cove, and Jessica and her friends just had to try it out. While they were there, they got talked into doing trivia night. The four of them won, and the prize was an opportunity to go to California to be on this game show. Jessica, Seth, Mort, and Maureen are all excited and nervous to be doing this game show. Ms. Early did a fantastic job of getting Jessica, Seth, Mort, and Maureen off the East Coast and over to the West Coast for this mystery. I like how even though they were busy with the game show and trying to solve the mystery, they still had time to sightsee.

The Mystery
Jessica and the other contestants finished filming for the first day when everyone noticed that one of the crew members was deceased. This mystery is one big doozy for Jessica and her friends. I loved seeing Mort try to enjoy his vacation, but he also wanted to help solve the mystery. Mort now knows how Jessica feels about him keeping her out of some of his cases. I had a hard time keeping away from the red herrings in this one.

Five Stars
My rating for Murder Most Trivial by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early is five stars. I recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who loves the TV show Murder, She Wrote. Granted, if you don't have time to read all the books, which I understand, then starting from this one isn't a problem. I love that all of these books can be read as standalones.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder Most Trivial by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early.

Until the next time,



Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to preface this by saying that I have read multiple Murder, She Wrote books and almost always have the show on in the background (as in basically every day because I’m insane). I go into these books knowing that there are some differences between a first person book and a TV show so I know not to expect to be in the head of Angela Lansbury.

I loved the characters and the fact that this iteration of the series included Howard and Victoria with some nods to their sometimes excessive PDA.

This story was kind of bonkers and kind of a hot mess. There were some fun campy things going on but there was A LOT going on in the plot. And for so many things happening in the plot it felt like so much was focused on trivia facts. Not just on the trivia reality show but every single category and question and then all the trivia about Hollywood as the characters were shown the sites when they weren’t taping.

The ending felt a bit rushed and the last couple of chapters and epilogue were kind of insane and out of left field. There was also SO MUCH food moralizing in this entry and I really didn’t like that. I don’t remember other books in this series focusing so much about Jessica making sure to only eat salads and rarely have a dessert and that was really distracting.

I will obviously continue with this series but this wasn’t my favorite (although it beats out the book that ready like a Jason Bourne knockoff so there’s that).

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Mystery for an advance copy of this book.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled when I saw this on Netgalley and couldn’t wait to receive the ARC. I have always been a fan of the Murder She Wrote show and have read all the books. It was wonderful to go back to Cabot Cove, Maine with Jessica, Seth, Mort and Maureen and then traveling to LA and joining Victoria and Howard. No matter where Jessica travels to, you can always find a dead body falling at her feet and this book is no different. Jessica, Seth, Mort and Maureen won a trip to be on a Trivia show in LA. When her niece, Victoria finds out, she invites them to stay with her and her husband in LA. Off the group flies to LA to star in a game show on TV. Howard picks them up and tells them that he will escort them each day to the studio for the show. While they are taping the show the audio engineer keels over and dies. This is when things become more interesting for the group, especially when they find out who is investigating, Lieutenant Caceras, a friend of Jessica’s. I really enjoyed the tours that Howard took the group to that feature places in classic detective show that were filmed in LA. I highly recommend this book and series, especially the ones written by Barbara Early. She really brings life to all of the characters and makes sure that they get their time to shine. You need to pick up this book and enjoy an adventure with Jessica and the gang. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jessica, Seth, Mort, and Mort’s wife, Maureen, take part in a trivia contest at the grand opening of an Irish themed pub in Cabot Cove, they never expect to win, much less that the prize will be a trip to Los Angeles to be contestants on Trivia Pub Live, a new live trivia game show. However, things take a deadly turn when one of the crew is found dead after the first day of tapping. Will the team be able to find a killer and stay in the competition?

