What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder, She Wrote #60
La Signora in Giallo. Omicidio sotto la neve
Jessica Fletcher ha avuto una brutta caduta sul ghiaccio e ora è costretta su una sedia a rotelle per alcune settimane. Vorrebbe approfittarne per concentrarsi sul suo nuovo manoscritto, ma qualcosa - o meglio, qualcuno - cattura presto la sua attenzione. Dall'altra parte della strada si è appena trasferito un nuovo vicino, il signor un tipo eccentrico, solitario e con una passione un po' insolita per le sculture di neve. Ma non pupazzi l'uomo modella figure nude, audaci, che fanno subito discutere l'intera comunità di Cabot Cove. Arte o oscenità? Le opinioni si dividono. Quando, di notte, le sculture iniziano a essere distrutte da ignoti, Rymer non si ne crea semplicemente di nuove. Secondo lui, non c'è bisogno di disturbare la polizia, tanto più che una bufera di neve è in arrivo. Ma la mattina dopo, con la città ancora avvolta in un candido silenzio, Jessica guarda fuori dalla finestra e scorge una nuova «scultura» nel giardino di è il corpo del signor Rymer, mezzo sepolto nella neve. Riuscirà Jessica a risolvere l'omicidio dalla sua sedia vicino alla finestra?
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2026
108 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Fletcher
106 books1,072 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. 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
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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
April 28, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Snowy with a Chance of Murder is the 60th-installment of the beloved Murder, She Wrote Cozy Mystery series. This series is essentially the Godmother of all other Cozies.
As some of you I'm sure are aware, this is my favorite Cozy Mystery series. I never shut up about it. I've read, I believe 47 of them now, but my count could be off. I've stopped really keep track after 40.
This book is the 1st to be penned by Barbara Early, author of the Vintage Toyshop Mystery series, amongst other things.
In this installment, Jessica, preparing to depart on a luxurious Winter cruise ends up slipping on the ice on the morning of her departure and severely injuring herself, making travel impossible.
Now housebound, forced to use a wheelchair, Jessica finds herself staring out her windows like never before.
As luck would have it, she has plenty to look at by way of a curious new neighbor, a man named Rymer. He has, for unknown reasons, ended up, in the non-tourist season, renting the house directly across the street from Jessica.
As it turns out, Rymer is an artist whose medium happens to be snow and his sculptures are of the scandalous variety. If you happened to watch Hot Frosty on Netflix this Winter, you'll be pretty close to imagining what I mean.
With the town a titter over all this risque art on display, it's no surprise that under the cover of darkness, someone starts destroying Rymer's sculptures.
For his part, Rymer never seems too concerned. He just starts over, builds something new. It's Cabot Cove, mid-Winter, there's certainly plenty of snow to go around.
The morning after the most recent blizzard, however, it's more than a sculpture that's found out in the snowy landscape. It's Rymer's half-buried body.
Incidentally, there are two other mysteries occurring at the same time as Rymer's death. Are these other mysteries related to Rymer, and if so how?
You better believe Jessica is going to do her best to help local law enforcement figure it out. With the help of friends, and a healthy dose of determination, she does just that.
3.5-stars, you ask, for my favorite Cozy series? It is rounded up, but still I feel we need to lay it out on the table. Here's the thing. This is the 1st-effort from this author in this long-running series, and while I did enjoy the main overall mystery, I was left with questions.
Also, I felt like Jessica's character wasn't quite right. It didn't feel like her in some ways. It was subtle things, but still things that took me out of the story as I thought to myself, Jessica would never say that, or think that.
One thing I want when I pick up this series is consistency. These are go-to comfort reads for me that I've been picking up for over 2-decades. If Jessica suddenly starts not feeling like Jessica, you better believe I'm gonna notice.
Nevertheless, this was still overall a pretty solid read, and of course, I will continue picking up the books in this series.
I enjoy the Cabot Cove-based mysteries, because when you become a frequent Reader, you learn all the townsfolk and it really feels like spending time with old friends. I do think this author succeeded in bringing about the basic vibes of this quaint seaside town.
There was a lot happening here though, some of it felt a little unnecessary. For example, Jessica had a live-in nurse, helping her while she was injured, and they would have little writing workshops together and it included excerpts from this girl's random Fantasy story.
It just felt to me like the author needed to fill pages and that was one way to do it. There was ultimately a point to it, but it still felt silly and forced.
With this being said, you aren't going to love every book you read in a series, and I still felt all my love and nostalgia of being back with Jessica in Cabot Cove.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. There's another book releasing this Summer, set in Boston, and I'm so excited for that one!
If you love Cozy Mysteries, and haven't checked this series out yet, you really should. They can be read in any order and once you start, you probably are not going to want to stop!
Snowy with a Chance of Murder is the 60th-installment of the beloved Murder, She Wrote Cozy Mystery series. This series is essentially the Godmother of all other Cozies.
As some of you I'm sure are aware, this is my favorite Cozy Mystery series. I never shut up about it. I've read, I believe 47 of them now, but my count could be off. I've stopped really keep track after 40.
This book is the 1st to be penned by Barbara Early, author of the Vintage Toyshop Mystery series, amongst other things.
In this installment, Jessica, preparing to depart on a luxurious Winter cruise ends up slipping on the ice on the morning of her departure and severely injuring herself, making travel impossible.
Now housebound, forced to use a wheelchair, Jessica finds herself staring out her windows like never before.
As luck would have it, she has plenty to look at by way of a curious new neighbor, a man named Rymer. He has, for unknown reasons, ended up, in the non-tourist season, renting the house directly across the street from Jessica.
As it turns out, Rymer is an artist whose medium happens to be snow and his sculptures are of the scandalous variety. If you happened to watch Hot Frosty on Netflix this Winter, you'll be pretty close to imagining what I mean.
With the town a titter over all this risque art on display, it's no surprise that under the cover of darkness, someone starts destroying Rymer's sculptures.
For his part, Rymer never seems too concerned. He just starts over, builds something new. It's Cabot Cove, mid-Winter, there's certainly plenty of snow to go around.
The morning after the most recent blizzard, however, it's more than a sculpture that's found out in the snowy landscape. It's Rymer's half-buried body.
Incidentally, there are two other mysteries occurring at the same time as Rymer's death. Are these other mysteries related to Rymer, and if so how?
You better believe Jessica is going to do her best to help local law enforcement figure it out. With the help of friends, and a healthy dose of determination, she does just that.
3.5-stars, you ask, for my favorite Cozy series? It is rounded up, but still I feel we need to lay it out on the table. Here's the thing. This is the 1st-effort from this author in this long-running series, and while I did enjoy the main overall mystery, I was left with questions.
Also, I felt like Jessica's character wasn't quite right. It didn't feel like her in some ways. It was subtle things, but still things that took me out of the story as I thought to myself, Jessica would never say that, or think that.
One thing I want when I pick up this series is consistency. These are go-to comfort reads for me that I've been picking up for over 2-decades. If Jessica suddenly starts not feeling like Jessica, you better believe I'm gonna notice.
Nevertheless, this was still overall a pretty solid read, and of course, I will continue picking up the books in this series.
I enjoy the Cabot Cove-based mysteries, because when you become a frequent Reader, you learn all the townsfolk and it really feels like spending time with old friends. I do think this author succeeded in bringing about the basic vibes of this quaint seaside town.
There was a lot happening here though, some of it felt a little unnecessary. For example, Jessica had a live-in nurse, helping her while she was injured, and they would have little writing workshops together and it included excerpts from this girl's random Fantasy story.
It just felt to me like the author needed to fill pages and that was one way to do it. There was ultimately a point to it, but it still felt silly and forced.
With this being said, you aren't going to love every book you read in a series, and I still felt all my love and nostalgia of being back with Jessica in Cabot Cove.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. There's another book releasing this Summer, set in Boston, and I'm so excited for that one!
If you love Cozy Mysteries, and haven't checked this series out yet, you really should. They can be read in any order and once you start, you probably are not going to want to stop!
March 13, 2025
I've watched all the television series Murder, She Wrote, but I had never read one of the books, so I said "Why not?" and picked this one up. I was anxious to see if the books conveyed the charm of the series.
Description:
Jessica Fletcher has taken a nasty spill on the ice, leaving her in a wheelchair for several weeks. She tries to work on her latest manuscript but finds herself distracted by a new neighbor moving in across the street. There’s good reason for her to be distracted, because soon after unpacking his sparse belongings, Mr. Rymer is out in the front yard, building somewhat risqué ( naked) snow sculptures.
While Cabot Cove debates whether the sculptures are a protected form of art or a public display of lewdness, someone starts destroying them at night. Rymer doesn’t seem upset. He just makes new ones. No need to get the police involved over a little snow, he says. Especially when there’s plenty more of it and a blizzard in the forecast.
The morning after the storm, Jessica looks out the window to see a new sculpture across the street—and the body of Mr. Rymer half-buried in the snow. Can Jessica catch a cold-blooded killer from her chair by the window?
