Murder, She Wrote (Season 5)

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On this date in 1925, actress Angela Lansbury was born. She masterfully played several roles in her lifetime, but she is best known to me as Jessica Fletcher on the long-running 80's and 90's series, Murder, She Wrote. I didn't start watching it until a few years ago when I first discovered cozy mysteries. Murder, She Wrote was a cozy mystery before the genre had a name.

Over the past few years, I've been working my way through the entire series. Thankfully, it regularly airs on more than one platform, so I have all episodes recorded and continuously recording since each episode only stays on the DVR for nine months. I finished watching season five earlier this year.

Season five premiered in 1988. The format hasn't changed. There are 22 episodes. Each episode is a one-hour long self-contained mystery. The only exception in season five is that the season finale is a two-part episode. Mystery writer, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), continues to find herself in the right place at the right time to assist the authorities in solving murders. 

We do have one significant change in season 5. Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) is the new sheriff in Cabot Cove. I really liked Amos (Tom Bosley) as the sheriff, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this change. I'm pleased to say I enjoyed Mort as the new sheriff. He is not warming up to Jessica too quickly, understandably so, but he's competent and I liked his character overall.

There are five episodes in this season set in Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica's hometown. Most episodes are set across the United States and some are set internationally. The coziest ones continue to take place in Cabot Cove and they tend to be some of my favorites. Some of these episodes are "Mr. Penroy's Vacation" (EP 3), "The Sins of Castle Cove" (EP 17), and the two-part season finale, "Mirror, Mirror On the Wall". Some other standout episodes set elsewhere were "Wearing of the Green" (EP 6) and "The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel" (EP 7), 

My rating of 4/5 is based on the average number of stars I gave the episodes. I rated all of them on a scale of 1-5. Most of them received four stars and none of them received fewer than that. I enjoyed all of them, but I marked some of them down one star primarily because I identified the killer early in the episode, sometimes even before the body dropped, or they were predictable in other ways. I didn't feel this way as often in the earlier seasons. I don't know if it's because the mysteries are weaker or because I've just become better at identifying the culprits. I will say that even when I identified the culprit early, I didn't know the how or why. So it was still fun to watch it all unfold. 

As in previous seasons, there are guest stars on each episode. Some of the faces I recognized in season five were Jamie Farr, Conrad Janis, Andrea Gray, Michael Constantine, Robin Strasser, Gloria Loring, Anthony Geary, Dinah Shore, and Robert Mandan. I didn't always know their name, so I had to do a little research to identify them.

I can see myself revisiting some of these episodes in the future. Although I will know the whodunnit, it will be fun to look for the clues or simply spend time with the characters again. Before I do that, however, I'm really looking forward to watching season 6. 

Puzzle 148 - Autumn Vibes

Fall is in the air! I thought this was a fun puzzle to put together. I finished in 3:27 using 48 non-rotating pieces. Feel free to share your time and how you modified it if you like. Enjoy!

Friday Features 41

Happy Friday!

It's been over a month since I published Friday Features. Some things have changed in the blogosphere since then.  I will be participating in five blog hops. You can see the posts from those who are participating by clicking on the highlighted host links below, and if you're a blogger you can participate as well.

BOOK BLOGGER HOP, hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Question: Do you run more than one blog? If so, how do you manage your time?

My response:  I run two blogs - the one you're reading now that I started in 2022 and another one I started more than ten years ago. I only post on the older one once a year on my best friend's birthday and I keep it mostly private. It's become my way of documenting highlights from the year. I write it in the form of a letter to my best friend. She passed in 2010 and she is the inspiration for both of my blogs.

FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower

FRIDAY BOOK SNIPPETS, hosted by My Head is Full of Books and Bemused and Bookish

Today's snippets are from the e-book format of Murder in the Upper Crust (Deep Dish Mystery 6), by Mindy Quigley.

