What inspired the idea for your book?
Loretta’s Beauty Parlor is one of my favorite Cabot Cove settings from the Murder, She Wrote television series, so I wanted to have the Beauty Parlor ladies heavily involved in a Cabot Cove murder.
What was the most surprising thing you learned in writing this book?
Coreen, the manicurist, evolved into a stronger character than I thought she could be.
If you were friends with a character in this book, what kinds of things would you do together?
If Jessica Fletcher and I were friends, we would do book signings together. Her line of fans would be down the block and around the corner, meanwhile I would be slipping folks five dollar bills to switch over to my line. ☺
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters?
Characters always come first. I have to know the characters intimately so that I can gage how they will respond to the plot I envision.
What do you look for in a story as a reader?
As a reader I want to know the details of the ordinary life of the main character before a murder turns everything upside down.
How do you interact with your readers?
Readers often contact me on Facebook or email me via my website.
What is your all time favorite book or author? Do you think this has influenced your writing?
Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman by Merle Miller. I never thought about it influencing my writing but perhaps President Truman’s way of communicating did. I like my characters to be clear and succinct, as Mr. Truman so often was.
What would your dream library look like?
It would be three stories high and an exact replica of the Bronx Regional Center of the New York Public Library, which was my favorite childhood library but I would modernize it by adding computers and audio visual equipment.
If you had a secret room that opened by pulling a book on a shelf, what book would you choose?
Great Expectations
If you went on a road trip with any author, dead or alive, who would it be, and where would you go?
I would go On the Road with Jack Kerouac and travel to the places he visited more than sixty years ago. I’d love to do a then and now comparison.
I stil get excited at the idea of Murder She Wrote books. I love how this one too, feels like I have been transported into my 80’s TV to live for a bit. Writing a good mystery is a challenge. Writing a good mystery that stays true to the memories of thousands of fans of the series has to present its own set of challenges. Terrie Farley Moran has once again written Jessica flawlessly.
Jessica Fletcher is the quintessential cozy protagonist. She sees everything. She is as sharp as a tack. She has a beautifully analytic mind that is tempered with compassion. Most importantly she is an expert at reading people. She may not know who dunnit, but that super power of hers is often the thing that tells her who didn’t. In Debonair in Death she feels the need to clear the name of the young woman accused of murdering an unpleasant shop owner. There is no shortage of suspects or motives. When secret agent, Michael Haggerty comes snooping around she realizes that the whole thing might be bigger than just a local murder. She has her hands sleuthing while trying to work on her latest book. Between her civic committees, clubs, and the more than occasional murder investigations, how she ever has time to write any of her books, I have yet to figure out. She has to be the busiest retired person ever.
The best part of this newest installment is that it takes place in Cabot Cove, Maine. In the series, Jessica in her natural environment is always the best Jessica. She knows everyone in town and sooner or later she digs up all the goings on. It is the perfect eastern seacoast small town, Small but never short on drama and intrigue. With Cabot Cove comes her good friend Seth. By far my favorite of her cohorts, he is opposite her in so many ways. She is health conscious, jogging daily, biking around town, eating clean. Seth on the other hand, despite his medical background, enjoys life, good comfort food, and the occasional vice. The back and forth between the two of them is worth the price of admission and could carry any story on its own. Appearances from other series favorite characters in this story is much appreciated.
I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Review: Murder, She Wrote: Killing in a Koi Pond by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
My goodness, do I love Murder She Wrote. Not surprising, since I am fairly sure the tv show was responsible for the cozy mystery trend that followed it. I was so excited to find out that there are books that…
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When a local art shop owner is murdered, Jessica Fletcher is surprised to once again be working alongside her old friend MI-6 agent Michael Haggerty to solve the case in the newest mystery in this USA Today bestselling series.
When Nelson Penzell, co-owner of a local art and treasure store in Cabot Cove, is murdered, the nail tech from Jessica Fletcher’s favorite beauty parlor is the main suspect. After all, she’s the one who ran out of the store screaming, covered in blood, and holding the murder weapon. Jessica is positive that despite the circumstances, Coreen can’t possibly be guilty, and is determined to prove it.
When Michael Haggerty, handsome MI-6 agent and Jessica’s old friend, is caught snooping around the victim’s home, it’s quickly apparent to her that she was right. Nelson has always had a bit of a reputation for being a rake, but Haggerty is sure his sins go far beyond what anyone in town imagined. If she wants to clear Coreen’s name, Jessica will have to work alongside Michael to find out who killed Nelson—and maybe help bust a crime ring in the process.
Purchase Links Amazon – IndieBound – Barnes and Noble
Terrie Farley Moran is co-author, along with Jessica Fletcher, of the Murder, She Wrote series. Terrie is also the author of the beachside Read ‘Em and Eat cozy novels, and is co-author of Laura Childs’ scrapbooking mysteries. Her short mystery fiction has been published in numerous venues. Terrie is a recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer awards.
Author Links – Webpage: https://terriefarleymoran.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/terriefarleymoran/
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