Crossword Mysteries 2

Gorgeous vintage wedding ring, pre-1920, the Beale Papers and a book cypher code...it is time for our crossword puzzle guru Tess Harper to team up with her detective pal Logan to solve the murder of her college friend, a professor who is murdered on the day he was to propose to his chef girlfriend using Tess' Sunday puzzle. "Did you know that wearing wedding bands on the left hand dates back to Roman Times? Yeah, they believed that the vein in your left finger connected directly to your heart." We get to meet Logan's sister, Angela, who is also in the process of getting married...and seems to be not so subtlety hinting that Tess and Logan should come to her wedding together. Spies have used book cyphers since the Revolutionary War, same book-3 sets of numbers, first number is page, then line, then word. Logan finds the numbers and once Tess figures out there is a book cypher, the hunt is on to find the right book...and figure out how a scholarship kid could afford such a pricey engagement ring. Is this the key to solving the murder? Lots of Logan saying, "What are you doing here?" as he encounters Tess working on the mystery that she is supposed to be staying out of while Logan and his new Rookie detective partner solve the crime. In a true twist, Logan's Dad the chief is a lot more permissive with Tess' participation than Logan is, could this be Logan's protective nature showing? There are some fun locales an antique bookstore, university campus and a Connecticut farm. Tess has a very New York wardrobe of high heels, leather, and tight fitting sweaters...mainly in blacks and greys. "I could sign up for a cooking class. What's the worst that could happen, I burn a soufflé?" Logan and Tess seem like an odd couple, but they both have amazing smiles, good laughs and they are growing on me. Tess as usual is filled with tons of interesting factoids and Logan as usual just listens patiently. I don't think there is anything that she could say at this point that would shock Logan. I know these two actors, Lacy Chambert and Brennan Elliot, have amazing Chemistry, because I loved them in their All of My Heart series on Hallmark... goat and all! "World's first crossword puzzle...published 1913, published in The New York World...diamond shape." Still not my favorite of the Hallmark Mystery Series, but another solid entry by the Crossword Mystery Team. Oh! And I loved the title of this one "proposing murder"! "So, am I on the team now, or?"-Tess "Not yet."-Logan

In this Hallmark mystery movie, crossword editor Tess Harper (Lacey Chabert) is once again set on helping Detective Logan (Brennan Elliot) with a murder investigation. Tess feels she must get involved as the victim was a friend. The clues lead to a valuable ring, a code cipher, an elusive children's book, and at least one attempt on Tess' life. For the first time since I began watching these Hallmark movies, I found one that failed to entertain. I can and have overlooked a lot of shortcomings with these films as long as I enjoy the experience. But with clues that go nowhere, police that act like idiots, and the forced chemistry between the two main leads, Proposing Murder just didn't work for me. But my main complaint comes in the film's last act. One of the things that bothers me most about a mystery is one that doesn't play fair with the viewer. You know, the ones that present vital clues in the final scene that lead to unmasking the killer. The kind of clues that the viewer would have no way of knowing anything about. Well, Proposing Murder commits this sin. While most of these Hallmark mysteries are guilty of this to some degree, this one is the worst I've run across so far. 4/10.

This is my first dip into Hallmark Mysteries. I was familiar with Lacy Chabert from somewhere, but not Brennan Elliott. Given the acting role resumes for both Lacy and Brennan, I would expect them to work together well, and they do. They are believable as a pair who respect and exasperate each other. And with the overused plot device of the professional male detective versus the intuitive and spunky female amateur, Brennan and Lacy so far make it work better than many other mystery shows. Of the two Crossword Mysteries I have watched so far--"A Puzzle to Die For" and "Proposing Murder"--I would rate "Proposing Murder" higher. I found it slightly more believable, and more "puzzling". As someone who enjoys working crossword puzzles myself, I like the conceit that Tess could transfer her skill in creating crossword puzzles into solving crime. I smiled at the end of this episode, when Tess teasingly asks Logan, "So, are we a team yet?"

I enjoyed movie as I do all the Hallmark Mysteries. The only thing that seemed odd to me was the murder victims mother wasn't the least bit upset that her son had just been murdered👎

This is supposed to be set in New York City, but a cab had a white Ontario license plate. It's filmed in Toronto. The cars being used by the people involved in the scenes had NY plates. Guess they forgot to change the cab. On a different note, Brennan's hair looks better in this second installment than as short as it was in the first one. I also like that he's not dressed in a suit and tie, but is dressed more casually. Lacey's hair is better, too. They got rid of those long extensions. Too bad they killed off Harris in the first one, though. He was a good actor.

It wasn't quite as good as the pilot film, of course. But, as I stated elsewhere, first sequels rarely equal the first film. In this case, the only minor flaw is that the true culprit becomes pretty obvious early on. For anyone who's spent the last twenty years watching MURDER SHE WROTE re-runs, anyway!

It's been two months since Tess (Lacey Chabert) and Logan (Brennan Elliott) have last been together. Her friend Lyle asks her to encode his marriage proposal to girlfriend Abby in a crossword puzzle. Soon after, he is found murdered and Logan investigates. The two leads try to build up some chemistry. They should concentrate on this part for the future of this franchise. It's a Hallmark mystery movie. The book cipher premise is grade school stuff. The fact that the police needs explanations makes them look stupid. The plot is not exceeding my expectations but is reasonably acceptable. At the end of the day, these are not high grade movies but this franchise has some legs... at least until someone cheats on their college entrance exam.

So, in EVERY one of these installments- the plot is the same. Look, I get it, if the formula works, go with it.....forever. But, must she solve the crime in EVERY movie, then needs to be rescued once she (yet, again on her own, confront the villain/murderer)?! Seriously?! That's just stupid and tiresome.