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Murder, She Wrote #2, 11
Murder Never Takes a Holiday
A doubly delightful volume with two Christmas-themed mysteries from the USA Today bestselling series!
Together for the first time, these two festive mysteries featuring legendary author and sleuth Jessica Fletcher deliver twice the Christmas cheer.
In Manhattans & Murder, Jessica?s new book tour brings her to New York for Christmas, where she sees notorious Cabot Cove crook Waldo Morse dressed as a sidewalk Santa?and ends up witnessing a murder. With the police slow on their feet, and the victim?s wife on the run, Jessica decides to do whatever it takes to stop a killer from spoiling the season.
And in A Little Yuletide Murder, Cabot Cove local Rory Brent is found shot to death on his farm, and everyone assumes the culprit is Brent?s longtime enemy, Jake Walther, the meanest man in town. But Jessica thinks otherwise, and she?s determined to deliver the real killer before Christmas. The trouble is, the next sound she hears this silent night may be a scream?her own.
Together for the first time, these two festive mysteries featuring legendary author and sleuth Jessica Fletcher deliver twice the Christmas cheer.
In Manhattans & Murder, Jessica?s new book tour brings her to New York for Christmas, where she sees notorious Cabot Cove crook Waldo Morse dressed as a sidewalk Santa?and ends up witnessing a murder. With the police slow on their feet, and the victim?s wife on the run, Jessica decides to do whatever it takes to stop a killer from spoiling the season.
And in A Little Yuletide Murder, Cabot Cove local Rory Brent is found shot to death on his farm, and everyone assumes the culprit is Brent?s longtime enemy, Jake Walther, the meanest man in town. But Jessica thinks otherwise, and she?s determined to deliver the real killer before Christmas. The trouble is, the next sound she hears this silent night may be a scream?her own.
504 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
5 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Fletcher
115 books1,060 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 5, 2014
My first book was Murder Never Takes a Holiday by Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bains. This was really two books in one as it combined two of the Christmas Murder, She Wrote books. I chose this book because I have always been a fan of the TV show and I felt like reading a quick paced mystery. I loved these two books as separate pieces but having them together was sort of odd. There was a discrepancy between the two books that I'm sure was not intentional but still seemed rather off to me. The first one takes place before the second one but the second feels almost like the first book never took place. Other than that I would highly recommend them to anyone who is a fan of the show, likes a good Christmas murder mystery, or wants to spend a few hours enjoying a wonderful set of characters.
December 29, 2019
There are two different books under this cover. Both of them are stories of Santa being shot and killed. The first murder occurs on a street in Manhattan as the man in the Santa suit rings his bell for charity on a busy sidewalk. Jessica Fletcher is there promoting her latest book and just happens to witness the crime. The next story is set in Cabot Cove, Maine. Locals are gathered together to plan their annual Christmas festival. They can't help but notice Rory Brent - the man who always plays Santa Claus - is strangely absent from the meeting. Someone drives out to his farm to check on Rory and discovers his body with a bullet hole in his head lying on the barn floor. These were both good mysteries. I think I will search for more books by this author to read in the future.
December 14, 2020
It's nice to have two of the Murder, She Wrote Christmas novels together in one set. I read these each when they first came out and enjoyed both.
I listed some of my favorite Christmas books in an early episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
I listed some of my favorite Christmas books in an early episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
December 28, 2019
I read the first story in this two story book . I’ll save the next until next Christmas. It was good I always loved the murder she wrote TV series so this went right along with that.
December 14, 2022
Really liked the second one but the first book wasn't for me
3.5 stars ⭐️
3.5 stars ⭐️
December 29, 2023
Manhattans and Murder - I discovered I read it pretty quickly after starting it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
April 2, 2015
This collection contains the two Christmas themed books in the Murder, She Wrote series. 'Manhattans and Murder' and 'A Little Yuletide Murder'. These were originally the second and eleventh books. Having never watched the show, I was not sure what to expect. Were these adaptations of tv episodes? Are they a continuation of the series? I even wondered, as Jessica Fletchers name was on the cover, if they were to be the books the character was "famous" for writing. It was quickly obvious it was neither adaptations nor "her" books. After talking to a friend who watched the show and being filled in on the conventions of the episodes I realized that this was also not a continuation but an all new interpretation using the ideas and characters from the show.
