Customer Reviews

GIN AND DAGGERS.

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jessica has done it, yet, again. As she travels to England to visit her friend and world's most famous mystery writer, Marjorie Ainsworth, the real mystery begins. As usual, Jessica stumbles upon a body, this time it being her friend, Marjorie. The plot of the story thickens when Jessica puts her own life on the line to find the culprit who murdered Marjorie in her own bedroom. I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't put it down. Every page is a page-turner, and Donald Bain has captured an atmosphere engrossed with suspense and thrills. I'm comparing "Gin and Daggers" to other great Murder She Wrote mysteries such as "Knock 'em Dead" and "Rum and Razors." One word for Bain: Genius.

Excellent, couldn't put it down. Keep in mind that this is a re-release of Donald Bain's first Murder, She Wrote mystery and not the next in a series. Some familiar characters are introduced in this book and come back in subsequent books, ie Chief Inspector Sutherland. This is a "must have" book if you have read all the other Murder, She Wrote by this author.

Having read all the Murder She Wrote books, I was quite confused with this one as I was reading it. I felt that I had read it before, but was confused because it stated she had just met Inspector Sutherland. I knew that she had met him before thru previous novels. Also, the title was one that had been used in previuos series. Now I found out that it is a reissue. The book should have stated this. The credit page did state that April 2000 was the first Signet printing but should have stated it was a reissue. This is what has bothered me. Still, love the entire series, each book is just as good as the one before. Own them all. Can't wait until the next ones come out.

This was once again a good book in her series of murder she wrote books. I have read all but the last one; Trick and Treachery. I have followed her tv series and books for many years and hope she continues to write more. When I read any of her books I can almost feel myself in the tv version, like I am there and one of the characters. Jessica Fletcher is a wonderful writer and I hope that she will be around for years to come, writing more of the Murder She Wrote series.

Jessica is off to jolly old England for a mystery writer's convention and to spend a few days with her friend Marjorie Ainsworth, the reigning queen of the murder mystery. Marjorie's new book, "Gin & Daggers" is a runaway smash hit and as soon as Jessica arrives at the grand dame's home she is presented with a personally inscribed copy. Marjorie is getting along in years and her mind seems to come and go but Jessica finds that this book is probably her best ever. It is so good in fact that some people are beginning to question whether Marjorie wrote it at all and even Jessica must admit that the style of writing is not normal.

On Jessica's second night with Marjorie the house is filled with guests and the elderly writer seems to be having a ball. Finally though fatigue catches up with her and she goes off to bed. Later that night, Jessica, who is in the room next to her friend hears a noise and goes to check on Marjorie and finds her with a dagger in her chest. The police arrive and find a piece of Jessica's jewelry under Marjorie's bed, momentarily making Jessica the prime suspect. This puts Jessica in a rather dangerous position since the British public considers Marjorie Ainsworth to be a national treasure and they are quite upset.

What follows is a typical Jessica Fletcher mystery except that this one is a little more sordid and confusing than most of the others. On the other hand, if you pay close attention to the details you will be able to name the murderer just as quickly as Jessica. This book also introduces Inspector Sutherland although I understand that he had been introduced before but I haven't read that book and therefore can't comment on that odd possibility. Inspector Sutherland, be he a new character or not, is however kind enough in this book to detail the origin of the term red herring which was a bit of information that I was not aware of. That in itself makes this book well worth the effort one gives to reading it.

This is by no means the best book in this series but it isn't a bad book either. Some of the characters are rather flat, especially Mort and Seth, and there are a few characters whose very presence is unneeded and distracting, but then again some of the characterizations are simply wonderful. Bumps in the story line are an unfortunate frequent occurrence in these books but the writing is clean and crisp and the mystery itself is enthralling as usual. It is also unfortunate that Jessica comes across as a little small minded at times in this book as she does in several of these books but you just can't help but like her. She is also just a little gullible in this story which makes her all the more likable and human. Give this book a try but do not judge the entire series by this entry.

This is the first Murder, She Wrote novel that I have read, but I really enjoyed it. I found the book slow a few times, but overall the plot and the characters were engaging. This is a great book to get one interested in the series, and it is also a good summer reading book for one to take on a vacation. Now, I'm about to start the Murder, She Wrote book entitled Murder on the QE2. I definitely think that these books live up to the wonderful reputation of the television series of the same name.

I love these books - have read them all. They are fun to read between more serious books. I always watched Murder She Wrote on TV and am happy when a special pops up periodically. I enjoy all the characters and places in the books which were also in the TV series - Seth Hazlitt, Mort Metzger, Cabot Cove, Mara's Luncheonette, etc. I have to agree with the person who reviewed this book before my review, I was confused about the apparent first meeting with Inspector Sutherland when Jessica had visited him before and they always seem to have fond feelings for each other. What happened? Other than that, it was as good as all the others. Looking forward to the next one "Trick or Treachery."

I'm a big Murder She Wrote fangirl. I loved watching the series on tv as a teen and I was thrilled to discover that there is a series of novels set around the characters.

Gin and Daggers is the first novel of the series. Jessica is abroad in London for a conference and to visit friend and fellow mystery writer, Marjorie Ainsworth. Her plans to sightsee get derailed when Marjorie turns up dead and Jessica is the prime suspect!

I really enjoyed this novel. The mystery was great and kept me guessing till the end. Jessica is a likable sleuth and there were plenty literary references to keep my bookish senses amused. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.

The TV series MURDER, SHE WROTE was fabulous!!! And now the follow-up series of books by Donald Bain and "Jessica Fletcher" is stupendous! Donald Bain is not only an excellent writer, but a super nice person also. And speaking of nice people, I met Angela Lansbury backstage after one of her performances in "Blithe spirit", and she has got to be the most wonderful person in the world. Talented, down to earth, lovely and gentle person.....You can't say enough good things about her. Eighty-four years old and still going strong! READ THE BOOKS!!!

I absolutely adore the character of Jessica Fletcher and Angela Lansbury couldn't have been more better cast in the TV show. That's why I'm having a hard time with this series of books. Guess I expected more. Story is okay but certainly not up to par with the actual television scripts. And since when did Jessica ever call the Sheriff MORTON? Since this was the first book in the series I was kind of sad not to see Amos Tupper in the beginning stories. Mort's dialogue leaves much to be desired, he doesn't seem to have the same dialect as in the show so it's hard to keep an image in your head that he's the one talking.

Gin and Daggers starts out well enough but when Seth and Mort show up in England it doesn't hold water. It seems as if they're thrown in there just to remind us of Cabot Cove. Needless to say I will continue with the series since I can't get enough of Jessica Fletcher and the books do keep the character alive now that the show is kaput. Too bad they didn't hire a woman to write these books, the writing feels stilted and stiff at times, like a man trying to write from a woman's view. Fast easy read but Jessica's stories deserve better!