This episode marks one of the last appearances by Kiel Martin, who has acted in film and on television since 1960. John Harkins and Jonathan Brandis have also since passed.
When life-long bully Jack Franzen (Bruce Glover) causes frustration, pain and hardship around Cabot Cove, he goes all the way. His domineering approach, impossible expectations, outrageous demands and condescending attitude alienate the affections of his wife, Gloria Franzen (Bridget Hanley); his tenant at Owen's Shoes factory, Owen Brownwell (John Harkins); plus three of Owen's employees, Patsy Dumont (Lorna Luft), Danny Snow (Kiel Martin) and Marla Bryce (Season Hubley), who also strives to pay increasing rental fees at the residence leased from landlord Jack Franzen.
But it is Marla's preteen son, Kevin Bryce (Jonathan Brandis), who controls the primary focus of this saga with his concerned confidant, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), for whom he performs odd jobs, such as assisting with her gardening.
On several occasions during the course of this series, a single mother who can't seem to make ends meet to provide for her preteen son finds herself questioned during a murder investigation without a solid alibi, and so the child becomes "the man of the house" with Jessica's blessing and support.
We may decide that this formula works well here because, after all, a body has been discovered near her residence, her name-engraved shovel is missing, and so has been Marla since the day of the murder.
While Kevin eagerly launches his own investigation to defend his missing mother, it is discovered that he had once been placed in foster care back in Chicago, after he and Marla skipped out of their apartment one night to avoid paying back rent. So, now the plot thickens for Kevin to face the possibility of foster home placement once again.
Jessica assists any way which she sees fit, as she, Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) and Deputy Floyd (Will Nye) conduct the official murder investigation.
Kevin's Third-Grade Schoolteacher Lydia Johansen (Teri Ralston), Social Worker Lee McAdam (Paige Pengra), Nurse at hospital in Portland (Edwina Moore) and Cabot Cove Post Office Clerk (Dane Winters) round out the cast in supporting roles.
Lorna Luft sprinkles a few wisecrack for comic relief along the way before the final curtain, but cleverly avoids the possibly tempting "If the Shoe Fits, I'll sock it to you to boot you right out of here."
