The Wind Around the Tower

In "The Wind Around the Tower", Jessica Fletcher travels to Ireland to do some research and hang with some locals. Unfortunately, her host thinks he's going to be murdered and he confides this to her...and only a short time later, he's worm food. It's up to Jessica and the local police to figure out who did it and why....and most importantly, HOW, as there's a video showing his death and there's no obvious reason for his keeling over dead!

While the murder method seems ridiculous, it apparently is possible and I found web sites explaining the method. I don't want to say more and spoil it. But the show is pretty good and the location is a nice plus...though in reality apart from a few street scenes, it was all filmed in California.

Jessica visits Ireland to help her friend protect an estate owner who has become convinced he's about to be killed. It doesn't help that the legend of the lady in the tower accentuates this. Legend has it when you hear her cry you'll die. And they - the owner and his guests- definitely hear it - or is it just the wind in the tower. An atmospheric and intriguing episode that has a killer denouement- the "how the killer did it" is quite ingenious. Also loved the secret passageways.

Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.

While it may not be one of the best 'Murder She Wrote' episodes ever, the first one set in Ireland "The Wind Around the Tower" is still one of the better episodes of Season 9 and the best by far of the season up to this early point. Coming from somebody who disliked "Murder in Milan", sort of liked "Family Secrets" and hated "The Mole", whereas this is one of the really liked if not loved episodes.

There is not much to criticise. The biggest problem really is that the whole stuff with the secret passage does require a lot of suspension of disbelief. Really didn't buy that it had not been found before despite the blatant obviousness of its placement and whether there actually was one was not that much of a surprise to the viewer well before it was found.

'Murder She Wrote' has also had a patchy track record when it comes to accents (before and since the episodes-set-in-Ireland episodes, such as "Sing a Song of Murder" before and "Southern Double Cross" since), but regardless of the quality of the acting elsewhere some of the accents here are enough to make one wince, very approximate and almost stereotypical. The scary thing is that, from memory, they are done even worse in the following set-in-Ireland episodes especially, from memory, "A Killing in Cork".

Elsewhere, "The Wind Around the Tower" is otherwise a well-acted episode. Angela Lansbury delivers her usual greatness and George Hearn (so charming with Lansbury, 'Murder She Wrote' has been so enjoyable reuniting them after 'Sweeney Todd'), Dakin Matthews and Shirley Anne Field are particularly good in support.

On the mystery front, it is a highly atmospheric in a creepy way and engaging one, while the denouement is incredibly terrific. It contains one of the show's cleverest murder methods that one doesn't know how it was done until very late on, and is one of the few endings of Season 9 that's actually genuinely surprising.

Production values are slick and stylish as ever, regardless of whether one questions the authenticity of the Irish setting it is still beautifully and atmospherically rendered. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

Writing on the most part is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are good fun.

In conclusion, very good and with more care put into the accents and more thought put into a potentially intriguing plot strand that didn't quite come off here it could have been great. Still one of the better Ireland-oriented episodes. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Aughrim, County Galway, sets the stage for the first of five "MSW" episodes set in the Republic of Ireland (the remaining four set in County Cork, to the far southwest, while County Galway extends from the Irish central western edge).

Sean Culhane (George Hearn) has now retired from the NYPD and returns to his homeland on the invitation of his childhood friend, Neal Gillen (Dakin Matthews), who confides to Sean not to tell anyone of Neal's evidence that someone is plotting to kill him, not even to tell Sean's fellow passenger, the astute Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), who accompanies Sean to Ireland to research its local color, to embellish her latest manuscript.

Neal Gillen, a banker in business with his cousin, Liam Gillen (Mark Rolston), resides on the outskirts of Aughrim, near the sea, with Neal's wife, Anne Gillen (Shirley Anne Field), their housekeeper, Claire Abbott (Sarah MacDonnell), and their grounds-keeper, Quint Sankey (Don Knight).

