"Murder, She Wrote: Close-Up On Murder"

It's the first day of the first month (well actually it's the 2nd day in 2016.) Anyway, the first book I read in 2016 is..."Murder, She Wrote" Close-Up On Murder."

It’s a an episode of  the best "Murder, She Wrote" series—and Jessica Fletcher is finding out that some people in the movie biz can make you, break you, or just plain kill you…

Cabot Cove is about to be invaded—by Hollywood. One of Jessica’s older novels is being made into a big-budget movie. The producer has decided to shoot most of the film on location in town, since the book was loosely based on a murder that shocked Cabot Cove over a decade earlier.

The murder occurred when a judge was gunned down while walking her dog. The prime suspect: an enraged husband whom the judge ruled against in a child custody case. But further investigation pointed to the victim’s own husband—and ultimately to his mistress, accused of eliminating her rival.

Unfortunately, everyone on the set has a hidden agenda. A novice director wants his shot at the big-time. A fading star, making a comeback, has many unreasonable demands. Her astrologer sees trouble in the stars. And a stranger on the movie lot is stalking Jessica.

But fiction and reality fatally collide when the actress playing the judge is shot—the only witness her dog—and there’s a cast and crew of possible suspects. With tensions between locals and the Hollywood horde mounting, Jessica must find the killer before anyone else is left on the cutting-room floor.

My Thoughts...
I must start out by stating that I love Murder She Wrote, the TV  series. I have read many of the books, and reading a Jessica Fletcher book is like visiting with old friends. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, Close-up on Murder. 

If you are looking for complex characters, deep emotional involvement, or spine tingling suspense, read a different book! Close-up on Murder is a great cozy mystery, with Jessica, Seth and Mort doing what they do best – living in Cabot Cove and solving murders. 

The murder on the movie set, and the new discoveries regarding the actual murder combine for a great mystery. The characters are true to the TV series, with gossip being passed over blueberry pancakes at Mara’s Diner, Eve Simpson trying to launch an acting career while selling real estate, and Maureen Metzger trying new recipes. It is a great book for anyone who enjoys a great Murder She Wrote mystery.  Even though this book is #40 in the series it is a stand alone book as well.

I own this book and enjoyed it enough to award it 4 "movie stars."