Ruby Herring Mysteries: Silent Witness

I generally like Taylor Cole in her Hallmark movies (and still do), but while this movie at least had some chemistry between Cole and Stephen Huszar other casting was way off. -Debra Donohue and Shawn Christian: such a mismatch. In their first scene together, I was trying to figure out were they married? Was she the grandmother? What is going on here? Shawn Christian is barely old enough to be Taylor Cole's father (and looks even younger), but Ms. Donohue was wildly miscast. I think even the film editors noticed this, because these two were rarely in a scene together after that opener. Prediction: if there is another Ruby Herring, the mom will either be recast or she will be absent (died or away on a trip). -The sister: out of all of the actresses at work in the U.S. and Canada why couldn't they find someone who at least looked like "Ruby Herring"/Taylor Cole? Also, someone who had stronger acting chops.

I agree with another commenter that Hallmark is rushing stuff and putting out poor quality. There's a place for these kind of movies (as seen by the ratings popularity), but have some pride in your product, Hallmark. You're damaging your brand.

I appreciate that Hallmark has to develop new stars but Taylor Cole is not what they're looking for. She's fine in romantic roles, but is just too flat and lifeless here. The supporting cast is nothing great either. Bring back the Postables.

I couldn't get past that awful hair. And the casting of her dad and love interest seeming the same age in contrast of her mom looking like a grandma. .. here's a SHOCKER... the guy that played her dad is actually her real life step father...

The plot is fine, the acting is good but the casting is way off. There is no way that Shawn Christian is old enough to be Taylor Cole's father, especially when they cast someone who looks motherly as his wife. Come on Hallmark, you can do better.

TV reporter Ruby Herring (Taylor Cole) joins her pre-wedding sister Charlotte. They are hiking in the woods when they hear screams. Megan Montrose is trying to pull her friend Sugar Albert out of the river. In the end, Sugar is dead and Seattle homicide detective Jake Killian investigates. Ruby is suspicious of the oddly cold husband and the evidence on the ground.

It's a Hallmark mystery. It's not their niche. At the very least, it cannot be taken seriously. Other than Taylor Cole, I don't know this cast and there are issues. There is an age issue with the father. Taylor dressed in soft pastel is out of place in a murder mystery although it is a baking convention. It even affects the detective as he takes off his tie. There are various issues with this production. All of it keeps distracting me from the mystery which may not be that compelling. I can't tell because I keep thinking that this movie is not a mystery movie. At least, it's not a good one.