Here's the beginning:

I zested another lemon, adding the sunny yellow curls to the small mountain on the cutting board. My best friend, Sonya Perlman-Dokter, stood next to me, and if she hadn't been so preoccupied, she would have noticed that we already had more than enough zest to make the lemon-and-burrata flatbread pizza we were serving for lunch. In fact, I'd stress-zested enough peel to dress the salad, garnish the lemon tart that would accompany the meal, and render a small scale model of the Venus de Milo entirely in lemon zest.

And here's a snippet from 56%:

When she stepped into the cheery sunlight streaming in the windows, I gasped. Her hands were clenched, her jaw locked. Even the muscles around her eyes looked tight. The energy she gave off was like a rubber band on the brink of snapping.

This was an ARC that I already read and reviewed. I really enjoyed it. The book is set to be released later this month. You can read my full review here.

FELINE FRIDAY, hosted my messymimi's meanderings

I visited a cat café a few months before adopting Bell and Fiona. I saw a tunnel similar to this one and I noticed how much fun the cats were having with it. So I decided when Bell and Fiona were adopted they would have one too. They love it. Sometimes they play in it, sometimes they sleep in it, and sometimes they make it move like an inch worm. Can you guess which one is in the tunnel here?

NATURE FRIDAY, hosted by Living the LLB Life

We typically don't have a lot of fall colors until late October, but some patches are starting to turn.

Murder in the Upper Crust (Deep Dish Mystery 6), by Mindy Quigley

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Ever since I finished book 1 in Mindy Quigley's Deep Dish Mystery series, Six Feet Deep Dish, I've been hooked on these books. Most importantly, I keep coming back to the main characters who feel like friends. The mysteries are also well-crafted and engaging. I can't complain about the mouth-watering talk about pizza too.

In the sixth installment, Murder in the Upper Crust, gourmet pizza chef, Delilah O'Leary, has agreed to cater an event at an upscale wellness retreat. What could possibly go wrong at an event designed to foster serenity and relaxation? 

It turns out, a lot. 

Soon after a guided meditation, a dead body is found. Delilah can't help getting to the bottom of this murder mystery, but she must do this while her business is short-staffed. Can she work with the authorities to bring the killer to justice?

This is a cozy mystery, so we already know the answer to that question. However, I still enjoyed the journey. Some of the main characters were away for a good portion of the story, which was fine. In real life people do travel and Delilah's staff is no exception. Having them absent for some of the story, especially in the beginning, allowed other characters to become more fully developed, and because of that, we get to know them better. 

Once of the characters introduced in this installment, is the new chief of police. I loved her interactions with Delilah. The new chief sure does love to eat and she makes it known. Those scenes provided some very entertaining comic relief. I loved how her dialogue was woven into the spaces between her bites of food. I also enjoyed the way she accepted help from Delilah while working on the case.

When talking about characters, I must mention Delilah's cat, Butterball. He is one of my favorite cozy companions in the genre. He's not just Delilah's pet. He plays an integral role in the Deep Dish series, and this installment is certainly no exception. He adds coziness, humor, and excitement to the mysteries.

The mystery was well-crafted with several viable suspects who had opportunity and motive. There were enough twists and turns to me guessing until the big reveal. When the big reveal did come, I was on the edge of my seat as everything was unfolding. 

In addition to great characters and a compelling mystery, the atmosphere created in this book made me feel like I was there. The descriptions are vivid enough to pull the reader in without taking away from the flow of the story. The juxtaposition of the serene setting combined with a heinous crime made for the perfect murder mystery setting. 

I prefer cozies to be completely clean. There is some mild language in this installment that took me out of the story at times. I would have enjoyed it more without the language, but it didn't take me long to get back into it because the mystery was so good. Thankfully the mild language was infrequent.

This is a culinary cozy and there's plenty of foodie talk over the course of the story. That is what I love most about culinary cozies - the conversations about food incorporated into the book.  There are also mouth-watering recipes at the end that you can try at home.  

