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Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: Although we get to learn a lot of knew things in the medical, scientific and political fields, this plot didn’t actually have Jessica solve anything. Only speculation on Jessica and Seth’s side on who could be the killer. Also there is no closure given for the accomplice. Yet it was a fun adventure to read and go through with Jessica.
Prescription For Murder is the 39th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Donald Bain & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on April of 2013. Jessica is in Tampa, Florida after a week of book tour in other places in Florida and her old friend Cabot Cove’s very own Dr. Seth Hazlitt is in town at the same time too visiting his friend Dr. Alvaro Vasquez, a renowned physician in the brink of a medical miracle. However, when Dr. Vasquez gets killed at a party he was hosting at his home, Jessica and Seth are pushed into a mystery involving medical breakthroughs, scientists with personal agendas, FBI and even the CIA.
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 April 2024, 58 books have been written in this series. They are mostly written in first person narration.
The title of the book reminded me of the pilot episode of American crime drama television series, Columbo, which started a good 2 decades prior to when Murder, She Wrote hit the TV. That episode was titled “Prescription: Murder”. A little different than this but reminded me of that episode which originally aired on Feb 10, 1968. And obviously the plots are very different.
Author Donald Bain again dedicates this book to one of his close friends – James and Jennette Vann. James Vann is a famous local neocubist artist from Tampa and was named Tampa Artist of the Year in 2011. Although the website for his art mentioned in the book isnt existing any longer. Bain includes cubist art in the plot, though a very minor mention. Perhaps as a homage!
Again we get to see Tampa through the eyes of Jessica with lot more details about famous locations and not so famous places. We see the political, financial and personal agendas involved in medical world, and how every step is a hoop to jump before a medical miracle is available for common man. Oh we also learn about how a cigar is made and the cigar industry that once flourished in FL.
We also see the hardships Cuba has faced before the Castros took over, and how worse it has become since. We hear about their social and economic ups and downs too. Also an insight into the medical analysis of Alzheimer’s disease and the cause of it, and how a cure could perhaps be identified.
Dr. Seth Hazlitt seems to be out of his usual element in this book. His characterization is quite different from what we see in other books or on the TV show. He looks more materialistic and taken by Dr. Vasquez. He also seems his life is underachieved when comparing with Dr. Vasquez. This is a new side of Seth that we see. However, I am pleased to see a whole book with Cabot Cover key character who is not named Jessica Fletcher. 🙂
Interesting to read about Keraunopathologists – people who research on the scientific effects of lightning on living things, sometimes perform analysis on people who were struck down by lightning. Never knew about this particular branch of science. Perfect Jeopardy! topic, I suppose. 😛
With all the advancements in technology that Jessica Fletcher seems to adapt to in the series as it progresses, it still bugs me that she frequently forgets to keep her cell phone switched on or charged. Was there a particular aversion to cell phones for Jessica? Nothing of that sort I have read so far or seen o TV.
Although we get to learn a lot of knew things in the medical, scientific and political fields, this plot didn’t actually have Jessica solve anything. Only speculation on Jessica and Seth’s side on who could be the killer. Also there is no closure given for the accomplice. Yet it was a fun adventure to read and go through with Jessica.
Spoiler Alerts:
Plot Reveals:
Key Characters: Dr. Alvarez "Al" Vasquez and his wife, Ivelisse; Bernard Peters, CEO of K-Dex pharmaceutical company, and his wife Frances; Oona Mendez, Cuban American working for State Department; Karl Westerkoch, Oona's boyfriend; Dr. Pedro Sardina, Dr. Vasquez's assistant, and his wife Ofelia; Xavier, Al's son; Maritza, Al's daughter.
Interesting that Tampa is called the Lightning Capital of the World. I would love to go there one day and capture the lightning on my camera.
There is mention of the 1967 American satirical black comedy film The Producers. Interesting theme. Have to watch it.
Law Enforcement: Detective Carlos Machado; Dr. San Martin, Medical Examiner; Harry Guterez, FBI agent.
Sub Plots:
Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his wife Maureen; Eve Simpson, realtor friend working at Cabot Cove Realty; Sam Booth, mayor of Cabot Cove; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder.
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;
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 / Barbara?; 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, Mayor of Cabot Cove; Professor Donskoy; Roberta Dougherty, bookstore owner; Richard Koser, photographer, and his wife Mary Jane; 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, and his wife Ellen; 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; Reginald "Reggie" Weems, insurance agent; Richard Jenkins & Sal Marterella, city council members; Jack Wilson, the Veterinarian, and his wife Tobe; Evelyn Phillips, editor of Cabot Cove Gazette; Maniram Chatterjee & his wife Hita, jewelry shop owners; Sanford Teller, rus public relations agency;
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.
Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank.
We continue to see Mort Metzger's wife being called as Maureen. Although we now know the reason why Mort's wife is different than the TV series, I distinctly remember her name being changed to Adele in the 50th book, A Time for Murder. Looks like the confusion is not completely alleviated.
I remember reading one of the later books (and couldn’t figure out which one was that) where we see Sam Booth as the mayor of Cabot Cove. However, since I started reading the series from the beginning, looks like the mayor of Cabot Cove is Jim Shevlin. I wonder if Sam Booth surfaces as I remember from way back read.
The prominent photographer of Cabot Cove's last name is spelled differently in the 30th book A Slaying in Savannah. Up until then he was "Koser" and now he is "Kaser" in that book. Wonder if it will change back in future.
In the 27th book Coffee, Tea or Murder? we see that Jed's wife is named Barbara. But up until then she was named Alicia. Wonder if Bain will have a backup story for that in future books.
From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
From the 10th book, Murder in Moscow:
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?
Alexandra Kozhina disappears at the end of the plot. And will she surface in another book?
From the 3th book:
Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.
There is reference to a very expensive luxury perfume called Shalini in the book. The name sounded Indian so I was curious why it was called a luxury perfume. Turns out it is a French Parfum but made with exotic flowers of rare occurrence. No wonder its very pricey.
There is no closure as to who actually kills the person in the first murder.
Will Jennifer Kahn, the alleged jewel thief, walk away free since they could only find circumstantial evidence against her and nothing concrete?
From the 37th book: If I ever try the sidecar recipe I will have to post it again referring the 37th book.
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.
From the 51st book, The Murder of Twelve:
Author Land gives considerable mystery to Seamus McGilray’s character. I wonder if he resurfaces in a future book.
Towards the end of the book, Mort jokes that Jessica should run for mayor. Hmm…something to look forward to I suppose.
Galavant Reflections 