MURDER, SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early is reminiscent of Rear Window, with Jessica Fletcher’s plans for a cruise derailed by a slip and fall on icy stairs. Left housebound with injuries, she’s making the best of the situation, keeping busy with the help of a nurse’s aide, and a wheelchair, and writing her latest manuscript. But things take a turn when Jessica starts noticing strange occurrences outside her window. Is it just her writer’s imagination, or is the mysterious man renting the house across the street up to no good?

As always in Cabot Cove, newcomers are under scrutiny. Mr. Rymer, who claims to be an artist, stands out for his peculiar habit of creating lewd snow sculptures on his front lawn. Jessica’s suspicions grow when a woman claiming to be his wife visits her. Meanwhile, someone has been vandalizing Mr. Rymer’s sculptures at night. Could it be a disgruntled neighbor? Jessica begins to wonder if there’s a connection between her new neighbor and a recent murder near the docks. On top of that, a mysterious figure known as the Bologna Kid has been stealing food and clothes around Cabot Cove, including from Jessica’s own home. With so many intriguing pieces of the puzzle, it’s no surprise when a human hand is discovered sticking out of the snow. Can Jessica solve this mystery before she becomes the next victim of a cold-blooded killer?

MURDER, SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER brings readers back to Cabot Cove, Maine, and 698 Candlewood Lane, where Jessica, though physically limited by her injuries, remains a keen observer of the mystery unfolding outside her front window. The cold, snowy atmosphere, combined with Cabot Cove’s local gossip, a shady property management company, the Bologna Kid, the lewd snow sculptures, the plagiarized manuscripts, and Jessica’s secretive nurse’s aide, create a compelling story full of layers and twists. The plot moves quickly, Jessica’s sleuthing remains sharp, and, as always, the secondary characters and the familiar setting add to the charm and atmosphere of the series. The writing tips directed at Alice, an aspiring writer, are a delightful touch. Return to Cabot Cove in this latest Murder, She Wrote mystery, where the snow falls fast and a killer emerges from the cold.