I'm reading the reviews for this and I'm shocked and so what disgusted that people have marked this down due to Jill Wagner being pregnant and calling it 'distracting.' I've never heard such nonsense in my life.
Anyways....this is my opinion was the most interesting story in the series so far and I managed to guess the killer and motive for once. So pleased they got together finally in this film. Hopefully we get another one next year???
Mystery 101 An Education in Murder
2020
Action / Crime / Drama / Mystery
Mystery 101 An Education in Murder
2020
Action / Crime / Drama / Mystery
Plot summary
Following her father Graham Winslow doing a public reading from the just released The Waving Flame, the latest in his successful Atticus Keller novel series, Elmstead College Literature Department chair Amy Winslow, a crime fiction specialist, and Garrison PD Detective Travis Burke, the two who have not only worked together on cases but have developed yet largely unspoken feelings for each other, are planning on going on their first date. The reading will be held at the bookstore run by Amy's former student Blake Newman, who dropped out of the Ph.D. program to focus on writing, he proud to announce to Amy he just having received his first publishing deal. Concurrently, Amy agrees to speak to young, aspiring writer Ella Quincy, who is doing research on a possible non-fiction book concerning Amy's former Elmstead College Literature Department colleagues Evan "Mac" McKinnon and Nicole Ford, he currently serving a thirty year sentence for her murder. The motive was purportedly over the pressure on Mac, a Twain scholar, to publish as he was under consideration for tenure, Nicole who discovered what looked to be an early draft of Huckleberry Finn, having access to such which would have solidified his position regardless of the fact that the manuscript was later proved to be a fake. The conviction seems to have ruined his marriage, his physical therapist wife, Linda McKinnon, who has not visited him the two years he has been behind bars. Conversely, Nicole was already on the verge of divorce from her husband, therapist Dr. Dwight Merrill, who has never shown any grief in her death. Mac has always professed his innocence, Ella also implies she has information which she won't yet divulge as to his innocence, while Amy, just knowing Mac as she did and does, has also always believed he innocent despite the overwhelming evidence which led to his conviction. Travis' now retired predecessor, Howard Clausen, who worked on the case, does not take too kindly to especially Amy poking her nose in what he sees as a good conviction, Amy's position which places Travis in a difficult position. Regardless, Travis has no choice but to get involved when Amy's safety in the process becomes an issue. The keys to who was behind Nicole's murder may be hidden in two manuscripts, one published and one not, and a five year old cold case.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
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Best one so far
One of the better Signature Mysteries duos
I love Kristoffer Polaha in his romantic roles and he makes an even better police detective. I've grown to like Jill Wagner more lately as a veteran Hallmark actor. And these two have chemistry.
One of my pet peeves with amateur detectives is when they go off on their own and take reckless chances, but this series isn't too bad at this so I can relax and enjoy the mystery. Not to say that Amy doesn't come close to death two or three times in every installment, but that's required for this kind of drama.
I usually don't do well on figuring out who dunnit in these TV mysteries, but in this one, I was leaning toward the real culprit. There were some blatant red herrings and when one gave explanations I thought they were a little lame.
I really enjoyed this one. I wish it weren't so hard to keep track of the order if you don't catch them all the first showing or during a marathon.
par for the course
Professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) and police detective Travis Burke (Kristoffer Polaha) plan to go on their first date. New research from young writer Ella Quincy leads Amy to reconsider the conviction of former colleague Mac McKinnon.
It's a low intensity murder mystery from Hallmark. I like the whodunnit aspect but the tension is never that high. There isn't much danger and there are no thrills. The one moment of danger is suppressed with the police car in the background to maintain the scene's safe feeling. The climatic fight has a scrawny nerd going up against the duo and they have the gun. I still like the easy partnership of Wagner and Polaha. It's just not that exciting which is par for the course with Hallmark.