Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) The Cemetery Vote (1987) User Reviews

Corruption through the Ranks to the File Clerks

[WeatherViolet · 9/10 · 15 October 2009]

This episode marks the last appearance of Katherine De Hetre, after a brief career of film and television acting, from 1979 through 1987. John McLiam and Marie Windsor have also since passed.

As Comstock, Idaho, prepares for its mayoral election, Harry Stevens (John McLiam) plows his pickup truck through the gates of Comstock's Westridge County vehicle pound to examine the wreckage of his son, Jim's automobile, in which Jim lost his life in a single vehicular "accident."

Jim Stevens had been the Mayor of Comstock, who had been collecting proof of illegal operations conducting by former Mayor, and current candidate for the office, Westridge County Sheriff Orville Yates (Ed Lauter), who, with Deputy Wayne Beeler (Jeff Yagher), follows Harry into the junkyard to prevent his examining evidence of tampering, such as severed brake lines. The automobile vanishes from the lot directly afterward.

As Jim's widow, Linda Stevens (Ellen Bry), campaigns for Comstock Deputy Mayor David Carroll (Bruce Davison) to fill the office, she enters the City Hall offices to meet David and City Councilman George McDaniels (Joseph Campanella), to pick up campaign posters and to introduce them to her guest, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), a former neighbor during Linda and Jim's days back in Cabot Cove.

Harry Stevens then enters the office to complain about Sheriff Yates and Deputy Beeler's ill-treatment and refusal to release Jim's automobile to Linda's custody, which David claims ought to have been completed by this time.

To Jessica's surprise, Harry raises suspicions that Jim may have been, in fact, murdered, Linda denies the allegations, claiming his untimely death an accident, and not by trying to prove that now Sheriff, then Mayor Orville Yates had padded the ballot boxes with "The Cemetery Vote." But when David transports Jessica along the road to search for the spot in which Jim had lost his life, a semi rig truck trails them, bumping into the rear fender of David's automobile, and forcing them from the road, leaving them a need for medical attention.

When Jessica suspects a mole at City Hall, reporting to an illegal gambling operation coordinated by Kate's Cafe owner and Comstock Civic League President Kate Gunnerson (Marie Windsor), and Stokes' Warehouse owner Gil Stokes (Dick Balduzzi), Secretary Rita (Katherine De Hetre) testifies that Secretary Cindy March (Charlene Tilton) has been conducting an affair with the married Deputy Wayne Beeler.

And when another body is found after being tossed into the fields from the rural route, Jessica contacts Idaho State Police Captain Ernest Lenko (Mitch Ryan) to discuss the widespread corruption in Westridge County.

Jessica then searches through Jim's personal effects for clues to attempt to solve the murders with links from political corruption and civic misdeeds to the gambling operation, which the State Police haven't been able to raid because of tip offs from City Hall.

The cast is rounded out by Westridge County Coroner (Zale Kessler) and Paramedic (Neal Penso).

Who the hell is Jessica Fletcher

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 25 November 2017]

Jessica travels to Idaho, to offer comfort and support to her friend Linda, who's husband Jim recently died at the wheel of his car. His death was deemed accidental, but the obstinate Sheriff Orville Yates refuses the family access to the vehicle. Jim's father Harry breaks in to the pound where Jim's car is and attempts to check it over, he's set upon by Deputy Wayne Beeler. A body is later found.

It's very much a middle of the road episode, it's far from bad, but there's nothing instantly memorable here. It's a solid plot, with solid performances, coupled with the usual strong production values. It's always apparent when different people were behind the scenes, as the show ranges from light hearted to serious, this is very much a serious episode, with no jokes or cheer.

I would praise Ed Lauter for making Yates such an unlikable character, I'd say his performance stands out from the rest.

Pretty good, 7/10

Corruption and murder with 'Murder She Wrote'

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 14 August 2017]

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 Cemetery Vote" may not always have the most inspired of plots and some of it is typical 'Murder She Wrote' territory, but actually it's still a very solid episode with not much to say that's wrong. The portrayal of the town and its community is interesting and very nicely done, while the mystery engages and the corruption angle is suitably seedy. The final solution is one of the most surprising, almost shocking in fact, of Season 3.

