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Murder, She Wrote #19
Murder, She Wrote: Majoring In Murder
Celebrity mystery writer Jessica Fletcher is riding out Schoolman College's first tornado in over sixty years. As a visiting professor, she is there to teach a creative writing class. But after two men choose to brave the tornado rather than take shelter and one of them is found dead-Jessica wonders if her darkest suspicions are strictly academic.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2003
77 people are currently reading
911 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Fletcher
115 books1,061 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Jessica Fletcher (born Jessica Beatrice MacGill, and writes under the initialed J.B. Fletcher) is a fictional character from the US television series Murder, She Wrote.
In keeping with the spirit of the TV show, a series of official original novels have been written by American ghostwriter Donald Bain and published by the New American Library. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." When the first novel in the series, Gin and Daggers, was published in 1989 it included several inaccuracies to the TV series including Jessica driving a car which she could not do as she never learned to drive. Due to fans pointing out the errors, the novel was republished in 2000 with most of the inaccuracies corrected.
Source: Wikipedia
Jessica Fletcher (born Jessica Beatrice MacGill, and writes under the initialed J.B. Fletcher) is a fictional character from the US television series Murder, She Wrote.
In keeping with the spirit of the TV show, a series of official original novels have been written by American ghostwriter Donald Bain and published by the New American Library. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher." When the first novel in the series, Gin and Daggers, was published in 1989 it included several inaccuracies to the TV series including Jessica driving a car which she could not do as she never learned to drive. Due to fans pointing out the errors, the novel was republished in 2000 with most of the inaccuracies corrected.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 18, 2019
Very entertaining Murder, She Wrote mystery set on a college campus. Jessica Fletcher is teaching a creative writing class for a semester. When one of the college professors is found dead after the result of a tornado that tore through the college, Jessica does not believe it was an accident, but believes he was murdered prior to the tornado. She therefore sets out to do some investigating of her own. This was a really enjoyable read and I loved the campus setting. There were plenty of suspects to be found among the staff, faculty and students. The tornado also added additional excitement. Great fun.
August 13, 2023
Great book! I figured out who did it very early on, but still the twist and turns of this novel were wonderful! A great book to read on a rainy day!
August 20, 2011
There are times when you want a prime rib dinner. There are times when you crave bistro food. And there are times when you just want meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Just as there is comfort food, there are comfort reads. After the intensity of Dan Simmons' "Flashback" and weeks reading "A Clash of Kings" (which I'll get back to now), I felt like something lighter, something softer, a book that I could cuddle up with and enjoy. For me that means a cozy mystery.
I was not disappointed by this book in the "Murder She Wrote" series. I loved the television series and, although I haven't read many of the tie-in books, this one was exactly what a cozy mystery should be. There are no recipes or knitting instructions. We don't have quirky characters a la Grandma Mazur. What we do have is a well-crafted mystery with multiple suspects, clues ably planted, and characters you can identify with.
In this one, Jessica Fletcher, retired English teacher, mystery writer, and incredibly nosy amateur sleuth, is invited to teach a class in mystery writing at Schoolman College in Indiana. While there, a colleague is killed during a tornado when the building he's in collapses on top of him. Jessica, of course, suspects foul play almost from the outset. When the sister of the victim arrives in town, bringing a letter from him where he says his life is in danger, Jessica is even more convinced. But, as usual, local law enforcement thinks that the two women have overactive imaginations and doesn't want to investigate.
Since Jessica is new to the campus, it's believable when we get to know the people at the college by her asking questions. Anyone who's familiar with Murder She Wrote knows that Jessica jumps right in and helps people she just met, even though there may be long-term friends and acquaintances who, in real life, would fulfill this role. And we know she always pokes her nose in places she doesn't belong. With these characteristics as a given, Jessica Fletcher is a very believable amateur sleuth.
After writing that, it has me trying to identify why a retired English teacher is a more believable amateur sleuth than, say, the owner of a bookstore or a baker or a knitter. I suppose there's no reason inherent in the occupation of the amateur sleuth. I think the problem with all the craft and cooking mysteries is that the author (and probably their readers, since the books are popular) is just as interested, if not more so, in the crafts or recipes as they are in solving the murder. A troubled romantic relationship seems to be a required subplot as well. And, of course, the obligatory quirky character.