My Thoughts:
Well this book gave me the same feelings I got from watching the series. The town of Cabot Cove was charming and has some quirky characters. Jessica came across as a very smart, practical, friendly widow and the townspeople loved her. In this book she was leaving for a cruise but had an accident so she had to stay home, confined to a wheelchair for several weeks. Then, of course, a murder finds her and this one happened across the street from her house. Jessica can't resist investigating even though she's not very mobile. This was a delightful cozy mystery and anyone who enjoys cozies will like.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Jessica Fletcher has taken a nasty spill on the ice, leaving her in a wheelchair for several weeks. She tries to work on her latest manuscript but finds herself distracted by a new neighbor moving in across the street. There’s good reason for her to be distracted, because soon after unpacking his sparse belongings, Mr. Rymer is out in the front yard, building somewhat risqué ( naked) snow sculptures.
While Cabot Cove debates whether the sculptures are a protected form of art or a public display of lewdness, someone starts destroying them at night. Rymer doesn’t seem upset. He just makes new ones. No need to get the police involved over a little snow, he says. Especially when there’s plenty more of it and a blizzard in the forecast.
The morning after the storm, Jessica looks out the window to see a new sculpture across the street—and the body of Mr. Rymer half-buried in the snow. Can Jessica catch a cold-blooded killer from her chair by the window?
My Thoughts:
Well this book gave me the same feelings I got from watching the series. The town of Cabot Cove was charming and has some quirky characters. Jessica came across as a very smart, practical, friendly widow and the townspeople loved her. In this book she was leaving for a cruise but had an accident so she had to stay home, confined to a wheelchair for several weeks. Then, of course, a murder finds her and this one happened across the street from her house. Jessica can't resist investigating even though she's not very mobile. This was a delightful cozy mystery and anyone who enjoys cozies will like.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley through Netgalley for an advance copy.
April 19, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jessica was all set to escape the winter weather and head off on a Mystery Lovers Cruise, but as she stepped out her front door, she slipped on a patch of ice and went down hard. She had no broken bones, but sprained both her ankles, subluxated her patella, sprained her right wrist, and gave herself a mild concussion. Refusing to stay and rehab at the hospital, her friend Dr. Seth Hazlitt sets up a home health aide and a power wheelchair so she can recover at home. At home, where she notices a new neighbor right across the street. A new neighbor who appears to enjoy building snow sculptures – scandalous snow sculptures.
While the jury is still out as to whether the sculptures are art or just attention grabbing someone decides to take action on their own and destroys them under the cover of darkness. But the guy just builds a new one each day. Jessica has a bird’s eye view out her window. At least until a wild blizzard strikes and she can’t even see across the street. The next day, she sees a new sculpture has been built, but finds the “artist” has met his demise – and left buried in the snow.
Can Jessica track down the killer watching out the window from her fancy wheelchair? Or will the killer crash through that window and put her in a deep freeze?
I especially enjoyed the theme, similar to the movie Rear Window. Jessica wasn’t quite as confined as photographer L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies, because her curious nature and the view drive this story.
Jessica Fletcher is a determined woman. She is not happy at first about having a stranger in her house, but she quickly discovers her home health aide has the desire to become a writer, and they bond over that. I loved how Jessica’s neighbors and friends dropped by with food, to visit, or just in time for dinner. Jessica does become quite comfortable tooling around in that wheelchair after her hilarious training session. I could relate and was laughing out loud because years ago I, too, had a motorized chair and just recently received a motorized scooter to get around to all my family events. The author described that way my initial training went to a tee. Jessica took herself out across the street a time or two to meet the neighbor and his visitors. She also called a taxi that could accommodate her chair and traveled to town and residents’ homes searching for information. A few injuries were not going to keep Jessica Fletcher down.
The mystery was filled with twists and red herrings. It was a delight to follow along as Jessica strived to make sense of what she saw out her window and the clues she followed around Cabot Cove. I did tie one relationship together before our protagonist, but I didn’t understand it fully until the end. There were some fishy things happening around Cabot Cove, and I enjoyed trying to solve them all.
The best thing about this series is that readers can pick up each book on its own. You can get to know the stellar recurring cast and the new characters in town for the story easily, then sit back and enjoy a classic cozy mystery unfold that will keep you on your toes. Jessica has been joined by several different co-authors, the latest being Barbara Early with Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder, but each author keeps the integrity the series started with. Sixty books in and it is still going strong. Book 61, Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston, written by Terrie Farley Moran, will be released on July 1.
Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder is a marvelous addition to this long-running series. Ms. Early does the characters justice and then some. I am so excited to see what she plans for Jessica and her friends next.
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.
Jessica was all set to escape the winter weather and head off on a Mystery Lovers Cruise, but as she stepped out her front door, she slipped on a patch of ice and went down hard. She had no broken bones, but sprained both her ankles, subluxated her patella, sprained her right wrist, and gave herself a mild concussion. Refusing to stay and rehab at the hospital, her friend Dr. Seth Hazlitt sets up a home health aide and a power wheelchair so she can recover at home. At home, where she notices a new neighbor right across the street. A new neighbor who appears to enjoy building snow sculptures – scandalous snow sculptures.
While the jury is still out as to whether the sculptures are art or just attention grabbing someone decides to take action on their own and destroys them under the cover of darkness. But the guy just builds a new one each day. Jessica has a bird’s eye view out her window. At least until a wild blizzard strikes and she can’t even see across the street. The next day, she sees a new sculpture has been built, but finds the “artist” has met his demise – and left buried in the snow.
Can Jessica track down the killer watching out the window from her fancy wheelchair? Or will the killer crash through that window and put her in a deep freeze?
I especially enjoyed the theme, similar to the movie Rear Window. Jessica wasn’t quite as confined as photographer L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies, because her curious nature and the view drive this story.
Jessica Fletcher is a determined woman. She is not happy at first about having a stranger in her house, but she quickly discovers her home health aide has the desire to become a writer, and they bond over that. I loved how Jessica’s neighbors and friends dropped by with food, to visit, or just in time for dinner. Jessica does become quite comfortable tooling around in that wheelchair after her hilarious training session. I could relate and was laughing out loud because years ago I, too, had a motorized chair and just recently received a motorized scooter to get around to all my family events. The author described that way my initial training went to a tee. Jessica took herself out across the street a time or two to meet the neighbor and his visitors. She also called a taxi that could accommodate her chair and traveled to town and residents’ homes searching for information. A few injuries were not going to keep Jessica Fletcher down.
The mystery was filled with twists and red herrings. It was a delight to follow along as Jessica strived to make sense of what she saw out her window and the clues she followed around Cabot Cove. I did tie one relationship together before our protagonist, but I didn’t understand it fully until the end. There were some fishy things happening around Cabot Cove, and I enjoyed trying to solve them all.
The best thing about this series is that readers can pick up each book on its own. You can get to know the stellar recurring cast and the new characters in town for the story easily, then sit back and enjoy a classic cozy mystery unfold that will keep you on your toes. Jessica has been joined by several different co-authors, the latest being Barbara Early with Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder, but each author keeps the integrity the series started with. Sixty books in and it is still going strong. Book 61, Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston, written by Terrie Farley Moran, will be released on July 1.
Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder is a marvelous addition to this long-running series. Ms. Early does the characters justice and then some. I am so excited to see what she plans for Jessica and her friends next.
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.
February 1, 2025
Always fun to read a Murder, She Wrote book because, while each story is different, the characters are recognizable and like family. This one takes place entirely in Cabot Cove and so the regulars abounded. Having watched the television show, which is still in reruns to this day, the characters are easily pictured with my mind’s eye.
March 27, 2025
I love, love, love, these Murder, She Wrote books, but every now and then one just draws me in and won't let go, right from page 1 - this story was one of those times I am happy to say.
Slight recap - Jessica is hurt and is in need of some help during her recovery - enter Alice - she is a sweet, caring aide who is excited to be helping the J.B. Fletcher, since she has aspirations of becoming a writer herself. A mysterious murder on a fish taco truck, a thief keen on stealing bologna, and a renter across the street who enjoys making sculptures out of snow really give the town something to talk about and gives Jessica something to think about as she recovers.
As stated above, I absolutely love these books and this one was no exception. There were some new characters, but I really loved reading about the good ole' Cabot Cove residents - Seth, Eve, Mauve, Mara, Sheriff Metzger, etc...reading these stories is like catching up with an old friend.
I insist you read this ASAP!
Barbara Early
Slight recap - Jessica is hurt and is in need of some help during her recovery - enter Alice - she is a sweet, caring aide who is excited to be helping the J.B. Fletcher, since she has aspirations of becoming a writer herself. A mysterious murder on a fish taco truck, a thief keen on stealing bologna, and a renter across the street who enjoys making sculptures out of snow really give the town something to talk about and gives Jessica something to think about as she recovers.
As stated above, I absolutely love these books and this one was no exception. There were some new characters, but I really loved reading about the good ole' Cabot Cove residents - Seth, Eve, Mauve, Mara, Sheriff Metzger, etc...reading these stories is like catching up with an old friend.
I insist you read this ASAP!
Barbara Early
February 7, 2026
Ormai per me zia Jess è una certezza. Quando sono in un momento no lei è sempre la mia comfort zone, sia su carta che su schermo.
Arguta e ficcanaso come in tutte le sue avventure, queste volta non si fa fermare nemmeno da un infortunio che la costringe temporaneamente sulla sedia a rotelle!
In più, la storia è ambientata a Cabot Cove che è di gran lunga la location che preferisco (anche nel telefilm) rispetto alle sue indagini in altre città o in altri contesti.
Arguta e ficcanaso come in tutte le sue avventure, queste volta non si fa fermare nemmeno da un infortunio che la costringe temporaneamente sulla sedia a rotelle!
In più, la storia è ambientata a Cabot Cove che è di gran lunga la location che preferisco (anche nel telefilm) rispetto alle sue indagini in altre città o in altri contesti.
March 6, 2025
4.5 stars - Entertaining installment in this wonderful series with an ending that surprised me.
March 28, 2025
Jessica Fletcher is a great novelist and an experienced amateur detective. She loves bicycling around her small Maine town of Cabot Cove and traveling the world. However, after almost forty years, even she has an occasional accident.
In Snowy with a Chance of Murder, Jessica is on her way to a Caribbean cruise when she slips on her icy porch and tumbles head first down her steps. Suffering a concussion, a sprained right wrist and two sprained ankles, Jessica is stuck in a wheelchair and homebound with a nurse’s aide for several weeks.
While sitting at her front window trying to think of a plot for her next book, she spies curious happenings at the house across the street. She calls the police, who find that an out-of-towner is renting the house for two weeks. The next morning, the stranger is building a snowman in his front yard. Jessica realizes the snowman is anatomically correct and mooning her! Later, the stranger is found murdered and Jessica feels compelled to solve the mystery from her living room.
While it is disappointing to see the elderly superhero Jessica be injured, the setup of naughty snowmen sculptures is pretty funny. When Jessica is mooned by the first one, I thought that was a great way to respond to a nosy old lady. However, Jessica being portrayed as that nosy old lady didn’t feel authentic to her character. In the past, she was always compassionate and solved mysteries to help others. She wasn’t the type to call the police because a stranger was doing perfectly normal things across the street. Maybe the pain pills, or her concussion, are changing her thinking?
Despite my issues with Jessica’s actions, the mystery is still well written and enjoyable. It is always a treat to visit Seth, Mort and the Cabot Cove gang. The Bologna Boy subplot about a shoplifter was fun too. 3 stars.
Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced review copy.
In Snowy with a Chance of Murder, Jessica is on her way to a Caribbean cruise when she slips on her icy porch and tumbles head first down her steps. Suffering a concussion, a sprained right wrist and two sprained ankles, Jessica is stuck in a wheelchair and homebound with a nurse’s aide for several weeks.
While sitting at her front window trying to think of a plot for her next book, she spies curious happenings at the house across the street. She calls the police, who find that an out-of-towner is renting the house for two weeks. The next morning, the stranger is building a snowman in his front yard. Jessica realizes the snowman is anatomically correct and mooning her! Later, the stranger is found murdered and Jessica feels compelled to solve the mystery from her living room.
While it is disappointing to see the elderly superhero Jessica be injured, the setup of naughty snowmen sculptures is pretty funny. When Jessica is mooned by the first one, I thought that was a great way to respond to a nosy old lady. However, Jessica being portrayed as that nosy old lady didn’t feel authentic to her character. In the past, she was always compassionate and solved mysteries to help others. She wasn’t the type to call the police because a stranger was doing perfectly normal things across the street. Maybe the pain pills, or her concussion, are changing her thinking?
Despite my issues with Jessica’s actions, the mystery is still well written and enjoyable. It is always a treat to visit Seth, Mort and the Cabot Cove gang. The Bologna Boy subplot about a shoplifter was fun too. 3 stars.
Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced review copy.
April 2, 2025
Jessica Fletcher never expected to find herself confined to a wheelchair. That’s exactly what happened when she slipped on the ice. Now, she’ll be stuck at home for weeks. She even has to hire an aide to help her get around. Trying to make the best of a bad situation, she tries to work on her latest manuscript.
As she sits in her wheelchair, facing the house across the street, she watches as a new tenant, Rymer, carves snow sculptures. His sculptures aren’t exactly “G” rated and are causing quite the stir in the quiet Cabot Cove town. Someone is so incensed they start destroying the sculptures. It doesn’t stop Rymer from making new ones.
One day Jessica is looking out the window and notices a new lewd sculpture but this time she sees Rymer’s body next to it. Who killed Rymer? Jessica’s investigation is particularly difficult this time as she is still confined to her wheelchair.
I never watched the Murder, She Wrote TV show, but I’ve read several of these books and loved each one I read. I should really binge-watch this series. I feel as if I know the town of Cabot Cove and the people who live there. It’s almost like going home.
There were many twists and turns throughout this mystery. Many red herrings and many potential suspects. I was kept guessing until the end. I never saw it coming and was pleasantly taken by surprise.
This series never disappoints even with different authors. Jessica Fletcher is the perfect sleuth and someone everyone can cheer for. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.
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.
As she sits in her wheelchair, facing the house across the street, she watches as a new tenant, Rymer, carves snow sculptures. His sculptures aren’t exactly “G” rated and are causing quite the stir in the quiet Cabot Cove town. Someone is so incensed they start destroying the sculptures. It doesn’t stop Rymer from making new ones.
One day Jessica is looking out the window and notices a new lewd sculpture but this time she sees Rymer’s body next to it. Who killed Rymer? Jessica’s investigation is particularly difficult this time as she is still confined to her wheelchair.
I never watched the Murder, She Wrote TV show, but I’ve read several of these books and loved each one I read. I should really binge-watch this series. I feel as if I know the town of Cabot Cove and the people who live there. It’s almost like going home.
There were many twists and turns throughout this mystery. Many red herrings and many potential suspects. I was kept guessing until the end. I never saw it coming and was pleasantly taken by surprise.
This series never disappoints even with different authors. Jessica Fletcher is the perfect sleuth and someone everyone can cheer for. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.
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.
December 22, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early was a fun winter mystery. I loved the clever nod to Rear Window with Jessica being homebound in a wheelchair after a nasty spill on the ice. It was entertaining to watch her get distracted by her new neighbor, Mr. Rymer, and his controversial, naked snow sculptures while she was supposed to be working on her manuscript.
However, I have to be honest: as a longtime fan of the series, I could tell this one had a different author than previous books. Barbara Early brings her own voice to the series, and while it’s not bad, it’s noticeable if you’ve been following Jessica’s adventures for a while. Some of Jessica’s reactions and the pacing felt slightly different from what I’m used to.
The mystery itself was well-constructed, and the snowy Cabot Cove setting added great atmosphere. The subplot about the controversial snow sculptures was quirky and fun, very much in keeping with the cozy mystery spirit. I appreciated the effort to keep the series fresh while Jessica deals with a temporary disability. If you’re a Murder, She Wrote fan, it’s still worth reading. Just go in knowing it might feel a bit different from your favorites in the series.
A solid cozy mystery that delivers on entertainment, even if the voice isn’t quite the same.
#MurderSheWrote #JessicaFletcher #CozyCommunity #CabotsCornerReads
Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early was a fun winter mystery. I loved the clever nod to Rear Window with Jessica being homebound in a wheelchair after a nasty spill on the ice. It was entertaining to watch her get distracted by her new neighbor, Mr. Rymer, and his controversial, naked snow sculptures while she was supposed to be working on her manuscript.
However, I have to be honest: as a longtime fan of the series, I could tell this one had a different author than previous books. Barbara Early brings her own voice to the series, and while it’s not bad, it’s noticeable if you’ve been following Jessica’s adventures for a while. Some of Jessica’s reactions and the pacing felt slightly different from what I’m used to.
The mystery itself was well-constructed, and the snowy Cabot Cove setting added great atmosphere. The subplot about the controversial snow sculptures was quirky and fun, very much in keeping with the cozy mystery spirit. I appreciated the effort to keep the series fresh while Jessica deals with a temporary disability. If you’re a Murder, She Wrote fan, it’s still worth reading. Just go in knowing it might feel a bit different from your favorites in the series.
A solid cozy mystery that delivers on entertainment, even if the voice isn’t quite the same.
#MurderSheWrote #JessicaFletcher #CozyCommunity #CabotsCornerReads
May 6, 2025
On a scale of Donald Bain to Jon Land, this definitely veers off into Jon Land territory. Jessica is portrayed as a nosy, judgmental, sometimes outright bitchy busybody who is always in everyone's business. The mystery of the new sculptor neighbor who is killed is also something out of unbelievable thriller territory, as is the less-than-satisfying ending. Throw in a third subplot about vacation rental fraud, and a little AI plagiarism on the side, and you have something that is not exactly cozy mystery territory. It is very readable (obviously, I finished it in a day), but it is not exactly MSW. Early has actually viewed the canon, unlike Land, but her tendencies don't really fit with the type of mysteries Jessica was solving in the original TV series.
If you liked the Land books, you'll probably like this, too.
If you liked the Land books, you'll probably like this, too.
March 18, 2025
Jessica Fletcher falls on icy steps and has to stay home to recuperate from her fall, with the help of home aide Alice. When a short term renter across the street starts building risque snow sculptures, the whole neighborhood is in an uproar ... culminating in a murder. Of course Jessica works to solve the mystery!
I wanted to read Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder because I love the Murder She Wrote TV series and the book series as well. I try to read all the books in this series as they come out. I was also intrigued by the description of this book, which mentioned Rear Window - one of my favorite movies.
I think this is my favorite Murder She Wrote book yet! The thing I love most in the books is Jessica's small town sleuthing in Cabot Cove. The books with travel are fun, but the Cabot Cove books are particular favorites of mine. It was interesting to see Jessica overcome the challenge of being homebound for so much of her sleuthing. I enjoyed following along as she solved the mystery. I loved seeing all the familiar Cabot Cove folks in this book - Seth, Mort, Maureen, Maeve. I also liked Jessica's assistant, Alice. I enjoyed their creative writing sessions together as Jessica mentored Alice.
The mystery aspect of this book was well paced, with several good suspects. I guessed the right suspect, which makes a mystery read even more fun.
I enthusiastically recommend Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder - and of course, the entire Murder She Wrote series - to other cozy mystery fans!
I wanted to read Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder because I love the Murder She Wrote TV series and the book series as well. I try to read all the books in this series as they come out. I was also intrigued by the description of this book, which mentioned Rear Window - one of my favorite movies.
I think this is my favorite Murder She Wrote book yet! The thing I love most in the books is Jessica's small town sleuthing in Cabot Cove. The books with travel are fun, but the Cabot Cove books are particular favorites of mine. It was interesting to see Jessica overcome the challenge of being homebound for so much of her sleuthing. I enjoyed following along as she solved the mystery. I loved seeing all the familiar Cabot Cove folks in this book - Seth, Mort, Maureen, Maeve. I also liked Jessica's assistant, Alice. I enjoyed their creative writing sessions together as Jessica mentored Alice.
The mystery aspect of this book was well paced, with several good suspects. I guessed the right suspect, which makes a mystery read even more fun.
I enthusiastically recommend Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder - and of course, the entire Murder She Wrote series - to other cozy mystery fans!
June 24, 2025
Great writing. An interesting storyline. Jessica is supposed to leave for vacation when she slips and falls outside her house. When she chooses to recuperate at home Seth insists that she have in home help. Enter Alice . A sweet helpful young woman who grows on Jessica instantly. In Jessica’s time at home she can’t help but watch an a controversial “snow” artist construct some racy snow sculptures. Turns out there is more than meets the eye with this elusive man renting the house across the street. Add in a murder and what seems to be petty food theft Cabot Cove becomes a dangerous place to live.
November 22, 2025
Vera Wong has nothing on Jessica Fletcher and the amount of tea that was consumed in this book! Ha ha But seriously this was delightful and a wonderful addition to the nostalgia and adoration I have for J.B. Fletcher.
March 29, 2025
A great first book by this new author! Interesting story though there wasn’t too many suspects. Would be lovely if one day soon Jessica could see George again. It’s nice that he gets a mention but would be grand if Jessica went back to the UK and they solved a crime together
April 2, 2025
I have read and enjoyed many of the books in the series, but this was not my favorite. The pacing was off, which made it hard to stay engaged. Nothing really happens in the first half of the book. There is a lot of time spent setting things up. There is a fantasy angle to this compared to other books in the series, but I'm not sure that it helped the story as a whole. Things did come together in the end, but you have to suspend a bit of disbelief. It was nice to see familiar characters which are true to the series.
May 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this! It was a departure and different, but all the loose ends came together. Wunderbar! 🖤
April 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this one and felt like it had a lot more of Jessica’s voice than the Moran books. This was fun to have someone in her house and her somewhat immobile, so creative. And what a twist at the end
April 7, 2025
Boring! While Barbara Early is likely a very nice person, her heart isn’t in this project. Halfway through , there is no action to speak of. The sleuth is a 2 dimensional cardboard cutout of herself. When Jon Land and TF Moran authored these, this diehard JB Fletcher fan could turn pages to the end in a single sitting. Can’t tell you how many times this one put me to sleep not caring what happens next or if anything will happen at all.
The problem with this franchise is it has gone through too many writers with different styles and approaches giving us a choppy uneven inconsistent series that suffers. It’s as if Jessica has morphed into Sybil and readers don’t know which personality will emerge when they pay good money for each installment. This one has shallow dialogue with moments of pedantic musing in regard to fingerprints and plagiarism for example, to the point of talking down to the reader. The story painfully plods along without forward momentum. A pitiful waste of time and money.
The problem with this franchise is it has gone through too many writers with different styles and approaches giving us a choppy uneven inconsistent series that suffers. It’s as if Jessica has morphed into Sybil and readers don’t know which personality will emerge when they pay good money for each installment. This one has shallow dialogue with moments of pedantic musing in regard to fingerprints and plagiarism for example, to the point of talking down to the reader. The story painfully plods along without forward momentum. A pitiful waste of time and money.
March 28, 2025
https://openbooksociety.com/article/m...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
I was very happy with this new mystery in the Murder, She Wrote series! It captured and held my attention throughout with new and regular characters and engaging mysteries. There was humor, camaraderie, and much speculation around Jessica Fletcher’s kitchen table.
One misstep on her porch and steps prevented Jessica from being a keynote speaker on the Mystery Lovers Cruise. Instead, she went to the hospital, then was restricted to where her wild motorized wheelchair could take her. Both ankles and her right wrist were severely sprained. Dr. Seth Hazlitt gave her two choices: stay in a rehab facility, or get a home health aide. He recommended Alice Myers, one who has impressed him. Jessica, a private person, didn’t want a stranger living in her home, but at least she could be home.
Sheriff Mort Metzgar told Jessica about current local cases, neither of which required her assistance. Victor and his wife, Maria, owned a taco truck that did not yet have a customer base, so they were living in their truck. Victor was found murdered in their food truck, but Maria had not been seen. It was assumed, based on the location of his wounds, that the barely five-foot-tall Maria inflicted them since their loud disagreements were overheard by several people.
There is a shoplifter in Cabot Cove who has been caught on security cameras stealing a jacket, gloves, and food items, mostly bologna, earning him the nickname Bologna Kid. Just to stir the plot a bit, someone published a book by Dr. Seth Hazlett (incorrectly spelled) with a paper he published about thirty years earlier with Artificial Intelligence-selected clips from many internet sources. AI can be a gem in the right hands, but in the wrong hands, it could be harmful and fraudulent. Seth was concerned more for those who might try to use the obsolete information than for those who tried to make money from it.
The Swansons, who owned the home across the street from Jessica, were out of town for the winter. She became concerned when someone moved into it. She was concerned until she called Mrs. Swanson, who confirmed that their home had been leased for a short time through the local property management service. It is the same company Jessica contracted with to check her home and plants when she was out of town.
Being primarily homebound was a challenge for Jessica. She was horrified to realize that she was acting like a busybody by peeking out the window, with binoculars, at the man across the street. When he made snow sculptures that a neighbor called snow porn, something had to give. The man claimed he did these “artistic” shows around the country, so the mayor didn’t want him to stop, as the town could benefit from winter day tourists. Each of his sculptures was battered down, despite deputies being there around the clock. Then, after a heavy storm, the man was found dead in a pile of snow.
Each character was designed with a masterful hand, from the usual Cabot Cove friends and acquaintances to the strange artist and the Bologna Kid. I enjoyed Alice, the young home health aide who helped Jessica. Jessica began to mentor her in the basics of writing, for which Alice had a flare. Jessica came to genuinely care about Alice. From the crabby nonagenarian down the street to Seth Hazlitt, one of the kindest and most compassionate doctors and friends, this is a place where I enjoy visiting.
Jessica is detail oriented and more observant than most, but is currently limited to her motorized wheelchair. She was allowed to go into the home across the street, accompanied by the sheriff, and she took photos to send to the owners. With the information provided to her by the sheriff, several friends, and video footage of the shoplifter, she was able to assist in revealing the bad guys of every open crime, including Seth’s plagiarist.
The resolutions were stunning and complex, and I was sad for some of those involved. The addition of Barbara Early as an author of this series presents a seamless and solid voice for Jessica Fletcher, a perfect segue between Ms. Early and Ms. Terrie Farley Moran. Each author is an excellent writer for this series! I highly recommend this, and all of the Murder, She Wrote series!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
I was very happy with this new mystery in the Murder, She Wrote series! It captured and held my attention throughout with new and regular characters and engaging mysteries. There was humor, camaraderie, and much speculation around Jessica Fletcher’s kitchen table.
