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readbyryan's review against another edition
1.0
This is one of the worst books I've ever read. I will say that at least grammatically everything was correct.
I bought this book as a joke. I thought it was funny and I'm going to give it to a friend who likes Murder, She Wrote. I was bored so I started to read it. I don't know why, but I started and I could stop. So I read the book to the end. The overall plot was mildly interesting. The idea of Jessica Fletcher going to a mystery writer conference in London was somewhat interesting, but there was too much explanation of London and British culture that anyone should know and ESPECIALLY Jessica Fletcher. Regarding some things it was like she lived in a cave. It just wasn't believable.
Don't read this book. You have no reason to. It's an insult to Murder, She Wrote and Jessica Fletcher.
I bought this book as a joke. I thought it was funny and I'm going to give it to a friend who likes Murder, She Wrote. I was bored so I started to read it. I don't know why, but I started and I could stop. So I read the book to the end. The overall plot was mildly interesting. The idea of Jessica Fletcher going to a mystery writer conference in London was somewhat interesting, but there was too much explanation of London and British culture that anyone should know and ESPECIALLY Jessica Fletcher. Regarding some things it was like she lived in a cave. It just wasn't believable.
Don't read this book. You have no reason to. It's an insult to Murder, She Wrote and Jessica Fletcher.
shakyteach's review against another edition
4.0
This book brought up so much nostalgia. I loved the TV series, and this book brought back all those good feelings from the days I watched it. I will definitely continue with the series and maybe see if I can find the TV series somewhere to rewatch.
juliet13's review against another edition
4.0
Murder, She Wrote is extremely famous in Italy. It was a constant on TV at lunch time for years, and everyone knows the show. I saw many episodes and I have read many of the books in Italian. But now I am in such a mystery mood that I want to read them all in order and in English. So I started with the very first one.
I have to say, it wasn't the best of all the ones I have read. But regardless, it was such a treat. It was very reminiscent of Agatha Christie's books (not in quality of course) as they are all very naive and innocent. I mean, there is no gore, no sex, so drugs or heavy drinking. Which means they are perfect for a goody-goody prude as myself! I love this kind of cozy books, where even murder isn't that crude.
The fact that Jessica is old-ish appeals to my old soul, and I love hearing how she reads before bed, drinks tea and has nice meals in restaurants. Add to that that she is a mystery writer (dream job!) and solves crimes on the side (dream side job!), and you get the picture of my ideal detective.
I think that is what really appeals to me, together with the fact that she is young enough to travel and being active, that makes it so interesting for me to read.
The mystery itself was interesting and well-crafted. I figured out quite a lot before the revelation, but it surely was nice and complex enough, and I was satisfied in the end.
The setting in London is lovely, and I really like George Sutherland!! He and Jessica are so cute together! (Even though they are never going to be a real couple sigh)
A thing I loved about this book is how Jessica always had places to go. Every day she had tons of invitations and people to meet, so I never got bored.
All in all, I would say this is the first book in the series and you can tell. There are some other books in the series that are way better developed and thrilling, but it was nevertheless a lovely Saturday read.
I have to say, it wasn't the best of all the ones I have read. But regardless, it was such a treat. It was very reminiscent of Agatha Christie's books (not in quality of course) as they are all very naive and innocent. I mean, there is no gore, no sex, so drugs or heavy drinking. Which means they are perfect for a goody-goody prude as myself! I love this kind of cozy books, where even murder isn't that crude.
The fact that Jessica is old-ish appeals to my old soul, and I love hearing how she reads before bed, drinks tea and has nice meals in restaurants. Add to that that she is a mystery writer (dream job!) and solves crimes on the side (dream side job!), and you get the picture of my ideal detective.
I think that is what really appeals to me, together with the fact that she is young enough to travel and being active, that makes it so interesting for me to read.
The mystery itself was interesting and well-crafted. I figured out quite a lot before the revelation, but it surely was nice and complex enough, and I was satisfied in the end.
The setting in London is lovely, and I really like George Sutherland!! He and Jessica are so cute together! (Even though they are never going to be a real couple sigh)
A thing I loved about this book is how Jessica always had places to go. Every day she had tons of invitations and people to meet, so I never got bored.
All in all, I would say this is the first book in the series and you can tell. There are some other books in the series that are way better developed and thrilling, but it was nevertheless a lovely Saturday read.
jaymie_bookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
That Jessica Fletcher. She really is goals. I'm not going to give a full review of this book, but I did want to mention a few things. First, it was such a great start to the series. Extremely solid writing, extremely solid plot filled with many twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple mysteries involved and of course the characters. The characters are always usually enjoyable in this series, but these were really well done. I also liked the fact that when there was a reference to a character, there was usually an inclusion of a descriptor along with their name. For example, if they mentioned Charles Perry, they would usually say "Charles Perry, the American publisher...etc." With so many characters and so many names, it was super helpful to include those descriptors, even toward the end in order to help keep everyone straight. Well done.
dlebold's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
4.0
Gin and Daggers by Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain is a series I have been meaning to start since I met Donald Bain at a conference and enjoyed speaking with him. I do remember watching some episodes of Murder, She Wrote on TV and had no problem thinking of Angela Lansbury as I read this.
