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mcc004's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Racism, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia
Anti-sex worker sentimentshousedesignerking's review against another edition
challenging
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Being a fan of the tv series, I've picked up quite a few of the books in this series. All of which are by Donald Bain, not his successor. I've read only 2 others (though out of order and will probably reread them). I loved one and critiqued the other. This one is a mixture of both. I both loved it... and have some critical commentary.
Jessica Fletcher, famed mystery writer, whose existence is both thankfully and unfortunately fictional, has set out to London for a convention for the International Society of Mystery Writers (ISMW) and is going to be staying at the home of a fellow mystery writer and good friend, Marjorie Ainsworth. Marjorie is known as the world's number 1 mystery writer.
Marjorie is not in good health. There are rumors surrounding the authorship of her latest novel, "Gin and Daggers," that claim either she didn't write it or someone else wrote most of it. Jessica doesn't really have an opinion on it until she reads it. She notices that a lot of it does not seem to have Marjorie's signature, but is hesitant to go as far as saying Jason Harris, Marjorie's protege, actually wrote it. Speculation of it ultimately takes a back seat when Marjorie is found murdered with a knife in her chest. Eventually, Jessica suspects the protege, but when he is believed to be the man pulled from the Thames, his face brutally bludgeoned and unrecognizable, she is not so sure anymore.
There were several hilarious parts. My favorite was when Jessica unexpectedly knocks on Jimmy Biggers' (P.I. with a bad rep) door and he yells angrily asking who it is and Jessica sarcastically matches his yelling as she yells her name. I also had fun reading this, especially when I could do the posh voice of the Inspector from Scotland Yard. I can't do a Scottish accent to save my life, but I opted to do a very posh and very pompous-ish British tongue (I'd say accent, but they kinda created the language) when I read the description of his voice.
Aside from what I loved about it, I do have some objections...
On page 122, Jessica says to Maria Giacona that she had a husband who kept the fridge full so she could write her stories. The problem with this is that it is a massive contradiction to the pilot episode of the series. In the series, Jessica only started writing after her husband's death as a way to cope and to keep her occupied. It also says in here that she still has rejections slips and her first acceptance letter... but that's impossible! Her nephew Grady read it during a visit and snuck it out to give it to a publisher who loved it and wanted to publish it. Are the books supposed to be in a parallel universe?
Speaking of paranormal activity: on page 123, it mentions Jessica went through her purse. She was mugged at one point, the guy running off with it. Did she have a spare? It isn't specified. Where did this magical purse come from? It's not until page 135 that we find out this magical purse came from Lucas, the guy who basically planned the convention. Oddly, its randomly mentioned as she sits down in a chair. /-: However, on page 136, I laughed out loud when a character thought she went somewhere to be a stripper, so at least there's that.
On page 151, I was surprised that "Jessica" tells the reader that she will probably bring someone with her on future trips to London to where she got mugged and she'd be "increasing [the] attackers height each time, embellishing [her] fearless defense of [her] purse." This is uncharacteristic of Jessica Fletcher. The Jessica Fletcher of the tv series is a pretty honest woman who only really misleads suspects.
While this book was very funny at times and had lovable characters (especially the lovable Seth Hazlitt; though I wish Bain had opted to make Amos Tupper the sheriff instead of Morton Metzger; sorry, Amos is the best one imho), I cannot say in all honesty that I enjoyed this as much as i did "Brandy and Bullets" when I factor in the contradictions and the plot problems. Instead of 5 stars, I give it 4.
Jessica Fletcher, famed mystery writer, whose existence is both thankfully and unfortunately fictional, has set out to London for a convention for the International Society of Mystery Writers (ISMW) and is going to be staying at the home of a fellow mystery writer and good friend, Marjorie Ainsworth. Marjorie is known as the world's number 1 mystery writer.
Marjorie is not in good health. There are rumors surrounding the authorship of her latest novel, "Gin and Daggers," that claim either she didn't write it or someone else wrote most of it. Jessica doesn't really have an opinion on it until she reads it. She notices that a lot of it does not seem to have Marjorie's signature, but is hesitant to go as far as saying Jason Harris, Marjorie's protege, actually wrote it. Speculation of it ultimately takes a back seat when Marjorie is found murdered with a knife in her chest. Eventually, Jessica suspects the protege, but when he is believed to be the man pulled from the Thames, his face brutally bludgeoned and unrecognizable, she is not so sure anymore.
There were several hilarious parts. My favorite was when Jessica unexpectedly knocks on Jimmy Biggers' (P.I. with a bad rep) door and he yells angrily asking who it is and Jessica sarcastically matches his yelling as she yells her name. I also had fun reading this, especially when I could do the posh voice of the Inspector from Scotland Yard. I can't do a Scottish accent to save my life, but I opted to do a very posh and very pompous-ish British tongue (I'd say accent, but they kinda created the language) when I read the description of his voice.
Aside from what I loved about it, I do have some objections...
On page 122, Jessica says to Maria Giacona that she had a husband who kept the fridge full so she could write her stories. The problem with this is that it is a massive contradiction to the pilot episode of the series. In the series, Jessica only started writing after her husband's death as a way to cope and to keep her occupied. It also says in here that she still has rejections slips and her first acceptance letter... but that's impossible! Her nephew Grady read it during a visit and snuck it out to give it to a publisher who loved it and wanted to publish it. Are the books supposed to be in a parallel universe?
Speaking of paranormal activity: on page 123, it mentions Jessica went through her purse. She was mugged at one point, the guy running off with it. Did she have a spare? It isn't specified. Where did this magical purse come from? It's not until page 135 that we find out this magical purse came from Lucas, the guy who basically planned the convention. Oddly, its randomly mentioned as she sits down in a chair. /-: However, on page 136, I laughed out loud when a character thought she went somewhere to be a stripper, so at least there's that.
On page 151, I was surprised that "Jessica" tells the reader that she will probably bring someone with her on future trips to London to where she got mugged and she'd be "increasing [the] attackers height each time, embellishing [her] fearless defense of [her] purse." This is uncharacteristic of Jessica Fletcher. The Jessica Fletcher of the tv series is a pretty honest woman who only really misleads suspects.
While this book was very funny at times and had lovable characters (especially the lovable Seth Hazlitt; though I wish Bain had opted to make Amos Tupper the sheriff instead of Morton Metzger; sorry, Amos is the best one imho), I cannot say in all honesty that I enjoyed this as much as i did "Brandy and Bullets" when I factor in the contradictions and the plot problems. Instead of 5 stars, I give it 4.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
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