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Murder, She Wrote #21
Dying to Retire
Jessica Fletcher is in a Florida retirement community for the funeral of a dear old friend whose heart gave out-only to discover that the woman's death from natural causes may have been artificially induced.With the help of a feisty group of young-in-spirit retirees, Jessica must track down the clues and find out who prescribed the fatal treatment...
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252 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 6, 2004
81 people are currently reading
877 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Fletcher
118 books1,063 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
January 1, 2020
I loved this show when it was on TV. It was one of my Mom's favorite shows, and she watched it all the time, and was appreciative of the clean language and the fun characters. I'm a big Cynthia Harlow fan as I love to read her works in the Miss Julia series. From some of the voices, I think she may have voices from other characters.
Jessica and her friend, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, get the shock of their lives when they travel to a Florida retirement community for the funeral of their old friend, Portia Shelby, only to discover she has been murdered. Needless to say, America's most beloved sleuth soon finds herself with a Palm Beach potboiler on her hands. Who would want to kill her dear friend? A neighbor with a personal grudge? Or the victim's handsome husband, next in line to inherit her riches? One thing is certain: the beach umbrellas aren't the only shady things in the seemingly innocent community, so now Jessica is in a race against time to solve this Floridian flummoxer before it's too late.
This brought back a lot of memories. I'll probably read others as these are very familiar characters. Well written, cute narration. Kinda fun from the old days.
Jessica and her friend, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, get the shock of their lives when they travel to a Florida retirement community for the funeral of their old friend, Portia Shelby, only to discover she has been murdered. Needless to say, America's most beloved sleuth soon finds herself with a Palm Beach potboiler on her hands. Who would want to kill her dear friend? A neighbor with a personal grudge? Or the victim's handsome husband, next in line to inherit her riches? One thing is certain: the beach umbrellas aren't the only shady things in the seemingly innocent community, so now Jessica is in a race against time to solve this Floridian flummoxer before it's too late.
This brought back a lot of memories. I'll probably read others as these are very familiar characters. Well written, cute narration. Kinda fun from the old days.
May 23, 2025
3.5 🌟
Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer
I was torn about whether or not to round this one up to a 4 stars. It’s absolutely a 3.5 but there is a difference between a 3.5 stars rounded up and rounded down.
While this was comforting, funny, and perfectly immersed me in the world of Murder, She Wrote with all my favourite characters; It was also very sporadic.
It benefited from a familiar and welcome cast of characters, an interesting mystery that gets going quickly, and the usual Jessica charm. However, I found it introduced too many characters and bounced around too many locations for my liking. After a bit of time in Key West I found myself forgetting what the main mystery even was.
I think this had potential to be one of the best in the series with just a bit more cleaning up but overall it’s a decent pool or lakeside summer read.
Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer
I was torn about whether or not to round this one up to a 4 stars. It’s absolutely a 3.5 but there is a difference between a 3.5 stars rounded up and rounded down.
While this was comforting, funny, and perfectly immersed me in the world of Murder, She Wrote with all my favourite characters; It was also very sporadic.
It benefited from a familiar and welcome cast of characters, an interesting mystery that gets going quickly, and the usual Jessica charm. However, I found it introduced too many characters and bounced around too many locations for my liking. After a bit of time in Key West I found myself forgetting what the main mystery even was.
I think this had potential to be one of the best in the series with just a bit more cleaning up but overall it’s a decent pool or lakeside summer read.
July 21, 2013
All of Donald Bain's books have a little education on important issues included in the story itself, and this is no exception.
Based in Florida, where I live now, the important issues discussed included fraud Ponzi schemes in relation to buying land to build condos, many times destroying natural habitats; the use of herbs and other non-regulated substances and the danger to senior citizens who also take various medications to treat conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
As a cozy mystery, it is an excellent story.
Based in Florida, where I live now, the important issues discussed included fraud Ponzi schemes in relation to buying land to build condos, many times destroying natural habitats; the use of herbs and other non-regulated substances and the danger to senior citizens who also take various medications to treat conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
As a cozy mystery, it is an excellent story.
