
Mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher - a down-to-earth, middle-aged widow - ferrets out the criminals in idyllic Cabot Cove, Maine, which apparently is the murder capital of the United States for the show's 12-season run. Though while traveling, she uncovers a fair number of killers as well.

Jessica travels to Rome to help rewrite the script for the filming of one of her books, but the filming takes a tragic turn when a stuntman dies.

Detective Charlie Garrett's (Wayne Rogers) high bid on a mediocre painting puzzles Jessica; then, its second-rate artist is found dead.

When Jessica arrives at an ice cream company to get a check for charity, the funds have melted away and the company's co-founder is iced.

After being subpoenaed to testify at the jury probe of a brokerage house, Jessica is charged with contempt for speaking to a witness who is killed.