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Stars: 4 / 5
Recommendation: A fitting eulogy to Dame Angela Lansbury as the author takes us through Ireland, Angela’s British Irish roots. Well placed mystery with lovable new characters and locations yet keeping the spirit of the previous 55 books, Author Terrie Moran has done an excellent job.
Death on the Emerald Isle is the 56th novel in the long-running Murder She Wrote series co-written by Terrie Farley Moran & fictional writer Jessica Fletcher. It was first published on January of 2023.
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 October 2024, 59 books have been written in this series. They are mostly written in first person narration.
Angela Lansbury who had played the role of Jessica Fletcher in the TV show Murder, She Wrote and also had co-authored in all of 55 books prior to this one, written in this series. However she passed away on October 11, 2022, at a very ripe age of 96 a few weeks before her 97th birthday. Its no wonder that Terrie wrote and published only one book in 2023 considering her demise.
Must have taken quite a while for all the aspects surrounding her books and estate settled before she was given permission to publish further. I thought they would stop publishing just like how they have done with Mary Higgins Clark and Sue Grafton. Apparently now, since Terrie has written 4 books after Angela passed way. And aptly author Terrie dedicates the book to Angela Lansbury who brought the character Jessica Fletcher to life.
In this installment, Jessica goes to Ireland to attend a book festival. When her neighbor Maeve O’Bannon asks her to deliver some paintings to her family closer to where Jessica was going, little did she expect to fall smack in the middle of the murder Michael, Maeve’s cousin. Now she has to dig into the O’Bannon family’s secrets to unmask the killer.
We are back to seeing Jed Richardson’s wife’s name as Alicia in this. The one book where she is mistakenly named Barbara by Donald Bain in the 27th book Coffee, Tea or Murder? and was never given any explanation. I guess Terrie corrected in this book.
I was hoping to see more of George Sutherland in this book since it is set in Ireland. But George is in Australia on a case at the same time. Too bad! But what delighted me was that Jessica reads the book “An Irish Country Doctor” by Patrick Taylor, another author that I read often.
Jessica goes to the iconic Titanic Belfast Hotel where the book festival is held in Belfast, Ireland. We get charmed by author Terrie’s description of the famous sweeping staircase and the Honor and Glory Crowning Time clock. Jessica reminisces that she saw that clock in the 1997 movie Titanic. About 35 seconds into this scene, you can see the grand staircase ang the clock as well at the top of the staircase. I don’t remember this scene at all.
PS: couldn’t link the scene when we first see Jack entering First Class, but was able to share this scene that shows the clock in clear view. Also this has always been a sentimental scene for me.
I had just watched a recorded episode of Jeopardy and one of the clue was on the Irish Poet and Playwright Seamus Heaney. And lo and behold, when I opened to the section I left last in this book, I see the owner of River Bush Motel leaves a book of Seamus Heaney’s poems in Jessica’s room for her to enjoy. Just scary how the TV knows in advance I would read. 😛
Bushmills was my all-time favorite Irish Whiskey that I ever tasted. Not that I drink anymore, but was pleased to know Bushmills was indeed a town in Ireland and thrilled at the description of the distillery.
A fitting eulogy to Dame Angela Lansbury as the author takes us through Ireland, Angela’s British Irish roots. Well placed mystery with lovable new characters and locations yet keeping the spirit of the previous 55 books, Author Terrie Moran has done an excellent job.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. On Pg. 241, Line 5, it should be Anya who leads Jessica to Tilly. Not Tilly as mentioned.
2. Plot Reveals:
a. Characters we see here:
i. O'Bannon family: All of the three cousins of Maeve run the family cosmetic company Marine Magic, Beth Anne O'Bannon Ryan, head of the company; Jane O'Bannon Mullen, Beth's sister and head chemist; Michael O'Bannon, Maeve's cousin and a doctor; Owen Mullen, Jane's son; Nora, a servant; Liam Mullen, Jane's husband; Diedre, Michael's daughter; Niall, Michael's son; Caro and Shiela, Beth Anne's daughters;
ii. Nolan's family: Dougal Nolan, runs River Bush Hotel in Bushmills, Ireland; his daughter Maggie, engaged to Owen;
iii. Others involved: Godfrey Hamilton, Jessica's escort; Tara Brennan, festival coordinator; Moira Callan & Tom Singh, festival co-chairs; Conor Sweeney, owner of Sweeney Brothers Shipment; Saiorse McInerney, Owen's nanny and runs a team room in Ballycastle; James Collins, owns the pub Dart and the Pint; Claude Blanchet and Julien Lavigne, member from BOD of the French company Belle Visage; Malachy Gleason, Marine Magic's Comptroller and his wife Grainne; Constable Eddie Breen; Constable Tim Redding; Chief Inspector Clive Finley; Dermot Kerrigan, a loan shark; Agatha Mason, owns Aunt Aggie's Attic; Hugh Tierney, a tour guide.
