Le Meurtre de la grange

Garage Sale Mystery: Guilty Until Proved Innocent is a cut above the usual Hallmark mysteries. This series has antiques and collectibles, and often information about them, which makes it fun. It also sports a likable cast, mostly Canadian and starring Lori Loughlin.

In this film, Jennifer (Loughlin) is offered some antiques and collectibles by a friend to sell in her shop. While in a barn that holds some of the antiques, she sees that there is an entrance to a basement.

There, she discovers the body of her friends ex-fiancé, who allegedly left her for another woman. Turns out he didn't. Her friend is ultimately arrested, and Jennifer is determined to get her out of prison.

Jennifer discovers some interesting information about baseball cards besides going to the health club where the fiancé hung out and locating the woman he was supposedly leaving her friend for.

Okay story, easy to figure out, good for a rainy afternoon.

This mystery was written a bit differently than the others, whereas Jennifer was trying to prove her friend's innocence in a seemingly dead end mystery. Worth the watch!

Her old college pal, Sandra, is closing up her antiques store and Jennifer is privilege to all the exquisite pieces. What she didn't expect to find is a dead body. Even worse, Sandra is arrested for the murder. Jennifer has no choice but to prove her friend's innocence. It won't be easy-because every bit of evidence, and every cleverly planted clue all point to Sandra.

There's some good acting, nice build up and nice investigation. However it's slow pace can work against the good points. There's satisfying end but it's a fairly routine affair, a little weaker than usual when it comes to Hallmark mysteries. Aaliyah O' Brien is one hot babe.

7.4 stars.

This is the best one of the bunch so far (of the first 5 installments). I feel they are improving as they go, this one being far better than the previous one in my opinion. The idea of the hidden basement and all the relics is just very exciting to me, almost like they stumble upon a room full of treasures. The whodunnit aspect of the story is a stretch and not very interesting, so that detracts from the overall thrill of the adventure. The family and friend storyline is as fun and entertaining as ever. If you don't watch these for the mystery, just enjoy the family side of it. That is one major facet of 'Garage Sale Mysteries' that exceeds most other Hallmark mystery series, because the family in these is very endearing and down to earth, and very well developed.

6/10 - captivating mystery will hold your interest and keep you guessing