I have to be honest – normally I don’t expect a lot when I hear that a television show or movie has a series of books based on the format. Generally such works seem like blatant cash-ins, with little actual effort going into their production, and whatever magic was involved in the show tends to get lost in translation. This hasn’t ever been the case with the Murder, She Wrote mystery books, a fact that I think can be traced to Donald Bain’s (and “Jessica Fletcher’s”!) quite excellent work.
Of course, the classic cast and the characters they portrayed in the show certainly do help set the stage. Jessica Fletcher is one of the greatest personifications of the author-sleuth, a mystery writer who uses her imagination and “experience” with fake murders to helps solve actual crimes. Her recurring supporting cast from Cabot Cove also help set the right tone, with just the right amount of small city affability without turning them into caricatures. I’m not sure I’d enjoy the books as much if I didn’t have a perfect mental image of Jessica Fletcher already in my head – but fortunately this isn’t a question I’ll ever need answered. If you enjoy the television series and love reading Cozy Mysteries, I’m sure you’ll love Donald Bain’s (and “Jessica Fletcher’s”!) book adaptations of the Murder, She Wrote television show.
P.S. If you’re interested in other entries about some highly recommended Cozy Mystery series, you can see them on the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.
mary says
Jessica Fletcher books? the tv series on dvd? guilty as charged. i often have no explanation why i am drawn to these (i sometimes find the old tv shows rather annoying, but i do love the characters!) as for the books?? Jessica keeps rolling them out (ok, i know this is technically not true, but one can pretend), and i keep buying and reading them. In my defense most of my cozies are a bit higher quality and i do read “serious” mysteries, but with this bunch…it’s a known, guaranteed product. Like that Hershey chocolate bar every two weeks. i bought it, i ate it, i enjoyed it, and i can diet for a bit, until the next Jessica temptation.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, I think a lot of us are “guilty as charged” when it comes to Jessica Fletcher!
Jackie J. Griffey says
DANNA & All: Loved this series, don’t think I missed a single one!
Thanks for the memory 😎
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jackie, well, I guess it’s a good thing that Donald Bain and “Jessica Fletcher” are still writing the series!
Margaret M. says
I love the Murder She Wrote series by Donald Bain. I had the same apprehensions about this series before I picked one up. But after reading just one I was hooked. I will admit I do not read all of them. I only choose the books set in Maine, although I did read one set in Savannah (one of my favorite vacation cities.) I find when I read them I can hear the actors voices speaking the dialogue. They are very smart and fluid and very easy to ready. I have not read anything else Donald Bain has written, but writing new stories based on a much beloved series can not be done by anyone who is not a talented writer.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret M, I’m partial to the Cabot Cove mysteries, also. Oh, and the holiday ones.
Mary Ellen says
I love the show and books even more! I enjoy your website and have found many authors thru you! You won’t be disappointed with the series!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary Ellen, I’m glad you have found lots of authors who you enjoy reading through the Cozy Mystery site!.
jane c says
Love all of Jessica Fletchers adventures ..especially those in Cabot Cove
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jane C, I’m also partial to the Cabot Cove mysteries. I’m like that with the shows, also.
Stash Empress says
I had seen some of the early shows way back when they were new. Liked them OK. Pretty much ok. Then started reading the books when they came out. Actually like the books more than the show! Did start watching some of the shows on DVD a few years ago, but found them not as satisfying as the books! OK — guess I’m really just a reader at heart LOL!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash, I think the very first seasons of the long-running Murder, She Wrote television show were better than the later ones. Perhaps it was because most of them took place in Cabot Cove, and I grew to enjoy all of the Cabot Cove residents.
Mel says
I also enjoy the “Castle / Nikki Heat” tie-in books.The speculation about who really writes them is almost a mystery upon itself!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mel, I wrote an entry about just that question a while back: Heat Wave by Richard Castle … or is it?!?
reginav says
Danna, The Jessica Fletcher series brought back some bittersweet memories. A few years ago in my healthy days, I exercised in the pool at out local Y. One member of the group loved mystery stories as I did. She particularly liked Jessica Fletcher. Her birthday always occurred when a new book would be published and I would give it to her as a present. Time has passed. I am housebound and she has dementia.I always buy the latest Jessica not for her but for myself and the good times past.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, it’s truly “bittersweet” how some books, music, food, television series, ETC. can take us back to different times in our lives. How nice that you are still able to celebrate the good times you had with your friend.
