Well Lori Loughlin reprises her role as special crime/homicide consultant Jennifer Shannon to the local police force. Yes of course this scenario has played out a thousands times before on both television series as well as in made for TV movies such as this one, but I must say it held mine and Mrs. Shullivan guessing until near to the bitter end.
We liked that there were a few family and friend side stories intertwined in this murder/mystery which makes for a broader family viewing audience. We also liked that there was no gratuitous blood or gore, unnecessary sex scenes or foul language to shock the audience.
Instead, actress Lori Loughlin who plays antique dealer by day and murder sleuth the rest of the time made for an interesting and light watching Saturday afternoon television movie once again. A well known country/rock band is in town to promote their new tour and album and slowly as the characters roles are slowly exposed to the audience we discover that one of the bands disgruntled and despondent members Lita Merril (played by Emily Tennant) is found hanged in her home which appears to be a straight forward suicide with a text message explaining the reason she has taken her own life. That is until the pretty female amateur sleuth detective Jennifer Shannon is invited on to the crime scene to provide her expertise analysis.
As the film rolls on the Shannon family has some challenges at home while dad is intending to proceed with the demolition of an old building but the Shannon's feisty daughter wants to preserve the building for its historical value. Also on the agenda is Jennifer's partner in the antique store Dani (played by Sarah Strange) dealing with the unexpected visit of her overly opinionated big sister Beth Anne (played by Gabrielle Miller) who rustles a few feathers with her visit.
So we do have a few side line stories mixed in with this suicide/murder who done it mystery and of course the suicide does turn into a sure fired guaranteed homicide that needs the help of amateur sleuth Jennifer Shannon's unique deceptive abilities to crack open. I will say that Mrs. Shullivan and I picked a few potential murder suspects as the film progressed and I will also say that the actual murderer was a bit of a letdown as was the motive for this murder.
Overall though the film was better than your average made for TV murder mystery of the week, and so therefore I credit the film with a fairly high 8 out of 10 rating for some decent screen writing and even better acting by the entire cast for a quick made for TV film with a limited production budget and tight timeline for shooting the film I am sure.
Garage Sale Mysteries Garage Sale Mystery: Murder by Text
2017
Action / Crime / Mystery
Garage Sale Mysteries Garage Sale Mystery: Murder by Text
2017
Action / Crime / Mystery
Plot summary
Garage Sale Mystery movies are a set of hallmark movies about an antique store owner named Jennifer Shannon. She owns a store and fills it by going to garage sales and taking in items on consignment. This movie, "Murder by Text," is about a suicide that took place in a band members' home. Jennifer, as usual, believes this isn't a suicide but a murder. But by whom? Is it her estranged husband that just shows up out of the blue or one or more of the other band members? She begins her own investigation that includes a forensic pathologist and an investigator. Meanwhile, Jennifer's partner in the antique store, Dani, has an unexpected family member visit. The visit takes an interesting twist. And another story line is between Jennifer's husband, Jason Shannon, their daughter and several young people in the town. He is an architect and is planning to tear down a building the young people want to save. This makes an interesting atmosphere between the man and his daughter. There is no spoiler here, so if you want to know more, watch the movie.
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It kept our interest until the bitter end....and then you will (never) guess the obvious
It's all in the how
Some items given to Lori Loughlin for sale by rockstar Emily Tennant skyrocket in value when she's found dead of an apparent suicide. It looks like Tennant hung herself from a beam in her house.
The whole group she was part of (they look like the Mamas and Papas with a few Uncles and Aunts thrown in) is pretty devastated. Only to Loughlin does this seem like murder. She doesn't even get any help from her friendly medical examiner Jay Barzeau.
This case is all in the how because as long as the cops don't think it a homicide, but a suicide the killer is free to operate pretty much as the killer pleases. It's Loughlin that finds the clue as to how it was done and from their it's downhill.
The victim left a considerable estate and that figures into things only partially. But there's more to it than that.
The final touch for Loughlin is provided by her computer nerd son Connor Stanhope. Maybe he ought to go into partnership with mom.
I had a bit of a problem believing the cops were so dumb on this one.
OK
The story is interesting enough. I didn't suspect the right person until very late. Actually, I think they had almost no proof, even after the arrest.
The acting doesn't seem real. The characters are shallow. To me there was one interesting quirk - Loughlin's acting at times reminding me very much of her co-star on When Calls the Heart, Pascale Hutton. Only some little snippets.