July 3, 2013
I love this series- in this book Jessica is in Florida- including Key West. There is even an alligator encounter! I love how the author tells you a bit about the different places Jessica visits- I always end up wanting to travel to where Jessica has been!
July 12, 2023
2.5☆
Come dire... Non è che mi abbia entusiasmata molto. Per gran parte del romanzo ho sentito come se si perdesse in troppe cose futili e questo non mi ha concesso una lettura che sono solita fare con questa protagonista.
Come dire... Non è che mi abbia entusiasmata molto. Per gran parte del romanzo ho sentito come se si perdesse in troppe cose futili e questo non mi ha concesso una lettura che sono solita fare con questa protagonista.
May 28, 2020
Just an enjoyable read. Made me wish I was down in Florida for a vacation.
December 28, 2024
4.5⭐
Wow. I forgot how much better these earlier books are. The plots are just developed with more depth and lack the plot holes that I come across in some of the newer ones. Also, these characters are written true to the show! 🙌🏽 💃🏽😃
Wow. I forgot how much better these earlier books are. The plots are just developed with more depth and lack the plot holes that I come across in some of the newer ones. Also, these characters are written true to the show! 🙌🏽 💃🏽😃
May 15, 2018
I love this series, and will continue to read them. This one started off a bit slowly, but picked up at the end. I enjoyed going to Florida with Jessica and Seth!
December 27, 2024
Jessica is at a retirement home in Florida for the funeral of a dear old friend. Mort, Maureen, and Seth have also come. At first it appears the woman died of natural causes but soon suspicions arise. Who would have wanted to harm the victim though?
The mystery isn't easy to solve. Some shenanigans going on make the story fun but overall it's not the most memorable. The scenes with Seth being hounded by lonely retirees are funny, and there is a scene with Jessica in danger that ups the tension in an otherwise laid back mystery.
The mystery isn't easy to solve. Some shenanigans going on make the story fun but overall it's not the most memorable. The scenes with Seth being hounded by lonely retirees are funny, and there is a scene with Jessica in danger that ups the tension in an otherwise laid back mystery.
December 16, 2021
Dying to Retire was the perfect book to read as the weather has turned cold and gray in my part of the world. Jessica Fletcher is headed to Florida for a friend's funeral. It turns out, her friend's passing is a bit suspicious, and Jessica is determined to do right by her. With Seth, Mort, and Maureen along on the trip, Jessica has plenty of back up while she is investigating.
The case of characters - including residents of Foreverglades - was entertaining and really helped move the story along. I loved the mystery and while I thought I had figured things out toward the end, it was still a nice reveal and I found out some information that surprised me. I definitely felt like I was back in the world of Jessica Fletcher and watching an episode of the show while reading this one. Well-written and enjoyable mystery overall.
I checked this book out of the library and read it for Cozy Escape Book Club. My opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
The case of characters - including residents of Foreverglades - was entertaining and really helped move the story along. I loved the mystery and while I thought I had figured things out toward the end, it was still a nice reveal and I found out some information that surprised me. I definitely felt like I was back in the world of Jessica Fletcher and watching an episode of the show while reading this one. Well-written and enjoyable mystery overall.
I checked this book out of the library and read it for Cozy Escape Book Club. My opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
August 18, 2025
Set in Florida, the mood is summer/hot, but with the usual cast of New England characters. I liked Dying to Retire, it’s one of Bain’s better JB Fletcher novels.
February 21, 2022
These books vary pretty wildly in quality and this one was a complete dud for me. Seemed to forget it was about investigating a murder for large swaths of it which doesn’t always bother me in mysteries but nothing interesting enough happened in that wasted space to justify it.
April 24, 2025
*3.5 stars
I needed something that would be fun and wouldn't stress me out too much, and Jess delivered as always. This was really fun and honestly one of the better ones from this series I've read so far!
I needed something that would be fun and wouldn't stress me out too much, and Jess delivered as always. This was really fun and honestly one of the better ones from this series I've read so far!
