“Murder, She Wrote”, the TV show about a genteel seaside mystery writer turned amateur detective, was a pillar of my 80s upbringing.
It wasn’t until I started rewatching the series in my 40s that I realised what an influence Jessica Fletcher had been in my formative years.
I’ve always been curious (my rebranding of “nosey”) and observant. Some might say I’d make a good stalker. Others appreciate my casual access to information.
I shudder to think what Jessica could have achieved with the internet at her disposal. Armed with her keen eye for detail, a typewriter, and a collection of scarves, she solved more than 250 murders.
I may not have been involved in solving any murders, but I have solved a number of what I’d call “social mysteries.” Figuring things out gives me a rush.
Want to know if that random guy on Tinder is really single? He isn’t. If you Google the phone number he gave you, you’ll find out his real name and hear him talking about his wife on a podcast. (True story).
Want to understand the weird dynamic between a body-building couple? A bit of social media investigation indicated that he’s dating her mom, not her. (Another true story).
Granted, I have the internet as my sidekick in my amateur sleuthing. But Jessica Fletcher taught me to observe, to remember, and to charm.
Observe: Jessica Fletcher notices everything. I see a fair amount. I listen. I take mental notes. I notice the presence or the sudden disappearance of a wedding ring.
I read fast. It’s almost embarrassing how quickly I can gather information about a person.
I once noticed a man with a strange word on the front of his sweatshirt. I was in a coffee shop and he’d walked past quickly. The word looked like a technical term. I was curious.
Some 30 seconds later, I was on this man’s LinkedIn page. A minute after that, I was looking at a photo of his cat. Before the foam on my cappuccino had settled, I knew his full name and the address of his office.
The strange word was the name of the company he heads up. Is this a cautionary tale or good marketing? I’ll let you decide.
Remember: Jessica doesn’t rush into revealing a murder suspect. She mulls over what she’s seen. Her signature line — “It was only when I remembered…” — springs to mind.
Like Jessica, I recall the strangest facts. I like to think I know a little about a lot.
A good memory can be dangerous. I have to remember to tactfully pretend not to know certain things.
I have a running joke with a friend about accidentally asking someone we barely know, “How was Budapest in 2007?”
Charm: Jessica is open and engaging in conversation. People open up to her. People like to tell me things, too.
Friends marvel at how I can leave a short conversation with someone, often a stranger, with some deeply personal information.
Jessica is charming in her own way. She often plays the talkative granny, while her mind buzzes and she hides her true motive. Being unassuming is a life skill. She can see through the charms of others, even if she initially trusted them.
At the end of the day, did Jessica Fletcher teach me to be a part-time sleuth, or did she teach me some crucial life skills? Both, I’d say. She also showed me that you can have a career change in your 60s, that exercise is vital, and that you can solve any mystery that comes your way, simply by observing, remembering, and being charming.