Reviews

Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher, Terrie Farley Moran

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review

3.0

Murder She Wrote: Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran is the latest installment in the Murder, She Wrote series (Book Fifty-Seven). I enjoyed returning to Cabot Cove and visiting all the familiar characters. It seemed, though, that they tried to include every character in the town (there were too many). The story is easy to read. I could envision the scenes in my head (of course, the characters looked like the actors from the series). I felt that the story lacked depth. The main mystery involved the death of town’s latest fitness guru, Martin Terranova. Jessica, of course, is on the case. She finds clues in Martin’s home that Sheriff Metzger and his team missed (a little hard to believe). The killer can easily be identified long before the reveal. There is a secondary storyline involving embezzlement that does not relate to the murder mystery. Both storylines are neatly wrapped up at the end. I found this tale similar to an early episode in the television series. Murder She Wrote: Fit for Murder is pleasant, but I wanted more substance.

nick_27's review

lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

mdpbernal's review

lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.5

karen_the_baroness's review

5.0

Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran sees Jessica letting Evelyn Phillips direct her to an interesting dilemma with Bertha Mae and a certain yoga teacher named Martin Terranova. 

Will Jessica solve the mystery? 

Jessica Fletcher 

All Jessica Fletcher wants to do is work on her latest novel, but everyone keeps pulling her into doing something else. Especially Evelyn Phillips when she returns to help her friend Bertha Mae. Once they do, Evelyn has it in her head that there is a story, and Jessica doesn't know what to think. Except that something does seem suspicious. Jessica is a great character, and I always feel like I'm curled up at home whenever I enter these stories. I love how she can solve this one and the other things that happen in Cabot Cove. 

Martin Terranova, the Victim 

Martin Terranova is the victim and someone that Evelyn Phillips isn't happy with as he's being overly friendly with Bertha Mae. Basically, he is flirting with her when he should be teaching her yoga and not feeling her up. Martin is flirty with many of his clients, who are all older, mature women. Could they be leaving him money to keep his business going? Jessica seems very suspicious of his intentions on some of his clients during a session she saw. To make matters worse, when Martin dies, Evelyn convinces Jessica to be on the case because Bertha Mae spirals even worse. 

I honestly didn't see who did it. I was so off-base on it, but it actually makes sense now that I'm thinking about it. 

Five Stars 

I am giving five stars to Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. If you like reading a book that plays out like a television episode, this series is perfect for you. At least from the few books that I have read, it seems to be. I love reading this series. It makes me try to solve the mystery with Jessica. Ms. Moran has done a perfect job writing with Jessica and portraying all of the characters like they are still on the show. 

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. 

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. 

Until the next time, 

Karen the Baroness 

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove. 

katreader's review

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.25

MURDER, SHE WROTE: FIT FOR MURDER
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Seventh Murder, She Wrote Mystery
 
Former newspaper editor, Evelyn Phillips, is back in Cabot Cove for a visit, but instead of relaxing she's causing a ruckus. She's concerned her friend Berthe Mae is losing her marbles, so smitten is she with the new yoga instructor. Convinced the man is up to no good Evelyn convinces Jessica to help her check into things. After taking a class with the man Jessica does notice his familiarity with the much older women in the group. Before they can determine if he truly does have bad intentions, he's found dead in his gym...and it's no accident. With Berthe Mae inconsolable and Evelyn a suspect, Jessica will have to look into the fitness guru's past to determine just who killed him.
 
Cabot Cove is such a charming town with its friendly citizens and lovely scenery. I can picture Jessica cycling through town, waving at her neighbors, and enjoying good food and company, even if at times she'd rather be alone. Just being in Cabot Cove is relaxing and enjoyable...even with all the murders! And in FIT FOR MURDER we have more than one crime to attend to.
 
I really enjoyed the mystery here. A variety of events clouded the picture, making me wonder what was relevant. In fact, when a second crime was committed, I wondered if it was related to the murder. For a little town, there sure is a lot of crime and drama!
 
While light-hearted, the fifty-seventh Murder, She Wrote Mystery tackles a serious subject, the exploitation of the elderly. The authors tackle the subject with grace, but I'm glad awareness is brought to a subject often hidden; young, fit lotharios ingratiating themselves with elderly women just to get their money.

MURDER, SHE WROTE: FIT FOR MURDER is a classic mystery that leaves you with a feeling that, despite some problems, all's right with the world.  

dollycas's review

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing

5.0

 

Dollycas's Thoughts

I have wanted to jump back into this series for a while and was happy to do it with this book. In Fit for Murder, the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Evelyn Phillips, returns to town because she is worried about Bertha Mae Cormier and her "weird" behavior. When she receives no help from Dr. Seth Hazlitt, she insists Jessica come with her to pay a visit on the woman. At first, Jessica sees no real change in Bertha Mae, but then when the over 80-year-old woman starts to talk about a "show starting" she does get a little concerned. Then they see Bertha Mae's new neighbor, Martin Terranova, appear outside his home/business and hop on a treadmill. Apparently, he is the show. Bertha Mae is clearly smitten with the man and she explains that by taking his classes she has become a new woman.

Jessica and Evelyn decide to attend the next class with Bertha Mae and they notice Mr. Terranova is very flirty and attentive to Bertha Mae and to his other elderly clients. Evelyn is positive the man is after Bertha Mae's money and she is going to prove it. But before she gets a chance, Martin Terranova is found dead and it wasn't an accident. He was murdered and sadly the former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette is going to need Jessica's help because she is the #1 suspect in his death.

____

The reason I love this series is that it unfolds just like an episode of the popular television show that I have started binging on again now that all 12 seasons are available to watch on Peacock. While many of the actors from the series including Angela Landsbury have passed away I love that Terrie Farley Moran and Berkley have kept them alive and on new adventures of crime-solving in these books. I enjoy all the relationships Jessica has built over the years and that the author continues to bring new people to Cabot Cove to keep these stories current and fresh.

The author has plotted out an interesting mystery. Gym owner Martin Terranova was clearly up to something to get himself killed. Jessica is going to help Sheriff Mort Metzger prove it. She gets some assistance from the new editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Dan Andrews, as she tries to find out if the victim has a pattern of deceit. As expected the sheriff isn't always happy with Jessica's efforts but when she finds more suspects and evidence the sheriff's deputies missed he has to admit the woman has great instincts and the ability to make clues fit together. It is fun to tag along with her and see how her mind makes sense of all the information she takes in. Some clues really stood out to me and they put me on the right track to pin down the killer.

Ms. Moran tangled an intriguing subplot within the murder mystery regarding some shenanigans at the fire department. Of course, Jessica gets involved there too making sure the right person is held accountable.

My visit to Cabot Cove was fun and entertaining. Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder is well-plotted and well-written. If you are like me and have fallen behind on this series or if you a new to Jessica Fletcher and her amateur sleuthing this is the perfect book for you. Readers are given enough history about the characters and Cabot Cove to dive right in.

It looks like Jessica and her friends are going to be busy this year! Book 58, Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage will be released on April 2, 2024, followed by Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas on October 8, 2024. 

 

birdybookwormleslie's review

dark lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

4.0

caitiep92's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.5

cj_mo_2222's review

lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

4.0

Solid installment in the series.