by Jon Land
The publication of Murder in Red marks the 35th anniversary of the eternal Murder, She Wrote series, which debuted on CBS in 1984. But did you know that Angela Lansbury wasn’t the first choice to play Jessica Fletcher? The producers actually wanted Jean Stapleton, who’d fabulously played Edith Bunker on All in the Family. With that in mind, and to celebrate Murder in Red, let’s take a look at some other things you might not know about Jessica Fletcher.
- Speaking of Angela Lansbury, the fact that Jessica never got her driver’s license mirrors the fact that Angela never got hers either.
- Jessica served as president of her Delta Alpha Chi sorority at Harrison College in Green Falls, New Hampshire, where she majored in journalism.
- Jessica first met her future husband when they were both volunteering for a production at the esteemed Appleton Theater. Jessica set-building turned out so bad, she never volunteered again.
- When Jessica and her husband Frank raised their nephew, Grady, Jessica worked as a substitute English teacher at Appleton High School.
- The death of the Appleton High principal became the first murder Jessica ever solved.
- On that investigation she worked with Amos Tupper, then Appleton’s only detective who’d go on to become sheriff at Cabot Cove.
- Jessica and Frank purchased their beloved home in Cabot Cove from real estate agent Eve Simpson, who would become a close friend of Jessica’s. The night Eve showed them the house at 698 Candlewood Lane also marked the first meeting between Jessica and Dr. Seth Hazlitt.
- Upon moving to Cabot Cove, Jessica got a job teaching English full time and went on to mentor any number of writers who came back for visits during the television show’s twelve-year run.
- Writing as J. B. Fletcher, Jessica has published more than 40 books, from The Corpse Danced at Midnight to The Corpse Danced Alone.
- She celebrated publication of The Corpse Danced at Midnight at a costume party put on by her publisher Preston Giles in the pilot for the series, during which, of course, someone is murdered and Jessica ends up cracking the case. The episode was called “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes.”
The books gave Jessica a romantic interest in Chief Inspector George Sutherland of Scotland Yard, who’s introduced in the very first book in the series, Gin and Daggers. Sutherland returns in Murder in Red. The closest she ever came to a love interest in the TV series was with Preston Giles, a flirtation that lasted only until Jessica revealed him as the killer in the same episode. In a subsequent episode years later, Giles is murdered himself.- Jessica left Cabot Cove for a time to teach criminology at New York’s Manhattan University, where she lives in Manhattan at the Penfield House Apartments, 941 West 61st St. She ultimately gave up the position because she missed Cabot Cove too much.
- The Murder, She Wrote series boasts more books than either Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes (4 novels and 56 short stories) or Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot (45 novels).
- Speaking of Agatha Christie, Angela Lansbury played Christie’s famed sleuth, Jane Marple, in the 1980 film The Mirror Cracked.
- Spoiler Alert! Or a preview of What’s Next. A number of the factoids above are drawn from A Time for Murder, #50 in the Murder, She Wrote series, which will be published this coming November and will introduce Jessica as a younger woman, twenty-five years in the past, for the first time in books or television!
Jon Land is the award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of 50 books, including ten titles in the critically acclaimed Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong series, the most recent of which, Strong as Steel, was called “what might be the best novel of 2019” by Suspense Magazine. Murder in Red marks his third effort writing as Jessica Fletcher for the Murder, She Wrote series, and he’s also teamed with Heather Graham for a new sci-fi series starting with The Rising.
what happened to Jessica’s husband Frank?
It’s 2020, so I’m going to go with “fed to a tiger.”
Died natural causes. Heart Attack
Some of this info is not correct. Harry Pierce sold them their house. The first murder she solved was the one at Preston Giles home. He ended up being the murderer.
As stated at the end of the article…
“A number of the factoids above are drawn from A Time for Murder, #50 in the Murder, She Wrote series, which will be published this coming November and will introduce Jessica as a younger woman, twenty-five years in the past, for the first time in books or television!”
The book referred to is a prequel to the TV show and therefore adds to the body of knowledge. Whether it is accepted as canon, and therefore regarded as containing correct info, is probably an individual choice.
Correct!
I am SO HAPPY you made the correction for others to see- I thought I was the only super fan of Murder She Wrote that knew who sold Jessica and Frank their glorious home and that Preston Giles was, in the entire 12 year run, that made Jessica blush and put a twinkle in her eyes!!! That’s the only story that made me so sad. I wanted Jessica to find love again- that’s what Frank would have wanted.
I loved, LOVED Murder She Wrote. So many years of enjoyment. Glad I didn’t know she was a Democrat, or I would have never watched it!
Heaven forbid, boycotting someone for their political beliefs!
I think that was a joke
I have watched every episode of Murder she wrote! I love Angela Lansbury. As a matter of fact , I’m watching “Murder she Wrote” right this minute. Best mysteries ever.
Lol. I too am watching this very minute. In fact this is the first time I have seen an episode of Murder She Wrote. I really like it.
I agree !!! I have watched them over and over and over again.
Lol – my thoughts exactly!!
I use 2 be..hey
People change u no..this us silly
Really? You would let your political affiliation keep you from watching the greatest murder mystery to this day? Nothing or no one would stand in my way of watching the late, great Angela Lansbury in ANY role anywhere. She was a gift and thanks to Peacock I will see her every day for the rest of my life!!
was Angela’s attitude off set as when she played jessica?
Does anyone recall that Angela had so many, friends, odd and older guest-stars to help them keep their SAG card.
Dem or Rep.
Who cares?!
She was a WONDERFUL woman!!
Julie Swendsen-Jones
Dunno bout that jbut does anyone know how many years jessica and frank were married?
This is one of my favorite shows. I bought the complete series years ago and watch it almost every evening. And like many of you I’m watching it as I write this. She died last year (2023). I wish I could have met her. She was quite the Showwoman!
Angela was a beautiful and talented actress, not just Murder She Wrote but her Movies as well, she will be missed.
I faithfully watch Murder She Wrote and the reruns. Angela Lansbury was a class act. Maybe she rest in peace.
Jack Bradley
Has anyone ever thought of offering for sale each of the years which were divided so that all of her shows could be put in hour long copies for people to keep and watch . What would be the cost if done in dvd format ? Vicki Housley . I would like to know if this format would work not just for her fans but young woman should grow up watching something well done with moxie !