In "Majoring in Murder", the focus is on solving the crime. Classroom lectures on how to write a mystery don't overwhelm the plot. Jessica doesn't meet a handsome, widowed professor who tries to woo her. And we don't have anyone who brings a juggling baboon to class.
Donald Bain knows how to write a traditional mystery with all the elements of a good whodunnit. I'll definitely be reading more in this series.
Just as there is comfort food, there are comfort reads. After the intensity of Dan Simmons' "Flashback" and weeks reading "A Clash of Kings" (which I'll get back to now), I felt like something lighter, something softer, a book that I could cuddle up with and enjoy. For me that means a cozy mystery.
I was not disappointed by this book in the "Murder She Wrote" series. I loved the television series and, although I haven't read many of the tie-in books, this one was exactly what a cozy mystery should be. There are no recipes or knitting instructions. We don't have quirky characters a la Grandma Mazur. What we do have is a well-crafted mystery with multiple suspects, clues ably planted, and characters you can identify with.
In this one, Jessica Fletcher, retired English teacher, mystery writer, and incredibly nosy amateur sleuth, is invited to teach a class in mystery writing at Schoolman College in Indiana. While there, a colleague is killed during a tornado when the building he's in collapses on top of him. Jessica, of course, suspects foul play almost from the outset. When the sister of the victim arrives in town, bringing a letter from him where he says his life is in danger, Jessica is even more convinced. But, as usual, local law enforcement thinks that the two women have overactive imaginations and doesn't want to investigate.
Since Jessica is new to the campus, it's believable when we get to know the people at the college by her asking questions. Anyone who's familiar with Murder She Wrote knows that Jessica jumps right in and helps people she just met, even though there may be long-term friends and acquaintances who, in real life, would fulfill this role. And we know she always pokes her nose in places she doesn't belong. With these characteristics as a given, Jessica Fletcher is a very believable amateur sleuth.
After writing that, it has me trying to identify why a retired English teacher is a more believable amateur sleuth than, say, the owner of a bookstore or a baker or a knitter. I suppose there's no reason inherent in the occupation of the amateur sleuth. I think the problem with all the craft and cooking mysteries is that the author (and probably their readers, since the books are popular) is just as interested, if not more so, in the crafts or recipes as they are in solving the murder. A troubled romantic relationship seems to be a required subplot as well. And, of course, the obligatory quirky character.
In "Majoring in Murder", the focus is on solving the crime. Classroom lectures on how to write a mystery don't overwhelm the plot. Jessica doesn't meet a handsome, widowed professor who tries to woo her. And we don't have anyone who brings a juggling baboon to class.
Donald Bain knows how to write a traditional mystery with all the elements of a good whodunnit. I'll definitely be reading more in this series.
February 6, 2017
Not bad, but the red herring, secondary mystery, motives and murderer were all kind of obvious by this point of the book, page 131. Not badly written, though "The campus was alive with the sound of construction vehicles..." made me giggle and imagine Julie Andrews singing with a hard hat on, twirling amongst sweaty construction workers looking at her quizzically. So one star for making me giggle. Two more because it wasn't horrible. Three total. Not my cup, but might be yours. :)
October 3, 2020
Majoring in Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain is the 19th book in the Murder She Wrote Mystery series. Jessica Fletcher is at Schoolman College teaching a creative writing course when one of her fellow professors is killed during a tornado and she is convinced he had been murdered. An interesting mystery although rather slow paced. It was spoilt a bit by the ineptness of the police who were unwilling to look into the possibility of murder and most of the book seemed to be about Jessica trying to convince others of the murder. A little farfetched and obvious.
April 22, 2019
This book was totally ridiculous, and I laughed my way through it (while reading it aloud every night to Matt as our latest form of Literary Nyquil). I'm a shamelessly enthusiastic fan of Murder, She Wrote, and so reading a murder mystery written from Jessica Fletcher's POV was highly amusing, but this book was also one of the most formulaic books I've read in a long time—one of the slowest and most telegraphed I've ever read from an action, plot, and flow standpoint—and I feel like anyone who actually finished it deserves a medal. (I finished it, and promptly awarded myself a medal.)
It's also 99% dialogue (I swear), which is equal parts bizarre/amusing/maddening. The few descriptive passages that do exist in the book are totally superfluous with regard to plot and overall story. Also, the names! The names of every character are repeated over and over again. And not just first names. Full (sometimes three!) names. So funny/strange.
