Season5findsMurder,SheWrote'sintrepidJessicaFletcherinfinesleuthingform,andventuringfartherafieldfromCabotCove--agoodthing,sinceattheratethemurdershavebeenhappening,thattownwouldbenearlycleanedout.SomeofthebestepisodestakeplaceinmoreexoticlocaleslikeNewYork(deadmanonthestreet,wearingjustoneshoe),Montana(apublishingconventiongonehorriblywrong)andWestVirginia(twowhistle-blowersatacoalcompanyfoundgruesomelymurdered).AngelaLansburysparkleswithdeterminationandbonhomie,hittingherstrideandthensome.Jessica'sownlifebackstoryisevenfilledouttantalizingly,especiallyintheepisode"TheLastFlightoftheDixieDamsel,"inwhichaninvestigationislaunchedintoamysteriouscargoplanethatislinked,shelearnstoherhorror,toherlatehusband.Theseries'otherdelightiswatchingforcameosbystarsofacertainage,andthisseasondoesn'tdisappoint,withappearancesbyRoddyMcDowall,ShelleyFabares,andDinahShore--butalsosomeup-and-comerslikeMeganMullally(proofpositivethattheWill&Gracewhinewasaput-on)andfuturesatiristBillMaher.
