I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond
by Jessica Fletcher, Terrie Farley Moran
Series: Murder She Wrote Mystery #53
Series Rating:
Published by Berkley on June 8, 2021
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 288
Format: Kindle
Source: Great Escapes Book Tours
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, IndieBound, Google
Also in this series: Murder, She Wrote: Debonair in Death, Murder, She Wrote: Death on the Emerald Isle, Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder, Murder Backstage
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.
Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran is a fantastic book that made me think that it was an episode of Murder, She Wrote.
Who had the best motive to kill Willis Nickens?
Jessica Fletcher
Jessica Fletcher is a sleuth that everyone should know about if they saw a commercial for Murder, She Wrote, or even seen these books in a bookstore. She is a mystery writer that also somehow stumbles onto a body. Ms. Fletcher has the worst luck ever when it comes to finding dead bodies. This is my first time reading a book that is based on the show, and I have to say that I liked it. The author did a good job of capturing Jessica. I liked how Jessica uses all of her resources to help her old college friend out of the bind that she’s in. Jessica is a great friend, and I wouldn’t mind knowing a person like her. Well, except for the dead bodies always hanging around her.
The Mystery
Now comes the whole reason why Jessica Fletcher is our sleuth. Jessica was out running the morning after she arrived in Columbia, South Carolina, and finds the dead body of Willis Nickens in his wife’s koi pond. Well, not all the way in the koi pond, but enough to warrant them to get taken away to make sure they didn’t eat any evidence. Someone lured the old man outside, killed him, and tried to mask what they did. As in true Jessica Fletcher fashion, she is on the case to see why someone would kill this man.
Could it be the son-in-law that is stealing from his daughter’s trust fund? Maybe the business partner who seems like a joke? Could it be the lady that Willis is letting stay on the property? Could it be a servant? Or even more, could it be neighbors? What motive could have lead to this death? Jessica is on the case, especially when her best friend is on the verge of being arrested.
Four Stars
Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran is a fantastic book that I’m happy to have picked up to read. Ms. Moran did a fantastic job capturing Jessica and maybe two other people from the show that we fans truly adore. I won’t say who since you will need to read the book, know that the author has done a great job. For the mystery, I did figure out who did it but not why they did it. I was actually surprised by the motive for it. I am giving this four stars and recommending it to any fan of the show to try this one out.
Other Books in Series
Coming out on November 2nd, 2021
Giveaway
Prize:(2) Print Copy – MSW: Killing in a Koi Pond (U.S. Only)
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Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. Check out the other stops and giveaway if you have time.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Terrie Farley Moran
Terrie Farley Moran is the author of Murder She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond, the latest in the long-running Jessica Fletcher series, to be followed in autumn 2021 by Murder She Wrote: Debonair in Death. She has also written the beachside Read ‘Em and Eat cozy mystery series and is co-author of Laura Childs’ New Orleans scrapbooking mysteries. Her short stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. Terrie is a recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer awards.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2021 Beachcomber Mystery Reading Challenge
- 2021 Cloak & Dagger
- 2021 Craving the Cozies
- 2021 Cruisin’ thru the Cozies
- 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge
- 2021 Medical Examiner’s Mystery Reading Challenge
- 2021 New Release Reading Challenge
Thank you for such a thoughtful review. I am overjoyed that the book reminded you of episodes of Murder She Wrote. That is exactly what I was going for!! I wish everyone good luck in the rafflecopter.
Murder She WROTE was one of my favorite TV shows. Would really like to read the book. Thanks for the chance.
This is a wonderful review, thank you for sharing. I have really been looking forward to this book. I’ve been a FB friend of Terrie’s for a while now and was so excited to see that she was taking the reins on this project! Congratulations Terrie!!
Thank you for your review on “Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond” and for being part of the book tour.
Wonderful sounding book!
What a wonderful review. I can’t wait to read this! I used to love watching Murder She Wrote on TV when I was young.