Hollywood has been teasing that a new Murder, She Wrote is on its way this Christmas. The fandom write-ups have Jamie Lee Curtis playing Jessica Fletcher’s niece. AI-generated material also show Tom Selleck as the sheriff and George Clooney as an FBI profiler. Neither appears to have committed to the project (although both were guests in the original television series). The names of these main characters differ, depending on the post, which is another red flag. There is no release date or outlet to watch. All and all, it sounds like a project that will be scrapped like the 2013 Octavia Spencer reboot proposal. I’m actually disappointed.
Original TV show
I know it isn’t popular among writers, particularly Maine crime writers, to be a Murder, She Wrote fan. Cabot Cove is obviously fictional—personally, I think it is a smaller Boothbay Harbor with its working waterfront, shops, and restaurants. I’m aware that not everything in the series is accurate in its portrayal of Maine, from its accents to the location of I-95. In fact, a blogger on this very site wrote about these errors many moons ago. Another irony is more people seem to die in Cabot Cove than throughout the entire state. Trust me, Maine’s crime rate is low.
But, I swear, the essence of Cabot Cove is Midcoast Maine. The show speaks nonchalantly of Monhegan Island being ten miles off shore, and the town has sheriffs, not police officers, just like my own Midcoast town, to maintain the law and order. Augusta is mentioned as where the health inspector comes from in the “Keep the Home Fries Burning” episode, and Portland is the destination that Jessica and Sheriff Tupper never get to in “Murder Takes the Bus.”
Those of us who write stories set in Maine, particularly with Maine as its own character, know that readers expect a close reality to both the geography and the culture. However, if we’re writing fiction, and Murder, She Wrote is also fiction, we are all allowed licenses to change the map to fit the story. In watching back-to-back episodes, I think the show gets more things right than it does wrong.
Like it or not, the show is part of Maine. This fall, I attended the Maine Historical Society’s excellent exhibit on crime called Notorious: Maine Crime in the Public Eye, 1690-1940 (still open through December 31, 2025). It’s a fascinating display of the settlement of Maine and how human nature can’t keep itself honest and peaceful. Murderous bad apples are everywhere—look at Cain—and historic Maine was no exception. The exhibit is serious with real murder weapons, photographs and drawings of murder scenes, and a mock-up of a pioneer photojournalist’s desk. At the end of all of the pain and sorrow, however, is a cute little corner: Jessica Fletcher’s kitchen table. Of course, I couldn’t resist role playing, and I love the nod to Maine’s most famous non-detective even if the show took place in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s also good to learn that I’m not the only one in the state obsessed with the show.
Maine Historical Society: Murder, She Wrote corner
The most important part of Murder, She Wrote, however, is that I’m finally living the life that Jessica was….well, I mean, the writing mysteries part, not the solving murders part. I’ll pass on that. She had had a full career as something else (a teacher) before her books took off. I too come from another non-writing, career (human resources) and now also write mysteries. Seeing Jessica Fletcher, living along the coast, making up stories, and being nosey was my school girl dream that has now come true. (Yes, I am nosey. Find a crime writer who isn’t.)
My obsession doesn’t stop with the show, however. In 2009, I had the astounding pleasure of meeting Dame Angela Lansbury back stage at the Broadway production of Blythe Spirit. She was as gracious and delightful as you’d imagine. This is a moment I will always treasure, and it further strengthens my bond to the show.
Meeting Dame Angela Lansbury, 2009
We don’t need a new version of Murder, She Wrote. There are over 260 original episodes plus four movies we can stream in various places. However, if the new version can capture the lightness and wholesome story of a solid cozy mystery set in Maine, what’s the harm?
AI image. Suspected as being false.
And, by the way, if you’re wondering if I had Murder, She Wrote playing in the background as I composed this blog, you’d be wrong. I was watching Columbo.
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REMINDER: This month we’re giving away a bundle of books. Leave a comment on this or another fellow writer’s post from this month, and you’ll be entered into the drawing. You might even win!
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Allison Keeton’s debut novel is Blaze Orange, Book One in the Midcoast Maine Mystery series. Arctic Green, Book Two, hits the streets (and snowmobile trails) in February 2026. She can be reached at http://www.akeetonbooks.com
Thanks, Allison. I’m a crime writer based in the UK and also a big fan of MSW. Jamie Lee Curtis was a guest on the BBC’s One Show in the summer, and she talked about this project on air – so hopefully it will go ahead (although, as Jamie Lee said herself in the interview, no one can touch Angela Lansbury in the role). I ordered a copy of Blaze Orange recently, and it arrived last week. I’m looking forward to reading it over the Christmas holidays.
Jane, thanks for the update on the project, and thank you too in advance for reading Blaze Orange. Please let me know your thoughts.
Great piece. As a Mainer I enjoyed MSW and Angela Lansbury was the reason why. I met her while living in Deer Isle. She and Tom Selleck one July many years ago. Both nice folks.
How fun!
I went to the history of crime exhibit in Portland, too. It was very well-done. The Murder She Wrote corner at the end was delightful. I watch the reruns of the show often.
There is something comforting about that show.
I don’t think I have watched 1 full show. I don’t care for other shows that solve mysteries either however I will watch Dateline or 20/20 with real murders. Weird, huh? I know how much you love Murder She wrote and Columbo.
We get our inspiration from somewhere. 🙂
Great post, Allison! I was a huge MSW fan, too and agree Boothbay Harbor is a dead ringer for Cabot Cove.
So nice to hear Angela L was nice in person. So many times actors are not.
Happy Holidays.
karen94066 at aol.com
Happy holidays to you too, Karen.
I love your post except for one thing- I would never want to see
a remake of MSW for a lot of reasons but mostly because the original was so imperfect in so many ways. Thats’ what made it so loveable. You mentioned the geographical errors and sometimes just plain silly accents – that was part of its charm. A new version would insist on accuracy. Like just how long does it take to get to Boston? That was never important when the stories were fun and just challenging enough. Besides, where would you find a “beauty parlor” nowadays?
Thanks, it was fun to visit my favorite town in Maine.
I do think part of the appeal of cozy mysteries in general is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. Any remake is a risk, for sure. By the way, I can walk to a beauty parlor from my house. It’s next to post office and across from a cemetery, and before the marine store. The charm of a small town. 🙂
I’d be up for a reboot, actually. Might be fun!
I agree!
We have quite a few beauty parlors in my area. They tend to take their naming a little less seriously than some. There’s Curl Up and Dye, Tezerz. The Mane Event, and, simply, Z’s.
MSW was a comfortable show. It was gentle and always ended well. We also liked Columbo for the same reason. They never pulled a weapon and used their powers of observation to outwit the criminals. We could use some of that today.
I agree with the bloggers. Jamie Lee would be a terrific sleuth. All three are excellent choices for their rolls. They couldn’t, shouldn’t, be Angela’s Cabot Cove. It would be the next generation.
I love MSW. I would like to see a new version and the actors mentioned are all terrific and would be wonderful provided the writers for the show were also terrific.