This episode marks the fourth of five appearances of the fun-loving Chicago-based Private Detective Charlie Garrett (Wayne Rogers), whom clients often hire to investigate cases in exotic resort localities. Although Charlie functions in a role of guest detective, his episodes invariably entangle his authoritative colleague Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) into a situation which leads to murder, and do not function independently of her, as "Bookend episodes," in which she introduces him as guest sleuth, thus stepping aside. Charlie often encounters more troubles along the way than he is able to handle, thus needing Jessica's capable logic to bail him from his difficulties.
This also includes a sub-titled introductory back-story segment, as several "MSW" later-seasons episodes contain, such as "One year earlier," or "On a certain date," in this case "One month ago," in which a man is assaulted while escorting a woman across the resort compound, as well as an intent by a client to her attorney to divorce her husband.
Laney Sherman Boswell (Leigh Taylor-Young), a close friend of Jessica's seeks to end her marriage to Grant Boswell (no actor credited for the role), before Attorney Terry Folger (Gerald McRaney), who has designs of his own regarding the situation at hand.
Sheriff Milo Pike (Kurt Fuller) investigates a suspicious vehicular accident which claims a life, without determining foul play for certain, in this saga, reaching from Aspen, Colorado, to Chicago, Illinois, to Denver, Colorado, and back into its main setting of Aspen, for Jessica's return excursion into "The Centennial State."
Mr. Vernon / Grant Boswell (Tom Everett) has been involved with the victim, to the effect that his daughter, Nancy Boswell / Nancy Grayson (Leslie Horan) has been named as a beneficiary in a very large life insurance policy. Sydney Pembrook (Elizabeth Gracen) also has a connection to the deceased.
Executive Director Olivia Archer (Deborah Lacey) also has a stake in the victim's business ventures, as another beneficiary party to the insurance policy. She, therefore, hires Charlie Garrett (Wayne Rogers), who poses under the guise of a stockbroker with an alias for his cover.
Hardware store owner Anthony Pembroke (Victor Bevine) witnesses information which may prove detrimental to the defense of Laney Sherman Boswell, unable to prove her innocence unless she solicits assistance from dear old friend Jessica Fletcher, who travels to her Aspen, Colorado, resort, to investigate.
Laney's daughter, Gina Sherman (Wendy Benson-Landes), and her friends Darman H. Keene (Scott Valentine) and Phil Carmichael (Thom Bierdz) also do what they can to assist Laney and remain in Gina's good graces. Darman H. Keene works as a reporter and joins in the resulting investigations, in one way or another, along with Milo, Charlie and Jessica.
When Jessica is "introduced" to Charlie, under his alias of "Howard Dietrich," she plays along, under the impression that exposing his cover could lead to danger, she awaiting his explanation.
But during the course of clue-mongering, Charlie is assaulted and knocked unconscious, thereby preventing him from witnessing a second murder which occurs, relating to the case, as another body pops up along the sidewalk, resulting in another "Quaking in Aspen."
Jessica joins forces with Sheriff Milo Pike to attempt to clear her friend Laney Sherman Boswell of murder suspicion, and to ascertain that young love flourishes for her daughter, Gina Sherman, as she must decide which of her suitors deserves her the more.
This also includes a sub-titled introductory back-story segment, as several "MSW" later-seasons episodes contain, such as "One year earlier," or "On a certain date," in this case "One month ago," in which a man is assaulted while escorting a woman across the resort compound, as well as an intent by a client to her attorney to divorce her husband.
Laney Sherman Boswell (Leigh Taylor-Young), a close friend of Jessica's seeks to end her marriage to Grant Boswell (no actor credited for the role), before Attorney Terry Folger (Gerald McRaney), who has designs of his own regarding the situation at hand.
Sheriff Milo Pike (Kurt Fuller) investigates a suspicious vehicular accident which claims a life, without determining foul play for certain, in this saga, reaching from Aspen, Colorado, to Chicago, Illinois, to Denver, Colorado, and back into its main setting of Aspen, for Jessica's return excursion into "The Centennial State."
Mr. Vernon / Grant Boswell (Tom Everett) has been involved with the victim, to the effect that his daughter, Nancy Boswell / Nancy Grayson (Leslie Horan) has been named as a beneficiary in a very large life insurance policy. Sydney Pembrook (Elizabeth Gracen) also has a connection to the deceased.
Executive Director Olivia Archer (Deborah Lacey) also has a stake in the victim's business ventures, as another beneficiary party to the insurance policy. She, therefore, hires Charlie Garrett (Wayne Rogers), who poses under the guise of a stockbroker with an alias for his cover.
Hardware store owner Anthony Pembroke (Victor Bevine) witnesses information which may prove detrimental to the defense of Laney Sherman Boswell, unable to prove her innocence unless she solicits assistance from dear old friend Jessica Fletcher, who travels to her Aspen, Colorado, resort, to investigate.
Laney's daughter, Gina Sherman (Wendy Benson-Landes), and her friends Darman H. Keene (Scott Valentine) and Phil Carmichael (Thom Bierdz) also do what they can to assist Laney and remain in Gina's good graces. Darman H. Keene works as a reporter and joins in the resulting investigations, in one way or another, along with Milo, Charlie and Jessica.
When Jessica is "introduced" to Charlie, under his alias of "Howard Dietrich," she plays along, under the impression that exposing his cover could lead to danger, she awaiting his explanation.
But during the course of clue-mongering, Charlie is assaulted and knocked unconscious, thereby preventing him from witnessing a second murder which occurs, relating to the case, as another body pops up along the sidewalk, resulting in another "Quaking in Aspen."
Jessica joins forces with Sheriff Milo Pike to attempt to clear her friend Laney Sherman Boswell of murder suspicion, and to ascertain that young love flourishes for her daughter, Gina Sherman, as she must decide which of her suitors deserves her the more.