One misstep on her porch and steps prevented Jessica from being a keynote speaker on the Mystery Lovers Cruise. Instead, she went to the hospital, then was restricted to where her wild motorized wheelchair could take her. Both ankles and her right wrist were severely sprained. Dr. Seth Hazlitt gave her two choices: stay in a rehab facility, or get a home health aide. He recommended Alice Myers, one who has impressed him. Jessica, a private person, didn’t want a stranger living in her home, but at least she could be home.
Sheriff Mort Metzgar told Jessica about current local cases, neither of which required her assistance. Victor and his wife, Maria, owned a taco truck that did not yet have a customer base, so they were living in their truck. Victor was found murdered in their food truck, but Maria had not been seen. It was assumed, based on the location of his wounds, that the barely five-foot-tall Maria inflicted them since their loud disagreements were overheard by several people.
There is a shoplifter in Cabot Cove who has been caught on security cameras stealing a jacket, gloves, and food items, mostly bologna, earning him the nickname Bologna Kid. Just to stir the plot a bit, someone published a book by Dr. Seth Hazlett (incorrectly spelled) with a paper he published about thirty years earlier with Artificial Intelligence-selected clips from many internet sources. AI can be a gem in the right hands, but in the wrong hands, it could be harmful and fraudulent. Seth was concerned more for those who might try to use the obsolete information than for those who tried to make money from it.
The Swansons, who owned the home across the street from Jessica, were out of town for the winter. She became concerned when someone moved into it. She was concerned until she called Mrs. Swanson, who confirmed that their home had been leased for a short time through the local property management service. It is the same company Jessica contracted with to check her home and plants when she was out of town.
Being primarily homebound was a challenge for Jessica. She was horrified to realize that she was acting like a busybody by peeking out the window, with binoculars, at the man across the street. When he made snow sculptures that a neighbor called snow porn, something had to give. The man claimed he did these “artistic” shows around the country, so the mayor didn’t want him to stop, as the town could benefit from winter day tourists. Each of his sculptures was battered down, despite deputies being there around the clock. Then, after a heavy storm, the man was found dead in a pile of snow.
Each character was designed with a masterful hand, from the usual Cabot Cove friends and acquaintances to the strange artist and the Bologna Kid. I enjoyed Alice, the young home health aide who helped Jessica. Jessica began to mentor her in the basics of writing, for which Alice had a flare. Jessica came to genuinely care about Alice. From the crabby nonagenarian down the street to Seth Hazlitt, one of the kindest and most compassionate doctors and friends, this is a place where I enjoy visiting.
Jessica is detail oriented and more observant than most, but is currently limited to her motorized wheelchair. She was allowed to go into the home across the street, accompanied by the sheriff, and she took photos to send to the owners. With the information provided to her by the sheriff, several friends, and video footage of the shoplifter, she was able to assist in revealing the bad guys of every open crime, including Seth’s plagiarist.
The resolutions were stunning and complex, and I was sad for some of those involved. The addition of Barbara Early as an author of this series presents a seamless and solid voice for Jessica Fletcher, a perfect segue between Ms. Early and Ms. Terrie Farley Moran. Each author is an excellent writer for this series! I highly recommend this, and all of the Murder, She Wrote series!
April 22, 2025
Jessica Fletcher is down. And not in the cute, “whoops I twisted my ankle” kind of way. No, she fully wiped out on the ice, got spectacularly wrecked, and now she’s stuck in a wheelchair with a canceled mystery cruise on her calendar and a front-row seat to the weirdest neighborhood performance art Cabot Cove has ever seen. She was supposed to be sailing into warmer weather, charming retirees with tales of murder. Instead? She’s snowed in, sidelined, and watching things spiral from “mildly eccentric” to “someone’s definitely going to die.”
Enter Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder, where Jessica’s trying to rest, recover, and maybe get a little writing done — but across the street, her temporary neighbor, Mr. Rymer, is out here building anatomically correct snow sculptures. Cabot Cove immediately splits into camps: “how dare he” versus “he’s got range.” Jessica? She’s watching from the window like a cardigan-wrapped oracle, already clocking the chaos coming her way.
Sure enough, Rymer is soon dead. Half-buried in snow. No obvious motive, no sign of struggle, no shortage of gossip. The cops shrug and say “accident.” Jessica, from her wheelchair, sipping tea and fully done with everyone’s nonsense, says “absolutely not.” And so begins the coziest, iciest murder investigation in town history.
And let’s give it up for Alice — Jessica’s young, compassionate nurse with secrets of her own and a tendency to show up exactly when she’s needed (and occasionally when she’s very not). Alice isn’t just there to push the chair — she’s part Watson, part wildcard. You know she’s seen some things, and you also know she’s not telling you all of them. The dynamic between her and Jessica? Chef’s kiss. Quiet power duo energy.
Jessica’s relationships with Seth and Mort in this — the 60th (!!!) entry in the series — are pure comfort food. Seth is in peak cranky-charming form, showing up with desserts, unsolicited medical advice, and just enough gruff affection to remind you why their friendship has outlasted most people’s second marriages. And Mort? Mort is trying his best, bless him. But every time he attempts to take charge of the investigation, Jessica gently (and relentlessly) steamrolls him with sharper instincts and actual logic. It’s the trio at their finest: familiar, reliable, and just chaotic enough to feel like you’ve been dropped into a very wholesome turf war between friendship, flirtation, and whatever counts as “official police procedure” in Cabot Cove.
The rest of the cast delivers everything you'd want from a snowed-in Cabot Cove whodunnit: secret histories, local drama, suspicious timing, and characters who accidentally confess to everything except the murder. Barbara Early — new to the series — writes Jessica like she was born to do it. The voice is warm, sharp, deeply observant, and a little weary in that “I’ve seen too many bodies and not enough consequences” kind of way.
And the setup? Genius. Trapping Jessica inside turns the whole thing into Rear Window with gossip and casseroles. She watches. She listens. She picks the lies apart with surgical precision. This isn’t a woman despite her limitations — it’s a woman who knows exactly what she’s capable of and doesn’t need to chase suspects when she can outwit them from her living room.
Only slight knock? The ending ties up a bit quickly, with a final twist that leans juuust a hair too convenient. But honestly? You’ll be too delighted by how much fun you had to care. By the time the snow settles, the clues click, and the motive is revealed, you’ll be ready to wheel Jessica directly into the next case.
Four stars. Cozy but clever, soft but sinister, and powered by one legend’s total refusal to let a wheelchair — or weather — stop her from catching a killer.
Whodunity Award: Most Likely to Solve a Murder Without Leaving the Recliner
Enter Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder, where Jessica’s trying to rest, recover, and maybe get a little writing done — but across the street, her temporary neighbor, Mr. Rymer, is out here building anatomically correct snow sculptures. Cabot Cove immediately splits into camps: “how dare he” versus “he’s got range.” Jessica? She’s watching from the window like a cardigan-wrapped oracle, already clocking the chaos coming her way.
Sure enough, Rymer is soon dead. Half-buried in snow. No obvious motive, no sign of struggle, no shortage of gossip. The cops shrug and say “accident.” Jessica, from her wheelchair, sipping tea and fully done with everyone’s nonsense, says “absolutely not.” And so begins the coziest, iciest murder investigation in town history.
And let’s give it up for Alice — Jessica’s young, compassionate nurse with secrets of her own and a tendency to show up exactly when she’s needed (and occasionally when she’s very not). Alice isn’t just there to push the chair — she’s part Watson, part wildcard. You know she’s seen some things, and you also know she’s not telling you all of them. The dynamic between her and Jessica? Chef’s kiss. Quiet power duo energy.
Jessica’s relationships with Seth and Mort in this — the 60th (!!!) entry in the series — are pure comfort food. Seth is in peak cranky-charming form, showing up with desserts, unsolicited medical advice, and just enough gruff affection to remind you why their friendship has outlasted most people’s second marriages. And Mort? Mort is trying his best, bless him. But every time he attempts to take charge of the investigation, Jessica gently (and relentlessly) steamrolls him with sharper instincts and actual logic. It’s the trio at their finest: familiar, reliable, and just chaotic enough to feel like you’ve been dropped into a very wholesome turf war between friendship, flirtation, and whatever counts as “official police procedure” in Cabot Cove.
The rest of the cast delivers everything you'd want from a snowed-in Cabot Cove whodunnit: secret histories, local drama, suspicious timing, and characters who accidentally confess to everything except the murder. Barbara Early — new to the series — writes Jessica like she was born to do it. The voice is warm, sharp, deeply observant, and a little weary in that “I’ve seen too many bodies and not enough consequences” kind of way.
And the setup? Genius. Trapping Jessica inside turns the whole thing into Rear Window with gossip and casseroles. She watches. She listens. She picks the lies apart with surgical precision. This isn’t a woman despite her limitations — it’s a woman who knows exactly what she’s capable of and doesn’t need to chase suspects when she can outwit them from her living room.
Only slight knock? The ending ties up a bit quickly, with a final twist that leans juuust a hair too convenient. But honestly? You’ll be too delighted by how much fun you had to care. By the time the snow settles, the clues click, and the motive is revealed, you’ll be ready to wheel Jessica directly into the next case.
