Tuesday, March 31, 2015


MURDER, SHE WROTE
KILLER IN THE KITCHEN
Book 43 in the Murder, She Wrote series
by Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain


In the newest mystery in the USA Today bestselling series, there’s a battle brewing in Cabot Cove between two eateries. But when one of the combatants becomes a fatality, Jessica Fletcher will have to get cooking and find a killer… 

Jessica may not know everything about food, but she knows what she likes—and she definitely likes the Leg & Claw restaurant. Opened last summer by young couple Brad and Marcie, the Leg & Claw is their dream come true, combining Marcie’s sunny personality with Brad’s deft hand in the kitchen. But now their dream is turning into a nightmare.

Gerard “Pepe” Lebeouf is a renowned New York City chef who has a summer home in Cabot Cove. And now he’s decided to open two new restaurants in Cabot Cove—in an old warehouse right next to the Leg & Claw.

As Lebeouf and his crew renovate the warehouse, the people of Cabot Cove slowly come to the realization that the town’s newest celebrity may be more trouble than he’s worth. His “assistants” are little more than thugs, and the haughty Lebeouf is nowhere near as charming as he seems—leading to a nasty confrontation with Brad.

So when Lebeouf is found dead with a knife planted in his chest, Brad naturally becomes suspect number one. But plenty of others had a motive to kill Pepe, and it’s up to Jessica to uncover who really added a murder to the menu.

I’ve never read a Murder, She Wrote book and doubt I would have if I hadn’t been sent this one to review. My reason for not reading one? When I was a little girl I saw a movie called Bedknobs & Broomsticks with Angela Lansbury and she scared me to pieces!


Honestly, I don't even remember this movie anymore. And my family has told me over the years, I had no reason to be afraid of Ms. Lansbury in it. I do remember she was a witch in the movie. A good witch---I guess. But I was a bit of a sissy as a child and I believe it may have been a scene like the one below that caused my fear.  


So, I held this against Angela Lansbury and never watched the Murder, She Wrote TV show and never read the books. That being said, my apologies to Angela Lansbury, I’m sure she’s is a wonderful woman, and to author Donald Bain, it was nothing personal to him.

MY REVIEW


I really liked this book! 

KILLER IN THE KITCHEN is #43 in the series, and if the first 42 were anywhere as enjoyable, I have indeed been missing out.
The story was so well written. While reading, I was taken back to the times I “listened” to my parents watch Murder, She Wrote. Author Donald Bain does an incredible job of keeping the voice of the show alive.

The mystery was very compelling. I found myself turning page after page needing to see what would happen next. The next thing I knew, I was at the end of the book and telling myself, this may have been my first Murder, She Wrote, but it won’t be my last. 

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22 comments:

  1. Fun review. I've probably read fifteen of these, and I most enjoy the ones where Jessica stays in Cabot Cove. My guess is that Donald Bain likes to cook. There's one where Jessica is visiting in France and solves the murder of a famous French chef. It's "Murder, She Wrote: Provence--To Die For." If you like mysteries that feature cooking (or rural France), this would be a good one. Maybe watch the movie again... :)

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    1. Thank you, Elaine! My older sister has all the Murder, She Wrote books. I'll get that title from her! As for the movie, my younger sister said the same thing. LOL So, I may have to.

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  2. Great review Lisa! And you are so funny! Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a great movie! :) But I have not read any of this series either, I may try one now.

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  3. I will admit that I've never read any of the Murder She Wrote books either. I just didn't think I would enjoy them as I'm not an Angela Landsbury fan either. But this book does sound very good. I'm now intrigued!

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    1. Angie, I will be going through my sister's collection and reading more. They are perfect for cozy fans.

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  4. Thanks, Lisa! I loved Angela Lansbury, in Murder She Wrote....but, then, I don't remember Bedknobs and Broomsticks... :)

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    1. Pat, according to my family, I don't remember the movie correctly. ;-)

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  5. I have not read any of Murder Dhe Wrote books , but always loved her movies . I would love to win her book. Thanks for the chance .
    lizd225( at) gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Liz. Sorry, no giveaway with this one. Just my review. But if you ever get a chance to try it or any of the others, please do. I think you would enjoy them!

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  6. I loved the Murder She wrote series. I will be ordering more of this series for sure. Hope this book made you relax about Bedknobs and Broomsticks., which it sounds as though it did. Having traveled to Provence in 2000 the Book of Provence to Die For came out about two years later and it was one of my most favorite books in the series that I have read so far. Just brought me back to a wonderful trip and time in our lives with lots of trips down memory lane. Thank you for the reminder of a great series that I should catch up on soon.
    Cynthia

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  7. Oh no, how sad for you to have missed Angela Lansbury in the TV show and to have been scared by Bedknobs & Broomsticks ;-). She is wonderful. I just saw her in the play Blithe Spirit and she is still wonderful. And these books have captured her spirit perfectly so you feel like Angela is still Jessica, but the books stand on their own too!

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    1. At that age, I'm sure I was watching something with one of my teen idols in it. ;-)

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  8. I have never read a "Murder, she Wrote" book yet. But from the book summary and your review, I can just see Angela Lansbury playing the part in this story. I am glad to know you really liked it because now I will be looking at them to read. Thank you!

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  9. I remember Bedknobs and Broomsticks quite fondly. I also watched Murder She Wrote. I have not read the books, but I will be sure to check them out.

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  10. Her name is Angela Lansbury (you had the last name wrong). I probably have about half of the books. I like the hardcovers because they have good-size print. I've always liked Murder, She Wrote and Bedknobs and Broomsticks, too. She also played Mrs. Pollifax in a T.V. movie in the 90's. You can catch Murder, She Wrote on the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Channel. Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a great Disney movie and is set during W.W. II. Angela Lansbury's character tries to do spells and that's how she brings the things to life in the picture shown above. That comes in handy when she has to fight off the bad guys who are trying to invade the place she lives at the end of the movie. Part of the movie is animated and the live action people appear in that when they are trying to get a medallion from the king (who I think is a lion). Two kids and a guy help Angela in this movie.

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  11. I've read all of these and always enjoy them! And I enjoyed your Bedknobs and Broomsticks story!

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  12. Do not watch the Manchurian Candidate. Angela is truly evil in this movie. But I still enjoy the Murder She Wrote series and books.

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