And to make matters worse, she becomes a suspect in the media circus that surrounds the crime. During Jessica's stay, Marjorie hosts a get-together with her niece, some people in the publishing business, and of course, some questionable characters (it wouldn't be a Jessica Fletcher novel without these ne'er do wells, would it?).ĭuring Jessica's overnight stay at Marjorie's estate, she stumbles upon a crime scene: her dear friend Marjorie has been murdered. Marjorie is of an advanced age and believes herself to be near death. In Gin & Daggers, Jessica Fletcher finds herself traveling to London to give an opening speech, and in doing so makes time to spend with a dear friend, who happens to be the most popular mystery fiction writer in the world, Marjorie Ainsworth. This is the first novel in the long-running Murder, She Wrote book series that accompanies the show of the same name. Librarian's note #3: the original 'Murder She Wrote' series by James Anderson and David Deutsch has 4 volumes: #1, The Murder of Sherlock Holmes (1985) #2, Hooray for Homicide (1985) #3, Lovers and Other Killers (1986) and #4, Murder in Two Acts (1986).

Librarian's note #2: the first 15 books in the current Jessica Fletcher / Donald Bain 'Murder She Wrote' series are #1, Gin & Daggers (1989) with a 2nd edition in (2000) #2, Manhattans & Murder (1994) #3, Rum & Razors (1995) #4, Brandy & Bullets (1995) #5, Martinis & Mayhem (1995) #6, A Deadly Judgment (1996) #7, A Palette for Murder (1996) #8, The Highland Fling Murders (1997) #9, Murder on the QE2 (1997) #10, Murder in Moscow (1998) #11, A Little Yuletide Murder (1998) #12, Murder at the Powderhorn Ranch (1999) #13, Knock 'Em Dead (1999) #14, Trick or Treachery (2000) and #15, Blood on the Vine (2001). The second in 2000 contained corrections on the first. Librarian's note #1: there are two editions of this novel, a rarity in the field. The routine business trip for Jessica becomes murderous-when she discovers Marjorie stabbed to death in her own bedroom. Marjorie is the grand dame of mystery writing but she's in frail health.

She's also looking forward to seeing her mentor, Marjorie Ainsworth, who will be hosting a party at her country estate to celebrate her latest book. Jessica Fletcher is off to London to deliver the keynote address at a mystery writers convention.

Gin and daggers