Production values are slick and stylish as ever with 'Murder She Wrote'. 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 thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable and while the story is not always inspired it has some well executed twists and turns and is never dull.

Angela Lansbury is terrific as always, and while all the cast are strong, a superb Ed Lauter (as one of the season's nastiest characters) and an equally nasty Jeff Yagher are the standouts. Credit also goes to Mitchell Ryan playing against type and doing it well.

In conclusion, very solid episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Duel and Deliverance in Badham County

[safenoe · 8/10 · 10 February 2021]

There's a major twist in this episode which I never anticipated, so all credit to the writers for this. It would have made M Night Shyamalan proud for sure. Anyway, here Jessica is stuck in a dusty town where cops, corruption and casinos go hand in hand. There is a chilling feeling from this episode, as Jessica tackles the local sheriff played menacingly by Ed Lauter, who really could be the long-lost brother of Craig T. Nelson.

The obligatory corrupt small town episode.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 9 November 2022]

I love old time detective shows and notice a trend. In shows like "Cannon", "Mannix" and "Barnaby Jones", there were a few episodes where the hero entered a small town and ended up realizing the place was filled with corruption...and the least trustworthy of them are the cops. So, it's not surprising that "Murder, She Wrote" would also use this plot idea.

When Jessica learns that an old friend has died, she comes to town to see his widow and look into the case. The police ruled that it was an accident, but considering how corrupt the cops are, many are in doubt about this ruling. And, soon one of the most vocal critics of the cops, the dead man's father, is soon found murdered! What hope does Jessica have if ALL the cops are corrupt and you can't trust everyone??

This is a very good, solid episode. It also offers a nice unexpected twist at the end...one that sure caught me off guard. Very well written and very clever.

A most suspicious car accident.

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 27 July 2017]

Some of the Walking Tall films seem to have influenced this episode of Murder She Wrote. Only here instead of the sheriff trying to clean up the gambling, sheriff Ed Lauter is right at the heart of it in the small mountain town of Comstock, Idaho.

Where Jessica Fletcher has gone to comfort the family of the town's new mayor who was killed in a most suspicious car accident. When the deceased's father starts raising a fuss, John McLiam the father is also killed and this one everyone is calling a homicide.

This episode is a nice portrayal of small town law enforcement corruption. Lauter and deputy Jeff Yagher are a really nasty pair to run afoul of.

Still it's a bit of a surprise at how this one plays out.

Corruption, Murder in Comstock

[knucklebreather · 6/10 · 2 November 2009]

Jessica Fletcher visits up with yet another friend in an interesting locale who happens to be at the center of a murder conspiracy. Her friend's husband, the mayor, died in an accident, but his father says it was murder, and Jessica believes him. The corrupt local sheriff (who was elected thanks to the "Cemetery Vote") is played perfectly by Ed Lauter, evoking just the kind of disdain from the audience the character calls for, and is a real highlight of the episode. The sheriff doesn't like the meddling senior citizens one bit, and the father is murdered and Jessica intimidated.

This is a pretty solid episode. It's a grab bag of the usual clichés of the series, but there's nothing too annoying, and bright spots like Lauter's performance and the twist at the ending being less predictable than usual make this episode worth watching.

The cemetery Vote

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 19 August 2023]

Jessica breaks her schedule to comfort recently widowed friend Linda Stevens, only to discover that the dead man's father, Harry, suspects Jim's death had more to do with the corruption in the town legal staff than mere accident. Jessica digs into the rot infesting the town's ruling infrastructure, but with red tape and secret keeping hindering her investigation, how can she obtain the evidence to take down the corrupt politicians?

The characters and the portrayal of corruption and town politics is interesting and Ed Lautner as the sheriff has to be worst policeman ever. It's not a great episode and it meanders a little, but it still decent enough with good performances around. Jessica again shows herself as such a calm presence.