Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Game of Cat and Mouse

Glad that now you can set it as a series and do not get to miss one of the movies because I forgot to set the dvr. You can usually tell who's the culprit on these type of movies since the beginning. In my case, at least this particular movie had me guessing between two up until the end. One thing I have to say, and I hope producers read these reviews, that wig Candace is wearing for this trio of movies, needs to go. It looks really fake.

This is the third Aurora Teagarden mystery I have watched and the best so far. This is not a murder mystery, but, as the title suggests, a game of wits between Aurora and someone who is committing lesser crimes and leaving clues, daring her to solve them.

This mystery has plenty of suspects. Could the perpetrator be a romantic rival? Could it be someone with a grudge? Or maybe someone who just wants to test wits against the Lawrenceton legend?

Teena Booth, the writer who has penned most of these episodes, gives us a solid whodunit that includes literary references. And the cast turns in some good performances in support of this entertaining mystery.

A break-in at the venue for a Real Murders Club meeting leads Aurora to investigate cryptic clues left at crime scenes. The clues are quotes from mystery novels and Aurora enlists the help of Professor Nick Miller and his colleague and friend Bree (Tammy Gillis), a forensic psychologist at the college. However, when those close to her are targeted, it seems murder may be the ultimate end, motivated by jealousy over her burgeoning relationship with Nick.

There's not much murders in this lively entry of the Teagarden Mystery series, but it's refreshingly focused on a perpetrator who is targeting Aurora and her friends, and is taunting Aurora. It's a bit predictable in terms of who is the villain. I sort figured it was that problem.

Aurora Teagarden mysteries are in my top three favorite mysteries on hallmark along with Hannah Swensen's Murder she baked and Mystery 101. I look forward to every episode.

This episode started a little darker than most of the other episodes, with what appears to be a fairly violent kidnapping or murder.

Next scene, Aurora's cousin Philip and the new hunky neighbor/professor, Nick, come to their first "real murders club" where Aurora is going over the lipstick killer...except it is interrupted by a thief. Their club meeting is a crime scene.

"A guy who picks up his socks...talk about a dream man."-Valerie

"Another dig at the real murders club."-Lynn.

"Aurora Teagarden, a besmircher."-Aurthur

"Play with murder enough and it gets you." The thief is leaving clues in the form of quotes from old detective novels.

"We think he is challenging Roe with his clues."-Nick.

The criminal is in a cat and mouse game with Aurora that escalates to attempted murder when her beloved best friend Sally ends up in the hospital.

Ro seems really rattled, can she get it together to solve this mystery?

I loved the detective fiction references in this episode, Poe, Dashiel Hammet, Dorothy Sayers, etc. It also introduces a forensic psychologist, profiler and friend of Nick's, Bri.

"Modus operandi is the manner in which the offender commits the crime, say the method of killing-knife, gun. His signature is something the offender does to fulfill himself emotionally. It's an addiction."-Bri.

"I could use more jello."-Sally.

This was really personal for Ro and it made for a good show. It also allowed Nick and Ro to bond a little.

First kiss and first official date.

I highly recommend this series. It is fantastic and this is one of the better episodes.

6/10 - one of the more predictable Roe mysteries, but that in no way means it isn't fun and a highly intriguing mystery drama