Four stars. Cozy but clever, soft but sinister, and powered by one legend’s total refusal to let a wheelchair — or weather — stop her from catching a killer.
Whodunity Award: Most Likely to Solve a Murder Without Leaving the Recliner
April 19, 2025
What a fun book! From the moment poor Jessica slips on ice & tumbles down her front steps, I was drawn into this story and stayed invested it until the very end. This may be Barbara Early’s first foray into this beloved Jessica Fletcher universe, but you can’t tell in the least. In fact, it was so well written for the brand that I frequently felt as though I was actually watching an episode of Murder, She Wrote rather than reading a mystery novel based on the show. Not only did I love the nods to one of my fave classic films – Rear Window – but I also loved seeing the reference to one of my fave MSW episodes (the one where Jessica is laid up with a bum back and hears a murder plot over the phone but no one believes her) because it’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the plot for Snowy with a Chance of Murder.
Jessica may be homebound from her injuries and forced to use a wheelchair and a home health care aide but that just adds to the appeal of this story. Or, to be more accurate, mysteries. There’s a lot of layers in play here, and I really enjoyed puzzling it all out along with Jessica and trying to figure out how – or if – they were all connected. Not to mention that having Jessica confined to her home means that it becomes the gathering place for most of her Cabot Cove friends as they check in on her and share a cup of tea and some sort of yummy dessert. (Fair warning – have some baked goods on hand to snack on while you read this one, or a bowl of hot soup, because between everyone bringing her food and her aide Alice cooking even more you’ll be craving some yummy comfort food!) My favorite visitor is of course Seth Hazlitt – he’s such a fun curmudgeon, and Early nailed his voice perfectly. There are plenty of opportunities to chuckle too, and I grinned a lot as I read Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder. Just so much fun.
Bottom Line: I have always loved the movie Rear Window, and I have always loved the TV show Murder, She Wrote. So it was an absolute no-brainer that I would want to read Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher (wink, wink) and Barbara Early when it promised a nod to the aforementioned Hitchcock classic. And I loved so much about it – from the humor to the various subplots and the way I could “hear” the voices of each character as I read. This story is the perfect choice for when you want a comfort read that wraps around you like a cozy quilt or a hug from an old friend, and Early stepped seamlessly into this long-running series with a delightful and entertaining ‘episode’. The mysteries (and there is more than one but you’ll have to read it for yourself to determine whether all, some, or none are connected) were nicely layered with a bit of endearing chaos as only Cabot Cove can deliver it, and I loved visiting with familiar (and beloved) characters as well as meeting new ones. Welcome to the series, Barbara Early. You did Jessica proud!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Jessica may be homebound from her injuries and forced to use a wheelchair and a home health care aide but that just adds to the appeal of this story. Or, to be more accurate, mysteries. There’s a lot of layers in play here, and I really enjoyed puzzling it all out along with Jessica and trying to figure out how – or if – they were all connected. Not to mention that having Jessica confined to her home means that it becomes the gathering place for most of her Cabot Cove friends as they check in on her and share a cup of tea and some sort of yummy dessert. (Fair warning – have some baked goods on hand to snack on while you read this one, or a bowl of hot soup, because between everyone bringing her food and her aide Alice cooking even more you’ll be craving some yummy comfort food!) My favorite visitor is of course Seth Hazlitt – he’s such a fun curmudgeon, and Early nailed his voice perfectly. There are plenty of opportunities to chuckle too, and I grinned a lot as I read Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder. Just so much fun.
Bottom Line: I have always loved the movie Rear Window, and I have always loved the TV show Murder, She Wrote. So it was an absolute no-brainer that I would want to read Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher (wink, wink) and Barbara Early when it promised a nod to the aforementioned Hitchcock classic. And I loved so much about it – from the humor to the various subplots and the way I could “hear” the voices of each character as I read. This story is the perfect choice for when you want a comfort read that wraps around you like a cozy quilt or a hug from an old friend, and Early stepped seamlessly into this long-running series with a delightful and entertaining ‘episode’. The mysteries (and there is more than one but you’ll have to read it for yourself to determine whether all, some, or none are connected) were nicely layered with a bit of endearing chaos as only Cabot Cove can deliver it, and I loved visiting with familiar (and beloved) characters as well as meeting new ones. Welcome to the series, Barbara Early. You did Jessica proud!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
March 23, 2025
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.
Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early has Jessica Fletcher solving a case from her house.
Can Jessica solve the case?
Jessica Fletcher
Jessica Fletcher is excited about leaving cold, snowy Maine for a sunny cruise ship working vacation. Well, until she slips on some snow-covered ice and hurts herself enough, she must be put into an electric wheelchair to move around. Jessica dislikes this new development, but it all ends up okay because of her at-home aide that Seth found for her. She tries to work on her latest book while trying not to move as much, but once the new neighbor makes risque snow sculptures in his yard, Jessica wonders about him. I like Jessica and how, even stuck in her house, she can still solve a mystery, even if Mort is sad about that.
The Mystery
The next day, after a blizzard comes through Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica watches as Floyd and one of her neighbors uncover the dead body of her new neighbor, Mr. Rymer, and Jessica doesn't understand how he could have died. Jessica tries to help Mort solve this case as best as possible by using her brain since she can't leave the house. Part of me wishes that how the mystery was solved wasn't how it was solved since I feel bad for Jessica.
Five Stars
My rating for Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early is five stars. I love how television show fans can still enjoy Jessica Fletcher through these books. New fans for this character can start reading this series from any book and not get too confused. Ms. Early is a new author of this series that she will be writing with Terrie Farley Moran, and I love how she did this book. I can't wait to see what else Ms. Early and Jessica do together.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early has Jessica Fletcher solving a case from her house.
Can Jessica solve the case?
Jessica Fletcher
Jessica Fletcher is excited about leaving cold, snowy Maine for a sunny cruise ship working vacation. Well, until she slips on some snow-covered ice and hurts herself enough, she must be put into an electric wheelchair to move around. Jessica dislikes this new development, but it all ends up okay because of her at-home aide that Seth found for her. She tries to work on her latest book while trying not to move as much, but once the new neighbor makes risque snow sculptures in his yard, Jessica wonders about him. I like Jessica and how, even stuck in her house, she can still solve a mystery, even if Mort is sad about that.
The Mystery
The next day, after a blizzard comes through Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica watches as Floyd and one of her neighbors uncover the dead body of her new neighbor, Mr. Rymer, and Jessica doesn't understand how he could have died. Jessica tries to help Mort solve this case as best as possible by using her brain since she can't leave the house. Part of me wishes that how the mystery was solved wasn't how it was solved since I feel bad for Jessica.
Five Stars
My rating for Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early is five stars. I love how television show fans can still enjoy Jessica Fletcher through these books. New fans for this character can start reading this series from any book and not get too confused. Ms. Early is a new author of this series that she will be writing with Terrie Farley Moran, and I love how she did this book. I can't wait to see what else Ms. Early and Jessica do together.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
December 29, 2025
Barbara Early’s first contribution to the “Murder, She Wrote” series canon, “Snowy with a Chance of Murder,” delivers on nostalgia and Hitchcockian suspense.
Famous mystery writer Jessica Fletcher plans to attend a keynote writer’s conference for the Mystery Lovers Cruise, but a nasty fall on ice derails her travels.
Wheelchair-bound, Jessica’s first-floor residence is reorganized to accommodate her needs as she begins her recovery. Cared for by friends and neighbors, she is doted on hand and foot, served the best home-cooked meals, and enjoys good company and New England charm.
At the request of Cabot Cove physician and her long-time friend, Seth Hazlitt, a live-in nurse aide is recommended to stay with Jessica for the duration of her rehabilitation. Alice Myers cooks, cleans, and bathes Jessica, working diligently to assist her.
Over the weeks of inhabiting the same quarters, Jessica learns of Alice’s novice interest in becoming a professional writer. Acquaintance turns to friendship as Jessica mentors Alice, and the two women bond over the joys and fears of writing and publishing, and soon find themselves reminiscing about the struggles and pleasures of a writer’s life.
When a blizzard blankets Cabot Cove, a rash of burglaries, murders, and high-anxiety rivalries ignites a firestorm on the quiet street of Candlewood Lane, too close to home for Cabot Cove residents.
A strange man moves into the vacant house across the street from Jessica. Seemingly in dire need of attention, the man known as Mr. Rymer sets out to draw the eye of his fellow neighbors, constructing nude snow sculptures in his front yard.
During the evening of the big blizzard, Jessica and Alice hear the sound of tree branches breaking and the wailing wind beyond the storm windows. What sounded like snapping tree limbs and a banshee wind turned out to be gunshots.
The next morning, Mr. Rymer's body is discovered buried beneath his snow sculptures. Housebound with only a pair of binoculars and her cunning sleuthing skills, Jessica must try to expose a cold-blooded killer before she is the next victim.
