Good rendition of Jessica and the types of colorful characters she often encounters.
There was a good mystery at the heart of this, flavored with lots of Hawaiian touristy touches and integrating the controversial building of the telescope on Haleakalā, which mirrors the current controversy over the telescope construction on Mauna Kea.
I liked the characters, I liked the mystery and the satisfying conclusion.
This was my introduction to the Murder, She Wrote novels and an enjoyable experience. ( )

Jessica Fletcher goes to Hawaii (as a guest of the Maui PD) to teach a class at Maui College on community involvement in criminal investigations. She befriends a young lady (college professor Mala Kapule) who eventually is found dead at the bottom of a cliff soon afterwards. Jessica suspects that Mala could have been murdered. So, she and her friend Mike Kane (a retired police detective) investigate how Mala died.

I really enjoyed this Murder She Wrote mystery. I loved the detailed Hawaiian setting… I felt like I was there! I liked the large cast of characters/suspects and I was curious to find out who the culprit was. I also liked Jessica’s friendly detective-partner Mike Kane.

Another exciting read from this highly enjoyable series! ( )

It ended up taking me forever to get through ... certainly not a favorite and I'm not sure if I would read another. Disappointing ending as well.

Adrianne ( )

I've always enjoyed the "Murder She Wrote" television series, so I thought I'd try one of the books inspired by the show and decided that a story set in Hawaii would be a good place to start. Jessica Fletcher goes to the Hawaiian island of Maui as a guest of the Maui Police Department to teach a class on community involvement in criminal investigations. Of course a dead body turns up along the way at the bottom of a cliff, that of a college professor whose acquaintance Jessica had made on her first day in Maui. The circumstances surrounding the beautiful, young girl's death seem suspicious to Jessica, so she decides to investigate with the help of her co-teacher, Mike Kane, who also happens to be a retired police detective.

I enjoyed this book so much. The story is written in the first person point-of-view of the always likable Jessica Fletcher. There were many potential suspects in the large and entertaining cast of characters. I found the pieces of info on Hawaiian culture and customs to be extremely interesting. I loved the beautiful and detailed descriptions of Maui, from luaus and beaches, to an exciting trip to the summit of the Haleakala volcano to see the sunrise above the clouds, and then the subsequent journey by bicycle back down the winding mountainside. The story was just like watching an episode of Murder She Wrote. The mystery was good and the sights of Maui fantastic and have me longing to visit the beautiful island paradise. ( )