January 12, 2021
Okay, this one started out much stronger than most other ones. Often the murder doesn't happen until a third of the way through the book, and it's usually someone no one likes. Here, the murder happened before she even got there, and Portia was likable. The idea of figuring out first whether it was a murder, and then who did it, was a nice change of pace. The problem was it got bogged down in side stuff. I know so dang much about Key Lime Pie now that it's kind of ridiculous. The alligator attack had no real purpose (but there's always a single-chapter incident where Jessica's life is in danger that doesn't match the story; at least this one was a lot more tense than the one in A Question of Murder where she got locked on her balcony in the snow). And the FBI agent was plain odd, though the nod to Columbo was kind of cute. Anyway, better than average.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2022
After hearing of Angela Lansbury's death, I got a bit nostalgic for Murder She Wrote. I tend not to read a lot of cozy mysteries, but this was just a lot of fun. The cast of characters were outrageous and I found myself laughing (and rolling my eyes) at all the assumptions and gossip the characters made about the murder. Ms. Fletcher was of course the voice of reason always asking for proof. I didn't think the mystery was all that predictable. There was still a bit of who done it up until the end. Other than watching the TV series, I haven't read any other books in the series, but I really had fun listening to Dying to Retire. I may have to check out a few more.
April 23, 2012
I just really like this series even though they aren't thrillers.... haha! Although this one wasn't as good as some of the others.
December 1, 2016
Stars: 2.5 / 5
Recommendation: If you want an easy and quick murder mystery pick it up and you will enjoy it. But this one will put you to sleep too, sadly.
Dying To Retire is the 21st book in the Murder, She Wrote series by Donald Bain and fictional writer Jessica Fletcher based on the popular TV Show of the same name. The book was published in 2004. This time the plot is set in Florida.
Jessica Fletcher along with her friends from Cabot Cove - Dr. Seth Hazlitt, Sheriff Morton Metzger and his wife Maureen Metzger - land in Florida to attend the funeral of their dear friend Portia Shelby. She was a neighbor and dear friend to all of them while she was living in Cabot Cove, Maine. However, after reaching Portia's residence they come to know that the coroner hadn't released her body yet. Why hadn't her body been released? Her death was supposed to be of natural causes. Was her death cause of something else? Like Murder? But why would anyone want to murder Portia? While all these questions mull in their brains the four Cabot Cove's attend the wake of Portia Shelby without her body.
Seth finds some diet pills called Ephedra in Portia's medicine cabinet. But that drug was deemed dangerous after a few sports people died. So why was it in the pill box that Portia used? Who had slipped those pills into her daily routine? Jessica also finds out that Portia has been fighting quite a few broken rules by the management and later she took a stand against the real estate developer DeWitt Wainsott in stopping three high-rise buildings to erect between their condominiums and the water. Was someone offended by it and induced an early stop to her heart? As always she again butts head against the local cops. But this time the assigned detective - Detective Zach Shippee - for once thinks in similar line as Jessica and is not ready rule out Portia's death as natural causes. Yet he is still reluctant to share all the details he can.
As the investigation proceeds, Jessica meets with quite a few of Portia's friends and associates that she has cause to believe could have reason to hurt Portia - Helen Davison (Portia's neighbor) and her husband Miles Davison, Mark Rosner (Manager of the condominiums that Portia lived in), Clarence Shelby (Portia's quite infamous husband), Sam Lewis (Another neighbor of Portia and who had also played chauffer to the Cabot Cove folks) and his wife Minnie Lewis, Tony Columbo (related to the New York Mob family Columbos and owns a Pizzeria - Potofino - down the village), Earl and Burl Simmons (Twin Brothers and Maintenance people for the condominiums), Harry (the local pharmacist and runs Weinstein's Pharmacy), Monica Kotansky (another neighbor of Portia) and her sister Carrie, DeWitt Wainscott (The real estate developer), Amelia Rodriguez (Worked at Helen's beauty shop and ally to Portia Shelby), Olga Piper (Another resident and friend of Portia), Gabby (a fisherman and friend of Truman) and Dr. Truman Buckley (Friend of Seth Hazlitt).
Although the plot is interesting, the book had been a rather boring one to read for me. What with so much of description of the Foreverglades and Key West, a full chapter about Seth and Jessica's drive to Key West, the ramblings with Seth's friend Truman - tired me out just reading them. Jessica Fletcher also seems to be lost in her thoughts a lot of the times, tuning out conversations. This is so unlike any of her roles portrayed in other books.
Not a thoroughly enjoyable book as others, but something you could pick for those lazy days and if you really want to sleep (True, actually dozed off more than once while I was reading this book.)
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Jessica mentions that she knows a very good police man named Columbo and he is not related to mob when she talks to Sam Levis (Pg. 18). I am sure he is alluding to Homicide Detective Columbo at LAPD from the famous series Columbo. I always wondered why there was no cross-over episodes between both TV Shows. Would have been wonderful to see both these characters work together.
2) Jessica remembers the movie Key Largo starring Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart while she and Seth travel from Foreverglades to Key West. Havent seen that movie in a while. Might as well watch it again to post a review of it here. :)
3) Jessica tours Ernst Hemingway's home while she is in Key West. I had been twice to that place but hadnt known about his residence. She reminisces that Hemingway perhaps had written some his most famous works there - Death in the Afternoon, The Snow of Kilimanjaro. Neither books I had read and hopefully will do so in future.
4) Gabby mentions that he doesn’t remember his real name. But someone said he was an exact copy of Gabby Hayes from The Roy Rogers Show and that name stuck to him. Never seen that show either. Perhaps will check it out.
5) Grammatical errors seen - A repeat of "you" in the fifth line from the bottom (Pg. 227)
Recommendation: If you want an easy and quick murder mystery pick it up and you will enjoy it. But this one will put you to sleep too, sadly.
Dying To Retire is the 21st book in the Murder, She Wrote series by Donald Bain and fictional writer Jessica Fletcher based on the popular TV Show of the same name. The book was published in 2004. This time the plot is set in Florida.
Jessica Fletcher along with her friends from Cabot Cove - Dr. Seth Hazlitt, Sheriff Morton Metzger and his wife Maureen Metzger - land in Florida to attend the funeral of their dear friend Portia Shelby. She was a neighbor and dear friend to all of them while she was living in Cabot Cove, Maine. However, after reaching Portia's residence they come to know that the coroner hadn't released her body yet. Why hadn't her body been released? Her death was supposed to be of natural causes. Was her death cause of something else? Like Murder? But why would anyone want to murder Portia? While all these questions mull in their brains the four Cabot Cove's attend the wake of Portia Shelby without her body.
Seth finds some diet pills called Ephedra in Portia's medicine cabinet. But that drug was deemed dangerous after a few sports people died. So why was it in the pill box that Portia used? Who had slipped those pills into her daily routine? Jessica also finds out that Portia has been fighting quite a few broken rules by the management and later she took a stand against the real estate developer DeWitt Wainsott in stopping three high-rise buildings to erect between their condominiums and the water. Was someone offended by it and induced an early stop to her heart? As always she again butts head against the local cops. But this time the assigned detective - Detective Zach Shippee - for once thinks in similar line as Jessica and is not ready rule out Portia's death as natural causes. Yet he is still reluctant to share all the details he can.
As the investigation proceeds, Jessica meets with quite a few of Portia's friends and associates that she has cause to believe could have reason to hurt Portia - Helen Davison (Portia's neighbor) and her husband Miles Davison, Mark Rosner (Manager of the condominiums that Portia lived in), Clarence Shelby (Portia's quite infamous husband), Sam Lewis (Another neighbor of Portia and who had also played chauffer to the Cabot Cove folks) and his wife Minnie Lewis, Tony Columbo (related to the New York Mob family Columbos and owns a Pizzeria - Potofino - down the village), Earl and Burl Simmons (Twin Brothers and Maintenance people for the condominiums), Harry (the local pharmacist and runs Weinstein's Pharmacy), Monica Kotansky (another neighbor of Portia) and her sister Carrie, DeWitt Wainscott (The real estate developer), Amelia Rodriguez (Worked at Helen's beauty shop and ally to Portia Shelby), Olga Piper (Another resident and friend of Portia), Gabby (a fisherman and friend of Truman) and Dr. Truman Buckley (Friend of Seth Hazlitt).
