TV Favourites: Summer 2018

This post is a little different in that's it's not about a regular TV show but a couple of made-for-TV movies with more than one movie centred around the same characters. (In my mind that's a TV series, let's move on). I love the Lifetime and Hallmark channels which are home to my absolute favourites, but I have a special fondness for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. I love mysteries anyway but because it's Hallmark, they're made so cozy and endearing that even with the tension and suspense, you can't help but feel that these were cosmically created for lazy Sunday afternoons with a delicious snack and a blanket to snuggle under. 

The shows that I've listed below are ones that I've been watching so far this summer, although not all of were neccessarily released this summer. You should be able to catch repeats on the Hallmark Channel or here.

Aurora Teagarden Mysteries

Aurora Teagarden is a librarian by day and mystery solver the rest of the time. Founder of the Real Murders Club which she's roped half the town into, Aurora spends her days balancing her job with some amateur sleuthing. Add to that a mother who's desparate to see her settle down with a nice man, a boyfriend who used to work for the CIA and a reporter for a best friend, and you've got the perfect recipe for a small-town crime busting supernova. And for those of you who may remember TV from the early 90's, Aurora is played by none other than Candace Cameron Bure (DJ Tanner for the Full House fans).

Hailey Dean Mysteries

Hailey Dean Mysteries feels slightly different to the others in this list in that it has more of an urban, city vibe to it. Played by the lovely Kellie Martin (Mystery Woman), the show focuses on Hailey Dean who works for the District Attorney's office. With a sidekick, Fincher, who is an investigator for the DA's office, there are two plotlines running throughout each episode. The overarching mystery is that of the death of Hailey's fiance, Will who was killed by an unknown person. Alongside this, each episode houses its own mystery for each particular episode which is wrapped up at the end of each. I also like the fact that the team behind this show incorporated the actual author, Nancy Grace, who wrote the Hailey Dean mysteries as a news reporter who always seems to know just a little too much about each crime.

Garage Sale Mysteries

Garage Sale Mysteries is probably the definition of cozy murder mystery. It revolves around Jennifer Shannon, the owner of a secondhand antique shop with her friend Dani. Her mysteries tend to find her when she's been pottering around an estate sale after someone's passed away, in and around spotting the perfect item to add to the shop's collection. She's also at a different stage in her life than the ladies above, with a husband and two teenage kids - if it wasn't for the mysteries, she'd be living a very ordinary suburban life. I think she has a gentler approach than Hailey Dean and Aurora Teagarden and I wonder whether that's the maternal part of her character peeking through. Having said that, she isn't afraid to snoop and ask tough questions when needed. For those of you who think you may recognize her,  Jennifer Shannon is played by none other than Lori Loughlin (that's Aunt Becky to the Full House fans among us).

Emma Fielding Mysteries

Emma Fielding is in a class of her own. There's only one mystery movie with her name in the title so far, but I'm sure someone's working away to bring more to life. Emma is an archaeologist and there's a definite lean towards the academic and university research in Site Unseen: An Emma Fielding Mystery. As you might expect, there's a strong focus on the past and her archaeological discovery sets up the mystery nicely. There's a lot here for intrepid historians and some beautiful architecture along the way. I'd definitely recommend taking a trip to the past and hanging out with Emma.