One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

I've enjoyed all of the Murder She Baked iterations. Love Alison Sweeney, Barbara Nivens, her sisters, Norman, etc. Not liking the new Chad character, have always enjoyed whatever Victor Webster acts in, just not this. The relationship between Hannah and Chad is just too formulaic. It's like the writing is already on the wall. When Murder She Baked began, I wasn't sure I liked Norman, but he's truly grown as a character and he's kind of quirky, goofy, funny and also a stand up guy that Hannah can count on and I really wish that they'd expand upon that relationship. Absolutely adored Barbara Nivens as a PI.

Hannah Swensen Mysteries has consistently been one of my three favorite mysteries on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, along with Aurora Teagarden (the Candace Cameron Bure version) and Mystery 101. This entry has Hannah teaching a baking class at the local community college where she collaborates with literature professor Bradford Ramsey...who not only seems enamored with Hannah, but ends up dead quite literally stabbed in the back with one of Hannah's own knives. This unfortunately puts Hannah on the suspect list.

This entry introduces us to Lake Eden's own all business "I don't have a sweet tooth" county prosecuting attorney, Chad Norton (played by the suave Victor Webster). Most of the cast favorites have returned like Hannah's beloved mom who is played so delightfully by Barbara Niven and our favorite partner-in-crime and local dentist Norman (played by the consistently wonderful Gabriel Hogan). There were some noticeable absences like Hannah's brother in law police officer Bill, but probably more noticeable is Hannah's fiancé the beloved detective Mike, who has been played from the very first film by Cameron Mathison. The story was given that Mike went to Quantico to join the FBI? I am really sad to see Cameron Mathison go, as I really like him as an actor and thought he and Alison Sweeney had amazing chemistry together. On a side note I did enjoy Alison Sweeney and Victor Webster in the Wedding Veil series of movies, they were well matched and it will be interesting to see what develops here.

The series is based on the cosy mysteries written by Joanne Fluke, but this film was actually written by Alison Sweeney herself. The mystery was decent, but what really keeps this amongst my favorites...if not my favorite, is the camaraderie amongst the cast being lead by Alison Sweeney herself. Barbara Niven is not only lovely, but lends so much great comedy to this series. This entry has Delores deciding to be an private investigator...think big hats, sun glasses and trench coats.

Highly recommend this fun mystery series to all the cosy mystery fans out there.

It's amazing how losing a major costar in a movie series can have a huge impact on the next film. With Cameron Mathison's exit, the entire movie fell flat.

I've read Joanne Fluke's all Hannah Swensen mystery novels and watched the Hallmark movies multiple times. But this one is just plain awful. I was tempted to delete it halfway through.

Mike Kingston is a pivotal character. Without him as the lead detective with the Eden Lake sheriff's department, there's no one to play off Hannah's parallel murder investigations. The chemistry between them was what made the movies work.

The DA Chad couldn't replace Mike. He was annoying and added nothing., Lonnie isn't a strong enough character to carry it off. By himself. Having the sheriff involved would have been a better alternative.. DA Chad didn't belong rescuing Hannah from the killer at the end of the movie with Lonnie. That is not a DA's job.

I missed Hannah and Lisa's scenes in the Cooke Jar interacting with the coffee clatch ladies. Very little time was spent in the bakery which was a shame. So many of her best ideas come to her while she's baking.

Delores becoming a private investigator while wearing a black hat and trench coat is silly. She called too much attention to herself in that getup.

It was nice to see Norman Rhodes again, but his appearance wasn't enough.to rescue this terrible movie.

I like the Hannah Swenson series starring Allison Sweeney. The films are both fun and energetic.

Cameron Matthison is no longer playing Hannah's boyfriend. There is a new man, though he's yet to be on Hannah's dance card - the new DA, played by Victor Webster. Norman is still around, but as a friend.

Hannah's again working to solve a mystery. She's teaching a baking class, but then the kitchen explodes. Accident?

Then there's a murder, and Hannah starts investigating.

No t enough time in the bakery, those are always fun scenes.

Hannah's mother has decided to become. P. I. The part, played by Barbara Nevins, is completely over the top but a hoot.

This is Hallmark, not Masterpiece Mystery, so take it for what it is.

Was her interactions with Mike. Those were sorely missing from this movie.

The synopsis suggested she was re-kindling things with Norman, but their interactions seem more brother-sister than romantic partners.

The mystery was perfectly adequate. There's friction with the district attorney, which, of course, means they have a romantic future (even though so far, he does not seem likeable).

The whole thing with the mother becoming a private eye just seemed too ludicrous for words. She is just too ditzy.

The third sister doesn't seem to add anything to the mix. I am kind of surprised they continued with her after the previous movie.