This episode of Murder She Wrote finds Jessica Fletcher and William Windom driving to South Carolina where Dr. Hazlitt has a cousin who owns a large plantation. Dakin Matthews is a most gracious host as both Angela Lansbury and William Windom join the mint julep set for a bit.
This plantation is also known to have the only natural Scarlet Magnolia tree in existence which has been cultivated and preserved by Matthews and Robert Hooks who is both a partner and amateur botanist like Matthews. There's a perfume company led by Melanie Smith who want the control of said tree and its essence so essential for their business. Smith is not too squeamish about the illegal methods she's using to gain her wishes.
But the episode has also given us a host of friends, acquaintances, family and co-workers so that when Matthews is found dead one morning there are no shortage of suspects.
I have to say I had this one figured out right away with the introduction of the murderer's character in the story. Always a downer with me for a murder program.
Still I did like hearing William Windom's clipped New England speech among all those southern drawls y'all. Both he and also Tom Bosley used the accent effectively in their characters during the show's run to always establish the roots JB Fletcher came from. Angela Lansbury's character was most cosmopolitan and fits everywhere.
I think most viewers will figure out the guilty party early on too.