Anyway, if you love Murder, She Wrote and miss hearing stories told in Jessica Fletcher's amusingly acerbic tone, then you should probably read this book (and/or likely already have).
I'm totally going to read more of these, mostly because we scored a stack of them from a used bookstore last month, but I also think the show is five million times better than any of these books are going to be.
[Two stars for Jessica Fletcher and for how many times this felt like a game of CLUE.]
It's also 99% dialogue (I swear), which is equal parts bizarre/amusing/maddening. The few descriptive passages that do exist in the book are totally superfluous with regard to plot and overall story. Also, the names! The names of every character are repeated over and over again. And not just first names. Full (sometimes three!) names. So funny/strange.
Anyway, if you love Murder, She Wrote and miss hearing stories told in Jessica Fletcher's amusingly acerbic tone, then you should probably read this book (and/or likely already have).
I'm totally going to read more of these, mostly because we scored a stack of them from a used bookstore last month, but I also think the show is five million times better than any of these books are going to be.
[Two stars for Jessica Fletcher and for how many times this felt like a game of CLUE.]
August 27, 2018
Another great book in one of my favorite series. Jessica Fletcher has travelled away from the comforts of her home in Maine to teach for a semester at a small college in Indiana. As is typical, things don’t go smoothly, and she soon finds herself entangled with yet another murder investigation, or at least a mystery. Her major problem is that some of the evidence may have travelled away in the tornado that hits the college. To most people, a professor’s death would appear to be a tragic accident as a result of the tornado, but Jessica has other ideas. I love how she never backs down and seeks out the truth no matter what others may think or say. One should never underestimate JB- whether she is at home or traveling, a mystery always is around the corner and she will not rest until she has all the answers. This is one of my absolute favorite series because they don’t have to be read in order and the plots and characters are always interesting.
August 17, 2009
I discovered this book in a recent visit to the library. I have not had luck in finding some of the other authors I wanted to read and this caught my eye when I walked past it. I LOVED the TV series and this book is just like watching a show! It is written in first person by Jessica Fletcher (It actually has Donald Bain's name on it too but "I/me" is Jessica Fletcher). IT is a VERY clean book (No bad language, immorality, and she even discourages gossiping to boot!) Very fast read. Now I want to go back and get some more books!!
September 28, 2025
4 Stars. I liked it - was it a four or a five? Whatever, it's a good one. There's a terrifying sequence we'll get to later. I am reading the first 20 of the current series of Murder She Wrote. They vary in quality. Some are very good like this one. Jessica is a visiting professor of English at a small college in rural Indiana - basketball, farm fields to the horizon, and the occasional weather catastrophe. She's lecturing on mysteries to an enthusiastic group of students. This isn't the first time that the series gets into the weeds on what makes a good mystery! I enjoyed the digression. Back to the story. As can happen in the mid-west of the States, Schoolman College gets hit by a tornado. When the excitement dies down, the Chair of the English Department, Wes Newmark, is found dead having been crushed in the semi-collapse of Kammerer House and his office. Straight forward? So the police think - that's one of the memes of the TV version of the series; authorities don't believe Jessica when she says murder. The terror? She's in an old, forgotten tunnel and her flashlight dies. You just know there's someone else there. I got very anxious. (Au2025/Se2025)
June 19, 2019
2.5 stars - The 19th book in the Murder, She Wrote series was entertaining enough which encouraged me to read this within the span of 24 hours.
However, I hated that Jessica spent at least 80% of this story trying to convince authorities that a murder had taken place. The additional crimes that were thrown in only annoyed me more; all of the suspects still had motive without their other crimes being considered.
It was also very clear who the murderer was as soon as we were introduced to them. Not only that, but I was even able to guess the motive behind the murder as well...all within the first quarter of the book. Guessing "who did it" is always a fun aspect to mysteries, but being able to guess it so accurately at the beginning of the book is just a let down.
However, I hated that Jessica spent at least 80% of this story trying to convince authorities that a murder had taken place. The additional crimes that were thrown in only annoyed me more; all of the suspects still had motive without their other crimes being considered.
