Mysterious flashing flood lights flicker across Cabot Cove Harbor one dreary overcast evening, as observed by Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), who chauffeurs Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to Cabot Cove Library for a literary reading sponsored by the local Ladies' Auxiliary.
Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) informs Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum) and others that he suspects the blinking lights are designed to signal codes from ship to shore in conjunction with a smuggling operation.
Across the craggy path this foggy night, Jessica arrives to attend a presentation of macabre poetry delivered by its writer, Sibella Stone (Carroll Baker), with several others of various ages in attendance, including Sue (Robin Gordon), Peggy Reed (Jennifer Parsons), Valerie Hartman (Andrea Roth), Marian King (Yvonne Suhor), and Chairwoman (B.J. Ward), who organizes this event to welcome the disconnecting Sibella back to Cabot Cove.
Derek Hartman (William Katt) remains Sibella's loyal younger husband, while she runs around behind his back with the even younger Monroe Shepard (David Gail), who delivers meals from one of Cabot Cove's many diners, this also employing Peggy Reed and Marian King, in an establishment which Mr. Turner (Erwin Fuller) frequents.
Phil Coile (Christopher Murray) owns a cottage near seaside, as he has dealings with Colin Burnham (John David Bland), who shares a connection with other Cabot Cove youths, as well as Smuggler (Ian Ruskin) on one level.
The headstrong Sibella doesn't head the advice of others who warn her not to hike along the path leading to the isolated cottage, as she neither proceeds with caution after a note appears in her study inviting her to a secret rendezvous at her boat house during a reception which she and Derek host.
Before Sibella lunges through broken floorboards to submerge beneath the cold blue sea, catching her heel between rocks in the process, someone borrowing her grey cloak is discovered along the remote path, a victim of murder.
Sheriff Mort Metzger deduces that Sibella must have been the intended victim in this crime connecting to the smugglers' operation and begins to make his arrests, resulting in a threatening confrontation, while Jessica suspects that others bearing secrets of their own may have stronger motives, such as spitefulness by someone's cheating on another cheater.
When Jessica visits the diner, she observes a striking similarity between the printing upon a menu board and that upon the note uncovered in Sibella's study, leading her to conclude that additional murders have been plotted if only she, Sheriff Metzger and Deputy Andy could arrive back at the boat shed in time to prevent their tentative occurrence, revolving around "Love's Deadly Desire."
Extra points for the appearances of William Katt, David Gail and John David Bland, for adding credible performances to rise above a somewhat implausible premise.
Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) informs Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum) and others that he suspects the blinking lights are designed to signal codes from ship to shore in conjunction with a smuggling operation.
Across the craggy path this foggy night, Jessica arrives to attend a presentation of macabre poetry delivered by its writer, Sibella Stone (Carroll Baker), with several others of various ages in attendance, including Sue (Robin Gordon), Peggy Reed (Jennifer Parsons), Valerie Hartman (Andrea Roth), Marian King (Yvonne Suhor), and Chairwoman (B.J. Ward), who organizes this event to welcome the disconnecting Sibella back to Cabot Cove.
Derek Hartman (William Katt) remains Sibella's loyal younger husband, while she runs around behind his back with the even younger Monroe Shepard (David Gail), who delivers meals from one of Cabot Cove's many diners, this also employing Peggy Reed and Marian King, in an establishment which Mr. Turner (Erwin Fuller) frequents.
Phil Coile (Christopher Murray) owns a cottage near seaside, as he has dealings with Colin Burnham (John David Bland), who shares a connection with other Cabot Cove youths, as well as Smuggler (Ian Ruskin) on one level.
The headstrong Sibella doesn't head the advice of others who warn her not to hike along the path leading to the isolated cottage, as she neither proceeds with caution after a note appears in her study inviting her to a secret rendezvous at her boat house during a reception which she and Derek host.
Before Sibella lunges through broken floorboards to submerge beneath the cold blue sea, catching her heel between rocks in the process, someone borrowing her grey cloak is discovered along the remote path, a victim of murder.
Sheriff Mort Metzger deduces that Sibella must have been the intended victim in this crime connecting to the smugglers' operation and begins to make his arrests, resulting in a threatening confrontation, while Jessica suspects that others bearing secrets of their own may have stronger motives, such as spitefulness by someone's cheating on another cheater.
When Jessica visits the diner, she observes a striking similarity between the printing upon a menu board and that upon the note uncovered in Sibella's study, leading her to conclude that additional murders have been plotted if only she, Sheriff Metzger and Deputy Andy could arrive back at the boat shed in time to prevent their tentative occurrence, revolving around "Love's Deadly Desire."
Extra points for the appearances of William Katt, David Gail and John David Bland, for adding credible performances to rise above a somewhat implausible premise.