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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Terrie Farley Moran has done a fabulous job og picking up the co-author mantel of the Murder, She Wrote series. A great read full of suspects, delicious food, fashion, and good old J. B. Fletcher charm.
mysterious
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Third Murder, She Wrote Mystery
After a fun mystery conference Jessica Fletcher heads to South Carolina to catch up with her old college friend, Dolores Nickens. It seems that her marriage to Willis, husband number three, agrees with her as Dolores appears happier than she's been in years. As delighted as Dolores is with her new husband, the wealthy businessman has a dark side. Willis changes abruptly from charming host to a belittling, nasty, and cruel man, seeming to take delight in ratcheting the tension and making his other guests uncomfortable. The next morning Jessica's morning jog on their property takes an unexpected turn when she sees a body in the koi pond. Willis is dead. Although they won't get to do touristy things and have fun reminiscing, this may turn out to be the best time for Jessica to visit. Once the sheriff determines that Jessica is correct and Willis was murdered, Dolores is sure to be the main suspect.
Reading MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND was a nostalgic trip to a comforting past. My mom and I loved watching Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher when the original TV series aired and even though Jessica wasn't in Maine, that good feeling remained as I read this enjoyable mystery. I loved the little details, talking about Malice Domestic, food descriptions that had my mouth watering, and red herrings that I thought for sure would have some bearing on the murder.
Astute readers may pick up a vital clue early in the story. I did and figured out the who, if not the why, but then as I kept reading I kind of forgot about it so near the end I wasn't sure who did it...until Jessica explained and I was like, "Oh yeah".
MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND is a delightful addition to this long running series. Fully developed characters, both new and old, inhabit these pages providing rich detail bringing the story to life.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Third Murder, She Wrote Mystery
After a fun mystery conference Jessica Fletcher heads to South Carolina to catch up with her old college friend, Dolores Nickens. It seems that her marriage to Willis, husband number three, agrees with her as Dolores appears happier than she's been in years. As delighted as Dolores is with her new husband, the wealthy businessman has a dark side. Willis changes abruptly from charming host to a belittling, nasty, and cruel man, seeming to take delight in ratcheting the tension and making his other guests uncomfortable. The next morning Jessica's morning jog on their property takes an unexpected turn when she sees a body in the koi pond. Willis is dead. Although they won't get to do touristy things and have fun reminiscing, this may turn out to be the best time for Jessica to visit. Once the sheriff determines that Jessica is correct and Willis was murdered, Dolores is sure to be the main suspect.
Reading MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND was a nostalgic trip to a comforting past. My mom and I loved watching Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher when the original TV series aired and even though Jessica wasn't in Maine, that good feeling remained as I read this enjoyable mystery. I loved the little details, talking about Malice Domestic, food descriptions that had my mouth watering, and red herrings that I thought for sure would have some bearing on the murder.
Astute readers may pick up a vital clue early in the story. I did and figured out the who, if not the why, but then as I kept reading I kind of forgot about it so near the end I wasn't sure who did it...until Jessica explained and I was like, "Oh yeah".
MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLING IN A KOI POND is a delightful addition to this long running series. Fully developed characters, both new and old, inhabit these pages providing rich detail bringing the story to life.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
I am not a long time reader of these mysteries, and reading other reviews from people who are, I understand their concerns.
However, this was a perfectly decent cozy, and kind of what I needed at this moment. I do think it was obvious who the killer was (like many said) I mean right when a particular sentence was uttered I thought for sure Jessica would address it ASAP, but it doesn't get addressed until the end.
Despite that, I enjoyed it because it wasn't like some of the outlandish resolutions in two of the books I have read.
However, this was a perfectly decent cozy, and kind of what I needed at this moment. I do think it was obvious who the killer was (like many said) I mean right when a particular sentence was uttered I thought for sure Jessica would address it ASAP, but it doesn't get addressed until the end.
Despite that, I enjoyed it because it wasn't like some of the outlandish resolutions in two of the books I have read.
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was fine but not as good as the tv show which developed better mystery plot lines. Also why was it set in 2015 ish?
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond is the 53rd Murder, She Wrote mystery, this one "co-written" by Terrie Farley Moran. Released 8th June 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a comfortably reliable cozy series with an iconic protagonist (everyone's favorite mystery author Aunt Jessica) and a well known supporting cast of characters. The plots are easy to understand and the puzzles are generally cleverly constructed and well written. This installment revolves around a visit to a friend from Jessica's past who has recently married a wealthy businessman. Jessica's not the only guest however, as the house is full of a stable of potential suspects with good reasons to do away with her friend's husband (who is, admittedly, a world class jerk to everyone except Jess's friend Dolores (who is his wife) and a young granddaughter named Abby).
If it's a bit formulaic, it's a well known quantity and precisely why most readers are drawn to the sub-genre. The plot does lag at a few places; I found myself skimming just a bit. All in all though, it's a sweetly clean murder mystery without on-page violence, bad language, or sexual content. The murder victim is a (mostly) unlamented jerk who makes his exit around page 30 and the rest of the book is spent in information gathering and clever deduction.
I enjoyed the book, but I daresay I'd avoid any college reunion, wedding, or christening to which "Aunt Jess" is invited for fear of tripping over a recently murdered friend or acquaintance. "We know you're busy, just send a card, Auntie!".
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond is the 53rd Murder, She Wrote mystery, this one "co-written" by Terrie Farley Moran. Released 8th June 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a comfortably reliable cozy series with an iconic protagonist (everyone's favorite mystery author Aunt Jessica) and a well known supporting cast of characters. The plots are easy to understand and the puzzles are generally cleverly constructed and well written. This installment revolves around a visit to a friend from Jessica's past who has recently married a wealthy businessman. Jessica's not the only guest however, as the house is full of a stable of potential suspects with good reasons to do away with her friend's husband (who is, admittedly, a world class jerk to everyone except Jess's friend Dolores (who is his wife) and a young granddaughter named Abby).
If it's a bit formulaic, it's a well known quantity and precisely why most readers are drawn to the sub-genre. The plot does lag at a few places; I found myself skimming just a bit. All in all though, it's a sweetly clean murder mystery without on-page violence, bad language, or sexual content. The murder victim is a (mostly) unlamented jerk who makes his exit around page 30 and the rest of the book is spent in information gathering and clever deduction.
I enjoyed the book, but I daresay I'd avoid any college reunion, wedding, or christening to which "Aunt Jess" is invited for fear of tripping over a recently murdered friend or acquaintance. "We know you're busy, just send a card, Auntie!".
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.