It was also very clear who the murderer was as soon as we were introduced to them. Not only that, but I was even able to guess the motive behind the murder as well...all within the first quarter of the book. Guessing "who did it" is always a fun aspect to mysteries, but being able to guess it so accurately at the beginning of the book is just a let down.
March 22, 2022
Read the first time on June 21, 2013. Decided to read it again. 😊. Enjoyed the book very much and especially Jessica Fletcher in action.
September 20, 2019
I think this was my favorite in the series so far!
July 21, 2022
First Murder, She Wrote book I have read, and it reminded me so much of the loveable series that I still enjoy watching. Set on a college campus in Indiana where Jessica is teaching for a semester, a tornado blows through and the body of one of the English professors is found in the debris. Was his death due to the tornado or was he murdered? Jessica puts her astute mind to work to find out the truth? Light, enjoyable, read.
September 29, 2023
Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: Easier to know who the culprits were very early on in the plot, but it was interesting to read how Jessica comes to conclusion in the end. It was definitely a slow read but it still retained the charm of a cozy mystery.
Majoring In Murder is the 19th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on April 1, 2003. This time Jessica is in Schoolman, Indiana for teaching a creative writing course when plans are marred by an unexpected tornado, one that had not happened in more than 60 years. And a murder occurs in the midst of the tornado which Jessica ends up investigating even though the authorities call it an accident.
This is my take on the series of books written by a plethora of authors and Jessica Fletcher (fictional author) based on the 80s and 90s popular American crime drama television series Murder, She Wrote. These books are ghost written by Donald Bain and fictional author Jessica Fletcher for the first 43 books until 2015. Then Donald Bain wrote these with Renee Paley Bain and Jon Land for four more books. After Donald Bain passed away in 2017, Jon Land alone took the baton and continued with Jessica Fletcher for 5 more books until 2020. Starting 2021 the series was picked by Terrie Farley Moran again pairing with the fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. As of 2023, 56 books have been written in this series. They are all written in first person narration.
First time I have seen a book in this series that began with a prologue. Although it didn’t add much to the tale, looked like any other opening chapter. Jessica has some tough hurdles to pass through before she could convince the authorities about the murder.
I am glad though that she did not patch up with the person who caused the more trouble and even goes too far in blaming her. She was not stupid enough like in Murder in Moscow, the 10th book, where she accepts friendship of a person who had put her through hell. As a human being, even if we can forgive people, its hard to patch up once the bond is broken. There will always be a scar that mars the image the mirror shows.
In the process of uncovering the truth of one accident / murder, Jessica ends up solving a cold case of a missing person too. Although to get to there we had endure with a lot of detailed descriptions of the scene. I wish Bain could tone down these lengthy descriptive scenes.
Easier to know who the culprits were very early on in the plot, but it was interesting to read how Jessica comes to conclusion in the end. It was definitely a slow read but it still retained the charm of a cozy mystery.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Schoolman College staff: Harriet Schoolman Bennett, dean of students; Frank, a maintenance man; George, a maintenance man; Rebecca McAllister, American Lit professor; President Lowell Needler; Archibald "Archie" Constantine, Sociology professor; Coach Adams; Roberta Dougherty, public relations person; Elizabeth "Betty" St. Claire, College Nurse; Philip "Phil" Adler, college bursar; Professor Vernon "Verne" Foner, English department; Zoe Colarulli, wife of Harris and Assistant Professor of English; Letitia Tingwell, department secretary; Professor Lawrence "Larry" Durbin, authority on Shakespeare, and his wife Melissa; Professor Emmanuel "Manny" Rosenfield; Mrs. Grace, kitchen staff; Professor Rosenfield;
b. Schoolman Students: Eli Hemminger; Tyler; Alice; Harris Colarulli, postdoctoral fellow; Edgar Poole, graduate assistant; Janine; Freddie; Barbara;Maria
c. Other characters: Lieutenant Bill Parish; Pastor Getler; Brad Zelinsky, county coroner; Eunice Carberra, runs the gift shop at the hospital; Lorraine Newmark, murder victim's sister; Officer Jenkins;
2. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt, long-time friend in Cabot Cove, Maine; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his wife Adele / Maureen?; Eve Simpson, realtor friend working at Cabot Cove Realty; Sam Booth, mayor of Cabot Cove; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder;
