User Reviews

Indiana is one of only fourteen states not represented as an episode setting during twelve seasons of "Murder, She Wrote." But Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) had visited the Hoosier State in the back-story, during Grady Fletcher (Michael Horton)'s tenure as a student at Perdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Situated in New York City, also before this series begins, Grady invites his Aunt Jessica to stay at his apartment during her stay, for meetings with her publisher. However, Sommelier (Steve Tschudy) and Workman (Tony Ballen) are busy exterminating Grady's apartment building, and the two must make accommodations elsewhere.

When Grady informs Jessica that they have reservations at the extravagant Montaigne Plaza Hotel, he explains that the visit comes free of charge, as courtesy of his old college fraternity buddy, Garrett Harper (John Callahan), whom Jessica remembers from occasional visits to Cabot Cove, has married hotel owner Cornelia Montaigne Harper (Janet Leigh), causing Jessica to reflect upon Cornelia and Garrett's age difference.

After checking into Montaigne Plaza Hotel, Jessica and Grady are reacquainted with Garrett, who introduces Jessica to Cornelia and her right-hand assistant, Mark Havlin (Robert Desiderio).

Garrett then informs a delighted Grady that their favorite former college cheerleader, Sandra Clemens (Jennifer Holmes), has also arrived from South Bend, Indiana, and may eagerly anticipate a dinner invitation from Grady. She has stayed in Indiana to work as a computer programmer, but visits NYC on occasion.

Nettie Harper (Charlotte Rae), the mother of Garrett, is also reacquainted with Grady at dinner, with Jessica, Garrett and Sandra around the table, to the dismay of Cornelia, who suspects that Grady is covering for a two-timing Garrett, by including Sandra at the gathering.

A knowing Nettie forecasts fireworks to explode later in the evening, yet, during the effects of a thunderstorm, Grady stumbles upon a body.

NYPD Inspector Donald Matheney (Monte Markham) prioritizes his night at the opera and afternoon at an art gallery reception to investigating a crime, but Hotel Detective Fritz Rice (Macon McCalman) continuously searches for clues, which seem to implicate Grady Fletcher, who is promptly arrested for murder.

As usual, when Grady is falsely arrested, Jessica steps in to demand justice, by proving her nephew's innocence. However, bribes are paid to plant evidence to support the theory that Grady has done it.

Mrs. Townsend (Juli Reding), Husband (Kenny Davis) and Wife (Judy Kerr) hotel customers, hotel Cashier (Mary Ingersoll), hotel Maid (Sheila Shaw) and Aquarium Lady (Lynn Holt) round out the cast of this episode with a "Doom With a View."

Forced out of his Apartment, Grady, and his Aunt Jessica, book in at an exclusive hotel, and have a far from restful stay.

There isn't particularly anything unique or creative about Doom with a View, but what is done, is done well. It sees Jessica and Grady placed in a new surroundings, and the pair caught up in events, in a way that doesn't seem so contrived as usual.

Grady once again is set up as the fall guy, but what I did like about this was that if didn't follow the pattern, it wasn't the usual victim, it didn't see Grady in custody, and the victim wasn't signposted.

If like me you're watching this, and wondering if Cornelia is going off the roof, or going to get poisoned, it didn't quite go to plan.

The major killer here, wardrobe, Janet Leigh is donned in more sequences and high collared gowns than you could imagine, the clothes off this period are often quite glamorous, she often looks over the top.

After the exploits of the previous episodes, this, bizarre though it is, feels like an almost welcome return to normal.

I like this one, it doesn't follow the rules, 8/10.

While I consistently enjoy this show, mainly for Jessica's engaging personality and ability, this episode seems to ask that we accept this impossible story as plausible. Even for a shallow gold digger, it is stretching things to believe a twenty something nice looking young man would marry a woman that could pass as his great grandmother. Janet Leigh appears as a frustrated cabaret singer judging from her penchant to dress in every available sequin, satin and sparkly dress around, and there is zero chemistry between them. Grady out does himself in the bumbling fraternity friend role. Robert Desiderio was born to play repulsive types, so his role was perfectly cast. Charlotte Rae was a little out of character with her mean spirited gossipy part as frat boy's mother. I still enjoyed watching it mainly for Jessica's outstanding wardrobe and acting skill, but this episode is somewhere in the middle between the best and the worst of the series. At least it wasn't boring!

Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.

