The Cases of Mystery Lane

I'm a licensed Med Tech and my absolute favorite part of the Lucifer series was Aimee Garcia and her crime lab...so when I saw she would be starring in a new Mystery series on Hallmark with Paul Campbell I was VERY excited...maybe too excited.

There was good humor in the series and Paul and Aimee played off each other well as husband and wife Birdie and Alden Case. My biggest complaint is around the sad theme of divorce that was introduced and woven throughout the movie. I thought it was wholly unnecessary to the story...especially as it really played as a comedy except for that. My other complaint is around Birdie's mom and her terrible behavior towards her daughter at work. Birdie should quit that job immediately! My final complaint is around a potentially unhealthy relationship that they seem to be trying to normalize and that is of a wealthy heiress and her gay husband who is having homosexual relationships outside of their marriage with her knowledge...including going on cruises etc. I am by no means saying that is wrong, to each his own, especially if everyone knows and no one is getting hurt. But my complaint is in the normalizing having sex outside of one's marriage...straight, gay, whatever. I am not sure that builds a healthy bond or marriage and distracted from the story.

I love both Aimee Garcia and Paul Campbell and will definitely watch an additional film if they make more, but I am hesitant to strongly recommend this film and am afraid it is not breaking in to my top three hallmark mysteries (Hannah Swensen, Aurora Teagarden and Mystery 101) any time soon.

7.1 stars.

I was excited for this show after seeing the previews, however there is something amiss with the bond, or lack of bond shared between the leads. They are both very capable actors, but they don't mesh, and it's not for lack of effort, however I feel an absence of chemistry between Campbell and Garcia.

The title of this film is about the most clever I've seen in a very long time. Good one.

The plot is good enough, the killer was actually very predictable, as if you suspect this person as the killer early on and figure it would be too easy, and you would be correct, but you'd also be right in going with your hunch. I love Campbell's antics as a nerdy guy named Alden who has finally found his passion: to be a private detective. Unfortunately his quirks go unrewarded by Garcia's character Birdie - his unsatisfied wife. Or do they? It's hard to discern what she's thinking and we never really find out. All we know is that she likes to play online poker. There is a disconnect between Birdie's true feelings and what she is conveying in the presentation. Frankly, it's confusing and I'm not satisfied with her performance.

I think the writer would have been justified in making her the sleuth and him the lawyer, it would have been more convincing. My guess is that he was so hilarious with the bumbling geek schtick that they decided to switch the roles. Total conjecture on my part.

I fully expect a sequel sooner than later. Maybe I'll add to this review after the second installment.

I saw this advertised and I knew right away this was going to be good. I dont want to give away too much, but Alden is an accountant, but unsatisfied with his career, but is afraid to step out and become a P. I. Birdie is an excellent lawyer. Alden and Birdie are somewhat drifting apart, but I do love how they rekindle a love for each other, save their marriage and they crack the case. This movie does have a lot of twists and turns and you will be entertained. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you dont see it coming. Normally, some Hallmark movies can be a little boring because you're able to see everything coming a mile away, but this is not one of those times. You will not be disappointed.

Fun detective show that has you rooting for them. Seeing Campbell as a quirky pre-midlife crises suburban husband is worth the ticket alone. I didn't mind the usual red herring turns, because the interplay between husband and wife characters was engaging.

It's starts out as a fish out of water movie, then becomes a bit of a romantic comedy-mystery. Don't expect grit or gore, this movie is family night appropriate. Which is a delightful change from Hollywood's norm.

Hoping that they make more of this series, it would be fun to see the main characters go through the transitions ahead, as well as seeing more side character development.

What a great mystery series. The perfect cast made for the perfect mystery series. You will love both number one and two. I can't wait for more and I'm hoping it goes on for a very long time. Great fun and intrigue. I can laugh and try to figure out the plot at the same time. You gave us so much more by bringing, what seems like, actual lives of two people, a couple, that are truly regular people. Every couple has quarks that people outside don't always see. I love that they are not goodie two shoes solving a case. You've brought co cast right into their lives too and made the series so cohesive. This really is one of the best mystery series in such a long time. I absolutely loved Family Practice Mysteries and Curious Caterer, can't wait for more of them too, because they aren't the goodie two shoe type either, but the Cases of Mystery Lane gets my top vote! Thank you Hallmark and keep these three coming. Love..love..love...these series.