by Doward Wilson

The newest entry in Hallmark’s Movies and Mysteries Picture Perfect Mystery franchise is Dead Over Diamonds starring real life husband and wife Carlos and Alexa PenaVega. Alexa plays professional photographer Allie Adams and Carlos plays Detective Sam Acosta. Together the two of them are working on the theft of a valuable diamond necklace which was on display at Allie’s friend’s gallery opening.

How was the necklace taken from its locked case and removed from the gathering? The owner of the necklace is determined to ruin Allie’s friend, the gallery owner, and Allie is determined to stop him and find the real thief. Was the theft the work of the older man who had a heart attack and left the gallery in an ambulance? Was the rich man and his plus one involved? The plus one desperately wanted the necklace but had lost out to the current owner in an auction. What about the divorced rich man who lived on his boat in the marina? Then we also have the professional con man. Was he involved? What about the owner of the necklace? Is he or his brother somehow involved with the theft? Both were there at the gallery.

I really enjoyed this new entry in the Picture Perfect Mysteries. The acting is first rate. The characters all work well together, and the theft and following murder are well plotted and planned out. Allie and Carlos make the perfect on screen couple. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a relaxing evening watching a great movie.

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Another new entry from Hallmark’s Movies and Mysteries is found in the Martha’s Vineyard Mystery series, Riddled with Deceit starring Jesse Metcalfe as retired Boston Detective Jeff Jackson and Sarah Lind as Doctor Zee Madeiras whose father is police chief on Martha’s Vineyard.

When a recently recovered five million dollar emerald brooch is returned to Zee’s best friend, Brit, it is stolen again. Who wanted it badly enough to kill for it? Was the shady waiter involved and who is he really? How about the couple from whom the brooch was recovered? Did they really not know it had been stolen property? Did Brit’s godfather know more than he let on before he was tortured and murdered? Who was behind the first unsuccessful attempted theft when the brooch was being transferred from Boston to Martha’s Vineyard? Can Jeff figure out who stole the brooch and why, before it disappears into the world of the black market again?

This was another excellently acted and plotted mystery movie. I enjoyed how Jeff and Zee play off each other. The scenery is also amazing. The murder and theft plots are dripping with red herrings and lots of twists and turns which make for a very surprising end. I highly recommend this second entry in the Martha’s Vineyard Mystery for a good night’s entertainment.

You can check out KRL’s reviews of other mystery movies on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel in our mystery section. You can also go to the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel website to learn more and check out their schedule for more new movies coming soon.

Join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Don’t forget to check out KRL’s new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode goes up this week.

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.