This tale is framed in a home-away-from-home setting: One of the Cabot Cove neighbors is staying with Jessica in her Manhattan pied-à-terre while preparing a grand dinner that may lead to a cookbook publishing deal. So far, so good: Except the gal pal turns out so whiny and neurotic, we the viewers will vow never to do a favor for a friend again, as long as we live. (The character is just poorly written, morphing from village grandma in one scene to Coco Chanel in the next.) We also keep wondering how on earth Jessica puts up with it, all the while chasing her own book deadline. After all, back in Cabot Cove we have seen her politely yet firmly throw people out of her house for much lesser transgressions. The crime investigation is solid as ever. But the klutzy friend's presence is simply vexing throughout; it adds neither humor nor substance to the story.