My summary may sound facetious, but I wrote it because this is a rare case where Jessica Fletcher is suspected for a murder...and a theft.
When the story begins, Jessica meets an old friend, Richard Bennett (Edward Mulhare). He wants her to represent him at an auction in order to buy the diary of some famous dead celebrity (much like a Marilyn Monroe). However, LOTS of people seem to want the diary...some in order to destroy it and some in order to exploit it.
On the day of the auction, an armoire is brought up for sale. When it's opened, Jessica's friend is found inside...dead. When the cops talk to her, she shows them the check the dead man had given her for the auction. Since her name is on it, the cops jump to conclusions (big surprise). And, when the diary disappears and Jessica in the last known person to see it, she's arrested. Imagine her surprise when her old friend Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach) comes to her aid!
Through the course of this show, practically EVERYONE approaches Jessica and offers to buy the diary. This is because she found it and folks think she has a copy...thanks to Harry McGraw.
Overall, a very interesting episode...but one, once again, which had the killer admit to the act even though there really was no proof. This does weaken the episode...but it's otherwise watchable and enjoyable.
By the way, an interesting part of the show is when the psychiatrist confronts Jessica. During this rant, the Doctor easily could have been diagnosed with a Paranoid Personality Disorder...a fine problem for an analyst to have!