Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond (Murder, she wrote, #53)

by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

When a friend’s husband dies while Jessica Fletcher is in town visiting, Jessica’s vacation turns into a murder investigation in this latest entry in the long-running USA Today bestselling series.

After traveling to Bethesda for a mystery writers’ conference, Jessica Fletcher decides she’s earned a vacation and takes a train to Columbia, South Carolina, to visit her old college friend Dolores, who has recently married her third husband, Willis Nickens, a wealthy and cutthroat businessman. They’ve moved into an opulent historic home with plenty of space for guests, and Jessica is ready for a week of shopping, gossiping, and relaxing at the grand estate.

But the morning after she arrives, Jessica discovers Willis facedown in the koi pond, and despite what the police think, she’s sure foul play is involved. She hadn’t known Willis long, but it’s clear to her that he didn’t concern himself with making friends. The question isn’t if her friend’s husband was murdered but by whom.

• ISBN10: 0593333594
• ISBN13: 9780593333594
• Publish Date: 8 June 2021
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780593333594

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond is the 53rd Murder, She Wrote mystery, this one "co-written" by Terrie Farley Moran. Released 8th June 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a comfortably reliable cozy series with an iconic protagonist (everyone's favorite mystery author Aunt Jessica) and a well known supporting cast of characters. The plots are easy to understand and the puzzles are generally cleverly constructed and well written. This installment revolves around a visit to a friend from Jessica's past who has recently married a wealthy businessman. Jessica's not the only guest however, as the house is full of a stable of potential suspects with good reasons to do away with her friend's husband (who is, admittedly, a world class jerk to everyone except Jess's friend Dolores (who is his wife) and a young granddaughter named Abby).

If it's a bit formulaic, it's a well known quantity and precisely why most readers are drawn to the sub-genre. The plot does lag at a few places; I found myself skimming just a bit. All in all though, it's a sweetly clean murder mystery without on-page violence, bad language, or sexual content. The murder victim is a (mostly) unlamented jerk who makes his exit around page 30 and the rest of the book is spent in information gathering and clever deduction.

I enjoyed the book, but I daresay I'd avoid any college reunion, wedding, or christening to which "Aunt Jess" is invited for fear of tripping over a recently murdered friend or acquaintance. "We know you're busy, just send a card, Auntie!".

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.