Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early has Jessica Fletcher solving a case from her house.

Can Jessica solve the case?

Jessica Fletcher
Jessica Fletcher is excited about leaving cold, snowy Maine for a sunny cruise ship working vacation. Well, until she slips on some snow-covered ice and hurts herself enough, she must be put into an electric wheelchair to move around. Jessica dislikes this new development, but it all ends up okay because of her at-home aide that Seth found for her. She tries to work on her latest book while trying not to move as much, but once the new neighbor makes risque snow sculptures in his yard, Jessica wonders about him. I like Jessica and how, even stuck in her house, she can still solve a mystery, even if Mort is sad about that.

The Mystery
The next day, after a blizzard comes through Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica watches as Floyd and one of her neighbors uncover the dead body of her new neighbor, Mr. Rymer, and Jessica doesn't understand how he could have died. Jessica tries to help Mort solve this case as best as possible by using her brain since she can't leave the house. Part of me wishes that how the mystery was solved wasn't how it was solved since I feel bad for Jessica.

Five Stars
My rating for Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early is five stars. I love how television show fans can still enjoy Jessica Fletcher through these books. New fans for this character can start reading this series from any book and not get too confused. Ms. Early is a new author of this series that she will be writing with Terrie Farley Moran, and I love how she did this book. I can't wait to see what else Ms. Early and Jessica do together.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder is book #60 in the Murder She Wrote series by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early.

I love the Murder She Wrote TV series and was hesitant to read the books in case they were too different. I’ve since read a few and really enjoyed them. In this book, Jessica was set to take part on a Mystery Lovers Cruise. However, a slip on the ice as she stepped out her front door put an end to that plan. While no broken bones, her injuries were enough for her to be confined to a wheelchair for several weeks. I enjoyed The Rear Window and this has the same vibe, though Jessica has more visitors and isn’t homebound. It’s fun seeing Jessica’s curiosity and nose for investigation take over. This was another entertaining book in the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

fun, witty, and engaging. It's like visiting old friends.

Jessica is sidelined, confined to a wheelchair after spraining both ankles and her right wrist. She sits in front of her window with her nurse aide providing much support. From her window seat, she watches her temporary neighbor sculpt snow sculptures that irk the town residents. When he is murdered, Sheriff Metzger asks for her help.

I loved visiting with old friends in this enchanting little mystery in Cabot Cove.

Jessica Fletcher is going on a cruise. It’s theme is Mystery Lovers and who better to talk about mysteries than Jessica? It’s a plus that she’ll be able to leave snowy Cabot Cove behind for balmy weather—if she can get her suitcases closed that is.

Even though the walks have been cleaned, a strong wind has added more snow to her front steps. When the taxi arrives, Jessica grabs the largest suitcase and steps outside—and promptly falls. Dimitri, the cabbie, rushes to help but it’s obvious, Jessica is going to miss that cruise.

Both ankles are sprained and she dislocated her kneecap. It’s back in place but she’ll need a brace to keep it there. With a sprained wrist, crutches are out. It’s wheelchair time and for that, she’ll either go to the rehab wing of the hospital or need live-in help.

With limited mobility, she tries to focus on her latest book but is distracted by a new neighbor across the street. If he wasn’t interesting enough on his own, he’s also an ‘artist’ who specializes in snow sculptures. It’s an odd way to make a living but intriguing to watch until the sculpture changes from a pile of snow into a lifelike figure—nude and mooning his behind in Jessica’s direction.

Mooning Man is smashed during the night and the artist seems to take it in stride. The second is a mermaid and in greater detail. The crowds of sightseers seems to grow every time Jessica looks out the window. When the mermaid is smashed too, Jessica is relieved until she realizes the artist is also flattened in the yard. He’s very dead.

Being a mystery writer and housebound, Jessica and her home health care aide, Alice, concoct theories about the killer, a vandal roaming the area, and the identity of two women seen with the artist. Can Jessica solve the mystery without stepping outside? If anyone can…

Jessica proves, whether she’s mobile or not, no killer is able to escape justice when she’s on the case. With a nice twist at the end, she does it again.

This is book 60 in the series. Many have been reviewed in KRL. The long running series continues with book 61 publishing in July, 2025, available for pre-order now.

This is the first (and only) Murder She Wrote novel I have read. Like with the tv show, I do think these can be read alone. Even more so, because I know the series from the tv show. I do prefer the show to the book because it is hard to beat Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher. However, the book does demonstrate how perfect Lansbury was in the role: I can picture her as I was reading. In every episode or book (I assume though I have not read others), there is always some obstacle she has to overcome. Here, it is Jessica being in a wheelchair, as a result of an accident. She overcomes this to solve the murder in Cabot Cove. I love Cabot Cove, in the book and the show and would love to live there, despite the inordinate number of murders there are for such a small town.
This was a very solid cozy mystery. If there is one "criticism" I would say that I would have loved to get more of the other townspeople (i.e. the sheriff). However, this was a great read in between all of my other heavier books and I will definitely look for other books in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

As I love watching Murder She Wrote TV show, I saw this book, Murder She Wrote, Snowy With A Chance Of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early and just had to read it! I loved every chapter and through enjoyed reading all the twists and turns with the different characters in this amazing mystery!

I really enjoyed this Murder, She Wrote book. Reading it was very much like watching an episode of the television show ... I could picture Angela Lansbury throughout the story and all the other regulars in the small town of Cabot Cove, Maine. The story was a bit slow and had several different plot lines to follow but it all came together shortly before the end of the book and made for a very interesting read. I enjoyed this author writing as Jessica Fletcher as much as I have enjoyed those written by Terrie Farley Moran. Both authors bring the story to life and make you grow to care for the characters. A must-read for fans of the Murder, She Wrote book or television series.

This was a wonderful read! I enjoy watching Murder, She Wrote on TV and have since I was a little girl. But this is the first book I've read and let me say, I can't wait to read more. Even though Jessica was not able to get out and about the way she usually does due to an injury, she was still able to crack the case. Well written with an engaging plot and loveable characters. Looking forward to visiting Cabot Cove again soon. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a fun book! From the moment poor Jessica slips on ice & tumbles down her front steps, I was drawn into this story and stayed invested it until the very end. This may be Barbara Early’s first foray into this beloved Jessica Fletcher universe, but you can’t tell in the least. In fact, it was so well written for the brand that I frequently felt as though I was actually watching an episode of Murder, She Wrote rather than reading a mystery novel based on the show. Not only did I love the nods to one of my fave classic films – Rear Window – but I also loved seeing the reference to one of my fave MSW episodes (the one where Jessica is laid up with a bum back and hears a murder plot over the phone but no one believes her) because it’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the plot for Snowy with a Chance of Murder.

Jessica may be homebound from her injuries and forced to use a wheelchair and a home health care aide but that just adds to the appeal of this story. Or, to be more accurate, mysteries. There’s a lot of layers in play here, and I really enjoyed puzzling it all out along with Jessica and trying to figure out how – or if – they were all connected. Not to mention that having Jessica confined to her home means that it becomes the gathering place for most of her Cabot Cove friends as they check in on her and share a cup of tea and some sort of yummy dessert. (Fair warning – have some baked goods on hand to snack on while you read this one, or a bowl of hot soup, because between everyone bringing her food and her aide Alice cooking even more you’ll be craving some yummy comfort food!) My favorite visitor is of course Seth Hazlitt – he’s such a fun curmudgeon, and Early nailed his voice perfectly. There are plenty of opportunities to chuckle too, and I grinned a lot as I read Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder. Just so much fun.

Bottom Line: I have always loved the movie Rear Window, and I have always loved the TV show Murder, She Wrote. So it was an absolute no-brainer that I would want to read Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher (wink, wink) and Barbara Early when it promised a nod to the aforementioned Hitchcock classic. And I loved so much about it – from the humor to the various subplots and the way I could “hear” the voices of each character as I read. This story is the perfect choice for when you want a comfort read that wraps around you like a cozy quilt or a hug from an old friend, and Early stepped seamlessly into this long-running series with a delightful and entertaining ‘episode’. The mysteries (and there is more than one but you’ll have to read it for yourself to determine whether all, some, or none are connected) were nicely layered with a bit of endearing chaos as only Cabot Cove can deliver it, and I loved visiting with familiar (and beloved) characters as well as meeting new ones. Welcome to the series, Barbara Early. You did Jessica proud!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Jessica was all set to escape the winter weather and head off on a Mystery Lovers Cruise, but as she stepped out her front door, she slipped on a patch of ice and went down hard. She had no broken bones, but sprained both her ankles, subluxated her patella, sprained her right wrist, and gave herself a mild concussion. Refusing to stay and rehab at the hospital, her friend Dr. Seth Hazlitt sets up a home health aide and a power wheelchair so she can recover at home. At home, where she notices a new neighbor right across the street. A new neighbor who appears to enjoy building snow sculptures – scandalous snow sculptures.

While the jury is still out as to whether the sculptures are art or just attention grabbing someone decides to take action on their own and destroys them under the cover of darkness. But the guy just builds a new one each day. Jessica has a bird’s eye view out her window. At least until a wild blizzard strikes and she can’t even see across the street. The next day, she sees a new sculpture has been built, but finds the “artist” has met his demise – and left buried in the snow.

Can Jessica track down the killer watching out the window from her fancy wheelchair? Or will the killer crash through that window and put her in a deep freeze?

I especially enjoyed the theme, similar to the movie Rear Window. Jessica wasn’t quite as confined as photographer L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies, because her curious nature and the view drive this story.

Jessica Fletcher is a determined woman. She is not happy at first about having a stranger in her house, but she quickly discovers her home health aide has the desire to become a writer, and they bond over that. I loved how Jessica’s neighbors and friends dropped by with food, to visit, or just in time for dinner. Jessica does become quite comfortable tooling around in that wheelchair after her hilarious training session. I could relate and was laughing out loud because years ago I, too, had a motorized chair and just recently received a motorized scooter to get around to all my family events. The author described that way my initial training went to a tee. Jessica took herself out across the street a time or two to meet the neighbor and his visitors. She also called a taxi that could accommodate her chair and traveled to town and residents’ homes searching for information. A few injuries were not going to keep Jessica Fletcher down.

The mystery was filled with twists and red herrings. It was a delight to follow along as Jessica strived to make sense of what she saw out her window and the clues she followed around Cabot Cove. I did tie one relationship together before our protagonist, but I didn’t understand it fully until the end. There were some fishy things happening around Cabot Cove, and I enjoyed trying to solve them all.

The best thing about this series is that readers can pick up each book on its own. You can get to know the stellar recurring cast and the new characters in town for the story easily, then sit back and enjoy a classic cozy mystery unfold that will keep you on your toes. Jessica has been joined by several different co-authors, the latest being Barbara Early with Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder, but each author keeps the integrity the series started with. Sixty books in and it is still going strong. Book 61, Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston, written by Terrie Farley Moran, will be released on July 1.

Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder is a marvelous addition to this long-running series. Ms. Early does the characters justice and then some. I am so excited to see what she plans for Jessica and her friends next.

As a lifelong fan of the *Murder, She Wrote* series — I raised my kids watching this series — I can say with confidence that this 60th installment (And another is on the way! W00t! W00t!) is one of the best yet.

The story kicks off with Jessica taking a nasty spill on the ice, confining her to a wheelchair. Unable to join a Mystery Lovers cruise, she’s forced to stay home, where she’s drawn into an intriguing mystery right across the street. A new neighbor, Mr. Rymer, moves in and immediately stirs up Cabot Cove with his risqué snow sculptures—naked figures that spark debates over art versus public decency. When the sculptures are vandalized at night, Rymer shrugs it off, rebuilding them with fresh snow as a blizzard looms. But the morning after the storm, Jessica peers out her window to find a chilling sight: Rymer’s body half-buried in the snow, next to a new sculpture. From her chair, Jessica must unravel whether a cold-blooded killer is lurking in her beloved town.

Cabot Cove is my favorite setting for Jessica’s adventures. The familiar cast—Seth, Loretta, and more— the atmosphere, all shine brightly, with delightful moments like a spa day at Loretta’s Beauty Parlor that had me smiling ear to ear. The nod to Hitchcock’s *Rear Window* is brilliant! It captured Jessica’s sharp sleuthing from her confined vantage point without ever feeling derivative. There is a terrific balance of cozy charm and suspense, pulling in all of Jessica’s friends for a story that feels both intimate and expansive.

What sets this book apart is how Barbara Early nails the *Murder, She Wrote* formula, something recent writers struggled to do after the passing of Donald Bain. Early’s Jessica is pitch-perfect—witty, warm, and relentlessly curious—while the quirky snow sculpture mystery feels fresh yet quintessentially Cabot Cove. The addition of a likable young helper hired by Seth adds a new layer of heart to the story, making Jessica’s world feel vibrant and lived-in.

