This time around, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) pays a visit to dear cousin Abby Benton Freestone (Lynn Redgrave), a Trainer at the Langley Estate, in Greenville, Virginia.
Abby tends to the stable of horses for the fox hunt, as well as the forlorn canine, Teddy, who relishes her affection.
Members of the family consist of the widowed Denton Langley (Dan O'Herlihy) and his irresponsible offspring: eccentric daughter, Morgana Cramer (Cathryn Damon); semi-ambitious son, Spencer Langley (Jared Martin); carefree daughter, Trish Langley (Lenore Kasdorf); and Morgana's rebellious daughter, Echo Cramer (Cherie Currie).
Associates of the Langley clan include fellow fox hunter Tom Cassidy (Forrest Tucker), shrewd attorney Marcus Boswell (Dean Jones), complaisant Veterinarian (James Hampton), feuding neighbor Isaiah Potts (Gregory Walcott), and Security Guard Barnes (Sandy Ward).
And when a videotaped will reveals that Teddy, the family pet, is named as heir to the estate, this creates strong reaction, intense objection and fierce suspicion.
As the plot unfolds, we begin to observe that murders follow Jessica wherever she may visit, but here in Greenville, a horse and Teddy the canine become primary suspects, as Jessica investigates with Sheriff (Roger Miller), Deputy Will Roxie (Byron Cherry) and Greenville Coroner (Robert Cornthwaite), before whom she presents an elaborate demonstration at the inquest, with various suspects in attendance.
Hence, whether or not "It's a Dog's Life" remains to be seen.