Murder in the Upper Crust is set in May leading up to Memorial Day, but it can certainly be enjoyed anytime of the year. As with most cozies, it is a self-contained mystery and it can be read as a standalone, but to follow the character development of the main cast, it's best enjoyed starting with book one, Six Feet Deep Dish. 

Murder in the Upper Crust releases in late October. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a free eARC of this book.

Welcome Home To Murder (Hometown Mystery 1), by Rosalie Spielman

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I have been hearing a lot about Rosalie Spielman's Hometown Mystery series, and all of the buzz has been positive. I finally dove into the series with book 1. My only regret is that I didn't start reading this series sooner.

In Welcome Home to Murder, we are introduced to Tessa Treslow. After graduating from high school, Tessa joined the U.S. Army. About twenty years later, she has returned to her small hometown of New Oslo, Idaho to visit her loved ones. While there, Tessa helps run her family's general store and her Aunt Edna's auto body shop. 

Things take a turn for the worse when a dead body is found in the auto shop. All the evidence points to Tessa's family. Tessa knows her family is not at fault and she sets out to figure out who the real culprit is behind this murder mystery. To complicate matters, the sheriff happens to be Tessa's ex-boyfriend. Can Tessa be a different kind of hometown hero by untangling this mystery?

Welcome Home to Murder was an engaging cozy mystery from beginning to end. I really enjoyed getting to know Tessa and everyone in New Oslo, Idaho. The author does a great job giving us background on the characters gradually while moving the story along. All of the characters have depth. One of my favorite characters is Aunt Edna. She is a fiesty one! If you enjoy animals in cozies, you'll fall in love with Vince who is Tessa's boxer dog. There is also a mysterious moose who makes a few brief appearances, leaving you wondering what he's up to.

It is refreshing to see positive disability representation in Tessa, as well as in another character. Tessa struggles with panic attacks. I loved seeing how she works through them and carries on with strength and determination, while still being vulnerable. While visiting New Oslo, Tessa meets someone who is an amputee and I really enjoyed their interactions. I hope the character who is an amputee becomes prominent throughout the series. There is so much potential for him to represent those of us with physical disabilities. While I'm not an amputee myself, I am physically disabled. His character made me feel seen.

The mystery is well-crafted, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I did not know who the culprit was until all was revealed. Even after we found out the whodunnit, the strong writing kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat.

While this book does contain some strong language, it wasn't excessive. The rare instances did briefly take me out of the story a bit, but I had no problems getting right back into it. I loved the story so much that I definitely want to read or listen to the rest of the series. 

As with most cozies, this is a self-contained mystery that is solved at the end of the book, but I want to follow the development of the characters. I'm also interested in finding out which mystery Tessa will need to tackle next. 

In the meantime, if you haven't read Welcome Home to Murder, by Rosalie Spielman, now is the perfect time of year to start, as it is set in October. It's also fitting for Veterans Day coming up in November, as it gives readers a good idea of what retired military workers go through when they return to civilian life. But of course, this book can be enjoyed any time of the year. Whatever you do, don't sleep on this one. I'm confident you'll be glad you picked it up.

Flimflam Fairy (Magical Bookstore 1), by Elizabeth Pantley

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I recently finally dove into Elizabeth Pantley's Magical Cozy Mystery series. I knew that a companion series would be released soon and I wanted to familiarize myself with the concept. After reading just two (for now) books in the Magical Cozy Mystery series, I knew I wanted to read the new companion series.

In Flimflam Fairy, the first installment in the Magical Cozy Mystery Bookstore series, we meet two 60 something retired besties, Willa and Lucy, who are ready for a new adventure. They throw a dart at a map and it lands on an unfamiliar town where one thing leads to another They end up moving there and acquiring a magical bookstore. As owners of the bookstore, they must enter cozy mysteries and become characters in the books. Just like in the original series, the mystery must be solved before they can get out of the story and return home. If the book is a good one, they recommend it to the magical library we have come to know and love in the previous series.