My favorite episodes of the show were always the ones in Cabot Cove, but getting to have Seth and Mort on this trip was the next best thing. Plus, I recognized the niece we were visiting, which made it fun. The pacing was a little slow at the beginning between the set up and introducing a couple of sub-plots, but once the mystery kicked into gear, it was steady the rest of the way, with plenty of red herrings and clues before we reached the logical climax. And I really liked how the book ended. I kept the many suspects straight, although some of the lesser ones faded a bit into the background because they didn’t have that much page time. I also enjoyed the tour of mystery locations in Los Angeles. Overall, this is a fun addition to the long running tie-in series.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy. I’m happily posting a review voluntarily.
I love murder she wrote! This book did not disappoint. I understand that different authors write for the series and that can change things a little. I thought the author did an excellent job bringing Jessica into modern times. Her choice of outfit is a little different than her signature scarf, etc. She makes choices a woman of her age would make today and in my opinion that keeps the books current for new readers to enjoy as well.
I enjoyed her nephew and his wife being part of the story. It gave a sense of familiarity for her fans. There were a couple of mysteries going on at the same time, but they very easy to follow as they involved different characters in different settings than the main storyline.
Jessica handled things in her typical fashion as did the others. I could see Seth rolling his eyes and Mort salivating over desserts. I really enjoyed how the story ended and the social situations it addressed. It showed how much has thankfully changed for the better over the years. I also enjoyed the historical information shared with the group by Jessica’s nephew when he took the group out on tours each night after the trivia taping.
Overall, I found the book to be an enjoyable cozy mystery. It was comforting to spend time with familiar friends.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun to read a book following one of my all time series, Murder She Wrote: just like visiting old friends. We start out in Cabot Cove with Jessica and Dr. Seth Hazlitt enjoying a dinner at a new bar and restaurant with Sheriff Mort Metzger and his wife, Maureen. On the tv series, Mort’s wife was never seen but called Adele. After dinner the group participate in Pub Trivia and—surprise—they win and one of the prizes is an all expense trip to Los Angeles to be one of the participants in a new tv series, Pub Trivia Live. If you were (are) a fan of the tv series, they are staying at Jessica’s niece Victoria and her sometimes actor husband, Howard. Yes, during the filming, there is a murder of a staff member and a familiar character, Lieutenant Gabriel Caceras, appears on the scene and Jessica is able to assist him with several likely candidates and a few twists along the way. A great part of the storyline is Howard chauffeuring Jessica and the others to the studio and then giving them a guided tour ending at a restaurant with movie implications involving tv detectives: Monk and Jim Rockford. Great reminiscing! Thanks to author Barbara Early, NetGalley and Berkeley for a digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Fletcher and her friends participate in a local pub trivia competition. They do so well that they win a prize they weren’t expecting. They have a chance to appear in a trivia tournament in Los Angeles. Although they are nervous about it, Jessica, Seth, Maureen and Mort head to LA for the contest.

Of course they are immediately thrown into a real murder investigation. One of the crew members dies under suspicious circumstances. Jessica and her friends are thrown right into the middle of the case. It’s up to them to find a killer and make sure no one else is hurt.

This is a full-length mystery, but a quick read for me. I was surprised at the ending, and I had a hard time putting this book down. I was hooked right from the first page to the last.

I always love a good Jessica Fletcher mystery, and this is no exception. I always enjoy the rapport between Jessica and her friends. I’ve never watched an episode of the TV show and yet I can vividly picture each character as I read the book. It’s almost like visiting with old friends. Someday I will watch the show, but for now I’m enjoying catching up with this series of novels.






I borrowed this one from the library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[The Mystery Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early is the sixty-third book in the series, and this one takes Jessica out of Cabot Cove.

Jessica and her friends Seth Hazlitt, Maureen, and Mort Metzger show up for pub trivia night in town and end up winning the whole thing. Their prize is way more than they bargained for. They get invited to compete in a trivia tournament being filmed for TV out in LA. Nobody thought a game show would turn deadly, but on the very first day of filming, someone kills one of the crew members. Jessica knows somebody wants this show shut down, and she needs to figure out who's behind it. While she's investigating, she and her friends check out a bunch of famous mystery show filming locations. They keep debating how detectives like Columbo, Monk, and Jim Rockford would go about solving the case.