I found Jessica in the first story to be rather tedious and grouchy. At the scene of the murder she was annoyed that the police didn't seem interested in taking her statement. Then later when the police decided to need her statement they had to practically arrest her to get her to give a one, and then in "retaliation" she decided to keep some evidence to herself. That evidence later disappears and is mentioned only once afterwards. She did very little actual investigating. Mostly she complained about the reporters and police interrupting her book signings and Christmas shopping. At the end she decides she needs to solve this so she can get back to her life and heads over to someone who turns out to be the bad guy and tells her everything and then the story is over. I will admit by that point I was just skimming to get the book finished. So I can only give this one one star.
Then I started the second book. What a difference 9 books make. Everything was better in this one. The rough bitchy edges to Jessica were gone. The first person narration sounded just like the character sounded in the dialogue. She decides to get involved because she is afraid that the main suspect, who nobody in town likes, including her, might not have a fair chance with public opinion so stacked against him. That is the Jessica I imagine Angela Lansbury playing. There is even some true investigating in this one also. I really enjoyed this one. 4 out of 5 stars.
Averages out to 3 stars overall.
I found Jessica in the first story to be rather tedious and grouchy. At the scene of the murder she was annoyed that the police didn't seem interested in taking her statement. Then later when the police decided to need her statement they had to practically arrest her to get her to give a one, and then in "retaliation" she decided to keep some evidence to herself. That evidence later disappears and is mentioned only once afterwards. She did very little actual investigating. Mostly she complained about the reporters and police interrupting her book signings and Christmas shopping. At the end she decides she needs to solve this so she can get back to her life and heads over to someone who turns out to be the bad guy and tells her everything and then the story is over. I will admit by that point I was just skimming to get the book finished. So I can only give this one one star.
Then I started the second book. What a difference 9 books make. Everything was better in this one. The rough bitchy edges to Jessica were gone. The first person narration sounded just like the character sounded in the dialogue. She decides to get involved because she is afraid that the main suspect, who nobody in town likes, including her, might not have a fair chance with public opinion so stacked against him. That is the Jessica I imagine Angela Lansbury playing. There is even some true investigating in this one also. I really enjoyed this one. 4 out of 5 stars.
Averages out to 3 stars overall.
December 5, 2015
Manhattans & Murder-This is the second book in the series and takes place in Manhattan, NY, hence the title. This mystery didn't grab me, with the exception of the twist in the center of it. This book has two Christmas mysteries in it, and it was the only copy of this mystery the library had, without having to get an interlibrary loan.
A Little Yuletide Murder-This is other holiday mystery in this book, the 11th mystery in this series, and better than the previous one. Now, I'm not a huge fan of murdering Santa, but the fact that this crime took place in Cabot Cove made it more exciting. I don't think I could ever live in a small town like that, but this book was exciting. And I enjoy holiday mysteries.
A Little Yuletide Murder-This is other holiday mystery in this book, the 11th mystery in this series, and better than the previous one. Now, I'm not a huge fan of murdering Santa, but the fact that this crime took place in Cabot Cove made it more exciting. I don't think I could ever live in a small town like that, but this book was exciting. And I enjoy holiday mysteries.
September 24, 2013
I think this may have been the first time I have read a mystery by a fictional character. These two stories are based really well on the TV programme.
Both stories have enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and both have surprises in the end.
Both stories have enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and both have surprises in the end.
June 14, 2010
I'm guessing I only gave this a three out of love for the nights I spent with my mom, watching this show. It was okay writing but it took me forever to get through this book. Blergh. Oh well.
December 29, 2010
Very good... Christmas traditional of Jessica Fletcher. Love her stories and shows.
November 14, 2012
If you like the Murder She Wrote TV show, these are great holiday cozy mysteries.
Want to read
June 4, 2013I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11884629
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11884629
December 16, 2016
There were two stories. Read the first Manhattans& Murder and it was enjoyable enough. Started the second story but lost interested. I'd give 2.5 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews