Garage Sale Mystery: Giostra di sangue

This is another in the Garage Sale Mystery series of a higher quality murder/mystery made for television movie than the many others that pop up weekly by Lifetime and the other television networks. When Mrs. Shullivan and I now see the film title preface "Garage Sale Mystery" we know that the writers/producers/directors and most importantly the actors, are going to provide us with a highly entertaining film.

Lori Loughlin who plays Jennifer Shannon, working mother of two teenage children, wife, and the co-owner of a second hand antique store but her real passion seems to be continually finding herself in the middle of various mysterious murders with a list of between 3-6 potential suspects.

In this episode there is an authentic 400 year old medieval knights suit of armor that has somehow directly or indirectly caused the murder of a college professor of antiquities. So Jennifer Shannon plays amateur sleuth once again with her better than average investigative skills and her even cuter personality and charm that invariably draws answers from the questions she asks her potential suspects.

Mrs. Shullivan and I both found ourselves changing our minds a few times while trying to guess who the murderer actually is. Isn't that the sign of a decent murder/mystery film? I give Garage Sale Mystery: Murder Most Medieval a respectable 7 out of 10 rating.

It is worth a watch if for no other reason than the charm and wit displayed by our amateur sleuth Jennifer Shannon which is played perfectly by Lori Loughlin and also because of a decent story line that does not have to rely as other mystery series such as Lifetime does on some crappy suspenseful music piped in that just irritates its viewers to no end. No, Garage Sale Mystery: Murder Most Medieval provides its viewers with a good old fashioned murder mystery thrown in with some day to day family and friend dynamics.

The Garage Sale Mysteries are head and shoulders above the other Hallmark Mystery movies. I am a big fan of Lori Laughlin, she is wonderful and the supporting cast is superb -- especially Sarah Strange. The writing is consistently great on this -- funny and smart. They murders are always a surprise and takes some unravelling to figure out. Hope there is many more -- the whole family loves these.

After acquiring a 15th century suit of armour and selling it to a client, a local college history professor shows interest in it, and asks Jenn to call the buyer and tell him he's willing to buy for three thousand. The buyer isn't interested. The professor accepts this and leave. Later,Jenn finds the body of the college history professor hidden in the 15th century suit of armor in the client's house. As she narrows down the number of murder suspects, she finds herself caught in the killer's web. When the professor's teaching assistant becomes the next victim, Jennifer finds herself caught in a killer's web of dangerous lies.

The identity of the killer was obvious but this is such a well-made mystery with good characterisation and a steaming plot that has a lot to offer. Lori Loughlin, like always, is on the ball in this solid mystery.

In this entry of the Garage Sale Mystery series, Jen has a client that not only collects medieval pieces, but practices medieval combat with a group of like-minded individuals...so, when Jen sees what she thinks is a reproduction suit of armor at an estate sale, she buys it for him. The very next day a professor of Medieval history comes inside Rags to Riches inquiring after it and then winds up dead inside the same suit of armor at the clients home the very next day.

Heavy with college campus storylines, Jen's daughter Hannah is running for senior class president on a platform of having organic food from the campus garden provided for their meal program on campus.

Meanwhile Jen's business partner, Dani, is contemplating attending her high school reunion.

All the usual cast members, including my favorite medical examiner and punster Dr. Tramell, are around to help Jen solve this murder by mace (the medieval weapon kind). As usual a tight knit group around a family and close friends...where helping and doing the right thing still direct their actions.

"Why was Sir Lancelot so tired?" "He worked the knight shift."

While not my favorite of all the hallmark mysteries, still good and these days without new mystery content to watch worth watching...especially since there are so many episodes.

This was one of the better ones from the series. I suspected all along who the killer was, but there were times I doubted myself. The medieval furniture/armor buying aspect was fun as well.