Movie Review: Silent Witness - A Ruby Herring Mystery

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Strong main characters and mystery

Cons: Stronger than usual dose of cheese

The Bottom Line:

A murdered baker

Puts Ruby on the crime beat

Cheesy but still fun

“Who Knew Bakers Could Be So Bitter?”

Hallmark's Christmas movies have proved to be very popular every year, and they seem determined to increase their mystery movie output to match.  They are starting at least four new franchises this year, which new movies in their popular franchises also planned.  And these new movies officially started with Silent Witness, the first Ruby Herring Mystery.

Ruby Herring (Taylor Cole) is a consumer investigative reporter for a local news station in Seattle.  However, as this movie is starting, she is taking some vacation time so she can be the maid of honor in her sister Charlotte's (Alyson Walker) wedding.  The wedding is taking place at a resort just outside of town, and baker Sugar Albert (Stelina Rusich), a family friend, is going to bake the wedding cake.

However, when Ruby and Charlotte go for a hike their first morning at the resort, they find Sugar's dead body.  The officer at the scene is quick to rule it an accident, but Ruby is suspicious, as is Detective Jake Killian (Stephen Huszar).  When her station asks her to poke around since she is already on the scene, she can't resist.  But will she uncover anything to prove it was murder?

The mystery here was quite good.  I wasn't sure who did it until Ruby figured things out at the end.  There were enough suspects and clues to keep us engaged and confused the entire way through.

However, this movie had a bigger than normal dose of Hallmark cheese.  Yes, the acting was hampered by it at times, but the writing was to blame for much of it.  I was cringing at some of the lines the actors were given to say.  Fortunately, that awkward dialog started to go away as the plot got going, although it did pop up again a time or two.  But then again, this is a Hallmark movie, so it isn't too surprising, right?  And it was certainly still worth watching.

I really did like the core characters in this movie.  Ruby and her family obviously love each other, and that is so nice to see.  Okay, so it also contributed to a bit of the cheese, but overall, I liked it.  Jake is obviously a potential love interest, and I enjoyed watching him spar with Ruby.

As long as you are prepared for the cheese, you'll enjoy Silent Witness.  The Ruby Herring Mysteries are off to a promising start.