Customer Reviews

Murder, She Wrote: A Deadly Judgment

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

 

 

This book is so good that I think nobody in the whole amazon society whould regret reading it because of the excitement it stirs up!!!!!!!

I've also read all the other Murder she Wrote books and enjoyed all, these books has put me in the position of being a detective.

Reading this book is much better than watching television.

IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE MISSED!!!!!

Jessica Fletcher is off to Boston to help her eccentric lawyer friend, Malcolm McLoon, defend a tycoon accused of fraticide. Her uncanny sleuthing talents will come in handy when the two old acquaintances dive into the case with their characteristics vigor. Even so, Jessica anticipates enough time to take in the charming sights of New England's historic capital.

Donald Bain has turned "A Deadly Judgment" into a cat-and-mouse game in this highly-praised Murder She Wrote mystery. Bain draws readers into a state of thrills and excitement with the endearing wit of America's favorite mystery sleuth, Jessica Fletcher. I was engrossed with every aspect of this book, from the day Jessica excepts the invitation to Boston, to finding the culprit behind the murders. Great praises for Donald Bain. Thanks for keeping us Murder She Wrote readers entangled in your world of brilliance and mystery.

One of the most frequent criticisms directed at the books in this series is that the characters tend to be shallow. I have to agree that this is often the case but after all these are warm fuzzy mysteries and aren't expected to rival "To Kill a Mockingbird" with their literary quality. That being the case, I don't often take umbrage and get all upset about one-dimensional characters. I just read the books and enjoy them for what they are.

This installment in the series however, takes one-dimensional characters to a new level, especially when it comes to attorney Malcolm McLoon. Other than Jessica, McLoon is the main character in this book and he is a walking stereotype. Even his final bow out of the story is an insensitive stereotype. McLoon could have been a very fun and enjoyable character but Mr. Bain decided to take the easy way out and therefore blew a golden opportunity.

Other than the almost but not quite lovable McLoon, this is a very interesting mystery. One that because of the trial setting is different than any of the other books in the series. The basic plot revolves around a family of baked bean magnets and the trial of one member of the family for the murder of his brother. Jessica becomes involved when McLoon asks her to serve on the defense team, more for the publicity she will draw to the case than anything else. Of course the swaggering attorney gets more than he bargained for and soon Jessica is on the trail of the killer.

As she sorts through the clues, Jessica once again puts herself in danger while attempting to unravel the tangled mess that she finds. Along the way, she deals with three more deaths that are connected to the original crime, a couple of scheming women, a jealous lover and an amorous society gentleman. She even manages to set Seth up on with date.

In the end of course, Jessica solves the mystery, or in this case mysteries and heads back to Cabot Cove. As is usual in these books though, she solves the mystery by having certain knowledge that is not available to the reader, so don't plan on fingering the guilty party yourself. Still, despite the stereotypical nature of one of the main characters and the unfair withholding of information, I enjoyed this book. It is probably not the best book in the series but it is definitely worth reading.

This one kept me on the edge of my seat, literally. It was one of the best in the series.

I liked the "Murder She Wrote" episodes that depicted the courtroom scene (Trial By Error, Witness for the Defense.) Jessica's presence in these situations always make for an enjoyable episode. A DEADLY JUDGMENT is a winner because of those elements. Here she is asked to part of a jury, which piques my interest.

What puzzles me, however, are the reviews from readers who, when they find a grammatical error or editorial mistake, are ready to right a wrong, point fingers, and dismiss the story itself on those judgments. For example, Donald Bain writes "J.D. Fletcher" instead of J.B. Fletcher. People rate the book porrly on those merits, which is outragous. The story here is page-turner, and I hope Mr. Bain returns to the courtroom in a future mystery.

T.B. Grant
3/3/08

Even though I thought the fifth installment in the "Murder, she wrote" mystery series by Donald Bain would be a tiresome one, I enjoyed myself thoroughly. In this novel, Jessica is off to historical Boston, Maine, to work as a Jury Consultant in a famous murder trial, under the invitation of her famous lawyer friend Malcolm McCloon. The book has been written during the O.J. Simpson trial and therefore, transmits all the notoriety of a high profile case: the defendant is the younger of two brothers of a nation-wide company called "Brannigan's Baked Beans" (I don't know why I kept thinking of "Bush's Baked Beans") The case gets really complicated when the defendant's girlfriend - and his only alibi - gets killed, stabbed through the heart.

Jessica is not too eager at taking the job at first, but it's almost too good an offer to decline after her publisher asks her to base her next novel on a court trial "to increase sales" (is Jessica Fletcher also suffering the backlash of the bad economy?). Faster than you can say "murder', Jessica is off for a prolonged, indulging stay at the famous Ritz-Carlton, taking walks through Copley Place and eating gourmet dinners at the most famous restaurants and bars the city has to offer, all compliments of a high paying client.

The killer, however, is very close to Jessica's toes and her life is in danger when she starts digging deeper after the subsequent deaths of two jurors who were, apparently, favoring the defense team she is working for. Undeterred, she keeps going until, finally - and using terminology worthy of Johnnie Cochran and Marsha Clark - she solves the murder(s) during a hearing.

The book finishes rather abruptly, but I did like the way the author presented a court trial novel without loosing that "cozy" touch. It reminded me of my own stay in Boston, a long time ago, when I could still afford such a life of luxury!

Excellent! I love Murder She Wrote books and this has to be by far the best. It's especially good that the murderer was a murderer after all - though not of the same crime! It was like the TV episode "Trial and Error" of Murder SHe Wrote where a man was placed on trial for a murder he didn't commit. But he committed another murder to do with the first one! TOTALLY EXCELLENT!!!!!

I love this series, but this particular book was very disappointing. Jessica is helping select jurors for a trial. The plot twists we are asked to swallow in this book are too much. How could potential jurors (two!)be involved...is Boston's jury pool so small? Too coincendental. Jessica visits a sherrif in Long Island, who is free to be at her beck and call, though he had a murder committeed in his town the day before? And the many deaths are waived off essentially with no remorse or sadness...and the ending one takes up all of one sentance. This does not make for a cozy murder mystery!
I highly recommend that no one start reading this series with this book, you won't go on. Instead try Palette for Murder. It is much better.

This book is an interesting departure from most of the other books in this series. There were more twists to this. I was however, disappointed with the ending that came rather abruptly after the author has spent so many words to introduce the intrigue.