Review

Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery - When Whodunits Meet Hallmark Moments

Ah, Hallmark movies — those little gems of comforting predictability where every plot is crafted with precision to tug at our heartstrings and keep us guessing. Wait, no, I'm thinking of Hallmark holiday movies. Here, though, in a delightful twist, "Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery" takes us off the well-worn path of mistletoes and gingerbread cookies to a place where the only thing getting wrapped up is the case of a not-so-merry murder.

This gripping 2015 mystery starring the queen of cozy crime, Candace Cameron Bure, shuffles the usual Hallmark cards and adds a new ace — a body count. Aurora Teagarden, librarian by day and detective by passion, finds herself embroiled in a mystery when members of a local club ominously titled "Real Murders" start getting picked off. Who knew that reading about murder could be so hazardous? (Besides anyone who's ever read a mystery novel, of course.)

Our intrepid heroine goes from shelving books to investigating crooks, all the while maintaining the quintessential Hallmark aura of persistent optimism in the face of, well, real murders! Each scene is awash with the kind of small-town charm typically reserved for Hallmark holiday movies, minus the snow and with a slight, suspect twist.

As each murder mirrors a famous crime, you might expect the border collie sleuth from the holiday movies to pop in, perhaps wearing a tiny detective hat for a festive cuteness overload. However, Aurora does just fine channeling her inner Sherlock, proving that librarians rock way more than Granny's Christmas socks.

While "Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery" might stray from the frostbitten, love-tangled paths of traditional Hallmark holiday movies, it does so with a knowing wink and nod, serving up suspicion with a side of sass. It’s an engaging blend of baked goods, comfy sweaters, and crime-solving logic that suggests Aurora is either the smartest cookie in town or on a perpetual sugar high from all the cinnamon rolls. Either way, this film dares the cozy mystery genre to get cozier and leaves you looking at your book club with newfound caution. It's a whodunit with whimsy, and in true Hallmark form, a touch of heart where you least expect it.