Footnote to Murder

This episode of Murder She Wrote has Jessica Fletcher at a writer's convention where she runs into many of her literary colleagues, some of them a lot nicer than others. The one she practically has to be a nursemaid to is Paul Sand a perpetually drunk poet. It is he who is suspected of murdering arrogant one book wonder novelist Kenneth Mars, stabbing him with an umbrella that can turn into a sword for defense. Mars also has the draft of a second book in his possession and that too is stolen.

This MSW story is interesting however for two things. First Ron Masak shows up as a homicide detective four years before he became the sheriff of Cabot Cove. He has to follow however full of himself District Attorney Pat Harrington who no one can stand. Still Jessica with more patience than normal leads Harrington to a solution. Not liking it a bit, but justice is justice.

Writers and poets are a creative bunch of people, so it comes as no surprise that when a group of them meet under one roof tempers flare up, and one of them dies.

It's a very solid, easy going episode, it's light in tone, and fun. It makes me laugh how the Police invite her into the Crime scene, and how she instantly starts interfering. The only issue here, is if you're even the tiniest bit observant you'll work it out in seconds.

Growing up in the eighties I have such an affection for this time frame, the decor and fashions, such an elegant era, apart from those glasses!

Good fun. 8/10

When Jessica attends an award ceremony for writers she becomes caught up in a real-life whodunnit after the abrasive host of the gala is found dead. Jessica's friend and striving poet is arrested initially, which prompts her to investigate, and there's a wide of interesting characters to prod in her polite but firm manner. This is a good mystery centred around the complex world of writers, but what I liked most about this one was the Assistant District Attorney, who, in my opinion is hilarious. He's useless in his job, and it was fun seeing Jessica point out at his oversights.

This is one of the most enjoyable episodes. It has a great light-hearted feel, the murder notwithstanding. There are several playful scenes with fairly witty banter between friends and frenemies alike. The mix of different kinds of authors provides who have varying levels of disrespect for one another's genres or writing styles provides a good backdrop for murder.

This episode has an abundance of great guest stars, which I always appreciate since it makes it harder to figure out who the killer is. In this episode, we have particularly enjoyable turns from Paul Sand, Ron Masak, Diana Muldaur, Robert Reed, Kenneth Mars, Talia Balsam, and the charming Morgan Brittany. Pat Harrington, Jr. Turns in an insufferable attention-seeking politician ADA who desperately needs a come-uppance. He doesn't really get one, but JB does do his job and solves the case, in one of the gentler reveals of the series.

This episode is more notable for its cast than its storyline.

Paul Sand is adorably funny as a dipsomaniac fellow author who finds himself in one inane situation after another. Kenneth Mars, who usually played comedically odd or amusing characters, plays a heavy and unsympathetic character. Diana Muldaur is her usual astringent self in a rare non-NBC role. Ron Masak makes one of a few of his guest appearances before he landed the role of Sheriff Mort Metzger following Tom Bosley and John Astin's sheriffs left the show (for vastly different reasons). Robert Reed is, shall we say, graphically flamboyant although the artistic milieu in which the story is grounded more than accommodates the characterization. The rest of the cast was not particularly memorable, for me anyway.