Movie Review: Countdown to Murder - Morning Show Mysteries

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Strong mystery, great characters

Cons: Slightly higher helping of cheese

The Bottom Line:

A grocer’s murder

Movie with strong mystery

Light and fun to watch

Murder of a Grocer

If I’ve had one issue with the Morning Show Mysteries, I have felt they’ve focused on Billie Blessings’s restaurant over her job on the morning show Wake Up, West Coast.  Yes, the first movie was mostly set around the TV studio, but we haven’t spent more than a scene or two there since.  That certainly changed with Countdown to Murder, this week’s addition to the franchise.

In fact, the movie starts out on the set of Wake Up, West Coast as Billie (Holly Robinson Peete) discovers the cupboards are bare.  They groceries that were supposed to come in for her cooking segment from Fairweather Market haven’t arrived, which isn’t like them.  When Billie discovers the same thing has happened at the restaurant, she heads down to investigate.  She arrives to find the police there, including her new boyfriend, Detective Ian Jackson (Rick Fox).  The owner, Art Fairweather, was found dead in the back of the store.

However, rumors are quickly flying that there was more to his death than the tragic accident it first appears to be.  And the discovery of a rubber ducky with his eyes crossed out lend credence to that theory.  Another death with another duck makes it look like someone is out to destroy Fairweather Market.  But why?

I know what I said in the beginning, but this really does allow for more scenes at the studio, especially since they begin to cover this as a local news story.  Several of the plot complications involve various members of the studio team as well.  While they have always been around, it was nice to see more of them.

Unfortunately, the time in the studio seemed to up the cheese factor in this movie.  This is especially true when the characters are “on air.”  It just never comes across well.  Fortunately, if you are a fan of Hallmark movies in general, you are used to it, and it doesn’t hamper the enjoyment much.

Especially because this is another intriguing mystery.  I was confused all the way through because none of the pieces felt like they were right to me.  Of course, once Billie figures everything out, it makes perfect sense.

As much as I’ve been talking about the studio, we do still get a few scenes at the restaurant, which is good since I love the supporting characters no matter which part of Billie’s life they are part of.  This is especially true for Aunt Cassandra, as played by Karen Robinson.  She is a hoot.

And the romance?  Yes, it takes a back seat to the mystery, but I love watching Holly Robinson Peete and Rick Fox on screen together, so I’m rooting for their characters to continue moving forward with their relationship.

Countdown to Murder is another entertaining mystery with a fantastic cast of characters.  If you’ve been enjoying the Morning Show Mysteries, be sure to check this one out.