A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

This is the latest in the Hannah Swensen Murder She Baked series. I am not going to say that I don't miss Mike and Norman, because that wouldn't be true, but I am warming to Chad and the slow build of their romance. I confess, I was starting to get annoyed by Chad not trying any of Hannah's baked goods, I can't imagine how she feels about it.

In this entry Hannah caters a reunion party at a Bed and breakfast for her sister Michelle's detective boyfriend Lonnie's high school reunion. One of the attendees ends up dead in her own home after the party. For the first time Hannah is willing to stay out of it, until Lonnie becomes the police's primary suspect. Then in true Hannah Swensen fashion, she is all in diving in dumpsters and everything.

Hannah has a new venture, she has opened a new bakery and is getting into the coffee business, which seems smart for a businesswoman. The small town of Lake Eden is becoming more of a metropolis...loosing a lot of the small town charm that I loved and that made the show special. That is a little sad for me. I, like a lot of other viewers, was confused a bit by the radical change in Hannah's mother, who was always very squeamish and against Hannah's involvement in murder and it's detection...and who is now a private investigator herself? I don't hate it and Barbara Eden is great. Her role is and always has been hilarious. So, while it seems strange (the metamorphosis her character has taken), I love her so much I am willing to let it pass.

I know that Hallmark lost the actor who played Mike to another network, which is a shame because he and Alison Sweeney had great chemistry, but I love Victor Webster. I thought he and Alison Sweeney had great chemistry in the Wedding Veil series and I am looking forward to them smoking up the screen in Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked.

I was really glad Hannah's sister Andrea is back on the show....but where is the rest of her family. I think it's odd we aren't seeing her with her husband and child.

All of that sounds like a lot of criticism, but I am being very critical because I am a huge fan of the Hannah Swensen series. In fact my three favorite mysteries on Hallmark have always been Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden (the original, not the reboot), and Mystery 101. After I said all of that, I do have to say I liked this one better than the last and am hopeful that it is only going to get better and better. I do recommend it to Hallmark mystery fans, I think you will enjoy it as much as I did.

We watch this series because we like mysteries and enjoy watching Alison Sweeney. That being said, what in the world were the writers thinking when they made her mother's character such a total joke. In previous shows she was always worried about Hanna getting mixed up in murder cases. Now she's a private detective/actress the pokes her nose into everything, including murders. And her acting and costuming is ridiculously over the top nuts. Doesn't anyone screen these shows before they air to get some sense of viewer reaction?

Also, too bad the bakery got bigger because its' lost the small town feel and charm. It would be nice if the writers would read some of these reviews because I'm not the only one feeling this way.

A really refreshing HS movie. The mystery storyline was really well paced and unfolded really well with the developing chemistry between Hannah and Chad. Hannah continues to delight with her good-natured determination to solve the mystery, which in this movie gets more personal as it involves her little sister. The extra screen time given to Hannah's mom and sisters really made it for me. They add just the right touch of sweet humour to the show without taking away from the plot. I think having UK writers on this was a cool move and I hope they stay on board. I can't wait for another sweet piece of the Hannah Swenson pie!

This is the same formulaic movie that Hallmark churns out. But that's why they're enjoyable. I do have to agree with another reviewer that the mom ruins the movie. She is so pushy, bossy, annoying...you name it. I absolutely adore Barbara Niven and she's better than this.

It's different with Cameron Matheson being gone. But with his move to a rival network, they had to bring in another "love interest". Victor Webster is a great replacement. Not sure if they'll become romantically involved but he makes a good DA.

I'll continue to watch the movies but please tone down the mom. I do like the sisters, too.

First the good: Strong ensemble cast returns and is as strong as ever. Lots of energy and some laughs. They clearly have fun together with these movies and it comes across on screen. I'd say ladies in particular had the strongest chemistry I've seen. And I did legitimately laugh a couple of times. It was very cozy which is frankly most important here.

What I liked less: Hannah herself came off a bit one dimensional and, in many scenes, seemed to be mailing it in a bit acting wise. Also her schtick of bribing with cookies should only be done once per movie. She did it like six times in this film. It gets old.

The mystery itself was just ok although did have some interesting twists. I agree with other reviewers on how Norman's absence takes away from this film.