User Reviews

This episode marks the most recent appearance to date by Jonna Lee, who has been acting since 1983. Stanley Kamel, who has been acting since 1969, and Charles Rocket, who has been acting since 1980, have unfortunately since passed.

Porter Finley III (John Considine) and Sheila Kowalski Finley (Brenda Vaccaro) own a lavish residence in Westchester County, New York, complete with Maid, Margaret Gable (Jonna Lee), Chauffeur, Rocco Pastolino (Joey Aresco), and limousine in garage.

Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) enters Beaumont Jewelry Shoppe in New York City, at which its management and staff, D. L. Beaumont (Richard Davalos), Arthur Morris (Doug Mears), and Charles Lockner (Howard McGillin) wait upon Sheila Kowalski Finley, whom Jessica observes slipping a diamond bracelet into her own purse.

Sheila quickly befriends Jessica, inviting her to a political fund-raiser for candidate Drew Borden (Mike Farrell) at the Finley estate; but, after Sheila exits the shoppe, Jessica reports the shoplifting incident, to which management and employees deny anything of value missing from their showcase.

Later, the jewelers explain that all that they have to do is to bill Porter Finley III for any jewelry which his social-climbing wife happens to pocket.

However Sheila also keeps another secret from her wealthy husband, her running around with Rocco the Chauffeur behind his back, while Rocco secretly makes plans to run off with the Margaret, the Finley Maid.

Guests attending the fund-raiser, along with Drew Borden, include Sid Staples the Campaign Manager (Stanley Kamel), Barbara Loring (Deborah Benson), and Olivia (Pamela Roylance), whom Drew escorts to the Finleys.

Jessica, also in attendance, observes mysterious behavior, with various attendees slipping into the corridor leading to the Finley garage. But after hearing a scream, Jessica and several others rush into the garage, where they discover a body.

Lieutenant Stuyvesant (Charles Rocket) welcomes Jessica's assistance in uncovering clues, linking the crime to activities in the Finley household, the jewelry shoppe and the political campaign, when the plot thickens with a late-night break-in, an anesthetizing with chloroform, and a theft of "The Family Jewels."

The cast is rounded out by Diana Lewis as TV Newscaster, Forrest Witt as Reporter #1, Marcy Goldman as Reporter #2, and Michael Halpin as Technician.

Brenda Vaccaro plays one of the most memorable and kooky characters you'll ever see on "Murder, She Wrote". Sheila Kowalski Finley is very rich and is married to a very rich man as well...but her behaviors are anything but high class. She is a kleptomaniac and is having an affair with her limo driver...and her husband either doesn't care or is REALLY in denial. Well, when the man she's sleeping with is murdered, Sheila is accused of committing the crime. Oddly, she takes an immediate liking to Jessica and counts on her to help...though Jessica is torn as she'd witnessed Sheila stealing a valuable necklace! What's next? See the show.

It must have been fun for Vaccaro to play such a nutty and likable lady. For this reason alone I really enjoyed the show and think it's worth seeing....and a rare case where a guest star really outshines Angela Lansbury!

Jessica inadvertently spots a society hostess Sheila Findlay stealing a fine necklace, later at a party hosted by her, Jessica is on hand to help when her Chauffeur is killed.

It's a good episode, I can't say it's a classic, nor is it hugely memorable, but there are several points of interest, and some very fine performances.

It may have confused some viewers, seeing Brenda Vaccaro again, as she had only recently appeared in episode, The Fixer Upper, just a few months before this one went out.

As always, very well made, it's such a nice production, the party scenes in particular looked great.

I'm not sure, but this is one I felt that would have suited Dennis.

Mr Beaumont, you have to chuckle, how much foundation did they put on that guy, he's caked in it.

7/10.

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.

"The Family Jewels" to me is one of the better episodes of Season 7. It has a mystery that is suitably twisty and cleverly constructed, managing to engage from start to finish without ever feeling too simplistic (it does go unexpected places and the murderer is not obvious thank goodness) or convoluted. Quite a feat for a story with a lot of elements and a lot going on, where over-stuffing and confusion are real dangers but remarkably didn't happen in "The Family Jewels".

Even more interesting is the character of Sheila, around whom "The Family Jewels" provides a fascinating character study, which from admission compelled a little more than the mystery. One is not sure of whether to trust her or not or whether she's guilty, but one actually does care about the case being solved and somewhat roots for her.

It is hard to fault Angela Lansbury in one of her most famous and best-remembered roles for very good reason and the cast are uniformly strong. The episode however does belong to Brenda Vaccaro, who knocks it out of the park with her juicy character that contributed hugely to a fairly ahead of its time episode in its treatment of taste in shoplifting and sexuality.

Production values as ever are slick and stylish. 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 suitably light-hearted, amiable and intriguing while taking itself seriously when needed without going overly so.

Overall, excellent. One of the better Season 7 episodes and the best up to this point in the season. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Jessica Fletcher investigates the connection between a society matron with a penchant for stealing jewellery and the murder of a chauffeur. Nicely constructed mystery with enough things happening to make you see this to the end.