I’ve been a doctor in Cabot Cove, Maine, for too many years to admit to. It sometimes seems that I’ve delivered half the babies in town, and have helped countless family members deal with the loss of a loved one. My name is Seth Hazlitt, but most people in town call me “Doc.” They also affectionately refer to me a “chicken soup” doctor, and I proudly accept that moniker. While I keep up with advances in medicine, sometimes a bowl of chicken soup and some TLC is all an ailing patient needs.
Cabot Cove is a good place to live. Although it’s grown over the years it still retains that small town feel. That’s because it’s populated by wonderful people, including one of my very dearest friends, Jessica Fletcher.
Jessica, as millions of people know, is a mystery novelist who also has the unfortunate habit of personally becomin’ involved in real-life murders. I’ve heard it said that Cabot Cove must have the highest murder rate in the country. Well, it’s true that Jessica seems to trip over dead bodies wherever she goes. Folks call her “today’s Miss Marple.” That’s an apt description.
Some people think I’m a bit of a curmudgeon. Mebbe so. Jessica and I have had our differences over the years. I’ve had the misfortune of becoming involved in some of her forays into the messy business of murder. She rarely takes my advice to curb her penchant for pokin’ her lovely, aquiline nose into homicide. She may nod and agree but her actions show otherwise. In a few cases I have consented to play Dr. Watson to her Sherlock Holmes, providing advice as she ferrets out the murderers. But recently our roles were reversed. This is how it happened.
Several years ago I traveled to Cuba with a group of physicians to be introduced to that Communist island’s surprisingly sophisticated health care system. While there I became acquainted with a fine physician, Dr. Alvaro Vasquez, whose research into discovering a cure for Alzheimer’s disease showed great potential. He and his family eventually defected from Cuba and settled in Tampa, Florida, where, with financial backing, he continued his medical investigations. Comes to pass, he invites me to spend a week with him in Tampa just when Jessica winds up her tour there promotin’ her latest book. Madame Fletcher decides to extend her stay so we can enjoy some leisurely time together in sunny Florida.
Our visit started off positively. Al hosted a party at his lovely waterfront home and Jessica and I got to mingle with those near and dear to him. Naturally (and I’m not blaming it on Jessica being there), things went awry at that social occasion. Tragedy struck literally and figuratively. A massive lightning bolt hit the deck and Al collapsed and died. (Tampa is, unfortunately, the lightning capital of the nation). You can imagine the chaos it caused for everyone, both those personally close to Al, and to his professional colleagues. It was tough on me, too. I lost a fellow I considered a good friend.
Although it appeared to everyone that Al was a victim of Mother Nature, it eventually emerged that it wasn’t lightning that killed him after all. Alvaro Vasquez had been murdered, and Jessica and I found ourselves knee-deep in trying to identify his killer. As we dug into Al Vasquez’s life, we discovered that there was a dark side to him. The men who financed his research were not what they appeared to be, and there were family members who didn’t have the same reverence for him as I did. Our questions seemed to provoke certain people and we soon learned that unless we found the answers we could end up sufferin’ a fate similar to that of Dr. Vasquez.
Solving murders isn’t part of my curriculum vitae, but I threw myself into this case and attempted to get to the bottom of Al’s death. Jessica was right there by my side, which I certainly appreciated. She has a way of gettin’ to the nitty-gritty of events and the people behind them, and her insight was invaluable. Nevertheless we found ourselves in danger. We became not only the targets of those who’d been behind Al Vasquez’s murder, we ended up embroiled in the politics of Castro’s Cuba and its anger at seeing one of its leading medical researchers sell what promised to be a major breakthrough to its enemy, the United States of America. We wondered whether we’d ever see our beloved Cabot Cove again.
As has happened numerous times in the past, Jessica’s friend, Donald Bain, who has chronicled her many adventures and misadventures in his books in the “Murder, She Wrote” series, did the same with our hair-raising experience. His book, Prescription for Murder captures what we went through as I abandoned my usual white clinical smock and put on my Sherlock deer-stalker cap, with the inimitable Jessica willingly functioning as my trusty sidekick and conscience, my Dr. Watson.
Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of PRESCRIPTION FOR MURDER to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. Contest ends April 6; US entries only per publisher’s request.
You can read more about Seth in Prescription for Murder, the 39th book in the “Murder She Wrote” mystery series. The first book in the series is Gin & Daggers.
