Customer Reviews

Murder, She Wrote: The Queen's Jewels

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For fans of Jessica Fletcher (and Donald Bain), Murder She Wrote: the Queen's Jewels is one of the best books in the Murder She Wrote series. Jessica's shipboard adventures include old favorites Michael Haggerty and Dennis Stanton in a suspense-filled sailing across the Atlantic. Jessica's adventure begins in London and continues at sea with mysterious characters and sinister persona. I have enjoyed this work more than other recent Bain novels, and I am sure long-time fans of the television series will enjoy the references to earlier adventures with Michael and Dennis. This book will both entertain you and keep you guessing. It's a must read for Jessica Fletcher fans. I eagerly await and pre-order each adventure.

If you are die-hard fan of Murder She Wrote. You absolutely love the Queen Jewels. It has suspense and loads of intrigue. Also you favorite beloved characters Dennis Stanton and Michael Haggerty is included in this novel. Which at first I admit I thought that it would be distracting. But it was a delightful treat. And as always no matter where Jessica goes there's a murder to be solved even on the high seas. With an abundant of suspects to hold your attention as always some surprising moments. This is the novel to keep.

If "Murder on the QE2" was a bestseller in Donald Bain's Murder She Wrote book series, then "The Queen's Jewels" is sure to top the sales rank with vengeance. The newest Jessica Fletcher mystery is one of the better reads in the series, and avid fans will be ravenous for more.

From the beginning, the story is reminiscent of the popular TV series. First, the introduction of Michael Haggerty (portrayed by Len Cariou from the show), a British MI6 intelligence agent, enters the picture. His appearance brings a smile to the surface of things. Espionage and danger will soon follow, however, as many fans of the TV series will recall from watching the episodes in which Michael appeared alongside Jessica during her various travels. With Haggerty's interest in the case, nonstop action quickly ensues. And it doesn't let up.

Once aboard the Queen Mary 2, Jessica realizes midway through the crossing that another old friend is onboard--jewel thief turned insurance investigator, Dennis Stanton, played by the charming Keith Michell on the TV serial. Though Stanton does not get enough page time, he is a marvel to watch, as always, and his involvement in the case is limited. I would have thought he would have been better apt for the case than Michael Haggerty, considering Stanton's penchant for jewels and his brush with thievery in the past. Also, his infamous, trusty umbrella cane from the TV series is missing here. I wanted more of his character. Maybe Bain will bring him back, and the cane, in another outing. Aside from Stanton and Haggerty, the story offers a slew of other colorful and interesting characters, some toxic, which Bain paints with a deft hand. George Sutherland makes a cameo, and the moments with he and Jessica are to be savored like fine wine. When they are together, there is a side to Jessica Fletcher, a limitless spark of hope, that endears the heart. But the mystery is what the reader looks forward to. And after 34 books, the core puzzle is a great one.

"The Queen's Jewels" is a strong entry in the popular whodunit series, filled with espionage, well-formed characters, and an intense and complex storyline to die for. A fast-paced caper that will have you finishing the book in one afternoon. The ending is sad, which is an unlikely characteristic for a Murder She Wrote novel, but it works. Quite well indeed.


T.B. Grant 10/18/10

Cunard offered writer Jessica Fletcher a chance to travel on the Queen Mary II from England to New York at no cost if she serves as a writing instructor. Jessica eagerly agrees and flies to London. She goes to a dinner hosted by her publisher; there she meets Kim Chin-Hwa whose partner Walter Yang bought a blue diamond called the Heart of India.

She learns the gem was stolen and Yang murdered. Jessica's Scotland Yard friend Inspector George Sutherland expects the diamond to be sold as he tells her the business partner has an air tight alibi. Also attending the party Jessica's British publisher throws for her is M-16 Agent Michael Haggerty who has come in from the cold to find the diamond. Former jewel thief now insurance investigator Dennis Stanton wants to find the Heart of India before the QM-II docks in the States. There are others connected to the stolen gem so Jessica applies her grandmotherly kindness asking questions until she concludes who is involved in the theft and now all she has to do is prove her theory.

It has been years since the show ended, yet Donald Bain still captures the essence of Jessica that makes her a fan favorite. The Queen's Jewel is a very complex amateur sleuth tale due to the numerous characters with multiple motives concerning the deceased and the jewels. In an ironic twist of fate, a notorious jewel thief on board is connected to a series of jewelry robberies that occurred just prior to the ship's departure. However, once again this is Jessica's mystery as she calmly investigates the suspects sailing with her.

Harriet Klausner

I absolutely enjoyed this particular story. I loved the atmosphere, London, on an ocean liner, yes-- it was done before on the QE2, but this mystery was completely different and refreshing.

Old friends (or are they?) reappear, new friends (or are they?) are made, throw in some deaths, jealousy, greed, havoc and you have a wonderful page-turner.

"The Queen's Jewels" was so entertaining that I finished this one in just days!

Great reading, always easy to read and keeps you guessing who did the killing and who stole the Jewels. If you have read any of her previous books you will also enjoy this one.

I've always been a great fan of "Murder She Wrote" books and for quite sometimes the books weren't as good as it used to be. However, after a long time the writers came up with a great mystery. The story takes place in a cruise ship where Jessica Fletcher has six days to catch the murderer and a group of international jewel thieves. Its a fast paced mystery and she had some help from old characters like Michael Haggerty and Dennis Stanton and new loving character Harry Flynn. This book will keep you to the edge of your seat till the end.

The only thing that kept this from a one-star rating was the atmosphere, i.e., the ocean liner. Granted, this milieu, like the English manor house or the snowstorm-bound party, has been used already a few times. It still works alright, but I wish there were some new sites.

The characters are a bit shopworn. If you are a mystery reader, you've seen them all before this and they move on rails. The dialogue is stagy. The exposition has too, too many cliches and somehow doesn't flow smoothly. And the denouement felt too contrived.

This is only the second book I've read in this series, and I'll be avoiding the rest. There are too many really good mysteries for one to spend more time with Ms Fletcher. Miss Marple she is not.

This was the most disappointing of the Murder She Wrote books I have read. It had good atmopshere, but the denoument was weak and not at all surprising. No real twist, the novel simply builds to a grand finale that was not there.

From the theft of a rare diamond and brutal murder of its owner, to an ingenious plot concocted by the irrepressible Jessica Fletcher to uncover the stolen gem and bring a band of jewel thieves to justice, The Queen's Jewels is a fast-paced, gripping caper that sweeps the reader along at a brisk pace. Each chapter ends in a cliffhanger, holding the reader's attention right to the story's conclusion. Adding even more sparkle to The Queen's Jewels is Jessica's friendship with a fellow passenger aboard the luxurious Queen Mary 2 - an encounter ending on a bittersweet note that will no doubt remain in Jessica's heart forever. Bravo to Donald Bain and Jessica Fletcher for a sparkling gem of a murder mystery, woven with an intriguing plot and memorable characters. The Queen's Jewels shines among the best in the Murder, She Wrote series.