by Doward Wilson

Hallmark Movies and Mysteries newest movie is Mystery 101: Playing Dead, starring Jill Wagner as Amy Winslow, a college professor, and Kristoffer Polaha as Travis Burke, the local police detective. Jill Wagner is best known for playing co-host on ABC’s Wipeout and Kate Argent on Teen Wolf. Kristoffer Polaha has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies. Both have been active in starring in movies from the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark’s Movies and Mysteries Channel. This is their second foray with the Mystery 101 series.

Amy is involved with the local theater production starring Bella Brightman, a famous Hollywood actress who has a summer home in the small town of Garrison. When nasty accidents and threats happen to Bella, Amy and Travis start to investigate. With the appearance of Bella’s ex-husband the cast of suspects expands. Who is trying to kill her? Who is the big mystery? Is the husband trying to kill his wife over a supposed affair with a fellow cast member or is the wife trying to get rid of the husband? Or, is something else going on?

In a sub-plot Travis is investigating the robberies at several local drugstores where cash and drugs are stolen. The manager of one of the stores is the girlfriend of one of the cast members. Are the robberies and murder threats tied together or just two different crimes?

This was another excellently made Hallmark Movies and Mysteries movie. I enjoyed the interaction between the cast members who work very well together. The theater and college background adds to the movie to pull the well-plotted mystery together. The ending was a total surprise but a very logical one. I highly recommend this to all cozy and mystery fans as a very enjoyable evening of fun and entertainment.

Murder 101: Words Can Kill is coming in September, and in August there will be three new Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, so be sure to check out the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries website so you don’t miss a one, and come back here to KRL for reviews. Check out our review of the first Mystery 101 movie.

You can check out KRL’s reviews of other mystery movies on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel, including some very recent ones, 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!

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.