Deadly Deed: A Fixer Upper Mystery

The usual from Hallmark - a nice, clean mystery, this time starring Jewel and Colin Ferguson.

I wouldn't call it original, with the meanest man in town named Potter, just as in "It's a Wonderful Life." Jewel is Shannon, in charge of turning a repossessed Victorian mansion into low-cost housing. One problem is that the bank manager (the aforementioned Potter) doesn't like the terms. Then he's found dead.

Plenty of people wanted him dead, so Shannon gets to work trying to sort it out, using her deducting skills.

This has all the qualities of a Hallmark film: it's slow, takes place in a small town, the people are nice-looking, there's no bad language, and no sex.

Pleasant.

7/10 - not as good as the others, but still worth watching again

It's the small town of Lighthouse Cove. A mansion is being renovated by community volunteers led by Shannon Hughes (Jewel). The apartments are to be occupied by struggling families with donations saving it from demolition by the bank. When the banker is founded murdered inside, Shannon and reporter Mac Sullivan (Colin Ferguson) have to solve it before the demolition begins.

It's a Hallmark mystery. Even considering that, this needs more. The lead pairing needs some more chemistry. The mystery needs to be more compelling. There needs to be some sense of danger. This strikes me as falling a little flat. It's a borderline case but I have to leave this marginally under the line.

In the latest in the Fixer Upper Murder series Jewel Pilcher is given over what turns out to be a Deadly Deed. She's imitating Jimmy Carter and has a bank turn over a piece of property they repossessed for a quick turnaround and repair. It's a charitable contribution, but the head of the bank takes his banking practices from Lionel Barrymore in It's A Wonderful Life. His name is also Potter.

Imagine if Barrymore had been found knifed to death in some property he owned in Bedford Falls? No shortage of suspects there and none here for Jewel Pilcher and her boyfriend mystery novelist Colin Ferguson. I will say you hope the perpetrator gets a good lawyer when all is revealed.

A nice gallery of suspects, none of whom you hope is proven guilty. I think fans will enjoy this.

I've given up on a lot of the Hallmark Mystery movie series especially Aurora Teagarden because all of the amateur detectives do ridiculous things and practically ask to get killed. In the few Fixer Upper Mysteries, at least Shannon has exercised some common sense despite her father's worry. Jewel just appeals to me and it's not for inappropriate reasons.

The plot isn't great, but there is a bit of mystery. I guessed the killer early but only because that person looked guilty. There were some decent misdirects.

The enjoyable part of this series is Colin Ferguson and Jewel. For me they connect and I'm rooting for them.

But overall the acting isn't great. Seems like Lilah Fitzgerald has enough experience to look a little more casual and not overdo her facial expressions. Several others are a little subpar also.