Family History Mysteries: Buried Past

Ok the two leads did have chemistry...and I really love Niall Matter...and the concept of hunting down genealogical mysteries is fun (I would love that job!), but I felt like they didn't use as much "genealogy" as I would have liked.

That aside, the story involved Sophie McClure tracking down the presumed dead biological father of her best friend Jonathan and his twin Jackson. Sophie is highly motivated as Jonathan has leukemia and his biological father may be the bone marrow match that could save his life.

Meanwhile Sophie's assistant is working her first case of her own to return love letters found in some floorboards to their rightful owners (I would question what that has to do with genealogy?).

Could be the start of a new hallmark mystery series, but I think they have a few kinks to work out before they get in to the same category as my favorites...Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden and Mystery 101, but I am still hopeful.

This is one of the best Hallmark movies I've seen. The actors are good, the story line is great as bd different from the usual. The main characters are great, experienced actors. The twin brothers are convincing. It's a movie that is a "feel good" type and yet not overdone. I hope they make it into a series. It's different from the usual sleuth type movies. This definitely would do well as a mini series also. Please don't leave us hanging with this one. A continuation including the main character's biological background would definitely be good. There are so many that we've been left with cliff-hangers. Again, Good job Hallmark.

We're Niall Matter fans from back in his days on Eureka, and so we tend to give his vehicles a real chance. While we found this movie good enough to keep our attention, I did expect much more from it.

It had quite a few cliches, such as the romantic leads only finding out years later they'd always been attracted to each other. That comes up so often in these movies they need to give that one a rest for 10 or 20 years. LOL

The story itself was pretty predictable. When Niall's brother needed a match for a bone marrow transplant and a question came up as to whether his "missing and presumed dead" father might really be alive and the match they can't find with anyone else, the ending is obviously telegraphed.

Sophie McClaren (Janel Parrish) is a genealogist in Buffalo. Her friend Jonathan needs a bone marrow donor. He and his twin brother Jackson (Niall Matter) are lifelong friends. Their mother Dorothy (Sherry Miller) hires Sophie to find their assumed-dead father Clark Higgins who may be still alive.

Sophie has an easy out, but she doesn't take it. She could easily tell the boys that she's looking for any unknown distant relatives for Jonathan's treatment. It's the first indication that the writing isn't good enough. One may have low expectations for a Hallmark movie. I still appreciate stories without giant holes in the writing. The concept has potential and this has a functional mystery. The romance is fine. It's not the worst idea in the world.

The two leads had great chemistry!!! I was so happy about that! I really hope they make a second movie! And even a third!

The only thing I didn't care for was making one of the brother's gay. They just snuck that in for no reason. Just to have it in.

I was also very impressed with the casting of the main family! The brothers really looked like brothers, and the dad really looked like he could be their dad!

And the story was compelling! And I loved the sets and props! Loved the "old phone"!

I would definitely watch this again! And I hope the next one is just as good! And I hope we get a good onscreen kiss! The kiss in this one was sweet too!