When characters are well-written, it's easy to find that their personalities — their wants, their desires, their actions, hopes, dreams, etc— fall into categories that people see amongst themselves in real day-to-day life. No personality test is more comprehensive or widespread than the Myers-Briggs® Personality Test.
Some people know their Myers-Briggs types but if you don't feel free to try the test yourself here. Some can even identify types in others! With the characters in Murder, She Wrote, it's all too easy to figure out who fits into what category.
Jessica Fletcher — ESFJ (The Consul)
Jessica Fletcher is the main character of Murder, She Wrote, and an obvious ESFJ. Those who are identified by the ESFJ Myers-Briggs type are usually well-liked, just like Jessica. People naturally trust her with themselves and also with their troubles, knowing that her ESFJ personality is going to help them out in the long run.
She is also positive, has a warm heart, and is both loyal and determined. ESFJ, like Jessica, are the tones who set the pace and lead their teams to victory — just like Jessica solving cases!
Seth Hazlitt — INTP (The Logician)
Dr. Seth Hazlitt is one of Jessica Fletcher’s best friends. Though he’s a little rough on the outside, he is a good man; but we also know that he and his brother, years ago, fell in love with the same woman, Molly, which caused a feud so dramatic they didn’t speak for years.
His doctoral desires and his medicinal knowledge push him towards INTP; like INTP, he is analytical, he is able to come up with creative and unique solutions, and he is singularly intellectual.
Amos Tupper — ISFJ (The Defender)
While ISFJs are notoriously hard to place, Sheriff Amos Tupper is more than certainly among those who can claim the title. Though Jessica does solve most of Amos’ cases for him, there’s a reason he’s the Sheriff of Cabot Cove: he truly cares about his community.
The ISFJ is a protective, loyal, and defensive personality type, which fits Amos well. He may not be the best at solving crimes, but he is, like most ISFJs, more than the sum of his parts and his actions speak louder than his words.
Charlie Garrett — ESTP (The Entrepreneur)
Charles Garrett, or Charlie, is a private investigator who Jessica often has run-ins with. He’s a smarmy type who is cunning and always willing to do what it takes to crack a case, especially if he gets to crack it before Jessica and get paid to do it. He’s flashy, he’s flexible, and he’s not someone easily trusted.
ESTPs are the ones who raise their hands first, the ones who come up with exciting solutions to everyday problems, and who leap without looking, much like Charlie Garrett.
Mort Metzger — ISTP (The Virtuoso)
Former NYPD officer Mort Metzger moved to Cabot Cove to take over as Sheriff when Amos left, hoping it’d be easy, but got far more than he bargained for. Helpful, flexible, and driving a cool car, Mort does his best to help Jessica solve the murders that wipe out the population of Cabot Cove on the reg.
Bonus points for the fact that ISTPs tend to be the mechanics of the world, and Mort famously loves his car — a red 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible — so much that he drives that instead of a police car!
Grady Fletcher — ENFP (The Campaigner)
Grady is Jessica’s nephew, technically, but serves as more of a son to her in the show. It’s a good thing he has such a kind and helpful mother-figure, too, because he can be considered somewhat bumbling— or, to put it more kindly, he’s an enthusiastic and trusting person!
He’s very kind and compassionate, with a youthful vigor and a warm, loving energy that spreads through those around them. ENFPs often look to those around them for support, but are always the first to give those around them support, as well, just like Grady.
Harry McGraw — INTJ (The Architect)
Like Amos, Harry McGraw has a tough exterior that can be a little hard to crack. Like Amos also, though, Harry has a heart of gold underneath, and will do anything for those he cares for, like Jessica.
A hard-boiled detective, Harry has a strong and powerful mind that can come up with several options leading to multiple outcomes out of a problem before coming to one solid solution. Ambitious, curious, independent, and competent, INTJ are among the most capable personality types — and Harry McGraw is the most capable man.
Michael Hagarty — ESFP (The Entertainer)
Played by Angela Lansbury’s Sweeney Todd and the Demon Barber of Fleet Street co-star Len Cariou, Michael Hagarty is a Bond-esque MI6 agent. Michael is suave, fun, and charming — all traits characteristic of a classic ESFP.
Michael is exuberant and brings a spontaneous and entertaining excitement to everything he does, no matter how big or small. He does everything with style, which is just like an ESFP. Most importantly, though, ESFPs love life, just like Michael does and just like he proves in his more serious moments on the show.
Dennis Stanton — ENFJ (The Protagonist)
People don’t always fondly remember Dennis Stanton, the insurance salesman and investigator (whose cases are largely insurance claims) and whose resume features jewel theft, mostly because they dislike episodes of Murder, She Wrote where Jessica isn’t the main character.
Nevertheless, Dennis is a great character, as well as a classic ENFJ. A charismatic, social character and a natural-born leader, Dennis cracks countless cases on his own and sends the stories to Jessica to use in her books from time to time. He has a natural confidence inherent to ENFJs, as well as the standard sociability found in this type.
Donna Mayberry — INFJ (The Advocate)
Donna, like her husband Grady, is a fairly introverted, somewhat shy, and (in Donna’s case, only slightly) bumbling character. Donna embodies the INFJ personality type: those quiet dreamers who secretly know what they want and take time building a strong foundation to steadily achieve their goals.
This is exactly what Donna does in leaving her accounting job under her father and marrying Grady, becoming his housewife and the mother of their son, Frank. Donna, the typical INFJ, seeks meaning from her relationships with those around her, and does an excellent job executing her vision.