3. Sub Plots:
a. Friends of Jessica Fletcher: Dr. Seth Hazlitt; George Sutherland, senior inspector with Scotland Yard, formerly with British Special Air Service; Morton "Mort" Metzger, Cabot Cove Sherriff and his second wife Maureen; Eve Simpson, realtor friend with Cabot Cove Realty called Simpson Realty; Ethan Cragg, Cabot Cove’s chief town elder; Susan Shevlin, travel agent and her husband Jim, Current Mayor of Cabot Cove; Charlene Sassi, baker;
b. Literary contacts and friends: Harry McGraw, her private eye friend; Matt Miller, her literary agent & his wife Susan; Paulette, Matt's assistant; her British Publisher Griffin Semple, son of her original publisher Archibald Semple; Herb Mason, her accountant.
c. Other Cabot Cove characters: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, bush pilot and owner of Jed's Flying Service, and his wife Alicia / Barbara?, His brother Harvey, owns the local Gas-and-Go; Mara, owns Mara’s Luncheonette, as of #54, Mara has branched out into NH and VT; Hank Weathers, a homeless war vet; Seamus McGilray, manager of Hill House Hotel per the 51st book / Thomas Wilkerson per the 47th book; Richard "Dick" Mann, Fire Chief; 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 Old Thyme 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, and investment advisor, and his wife Ellen; Pat Hitchcock, Cabot Cove's popular nurse and teacher?; 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; Dan Andrews, editor of Cabot Cove Gazette; Maniram Chatterjee & his wife Hita, jewelry shop owners; Sanford Teller, public relations agency; Lee, postmistress; Loretta Spiegel, owns beauty salon; Barnaby Longshoot; Brad Crandall; SeaBasket, a supermarket; Father Donald Barnes; Becky Thayer, owner of Cabot Cove Catering; Doris Ann, librarian; Ansell Hodges, homeless veteran; Clara, Seth's longtime receptionist; Carl Cragg, Ethan's cousin and Building inspector; Demetri and his cousin Nick, Cabot Cove Taxi Service; Ideal Molly, Jessica's long time neighbor; Lavinia Wahl, another friend; Maeve O'Bannon, Jessica's another neighbor; Dr. Gregory Leung, Cabot Cove Hospital Deputy Administrator; Rosie Santangelo, teaches arts and crafts; Walter Hendon, harbormaster; Sally Thomson, sales associate at Charles Department Store; Margo Linwood, front desk at Hill House; Edward, Library aide; John Martinez, a library patron; Lorna Mason, Library Committee treasurer; Nancy, a newish committee member; Joseph, maitre d' at Hill House
d. Sheriff Metzger’s staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks / Broom??; Deputy Jack; Rookie Wendell Watson and his mother Gloria; Deputy Harold; Deputy Jerry; Deputy Evan; Deputy Chip; Alfred Gillo, medical examiner; Judge Kaplan; Marie Poutre, dispatcher; Officer Edgar; Gladys, a civilian dispatcher; Deputy Billy Simms; NYPD lieutenant with Major Case Squad Artie Gelber; Deputy Muldoon; Deputy Floyd McCallum
e. Jessica Fletcher’s family: Grady Fletcher, nephew that she and her late-husband Frank raise, his wife Donna and child Frank. Grady plans to open his own accounting firm in book #52.
f. From the 9th book, Murder on the QE2: Mary Ward has been a prominent character in this book. Will she resurface again?
g. 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?
h. From the 30th book:
i. Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.
ii. There is no closure as to who actually kills the person in the first murder.
iii. Will Jennifer Kahn, the alleged jewel thief, walk away free since they could only find circumstantial evidence against her and nothing concrete?
i. From the 37th book: If I ever try the sidecar recipe I will have to post it again referring the 37th book. But Angela Lansbury did print a cookbook (https://www.silverscreensuppers.com/the-murder-she-wrote-cookalong) based on the food items shared either in the episodes or by characters of the series.
j. From the 47th book:
i. Mort jokes that Jessica is a magnet for murder; and Jessica quips that can she use that as a title. We know that this title has never been done so far in her books or the fictional ones she wrote on the TV show. May be a future book?
ii. Again we don’t see the criminal Armand Dejong's body found. So did he succumb to the injuries caused by fire or escape?
k. From the 48th book, Manuscript for Murder:
i. We come to know that Mort was in Vietnam that we had never heard either on TV show or the earlier books.
l. 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.
m. From the 54th book, Debonair in Death: Deputy Andy's full name become Andy Broom vs Andy Jenkins.
Galavant Reflections 