Although the plot is interesting, the book had been a rather boring one to read for me. What with so much of description of the Foreverglades and Key West, a full chapter about Seth and Jessica's drive to Key West, the ramblings with Seth's friend Truman - tired me out just reading them. Jessica Fletcher also seems to be lost in her thoughts a lot of the times, tuning out conversations. This is so unlike any of her roles portrayed in other books.
Not a thoroughly enjoyable book as others, but something you could pick for those lazy days and if you really want to sleep (True, actually dozed off more than once while I was reading this book.)
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Jessica mentions that she knows a very good police man named Columbo and he is not related to mob when she talks to Sam Levis (Pg. 18). I am sure he is alluding to Homicide Detective Columbo at LAPD from the famous series Columbo. I always wondered why there was no cross-over episodes between both TV Shows. Would have been wonderful to see both these characters work together.
2) Jessica remembers the movie Key Largo starring Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart while she and Seth travel from Foreverglades to Key West. Havent seen that movie in a while. Might as well watch it again to post a review of it here. :)
3) Jessica tours Ernst Hemingway's home while she is in Key West. I had been twice to that place but hadnt known about his residence. She reminisces that Hemingway perhaps had written some his most famous works there - Death in the Afternoon, The Snow of Kilimanjaro. Neither books I had read and hopefully will do so in future.
4) Gabby mentions that he doesn’t remember his real name. But someone said he was an exact copy of Gabby Hayes from The Roy Rogers Show and that name stuck to him. Never seen that show either. Perhaps will check it out.
5) Grammatical errors seen - A repeat of "you" in the fifth line from the bottom (Pg. 227)
March 27, 2025
Jessica Fletcher heads to Florida expecting shuffleboard and sympathy. Instead? Homicide in pastels. In Dying to Retire, the twenty-first entry in the series, Jessica gets a sunshine-soaked slap in the face when what should be a mourning visit turns into a one-way ticket to suspicious deaths, shady supplements, and more geriatric drama than a late-stage Golden Girl's reboot.
Jessica and Dr. Seth Hazlitt arrive at the Coral Palms Retirement Community to pay respects to their friend Portia Shelby, who supposedly died of a heart attack. Only... Portia was healthier than a yoga instructor on a green juice cleanse, and her herbalist husband is acting like a man who’s one refill away from a pharmaceutical lawsuit.
The vibes? Immaculately Florida. Think steamy sidewalks, gossiping retirees, golf carts with too much horsepower, and neighbors who definitely saw something but “aren’t ones to talk.” Jessica quickly realizes that Portia’s death might not be natural at all — and considering her hobby is collecting murders like souvenir magnets, she’s not exactly surprised.
The murder mystery here hinges on herbal remedies, medication interactions, and just enough financial motive to keep everyone looking shifty. It’s cozy, yes, but also surprisingly sharp when it comes to real-world dangers faced by seniors. Shady developers, retirement scams, and sketchy health fads all swirl in the background like a Vitamin D-fueled storm cloud.
Also? Seth gets a rare moment to shine. He’s more than just Jessica’s crusty sidekick — he’s observant, funny, and just salty enough to balance her polite sleuthing. The cast of characters includes feisty widows, suspiciously buff groundskeepers, and at least one person who definitely knows more than they’re letting on while sipping a suspiciously pink daiquiri.
The plot is twisty without being absurd, though it occasionally meanders like a confused mall walker. Still, it all pulls together in a satisfying way. Jessica remains the classy chaos-magnet we know and love, calmly dissecting alibis while everyone around her underestimates her cardigan’d fury.
Solid 3.5 stars. It’s not the flashiest entry in the series, but it delivers on the promise of palm trees, pensioners, and poison — and what more could you want from Florida, really?
Jessica and Dr. Seth Hazlitt arrive at the Coral Palms Retirement Community to pay respects to their friend Portia Shelby, who supposedly died of a heart attack. Only... Portia was healthier than a yoga instructor on a green juice cleanse, and her herbalist husband is acting like a man who’s one refill away from a pharmaceutical lawsuit.
