One of Jessica's former students is murdered when he returns to Cabot Cove to write a book exposing new information on a 30-year-old town scandal.One of Jessica's former students is murdered when he returns to Cabot Cove to write a book exposing new information on a 30-year-old town scandal.One of Jessica's former students is murdered when he returns to Cabot Cove to write a book exposing new information on a 30-year-old town scandal.
Photos
- Sheriff Mort Metzger
- (as Ron Másak)
- Businessman
- (as Paul W. Carr)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaPhyllis Thaxter's final television appearance. She died on the 14th August 2012 (age 92)
- GoofsThe girl indicates she is the sole heir of the murderess in the thirty year old case. But earlier she had specified she was adopted, and the adoption process is supposed to sever all legal ties to a child's birth family, so she could never inherit the mother's estate legally.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Dr. Seth Hazlitt: That looks like, uh, one Cabot Cove romance that will be resuming.
Jessica Fletcher: Yes. It's funny, you know. When Randy was my student, I taught him that whatever the literary establishment may think, the best stories always have happy endings. And I think he got it.
Dr. Seth Hazlitt: Oh, yeah.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
There are certainly far worse episodes of 'Murder She Wrote' and of Season 9, as well as much better on both counts, than "Family Secrets". "Family Secrets" is somewhere in the middle as far as 'Murder She Wrote' episodes go, nothing offends and it's far from terrible but it's all a bit bland. The main mystery and the conflicts are very intriguing and hold one's full attention, but the ending somehow felt a bit anaemic considering the promising build-up.
"Family Secrets" supporting acting is a long way from amateurish, not like in the previous episode or some of the acting in later episodes. At the same time, very little stands out as exceptional, the only thing support-acting-wise that stands out in a good way is the quite good performance of Brian McNamara. More of a dubious standout is the awkward acting of the person revealed to be the killer in the denouement. Some of the pacing could have been sharper and for a Cabot Cove episode it was somewhat of a missed opportunity not having more Cabot Cove recurring characters.
However, Angela Lansbury is her usual never less than very good self, while William Windom is charmingly curmudgeon as ever and Ron Masak is an easy presence in the always likable Mort who's never been written as a buffoon or a pushover. Louis Herthum subtly makes the most of little.
As said, the mystery intrigues and the writing is light-hearted and thought-provoking.
Production values are slick and stylish, Cabot Cove is always a welcome sight. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.
In summary, decent enough if nothing special. 6/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 31, 2017