b. Literary contacts and friends: her publisher Vaughan Buckley of Buckley House, his fashion model wife Olga Buckley and their dogs Sadie and Rose; Harry McGraw, her private eye friend; Matt Miller, her literary agent & his wife Susan; Paulette, Matt's assistant;
c. Other Characters appear frequently: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, only bush pilot for Cabot Cove and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia; Mara, restaurant owner of Mara’s Luncheonette; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; Charlene Sassi, a baker; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim who is the Mayor of Cabot Cove; Professor Donskoy; Roberta Dougherty, bookstore owner; Richard Koser, photographer, and his wife MaryJane; Barbara DePaoli, Chamber of Commerce's secretary; Anthon Colarusso, dentist; Beth and Peter Mullin, owners of flower shop Old Tyme Floral; Sam Davis, investment advisor; Jack Decker, publisher of Cabot Cove's monthly magazine; Peter Eder, Cabot Cove's symphony orchestra; Bob Daros, owns Heritage Fuel; Tim Purdy, treasurer of chamber of commerce and historian and president of Cabot Cove's historical society, also an investment advisor; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; Gloria Watson, Wendell's mother; Joseph "Joe" Turco, an attorney; Marcia Davis, costume designer; David and Jim Raneri, owners of Charles Department Store; Ralph Mackin, town attorney; Ed and Joan Lerner, retirees; Brenda Brody, copy editor of Cabot Cove Insider; Doug Treyz, dentist, and his wife Tina; Jack and Marilou Decker, publishers of Cabot Cove Insider; Peter and Roberta Walters, owners of the radio station; Horace Teller, publisher of Cabot Cove News; Doris Sitar, assistant manager at Cabot Cove Savings Bank; Dmitri, owner of local taxi company; Phil Wick, field manager of the phone company; John St. Clair, professor of business law at Cabot Cove Community College; Dr. Jennifer "Jenny" Countryman, Seth's partner;
d. Sheriff Metzger’s office staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher;
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank;
f. We continue to see Mort Metzger's wife being called as Maureen. But she was named Adele in the TV show…and also in the 50th book, A Time for Murder, she was back to Adele. Not sure when Bain changed it back to Adele since I have a few more books to go before I reach the 50th book, but perhaps the readers made him change it back.
g. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
h. From the 10th book, Murder in Moscow:
i. There is still no resolution as to who or how Ward Wenington was killed in D.C. and why Vladislav "Vlady" Staritova was killed in Russia. What was the connection?
ii. Alexandra Kozhina disappears at the end of the plot. And will she surface in another book?
i. In the 50th book, A Time for Murder, Jessica is shown at Hill House, Cabot Cove’s very own Inn due to a fire at her Victorian home at 698 Candlewood Lame. I wonder if the 49th book, Murder in Red, has anything to do with her house getting caught fire which almost killed her.
j. From the 51st book, The Murder of Twelve:
i. Author Land gives considerable mystery to Seamus McGilray’s character. I wonder if he resurfaces in a future book.
ii. Towards the end of the book, Mort jokes that Jessica should run for mayor. Hmm…something to look forward to I suppose.
3. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. Even though Jessica is giving a guest lecture, she is not a full-fledged professor. Yet she is addressed as a "Professor" several times in the book. In the TV show she was never addressed that way. I think Bain deviated from the norm but this was false portrayal of the character.
b. On Pg. 181, Line 8 from bottom, the closing quote is missing.
Recommendation: Easier to know who the culprits were very early on in the plot, but it was interesting to read how Jessica comes to conclusion in the end. It was definitely a slow read but it still retained the charm of a cozy mystery.
Majoring In Murder is the 19th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on April 1, 2003. This time Jessica is in Schoolman, Indiana for teaching a creative writing course when plans are marred by an unexpected tornado, one that had not happened in more than 60 years. And a murder occurs in the midst of the tornado which Jessica ends up investigating even though the authorities call it an accident.
This is my take on the series of books written by a plethora of authors and Jessica Fletcher (fictional author) based on the 80s and 90s popular American crime drama television series Murder, She Wrote. These books are ghost written by Donald Bain and fictional author Jessica Fletcher for the first 43 books until 2015. Then Donald Bain wrote these with Renee Paley Bain and Jon Land for four more books. After Donald Bain passed away in 2017, Jon Land alone took the baton and continued with Jessica Fletcher for 5 more books until 2020. Starting 2021 the series was picked by Terrie Farley Moran again pairing with the fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. As of 2023, 56 books have been written in this series. They are all written in first person narration.
