The Murder of Twelve

Channeling heavy <i>And Then There Were None</i> vibes, <i>The Murder of Twelve</i>, the 51st-book in the beloved <i>Murder, She Wrote</i> series, has almost every trope I love in a Cozy Mystery.<br><br>This was <b>ridiculously good fun</b> and kept me glued to the pages well into the night!<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1468660035ra/19732092.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>In this installment, we find Jessica Fletcher calling the <i>Hill House Hotel</i> in Cabot Cover her home.<br><br>Her house is currently under a fairly serious renovation due to a house fire and she has been forced to reside at the ritzy local hotel.<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1590371413ra/29535727.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>On the eve of the blizzard of the Century, guests begin to check in for a destination wedding weekend.<br><br>Jessica has her doubts that the wedding will even happen, what with the massive storm front blowing in. Nonetheless, she ends up befriending some of the guests and even gets invited to attend.<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1590371413ra/29535729.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>The first night includes the rehearsal dinner and even though the bride and groom have yet to arrive, the dinner must go on.<br><br>As with many events Jessica has been a part of before, an attempted murder occurs.<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1529510723ra/25826298.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>As the storm rages outside, bodies start dropping as fast as snowflakes and Jessica needs to put her crime solving abilities to the test!<br><br>This was an absolute blast to read. As you begin to learn about the guests for the wedding, you just know it is going to be a juicy conclusion. It did not disappoint.<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1495077461ra/22782922.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>While I could still tell that this wasn't written by the late and great, Donald Bain, I felt that the new author for the series, Jon Land, is starting to get into a groove with these characters and setting.<br><br>Land is an experienced author and I know the more he contributes with this series, the more it will continue to grow with him.<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1576969597ra/28650114.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>I know that long-time fans of this series will absolutely enjoy this installment.<br><br>If you have never read a book in this series, just know, you can start anywhere. These books can be read out of order and this is as good a place to start as any; particularly if you enjoy locked-room mysteries.<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1461011968ra/18811621.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Bonus points, if you love stories where the characters become stranded somewhere due to inclement weather. <br><br>Oddly specific, I know, but it is a trope I often gravitate towards.<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1590371413ra/29535728.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I have been a fan of this series for decades and will continue to read them as long as they are printed. <br><br>A special thank you as well, to the author, Jon Land, for continuing on the tradition and investigatory prowess of Ms. Jessica Fletcher!<br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1499440115ra/23233234.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy">

With a record setting blizzard on the way to Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica Fletcher is planning to hunker down in her temporary home – the Hill House hotel. Before she can do that, she joins Sheriff Metzger when he gets a call about a man found in his car on the edge of town. What at first looks like a tragic accident is indeed murder. On arriving at the hotel, Jessica learns she will be joined for the weekend by a wedding party. But with the bride and groom missing, tempers begin to flair. Then a dead body appears. Are they trapped with a killer? Is it connected to the man outside of town?<br /><br />This is another fast-moving mystery that obviously pays homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. I felt it was a bit more of a thriller (minus the language and violence) than a true cozy, but I’m not complaining since I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. Much of the book features Jessica and those trapped in the hotel with her, and they are all strong enough characters to carry the story. Unfortunately, the little bit we did see of the recurring characters fell into predictable patterns, although I still enjoyed spending time with them. The writing was so vivid, I felt the cold as I was reading. Any complaints are minor, and I’m happy I picked up this fast-paced book.<br /><br />NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.<br /><br />Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-review-murder-of-twelve-by-jessica.html" rel="nofollow noopener">Carstairs Considers</a>.

I love the television series with Angela Lansbury. It makes me happy every time I read (or listen to) one of these books! It's like revisiting old friends in Cabot Cove....even if it is the murder capital of Maine. :) <br /><br />The basics: Jessica Fletcher is still staying in a local hotel while her home is undergoing extensive repair. Hill House is comfortable enough, but a bit crowded when a wedding party come to stay. A blizzard hits dumping a huge amount of snow, stranding everyone. That's bad enough....but when a killer starts picking off people one by one....Jessica is on the case! <br /><br />This was a fun book to read in July when it's hot as blazes outside. I was wishing the entire time that I could be snowed in! Without a killer on the loose, of course. The mystery was an entertaining and suspenseful read. And I enjoyed revisiting all my favorite characters from Cabot Cove again!<br /><br />I listened to the audio book version of this story. The audio is just over 8 hours long. Narrated by Laural Merlington, the audio was a fun listen! Merlington does a great job of voicing Jessica Fletcher and the other characters. Very entertaining listening experience!<br /><br />The Murder of Twelve is the 51st Murder She Wrote novel, so others must enjoy returning to Cabot Cove, too! I love seeing Angela Lansbury's smiling face on each cover! Keep 'em coming! I will read every single one! :) <br /><br />

Like all of the "Murder She Wrote" episodes on TV, this was a good who-dun-it. I read it and the characters all spoke (in my head) like they did on the television series. The clues kept adding up--- as did the body count. <br /><br />A winter storm of the century hits Cabot Cove, a wedding party gets snowed into the Hill Hotel along with a home renovation displaced Jessica Fletcher. As the storm worsens murder happens. Who is the killer? Which one of the wedding guests decided to "off them all"?<br /><br />* I read this and also was watching "Bosch" during our recent three days of freezing temps and ice storms... you can bet we locked our doors!!!

Land is getting better at doing these books but the relationships between Jessica, Seth and mort aren’t done well at all. 40 books have us a lot of information about these characters and land doesn’t use any of it. Hopefully the new author will

3.5 stars rounded down. Great mystery and satisfying ending, but I had trouble keeping the cast of characters straight. There was nothing that made them stand out in my mind to differentiate.

I have been a harsh critic since Jon Land took over the Murder She Wrote series. I think he has changed the characters and overall tone of the books in an effort to modernize the series. In my opinion, his work has been at best unsuccessful and at worst just plain terrible. But if you agree with me, I urge you to give Land another chance and read this book. <br /><br />I can't resist reading obvious adaptations of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" so I decided go ahead and read this book despite my misgivings. I'm glad I did. It is by far the best book Land has written for the series. Some characters are still a lot more sarcastic than I prefer but not so much that it distracts from the overall plot. <br /><br />Fans of Jessica Fletcher will likely be satisfied with this trip to Cabot Cove even if they have not enjoyed Land's past books in the series.

Mrs.Fletcher snowed in at a Cabot Cove hotel with a wedding party and the person who is systematically killing them one by one. A perfect January read!

Nope. Nope. Nope. I’ve faithfully read the last 3 In this series by Land because I’ve read all of the Murder She Wrote books, but this is my last one. The writing is horrible. Favorite characters are not the same. Plot twists are bizarre and trite. Harry McGraw in now in every book and they have the same basic conversation several times in each book. This series has really gone down hill and I just don’t enjoy it any longer.

I love Jessica Fletcher. And I look forward to the new novels. But, I miss the former writers.<br /><br />No more mentions of the Scottish beau. More is married to Adele, no more delightful Moreen. And if she is called little lady one more time...<br /><br />But I continue to read the series, with hopes the new writer will read the previous books and stop torturing the loyal fans.