User Reviews

Jessica is staying in London, at her hotel she encounters a man named Nigel Atkins, later she finds him dead, when the authorities are called, the body has gone, The Police conclude that Jessica is mistaken.

It's a very good episode, a convincing storyline, good characters, and a degree of originality, it's interesting to see Jessica's integrity questioned, she's always believed without question. It's very well written, the solution comes as a surprise.

Very rarely did they manage to get The British tone right, and once again it's far from perfect, but it's definitely better, the cutaway footage ties in a little better, and the accents are pretty spot on.

Trevor Eve is one of my favourite actors, he's excellent here, what a presence he has, I just couldn't get used to that hairstyle. I love that he appears with his wife, Sharon Maughan here, what an attractive couple.

8/10.

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.

"Tinker, Tailor, Liar, Thief" is a fun, intriguing Season 8 episode, though a long way from being one of the best of the season or of the show. It is agreed that the characters are stereotypes, but more problematic is that outside of the slick photography and nostalgia-inducing fashions the production values do look reminiscent of 60s-era studio back-lot rather than the real thing.

Suspension of disbelief is needed too for Scotland Yard's attitude towards Jessica, this is not the first time she's been in England so they would have been well aware of her reputation, not seeming to be ignorant of who and what she is.

On the other hand, Angela Lansbury has still got it as Jessica. All the supporting cast give game support, including Trevor Eve and Sharon Maughan before the roles they're most famous for.

Mystery-wise, "Tinker, Tailor, Liar, Thief" is very intriguing and lots of fun. It avoids being too far-fetched and while it's quite complicated it's not incoherently confusing. The ending is very clever, not one that leaves one floored but its twist is pleasantly surprising.

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.

Writing is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are good fun.

Overall, above average but could have been better. 7/10 Bethany Cox

This episode marks the last appearance by Guy Doleman, who has acted in film and television since 1948. Lloyd Bochner and Peter Dennis have also since passed.

This also marks the most recent appearance to date by Diana Webster, who has been appearing since 1945; the latest television role to date for Mr. Laurie Main, who has been appearing since 1953; one of only four roles thus far for Richard Davies, including two on "MSW"; the second of only two roles to date for Mr. Sandy Allison, and the first acting credit in the career of Elizabeth Anne Smith.

Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) has finished with her publisher's meeting in London, U.K., and returns to her hotel lobby, to encounter U.S. envoy John Thurston (Lloyd Bochner), who introduces Jessica to British agent Nigel Atkins (Clement von Franckenstein), who works at the Home Office at the U.S. Embasssy, before John invites Jessica to an evening performance of the new Stephen Sondheim Musical, to which she eagerly anticipates experiencing.

Meanwhile, Penelope Cadwell (Sharon Maughan) and husband, Edward Cadwell (Richard Davies), stroll along the sidewalk, before parting ways, as Archie Potter, P.I. (Kenneth Danziger) emerges from the sidelines to exchange nods with Edward, before trailing Penelope to the hotel, while Jessica and John lunch in its dining room.

Jessica then retrieves her packages and key from Albert the Hotel Desk Clerk (Peter Dennis), before stepping onto the elevator with Penelope, followed by Archie, the three subsequently exiting into different directions upon its fourth floor. Jessica enters room 414, but, before setting aside her purchases, follows a scream into the hallway, into room 412, in which she discovers a body, with the presence of another individual in the suite, who sneaks into a side room.

Jessica immediately returns to her room to notify the authorities, before Inspector Stillwell (Nick Tate) and MacPherson (Sandy Allison) presently arrive, to discover no signs of a body in room 412. They dismiss Jessica's report as a prank, with Inspector Stillwell's suggesting that she notify hotel security instead of the New Scotland Yard in the event that another body should pop up.

Upon returning to the lobby, Jessica notices the return of Archie Potter, whom she ensues as he slips into the kitchen, but soon loses his trail near the supply elevator, at which she discovers her packages tossed into a stack of a garbage collection. But when she reaches for her first bag, she, again, discovers the body obfuscated by trash bags. She removes his wallet with identification cards to confirm the identity.