Annette says
right now I have 111 episodes on my DVR. you could say husband and I are hooked. We watch them when there is nothing else on. Sometime we don’t watch it as others it is not set in Maine or did not like that particular episode but that does not happen much. I hope “they” keep on writing!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Annette, when my daughter used to come home from college, my husband, she, and I would work our way through the Murder, She Wrote television shows. We much preferred the Cabot Cove shows, oh, and there’s another one that is terrific that has Jessica in Canada during a murder trial. It’s very funny.
Val says
I love the “Murder, She Wrote” mystery books – I just wish I could find all of them. My Mum and I have watched the shows lots of times, but still love them!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Val, aren’t the Murder, She Wrote mysteries terrific?
Laurie Bain Wilson says
How fun to see the book, Manhattans and Murder, that I co-wrote with my father, Donald Bain! So glad you featured it. My dad and I are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Murder, She Wrote series and I am so happy that this second book in the series is still getting so much attention and selling well! It was even reprinted with a new cover a couple of years back!! Thank you for the smiles!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Laurie Bain Wilson, my goodness, how neat to collaborate on a Murder, She Wrote book, with your father >>> Donald Bain! There are so many people all over the world who have enjoyed reading this book, and all the rest in the series. What memories you must have!
mary says
hello. how nice to hear from Laurie Bain Wilson. I have a very old, very ragged and much-read copy of the book Manhattans and Murder that she mentions. I think another very old, and perhaps original title was Gin and Daggers. Got that one too. Always a nice feeling that one was there at the beginning of a successful series, like Murder, She Wrote!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, you must have the Gin and Daggers from the first publisher. You certainly were in “at the beginning”!
Laurie Bain Wilson says
Hi, Mary, just saw this, sorry. How fun that you have a ragged copy of Manhattans and Murder, one of the very first in the series. I even set a scene in Sea Cliff, my little town on Long Island where I was living. I wrote a scene in which Jessica goes to Gallagher’s Pub for a bite to eat and, of course, to do so digging. Thanks so much for your nice comment!
Doug in SF says
I thoroughly enjoy this series. I can picture Jessica, Seth, Mort, and all the rest of the characters when reading the books. Has the series ended? There has not been a new book out in 2017. I hope to see more!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Doug, I’m afraid I haven’t heard anything about a new Murder, She Wrote novel for a while now. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful!
Doug in SF says
Thanks Danna. I know that Renée Paley-Bain died last year who helped write some of the books. Donald Bain hasn’t updated his website in a while. It would be sad if there were no more books in this series.
Vicki L. says
I’m reading the new Murder She Wrote book now and enjoying it immensely as it is set in Cabot Cove. These are my favorite Jessica Fletcher books; when she stays close to home.
The title is Hook, Line and Murder.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Vicki, thanks for mentioning this one! Not sure how I missed it, but it’s been added to Donald Bain’s page now.
Vicki L. says
I just read in the paper that Donald Bain died Oct. 21st of congestive heart failure at 82. Very sad. I really enjoyed his Murder She Wrote series. RIP
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Vicki, yes, it’s always very saddening when an author passes, especially when they have been involved in such a landmark series.
Claire says
Just after asking the question if a woman writes the MSW series with Donald Bain, I find this post! Isn’t that usually the way things happen? I’m sorry to read in one of the comments that he has passed away. I am looking forward to the new books. With a new writer, will Jessica be the same? I’m anxious to find out.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Claire, you’re certainly not the only person who both regrets the passing of Donald Bain and also hopes for the continued quality of the Murder She Wrote book series under new author Jon Land.
Greenway says
Mercy! Hadn’t heard of Renee Paley-Bain before her name showed up on a M,SW novel, then DB’s memorial to her in his continuation of Margaret Truman (supposedly) authored mysteries, nor heard of Laurie Bain Wilson till this blog. Just looked them up online. Well! Another family triad like the Clarks and Kellermans. Kudos to them all, and may ghost/collaborative writing pay off well in every way. Wish Laurie Bain Wilson had taken up the M,SW novels. Like Loren Coleman doing the Jesse Stones, Jon Land is a change-things-his-own-way author instead of respecting what had gone before–which was SO much better!
So glad there are so many M,SW novels left. The moral compass, creativity, authenticity and character development of the novels was far superior to the TV show (though, loved the regulars and the major stars guesting), but don’t know if it’s worth it to keep giving Land a try.