Deadly Appearances

"Deadly Appearances" was Gail Bowen's first novel, in what is now a 7 book series, featuring amateur detective, Joanne Kilbourn. Bowen mixes the problems of a single woman raising her family and Canadian provincial politics into a realistic setting for unusual murders. They are well crafted and contain fully realized characters. This is a movie of her title.

OK, so the actress is physically wrong for Joanne, I could live with that. However, one assumes that if the book was worth buying for film, you might film the plot--but no. Drop those minor characters, like the murderer, and change the plot (gay lovers! in Canada! Can't have that!), lose the motive, and the point--oh, and lose the whole Canadian thing. Poly Sci professor, naaah--make her a former cop, and throw in a love hate thing with her old partner who doesn't exist in the book. You have now made a great murder mystery with a fresh setting and unique sleuth into a run of the mill C movie that will fill 2 hrs on TV.

Give this a pass. Read the books.

In this film we see the character of Joanne Kilborn continue to move forward in her personal life, while continuing to impress us with her keen investigation skills. This time the murder victim is her late husband's political buddy. And while she moves ever closer to solving the case, she has to face disappointment and disillusionment in this man she had respected and admired for so many years. Once again, Wendy Crewson brings this wonderful character to life and through her top notch performance the audience becomes more enthralled with this spunky widow who has the tenacity of a bull dog. Only Ms. Crewson could find just the right blend of toughness and tenderness that keeps us all on the hook, right to the very end. See this film....then hurry on to the third installment - "The Wandering Soul Murders".