User Reviews

This episode marks the swan song appearance of Robert Sterling, star of Classic television and films since 1939 (including 23 that year). Carrie Snodgress, Richard Stahl, Robert Donner and Timothy Jecko have also since passed. This also marks the most recent appearance of Joe Maross, who has acted in television since 1952.

Residents of Cabot Cove turn out on the day of the memorial service for the late Henry Vernon (Joe Maross) except for Idealist Stew Bennett (Rex Smith), who drives off in his van, after telling his companion, Christy Olson (Lori Lethin), that he's tired of the idle chat of well-wishers who don't mean what they say.

Christy's father, Ned Olson (Monte Markham), has been a partner of Henry Vernon's in their financial investment operation, and many Cabot Cove residents have entrusted their savings unto them to invest into the construction of Pleasant Ridge Medical Center.

Ned escorts his partner's widow, Connie Vernon (Carrie Snodgress), into the church, she explaining that Henry had passed during the night beside her in a motel en route to Farnesdale, Maine, where they would often vacation.

Ben Shipley (Robert Sterling) and Agnes Shipley (Anne Jeffreys) are in attendance. The couple has invested $100,000 toward the medical center project and closely guards collective finances.

Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley) has invested the value of his retirement account into the project, while Reverend Matthews (Richard Stahl) has entrusted the church's building fund. Reverend Matthews begins the service with a mention that Connie Vernon plans to leave Cabot Cove for San Francisco, to reside with her sister.

Phyllis Walters (Audrey Landers) stops by the mortuary to question Silas Pike (Robert Donner) as to why an employee at the cemetery has told her that there would be no interments today. Silas, who has long been smitten with truck stop waitress Phyllis, answers that Henry had left instructions for cremation.

Phyllis, in turn, storms into the church to interrupt the proceedings, accusing Connie Vernon of murdering the man who loves Phyllis. When Amos tries to settle Phyllis, they knock the casket to open onto the floor, revealing the body of a man, who, by the way, isn't Henry Vernon. Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom) later examines the body to declare that no foul play had been involved.

Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) gladly decides to allow Amos and his Deputy (Scott Palmer) to investigate the case, which Amos suspects as murder. Amos informs Jessica that Cabot Cove believes that she provides the brains to solving murders, and for once, he'd like to try one himself. Jessica has to meet a deadline to meet and gives Amos her blessing, before the plot thickens.

Before Amos is able to leave for Farnesdale, Henry resurfaces at a cabin owned by Ben Shipley, while Connie entertains Jessica and Amos with a home-cooked dinner to break the monotony of an empty residence, before another body turns up with blueberry stains upon its clothing, and with a fireplace poker at its side.

When Cabot Cove residents return to meet at the church the next day, with Townspersons (including Ellaraino, Sonia Kara and Timothy Jecko) in attendance, Ned Olson informs everyone that the $one million investment package has been withdrawn from the Portland bank to which it's been deposited.

While accusation are flying about the church, Stew Bennett enters to report that someone has stolen his van, which he uses to transport blueberries. And when Seth discovers one of the bodies missing from his examination room, Amos decides that he really does need Jessica's deductive reasoning after all, especially "If a Body Meet a Body" with a fireplace poker in hand.

Sheriff Amos Tupper wants to solve this one himself and Jessica Fletcher has to get cracking on her new book. Still after a fashion Angela Lansbury and Tom Bosley do get together to solve a murder and save Amos's pension and a whole lot of other people's money.

Joe Maross has apparently died and it looks like all of Cabot Cove is out to attend the funeral. Only later when the body is getting ready for shipment to the crematory the casket is knocked over and it ain't Joe Maross. Of course the two women that suspicions fall on are wife Carrie Snodgrass and mistress Audrey Landers.

Then it is discovered the money the late Mr. Maross was investing is gone. And it's late because there's now a body discovered and no doubt it was a homicide.

This episode of Murder She Wrote was the farewell acting appearance of Robert Sterling who was in this with wife Anne Jeffreys with them playing Maross's partner and the partner's wife. Lansbury always cast old timers from her film days in this series.

No doubt it was either the wife or the mistress, no other viable suspects are hinted. Watch if you want to learn who.

This is a fine episode. Lots of plot twists and turns, which make me think of an Agatha Christie type of story. Audrey Landers is a standout in an especially good performance. Carrie Snodgress is also very good. A high quality episode all around.

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.

"If a Body Meet a Body" may not be one of Season 2's best episodes ("Trial By Error" and "Keep the Home Fries Burning" are my favourites of the season), but is hardly one of the weakest. Instead it is a solid, fun episode with a story that is not what it seems with enough twists involving the body and the murder to keep one guessing. It is let down a little by agreed a general lack of suspects, with only two characters having strong enough motives to commit the crime. The other characters are fun but not quite well drawn enough.

Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography. 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.

The writing is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are great fun. The story is twisty and fun with a nicely executed ending, even though the murderer was a case of either or, or at least to me.

Angela Lansbury never disappoints and she is great here. While there is solid support from Monte Markham, Anne Jeffreys and Rex Smith, the biggest impressions come from Audrey Landers and Carrie Snodgrass, particularly Snodgress who anchors the episode in a way that is hugely compelling.

Overall, very good solid effort. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The story begins with a funeral. However, the man's mistress is upset, as she thinks something strange is happening. After all, why no autopsy and why the rush to cremate the man? Well, when she crashes the funeral, she and the sheriff scuffle...and the coffin spills over...and the man inside is NOT who is should have been. Instead, some stranger was inside and someone was hoping that no one would notice the switch. If this isn't confusing enough, later the guy who was supposed to be dead has been found murdered...days AFTER he was supposed to have died. Confusing? Well, it gets worse...soon his body disappears! What is going on here?!

The mystery is interesting and I liked the show. But, once again, the crook admitted to the crime awfully quickly...something crooks and murderers do in real life. But apart from that, an enjoyable outing for the series.

Friends and family gather at the funeral of financial investor Henry Vernon, as his wife gives a speech, Henry's mistress Phyllis Walters bursts in, claiming Henry was murdered by his wife. Henry's business partner is in the thick of things, the residents of Cabot cove have invested hugely in one of his schemes, but it appears Henry had stolen the cash. Amos decides to solve the case alone, leaving Jessica time to write.

It's nice to see Jessica finally writing, when she's not running football teams and visiting friends, she gets to sit at her typewriter, that is until Amos needs her help. I really like the story, clever, that idea of a man's body being hidden in the funeral of another is clever. I see the episode is quite highly rated, but for me it's one of those that for no real reason I can say I'm not hugely fond of, I couldn't get into it. It's well made, has some nice touches of humour, it's just a bit bland. There are better episodes in Series 2. 6/10

All of Cabot Cove turns out for the funeral of Henry Vernon, the town's chief financial advisor. The ceremony is halted by the arrival of a woman claiming that Henry was murdered. Investigating, the local authorities open the coffin--only to find out that the occupant isn't Henry! Before the story is over, no fewer than two corpses have mysteriously vanished, then mysteriously reappeared, while Jessica (Angela Lansbury) conducts a thorough probe of the "late" Mr. Vernon's questionable business practices.

With its intricate plot twists, you know missing bodies, faked deaths, missing Van etc, this one caused my little grey cells to whirl. There's a shade of macabre humour. Poor Jessica has got a deadline, but with the mystery beckoning she can't turn away.