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joddleberry's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
pewterwolf's review against another edition
3.0
Not as cosy as the TV show but a nice cosy read. Much needed platter cleanse so can jump back into and finish [b:Red Sister|35702180|Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)|Mark Lawrence|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519296732l/35702180._SY75_.jpg|45777900].
Write-up coming soon, though might not show till possible Crime Reading Month on The Pewter Wolf September 2019
***
The first book in the series, best selling author Jessica Fletcher is off to London for be a keynote speaker as a mystery writers convention. She’s also looking forward to meeting her friend and fellow crime writer, Marjorie Ainsworth, who she’s hasn’t seen in so long. When Marjorie invites Jessica to a house party to celebrate the release of her new novel, Gin and Daggers, Jessica happily accept. But the party ends with murder when Jessica discovers Marjorie stabbed in her bed…
When I first discovered this book spinoff series existed, I went “This is no way going to be as fun as the TV show” and yet I still wanted to read at least one of the titles in this series. And it’s a long series. At the time of you guys reading this, its 50th instalment will be published this coming November. FIFTY BOOKS in this series, and it’s not going to end any time soon as it’s still hugely popular, plus the TV is still hugely popular with reruns still airing on TV channels round the world (according to me Googling, 5USA is the UK home for Jessica now, but ITV, BBC and Alibi have all been home in the past ten years).
So… what do I think of this?
Where the heck do I start? Of course this isn’t the TV show. The TV series is far better, as this felt… I’m not sure how to describe it. It’s a light, fluffy read with some of the Murder She Wrote vibes. Not all of the vibes, but some.
But you can tell this was the first in the book series as Jessica did and said things that felt very out of character. And it did feel a tad dated as this, I think, was first published in the late 1980s and was the first book in the book seres (I have been told via several reviews that the author gets Jessica from around the tenth book onwards so maybe I should try another book later in the series…)
Plus, it’s a bit weird reading a book inside Jessica Fletcher’s head when the TV series is a much more relaxed. I think, because of this, people might find this a tad jarring and, like I did find that I was skimming in some places.
But, and here is the thing, I didn’t expect it to be good or to rock my world. I expected it to be an easy, cosy read with vibes to the TV show. Hell, I expect it to be a trashfire! So, my bar for this was low, and was surprised that I did like it. I don’t think I would read it again in the same way I would happily binge-watch the series, but I’m not going to say I will never read another book in the series. I have my eye on one or two titles, but I can understand why no UK publishers publish this series…
Write-up coming soon, though might not show till possible Crime Reading Month on The Pewter Wolf September 2019
***
The first book in the series, best selling author Jessica Fletcher is off to London for be a keynote speaker as a mystery writers convention. She’s also looking forward to meeting her friend and fellow crime writer, Marjorie Ainsworth, who she’s hasn’t seen in so long. When Marjorie invites Jessica to a house party to celebrate the release of her new novel, Gin and Daggers, Jessica happily accept. But the party ends with murder when Jessica discovers Marjorie stabbed in her bed…
When I first discovered this book spinoff series existed, I went “This is no way going to be as fun as the TV show” and yet I still wanted to read at least one of the titles in this series. And it’s a long series. At the time of you guys reading this, its 50th instalment will be published this coming November. FIFTY BOOKS in this series, and it’s not going to end any time soon as it’s still hugely popular, plus the TV is still hugely popular with reruns still airing on TV channels round the world (according to me Googling, 5USA is the UK home for Jessica now, but ITV, BBC and Alibi have all been home in the past ten years).
So… what do I think of this?
Where the heck do I start? Of course this isn’t the TV show. The TV series is far better, as this felt… I’m not sure how to describe it. It’s a light, fluffy read with some of the Murder She Wrote vibes. Not all of the vibes, but some.
But you can tell this was the first in the book series as Jessica did and said things that felt very out of character. And it did feel a tad dated as this, I think, was first published in the late 1980s and was the first book in the book seres (I have been told via several reviews that the author gets Jessica from around the tenth book onwards so maybe I should try another book later in the series…)
Plus, it’s a bit weird reading a book inside Jessica Fletcher’s head when the TV series is a much more relaxed. I think, because of this, people might find this a tad jarring and, like I did find that I was skimming in some places.
But, and here is the thing, I didn’t expect it to be good or to rock my world. I expected it to be an easy, cosy read with vibes to the TV show. Hell, I expect it to be a trashfire! So, my bar for this was low, and was surprised that I did like it. I don’t think I would read it again in the same way I would happily binge-watch the series, but I’m not going to say I will never read another book in the series. I have my eye on one or two titles, but I can understand why no UK publishers publish this series…
mintlovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Knowing that Murder, She Wrote seems to be such an institution in the world of cozy mysteries, I had high expectations coming in. For reference, I haven't actually seen any of the TV episodes before, but I feel like they would be a good pre-requisite for this book.
Perhaps I should have lowered my expectations because this wasn't a super satisfying read for me.