Liam doesn't stay for dinner, at which Anne and Neal relate the history of their manor bearing a stone tower, as a sea captain devoted to his wife had constructed this estate some 150 years ago, before he became lost at sea, and she, in her despair, leaped from the tower, but her wailing may still be heard from to this day through the current of "The Wind Around the Tower."

Brian Mulrain (Shay Duffin) and Carolyn Mulrain (Nora Masterson) operate an inn in Aughrim, and often host guests to entertain others with tales of local folklore. Douglas Foudy (John Finnegan), in particular, relates tales of the legendary sea captain and the mythical crying woman, who reportedly has been heard for more than 100 years by now.

Francis O'Reilly (Mark Lindsay Chapman) operates Medicine Hall, the pharmacy and sundries shoppe across the street from the Mulrain's restaurant and tavern, with Cashier (Pat Crawford Brown) in Francis' employ, as his position is referred to as Chemist, rather than Pharmacist.

Jason MacNamara (Michael Alldredge), whom Sean and Jessica also meet at the tavern, owns property adjacent to that of the Gillens', with portions on either side, which he had mortgaged and lost to foreclosure, before the Gillens had purchased it at a low rate, to Jason MacNamara's disdain and treats to repossess his land somehow.

Neal Gillen also confronts Liam Gillen regarding a matter of funds embezzled, or at least missing, from his bank. Liam points out that he would know neither the whereabouts of the cash nor the password to access its accounts.

During their first evening in Aughrim, when Sean and Jessica are awakened from their respective guest rooms to the sounds of the crying woman and barking dogs, they slip into the night to investigate the stone tower, at which they are warded off by an armed Quint Sankey, determined to prevent trespassing at any cost.

But the next evening, while Sean awaits his soon-midnight appointment, screams fill the inside halls, as Anne Gillen discovers a body in the study.

Sergeant Devon O'Malley (Richard Riehle) arrives to conclude this a natural passing, as no signs of foul play seem evident, and the victim has evidently perished quickly and pleasantly, to which Jessica and Sean agree that murder victims invariably would appear to have resisted attackers, and poison would discolor certain features.

Devon requests Sean and Jessica not to investigate further, or at least to wait an autopsy report, before infringing upon his police business, but they both get into the act once the coroner determines that the otherwise healthy victim has passed from sudden pneumonia.

Devon, Sean and Jessica make the rounds, each investigating possibilities, as Jessica uncovers a series of clues to link suspects, to discover a secret passageway, and to set a trap to prove whodunit, as Nitrogen poisoning affects "The Wind Around the Tower."

The cast is rounded out by Mark Leahy as Villager. This episode marks the most recent acting appearance to date by Nora Masterson, as well as one of the last two roles by Don Knight, after a long career in film and on television.

This also represents the second of two "MSW" performances each for Pat Crawford Brown, John Finnegan and Richard Riehle, the first of three for Dakin Matthews, the third of three for George Hearn (including this, his second as Sean Culhane), the second of four for Mark Rolston, and the third of five "MSW" guest roles for Mark Lindsay Chapman.

Don Knight, acting since 1966, and Michael Alldredge, acting since 1976, have unfortunately since passed.

Jessica accompanies her friend Sean Culhane to the home of Neal Gillen in Ireland, there to research her book, it isn't long before Gillen explains that he fears he's about to be murdered.

It's definitely very atmospheric, it does have an Irish flavour and a suitably spooky vibe also. I assume this was filmed in The USA, and that the Irish footage was added in later, but it's well blended, and does at least look good.

The solution worked incredibly well, and there was a real streak of cleverness to this one.

Star quality comes from the gorgeous Sally Anne Field, who is rather wonderful I thought, the cast in general are excellent, some of the accents fluctuate a little, some are ok, one are two are rather suspect.

It may be a little corny in parts, the scene in the pub however was a little over the top, and the wig cupboard was certainly used once again, but all in all it's a fine episode.

8/10.