For someone my age, Jessica Fletcher is an old friend. While I have my doubts that she wrote Cozies, the television show chronicling her adventures most definitely became the template for the mystery sub-genre. This is my third read in the ongoing series, co-penned by Terrie Farley Moran. Once again, I am blown away by the ease with which I slip into reading this story. Cabot Cove, its community at large, and its penchant for gossip is large and center stage. Beloved characters leap off the page to take up residence in my imagination and I feel the craving for a pot of tea and a vat of popcorn, my go-to MSW snack foods.

In this installment, Jessica, having just sent off her latest book is looking forward to spending summer vacation at an NYC beach with her favorite nephew Grady and his family. His wife had just received a promotion and had been invited to join in her boss’s family beach getaway. After meeting the likely suspects and being given a plethora of clues, her boss is found dead and Jessica dives in to figure out who murdered the man with tennis balls. She pulls the reader along in her usual persistent fashion.

It is always a pleasure to follow JB Fletcher through and investigation. She sees everything, asks the oddest questions then sets up the big reveal all while holding true to her purpose, which in this story was spending time with her young nephew. I will admit to figuring out the bad guy early on, but it is only Jessica’s patience that I was able to find the why. What is it about her Great Aunt vibe that has the killers confessing with only a disappointed look from her?

Much like the long-running series, there is an overall story arc, but the books can be read as stand-alone and in any order.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily ( )

Murder, She Wrote: Killer on the Court by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran is a 2022 Berkley publication.

Jessica celebrates the completion of her latest book by accepting an invitation from Grady, Donna, and her grandnephew, Frank, to join them in New York at a beachside bungalow. The trip is sponsored by Donna’s company- but the relaxing vacation turns tense when Donna discovers her boss dead on the tennis court. Immediately, Jessica suspects foul play and soon her suspicions are confirmed. The Fletcher’s have been asked to stand by while the investigation proceeds, which gives Jessica plenty of time to do her own digging- which unearths a nest of greed and family resentments leaving her no shortage of suspects.

What fun to catch up with Grady and his family, and the locations couldn’t have been better for summer mystery. This installment was sweet- with so many touching moments between Jessica and Frank. The mystery did seem to take a back seat in this installment and Jessica seemed a bit distracted in this one and not especially interested in butting her nose in too far. All the same the mystery wraps up nicely, with an unexpected twist I never saw coming- and that’s always a good thing for me.

The mystery was subdued this time around, but the moments with Jessica and her family were priceless. I don’t think we’ve seen Jessica’s interaction with family have such poignancy either on the show or in previous incarnations of the book series. I liked it- and hope we will see more of this side of Jessica in the future- but also hope the mystery areas will not lose momentum in the process.

Overall, a very nice addition to this long running series and a good one to pop into your beach bag this summer!

3.5 stars ( )