I’ve been hooked on this series since Bain’s era, and *A Killer in the Snow* recaptures that magic with gusto. It’s a fun, atmospheric read that kept me guessing until the end, and it’s easily the best since Bain’s time. I’m thrilled Barbara Early has taken the reins and hope she pens many more. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this is a must-read. Five stars without hesitation!

I keep reading this series, and it does not disappoint! I’m the show, there was an episode where Jessica was bedridden but still managed to solve a mystery, so the theme is a bit familiar. I can’t blame the author however, with so many episodes and books, it must be hard to be entirely unique. It still feels fresh, and Jessica is as interesting as ever! Can’t wait for more books.

I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I read a Murder She Wrote Book, but I think we're talking decades. Then I read an interview with Barbara Early, the "co-author" with Jessica Fletcher, and the plot sounded interesting: Jessica Fletcher, famous author and amateur detective from Cabot Cove, Maine, slips on icy steps and is confined to a wheelchair. Meantime, a new renter moves in across the street . . . a new renter who riles up the neighborhood with his racy snow sculptures and raises Jess's suspicions with his mysterious behavior. Jessica and new caregiver watch him from the front window in an homage to Rear Window, and sure enough he is soon the victim of a murder.

Turns out there has been another murder in town, and it looks like the two are related. But are they related to the mysterious thief known as the Bologna Kid?

Fans of Murder She Wrote should be happy with the book, since it involves all of the regulars. Having Jessica wheelchair bound gives friends and neighbors, old and new, a good reason to drop by for a visit, allowing Jessica to pump them for information. Of course, with her motorized wheelchair Jess isn't totally housebound and is able to do some sleuthing around town.

If you aren't really a fan of the series, or if you are like me and simply haven't read any books or watched any shows in a long time, this is a great book to jump right in. The humor, the references to Rear Window, and the descriptions of characters and weather all make for a great cozy mystery. The only thing that bothered me just a bit is that Jessica Fletcher figures everything out rather suddenly and explains her reasoning in front of the guilty. But Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot and all the inspectors on Death in Paradise solve the crime the same way--the amateur detective out detects and out-thinks everyone else!

An enjoyable read. Time to head back to Cabot Cove!

THOUGHTS: I love this series, just as I did the old TV shows, and this one is no different. In fact, while reading it, I can “hear” Jessica’s voice and Seth’s and all the other Cabot Cove old-timers. And this far into a series, I know how the characters are supposed to act and that things will turn out just right in the end – which they do.

In this one, Jessica is supposed to go on a cruise, but in leaving her house, she slips on ice and takes a nasty fall which leaves her wheelchair bound for several weeks. Seth helps her hire a live-in caretaker who will help her out until she’s okay again. Alice is a sweet girl who does a lot for Jessica. In addition there’s a regular flow of neighbors and friends through the house (mostly the kitchen) to help keep Jessica company – and to gossip about the “sculptor” who moved into the rental across the street. His snow art has the genteel folks of Cabot Cove chatting for days about his graphic, and sometimes lewd, snow sculptures. Enough to make someone made enough to destroy them. In addition, there’s a thief running around stealing clothes and food, and there are two deaths – a food truck owner, and the artist. Even though Jessica can’t get around very well, what she digs up helps the sheriff solve the mysteries.

Problems: It was obvious to me right away that something was going on with Jessica and who was doing it, but I didn’t quite know why until the end so that was well done. I also didn’t much care for the extraneous bits with Alice’s writing – it did kind of make sense in the end, but it was more like filler than anything. But I will have to say I laughed at Jessica’s issues with driving the wheelchair. Nice bit of comedic relief there. Overall, a decent addition to the series.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Jessica is going on a cruise in the midst of Cabot Cove winter. But one slip on an icy sidewalk, and she ends up in the hospital, then confined to a wheelchair. A young nurse accompanies her home. Jessica, never one to do nothing, finds herself watching her new neighbor who has rented her snowbird neighbor's home. As an aspiring artist, he creates "erotic" snow sculptures on the front yard. In a few days, he is dead. Jessica does her best to find the killer. But a blizzard, some shady realtors and a nurse with a secret just might ruin her chances to solves this mystery. Some good twists in this one to keep the reader's interest.

Top Pick - 4.5 Stars

Mystery writer Jessica Fletcher is ready to go on a cruise for a working vacation. However, on the way to get into her taxi cab to start the trip, she slips on the ice. Instead of a cruise to warmer climates, her injuries keep Jessica home in cold, snowy Maine. This is disappointing, but Jessica starts to enjoy the company of her home health aide, Alice Myers. Jessica is also interested in what’s going on with her temporary neighbor, an artist who is renting a house across the street. Rymer’s controversial artwork has all of Cabot Cove talking. Soon, a suspicious death takes over as the topic everyone is talking about, and homebound Jessica is determined to solve the case.

I have read all of the prior Murder, She Wrote books, but that’s not necessary to enjoy the book. This is the first book written by author Barbara Early, and she has done a great job creating a compelling plot and keeping Jessica, Mort, Seth, and others true to their characters. Jessica proves nothing can keep her down, and she is able to put the pieces of a complex crime together even though she is temporarily in a wheelchair and needs assistance with everyday tasks. While she researches the crimes, she also gets to know Alice better. I enjoyed the writing advice Jessica gives her and the story within-a-story as Jessica critiques the aspiring writer’s work.

Jessica’s injuries and the winter storm that hits Cabot Cove contribute to a claustrophobic atmosphere that adds to the story’s suspense. On the other hand, the way Jessica’s friends come together for her, bringing meals and lending a hand when needed, shows how loyal her friends are. There is a subplot involving plagiarism that I quickly figured out. However, the solution to the main crimes shocked me, and the ending was satisfying and a little bittersweet. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

~ Christine

I have read and enjoyed many of the books in the series, but this was not my favorite. The pacing was off, which made it hard to stay engaged. Nothing really happens in the first half of the book. There is a lot of time spent setting things up. There is a fantasy angle to this compared to other books in the series, but I'm not sure that it helped the story as a whole. Things did come together in the end, but you have to suspend a bit of disbelief. It was nice to see familiar characters which are true to the series.

Jessica Fletcher never expected to find herself confined to a wheelchair. That’s exactly what happened when she slipped on the ice. Now, she’ll be stuck at home for weeks. She even has to hire an aide to help her get around. Trying to make the best of a bad situation, she tries to work on her latest manuscript.

As she sits in her wheelchair, facing the house across the street, she watches as a new tenant, Rymer, carves snow sculptures. His sculptures aren’t exactly “G” rated and are causing quite the stir in the quiet Cabot Cove town. Someone is so incensed they start destroying the sculptures. It doesn’t stop Rymer from making new ones.

One day Jessica is looking out the window and notices a new lewd sculpture but this time she sees Rymer’s body next to it. Who killed Rymer? Jessica’s investigation is particularly difficult this time as she is still confined to her wheelchair.

I never watched the Murder, She Wrote TV show, but I’ve read several of these books and loved each one I read. I should really binge-watch this series. I feel as if I know the town of Cabot Cove and the people who live there. It’s almost like going home.

There were many twists and turns throughout this mystery. Many red herrings and many potential suspects. I was kept guessing until the end. I never saw it coming and was pleasantly taken by surprise.

This series never disappoints even with different authors. Jessica Fletcher is the perfect sleuth and someone everyone can cheer for. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.








FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

generally pretty fun murder mystery, although at points Jessica Fletcher feels a lot less like herself and a lot more like someone else. twists were fairly expected but good. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

When I saw this title on NetGalley I jumped at the opportunity to read and review it. I remember watching Ms Fletcher on television and to see there’s books I was pleased. The story opens with Jessica preparing to go on a cruise but as luck would have it she ends up slipping on ice on the morning of her departure making travel impossible.

Now home bound, and forced to use a wheelchair, Jessica finds herself staring out her window to pass the time. Lucky for her she has a curious new neighbor, a man named Rymer who’s an artist who makes risqué sculptures, this keeps her busy enough.

The town is up in arms over all his risque art on display, then at night someone starts to destroy the sculptures. But Rymer just starts over, building something new. One morning it's not just a sculpture that's found in the snow, it's Rymer's half-buried body. From this moment on Jessica is on the case trying to determine whodunit.

There’s more than Ryder’s death to solve and trying to figure out if Jessica and her friends can partner with the police, well you have to read the story to find out.

I received a galley copy of this book in exchange for my honest and thought review.