by Doward Wilson

Check out KRL’s review & giveaway of the latest Aurora Teegarden book, and a fun interview with Charlaine Harris in this issue.

Meet Aurora Teagarden, librarian and murder mystery fan, played by Candace Cameron Bure in these Hallmark Movies & Mysteries adaptations of the first three books in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris. Aurora’s mother, Aida, owner of a local real estate agency, is ably played by Marilu Henner.

In the first movie, Real Murders, we see Aurora, known as Roe, solve the murder of a fellow member of her crime-solving book group, the Real Murders Club. A copycat killer is using the same methods employed in the real murders currently being discussed by the group. More copycat murders follow, and Roe is in the middle of the investigation, even though the police and her mother insist she stay out of it.

In the second movie, A Bone To Pick, we find Roe inheriting an old friend’s house and belongings. When she discovers that those belongings include a hidden skull that shows signs of traumatic injury, she is forced to investigate. With a missing skeleton and several suspicious neighbors to check out, Roe is busy investigating while the cops and her mother are both yelling at her to “stay out.”

The third, and most current, movie is, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse. While helping her mother out by showing a client around home listings, Roe discovers the murdered body of a real estate agent from another agency. When her mother and her employees become the prime suspects, Roe gets busy investigating. Having lived for a while in the murder home while growing up, Roe notices that something has changed in one of the main rooms, even though the rest of house is exactly as it always was. Comparing old photos of the room leads her to the discovery that a painting has been switched. When the value of the painting is established to be in the six-figure-plus range, a motive emerges. A second murder is discovered in another of her mother’s listings and the pace picks up. Connecting the painting theft to the theft of other paintings in the area, involves her mother’s client, who found the first murder victim, along with Roe. Inheritances, lies, and secrets make for a great movie.

This is a well-done series of cozy mystery movies. The cast comes across as family and friends who we know and love, and the location scenery is beautiful. The murder plots are well developed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. These movies give you an evening’s adventure while you stay comfy in your favorite chair. Check out these three while we eagerly await the next one coming this Fall.

Check out Hallmark Movies & Mystery Channel to find even more cozy mystery novels turned in to movies!

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section.

Doward Wilson is a retired and avid cozy, paranormal, and adventure reader who can’t say no to most books. He recently moved from Independence, Missouri to Gladbrook, Iowa. Located in Central Iowa, Gladbrook (population 900+) is small town, rural farming at its best.