Review of "Murder She Wrote: Death Stalks the Big Top Part 1," DVD version

Review of

Murder She Wrote: Death Stalks the Big Top Part 1, DVD version


Four out of five stars

 Jessica has arrived for her niece’s wedding and they express regret that the niece’s grandfather cannot be there, for he supposedly died many years ago when his boat exploded and burned. The niece’s grandmother is really a nasty woman, she is very domineering and controlling, even to people like Jessica.

 When the niece receives a silver leprechaun in the mail, both her and Jessica take it as a sign that the grandfather may be alive, for no body was ever recovered.  Using the source address on the package as a clue, Jessica immediately departs for a small town in Arkansas. When she arrives, the trail leads her to a traveling circus that is struggling to survive financially. There have been a series of accidents that have created problems.

 Jessica pokes around and is not welcomed by the members of the circus. She finds the man she is looking for working as a clown in the circus and when one of the least liked members of the circus is beaten to death, the man she was searching for is arrested for the murder.

 There are many supporting characters to this episode, including a mayor that is full of himself, thinking that he is a better crime investigator than the professionals. Other supporting characters, such as the niece’s grandmother, are also exaggerated in execution. Many extended head shots of a character expressing emotions for a fade-out are an integral part of the episode. Yet, it does set the proper ground for the second part, where Jessica solves the case and all is well in the end.