Jessica travels from Cabot Cove to London to speak at a convention and to meet with her mentor. Shortly after she arrives her mentor, Marjorie Ainsworth, is murdered and Jessica finds herself a prime suspect. Jessica lands herself in the thick of it attempting to clear her name and solve her friend’s death. There are plenty of suspects and motives to go around and keep you guessing here. This is a fun read and a well plotted, cozy mystery.
Jessica travels from Cabot Cove to London to speak at a convention and to meet with her mentor. Shortly after she arrives her mentor, Marjorie Ainsworth, is murdered and Jessica finds herself a prime suspect. Jessica lands herself in the thick of it attempting to clear her name and solve her friend’s death. There are plenty of suspects and motives to go around and keep you guessing here. This is a fun read and a well plotted, cozy mystery.
avidreadergirl1's review against another edition
3.0
I find that the books are much better than the tv show.
eliza9veils's review against another edition
5.0
I've been a fan of the tv show ever since I was a kid, and naturally couldn't wait to read the books when I learned about them! I love cozy mysteries and this one was no exception! This was so well done and true to Jessica's personality from the show. The twists and reveal at the end weren't entirely unexpected but everything that connected together and how was a delightful surprise! Can't wait to continue the series!
thisisbert's review against another edition
2.0
Well it's not like it's the worst book I've ever read, or even the worst tie-in fiction I've ever read, but it's far from the best in either category. The plot itself was decent and in dialogue Bain captured Jessica, I think, but it was hard to imagine the narration portion really being Jessica's first person thoughts.
When I think about standout writers in the mystery field, who cross over to make broad sales outside of those who purchase heavily within the genre (which describes, canonically, JB Fletcher) I think about prose that both captures an atmosphere and says something incisive about the other characters, the setting and the relevant themes. There's nothing really wrong with Bain's first person prose as it fits into the general paperback cosy catalogue, but when people choose to write first person (in this case I suppose not really a choice but a stylistic device to make putting her name on as a fake co-author more sensical) and their protagonist is someone with a special way of looking at the world around them -- a top notch writer like Jessica, a photographer, etc. -- I get kind of disappointed when the writing doesn't match up with that. In this book the description is sometimes vacant, leaving at times a feeling as though everything happens in white space, or sometimes overly descriptive of random things like what everyone ate or what Jess is wearing, and sometimes the author just seems to sort of ... describe the wrong elements of a scene to evoke anything. Early in the book the author describes a wide hallway lined with bookcases, but he wants to expound on that. Sure. But he just chooses to give us the width in feet of the hallway. Well. Okay. Thanks. Definitely I have a different opinion of this home now I know to imagine the halls eight feet instead of seven. I'm sure that's exactly the sort of thing a mystery-writing, book-loving sleuth like Jessica Fletcher would notice, and not, say, the architecture or the decor or what kind of books dominated the shelves or basically anything else which might create atmosphere or show us a little something about the house's owner, rather than having everything told us by Jess' thoughts.
Anyway, my copy seemed to have the offensive car scene excised and replaced with a little pondering about the fact that she doesn't drive, so that's nice. Overall the book's probably got a slightly better plot than many of the novels it would be sold alongside, but some awkward issues with when to show, when to tell, and when it's irrelevant. I'll read more of the later ones, as some of this could be teething issues trying to hit a nice stride between getting the polite, even respectable atmosphere of the show while balancing the need for fluid writing and the creation of atmosphere and suspense.
When I think about standout writers in the mystery field, who cross over to make broad sales outside of those who purchase heavily within the genre (which describes, canonically, JB Fletcher) I think about prose that both captures an atmosphere and says something incisive about the other characters, the setting and the relevant themes. There's nothing really wrong with Bain's first person prose as it fits into the general paperback cosy catalogue, but when people choose to write first person (in this case I suppose not really a choice but a stylistic device to make putting her name on as a fake co-author more sensical) and their protagonist is someone with a special way of looking at the world around them -- a top notch writer like Jessica, a photographer, etc. -- I get kind of disappointed when the writing doesn't match up with that. In this book the description is sometimes vacant, leaving at times a feeling as though everything happens in white space, or sometimes overly descriptive of random things like what everyone ate or what Jess is wearing, and sometimes the author just seems to sort of ... describe the wrong elements of a scene to evoke anything. Early in the book the author describes a wide hallway lined with bookcases, but he wants to expound on that. Sure. But he just chooses to give us the width in feet of the hallway. Well. Okay. Thanks. Definitely I have a different opinion of this home now I know to imagine the halls eight feet instead of seven. I'm sure that's exactly the sort of thing a mystery-writing, book-loving sleuth like Jessica Fletcher would notice, and not, say, the architecture or the decor or what kind of books dominated the shelves or basically anything else which might create atmosphere or show us a little something about the house's owner, rather than having everything told us by Jess' thoughts.
Anyway, my copy seemed to have the offensive car scene excised and replaced with a little pondering about the fact that she doesn't drive, so that's nice. Overall the book's probably got a slightly better plot than many of the novels it would be sold alongside, but some awkward issues with when to show, when to tell, and when it's irrelevant. I'll read more of the later ones, as some of this could be teething issues trying to hit a nice stride between getting the polite, even respectable atmosphere of the show while balancing the need for fluid writing and the creation of atmosphere and suspense.