Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas
by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
About Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas
Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas
Cozy Mystery
59th in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher : Berkley (October 8, 2024)
Hardcover : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593640721
ISBN-13 : 978-0593640722
Digital ASIN : B0CRTW3Z9N
It’s Christmastime in Cabot Cove, but there’s more homicide than ho-ho-ho in the newest entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series.
Christmas is not an easy time to sell a house, but in Boston tycoon John Bragdon, Cabot Cove Realtor Eve Simpson has found a buyer for the old Jarvis homestead. Unfortunately, Eve gets a lump of coal in her stocking in the form of Kenny Jarvis, who has been missing for years and presumed dead but has now come back to stop his sister from selling their childhood home.
Eve presses on, organizing a welcome dinner for Bragdon and his wife, Rose Marie, to meet the leading citizens of the town, including Jessica Fletcher. Dinner is interrupted by an uninvited guest—not Santa but Kenny, who threateningly promises Rose Marie she will never live in his house.
When Rose Marie is found dead a few days later, Kenny is the natural suspect. But Jessica isn′t so sure he′s on the naughty list . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Cabot Cove is pulling out all the stops for Christmas this year as they are vying to be named Christmas Town in Maine’s tourist brochure. Many events are planned including Christmas caroling parties, readings, cookies, along with visiting elves, a boat parade, and a Christmas Day Parade.
While most of the residents of Cabot Cove are working on plans for the holiday, Realtor Eve Simpson has another iron in the fire. She has found a buyer for the old Jarvis homestead. Boston tycoon John Bragdon is ready to sign on the dotted line and get renovations started immediately. Then a man thought to be dead because he has been missing for years returns to town. Kenny Jarvis is back and he is livid that his sister was trying to sell their childhood home. He plans to stop her at any cost.
Eve basically ignores all the drama and organizes a dinner to welcome John Bragdon and his wife Rose Marie to Cabot Cove. She invites many of the town’s prominent citizens including Jessica Fletcher and Dr. Seth Hazlitt and the Bragdons bring several of their employees.
A couple of days later Kenny finds Rose Marie at Hill House and threatens her saying the woman will never live in his family’s home. Just a few hours later Rose Marie is found dead in her room. The easy assumption is that Kenny Jarvis is responsible for the woman’s death but Jessica believes it will be someone else’s holiday that will be ruined. She just needs to figure out who.
Christmas in Cabot Cove didn’t disappoint. All my favorite characters were back. The author brings them all to life so well. So much so, that I hear their voices loud and clear as if I watching an episode of the television show. Jessica is a dynamic character with a keen mind. She gets along with everyone and volunteers to help in any way she can. This time she was fully involved in the Christmas festivities in the quest to make Cabot Cove, the Christmas town. She gets her friends involved too, sometimes when they don’t want to be. 🙂 She juggles it all even when she gets caught up in another murder.
Readers were introduced to some interesting new characters too. All unique, they quickly develop throughout the story with some finding their names on Jessica’s suspect list.
The story unfolds at a very comfortable pace. I enjoyed following along with Jessica on all her tasks. Surprisingly while doing a common everyday task she had her A-ha moment making all the clues fall into place. I gave myself a quick pat on the back for being right. I had pinned down the killer earlier in the story but wasn’t positive about how they did it.
I loved everything about this cozy mystery. Cabot Cove is the ultimate cozy town all decked out in its Christmas finery and Ms. Moran captures it all with her wonderful descriptions. The residents of this cozy town feel like old friends, fresh and genuine after almost 60 books penned by different authors. It takes a special author who can capture the characters and continue their storylines seamlessly. Ms. Moran does an excellent job. She also plotted an intriguing mystery bringing out her reader’s armchair sleuthing skills. And after the murder mystery was solved Jessica got her wish. I treasure a happy ending.
Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit with a little murder mystery to solve on the side. Festive, fun, and heartwarming. I truly recommend you visit Cabot Cove this holiday season.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Authors
Along with Jessica Fletcher, Terrie Farley Moran co-writes the Murder She Wrote mystery series including Murder, She Wrote: Killer on the Court. She is the author of the Read ‘Em and Eat cozy mystery series and also co-writes the Scrapbooking Mysteries with Laura Childs. Recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer Awards, Moran has published numerous mystery short stories. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is hanging out with any or all of her seven grandchildren.
Author Links – Webpage Facebook
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse –
You can find all 60 books in the Murder She Wrote Series HERE.
Also by Terrie Farley Moran
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Great Escapes Praise for Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas
by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
If you’re a Murder She Wrote fan, you’re going to love Killer Christmas! I highly recommend it for its very cozy setting, Christmas-y events, familiar characters that we’ve grown to love, and the mystery. I give it five stars!
~Christy’s Cozy Corners
A Killer Christmas is a fun and relaxing cozy mystery. It is so enjoyable to hang out with Jessica forty years after first meeting her. She hasn’t aged at all, and now I am suddenly, or so it seems, her contemporary. Weird how that works!
~Diane Reviews Books
If you’re looking for a charming holiday-themed mystery MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS might just be your perfect cup of tea.
~Cozy Up With Kathy
Murder, She Wrote stories (both the TV show and the books) are my favorite comfort reads, and this latest entry (number 59!) was a festive five-star read!
~Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books
4 stars! As Cabot Cove plans its biggest Christmas season ever, someone put murder on the calendar. I recommend A KILLER CHRISTMAS to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy holiday-themed stories.
~Boys’ Mom Reads!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”
I love Jessica Fletcher! I watch her reruns every morning! Terrie is a wonderful author, I’m sure she does Jessica justice!!
Have a good weekend!
I was really trying to toss in a lot of Christmas spirit, including old friends and family members as well as having an interesting murder, and according to your review you understood exactly what I was going for–thanks so much for your careful attention to detail and for a delightful review.
What a great holiday mystery! I enjoy the Murder She Wrote series and look forward to reading this book.