MURDER, SHE WROTE

Even on vacation, Jessica Fletcher can’t escape murder.

Having just sent her latest manuscript to her editor with three hours to spare, Jessica is free to join her beloved nephew, Grady, his wife, Donna, and their son, Frank, in a Rockaway Beach vacation cottage. In connection with her unexpected promotion at Courtland Finance and Investments, Donna has been rewarded with a month at one of the cottages owned by the Courtland family. When Jessica meets the family—including the matriarch, Matilda, whose oldest son, Jason, is the CEO—she can’t help noticing undercurrents among its competitive members. Jessica and young Frank’s great time at the beach and the Courtland-sponsored art classes ends when Donna finds Jason’s dead body on the tennis court, still being bombarded by high-speed tennis balls. Jessica is convinced that Jason’s death was no accident, but detectives Vincent Tieri and Aisha Kelly, who clearly aren’t familiar with her resume, aren’t impressed with her thoughts or actions. Only when Tieri talks to his old friend Mort Metzger, the sheriff of Cabot Cove, Maine, does he start taking Jessica seriously. Although Jessica continues to spend time with Frank and enjoy the beach community, she also takes advantage of her opportunities to dig up the dirt on the Courtland family and their business, which may be in more trouble than they let on.

A unique murder method and welcome local color make this one of Jessica’s best adventures.