**4.5-stars**

Following a Literary Conference in Bethesda, Maryland, Jessica decides to travel further South to visit with her dear friend, Dolores, in South Carolina. Dolores has recently married her third husband, Willis Nickens, a wealthy businessman. Jess is eager to meet him.

After Jessica reaches the Nickens' South Carolina home, she discovers she isn't the couple's only current house guest. There's staff, of course, as well as Willis' son-in-law, adorable niece and business partner. Through observing Willis' interactions with these other guests, Jessica quickly determines Dolores' new husband is a bit of a jerk. He seems to bully everyone he comes into contact with. Lording his money and power over them.

When Jessica discovers his body, facedown in the koi pond, on her early morning run, she immediately suspects foul play. The local law enforcement doesn't seemed as convinced, however, and they brush off her initial attempts at assistance. Clearly, Jessica's reputation did not proceed her.

Eventually, they come around to her side of things. Willis was in fact murdered. Their number one suspect: Dolores. Jessica knows Dolores could never commit murder. Thus, she is forced to begin an investigation of her own, to clear her friend's name and help to capture the real killer.

Killing in a Koi Pond was an absolute delight. Although the 53rd-installment of this beloved series, it's the first penned by veteran Cozy author, Terrie Farley Moran. She did a fantastic job channeling the original tone of the series. I really hope she continues on!!

This story held to the classic format, read quickly and will definitely keep Cozy fans engaged. There were a couple of moments where the narrative fell into a bit of a lull, but overall, a real treat!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This is the 37th-book in this series that I have read. I am huge fan and will keep on coming back for more as long as they are published!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

It was a delight to read this new Jessica Fletcher mystery by a favorite cozy mystery author, Terrie Farley Moran! We see a new side to Jessica as she visits Dolores, a college friend now living in Columbia, South Carolina, after attending the annual Malice Domestic conference. On the way to Dolores’s elegant, historic home, Dolores showed Jessica the biggest fire hydrant ever, something she would never have seen in Manhattan or in Cabot Cove, Maine. I love the fictional town of Cabot Cove, and I did enjoy seeing Jessica in what would have been a foreign setting to her New England soul. Columbia exudes Southern charm and hospitality with a different world of sayings and cooking, including Cola cake. The mystery was plotted and executed well.

Willis is Dolores’s new, adoring husband. Willis is a wealthy businessman, but Dolores doesn’t know anything about his businesses or financial means. He purchased their impressive home with their life together in mind; it had been owned by the same family for many generations. There are wonderful gardens, and even a koi pond put in especially for her. Willis’s first wife passed away twenty years ago, then his only daughter passed away several years earlier. His son-in-law Clancy and their daughter Abby are regular visitors. For Willis and Dolores, the sun rises and sets on that little girl, especially since Dolores had no children of her own.

The first night Jessica is there, they hold a small dinner party that includes Willis’s business partner, Norman, Clancy and Abby, and a few neighbors. Willis has a fascinating dichotomous personality, blunt, confrontational, even rude, to several guests while sitting on the floor in his tux to play with Abby. He clearly adores both Dolores and Abby.

After the dinner party, Jessica couldn’t sleep and went downstairs to find something in the library to read. Before she made it there, she heard Willis and Clancy arguing in his office. He found irregularities in the management of the trust fund established for Abby and is going to give the administration of it to Dolores, knowing he could trust her. The conversation is not pretty, and Clancy stormed out.

Early the next morning, Jessica went outside for a short jog around the extensive driveway of the property and had a terrible surprise. Willis was lying dead with his head partly in the koi pond. The sheriff and his deputies treat Jessica like an airhead, allowing her to tell Dolores that Willis was dead but did not want to hear anything she has to say about what she found. Over the next few days, the devastated widow learns too much about murder investigations, especially when she is the only suspect of the good ol’ boy sheriff. Jessica places a call to her favorite PI, Harry, whose help has been invaluable in the past. After talking with him, Jessica, widowed for many years, is ready to help Dolores navigate the worst club any wife could find herself in.

I enjoyed meeting most of the folks in Columbia. The characters were defined well; I could almost picture Dolores, her husband, family, and friends. The staff and neighbors adore Dolores, but Dolores and Abby are the only ones who truly love Willis. I did not like the good ol’ boy sheriff because he aimed his sights on Dolores and refused to consider anyone else, and he was completely dismissive of Jessica. Jessica’s encouragement and insight into people bring out the best of others.

There are surprises throughout regarding Willis and his business dealings, the things Harry digs up on most of the people involved, and even the grace and strength with which Dolores responds to all that happens and is found. She doesn’t have any close friends in Columbia, and I believe she will remedy the situation in the future. Jessica is the only true friend with her through these hard days and is so very thankful that if the worst had to happen, it was while Jessica was visiting. I missed seeing Jessica’s thought processes throughout but appreciated being in on her conversations with Harry. There was one little clue early on that helped me focus on one person as the killer despite mounting challenges with a few others. The end was satisfactory with all loose ends tied up, and I am looking forward Jessica’s next adventure. I highly recommend this to fans of the author and series!

Raise your hand if you know who Jessica Fletcher is. If you were around in the mid-80s - mid-90s and are old enough to remember, you most certainly do! I remember watching Murder She Wrote on TV as a teen and young adult. I loved it! When that typewriter and theme song came on, you knew you were in for a treat. My favorite episodes were the ones actually in Cabot Cove, but if that many murders happened in that little Maine town, you can bet everyone would start moving! Though I watched it on TV and have watched the re-runs many times, I have never read a Murder She Wrote book!! So, Killing in a Koi Pond is my first official foray into "Jessica's" books. I'm happy to say, thanks to Terry Farley Moran's mastery of the Murder She Wrote world, it won't be my last.

In this mystery, Jessica is visiting a dear friend when Willis Nickens, her friend Dolores's husband, is murdered. Of course, Jessica, having solved many murders, gets involved with this one. This mystery isn't an easy one to solve due to the fact that Willis had many people who would like to have killed him! With multiple suspects and red herrings, you'll be kept guessing throughout!

The characters in Killing in a Koi Pond are well written and many of them will endear themselves to you. I especially love "the help" because of their kindness and willingness to go out of their way to make others feel at home.

As I mentioned, this was my first Murder She Wrote read, and I am so impressed by this well written mystery. I highly recommend it to all of you cozy mystery lovers!

Jessica is on the road visiting her old college friend Delores in Columbia, South Carolina. Delores has remarried and lives in a stately home that includes a Koi pond and plenty of people dependent on the actions of her new husband, Willis. Willis is a real piece of work displaying cutthroat business ways and rudeness to everyone, except Delores and his sweet granddaughter. The Murder She Wrote series loves to give us someone we love to hate and Willis fills the bill. Terrie Farley Moran is the new writer of this series and there were some things she did that I liked. Jessica wasn't so dependent on Seth and Sheriff Metzger in this one although she did call up her old friend, the PI from Boston. I love these characters, but I also love it when Jessica doesn't have to be rescued but confronts the crime with her abilities. Much like the character created for the series Jessica makes friends wherever she goes whether they work in the kitchen or own a multi-million dollar home. Her kindness to others opens many doors and I think that's a lesson for all of us to take home. This was a fun, easy-to-read mystery, and the many suspects made figuring out whodunnit a challenge for me.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ - Top Pick

Author Jessica Fletcher is visiting a college friend in South Carolina. Dolores has recently remarried the wealthy Willis Nickens and although he can sometimes be difficult to get along with, Dolores adores her new husband. Jessica sees some red flags in the relationship but does see the love between the two. One morning, Jessica goes out for a run around the grounds of her friend’s home and discovers the body of Willis next to the koi pond he had created for his bride. Willis could be ruthless both in business and personal relationships, so there is no shortage of suspects in his murder. When the local sheriff zeroes in on Dolores, it’s up to Jessica to prove her friend’s innocence and find the real killer.

It’s hard to believe that this is the 53rd book in this series! There have been a couple different authors who have who have written the Murder She Wrote books, but this is Terrie Farley Moran’s first contribution to the series. I really enjoyed the book and the author’s take on the characters. Jessica is away from Cabot Cove, but she has a few phone conversations with her good friend Dr. Seth Hazlitt that stay true to their characters. Jessica shows her curiosity and intelligence during the investigation, as well as her loyalty and support to Dolores. She is able to talk to the different people associated with Willis and find the person who has the motive, opportunity, and the willingness to kill for what they want. Jessica often works together with law enforcement to solve crimes, but this time the sheriff isn’t sharing any information with the amateur sleuth. So Jessica brings in her “secret weapon”, Boston PI Harry McGraw. The books aren’t limited to fans of the old television series, but those who have seen McGraw on the show will enjoy his appearance in this book.

The plot of the book featuring a wealthy man with a limited suspects in his murder is worthy of a classic Agatha Christie novel. There are several plausible suspects in the murder, so I was kept guessing as to who really killed Willis. I like the character of Dolores who shows her strength and intelligence in a crisis, even though she is distraught by her husband’s death. Her friendship with Jessica is believable and touching. Cozy mystery lovers who aren’t familiar with the series will still be able to enjoy this book, but those who have followed the series will be pleased by the direction author Terrie Farley Moran is taking it. I enjoyed this book so much and think it is as good as some of the earlier books in the series. Jessica is a likable main character and it’s great that this enjoyable, cozy series is still going strong.

~ Christine

Fans of this series as well as the long running television show will be excited to go on the road again with Jessica Fletcher. She believes she has time for a quiet weekend of reminiscing with a college friend before returning home to her beloved Cabot Cove.

Jessica's friend is recently married to her third husband, but hopefully the love of her life.
At a welcome dinner a mixture of personalities are present, but overall something feels off.
Are these people really friends of the host or too afraid to turn down his invitation?
Well, no one has to pretend for long, as before the next morning the man is dead.
Can you guess who discovers the body?

Of course the spouse is always the first suspect. Knowing her friend is innocent, Jessica can not leave before clearing her of any suspicion. Along the way they also discover other secrets and less than above board activities.

I could hear the voices of my favorite characters on these pages.
The new characters have depth and personality and make a strong impression.
Although I thought I knew who the murderer was early on, there are plenty of motives from everyone present. The addition of secrets being discovered kept my curiosity on alert.

A well done addition to a fine series.

A good cozy mystery with the intrepid Jessica Fletcher taking center stage in Columbia, South Carolina. Jessica is visiting her old college friend Dolores there and Dolores is eager to show off her new estate and to introduce Jessica to her third husband Willis Nickens. Willis is a piece of work, snooty to the max and not at all likable, so I almost cheered when he ended up dead in the koi pond the day after Jessica’s arrival. It was no surprise that Jessica discovered the body and that Dolores became the main suspect. The intrigue is in following the clues along with Jessica in order to discover the identity of the killer. Since the setting is new, most of the characters are new, although Seth does make a kind of cameo appearance. The characters were fleshed out well, even the housekeeping staff who gave Jessica a lot of insight into the inner workings of the household. I liked the setting and the realistic details there, like the zoo that Jessica visited with Willis’s granddaughter Abby. There were a plethora of suspects and a less than cooperative sheriff who quickly settled on Dolores as the only possible killer. Jessica’s determination to prove her friend innocent was the main thrust of the story. The new author of the series did a good job of presenting the story just as the others in the series and of showing Jessica as a sleuth not easily fooled. The book was entertaining and mostly fast-paced, although I did think some of the mystery dragged at times, especially as Jessica was trying to convince the sheriff to continue to investigate. The book was intriguing with enough plot twists to keep me engaged to the end. I was able to figure out the culprit beforehand, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. Fans of cozy mysteries will want to snatch this one up and dig in!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I enjoyed this book more than the others that have been written since the original author passed away. It seems that Terrie Moran has done her homework and now is familiar with the backstory of each character. I like the South Carolina setting of this book. I enjoy the phone appearances of Harry McGraw, always picturing Jerry Orbach in this role. The only problem that I had was that Clancy, the son-in-law of Jessica’s friend is portrayed as kind of a loser right from the start of the book and I think that is an unfair characterization. But otherwise, this was an enjoyable, quick read that I received from NetGalley.

Although this is Book #53 from the MURDER, SHE WROTE novels and I've been a huge fan of the television show since it ran originally, I had never read a J.B. Fletcher book until now. It was perfectly paced with characters one-hundred-percent true to the show. Killing in a Koi Pond takes place outside of Cabot Cove, Maine, but there are still cameos of Dr. Seth Hazlitt and Boston-based P.I. Harry McGraw.

Jessica is in South Carolina to visit a college friend, Dolores Nickens. Dolores married well. The estate is grand. There are full time kitchen staff and eventually a driver. The good ol' southern accents easily come through without the authors having to write phonetically. There are plenty of nods of southern cuisine including cola cake and benne wafers.

Killing in a Koi Pond is a perfect cozy mystery or beach/poolside read. For me, it was rainy afternoons in New Jersey. Readers are led to the body of Dolores's wealthy husband, Willis, a man with so many business dealings even his wife doesn't know what it is he does. The body appears after a few chapters to slowly ease readers into murder rather than take off running at page one.

The cook, Lucinda and the maid (I guess? Title is never given) Marla Mae are the first friends Jessica makes when she begins her own investigation into the death of Willis Nickens. Eventually, a relative of Marla Mae comes on board as their driver, Elton. The trio match the more innocent type of gossips back in Cabot Cove that Jessica and fans are used to.

The book is modern with amenities that were first-gen luxuries in the TV show. Jessica always has her cell phone and she's comfortable using it to search the internet. If you remember the show, there were several Cabot Cove sheriffs. The book names Sheriff Mort Metzger as the present top cop in Cabot Cove which he was at the show's end.

Jessica has two possible lines of inquiry to figure out who, besides her dear friend Dolores, had a motive to kill her husband. She looks into business and personal connections. The local cops don't welcome Jessica's meddling. She gets her information from other ways including Dolores doing whatever she can to learn more about her husband. Something else that brings the character of Jessica Fletcher back to life for us is that she cleverly drops nuggets of this information she has learned to different people to see where any leaks in the grapevine might be.

Dolores Nickens is a sweet character. She comes across much younger than she is due to her naivete and rich woman shallow existence. She grows from a clueless and as-expected frazzled widow into a competent woman ready to learn how to operate her husband's financial matters.

In all honesty, the clues were not difficult to note and the murder was obvious as long as you catch one that's particularly revealing. One thing is a bit unfair to readers is that Harry McGraw does his part in the investigation off-page. When he does call Jessica to explain what he found, she holds onto the information until confronting the murderer in her typical Miss Marple way. In other words, readers don't have the same information as Jessica even though it's told in first person POV.

To summarize, Killing in a Koi Pond is a delightful read whether you've seen an episode of Murder, She Wrote or not. You don't need to know about the characters in the cameos in order to enjoy the story about greed and consequences in the elite world of South Carolina.

This is the 53rd book in the series and Jessica Fletcher does not disappoint.

Jessica travels to Columbia, South Carolina to visit and old friend who has remarried for the third time. The new husband is an obnoxious man with little regard for others. Jessica finds his body in the koi pond the day after her arrival and suspects foul play.

I must admit that I have skipped all over in reading this series but it certainly does not distract from the story. Jessica keeps me entertained with her sleuthing and sheer nosiness. I love that the story was set in an area that I am familiar with. Little tidbits like taking the victim's granddaughter to Riverbanks Zoo made me smile. (One of my favorite zoos, by the way)

Jessica knows that she needs to clear her friend even if it means antagonizing local law enforcement. I had suspicions early on who the culprit was and was delighted to be correct.

This series is like eating potato chips: you can't stop with just one. It is a fun, fast read that I enjoyed.

In the latest mystery involving intrepid mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, we find her traveling to Columbia, SC to visit Dolores, old friend from college and her third husband Willis. Her first morning there, she discovers the body of Willis in the koi pond. As usual, the police suspect Dolores of the killing, and refuse to listen to anything Mrs. Fletcher has to say.
With five other people who could be suspects, and none who have alibis, it’s up to Mrs. Fletcher to figure out who really killed Willis and help keep Dolores from being arrested.
This book makes number 53 in the series, a series that has been around, and going strong, since 1989. With great writing, wonderful stories, and characters that are near and dear to our hearts, you can’t go wrong with a Murder She Wrote mystery.

**I received an ARC of this story from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Jessica Fletcher is a legend when it comes to solving a mystery. From the moment I picked up this book, I knew I was in for another interesting, mesmerizing, fun mystery. Terrie Farley Moran captured the essence of the series perfectly.

The smooth flow of the plot, the introduction of the characters, and the culmination made it easy for a reader to stay interested and keep reading. The heart of a book in my mind is if a writer can make us care about the characters as well as hit us with a tantalizing mystery. We already loved Jessica Fletcher, so it is a treat when we feel compassion, anger, and all the other human emotions as we read, making us invest in the lives of those central to the plot of a book. Killing in a Koi Pond has flawed people living lives with secrets that reveal many surprises.

I highly recommend Murder She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond. I can’t wait for the next Murder She Wrote mystery and another fun, murderous vacation.

A really fun adventure with Jessica Fletcher! I really liked seeing her really work with and care for the widow. It made her feel very welcoming.

I enjoyed Killing in a Koi Pond once I got through the first few chapters. Jessica arrives in South Carolina and is immediately surrounded by not so great people, aside from her friend Dolores who is a nice lady. Everyone else, including Dolores’ husband, is a bully, or mean, or rude. And then Willis is killed that night. It was just too quick an introduction to the suspects and the murder happened too soon.

Once I got settled in though, the story was fun. Jessica is the Jessica we’ve known for years, nosey, friendly, talkative. The other characters are fleshed out well, and several have reasons to want Willis dead, but you may guess who the killer is before Jessica’s reveal. There were several twists, but to be honest, I enjoyed the characters more than the actual plot, but I think that’s okay for a Murder, She Wrote book.

This was a fun read and a wonderful trip down memory lane and Sunday's spent with Jessica. I enjoyed the novel thoroughly and am looking forward to more.

I was so delighted to receive this Murder She Wrote novel to read and review! I loved the show growing up, and I loved the more modern Mrs. Fletcher. Cell phones, texting... it’s a whole new world for Jessica but the same great mystery solving and characters I grew to love as a kid watching the show. So much fun!

Jessica is looking forward to spending time with her college friend Dolores in South Carolina. Dolores, newly married is anxious for Jessica to meet her new husband, Willis, and to show Jessica the local sights. Plans change quickly when Jessica, out for her early morning jog, discovers Willis's dead body by the koi pond in the garden. The local police zero in on Dolores as the prime suspect despite the fact that there are several other possible suspects. Jessica goes into detective mode to prove her friend innocent.
This latest entry into the long-running Murder She Wrote series is a refreshing change. The South Carolina setting and strong secondary characters make for a refreshing change from Cabot Cove and the food descriptions are to die for!

When it comes to cozy mysteries, The Murder, She Wrote books give me all the nostalgic feels. I've read countless novels in the series and Jessica Fletcher will always be one of my favorite characters to return to! Unfortunately, I felt that Killing in a Koi Pond fell a little flat in comparison. Usually, books in this series are quick reads but this time, I really struggled with the pacing, abundance of dialogue, and slow plot. As a reader, I just didn't connect with this story or other characters. I'll definitely be back for more Jessica Fletcher books in the future, but for me, this particular one was a miss. 2.5 stars rounded up.

The latest installment in the Murder She Wrote series but this is my first one. The mystery itself and the cast of characters and suspects were well built out and kept me interested.

I never watched the show growing up but I forever equate the character of Jessica Fletcher with Angela Lansbury. That equation made it a little hard for me to picture the character jogging everyday and she seemed to be in charge of what Dolores did, who she spoke with, and how she handled the investigation....she seemed bossy and that’s not the perception i have of Angela Lansbury’s characterization. This didn’t truly distract from the novel and I would happily read others in the series.


Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc.

As a long, long-time reader of the Murder, She Wrote series, I was very excited for a new author to take over the series. Terrie Farley Moran has a background in writing cozies and is very familiar with the Murder, She Wrote universe. In this outing for Jessica, she is visiting an old friend in Columbia, South Carolina when murder strikes. In most of Donald Bain's entries, the setting was another character, teaching us about the area or the subject featured. In Killing in a Koi Pond, I thought it could have been any city in the South and didn't feel particularly specific to Columbia besides a few landmark mentions. I also felt that Jessica seemed too nice or busybody, more than normal, trying to help her friend Dolores and fixing everything. It might be a slight overcorrection from Jon Land's version of Jessica Fletcher and will get better in the next entries. The cozy aspect was spot-on and I thought the mystery was good, but dragged on slightly. It seemed that Harry McGraw did most of the investigating from afar rather than Jessica and we waited for him to pop-up to move it along. I am very much looking forward to Ms. Moran's next entry that takes place in Cabot Cove and continues to bring her own take on Mr. Bain's MSW books.