Murder in a Minor Key

Murder, She Wrote 3:14

If you watch just one episode of Murder, She Wrote this month, why not make it this one?

This is the first in a handful of what I always think of as “Jessica Fletcher is away” episodes. J.B. dips in and out of the narrative, speaking directly to the camera, but she's not a part of the story proper. This one is unique, as she describes the plot of her latest book, Murder in a Minor Key, with a dramatisation of the action featuring an amateur sleuth called Chad. So, it's kind of a play within a play.

I love the moment towards the end where Jessica pops up to interject.

She asks the viewer, “How about you? Have you figured out who killed the good doctor? Well, you can't be hurting for suspects; heaven knows there were plenty of people with motive and opportunity.

But if you've been paying attention, there's one particular clue that should pinpoint the guilty party. See if you can come up with the same answer that Chad did.”

Well, that's a challenge! I'm always trying to work out whodunit when I watch Murder, She Wrote, but Jessica's clever plotting in this book was way too sophisticated for me!

I suggest you get a real fire going

and wear fluffy high-heeled mules and a cosy housecoat while you watch this one. J.B. explains that her silly slippers were a present from her nephew Grady and she only wears them around the house when nobody can see.

They are super glamorous, though, and I want some! Jessica is all cosied up because she is hard at work proofreading. This pasta dish (from Angela’s Positive Moves book) is definitely the kind of thing I can imagine her rustling up to give herself sustenance for spotting typos, squinting modifiers and rogue apostrophes.

Angela Lansbury's Angel Hair Pasta with Fresh Summer Tomatoes

1-pound ripe tomatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ medium onion, sliced very thin

1 large clove garlic, peeled and chopped fine

Coarse salt

8 oz dry angel hair pasta, or any long, thin pasta

Fresh basil (optional)

Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water for 1 or 2 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, remove the skins and seeds, and cut into quarters. (I like to use Italian plum tomatoes, but any kind will do.) Heat the olive oil in a frying pan on a medium heat. Then add the onion and sauté until it is transparent. Add the quartered tomatoes, garlic, and salt, according to your taste. Don’t forget you’ve probably put some salt in the water the pasta is cooking in, and some of that flavour clings to the noodles, even after they have been drained. Simmer the tomato mixture gently for about 15 minutes. When the pasta is cooked, pour the hot sauce over it and, if you like, add some fresh chopped basil leaves as a tasty and colorful garnish.

Serves 2

Be More Jessica in 2025

Recently, one of my test cooks Rebecca made me laugh with this comment in an email, “I strive to be more like Jessica Fletcher every day, minus the dead bodies.”

As regular readers will know, I pledged to “be more Jessica” in 2025 and in June I’ll be channelling her book tour energy

as I promote my new book Cooking The Detectives.

Recipes from all the folks who appear on the cover and many more who played cops, private detectives and amateur sleuths are included within. Our beloved Jessica isn’t on the cover, but naturally, she’s in there!

Cooking The Detectives is available to preorder via my Etsy shop - I can sign it with a special message to you or a loved one. After 1st July it will be available to order via Amazon or to order from your local bookshop if you are in the UK or USA. Join me for an online watch party and lollipop lickathon to celebrate - more details coming soon but here’s a hint - Angela Lansbury is involved!

Lollipops at the ready - there will be PRIZES!!

Star-spangled recipe books!

My books are available worldwide via Amazon (switch to your own country for the correct pricing)

or via my Etsy shop (these will come directly from me and can be signed if you wish) - my 1933 cocktail book facsimile is only available from here.

Tune in next month for another fabulous episode of Murder, She Wrote and another star-spangled recipe.