I get the sense Bain expected that many of his readers would already be familiar with Jessica Fletcher and her friends, which is definitely fair at the time given that the TV series came out first. However, this doesn't quite work for newbies to the series like me.
I kind of feel like I've been plopped into a world I don't quite understand. If you told me that this was a book from the middle of a series, I would have believed you! I think more development of Jessica and her background would be necessary to help new readers familiarize themselves with the series, but fans probably won't need these reminders.
This is a mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie, with a big cast and lots of twists and turns, which made for a fun read. However, I felt that the book ended way too abruptly. Because there were so many threads in the mystery, the book could have benefitted from spending more time on the end so as to wrap everything up neater.
If you're already a fan of Murder, She Wrote or you want to find out more about this series, I'd recommend giving this book a shot at your local library. Otherwise, I don't think I would recommend this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Perhaps I should have lowered my expectations because this wasn't a super satisfying read for me.
I get the sense Bain expected that many of his readers would already be familiar with Jessica Fletcher and her friends, which is definitely fair at the time given that the TV series came out first. However, this doesn't quite work for newbies to the series like me.
I kind of feel like I've been plopped into a world I don't quite understand. If you told me that this was a book from the middle of a series, I would have believed you! I think more development of Jessica and her background would be necessary to help new readers familiarize themselves with the series, but fans probably won't need these reminders.
This is a mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie, with a big cast and lots of twists and turns, which made for a fun read. However, I felt that the book ended way too abruptly. Because there were so many threads in the mystery, the book could have benefitted from spending more time on the end so as to wrap everything up neater.
If you're already a fan of Murder, She Wrote or you want to find out more about this series, I'd recommend giving this book a shot at your local library. Otherwise, I don't think I would recommend this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
tribefan33's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
I have watched the series and the movies but have never read the books! This was a fun entertaining romp!
anniemccormick1025's review against another edition
4.0
As a huge Murder She Wrote fan, I am so excited to have discovered this series!
literary__escapism's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big Murder She Wrote fangirl. I loved watching the series on tv as a teen and I was thrilled to discover that there is a series of novels set around the characters.
Gin and Daggers is the first novel of the series. Jessica is abroad in London for a conference and to visit friend and fellow mystery writer, Marjorie Ainsworth. Her plans to sightsee get derailed when Marjorie turns up dead and Jessica is the prime suspect!
I really enjoyed this novel. The mystery was great and kept me guessing till the end. Jessica is a likable sleuth and there were plenty literary references to keep my bookish senses amused. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.
Gin and Daggers is the first novel of the series. Jessica is abroad in London for a conference and to visit friend and fellow mystery writer, Marjorie Ainsworth. Her plans to sightsee get derailed when Marjorie turns up dead and Jessica is the prime suspect!
I really enjoyed this novel. The mystery was great and kept me guessing till the end. Jessica is a likable sleuth and there were plenty literary references to keep my bookish senses amused. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.
cieralegue's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed it such a great plot twist at the end. it was quite fantastic and love her friends from cabot cove, and how her friendship with george southerland from scotland yard started, still have some questions but im satisfied with the answers to the big questions i had. it gave a great ending and a great reason for jessica to go back to london to see george. and the very ending last sentence "well then book the bloody bloke " was just icing on the cake for the ending. this book makes me feel as if she is more british than american, as she speaks the same slang as they do and other things like that. But that i would say is a great perk and so very enjoyable to read and gave me lots to contemplate trying to solve the mystery even if i was dead wrong presented with what i thought was damning evidence, makes it interesting to see where i went wrong in my thinking.
ossington's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
A fun book perfect for the fans of Murder, She Wrote!
I grew up watching this series with my grandma, so when I found out only recently that there was a novelization companion series, I jumped on the first book. My hope for this series was to broaden my senses regarding what I usually read, as I'm not a very big mystery/thriller reader. But, it's my job to know a little about a lot, so I figured that this was a good place to start within that genre!
This kept in line with the general feeling of the TV series and was written well. What I appreciate about this series, in both forms, is that nothing is often so incredibly high stakes. It's cozy, it's familiar, and mostly, it's just fun. I love seeing what situations Jessica finds herself in and how she gets out of them even while everyone thinks she's the perpetrator.
I can't wait to check out the next one from the library!
I grew up watching this series with my grandma, so when I found out only recently that there was a novelization companion series, I jumped on the first book. My hope for this series was to broaden my senses regarding what I usually read, as I'm not a very big mystery/thriller reader. But, it's my job to know a little about a lot, so I figured that this was a good place to start within that genre!
This kept in line with the general feeling of the TV series and was written well. What I appreciate about this series, in both forms, is that nothing is often so incredibly high stakes. It's cozy, it's familiar, and mostly, it's just fun. I love seeing what situations Jessica finds herself in and how she gets out of them even while everyone thinks she's the perpetrator.
I can't wait to check out the next one from the library!