First time I have seen a book in this series that began with a prologue. Although it didn’t add much to the tale, looked like any other opening chapter. Jessica has some tough hurdles to pass through before she could convince the authorities about the murder.
I am glad though that she did not patch up with the person who caused the more trouble and even goes too far in blaming her. She was not stupid enough like in Murder in Moscow, the 10th book, where she accepts friendship of a person who had put her through hell. As a human being, even if we can forgive people, its hard to patch up once the bond is broken. There will always be a scar that mars the image the mirror shows.
In the process of uncovering the truth of one accident / murder, Jessica ends up solving a cold case of a missing person too. Although to get to there we had endure with a lot of detailed descriptions of the scene. I wish Bain could tone down these lengthy descriptive scenes.
Easier to know who the culprits were very early on in the plot, but it was interesting to read how Jessica comes to conclusion in the end. It was definitely a slow read but it still retained the charm of a cozy mystery.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Schoolman College staff: Harriet Schoolman Bennett, dean of students; Frank, a maintenance man; George, a maintenance man; Rebecca McAllister, American Lit professor; President Lowell Needler; Archibald "Archie" Constantine, Sociology professor; Coach Adams; Roberta Dougherty, public relations person; Elizabeth "Betty" St. Claire, College Nurse; Philip "Phil" Adler, college bursar; Professor Vernon "Verne" Foner, English department; Zoe Colarulli, wife of Harris and Assistant Professor of English; Letitia Tingwell, department secretary; Professor Lawrence "Larry" Durbin, authority on Shakespeare, and his wife Melissa; Professor Emmanuel "Manny" Rosenfield; Mrs. Grace, kitchen staff; Professor Rosenfield;
b. Schoolman Students: Eli Hemminger; Tyler; Alice; Harris Colarulli, postdoctoral fellow; Edgar Poole, graduate assistant; Janine; Freddie; Barbara;Maria
c. Other characters: Lieutenant Bill Parish; Pastor Getler; Brad Zelinsky, county coroner; Eunice Carberra, runs the gift shop at the hospital; Lorraine Newmark, murder victim's sister; Officer Jenkins;
2. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt, long-time friend in Cabot Cove, Maine; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his wife Adele / Maureen?; Eve Simpson, realtor friend working at Cabot Cove Realty; Sam Booth, mayor of Cabot Cove; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder;
b. Literary contacts and friends: her publisher Vaughan Buckley of Buckley House, his fashion model wife Olga Buckley and their dogs Sadie and Rose; Harry McGraw, her private eye friend; Matt Miller, her literary agent & his wife Susan; Paulette, Matt's assistant;
c. Other Characters appear frequently: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, only bush pilot for Cabot Cove and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia; Mara, restaurant owner of Mara’s Luncheonette; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; Charlene Sassi, a baker; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim who is the Mayor of Cabot Cove; Professor Donskoy; Roberta Dougherty, bookstore owner; Richard Koser, photographer, and his wife MaryJane; Barbara DePaoli, Chamber of Commerce's secretary; Anthon Colarusso, dentist; Beth and Peter Mullin, owners of flower shop Old Tyme Floral; Sam Davis, investment advisor; Jack Decker, publisher of Cabot Cove's monthly magazine; Peter Eder, Cabot Cove's symphony orchestra; Bob Daros, owns Heritage Fuel; Tim Purdy, treasurer of chamber of commerce and historian and president of Cabot Cove's historical society, also an investment advisor; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; Gloria Watson, Wendell's mother; Joseph "Joe" Turco, an attorney; Marcia Davis, costume designer; David and Jim Raneri, owners of Charles Department Store; Ralph Mackin, town attorney; Ed and Joan Lerner, retirees; Brenda Brody, copy editor of Cabot Cove Insider; Doug Treyz, dentist, and his wife Tina; Jack and Marilou Decker, publishers of Cabot Cove Insider; Peter and Roberta Walters, owners of the radio station; Horace Teller, publisher of Cabot Cove News; Doris Sitar, assistant manager at Cabot Cove Savings Bank; Dmitri, owner of local taxi company; Phil Wick, field manager of the phone company; John St. Clair, professor of business law at Cabot Cove Community College; Dr. Jennifer "Jenny" Countryman, Seth's partner;
d. Sheriff Metzger’s office staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher;
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank;
f. We continue to see Mort Metzger's wife being called as Maureen. But she was named Adele in the TV show…and also in the 50th book, A Time for Murder, she was back to Adele. Not sure when Bain changed it back to Adele since I have a few more books to go before I reach the 50th book, but perhaps the readers made him change it back.
g. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
h. From the 10th book, Murder in Moscow:
i. There is still no resolution as to who or how Ward Wenington was killed in D.C. and why Vladislav "Vlady" Staritova was killed in Russia. What was the connection?
ii. Alexandra Kozhina disappears at the end of the plot. And will she surface in another book?
i. In the 50th book, A Time for Murder, Jessica is shown at Hill House, Cabot Cove’s very own Inn due to a fire at her Victorian home at 698 Candlewood Lame. I wonder if the 49th book, Murder in Red, has anything to do with her house getting caught fire which almost killed her.
j. From the 51st book, The Murder of Twelve:
i. Author Land gives considerable mystery to Seamus McGilray’s character. I wonder if he resurfaces in a future book.
ii. Towards the end of the book, Mort jokes that Jessica should run for mayor. Hmm…something to look forward to I suppose.
3. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. Even though Jessica is giving a guest lecture, she is not a full-fledged professor. Yet she is addressed as a "Professor" several times in the book. In the TV show she was never addressed that way. I think Bain deviated from the norm but this was false portrayal of the character.
b. On Pg. 181, Line 8 from bottom, the closing quote is missing.
September 26, 2020
Read for the 2020 N.E.W.T.s
TRANSFIGURATION: Lapifors spell - animal on cover/title (If you are wondering where the animal is, it is the small publishing house logo fish, and IT COUNTS)
Grade awarded: A
I think this might be one of the best Jessica Fletcher novels so far????
Might be because it is set at university and I work in a university and am very much a scholar myself? Maybe.
Might be because Jessica actually does a lot of sleuthing? Maybe.
Could it be because there are more than one mystery and so much to uncover? Possibly.
I would say the main strength was the campus. Oh I loved that. All the characters are university researchers/lecturers, and even if they were all literature people and not scientists, I felt at home.
Still, I really DID NOT like how Jessica has to spend so much time trying to convince her stupid friend and the police that a murder had taken place. Gosh they were all so obtuse and ridiculous. I would have preferred it if they believed her and collaborated in the investigation, so maybe all the space spent trying to convince them could have been used to do some more sleuthing.
Another weak point is the culprit being so obvious. There is a hint mentioned that is no subtle at all and gives the bad guy away immediately.
But I must say it was cosy and entertaining, which is what I was looking for in here.
TRANSFIGURATION: Lapifors spell - animal on cover/title (If you are wondering where the animal is, it is the small publishing house logo fish, and IT COUNTS)
Grade awarded: A
I think this might be one of the best Jessica Fletcher novels so far????
Might be because it is set at university and I work in a university and am very much a scholar myself? Maybe.
Might be because Jessica actually does a lot of sleuthing? Maybe.
Could it be because there are more than one mystery and so much to uncover? Possibly.
I would say the main strength was the campus. Oh I loved that. All the characters are university researchers/lecturers, and even if they were all literature people and not scientists, I felt at home.
Still, I really DID NOT like how Jessica has to spend so much time trying to convince her stupid friend and the police that a murder had taken place. Gosh they were all so obtuse and ridiculous. I would have preferred it if they believed her and collaborated in the investigation, so maybe all the space spent trying to convince them could have been used to do some more sleuthing.
Another weak point is the culprit being so obvious. There is a hint mentioned that is no subtle at all and gives the bad guy away immediately.
But I must say it was cosy and entertaining, which is what I was looking for in here.
June 14, 2024
One of the more memorable entries in this series. I loved the setting, and as a weather nut I loved the concept of murder coinciding with a dangerous tornado. Also I must say, after reading 23 of these novels (!), the eleven-o’clock sequence in this one wherein Jessica finds herself in some real peril…was pretty intense! Very creepy and even borderline scary for a Murder, She Wrote book. I was also sufficiently bothered by some of the antagonistic characters in this story, a few folks who are downright nasty to Jessica as she tries to uncover the truth and do what’s right. Any emotional reaction is a good sign so I count that as a positive for this entry. I didn’t predict the killer but of course I never do! My brain doesn’t work that way when reading mysteries; I always just let it wash over me and allow myself to be surprised. Fun times with this one.
