A Rap Sheet

Here is Jessica Fletcher’s arrest record, up to and including S1 E7. I’ve also included a history of the crimes she has committed, which is remarkably unrelated to her arrests.

Arrests

Suspicion of Murder: October, 1984; Universal Studios, Los Angeles, CA; S1 E4: “Hooray for Homicide”

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Obstruction of Justice and Concealing People from Arrest: November 1984; Boston, MA and Cabot Cove, ME; S1 E9: “Death Takes a Curtain Call”

Trespass: October 1984; Universal Studios, Los Angeles, CA; S1 E4: “Hooray for Homicide”

Trespass and Attempted Larceny: October 11, 1984; The Potts farm, Greenville, VA; S1 E5: “It’s a Dog’s Life”

Reckless Endangerment: September 1984; Les Champignons Night Club, San Francisco, CA; S1 E3: “Birds of a Feather”

Wire Fraud: May-August 1984; Cabot Cove, ME; S1 E7: “Hit, Run and Homicide”

Trespass: May/June 1984; Warehouse 33, Seattle, WA; S1 E6: “Lovers and Other Killers”

Trespass: April 1984; The Offices of Cap’n Caleb’s Chowder Houses, New York, NY; S1 E1: “The Murder of Sherlock Holmes”

Lieutenant Floyd Novack

San Francisco’s Lt. Novack feels a bit beleaguered in S1 E3: “Birds of a Feather”.

Fair Warning

What follows is a detailed discussion of Murder She Wrote S1 E3, “Birds of a Feather.” The plot will be spoiled, and the tea will be spilled. I recommend you watch the episode before reading further, and maybe make it dinner theater.

A Feathery Farce

MSW S1 E3 “Birds of a Feather” was inspired by the 1978 film La Cage aux Folles, which was also released as Birds of a Feather. Like the film, this episode concerns a drag club, although no one in 1984 San Francisco seems to know the colloquial term for “female impersonation.” More on that later. MSW’s “Birds” combines romantic farce and murder mystery. Will it lay an egg?