Garage Sale Mystery: The Novel Murders

7.3 stars.

Almost as good as the previous one, but lacking only in the area of how I felt once it was over. I think the story itself is more elaborate and the characters are much more interesting, but something about the presentation, maybe the timing and even some of the acting was more mundane. There are so many nuances to these mystery series on Hallmark, they are all so similar. Once in a while there is a standout amongst the crowd. 'Mystery 101' for example, almost every episode is extremely entertaining and almost riveting. 'Garage Sale' is more akin to an older style of mystery show, not as engaging, more lighthearted and less serious. The mystery went off without a hitch, although I think we all knew who the antagonist was, we just didn't want to admit it to ourselves...

This was a wonderful and literary murder that starts with an elderly gentleman interested in the figure of a bird. He ends up dead much the same way as the murder victim in an Agatha Christie novel and would have been ruled death by natural causes if it hadn't been for Jennifer's suspicions. When a life coach is murdered ala Sherlock Holmes it is obvious that Jennifer is on the right track and she becomes a consultant for Frank! Finally, no changes to the cast (except our medical examiner is strangely missing).

Together Frank and Jennifer solve this murder. Great mystery and I learned that Agatha Christie worked as a pharmacist in WWI which is why she uses a lot of poisons in her murder mysteries. This is a strong recommendation to cosy mystery fans.

This script is similar to one in the Amanda Teagarden series, where someone is killing people by recreating famous cases.

In this one, someone is killing people by recreating fictional murder cases.

When Jennifer (Lori Laughlin) delivers something from her store to an elderly man, she finds him dead, and his death brings to mind something she read. Then the next murder happens.

I have to say, while none of these Hallmark mystery movies are fabulous, I like this series the best. I like the fact that Jennifer and her partner have an antique/collectibles store and we get to see and hear about the merchandise. I like the warmth exuded by Jennifer and her family.

The stories...well, this one has a few suspects, and it's not cloying like some of the Hallmark Christmas shows. (Someone told my sister how much she loved the Hallmark Christmas shows, so my sister decided that's how she would spend the Christmas season. She watched one and that was it.)

It also doesn't have the hyper energy of Candace Cameron Bure, who plays Amanda Teagarden. I watch anything that says "mystery" on it. This is enjoyable.

6/10 - clever murder mystery is extra enjoyable for fans of classic mystery novels

Who doesn't love a good mystery murder film? Well, multiply this mystery murder film by a count of three (3), and then add the four (4) Shannon family members, another host of unusual murder suspects, Jennifer Shannon's (Lori Loughlin) good friend and lead detective Frank Lynwood (Kevin O'Grady) and voila', we have another excellent addition in the Garage Sale Mystery series.

Again, I did not figure out who the murderer was until after our amateur sleuth, Jennifer Shannon outlined for us the audience who the perpetrator was and what was their motive.

Ahhhh, I love a good mystery and this one was above par. Add the entire Shannon family into the mix and you have a family film sure to entire your clan as well.

I give this particular episode a strong 9 out of 10 rating