Meet the Author
Donald Bain is the author/ghostwriter of over 115 books, including the best-selling “Murder, She Wrote” series of 39 mysteries, and the latest edition in Margaret Truman’s Capital Crimes series, Experiment in Murder. His 1960’s airline romp, Coffee, Tea or Me? sold more 5-million copies worldwide, and was reissued by Penguin as a “comedy classic.” His autobiography, Murder HE Wrote: A Successful Writer’s Life, was published in 2006 (Purdue University Press). Don is a member of the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, the National Academy of Television Arts & Science, and the Authors Guild. His wife, Renee Paley-Bain, collaborates with him on the “Murder, She Wrote” books.
Please visit him at www.donaldbain.com and “Like” his “Murder, She Wrote Author” page on Facebook.
I’ve enjoyed all of these books and I really enjoyed Coffee, Tea, or Me. I’d never put together the connection.What fun.
Although I was a fan of the television show for years, I didn’t realize that there was a book series. Thanks.
I’ve been a big fan of both the TV show and the books for years. In fact when I read the books, I hear the actors speaking for the characters.
I’ve always loved this series. Thanks for the chance to win this.
Still watching re-runs! Books are terrific.
All of Don and Renee’s books are wonderful! No need to enter me in the drawing, I’ve ordered Prescription and can’t wait to start it. I was lucky enough to meet the Bains at Bouchercon and Don gave me a fabulous cover quote for my Talk Radio mystery series. Love this blog!
it would be awesome to win!
I’d love to win this one. My granddaughter and I watched Murder She Wrote religiously having great fun figuring out who would get bumped off and who did it.
The TV show was a favorite, so I’d love to get into this series with Prescription for Murder.
I love the TV show “Murder She Wrote” and have read a couple of the books. Would love to win this book.
I always enjoy your work, Donald Bain! Your talks at Killer Nashville were excellent.
I have enjoyed the books and the television show for many years. I am interested in this particular adventure as I have been on several mission trips to Cuba including a visit to a hospital there. Thanks for the post.
I LOVE the MURDER SHE WROTE books and tv show. I have alot of the books in my collection now and would love to have this one too.
I didn’t even know there was a book series published, how cool is that?! Thanks for offering a copy, it would be great to win it. Thanks! carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
I am the most hardcore Murder, She Wrote series fan ever. EVER. Every Sunday night, from high school through graduate school, I watched. My mother and I would lug the tiny 12-inch portable TV set upstairs and argue during the commericals whodunit. The love affair continued in grad school when a small group of us (ok, so it was just me) would order Chinese food and sit on someone’s dorm bed (ok it was my bed) and watch avidly. A marvelous escape from the tedium of grading and writing papers.
I even once threw a party where the guests had to come dressed as Jessica. It was a huge success. I own both versions of the online game and have taught my nieces how to look for clues!
To date, I’ve never read a series book for fear that I would become just as obsessed with these! I’m currently Netflixing the entire MSW series, rationing out each episode like a single piece of rich, expensive chocolate, savoring every smart skirt-besuited nuance. Please PLEASE send me this book. You will have a fan for life and I am ready to face my fears of being sucked into your writing.
Yours in the mysterium,
Justine
My sister and I have followed the whole Cabot Cove gang from the beginning when the books were paired with drinks. I wonder if Colombo will make a guest appearance in PRESCRIPTION MURDER. I’d love to read it and find out, keeping up our family tradition.
Got that down-home feel, like a “chicken soup” Columbo. Love it.
I love Murder She Wrote. Would love to read the books.
I just loved this series on TV—and I miss the show—maybe I should start reading these books.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love both the TV series (have the complete DVD collection) and the books! Would love to win one!
I enjoy reading a chapter a night of your “Murder, She Wrote” series of books when I go to bed! I think it makes me sleep a little better!
I’ve enjoyed all the Murder, She Wrote books and read many of them again. I’ve enjoyed Donald Bain’s writing as he weaves the television show characters into his novels. I really loved his most recent work that included the great Harry McGraw. Keep writing those great books Mr. Bain.
I love Murder She Wrote and I’d love to meet Angela Lansbury. But if I can’t have that, this book might take a little of the edge off it 🙂 judydee22002@yahoo cot com
Thanks Don and Seth for stopping by.
I love murder she wrote. Can’t wait to read this book.
Contest is closed, but comments are always welcome