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Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Movie Review: How to Con a Con - an Aurora Teagarden Mystery

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Strong mystery, fun characters
Cons: Wedding planning sub-plot
The Bottom Line:
Mysterious loan
Starts this engaging story
The twists kept me hooked






“Roe and I Have a Theory.”  “And She Isn’t Here to Sell it Herself?  Did Pigs Being to Fly and I Didn’t Notice?”

So far, in 2021, it looks like Hallmark is spacing out their movies, releasing two a month and from different franchises.  I quite like this strategy and hope it continues.  Anyway, our first movie for March premiered this past Sunday.  We checked in with Aurora Teagarden for How to Con a Con.

Aida Teagarden (Marilu Henner) has a new client.  The Averys are looking to sell their home and move to Hawaii to enjoy their retirement.  However, when Aida does the standard check on the house for loans, she comes back with one that the Averys didn’t expect.

When her daughter, Aurora (Candance Cameron Bure) hears about it, she begins to poke around to see what she can learn.  Then Mr. Avery is murdered, and Aurora’s interest really heats up.  Along with her fiancĂ©, Nick Miller (Niall Matter), Sally (Lexa Doig), and the rest of the Real Murders Club, Aurora tries to see what she can figure out.  Is his murder related to the bogus loan?

Maybe it was the accountant in me, but I really got into this plot.  I thought the financial aspect was handled very well.  Don’t worry, it wasn’t technical; I’m sure anyone who has bought a home will understand what was involved here.  It did provide a fun complication to the mystery that kept us guessing until the end.  I was definitely confused and intrigued the entire time.

Meanwhile, it is only two months until Aurora and Nick’s wedding.  Naturally, that means wedding planning is part of the movie.  I appreciated how it was woven into the main mystery at times.  On the other hand, the parts of the wedding planning that made up the sub-plot were the movie’s real weakness.  It also provided the worst moments of Hallmark cheese.

I’m mostly blaming that cheese on the writing.  The main actors are all back and do a good job of bringing their characters to life.  I do miss some of the earlier characters who have left the franchise, but I am really enjoying the current cast.

How to Con a Con was a fun, engaging mystery movie.  If you turn it on looking for light entertainment, you won’t be disappointed.

1 comment:

  1. I like this plan too and really enjoy this series in particular. I finally watched the high school reunion one and really enjoyed it so can't wait to watch this one.

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