The vibes? Immaculately Florida. Think steamy sidewalks, gossiping retirees, golf carts with too much horsepower, and neighbors who definitely saw something but “aren’t ones to talk.” Jessica quickly realizes that Portia’s death might not be natural at all — and considering her hobby is collecting murders like souvenir magnets, she’s not exactly surprised.
The murder mystery here hinges on herbal remedies, medication interactions, and just enough financial motive to keep everyone looking shifty. It’s cozy, yes, but also surprisingly sharp when it comes to real-world dangers faced by seniors. Shady developers, retirement scams, and sketchy health fads all swirl in the background like a Vitamin D-fueled storm cloud.
Also? Seth gets a rare moment to shine. He’s more than just Jessica’s crusty sidekick — he’s observant, funny, and just salty enough to balance her polite sleuthing. The cast of characters includes feisty widows, suspiciously buff groundskeepers, and at least one person who definitely knows more than they’re letting on while sipping a suspiciously pink daiquiri.
The plot is twisty without being absurd, though it occasionally meanders like a confused mall walker. Still, it all pulls together in a satisfying way. Jessica remains the classy chaos-magnet we know and love, calmly dissecting alibis while everyone around her underestimates her cardigan’d fury.
Solid 3.5 stars. It’s not the flashiest entry in the series, but it delivers on the promise of palm trees, pensioners, and poison — and what more could you want from Florida, really?
April 20, 2025
Listen, when I say these books are my go-to for comfort, I mean it. Every time I feel down or I'm in a bad mood, the Murder, She Wrote series NEVER fails to lift up my spirits and make me smile. And that's just what I did during this book - I smiled and laughed. Donald Bain is an amazing author who really captures the spirit of Jessica Fletcher and her friends.
Jessica is my hero, fictional or not, and she will always be Angela Lansbury to me, may she rest in peace. The friendship between her and Seth is so precious, it's my second favorite friendship throughout all the media I've watched, read and listened to. Most of my laughs came from their interactions.
Sam was also an amazing character, the funniest old guy I've ever read about haha I hope I get to be like him when I'm an old timer. He was the comedy relief and I loved picturing him hunting down an assassin while driving a bright pink car and wearing a damn cowboy hat!
Aside from loving this series to death, I was excited for this one because I live in Florida. It's not too often I read fiction taking place here and, honestly, I'm not too excited to do so because I don't like Florida. I found myself nodding along or saying, "That's right!" whenever a character would talk about the weather or when Jessica would mention how hot and humid it was. And the line about how it rains a lot but only for a short period? God, that's so true it hurts.
There's nothing worse than it being 90 degrees with 80% humidity only for it to rain for literally less than 5 minutes and then end up 10x hotter than it was before. It's terrible! Despite not liking my state, I felt proud to have Jessica visit and for this book to be set there. Honestly, it'd be cool if there was a MSW book for every state and many of the most populated countries. It would certainly make those challenges easier to complete haha
This was another amazing book that I highly recommend!
Jessica is my hero, fictional or not, and she will always be Angela Lansbury to me, may she rest in peace. The friendship between her and Seth is so precious, it's my second favorite friendship throughout all the media I've watched, read and listened to. Most of my laughs came from their interactions.
Sam was also an amazing character, the funniest old guy I've ever read about haha I hope I get to be like him when I'm an old timer. He was the comedy relief and I loved picturing him hunting down an assassin while driving a bright pink car and wearing a damn cowboy hat!
Aside from loving this series to death, I was excited for this one because I live in Florida. It's not too often I read fiction taking place here and, honestly, I'm not too excited to do so because I don't like Florida. I found myself nodding along or saying, "That's right!" whenever a character would talk about the weather or when Jessica would mention how hot and humid it was. And the line about how it rains a lot but only for a short period? God, that's so true it hurts.
There's nothing worse than it being 90 degrees with 80% humidity only for it to rain for literally less than 5 minutes and then end up 10x hotter than it was before. It's terrible! Despite not liking my state, I felt proud to have Jessica visit and for this book to be set there. Honestly, it'd be cool if there was a MSW book for every state and many of the most populated countries. It would certainly make those challenges easier to complete haha
This was another amazing book that I highly recommend!