The first book Willa and Lucy, along with Banjo the talking cat, enter is a fairy world. They find out one of the most beloved fairies in the town has met an untimely death. Willa, Lucy, and Banjo embark on a mission to bring the killer to justice.

This book has all of the ingredients I love in cozy mysteries. Willa and Lucy have very different personalities, each complementing the other. Banjo adds a charming layer to the fun. I also enjoyed meeting the fairy residents in the fictional fairy world of Whisperglow.

The setting truly felt magical. I could imagine myself in this enchanted world. The vivid descriptions put me right in the story and made me feel as though I was there. The new house belonging to the besties traveled with them, much like in the previous series, but it took on the characteristics of a fairy home. 

The mystery was one of the most engaging ones I've ever read in a cozy. I love a good twist and this book masters this in a unique way. It kept me turning the pages and never wanting to put the book down. The journey felt like an amusement park ride, and the whodunnit was cleverly-crafted. Towards the end, I started to suspect what was happening, but I was still interested in seeing how it would all unfold. 

If you want to be whisked away for a while to solve a twisty and charming whodunnit, I highly recommend picking up Flimflam Fairy, by Elizabeth Pantley. The strong writing will at times make you pause and reflect, and the story itself will keep you engaged. Even if you haven't read the previous serious, I'm confident you won't feel lost at all in this book. And if you have enjoyed the previous series, you will feel right at home with the new one.

Many thanks to author Elizabeth Pantley for a free eARC of this book.

Welcome to Cozy Town: An Absurdly Cozy Mystery Short, by Marla Cooper

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Happy Cozy Mystery Day! Today's review is a celebration of the genre.

Violet has just inherited a Victorian inn from the great aunt she didn't know she had. Looking for a fresh start, Violet moves to the cozy town she's never heard of. It isn't long before she finds a dead body in the inn and she soon learns this is just one in a string of murders. Is there a serial killer on the loose are these all coincidental murders? Violet sets out to learn the truth and bring the killer or killers to justice.

Welcome to Cozy Town: An Absurdly Cozy Mystery Short, by Marla Cooper, is a hilarious short story that is a must-read for all fans of cozy mysteries. It's like a love letter to the genre as it incorporates and pokes fun at every cozy mystery trope imaginable. I finished it in one hour, and I tend to be a slow reader, so it's a fairly quick read and one that will be well worth your time. I smiled from beginning to end and laughed out loud several times.

It includes a lot of characters that are understandably not as developed as they could be. It is, after all, a short story, and the point is to highlight the genre as a whole. I would love to see some of these characters in future stories. They were a joy to get to know for the short time I spent with them. There are also not one, but two cozy companions in this short, satisfying both cat and dog lovers alike. For fans of paranormal cozies, there's even a ghost, and if you like magic and whimsy, well there's a bit of that too. And yes, there's also a bit of romance.

The mystery is cleverly-crafted and fast-paced. Not a single sleuthing moment is wasted. There were several viable suspects and I did not see the whodunnit coming at all. The hilarious way it wrapped up was a twist unlike no other.

As is evident from the cover, the title, and the descriptions in the story, the setting is quite cozy. The inn does have steps, so I'm not sure as a disabled person I could get in too easily. It isn't surprising that an old Victorian inn has steps, but I would love for it to be possible for me to visit. 

Of course, food is a central part of a lot of cozies and it is incorporated into this one as well. While I wouldn't say this is a culinary cozy, there is some talk about food and it comes complete with a recipe at the end. It looks simple enough that I might try it sometime.

Cozy mystery fans, do yourself a favor and take time to escape into Welcome to Cozy Town: An Absurdly Cozy Mystery Short, by Marla Cooper. It's a standalone cozy mystery that I'm confident you'll enjoy.