The pub trivia setup is really fun, and it was nice to see Jessica somewhere different than Cabot Cove for once. Having Seth and the Metzgers tag along made it even better since I love when the whole gang is together.

The whole thing where Jessica and her friends talk about how other TV detectives would handle the case is such a clever idea. It's a fun tribute to mystery fans and gives the book a playful vibe.

The mystery has some good twists, and Jessica is on her game as usual.

A really fun and clever entry that any mystery fan will get a kick out of.

#MurderMostTrivial #MurderSheWrote #JessicaFletcher #CozyMystery #MysteryBooks

[Britney Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you is in order to #NetGalley and #BerkleyPublishingGroup for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

The book in question, #MurderSheWroteMurderMostTrivia, proved to be a delightfully engaging read. As a longtime fan of Murder, She Wrote, I was already thrilled to receive this ARC, and the novel certainly lived up to the anticipation.

From the very first page, the compelling WHODUNIT mystery effortlessly held my interest. The plot was intricately woven, and the suspense was maintained throughout, compelling me to turn the pages eagerly to uncover the culprit and their motive.

A particularly standout feature of this installment was the incorporation of the trivia element. Given my personal enjoyment of trivia, this concept was executed brilliantly and added a unique layer of fun and complexity to the mystery.

Overall, this book is highly recommended. It will undoubtedly appeal to fellow fans of the Murder, She Wrote series, as well as anyone who appreciates a well-crafted, intriguing mystery with a clever twist.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Fletcher travels to Los Angeles with her friends Seth Hazlitt and Maureen and Mort Metzger to compete in a new pub trivia show on television. They are having fun staying with her niece and nephew in an interesting but spooky old Hollywood home and eating out at old Hollywood spots. Then a crew member is murdered and Jessica works, with her friends, to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial because I love Murder, She Wrote - both the TV series and the book series. I try to read all the books as they are published.

I usually prefer the Cabot Cove setting but I absolutely loved reading about Jessica's adventures in Los Angeles with her old friends. There were several interesting layers to this book: the mystery itself, the spooky old mansion they are staying in, and references to favorite TV detectives, including Monk and Columbo.

This was a fun and fast-paced read. The mystery is well plotted and intriguing. I enjoyed sleuthing along with Jessica.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial and am sure that other cozy mystery fans will enjoy it too. It is one of my favorite books in this series.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume 63 in the series has become my favorite so far. It is clear that the co-author is very familiar with the television show and uses that knowledge in her writing. Jessica's niece and her husband in Los Angeles play big roles in this story, as Jess, Seth, Mort, and Maureen travel to LA to participate in a new TV trivia game show. They stay with niece Victoria and her hubby Howard, who now own a B&B. Howard becomes their team alternate and also their guide, taking them all over LA, to restaurants and locations that were in movies or TV shows. The reader goes along for the ride, as well as enjoying the trivia game and all the questions that are included in the book. (I would have preferred to have ALL the trivia questions included, but that would have been impractical.) There is a murder in the book, of course, which brings in an old friend of Jessica's, Detective Caceras, also a character from the TV show. Plus, there is an aging movie star staying at the B&B who brings some elegance and mystery and drama to the story. It is a terrific story that would make an equally terrific movie!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jessica Fletcher so was very happy to have a new book to read. She's just the best!
In this story, she and her friends Seth, Mort and Maureen win at pub trivia and get to go to LA to be in a new show. They are quite happy and get to stay with Jess's niece and nephew in their new mansion B & B. All are happy and the game show is off and running. Of curse there's a problem and someone dies which turns into murder. Our friends end up helping solve it. On top of that, there's a mystery in the mansion. That's a whole side story with things to work out and fun to read.

I loved the tours Howard tried on them and the history of where show and movies filmed. Such a fun side story beside the game show.

