Deadly Deed: A Fixer Upper Mystery

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.

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.

I like the interaction between Shannon Hughes (Jewel Kilcher) and her temporary boarder/boyfriend Mac Sullivan (Colin Ferguson) who has partnered with Shannon in solving the mystery murder of the grumpy old banker. I thought the number of potential suspects who murdered the banker were meant to confuse the audience and the writers certainly accomplished this task if this was their intent.

As far as mysteries go, this episode was much weaker than the two prior franchise films. The attempt at trying to maintain suspense with the background music was simply irritating and I found the music was the audience's warning to ignore what happens next because as the music continued nothing ever happened.

Jewel and actor Colin Ferguson did their best working with a very weak script. My message to the writers....if you want us the audience to keep watching we deserve less putrid background suspense music and more of an in depth mystery plot. Don't be so lazy the next time you writers.

I give the film a 6 out of 10 for the good on screen chemistry between Jewel and Colin Ferguson. The writing needs to improve a lot!

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.

I've really enjoyed these movies. I like the background of restoring homes, and even more so done by a strong, knowledgeable female contractor. Girl power! I love the chemistry between the two main characters as well.