August 8, 2025
It's always nice to settle in with a Murder, She Wrote book, and this one, "Dying to Retire," was no exception. It finds Jessica Fletcher in a Florida retirement community, which is a great setting for a cozy mystery. She's there for a friend's funeral, whose heart supposedly gave out. But, of course, this is Jessica Fletcher we're talking about, so it doesn't take long for her to suspect that her friend's death from "natural causes" might have been anything but.
The book is a lot of fun because of who Jessica teams up with. She finds herself working with a feisty, young-in-spirit group of retirees who are more than ready to help her track down clues. Their energy and enthusiasm for sleuthing is really endearing and brings a fresh dynamic to the story. Watching this group of friends dig into the secrets of the retirement community, where everyone seems to have something to hide, makes for a very entertaining read.
The mystery itself is well-plotted and satisfying. The clues are laid out nicely, and it keeps you guessing without being overly complicated. It’s a great example of a classic cozy mystery. While it might not reinvent the wheel for the genre, it delivers exactly what you want from a Murder, She Wrote novel: a clever puzzle, a charming setting, and an engaging protagonist.
If you’re a fan of the series or just love a good whodunnit with a fun cast of characters, this is a solid entry. It's a testament to the series' enduring charm.
★★★★☆
#DyingToRetire #MurderSheWrote #JessicaFletcher #DonaldBain #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #FloridaMystery #AmateurSleuth #Whodunnit #RetirementCommunity
The book is a lot of fun because of who Jessica teams up with. She finds herself working with a feisty, young-in-spirit group of retirees who are more than ready to help her track down clues. Their energy and enthusiasm for sleuthing is really endearing and brings a fresh dynamic to the story. Watching this group of friends dig into the secrets of the retirement community, where everyone seems to have something to hide, makes for a very entertaining read.
The mystery itself is well-plotted and satisfying. The clues are laid out nicely, and it keeps you guessing without being overly complicated. It’s a great example of a classic cozy mystery. While it might not reinvent the wheel for the genre, it delivers exactly what you want from a Murder, She Wrote novel: a clever puzzle, a charming setting, and an engaging protagonist.
If you’re a fan of the series or just love a good whodunnit with a fun cast of characters, this is a solid entry. It's a testament to the series' enduring charm.
★★★★☆
#DyingToRetire #MurderSheWrote #JessicaFletcher #DonaldBain #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #FloridaMystery #AmateurSleuth #Whodunnit #RetirementCommunity
February 15, 2025
Recently I have been watching the Murder, She Wrote live streaming channel (all Murder, She Wrote all the time). Thought I would try reading one of the novels. Doesn't quite have the same charm as the TV show, but it's a good enough cozy mystery. It's interesting, it wasn't until the very end of the book that any real investigating began. It all started when Jess pulled out her flashlight (she always carries one in her purse). There was a side plot involving Seth's romantic interest in one of the inhabitants of the retirement community (when will Seth and Jessica realize they're perfect for each other?) that we're supposed to care about, but it's boring. I find it fascinating that Murder, She Wrote books are still being published, so I may sample a few more.
July 12, 2024
Donald Bain's Murder, She Wrote series is pretty good.
Very cozy and pleasant to read. Usually.
In this particular book, Jessica left with a few friends to a funeral of someone who went to Florida to retire, the friends and the deceased all from Cabot Cove.
But the body is held by the police, as the results of the autopsy were suspicious. Jessica will once more take it upon herself to find out what happened.
I find the characters Bain writes in these books believable and alive.
Read perhaps 5-10 books of the series so far... Would recommend for a pleasant read that is stimulating thought wise.
Very cozy and pleasant to read. Usually.
In this particular book, Jessica left with a few friends to a funeral of someone who went to Florida to retire, the friends and the deceased all from Cabot Cove.
But the body is held by the police, as the results of the autopsy were suspicious. Jessica will once more take it upon herself to find out what happened.
I find the characters Bain writes in these books believable and alive.
Read perhaps 5-10 books of the series so far... Would recommend for a pleasant read that is stimulating thought wise.