There's a lot to enjoy in this book. The pare the threw me off was the resolution of the mansion mystery. It was good and I liked it but the way it presented made me pause.

Fans will enjoy as I certainly did!

Many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for a fair review

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the next book in the Murder She Wrote series, MURDER SHE WROTE: MURDER, MOST TRIVIAL by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early, Jessica starts out in Cabot Cove with regular series’ characters like Seth, Mort, and Maureen (Mort’s wife). They join to form a trivia team and win an award that takes them to LA to appear on a TV show, Pub Trivia Live. I want to know what happens in LA.

I feel right at home in Cabot Cove. I love the banter that happens among the characters. The descriptions are good, and the plot is well-conceived. This book can be read as a standalone. While the characters are in LA, I like them reminiscing about having seen old Hollywood stars perform. The plot is good, but the characters interest me the most. This book is a fun read, and I look forward to reading other books in the series. Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of MURDER SHE WROTE: MURDER, MOST TRIVIAL.

[Carol Deegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all the books in this series and always look forward to the next one. In this book, Jessica, Seth, Mort and Maureen find themselves in a trivia contest at a new business in Cabot Cove. They win and the prize is an entry in a trivia contest in Los Angeles. While there they are offered the opportunity to stay with Jessica’s niece and her husband in their supposedly haunted house. On the first day of filming for the trivia contest someone is murdered and the foursome team up with an LA detective to solve the murder. They also discover some other nefarious things going on with the crew. And on the last night of their stay Mort finds the reason for the “haunted house”. If you like mysteries a little on the lights side, you will probably enjoy this book. Although it’s part of a series all the books can be read as stand-alones. I received a copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emerald Maple · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Murder Most Trivial, we see Jessica around the same age as in the series, but set in a more modern era as she heads to Los Angeles with her friends, Seth, Mort and Maureen. Having a doctor and sheriff will come in handy as they try to solve both the death of a crew member on set of their trivia show plus the "haunting" of the bed & breakfast they are staying in (owned by Jessica's niece).

This was a nice break from some of the darker mystery/thrillers I have read recently. Lots of suspects although the ending was a little predictable. It did focus a little too much on the trivia questions leaving a lot of the investigation to late night cups of tea and random thoughts as Jessica's niece and nephew take them to visit restaurants used in old mystery shows. But a good read if you like cozy mysteries, good banter between the old friends and honestly, I needed a lighter book.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the advance copy for review through Netgalley

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica, Seth, Sheriff Mort and his wife Maureen go to Hollywood to compete on a trivia game show in Murder Most Trivial. When a show crew member is killed, Jessica and her gang investigate.

The Maine visitors are staying in a rundown mansion soon to be opened as a bed and breakfast. The new owners, Jessica’s niece and her husband, have a mystery to solve there as well.

I grew up and have always lived about 50 miles from Los Angeles so I can attest to the accuracy of the tourist stops the gang visits. There are still some almost derelict Beverly Hills mansions too. Combining both in a traditional Murder She Wrote mystery is a fun idea that is well executed.

Murder Most Trivial is an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend an afternoon seeing behind the scenes of a television production while solving two intriguing mysteries. 4 stars and recommended to series fans.

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

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Fletcher stays with her favorite niece (played by Genie Francis in the show) and nephew in law (played by Jeff Conaway in the series) in Los Angeles after Mort, Maureen, Seth and Jessica win a quiz show locally and end up in Hollywood on a show!
I loved the way they were in Los Angeles and being shown all the sights Howard (the nephew in law) is their plus one at the studio. Her relatives have bought a mansion they want to restore, which includes the aging movie star that built the property! Lt. Carceras makes a surprise appearance, too!
There were some funny bits about the studio and some points to some of the best detectives on tv in LA. I loved the Rockford reference.
I liked that Jessica was also on a quiz show. I figured out the second mystery before I figured out the first one. The characters were fun and it's always like seeing a friend I haven't seen in years when I read these books. I can't wait to read the next one.