This is the eighth in the series of Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, starring Candace Cameron Bure, and the second I have watched. It begins with the murder of a close friend who recently moved back to Lawrenceton. She was finding success with her online craft instruction business, but they found her stabbed to death in the house she was renting from Aurora's mother.
We don't necessarily expected Agatha Christie-like writing from these Hallmark Channel mysteries, but crime-solvers are more interesting if they contain a clever, believable twist. Unfortunately, this story relies on clues, coincidences, and assistance falling into the lap of our librarian sleuth. And in the end, she never really solves this murder. Worst of all, though we understand the victim was a close personal friend, Aurora (Roe) never shows much grief. She talks about how the crime is tough to handle, but the emotions are not there.
Aurora and her "regulars" work the case in parallel to the police detective in charge of the official investigation, sometimes sharing evidence. There are plenty of suspects and a basketful of red herrings.
In one of the final scenes, someone stumbles across the murder weapon. The coroner had determined the weapon had a serrated blade, so naturally when a pair of pinking shears is discovered, the case is all but closed, right? We are supposed to believe that, but everyone knows that pinking shears have saw-toothed "blades", not serrated. And no coroner would equate the width of a pinking shears blade with that of a common steak knife. And how many people would think of stabbing someone with pinking shears, given their thickness? This solution to the crime is inadequate and unbelievable.
We don't necessarily expected Agatha Christie-like writing from these Hallmark Channel mysteries, but crime-solvers are more interesting if they contain a clever, believable twist. Unfortunately, this story relies on clues, coincidences, and assistance falling into the lap of our librarian sleuth. And in the end, she never really solves this murder. Worst of all, though we understand the victim was a close personal friend, Aurora (Roe) never shows much grief. She talks about how the crime is tough to handle, but the emotions are not there.
Aurora and her "regulars" work the case in parallel to the police detective in charge of the official investigation, sometimes sharing evidence. There are plenty of suspects and a basketful of red herrings.
In one of the final scenes, someone stumbles across the murder weapon. The coroner had determined the weapon had a serrated blade, so naturally when a pair of pinking shears is discovered, the case is all but closed, right? We are supposed to believe that, but everyone knows that pinking shears have saw-toothed "blades", not serrated. And no coroner would equate the width of a pinking shears blade with that of a common steak knife. And how many people would think of stabbing someone with pinking shears, given their thickness? This solution to the crime is inadequate and unbelievable.