This return to Cabot Cove does not see the usual cavalcade of classic TV and movie actors, but . . . Holy crap! Amy Brenneman! Where’s she been lately? And the step-dad from the Princess Diaries movies? Apparently, this episode is more of a “I know I know that guy from something” episode.

Jessica Fletcher’s beloved Maine town is too close to the ocean to for snow at Christmas apparently, but Christmas is shown through depressing conversations like “this year, with the world in the shape it’s in, Christmas is a hollow promise.” Dude, it’s 1992. You have no idea how out of shape the modern world can be!

Even the murder in this is not even a murder - it’s attempted murder. And it was against Veronica Mars’s mom so stop complaining, fictional characters. The entire mystery is a little convoluted and I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty of this later season episode. So let’s talk about the writing part.

In truth, this is episode does not show off much of the mystery writing, but Jessica Fletcher’s wide vocabulary and random knowledge do make her a good detective. Is that enough of an explanation? Because honestly, I thought there would be more writing in this. Oh well.