Jessica Fletcher has dinner with her old pal Harry McGraw and gets pulled into a puzzling murder case.
Invited to deliver a lecture at the Boston Public Library, Jessica Fletcher excitedly makes plans to see local friends. Naturally that includes dinner at Gilhooley’s with PI Harry McGraw. Harry excitedly talks about his latest client, the CEO of Cure All Pharmaceuticals, who’s received anonymous blackmail demands and wants Harry to identify the culprit.
Cookie, Gilhooley’s longtime bartender, also has something he wants to tell Jessica: he asked Harry to investigate his daughter Aileen’s boyfriend, who Cookie thinks is too slick by half, but now Harry is too wrapped up in this new case.
While Jessica wonders how best to approach Aileen, the young woman stumbles into Gilhooley’s covered in blood. She just discovered her boyfriend’s corpse — and quickly becomes the chief suspect in his murder!
Release Date: Jul 1, 2025
Series: Murder She Wrote
Book:Â 61
Publisher:Â Penguin Group
Imprint:Â BerkleyÂ
Price: $12.99
Bestselling mystery writer Jessica Fletcher accepts an invitation from an old friend to speak at Boston Central Library. Dr. Seth Hazlitt decides to go along since one of his friends will be presenting at a medical convention in Boston. The two friends meet up with Private Investigator Harry McGraw while there and end up in the middle of one of his cases when the daughter of one of Harry’s friends is accused of a crime she didn’t commit.
This is a fun mystery, and the Boston setting is interesting. Jessica doesn’t spend much time in Cabot Cove this time, but at least Seth went with her to Boston, so readers get to enjoy their entertaining banter. I always enjoy catching up with Harry McGraw, and he plays a significant role in this story. You don’t have to have watched the TV series to enjoy these books, but those who have will probably hear the voice of Jerry Orbach, the late actor who played Harry on TV, when reading his dialogue.
Harry’s pharmaceuticals case isn’t as interesting to me as the murder case, but it does give Harry and Seth a chance to bond since Seth uses his medical knowledge to help out. I liked meeting Harry’s friend Cookie in the book, and although I didn’t think she was a killer, I didn’t really connect with Harry’s daughter, Aileen. She didn’t seem to realize the seriousness of her situation or appreciate everything Jessica and Seth were doing for her. I would have enjoyed the book more if Aileen had been more likable.
This is still an entertaining mystery. And I love the way she writes beloved characters Jessica and Seth. She keeps their actions in character for fans of the TV show, but also keeps them up-to-date and fresh for current readers. It would be interesting for Harry to pay Jessica a visit in Maine next time. I enjoyed the book and liked the way things were wrapped up at the end. I recommend this for fans of the series or any cozy mystery reader looking for a fun read.
~ Christine                            Â
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