Jessica spends a little time at a lakeside inn where she witnesses what appears to be a struggle and a woman falling into the lake.

Season 2, Episode 7: A Lady in the Lake (November 10, 1985)

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote…

Jessica visits a lakeside inn to do research for her next book and watches a husband shove his wife into the water, killing her. Or maybe she didn’t. Is this a Giallo?

Who’s in it, outside of Angela Lansbury, and were they in any exploitation movies?

John Astin is back as real estate man Harry Pierce.

Carolyn Hester Crane is played by Susan Blanchard from Prince of Darkness.

Sheriff Amos Tupper? He’s back! He’s Tom Bosley.

William Christopher, Father Francis Mulcahy to some, is Burton Hollis.

Kyle Jordan is played by Charles Frank.

Howard Crane is played by Sybok, Laurence Luckinbill, who has been in so many things I’ve watched lately.

Grace Overholtz is played by one of the many Catwomen, Lee Meriwether.

Dr. Seth Hazlitt returns, played by William Windom.

Joanna Benson is played by Lee Purcell, Betty Jordan by Lauren Tewes and Noah Paisely by Johnny Crawford.

What happens?

Howard Crane, an older husband, seemingly dislikes his younger wife, Carolyn, to the point that he drowns her. At least that’s what Jessica Fletcher thinks. Sheriff Tupper does, too. Except that Howard jumped in the water to save her, so would he do that if he wanted to kill her? He tells the police — and Jessica — that his wife dove in herself. Meanwhile, people are sleeping around on their fishing husbands. The woman who may have drowned — and whose body hasn’t been found — was a champion swimmer, and that Joanna, a woman who runs naked for fun, was sleeping with Howard.

There’s also a birdwatcher lurking about, lots of people fishing and Harry Pierce trying to sell Jessica on the fact that the hotel is so much older — and filled with history — than it really is.

That’s when they find Carolyn’s body.

While she did drown, she also had mud in her lungs, glass in her skull and was wearing a bathing suit under her dress.

It’s a mystery. The kind only Jessica can solve.

Who did it?

Burton. He wasn’t just a bird watcher. He was family.

Who made it?

It was directed by Walter Grauman and written by Robert Van Scoyk, who also wrote over 100 episodes of this show.

Does Jessica get some?

No. I’m getting blue balls from this show!

Does Jessica dress up and act stupid?

No. She’s acting too normal!

Was it any good?

It’s a Giallo, again, just like the last episode.

Any trivia?

They are married to different people in this episode, but Charles Frank & Susan Blanchard were husband and wife on All My Children and have been married since 1977 in our real world.

Give me a reasonable quote:

Harry Pierce: When you told me you were writing a book called “Murder at the Inn”, I knew this place would be perfect. Did I mention that Edgar Allan Poe stayed here?

Jessica Fletcher: Harry, this place can’t be more than 10 years old.

What’s next?

Jessica goes to the races to watch her niece ride the winning horse. As you can imagine, someone dies shortly thereafter. Why would you invite Jessica anywhere? Jessica also has family, nieces and nephews, who all have outstanding careers but are some of the stupidest people ever. And they always get arrested or get someone murdered or have horrible things happen to them, and she has to save them. Is the entire Fletcher family and everyone in Jessica’s radius born under a bad sign?