August 29, 2024
Jessica Fletcher is in a Florida retirement community for the funeral of a dear old friend whose heart gave out-only to discover that the woman's death from natural causes may have been artificially induced. With the help of a feisty group of young-in-spirit retirees, Jessica must track down the clues and find out who prescribed the fatal treatment...
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This was my first. I love the show, so I thought I would try the books. It was just like watching—it sounded just like Jessica.
I'm not sure how I feel about the narrator. She did the accents well (Floridian and New England), but after a while, she kind of grated on me.
Will try another and see how it goes.
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This was my first. I love the show, so I thought I would try the books. It was just like watching—it sounded just like Jessica.
I'm not sure how I feel about the narrator. She did the accents well (Floridian and New England), but after a while, she kind of grated on me.
Will try another and see how it goes.
July 17, 2019
#21 Murder, She Wrote
Jessica, Seth, Mort and his wife all go to Florida to attend the funeral of a friend who had moved there and died suddenly on the beach. When they get there, they find out that she had died under mysterious circumstances. As they go around, they find out many things that are not right and Jessica is paying closer attention, so are the others after she is injured in an attack on her.
The story is still just a reminisce down memory lane when I would watch the show with my mom.
Jessica, Seth, Mort and his wife all go to Florida to attend the funeral of a friend who had moved there and died suddenly on the beach. When they get there, they find out that she had died under mysterious circumstances. As they go around, they find out many things that are not right and Jessica is paying closer attention, so are the others after she is injured in an attack on her.
The story is still just a reminisce down memory lane when I would watch the show with my mom.
August 22, 2022
This book was so cute! I had never read any of these but used to watch the tv show all the time with my grandma so I knew the characters already. I honestly picked this one randomly out of the ones available on Libby because I thought it was fun that it was set in a retirement community. I came to realize that this series of books likes to educate readers about the locations that Jessica finds herself in so I got to learn about Key West which was fun. I'd definitely read more of these and enjoyed the audiobook a lot.
November 19, 2023
This book is a perfect example of what I consider a 3 star book read for me.
I enjoyed it, and definately plan to find more books in the series to read. But it probably won't be a very memorable one for me, and I doubt I'll ever read it again. I won't specifically recommend this book to friends who ask for new books to read. I will recommend the series as a whole though, even though this was only the first one in it I had read.
It felt just like an episode of the show. Nothing thrilling or exciting, but it is entertaining and stars easy to like characters. It's a cozy mystery.
I enjoyed it, and definately plan to find more books in the series to read. But it probably won't be a very memorable one for me, and I doubt I'll ever read it again. I won't specifically recommend this book to friends who ask for new books to read. I will recommend the series as a whole though, even though this was only the first one in it I had read.
It felt just like an episode of the show. Nothing thrilling or exciting, but it is entertaining and stars easy to like characters. It's a cozy mystery.
December 30, 2024
I generally enjoy the older mysteries. I get a kick out of murders being solved by amateurs using pay phones and paper documents and plain old fashioned beauty shop gossip. What I don't enjoy is a male author writing a female character who puts up with so much shit from her male best friends and spends her time excusing their childish behaviour and soothing their tantrums. I have a certain number of this series to finish for a challenge. I generally hate reading out of order, but I maybe need to pick the books that leave Dr. Seth Hazlett far far behind.
April 28, 2025
Jessica, Seth, Mort, and Maureen travel to a retirement community in Florida to attend the funeral for a friend (originally from Cabot Cove) who died of heart failure. What follows is a tangled web of mystery when her death is suddenly looked upon as suspicious by the police. Of course Jessica & Company get mixed up in it. I enjoyed the plot that led from one suspect to the next. Another book in the series with a surprise reveal at the end. The characters were delightful (reminded me of the Del Boca Vista community from Seinfeld) as was the vocal narration.
December 6, 2017
Jessica Fletcher is up to all her fabulous murder solving tricks while visiting Florida for a dear friend's funeral. Of course, there is a suspicion that Portia's death may not have been from natural causes. While investigating, Jessica faces an alligator, a shady developer, and makes lots of new friends. While this isn't a pulse pounding thriller, it is exactly what you would expect time with Jessica, Seth, Most, and Maureen would be like. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
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