Angela Lansbury inspired a generation of mystery readers

Angela Lansbury was known for many roles in her lifetime. None seemed to be as iconic though as her role as Jessica Fletcher.

While a lot of us remember her as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast or her stage performances, her role in Murder, She Wrote is one a lot of us remember fondly. While she’s been in plenty of other TV shows and movies, none held a candle to Jessica Fletcher.

As we know, Angela Lansbury passed away on October 11th, 2022. However, her legacy will live on with the roles she played but also the impact she made on audiences as a whole. In particular, she really opened the eyes of those who watched Murder, She Wrote.

There is no denying Angela Lansbury’s role in fostering a love of reading especially a love of reading mystery books for a lot of us.

Angela Lansbury left a legacy larger than just her roles on TV.

For those of us who grew up in the 90s and early 00s, Murder, She Wrote was a mainstay in our houses. Even if it wasn’t at your own house, I’m sure a lot of us remember our grandparents or grandmothers watching the show. Rewatching a few episodes now, and I can honestly see why they loved it.

Premiering in 1984, Murder, She Wrote ran for 12 seasons with Angela Lansbury playing the lead role of Jessica Fletcher. Jessica was a mystery writer who always got embroiled in murders within the small Maine community where she lives. However, her sleuthing didn’t just happen in Maine as Jessica seemed to travel all over the United States.

What made the show so enjoyable was seeing how Jessica solved each case and how the puzzle pieces always fit together so perfectly in her mind. For those who watched either alone or with family, the episodes give that amazing mix of being hard-hitting and cozy which is part of the reason why so many cozy mystery lovers call back to that series.

Cozy mystery reads are usually set in a small town and feature a murder or mystery to be solved by someone who isn’t “technically” qualified. Of course, that person always seems to know exactly who did it or ends up embroiled in a situation with the perpetrator. Obviously, that’s very similar to the format of Murder, She Wrote.

Additionally, cozy mystery series usually have a likable main character who isn’t a detective like Jessica Fletcher, some law officers who aren’t much help, and a friend or group of friends who are always on the lead character’s side. It’s obvious where the parallels lie between the page and the screen.

Honestly, I don’t think we’d see as many cozy mystery readers or writers if it weren’t for the influence of Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher. Considering that there’s also a spinoff book series based on the show, there is still no shortage of Murder, She Wrote fans.

Overall, there is no way to measure just how much Angela Lansbury touched all of us. She was incredibly talented and I’m sure all of us will be remembering her and her work for years to come. May she rest in peace.

Let us know your favorite Murder, She Wrote episodes below and if the show inspired you to be a mystery reader.