A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

A really refreshing HS movie. The mystery storyline was really well paced and unfolded really well with the developing chemistry between Hannah and Chad. Hannah continues to delight with her good-natured determination to solve the mystery, which in this movie gets more personal as it involves her little sister. The extra screen time given to Hannah's mom and sisters really made it for me. They add just the right touch of sweet humour to the show without taking away from the plot. I think having UK writers on this was a cool move and I hope they stay on board. I can't wait for another sweet piece of the Hannah Swenson pie!

Hannah's mother ruins this movie to the point it's almost unwatchable. She's too over the top. She acts ridiculously and is not funny at all. She is given way too much screen time - to the point you wonder who the star of the movie actually is. She distracts from the plot of the movie. Hannah and the mystery should be the focus. I also wish Norman was in the movie. I felt Hallmark missed the opportunity to make him a bigger part on the series now that Mike is gone. Norman would have made a great crime solving side kick to Hannah. Less mom and more Hannah/storyline please. Was looking forward to this movie and was really disappointed.

First the good: Strong ensemble cast returns and is as strong as ever. Lots of energy and some laughs. They clearly have fun together with these movies and it comes across on screen. I'd say ladies in particular had the strongest chemistry I've seen. And I did legitimately laugh a couple of times. It was very cozy which is frankly most important here.

What I liked less: Hannah herself came off a bit one dimensional and, in many scenes, seemed to be mailing it in a bit acting wise. Also her schtick of bribing with cookies should only be done once per movie. She did it like six times in this film. It gets old.

The mystery itself was just ok although did have some interesting twists. I agree with other reviewers on how Norman's absence takes away from this film.

Hannah is at it again, this time trying to clear a cop friend, Lonnie, of murder. After driving a woman home from a reunion, she winds up dead. As the last person to see her, he's the main suspect.

I love Allison Sweeney and take the series for what it is, a Hallmark cozy mystery series. A lot of time is given to Hannah's crazy over-the-top mother, played by Barbara Niven. She has become a private eye, and now she is an actress, having been discovered when an actress in a commercial she and Hannah are watching being filmed walks out.

I'd say it's too much, but she is very funny.

I like that Hannah's two sisters are involved in the bakery, and that Hannah has extended her business to brew her own coffee.

With Mike gone, it looks as If Hannah is going to have it involvement with the new DA, played by Victor Webster.

Enjoyable.

We watch this series because we like mysteries and enjoy watching Alison Sweeney. That being said, what in the world were the writers thinking when they made her mother's character such a total joke. In previous shows she was always worried about Hanna getting mixed up in murder cases. Now she's a private detective/actress the pokes her nose into everything, including murders. And her acting and costuming is ridiculously over the top nuts. Doesn't anyone screen these shows before they air to get some sense of viewer reaction?

Also, too bad the bakery got bigger because its' lost the small town feel and charm. It would be nice if the writers would read some of these reviews because I'm not the only one feeling this way.