Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) Trouble in Eden (1987) User Reviews

Fletcher, Madame Fletcher.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 9 March 2021]

There certainly is trouble in Eden, Jessica helps an old friend out, and gets a whole new exposure.

Love it, love this episode, there is nothing dull, or unoriginal about this one, a very unique, quirky, and grown up story for Murder She Wrote.

It's a great idea, such an establishment existing in such a conservative, respectable area, it's just a good job that nobody there is a keen mystery novel reader.

Jessica has done many things in her time, but this, this is the most extreme of the lot, I bet Lansbury loved every second of this one, and as always she is terrific.

For a Brothel, it is wonderfully twee, with China birds, and chintz wallpaper, it's not the most alluring bordello imaginable.

Big fan of this one, 9/10.

Mary Rose by Any Other Name Is J.B. Fletcher

[WeatherViolet · 9/10 · 20 August 2009]

After a thirty-plus year career in film and television, Joan Caulfield joins the ranks of Classic stars delivering a swan song performance on "Murder, She Wrote."

Here, Mary Rose Welch (Miss Caulfield) prepares to cross a busy NYC street with her friend Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), when Mary Rose is struck by the driver of a sedan, who loses control of his vehicle and collides with a barrier of crates, succumbing to incurred injuries.

During her recuperation from a broken leg with her friend Jessica at her side in the hospital, Mary Rose learns of "Trouble in Eden" from her young attorney, Lewis Framm (Tom Fitzsimmons), who informs her that her sister Charlotte (Renata Scott) has passed and bequeathed to Mary Rose her estate, Garden of Eden Hotel, in Eden, Oregon.

Along with this information comes a warning by a concerned citizen: "Never trust anybody in Eden."

With Lewis' cooperation, Jessica decides to investigate the property and the climate of Eden under the guise of "Mary Rose Welch," whom citizens of Eden have never met.

But let's pause for a moment for a reality check. If no one from Eden, Oregon, with the exception of Charlotte has ever seen Mary Rose Welch, then how could a hired assassin have spotted her along a busy curb in NYC to single her out for murder?

Back to the episode. Jessica disguises her voice to play the role of Mary Rose, with Lewis at her side, to receive a cold reception from Eden residents.

At the Garden of Eden Hotel, Receptionist Lila Benson (Tricia O'Neil) and Maid Martha Neilsen (Betty Garrett) each exercises caution upon the arrival. They ask "Mary Rose" if she plans to change operations, which she insists remain the same, without knowing what these operations entail, nor how its other permanent residents earn a livelihood.

Sheriff Landry (Roy Thinnes) acts in refreshingly professional manner as the voice of law enforcement, who is not out to arrest an incorrect suspect. In fact, he suspects no one of a murder, which, in his estimation, was never committed.

But Charlotte had been stabbed in the middle of the night, and the strongbox beneath her floorboards is missing.

Dr. Lynch (Macdonald Carey) is held in high regard by Sheriff Landry. If he says that Charlotte died of natural causes, then that's good enough for the law.

C.J. Dobbs (Stuart Whitman) seeks to purchase the property from "Mary Rose" to add to his Real Estate holdings on either side of the Garden of Eden, to demolish the Hotel, to construct a shopping center.

Mortician Snooks Sitwell (Mills Watson) shares secret conversations with the good doctor, the Realtor and the minister, as they each have secrets hidden from the rest of Eden.

Rev. Willard Manchester (Thom Christopher) and his stern wife, Dora Manchester (Rosanna Huffman) must also deal with "Mary Rose" and the others in forthright fashion.

During the course of Jessica's investigation, she decides that she must earn the trust of everyone involved (no easy task, for certain), and without letting on her true identity especially after different versions of Charlotte's demise come into play, fueling the fires of "Trouble in Eden."

Jessica Fletcher undercover

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 4 March 2018]

After getting an unsigned letter and then almost being run down in the mean streets of New York, Joan Caulfield decides to have her old friend Jessica Fletcher go to Eden, Oregon. Angela Lansbury agrees, but she goes as Joan Caulfield.

The unsigned letter tells tells Jessica Fletcher to be real concerned if she hears a report of her sister's death. Sure enough that's what has happened and arriving in Eden she finds the deceased owned a place that truly made it heavenly for some, a brothel not unlike the one in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas or what James Stewart inherited in The Cheyenne Social Club.

But the deceased also had a fine line in blackmail of some of the town's leading citizens. It's a question of who wanted her dead the most.

In addition to Joan Caulfield for whom this was a farewell role such other leading lights of yesterday's cinema like Stuart Whitman and Macdonald Carey also appear.

I will say this, the perpetrator is exactly whom you want it to be.

A long way from troubling

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 23 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.

Remembered "Trouble in Eden" as one of the best episodes of Season 4, and one of the most unique in a way. Re-watching it last night, that initial opinion very much still stands and it's among my favourite episodes of the show too. The title promises trouble, and the mystery itself is clever and suitably troubling with a lot happening and a surprising ending. One also expects a lot of mayhem, "Trouble in Eden" similarly delivers on that and one has to really admire and be genuinely surprised at what Jessica gets herself into and how she deals with it.

Angela Lansbury cannot be faulted as ever and there is great, professional support from Betty Garrett, Roy Thinnes, Tricia O'Neil, Stuart Whitman and Macdonald Carey.

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 the story doesn't have a dull moment and engages throughout.

Overall, terrific episode and while there is a lot of trouble in Eden the episode itself in quality is a long way from troubling. 10/10 Bethany Cox

A rather risqué outing for Jessica!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 20 November 2022]

A couple episodes back, "Murder, She Wrote" featured an incredibly risqué episode where the local deputy ended up being accused of murder. During the investigation, it turned out the man was having affairs with practically every silver-haired lady in Cabot Cove...minus Jessica Fletcher! I mention this because "Trouble in Eden" is also a bit adult compared to many episodes....with Jessica becoming a Madame of sorts!

A friend of Jessica's has just inherited her sister's hotel following the woman's death. However, while she and Jessica are walking down the road, someone tries to run over the friend...and seriously injures her. So she and Jessica hatch up a plan: Jessica will go to the town in Oregon with the hotel and pretend to be her friend. Then, she can investigate and find out if this attempt on the friend's life is part of some greater conspiracy. Imagine Jessica's surprise when she goes there and learns that this isn't exactly a hotel...but a brothel!! What's next? Well, a lot...but you'll just have to see for yourself!

This is a very well written episode with a solid finale...no confession coming from out of nowhere with no real evidence to force it. Additionally, there is a bit of humor to it...making it easy to watch and laugh at as well.

In a Gadda Da Vida

[safenoe · 8/10 · 6 October 2020]

Jessica blushes when she learns the Eden hotel is really a whorehouse for a quiet backwater. Some flesh is seen, quite risque by Murder, She Wrote standards I guess. I would have loved to see the writers have a follow-up episode titled Sodom and Gomorrah, where Jessica investigates the outbreak of VD from amongst the devoted patrons of Eden hotel.

Trouble in Eden

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 24 August 2023]

After receiving a mysterious letter, Jessica's friend Mary Rose Welch begs her to come with her to settle the inheritance she received from her sister Charlotte. Jessica doesn't believe she should, until a car hits Mary Rose, leaving her hospitalized. Now convinced something nasty has been going on, Jessica goes to Charlotte's town, the incongruously named Eden, and finds that the town has been producing some very rotten fruit.

A decent MSW finds Fletcher go undercover in a hick town called Eden as a deceased woman's sister and finds that everyone is trying to cover things up. The mystery is quite intricate, the sketch of the town is well done but it's the characters that make this strong entry.