June 11, 2025
As a visiting teacher at a small private college in Indiana, Jessica gets caught up immediately in a murder after a body is found following an unusual tornado. She can’t seem to get the attention of the school authorities or the police, however, but one of her young star pupils helps out. A very good plot well told. Only one glaring error: as someone whose sister was a cataloguer for the main UCLA Library and then head of cataloging for the UCLA Law Library for over 30 years, I can confirm that no self-respecting college would ever use the Dewey Decimal system.
June 16, 2025
I grew up watching a lot of older shows, Murder, She Wrote, being one of them. I already knew these books existed, but hadn’t acquired any until I found this one at a thrift store. I’m so happy I finally read one of “Jessica Fletcher’s” books! I’ve watched every single episode of the shows at least twice, so adding even more stories to them is exciting. It was fun imagining the book in episode form as I read. As usual with the show itself, the book kept me guessing who the culprit was right up till the end! I will definitely be looking to add more Jessica Fletcher to my book collection!
March 27, 2017
Donald Bain has written a series of books supposedly by the popular TV detective Jessica Fletcher. In this one, Jessica has taken a job as a celebrity mystery writer teaching for a semester at a small college in Indiana. On one of the first days there the college suffers a hit from a Tornado and one of the English professors is killed ----or was he murdered?? Jessica has a feeling that something is not right on campus. Good for someone looking for a quick engaging read.
May 29, 2017
jessica's doing a stint as a visiting professor at a college where an old friend is on the board. When a tornado damages a building on campus, the body of a professor is found inside. Was it an unfortunate accident, or something more sinister? And can Jessica find out without losing a friendship...or her own life?
This one was an entertaining read and really kept me guessing.
This one was an entertaining read and really kept me guessing.
February 20, 2019
My first murder she wrote book and I really enjoyed being transported back in time to the era of the tv shows. I love anything set on a school campus and with the tornado element it drew me in. Not Agatha Christie level murder mystery but still a really good read and I’d like to check it some others.
August 1, 2021
I usually enjoy these Murder, She Wrote books as a good diversion, and as a cool way of remembering my mom, who enjoyed the TV show very much, and the books, too.
However....
This book just seemed "off" to me. Jessica just seemed full of some odd "attitude" and.....I don't know, arrogance and judgmental observations or something.
However....
This book just seemed "off" to me. Jessica just seemed full of some odd "attitude" and.....I don't know, arrogance and judgmental observations or something.
September 15, 2011
This one was a little disappointment. I did not really like the way the book flows. And the reason for the murder was kind of boring. And quoting from Shakespeare, well that was a little childish. Overall 1 and 1/2 star for this one!
October 23, 2019
Have I mentioned how much I love the MSW series?!
This one starts off with a tornado coming through the college campus in Indiana where Jessica is teaching for a semester. I enjoyed the small college town as the setting, as well as the characterizations of college professors!
This one starts off with a tornado coming through the college campus in Indiana where Jessica is teaching for a semester. I enjoyed the small college town as the setting, as well as the characterizations of college professors!
June 8, 2023
Jessica spends a semester teaching at a small college. A death on campus, assumed to be an accident by most, raises enough doubt in jessica's mind that she starts investigating on her own, to the dismay of the local police.
December 11, 2024
Glad to see her somewhere
vaguely near my stomping grounds.
it made a nice change.
Not sure if this author had ever been
to Indiana, but I appreciate the effort.
The resolution came out of nowhere,
after a bit too much resistance to
investigating a murder.
vaguely near my stomping grounds.
it made a nice change.
Not sure if this author had ever been
to Indiana, but I appreciate the effort.
The resolution came out of nowhere,
after a bit too much resistance to
investigating a murder.
May 5, 2013
Not bad, I liked the setting, but I really had NO clue who dunnit until the end. Either brilliant on the part of the author, or stupid in the part of the author, depending on his intentions.
December 11, 2014
I have enjoyed all the Jessica books.
March 16, 2015
This was a great addition to this series. It will keep you guessing until the very end.
February 25, 2021
Solid JBF effort!
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