Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston Book Review
Murder, She Wrote Mystery (Book 61)
Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston
Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston features a well-crafted mystery, pitch-perfect tone, and nostalgic ties to the show through the return to Gilhooley's Bar and P.I. Harry McGraw.
Series: A Murder, She Wrote Mystery (Book 61)
Written by: Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran
Published by: Berkley
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Mystery type: TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction
Plot Overview
Jessica Fletcher is visiting Boston to give a lecture at the library. She takes Dr. Seth with her and meets up with old pal and private investigator Harry McGraw at the local hangout, Gilhooley's.
While Jessica and Harry are catching up, Aileen, the daughter of Cookie the bartender, comes running in, covered in blood. Aileen's no-good boyfriend is dead. Even worse, Aileen has failed to call the police, which makes her look rather guilty. P.I. Harry is too busy with a case to assist, so Cookie asks Jessica to help solve the mystery before his daughter gets punished for a crime she didn't commit.
Spoiler-Free Review
I found myself feeling delightfully at home while reading Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston.
Author Terrie Farley Moran does a magnificent job of carrying on the legacy of Jessica Fletcher. Her writing is breezy and conversational and mirrors the tone of the original TV narration. She does a particularly good job preserving Jessica's thoughtful cadence, dry humor, and sincere empathy.
The mystery is a bit of a puzzler, and the Boston setting was a nice twist. But the best part of was getting to visit Gilhooley's (a Boston bar once featured on the show) and hang out with popular characters from the books, including P.I. Harry McGraw and Dr. Seth Hazlitt. There were also supporting roles for other familiar faces, including Cookie (Gilhooley's longtime bartender), Sergeant Howard Sternhagen, and Lieutenant Starkey.
Overall, Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston is a fun cozy mystery. Whether you're a longtime reader of the book series or just a fan of the TV show, you'll find plenty to enjoy in this installment. The mystery stands on its own, and Jessica's voice is so familiar that it's easy to fall into step and sleuth with her.
More Murder, She Wrote Fun
See all the Murder, She Wrote Books in order
Watch Murder, She Wrote episodes "Tough Guys Don't Die" (season 1, episode 16) and "Double Exposure" (season 5, episode 19) to see some people and places mentioned in the book, Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston.
Review disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston from Net Galley and Berkley. All opinions are my own.
Affiliate disclosure: This page includes affiliate links. Clicking on a link and making a product purchase may allow Cozy Crime Reads to earn a small commission. This will not cost you any extra, but it does help to support the operation of this website.
