A Timeline

This is a timeline of all the events we’ve learned about so far on our Murder, She Wrote journey. It includes “present” events as portrayed in the episodes (1984 – 1996), as well as past events depicted or described in the series. Estimated publication dates for J.B. Fletcher’s books can be found in her Oeuvre.

Late October 1984

Jessica’s first movie deal is scuttled in “Hooray for Homicide.” (S1 E4)
October 6-13, 1984

Jessica visits her cousin in Virginia and saves the reputation of a very wealthy beagle in “It’s a Dog’s Life.” (S1 E5)
September 1984

Jessica visits her niece in San Francisco and clears her future nephew-in-law of murder charges in “Birds of a Feather.” (S1 E3)
July 21-26, 1984

Jessica visits her niece in Chicago and solves a spooky locked room mystery in “We’re Off to Kill the Wizard.” (S1 E8)
June – July 1984

A hurricane blows through Cabot Cove, and Jessica identifies a “Deadly Lady.” (S1 E2)
May – July 1984

At home in Cabot Cove, Jessica helps a friend steer clear of murder charges in “Hit, Run and Homicide.” (S1 E7)
May – June 1984

Jessica teaches a seminar in Seattle, and becomes entangled with “Lovers and Other Killers.” (S1 E6)
April 1984

Jessica travels to New York to promote her first book, and solves her first case, “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes.” (S1 E1)
Mid 1940’s – Early 1950’s

Jessica, Frank, and their mutual friend, Edmund Gerard (S1 E6: “Lovers and Other Killers”) spend their Saturday nights at Kappa Gamma Chi. The only active chapter of the sorority during this timeframe appears to be at Emerson College in Boston, MA.