While nowhere up there with the best Season 4 episodes, or of 'Murder She Wrote' in general, "Doom With a View" is still pretty good if lacking fire in reference to the fireworks at the hotel line (one of the episode's most memorable). "Doom With a View" would have rated higher, but my dislike of Grady Fletcher (with a couple of exceptions, didn't mind him in "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes" for example) has left unchanged. He is such an energy sucking presence, and is bland and annoying.

Not sure how many will disagree but his constant getting arrested for murder and being duped is getting repetitive and doesn't make one endear to the character at all, let alone empathise with him. While Janet Leigh and John Callahan do well in their roles, particularly Leigh playing her bitchy one to perfection, they are given little to work with, particularly Callahan whose material is pretty limited. The obvious goof regarding the murder victim has already been mentioned but there was noticeable and distracting.

On the other hand, there is still a lot to like about "Doom With a View". Angela Lansbury cannot be faulted as ever, and Michael Horton aside the supporting cast are very good, with Leigh, Charlotte Rae and Robert Desiderio particularly impressive. Monte Markham is an entertaining cop.

Production values are slick and stylish as ever with 'Murder She Wrote'. 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.

Writing is thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable and the story doesn't have a dull moment and engages throughout. It is never confusing, nor is it too obvious, a perfect in between.

In summation, pretty good that would have been better if Grady wasn't such a dead-weight. 7/10 Bethany Cox

On a visit to New York City Jessica Fletcher and nephew Grady get to stay in a really posh hotel owned by Janet Leigh. She's got a much younger husband who was Michael Horton fraternity brother Robert Desiderio. Wouldn't you know it, there's a murder of Jennifer Holmes who was a switchboard operator at the hotel who Desiderio has been getting very intimate with on the side.

Janet Leigh could have been the model for the notorious Leona Helmsley. She's the Queen of Mean before Helmsley got that title bestowed on her. She notoriously pays her workers some low wages and that comes back to haunt her in more ways than one.

As for Desiderio he's less a friend and brother than Michael Horton thought he had.

Monte Markham plays the tuxedo clad police detective who is distressed a mere homicide could call him away from the ballet. Jessica Fletcher has to do all the work here.

Last postscript scene is a doozy, I'll say no more.

Many of Jessica Fletcher's extended family make periodic appearances in "Murder, She Wrote". Most are only seen once or perhaps twice...but someone thought her nephew, Grady, was a great character and he appeared in many episodes...too many if you ask me. Why? Well, two reasons. First, he's really pathetic...always mooning over some woman and always playing a real loser...and a rather dim one. Second, this loser is always accused of committing some murder...and that becomes tiresome. I only hope this one somehow turns out to be better than I expected.

The story takes place at a fancy hotel in New York City. Cutting to the chase, Grady discovers the dead body of a girl he used to be infatuated with (are ALL women Grady's been infatuated with?!?!) and he then proceeds to be really, really stupid...doing many things to implicate himself as well as NOT implicating the guy he saw leaving the dead woman's room! Can Grady be any stupider....not really. So, despite himself, can Aunt Jessica once again extricate him from trouble he clearly brought on himself?

Once again...not a good Grady episode. Grady's character makes no sense and the only way you can understand him is if you assume he's a total idiot. That's not good writing, that's for sure! The quote above was uttered by Grady twice...and I certainly agree.

So, despite Grady, is the episode any good? Yes, but with Grady being such a large part of it, it isn't enough to save it.

By the way, it's not a super-important detail, but I noticed that the sparkling wine served at the art show was oddly NOT bubbling in any way. Not a single bubble...yet it was served in a champagne glass...something you'd just not see at a fancy-schmancy art exhibit for the elite.

Grady's apartment gets invaded by cockroaches just before Jessica arrives for a visit, but an old college friend of Grady's, Garrett Harper, who married hotel heiress Cornelia Montaigne, invites them to stay at the hotel. He even invites a girl Grady knew in high school, Sandra Clemens. However, incidents at the hotel cast doubt on Garrett's generosity as Sandra turns up dead and Garrett acts very suspiciously. With Grady once again the primary suspect, can Jessica extricate her nephew and find who really killed Sandra?

Grady returns again and gets framed for murder, which seems to happen to him all the time. He's so dopey that he doesn't realise that his college friend is using him. Well not until he overhears his friend paying some to frame him. It's a standard episode, has the usual tropes, but it's an ok episode. Plus it's nice to see Janet Leigh as one of the guest stars.