The dead body comes late in the story, but it is the shrewd subplots, the unsettling, stormy atmosphere, and the tight-knit banter between characters that make this a winning and entertaining read. A la Rear Window, “Snowy with a Chance of Murder” is an excellent addition to the admired, longstanding book series.
Famous mystery writer Jessica Fletcher plans to attend a keynote writer’s conference for the Mystery Lovers Cruise, but a nasty fall on ice derails her travels.
Wheelchair-bound, Jessica’s first-floor residence is reorganized to accommodate her needs as she begins her recovery. Cared for by friends and neighbors, she is doted on hand and foot, served the best home-cooked meals, and enjoys good company and New England charm.
At the request of Cabot Cove physician and her long-time friend, Seth Hazlitt, a live-in nurse aide is recommended to stay with Jessica for the duration of her rehabilitation. Alice Myers cooks, cleans, and bathes Jessica, working diligently to assist her.
Over the weeks of inhabiting the same quarters, Jessica learns of Alice’s novice interest in becoming a professional writer. Acquaintance turns to friendship as Jessica mentors Alice, and the two women bond over the joys and fears of writing and publishing, and soon find themselves reminiscing about the struggles and pleasures of a writer’s life.
When a blizzard blankets Cabot Cove, a rash of burglaries, murders, and high-anxiety rivalries ignites a firestorm on the quiet street of Candlewood Lane, too close to home for Cabot Cove residents.
A strange man moves into the vacant house across the street from Jessica. Seemingly in dire need of attention, the man known as Mr. Rymer sets out to draw the eye of his fellow neighbors, constructing nude snow sculptures in his front yard.
During the evening of the big blizzard, Jessica and Alice hear the sound of tree branches breaking and the wailing wind beyond the storm windows. What sounded like snapping tree limbs and a banshee wind turned out to be gunshots.
The next morning, Mr. Rymer's body is discovered buried beneath his snow sculptures. Housebound with only a pair of binoculars and her cunning sleuthing skills, Jessica must try to expose a cold-blooded killer before she is the next victim.
The dead body comes late in the story, but it is the shrewd subplots, the unsettling, stormy atmosphere, and the tight-knit banter between characters that make this a winning and entertaining read. A la Rear Window, “Snowy with a Chance of Murder” is an excellent addition to the admired, longstanding book series.
April 7, 2025
THOUGHTS: I love this series, just as I did the old TV shows, and this one is no different. In fact, while reading it, I can “hear” Jessica’s voice and Seth’s and all the other Cabot Cove old-timers. And this far into a series, I know how the characters are supposed to act and that things will turn out just right in the end – which they do.
In this one, Jessica is supposed to go on a cruise, but in leaving her house, she slips on ice and takes a nasty fall which leaves her wheelchair bound for several weeks. Seth helps her hire a live-in caretaker who will help her out until she’s okay again. Alice is a sweet girl who does a lot for Jessica. In addition there’s a regular flow of neighbors and friends through the house (mostly the kitchen) to help keep Jessica company – and to gossip about the “sculptor” who moved into the rental across the street. His snow art has the genteel folks of Cabot Cove chatting for days about his graphic, and sometimes lewd, snow sculptures. Enough to make someone made enough to destroy them. In addition, there’s a thief running around stealing clothes and food, and there are two deaths – a food truck owner, and the artist. Even though Jessica can’t get around very well, what she digs up helps the sheriff solve the mysteries.
Problems: It was obvious to me right away that something was going on with Jessica and who was doing it, but I didn’t quite know why until the end so that was well done. I also didn’t much care for the extraneous bits with Alice’s writing – it did kind of make sense in the end, but it was more like filler than anything. But I will have to say I laughed at Jessica’s issues with driving the wheelchair. Nice bit of comedic relief there. Overall, a decent addition to the series.
Recommended.
Disclosure of Material: Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
In this one, Jessica is supposed to go on a cruise, but in leaving her house, she slips on ice and takes a nasty fall which leaves her wheelchair bound for several weeks. Seth helps her hire a live-in caretaker who will help her out until she’s okay again. Alice is a sweet girl who does a lot for Jessica. In addition there’s a regular flow of neighbors and friends through the house (mostly the kitchen) to help keep Jessica company – and to gossip about the “sculptor” who moved into the rental across the street. His snow art has the genteel folks of Cabot Cove chatting for days about his graphic, and sometimes lewd, snow sculptures. Enough to make someone made enough to destroy them. In addition, there’s a thief running around stealing clothes and food, and there are two deaths – a food truck owner, and the artist. Even though Jessica can’t get around very well, what she digs up helps the sheriff solve the mysteries.
Problems: It was obvious to me right away that something was going on with Jessica and who was doing it, but I didn’t quite know why until the end so that was well done. I also didn’t much care for the extraneous bits with Alice’s writing – it did kind of make sense in the end, but it was more like filler than anything. But I will have to say I laughed at Jessica’s issues with driving the wheelchair. Nice bit of comedic relief there. Overall, a decent addition to the series.
Recommended.
Disclosure of Material: Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
March 22, 2025
Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early is a 2025 Berkley publication.
Jessica was to be the keynote speaker on a cruise, but a nasty fall on the ice keeps her stuck in Cabot Cove in a wheelchair instead, just as a strong Nor’easter is headed toward Cabot Cove.
When a new neighbor shows up to rent the house next door, the tenant startles Jessica by building rather vulgar ice sculptures that attract his online followers but sends the residents of Cabot Cove into a tizzy.
Meanwhile, Mort and his deputies are searching for an elusive bandit, and Jessica tutors her home health nurse on the finer points of writing novels- but then the storm hits, the power goes out and before it’s all over a body will be discovered…
I have mixed feelings about his one. The pacing is super, super slow and I struggled mightily to stick with it, and not to give too much away, but nothing much really happens until the sixty percent mark in the story. In fact, one evening I fought against a persistent and strong case of drowsiness.
Way too much time is spent on the setup, though I knew, logically, that all this had to be leading somewhere. Nice idea to add a ‘fantasy’ novel premise considering how popular that genre is at the moment, and of course allegory is key- but if you aren’t into that sort of thing it can be more work than you wanted to tackle in what is supposed to be a whodunit/ light cozy read.
That said, once the ball got rolling, all the pieces came together, and I was invested in the story from that point on- though it did stretch the plausibility meter just a bit. Still, once all the facts come to light, I must admit the story was indeed compelling, after all was said and done.
So, I’m not sure exactly how to rate this one. I can see the author put a lot of thought into the plot. The characters were true to the series we know and love, but certain elements, the slow build and pacing were very trying, and it took up over half the book before the story really got moving.
After thinking it over for a bit, I really think I a 2.5 rating is the most accurate.
Jessica was to be the keynote speaker on a cruise, but a nasty fall on the ice keeps her stuck in Cabot Cove in a wheelchair instead, just as a strong Nor’easter is headed toward Cabot Cove.
When a new neighbor shows up to rent the house next door, the tenant startles Jessica by building rather vulgar ice sculptures that attract his online followers but sends the residents of Cabot Cove into a tizzy.
Meanwhile, Mort and his deputies are searching for an elusive bandit, and Jessica tutors her home health nurse on the finer points of writing novels- but then the storm hits, the power goes out and before it’s all over a body will be discovered…
I have mixed feelings about his one. The pacing is super, super slow and I struggled mightily to stick with it, and not to give too much away, but nothing much really happens until the sixty percent mark in the story. In fact, one evening I fought against a persistent and strong case of drowsiness.
Way too much time is spent on the setup, though I knew, logically, that all this had to be leading somewhere. Nice idea to add a ‘fantasy’ novel premise considering how popular that genre is at the moment, and of course allegory is key- but if you aren’t into that sort of thing it can be more work than you wanted to tackle in what is supposed to be a whodunit/ light cozy read.
That said, once the ball got rolling, all the pieces came together, and I was invested in the story from that point on- though it did stretch the plausibility meter just a bit. Still, once all the facts come to light, I must admit the story was indeed compelling, after all was said and done.
So, I’m not sure exactly how to rate this one. I can see the author put a lot of thought into the plot. The characters were true to the series we know and love, but certain elements, the slow build and pacing were very trying, and it took up over half the book before the story really got moving.
After thinking it over for a bit, I really think I a 2.5 rating is the most accurate.
March 27, 2025
MURDER, SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER
By Jessica Fletcher & Barbara Early
The Sixtieth Murder, She Wrote Mystery
Jessica Fletcher should have been enjoying a tropical cruise, but a slip on the ice has her not only stuck in snowy Maine, but confined to a wheelchair with the use of only one arm. Adamant about recovering at home, she grudgingly accepts the help of a live in aide. Fortunately, Alice is a personable young woman, unlike the man renting the house across the way who spends the days constructing X-rated snow sculptures. As Jessica recovers she learns of several mysteries occurring around Cabot Cove: the death of a food truck man and his missing wife and the "Bologna Kid" to name a few, and can't help but use her binoculars to check out things from her living room window. Has J. B. Fletcher turned into L. B. Jefferies?
