The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost

IN A NUTSHELL: The story is about Jane DaSilva, a singer who inherits a foundation that runs a detective agency. While investigating her first case, she discovers a company that exploited her client's mother, and she realizes that delving into the past can be dangerous.

The film was directed by Marco Deufemia, and written by Neale Kimmel.

THINGS I LIKED: The mystery movie stars Jodie Sweetin in the lead role. She does a great job and is easy to like. That's really her singing in the movie!

Other cast members include Stephen Huszar, Paris Jefferson, Rob Stewart, Martin Roach, Brian Cook, Cindy Hampton, Tonjha Richardson, and Angelo Grey.

It was fun to see all of the wigs and costumes that Jodie Sweetin got to wear when she was trying to disguise herself. It was a cute idea to have her character's aunt supply them since she was supposed to be a famous actress in years past.

I love that Hallmark has been pumping out mysteries that offer the thinking woman something more than just a cheesy-easy romance.

It's fun to follow the clues and try to figure out what happened.

If you enjoy this movie and Jodie Sweetin's character, you'll be happy to know that sequels may be coming soon. There are more mysteries to solve and only a budding romance by the end of this first installment, leaving much territory left to be explored and expanded upon.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: There are some really big goofs in the script that would never happen in real life.

Some of the dialogue is super cheesy.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Portrayal of murders (we see 2 dead bodies) Talk of network marketing (multi-level marketing scams) No profanity.

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I love the mysteries on Hallmark and I want to encourage them to keep making them, but I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that this one was a bit of a stumble for me. Don't get me wrong there were some things I liked...it's based on the series of books by K. K. Beck...only those are set in my hometown, Seattle...not Baltimore like this film. Since they didn't stick with the motivation in the books, I think they had trouble setting up Jane's reasons and ability to run the foundation. In other words there were a lot of holes and some awkwardness around the set up. I thought the police detective was great and I loved the 'disguise room' filled with potential costumes and disguises. I don't know who the costume designer was for this film, but they made some really unusual, colorful and unique choices for outfits both for Jane and her aunt Sadie. Even though there was a conversation at the end between Sadie and Jane about getting over their grief...they never really show that, so it doesn't ring true.

Jane's uncle passes away and she goes home to Baltimore because it was her uncle's dying wish that she take over his foundation which solves cold cases and gets justice for families...even though he was an investment banker and she is a singer with zero training or skills? The first case she works on is for a piano playing girl who dreams of going to Juilliard, but who's mom seemingly looses their savings and then commits suicide.

This lacks some of the great supporting cast connections that other great Hallmark mysteries like Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden and Mystery 101 have...but maybe they will be able to grow the show and work on some good scripts. I really want to encourage Hallmark, so they will continue to produce the mystery series that I love. This one doesn't quite make it into a mystery or romance recommendation from me. But I will give it a second chance if they do another.

Jane da Silva, an internationally renowned lounge singer's stint in Paris is cut short when she finds out that her uncle Harold has died. Jane returns to Baltimore, the town she left behind because it reminded her too much of her late mother, and learns that her uncle totally ran a nonprofit private eye service. Who knew? Not Jane - and now she's inherited a detective agency where she's suddenly the lead detective! She's not alone, though; Harold's wife Sadie (Paris Jefferson) is there to provide Jane with lots of wigs and she has an actual detective (Stephen Huszar) to ask for advice.

First case: Jane investigates a multi-level marketing company that took advantage of her client's (Danielle Smith) fragile mom, and realizes that digging up the past can be dangerous.

Jodie sweetin adds a bit of zest as the heroine of this Hallmark mystery and also shares a good chemistry with Stephen Huzar. It's standard light mystery bolstered by this chemistry and decent mystery. It's not on the level of Garage Sale Mystery or Mystery 101, but it's passable and enjoyable enough.

The acting, the script, the directing- all miss the mark.

I wanted to like this. I watched it in January. I was burned out on two months of Hallmark Christmas movies and was looking forward to a good mystery. Unfortunately this wasn't it.

This wasn't cringe-worthy it just wasn't good enough to hold my attention.

The acting seemed stilted. It was wooden and lacked commitment. Perhaps if there was better directing the director could have gotten better performances from the actors.

I wonder why they greenlit this project because the script is slow moving.

It wasn't the worst Hallmark movie I've seen, it just wasn't very interesting.

Yes, this first one of the series was very poorly written. And there isn't really chemistry between Jodi and Stephen. Hope this changes with time as they are both really good actors. I do like that they have her singing, as I think she has a good voice. The second and third got a little bit better, but hoping the writer's take note and come up with better scripts.

I know Hallmark has been going down hill for the last few years, but they should be able to come up with much better for this series. Go back to your roots and start doing quality family series. I guess you lost too many people to the other channel.