Crossword Mysteries: Riddle Me Dead

Tess and her Aunt Candace (Barbara Niven) are happy when the former is invited to read clues for the Jeopardy!-like program, Riddle Me This. Thanks to Tess's ex, Hunter (Jon Cor), a logic and word puzzle writer for the show, they also score tickets to a taping and a private meeting with its magnetic host, Aiden Brooks. Their impression of Aiden sours though when they see him berating staff, and the night ends on a real downer when he is found strangled on the studio floor.

The suspects are: a fired PA, exasperated executive and an overworked producer. All came under fire from Aiden's abusive personality and naturally aren't sad that he's dead. Star contestant Matthew Nasr is quite an obnoxious character and suspected of cheating and possibly dropping headlights on Lacey Chabert.

Normally the chemistry between Chabert and Brennan is the appealing part of this show, however, here, it's dampened by the inclusion Lacey's ex- fiancée. Brennan is jealous. In addition to this, this isn't as engaging to the other episodes, though the backdrop of a quiz show is enticing.

Crossword-maker Tess Harper (Lacey Chabert) reconnects with former boyfriend Hunter Hall, a producer on the popular game show Riddle Me This. He invites her onto the show. When the host is murdered, detective Logan O'Connor is the first cop on the scene. He had gone to the studio to surprise Tess with flowers.

This is a Hallmark Mysteries series. The franchise noticed its building problem with its lead couple's faltering chemistry. This is their best movie so far. In this one, their lukewarm relationship gets some heating up by entangling Tess' ex into the mystery. There is real tension. The stakes are raised in more ways than one. It introduces a real conflict between Tess and Logan. This time, it's personal.

Crossword-maker Tess Harper (Lacey Chabert) reconnects with former boyfriend Hunter Hall, a producer on the popular game show Riddle Me This. He invites her onto the show. When the host is murdered, detective Logan O'Connor is the first cop on the scene. He had gone to the studio to surprise Tess with flower.

I love Lacey Chabert. She is beautiful, but can act and can show lots of emotions and is perfectly cast as a sweet girl with relatable feelings. And I wanted to like this movie because I like her.

But this movie didn't start well and kept sinking as it progressed.

This movie adheres to the Hallmark formula - an unlikeable person is murdered, Lacey and her co-star, Brennan Elliot, find all sorts of hidden connections between suspects and the victim. And then Lacey has an epiphany, solves the murder and then walks into danger and needs to be rescued from the murderer.

Lacey is a bit of a problem. Murder mysteries require characters to quickly unload lots of detailed information to the audience -and Lacey's high-pitched voice and speaking style don't function well here. Lacey portrays nuances of emotional relationships well (her depiction of he relationship with Brennan is a series strength) but does not come across as brainy or analytical or as a physical presence -which would help in a murder drama.. The fact that she runs around in stilletto high heels and 2 pounds of eye make-up is jarring. Please give her some flats!

And so much is depicted so wrong. Everything the uniformed policemen and homicide detectives do is so bizarre and unauthentic that it distracts from the movie. People are interviewed in ahllways. Brennan's character goes solo into situations that pose danger, and when a suspect that runs away and is caught and cuffed by a uniformed policeman, Brennan's character then walks him over to Lacey where he is casually grilled until he has related information to Lacey and the audience. And Lacey posing as a high-stakes poker player planted by the police is just ludicrous.

Lacey looks at 19 hours of videos of a game show to see if a contestant is being fed helpful information. Then in an epiphany, she thinks to look at the hands of people in the videos and discovers that information is being tipped by hand signals! My God, what was she looking at for 19 hours, if not looking at people's hands? This is just an example of many instances in which the script does not respect the intelligence of its audience or characters.

There simply is no tension in the narrative and the characters act unbelievably. Institutions like law enforcement and game shows are depicted unrealistically.

This Crossword Mysteries series need script writers who have talent, knowledge of their subject matter and who care about the quality of their work.

The romance is still growing between Tess and Logan.

"No it's a meal between friends, it is not a date."

Meanwhile his father and her aunt Candace, who have been enjoying their Italian cooking classes together, have an honest conversation about their relationship and where it is going.

Tess gets invited to make a guest appearance on a TV game show called "riddle me this!" (a Jeopardy like game show). While she is on the set working with a former love interest, Hunter, the host's dressing-room is broken in to and a security guard struck. This begins the eventual mystery around who killed the very popular host...whose fans are called "the riddlers".

Hunter sends Tess red roses with a note reading "a measure of time not found on a clock but in your heart-Hunter". This is just the first of some jealous inducing moves by Hunter. Logan happens to show up with flowers for Tess post show...only to be just in time for a murder.

"Yeah when you really think you know someone they can still surprise you" (Apparently Logan is allergic to chocolate.)

"There was a short period there when I thought you weren't the most cynical person I've met."- Tess about Logan.

Thankfully when both men offer to take Tess home after a mishap...the aunt sweeps in for the rescue.

"The things we do for love."

Best line-"when you met me, I was a cynical emotionally closed off homicide detective." "And now?" "I'm a slightly less cynical emotionally closed off homicide detective."

This has the most happily ever after ending of the crossword mysteries...but I am still waiting for their chemistry to grow in to their "inn love" series heat!