Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Memorable, crazy movie

Excellent but underrated film

Blistering performances.

The fifth film in the Aurora Teagarden Mystery, based on the book of the same name. Another fine film in the film series, but not as good as the previous one. It all started off well, like usual intentional, that does not bother. Even the mid section stood to the expectation. But only the final event, that twist, that explanation did not convince me. Well, I'm not pointing out how the crime was solved, though the who did and the reason for it was not enough to wrap it up in a style.So keep it yourself, if you see what happens in the first three minutes of the film. Because that's how all Aurora Teagarden Mystery rolls out. What follows after are the most crucial, in which these films has done so well. As I said, now this series is well settled down. I liked so far how all the characters worked out their differences with our lead, Aurora. In that, her mother, Aida and the police chief, Jack Burns are the only ones yet to come into resolution. But that's the twist, because Burns is the victim here.His body was dumped in front of Aurora from a small plane while she was in her front yard with Sally. It was a deliberate act, but no one knows why, that's what they have to find out. Aurora, who goes after unsolved crimes, this time it came to her. This is where nobody can stop her, not even her mother. For the first time Aida sided with her daughter by giving some useful information. Except the main ones, most of the characters from the previous films were retained to fill the screen and give a broad view, particularly to make suspenseful. But there were also a couple of new ones added as the story demanded to extend the suspense.❝You are the only person I know that could have a near death experience and immediately start solving the crime.❞A few unavoidable clichés. It was how the characters behaved during the probe. Because if it would not have been suspicious enough, the film had not lasted long. Basically, we call that the plot drag, but the polite way to say is, development. Happy to see Martin still hanging around. That looks does not change in the future as well. But this part somewhat discarded the romance sect. The other side of the story was going strong so. It had one fight sequence too. The television fights are not that impressive, but okay. Especially this being a woman oriented tale, that scene was the least expected. But in this kind of thematic, all are possible.Much improved on the cops' perspective of the crime that Aurora interested in. Mainly because of this was an open case. Lynn was the one who always shining, but they tried to bring Arthur, the Aurora's ex into some actions. The narration kept the mystery moving towards the final section. During the middle, it was a bit slow. And the end twist, not the best one. Since how the story and characters were designed together, there's nothing they could have done it differently. Because you can change the path, but the destination is still the same, which I think let the film down.Other than the ending, it was a nice film, enjoyable with the beautiful characters and settings. The director's second straight stint in the franchise. His previous one was by far my favourite. This one too a decent one, if you had liked so far of the series. Nice performances, particularly the other librarian had more scope in this. That makes Aurora had worked out with everyone, which makes more interesting how the next film and all the following would roll out. The next one is the final, the remaining books are yet to turn into films. I'm not too far from reviewing that, before my wait begins for the rest.6.5/10

They dropped important characters from the book, and added others to provide a romance. The location change - from Georgia to the Northwest is slightly acceptable, but changing relationships from the book - certain characters are already married by now - and in the book Martin is much older than Aurora. I just recently read the book series so was looking forward to seeing the filmed versions. Instead the changes just make me annoyed!

In the last Aurora Teagarden Mystery our librarian sleuth bought a house that turned out to be a cold case crime scene which of course she solved. In this one Candace Cameron Bure first gets a heads up kind of visit from a police captain whom she's never been on friendly terms with. He was looking for Yannick Bisson formerly of the CIA and Aurora's steady. The next day he drops in on Cameron or rather his cadaver is thrown from a plane and lands in her front yard.Now she's really part of the crime itself and our librarian with the aid of her sidekick Lexa Doig who as a newspaper reporter actually covering the story who can ask needed questions she decides to find out who went out of his way to involve her and more important try to frame Bisson. We learn also just what Bisson did at the CIA and he does have the skills to commit this and other homicides related to this crime.On a side note Jim Thorburn a detective just returned to the force is trying awful hard to close the case on his own with an unofficial parallel investigation which is aimed at Bisson. You know that Roe Teagarden won't stand for.The only clue I'll give readers is that this is someone with the skills to kill and the skills to frame.Fans of the series should be pleased.

This Aurora Teagarden mystery, typical of the genre on Hallmark, was generally enjoyable, even though the lovable Teagarden character continues to interfere in police investigations without being charged for it, and engages in stupid and reckless behavior in her obsessive pursuit of solving the mystery. I tuned in primarily because of the addition of Yannick Bisson (of "Murdoch" fame). His appearance in the mystery "Three Bedrooms, One Corpse" elevated the overall appeal of the series in my view.Unfortunately, the movie contained some deficiencies that reduced its quality, perhaps owing to the change in writers. The widow, Bess Burns, is depicted as in love with her husband but showing no grief whatsoever, thereby making her an early suspect to Teagarden. I guess it didn't occur to the writer that a murderous widow could feign grief to allay suspicion. The story then reverts to the plot device of "Three Bedrooms" by having the murderer make a concerted effort to frame Martin for the crime. The story introduced another obsessive character, that of Detective Lambert, who believed manufactured evidence and decided that Martin was the culprit. Toward the end of the story Lambert violates due process and police procedure by taking Martin as a hostage at home, thereby endangering any case he might want to bring against him. Lambert also stupidly secures Martin to a banister with a zip tie instead of using his handcuffs. Worst of all this police harassment is not resolved at the end with an apology to Martin. It's totally ignored as if it never happened.In the next to the last scene a police medal of valor is presented posthumously to Captain Burns' widow. This was a gratuitous addition to the plot. First, it was the wrong medal to award. The medal for valor is given for an act to save or protect human life without regard to one's own safety. A murder investigation does not qualify for the medal. Captain Burns could have been awarded a meritorious service medal for his years on the police force. Second, the medal depicted was not a police medal at all. (Just do an Internet search on police medals and you'll see what I mean.) In fact, the medal shown was the Department of Defense Joint Meritorious Service Medal. (I know because I received one when I was in the Army.) Third, to have the widow essentially reject the medal by giving it to Teagarden was thoughtless and dishonorable to the recipient. Her excuse that she couldn't take it with her to Paris was ridiculous since she had a lot of personal property that wouldn't be going on that trip. Badly done all around.By the way, I noticed that IMDb failed to include Miranda Frigon (the detective), Bruce Dawson, Peter Benson (detective), Ellie Harvey (librarian), Leah Cairns (Bess Burns), and Catherine Lough Haggquist (Mayor) in the list of cast members.