MURDER, SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER is a delightfully different mystery. For a good portion of the book readers aren't entirely sure what the mystery is. Sure, we know about the murdered man and the assumption that his wife killed him after an argument and fled which happened before the book started. We also know about a man stealing food and clothing. All this and everything that happens in the first portion of the book doesn't seem that pressing, but it's is laying the groundwork for the murder that happens right under Jessica's nose.
Spending time in Cabot Cove is like coming home. Reading the sixtieth Murder, She Wrote Mystery is like being wrapped in a cozy blanket with a nice cup of cocoa in hand. While it was fun hanging out with Jessica, Seth, and Mort nothing crucial appeared to be happening. It seemed that disparate events were occurring around town and I thought was too much time spent on a seemingly irrelevant subplot, however, by the end of the story everything joined together, proving things were indeed relevant and making a seamless whole.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER brings the warmth of good friends and a great mystery to a wintry Maine in a great addition to this long running series.
By Jessica Fletcher & Barbara Early
The Sixtieth Murder, She Wrote Mystery
Jessica Fletcher should have been enjoying a tropical cruise, but a slip on the ice has her not only stuck in snowy Maine, but confined to a wheelchair with the use of only one arm. Adamant about recovering at home, she grudgingly accepts the help of a live in aide. Fortunately, Alice is a personable young woman, unlike the man renting the house across the way who spends the days constructing X-rated snow sculptures. As Jessica recovers she learns of several mysteries occurring around Cabot Cove: the death of a food truck man and his missing wife and the "Bologna Kid" to name a few, and can't help but use her binoculars to check out things from her living room window. Has J. B. Fletcher turned into L. B. Jefferies?
MURDER, SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER is a delightfully different mystery. For a good portion of the book readers aren't entirely sure what the mystery is. Sure, we know about the murdered man and the assumption that his wife killed him after an argument and fled which happened before the book started. We also know about a man stealing food and clothing. All this and everything that happens in the first portion of the book doesn't seem that pressing, but it's is laying the groundwork for the murder that happens right under Jessica's nose.
Spending time in Cabot Cove is like coming home. Reading the sixtieth Murder, She Wrote Mystery is like being wrapped in a cozy blanket with a nice cup of cocoa in hand. While it was fun hanging out with Jessica, Seth, and Mort nothing crucial appeared to be happening. It seemed that disparate events were occurring around town and I thought was too much time spent on a seemingly irrelevant subplot, however, by the end of the story everything joined together, proving things were indeed relevant and making a seamless whole.
MURDER, SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER brings the warmth of good friends and a great mystery to a wintry Maine in a great addition to this long running series.
April 8, 2025
I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I read a Murder She Wrote Book, but I think we're talking decades. Then I read an interview with Barbara Early, the "co-author" with Jessica Fletcher, and the plot sounded interesting: Jessica Fletcher, famous author and amateur detective from Cabot Cove, Maine, slips on icy steps and is confined to a wheelchair. Meantime, a new renter moves in across the street . . . a new renter who riles up the neighborhood with his racy snow sculptures and raises Jess's suspicions with his mysterious behavior. Jessica and new caregiver watch him from the front window in an homage to Rear Window, and sure enough he is soon the victim of a murder.
Turns out there has been another murder in town, and it looks like the two are related. But are they related to the mysterious thief known as the Bologna Kid?
Fans of Murder She Wrote should be happy with the book, since it involves all of the regulars. Since Jessica is wheelchair bound, it gives friends and neighbors old and new a good reason to drop by for a visit, allowing Jessica to pump them for information. Of course, with her motorized wheelchair Jess isn't totally housebound and is able to do some sleuthing around town.
If you aren't really a fan of the series, or if you are like me and simply haven't read any books or watched any shows in a long time, this is a great book to jump right in. The humor, the references to Rear Window, and the descriptions of characters and weather all make for a great cozy mystery. The only thing that bothered me just a bit is that Jessica Fletcher figures everything out rather suddenly and explains her reasoning in front of the guilty. But Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot and all the inspectors on Death in Paradise solve the crime the same way--the amateur detective out detects and out-thinks everyone else!
An enjoyable read. Time to head back to Cabot Cove!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
Turns out there has been another murder in town, and it looks like the two are related. But are they related to the mysterious thief known as the Bologna Kid?
Fans of Murder She Wrote should be happy with the book, since it involves all of the regulars. Since Jessica is wheelchair bound, it gives friends and neighbors old and new a good reason to drop by for a visit, allowing Jessica to pump them for information. Of course, with her motorized wheelchair Jess isn't totally housebound and is able to do some sleuthing around town.
If you aren't really a fan of the series, or if you are like me and simply haven't read any books or watched any shows in a long time, this is a great book to jump right in. The humor, the references to Rear Window, and the descriptions of characters and weather all make for a great cozy mystery. The only thing that bothered me just a bit is that Jessica Fletcher figures everything out rather suddenly and explains her reasoning in front of the guilty. But Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot and all the inspectors on Death in Paradise solve the crime the same way--the amateur detective out detects and out-thinks everyone else!
An enjoyable read. Time to head back to Cabot Cove!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
July 14, 2025
New Murder, She Wrote author! The style is slightly different from Terri Farley Moran, who will still be writing some of the books, but similar enough you might not notice.
I liked this one. It was cozy and relaxing with many Cabot Cove faves making an appearance. Loretta, Seth, Mort, even Floyd to name a few. I really loved that the author knew her Murder, She Wrote. Here Jessica is doing a but of a Rear Window thing while injured. The Author refers to Jessica having been injured before, (in the episode Crossed Up) and mentions Grady's tuna omlette he had tried to feed her. I loved that! I've read two of the Murder, She Wrote YA books, and that author sadly does not know the show as well as one would think.
I will say I wish the murder had come in sooner, as it showed up on page 164 in my edition. Some other things bugged me, like the author name dropping Rebecca Yarros and her Fourth Wing series. It delt a little too modern and also off, especially as I'm not a fan. A character is also writing a book and excerpts of the book are in Snowy With a Chance of Murder. I wound up skimming those passages because the writing was bad, though possibly intentionally. Jess was also too gossipy here for someone staunchly anti gossip. The ending was...unrealistic maybe even more than some episodes of books, lol. But fun!
Anything that bugged me was far outweighed by how nice this read was. 4 stars.
I liked this one. It was cozy and relaxing with many Cabot Cove faves making an appearance. Loretta, Seth, Mort, even Floyd to name a few. I really loved that the author knew her Murder, She Wrote. Here Jessica is doing a but of a Rear Window thing while injured. The Author refers to Jessica having been injured before, (in the episode Crossed Up) and mentions Grady's tuna omlette he had tried to feed her. I loved that! I've read two of the Murder, She Wrote YA books, and that author sadly does not know the show as well as one would think.
I will say I wish the murder had come in sooner, as it showed up on page 164 in my edition. Some other things bugged me, like the author name dropping Rebecca Yarros and her Fourth Wing series. It delt a little too modern and also off, especially as I'm not a fan. A character is also writing a book and excerpts of the book are in Snowy With a Chance of Murder. I wound up skimming those passages because the writing was bad, though possibly intentionally. Jess was also too gossipy here for someone staunchly anti gossip. The ending was...unrealistic maybe even more than some episodes of books, lol. But fun!
Anything that bugged me was far outweighed by how nice this read was. 4 stars.
September 29, 2024
Jessica takes a nasty spill on icy steps, necessitating a brief hospital stay and then home care nursing. Being wheelchair-bound for a few weeks becomes the least of Jessica's problems, however, as she begins to see the man who is renting her neighbor's house building ribald snow sculptures for all of Cabot Cove to see. Jessica has a front row seat to these creations from her front window, ala Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window.
The sculptures are destroyed each night, but the artist, Rhymer, doesn't seem to be too disturbed. When Mort and other members of Cabot Cove's sheriff's department aren't trying to solve the mystery of the decimated artworks, they are trying to locate a shoplifter they have nicknamed the "Bologna Kid," due to the thief's propensity for stealing deli meats.
The situation takes on a deadly note when Rhymer is found murdered. Who killed Rhymer and what does Jessica's likable but enigmatic home care nurse know, if anything, about either crime.
This is a well developed entry into this venerable series. Although the plot swerves into the fantasical a bit in the denouement, it is an entertaining read and a fun visit with Jessica and all of the Cabot Cove regulars.
Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
The sculptures are destroyed each night, but the artist, Rhymer, doesn't seem to be too disturbed. When Mort and other members of Cabot Cove's sheriff's department aren't trying to solve the mystery of the decimated artworks, they are trying to locate a shoplifter they have nicknamed the "Bologna Kid," due to the thief's propensity for stealing deli meats.
The situation takes on a deadly note when Rhymer is found murdered. Who killed Rhymer and what does Jessica's likable but enigmatic home care nurse know, if anything, about either crime.
This is a well developed entry into this venerable series. Although the plot swerves into the fantasical a bit in the denouement, it is an entertaining read and a fun visit with Jessica and all of the Cabot Cove regulars.
Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews