Leafing Through Pages – Fit for Murder (Murder, She Wrote # 57)

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Stars: 3 / 5

Recommendation: Although less complex, the plot is not straight forward, and you will not know until the killer is revealed as to who that is. They are nostalgic and entertaining. Definitely takes you back to the TV show, even though many actors from the TV show including Angela Lansbury have passed away, a praise to Berkley and the plethora of ghost writers to keep them alive.

Fit for Murder is the 57th 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 2024.

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.

I was glad to see Angela Lansbury’s estate allowed author Terrie Farley Moran to continue writing books using Jessica Fletcher, Angela’s alter ego, as co-author. However it took a year before the next book was published.

In this installment Cabot Cove Gazette’s former editor, Evelyn Phillips returns to Cabot Cove to check on her longtime friend  Bertha Mae Cormier only to find her mesmerized by her new neighbor Martin Terranova, a yoga instructor. But Evelyn herself become prime suspect when Martin is murdered, and Jessica has to use all her wits to rescue her dear friend.

We are back in Cabot Cove with this book and get to see some regulars from past books in this tale. Author however dedicates the book to her son Robert Adam Moran. In Debonair in Death (#54), we saw that Evelyn Phillip had left Cabot Cove and was settling either in Baltimore or Chicago. In this book we see that she comes back to Cabot Cove from Chicago.

Another thing we see is that in helping Coreen Wilson in the murder in Debonair in Death (#54), Loretta promises Jessica that she will never ask her to do a change-up, yet in this book looks like Author Terrie forgot about that, and Loretta goes back to being Loretta again. 🙂

The story is no way related by bits and pieces I see reflected in her from the episode 6, A Body to Die For in Season 7. At least the fitness center is common although the purpose is different. :). Atleast we got to read about a few Yoga poses, itching me to get back to my Yoga again. 🙂

We never wonder what happens to the innocent bystanders who get exposed  albeit they might have not committed a crime. Author touches on that fact subtly with the character Oscar Cisneros in the plot.

Eve Simpson and Evelyn Phillips, are two characters from this series that always grated on me. Although Evelyn Phillips was not part of the TV show, Eve Simpson was. And true to that tone, Evelyn gets on Jessica’s nerves with her brash investigatory nature. Yet, I am amazed that Jessica outs herself on the line with the killer to save her. I guess Jessica cannot resist a good murder mystery. 🙂

Nora Roberts novels changed the pace from being strong and deep for her characters in her books or plot prior to 2009, since 2009 her book have become more placid, serene and although deep less complex in both plot and her characters. I feel the same thing with Terrie Moran. As much as these are cozy mysteries, Donald Bain’s books are a little more filled with complexity to the plot and characters, while Terrie’s are more serene.

Although less complex, the plot is not straight forward, and you will not know until the killer is revealed as to who that is. They are nostalgic and entertaining. Definitely takes you back to the TV show, even though many actors from the TV show including Angela Lansbury have passed away, a praise to Berkley and the plethora of ghost writers to keep them alive.

Spoiler Alerts:

Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:

Andy Broom becomes Andy Bloom in this. We saw him named as Andy Broom in Debonair in Death (#54) by the same author. 🙂

The second paragraph on Pg. 59, makes little sense to me. Who was speaking those lines? Who was that who wrote it? What does author mean at the end on line 7, “…that’s all she wrote”. Very confusing.

On Pg. 232, Line 9, Jim had already left in the previous paragraph. Yet Jim is mentioned here instead of Pierce.

On Pg. 232, Line 18, there is an extra “to” in the sentence.

Plot Reveals:

Characters we see here: Bertha Mae Cormier, descendant of one of the first settler; Martin Terranova, owns gym called Perfection; Hillard Davis, an eccentric Cabot Cove resident; Peter Whitlock, Fruit and Veg’s delivery truck drive, and his sister Pennyr; Greta Pacyna, ex-housekeeper for Bertha Mae, and her husband Lucius; Oscar Cisneros, town junk man; Charles Evans, who used to run a gas station, now retired and gardens and gossips; Viola Shaw, teacher at elementary school; Jasper Boxley, loan shark;

We see that Walter Hendon, the harbormaster, who we saw had a prominent role in Debonair in Death (#54) by Terrie Farley Moran, retires in this book from his duty as harbormaster. A new person is appointed.

Tim Purdy is also a recently retires history teacher but retains his post as Cabot Cove’s historian.

Sub Plots:

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;

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; Nancy Pollard, Jessica’s new publisher as of #55;

Other Cabot Cove characters: Josh, the mailman; Jed Richardson, bush pilot and owner of Jed’s Flying Service, and his wife Alicia, 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; Lean, Joe’s assistant; 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 Molloy, 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; Pierce Collymore, 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; Coreen Wilson, Loretta’s longtime assistant;

Sheriff Metzger’s staff & other law enforcement: Deputy Andy Jenks / Broom/ Bloom??; 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

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.

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 30th book:

Tom Craig offers Michael Haggerty a book deal to write about his escapades as an undercover British spy.

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.  But Angela Lansbury did print a cookbook based on the food items shared either in the episodes or by characters of the series.

From the 47th book:

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?

Again we don’t see the criminal Armand Dejong’s body found. So did he succumb to the injuries caused by fire or escape?

From the 48th book, Manuscript for Murder:

We come to know that Mort was in Vietnam that we had never heard either on TV show or the earlier books.

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.

From the 54th book, Debonair in Death: Deputy Andy’s full name become Andy Broom vs Andy Jenkins.