Once again, Jessica summons the New Scotland Yard, and once again, the body disappears before their arrival. She turns the walled over to the authorities, who still do not believe her to be anything but a busybody visionary with an overactive imagination. But Albert the Hotel Desk Clerk enters the rear of the building to notify Inspector Stillwell that there is trouble in front of the hotel. So, upon their arrival at the front sidewalk, everyone witnesses the body which Jessica has been reporting, including a couple, MI-5 Man (Laurie Main) and an uncredited actress, who claim that the deceased has jumped from the hotel.

John Thurston meets Jessica at the New Scotland Yard headquarters, at which a Policewoman (Elizabeth Anne Smith), ushers the two into Inspector Stillwell's office. While the Envoy certifies Jessica's credentials for knowing a body when she discovers one, the Inspector maintains that the person is still alive and en route to Australia, but appreciate of Jessica's return of the wallet.

Meanwhile, Archie Potter, P.I. (Kenneth Danziger) is stalked along a dark sidewalk by Mickey Dawks (Derrick O'Connor), who claims that the missing individual had owed him money, but yet he hands Archie a pay-off to lose his trail. Mickey Dawks (Derrick O'Connor) also walks into Jessica's hotel room under the guise of room service, to get her to talk about the missing person who owes him money, but she answers that according to the police, the individual is in route to Australia.

Jessica then snoops around the apartment building at which the deceased had abided, to witness its Landlady's (Diana Webster) demanding back rent from a neighbor, Daisy Collins (Kim Braden), who pays up, before stepping down the hall to admit Jessica into the apartment to tend to the cat, after believing Jessica's guise.

But when Julian Fontaine (Trevor Eve) invites Jessica to a reception, Jessica recognizes Penelope Cadwell, whose scream alerted her to the body, but who, beside Edward Cadwell, dismisses Jessica's recognition of her presence at the hotel. Jessica also recognizes the servant couple as the two witnesses who claimed that the person jumped of his own volition, and she demands an explanation from Julian Fontaine, who claims no knowledge of these events.

When Julian offers Jessica a ride to New Scotland Yard, he, however, transports her, against her will, to the residence of Corsair (Guy Doleman), who finally explains the reasons as to why authorities may not disclose the fact that the victim is deceased.

"Tinker, Tailor, Liar, Thief" is derived from the traditional British children's poem "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief," which has formed the basis for the titles of 1969 Irwin Shaw novel, "Rich Man, Poor Man," as well as the 1974 John le Carré book title "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," in addition to that of this "MSW" episode.

One of the better J. B. Fletcher run ins with the British secret agencies, this time members of the Home Office. Not Len Cariou as Michael Hagarty, but Trevor Eve as Julian Fontaine of the domestic agency MI5. There is an Alfred Hitchcock maguffin in the guise of a disappearing and reappearing dead body of a man Jessica met briefly, which she then sees in a hotel room next to hers, but which Scotland Yard cannot find even after several calls from Jessica. An intriguing cast of characters from various levels of London society high and low are also pursuing the dead man, but it is up to Mrs. Fletcher to discover the true secret of who murdered the victim and why.

Jessica is visiting London and, shocking as it might sound, she stumbles upon a murder victim! Oddly, however, after she calls the police, the body disappears and soon the police being insisting that she's mistaken! Later, she finds the body again...and this time the police are even more dismissive! And, when she goes above their heads, once again she receives no satisfaction. And, repeatedly, folks do their best to make her seem like she's losing her mind! Clearly there is some sort of conspiracy brewing and you can't help but wonder what will happen to Jessica as she presses matters.

While the episode isn't easy to believe, it is an interesting change of pace. It also has a definite 'been there/done that' feel to it. But, on the other hand it IS fun and well worth seeing.

No one wants to believe that Jessica found a body in her hotel suite in London and they don't want her to believe it, either. The body is Nigel Atkins from the Home Office, someone she was introduced to earlier in passing. His body goes missing - the police think she's making it up, and the Police inspector later assures her that he's spoken to Atkins who is still quite alive and now on his way out of the country. It doesn't take her very long to figure out that she's in the of some type of intelligence operation.

Quite an enjoyable episode with Jessica looking suitably stressed over seeing a dead body has gone missing and that person has a different name to what she was told. There's enough twists to keep your attention. It's amazing how quaint London is portrayed as.

From beginning to the end this episode like many others is absolute idiocy , pretentious and infantile, practically comical in the very awful way.

The best are hairdos and fashion ,even in the eighties and nineties absolutly unbelievable.