A Deadly Judgment (Murder She Wrote)

Jessica Fletcher comes through again in finding real murderer and finding out that the innocent person isn't so innocent. That was a twist that I didn't see coming. It took the Breath right out of me. I love this book!

I read all of her books

First, I'd like to say how much I enjoyed this installment of the series. Of the first 6 books, it's quite possibly my favorite. It was a fast, fun read and I liked the way the characters were interconnected and all had an important role to play (instead of being mostly red herrings).However, I was disappointed by the ending. On the one hand I simply didn't like a couple of last minute details/revelations...**spoilers**It was disappointing that the original murder suspect, whom we were meant to like and root for, ended up being guilty of a murder after all. It was especially disappointing since it looked like the author was setting up the third murderer to be Ms. Zeltner. Why was Jessica unnerved by this woman if she was one of the only non-courtroom characters who DIDN'T have blood on her hands? Also, the way Billy tripped himself up was by saying Cynthia had been stabbed IN THE CHEST and he wasn't supposed to have known where she was stabbed...um okay, but isn't that the most likely/common place to be fatally stabbed? If I hear "he/she was stabbed to death" I do automatically assume in the chest. Sure any artery could do it, but torso in general seems to be most common and chest seems even more common than stomach. For him to realistically trip himself up it seems like she should have died of an unusual stab wound, like bleeding out from the leg or arm or something. Assuming something like that without being involved is suspicious, but to me if someone says "stabbing" and someone else says "chest wound" that isn't particularly suspicious at all. Like "he burned himself" if you guess "on the hand" that's normal; if you guess "back of calf?" then not so much.However, more frustrating was the continued trend (as in the previous books) of setting up so many multiple murderers. That's fun and unexpected sometimes, but it's wearing a little thin in this series. I'd like to read a few stories where it really is just ONE killer and we have to figure out who. It's less fun if you can basically go, "well I guess it's ALL (or most) of these suspects" and be right.In this case though it strained credulity too much that we basically had three separate sets of murders committed by different people, and yeah they were interrelated but nevertheless different killers acting independently. That means we're to believe that all these people decided murder was the only viable solution to their problems? Most people do view homicide as a last resort and having so many different individuals resorting to it just pushes believability.Worst of all though was the apparent coincidence of having TWO separate and it turns out NOT related people on the jury who were intimately involved in the case. That's too big a coincidence. It would be less of a coincidence if it had been an a conspiracy with them working together. TWO separate people involved in the case just happened to get called for jury duty? What are the odds? I kept thinking they WERE connected and were going to have some inside confederate who got them called up for jury duty in the first place, a crooked prosecutor, judge, someone, but just as a random massive coincidence it's too unbelievable - even just once it's a stain but for two separate people?Last complaint, what was with the random death of McLoon at the end? Why was that necessary? Was it supposed to be satisfying to the reader somehow? Some kind of cautionary tale about maintaining good health? It just seemed too random and sudden. McLoon was mostly likable, why kill him off for no good reason? Especially after the likable defendant also turned out to be a murderer? Those two details really detracted from my enjoyment of the story.All that aside though it really was a fun read and I'll definitely continue the series.

Donald Bain has written a good solid mystery here, part of a whole series of best-selling mysteries, so why-oh-why is the publisher (Penguin Group) too lazy to edit their own product? Now every book has an occasional typo. But after 11 seasons on tv AND 46 books, how can they not even know the name of the heroine?!? For the record, folks, she is J. B. Fletcher--NOT J."D". Fletcher! And not just once, but repeatedly!!!I find that repeated mistake truly insulting to both the author and the reader.

I really enjoyed this book. It was her usual but very unusual way of solving the murders. She had never written a book quite like this one even tho she's through

This was one of Jessica's better interludes with justice. I found the characters stimulating and fun, a touch on the eccentric and interesting to become involved in. Bringing the drama of court room hyjinks into it is always interesting. It's fun also to have the character's of Cabot Cove drop in and add spice to the scenes. Found it very enjoyable to read and fast paced.

I love "Murder She Wrote". I have the DVD box set of the entire run of the show I've read a boatload of the paperbacks. I enjoy the paperbacks very much but sometimes the are pieces of dialogue or certain phrases that do not mimic the series. Maybe I am a purist, but in some books Sheriff Metzger calls Jessica Fletcher by her 1st name! That to me is a no no. Well anyway, I enjoy the books. I still am caught off guard when the murderer is unveiled.

I fully enjoyed reading this book. As the story developed and my list of suspects got bigger I never suspected that his older bother was behind the plan for him to loose his trust fund. Although he messed up in the when he killed his girlfriend who was to say to the court that he did not kill his brother.

Good story and enough plot to amuse but not overload

All of us who enjoyed the TV series will find that this story follows true to the series. It is vintage Jessica. I was surprised, however, by the numerous typos. The book needed a better editor. Otherwise quite enjoyable.

Great book

Bought as a gift. Came early. Can't fault it!!

Fab