Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage: 58

Traveling with Jessica Fletcher and her crew is always fun. They’re as familiar as old friends, and you feel comfortable with them. And yet, Jessica manages on each so-called vacation to stir things up with a new murder, so the story is always fresh. Murder Backstage takes us to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I loved the excursions to national parks and car museum and neon museum and countless other attractions, because I know nothing about Edmonton (had to look it up on a map) and foodie that I am, I loved reading about ketchup chips (who would have thought?) and peameal (Canadian bacon) and poutine (which I have long wanted to try) and tourtiere. But there is the requisite murder. This time murder takes us behind the curtain in a theater, with an actress (she just happens to be Jessica’s cousin) for a guide. For most of us the theatre is a different world, full of long rehearsals and temperamental egos and short tempers. No spoilers here, but when a stagehand is murdered, Jessica is of course the one to figure out the clues, using her intuition and her ability to confront people directly. Ultimately, though, she has the help of local law enforcement and her longtime friend, Sheriff Metzger. The plot revolves around hidden pasts and blackmail, and Jessica will figure it out long before you do. A real treat for Jessica Fletcher fans.

I just finished “Murder Backstage”, Moran’s latest mystery in the “Murder, She Wrote” book series, and it was awesome!After a mercifully brief tenure for the previous writer who took our favorite sleuth in inconceivable directions and nearly broke the relationships of the characters we love, the skillful Moran has more than righted the ship of the book series.Moran has returned the books to an authentic place with love and care for these characters the fans love. Thank you! She has really settled into her stride writing this series. The relationships are true and as we understand these characters to be. She also honors the TV plots and canon with sentimental nuggets like Seth’s train from the Christmas episode.More importantly, Moran honors the late, great Angela Lansbury with the nods to her star turn on the stage as “Mame.” I loved that she includes Lansbury’s signature song “Bosom Buddies” that she so famously performed at the Tony Awards. I saw Angela as Jessica’s cousin Emma so clearly in my mind’s eye as I read Moran’s prose.Plus, it was a cracking good mystery in an international locale like on the show. Brava! Nicely done!

Reading Terrie Farley Moran's Murder She Wrote mysteries is like going home to Cabot Cove; she understands and portrays Jessica Fletcher better than any novelist before her. This time we got the added joys of the company of Dr. Seth Hazlitt, Sheriff and Mrs. Mort Metzger, and Jessica's beloved cousin, Emma MacGill, who sings, dances, and acts with all the grace and charm of Angela Lansbury. I really enjoyed the forays of Jessica, Emma, and Maureen Metzger into such subtle and clever sleuthing that no one ever dreamed they were doing anything besides what they were known to be doing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This time, I was sure I knew who the murderer was--but it was about the only person not on my own mental Suspects List! I can't begin to say how good it is to keep up with Jessica's life. May Ms. Moran keep the series running for a long, long time.

Enjoyed this easy, fun read. Interesting facts about Canada. Love Jessica & her friends! ❤️

Another great book with Jessica Fletcher!