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Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Mystery Woman Television Series

Have you ever wondered what a young Jessica Fletcher would be like? What if Jessica wasn’t a retired English teacher but rather the owner of a mystery bookshop? What would you think if Jessica’s sidekick was an assistant district attorney instead of Seth, the town’s doctor?

If you have ever pondered any of these questions, then have I got news for you! Just by watching one of the Hallmark channel’s Mystery Woman television movies, you will have the answers to these questions.

Mystery Woman is a series of television mystery movies that originally rotated with several other mystery shows on the Hallmark channel. The rotation included Mystery Woman, McBride, Murder 101, and Jane Doe. (The Mystery Woman‘s television movies are my personal favorites of that Hallmark mystery rotation.)

The show stars Kellie Martin as Samantha Kinsey, the owner of a mystery bookshop that she inherits from her uncle. The fact that Samantha owns a mystery bookstore makes it easy for the plot lines to include the mystery book references that are sprinkled throughout the different shows. Whether Samantha is finding a rare first edition copy of a mystery book or she is hosting a mystery author’s signing appearance, Samantha is sure to find a corpse during the (+/-) one and a half hour shows.

Samantha’s sidekick is Cassie Hillman, assistant district attorney. Cassie is played by Nina Siemaszko, and the “girls” have a very believable relationship. They seem to always be on the search for the perfect boyfriend although they don’t seem to have much luck.

The police chief (Casey Sander) usually follows a different path while solving a case. (It’s a good thing that Samantha’s path is always the correct one, and her path leads her to catch the culprit!) The police chief’s path usually means that he arrives to the crime scene (and the crime clue scenes) just as Samantha is leaving. She is always at least one step ahead of Chief Connors.

Clarence Williams III plays Philby >>> a great help to Samantha. Philby holds down the fort at the mystery book shop as well as provides all sorts of computer (and espionage!) help. It seems that Philby once worked for an agency akin to the C.I.A.

I have seen all of the Mystery Woman episodes and am currently making my way through them for the second time. It’s that enjoyable of a show. The show has a truly “Cozy” feel to it. Everyone in the community knows each other; there are “regulars” who go from one show to another. There is a sense of community, the which seems to be comprised of people who look out for each other, no matter how eccentric they are.

After watching this series, you may come away with an “aha” moment. >>> So this is what Jessica Fletcher was like years before she moved to Cabot Cove!

P.S.  I didn’t mention this before, but Mystery Woman‘s pilot had several different actors in it, however Kellie Martin was the only Samantha.

P.P.S. I think this is the correct order of the Mystery Woman episodes:

  1. Pilot (It is very difficult to get the pilot. )
  2. Mystery Weekend
  3. Snapshot
  4. Sing Me a Murder
  5. Vision of a Murder
  6. Game Time
  7. At First Sight
  8. Wild West Mystery
  9. Oh Baby
  10. Redemption
  11. In the Shadows

For more Cozy viewing ideas, click on my Cozy Mystery TV & Movies page.

(I have added this information on the Upcoming Television Mystery Movies for January 2014.

Comments

    • Tori, I’m guessing that the different cast has a lot to do with why they don’t air the pilot…

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        • I have wondered the same thing, but on Sams car in the movie about the guy who steels the computer game, it reads California, so I am assuming that is where that movie was shot. have really wondered about that cool looking hotel in that movie very pretty place

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      • Though I can not be certain, a lot of Hallmark made for television movies are filmed in Canada and Nova Scotia. I usually check IMDB to see where a movie or television show was filmed, but the Mystery Woman series has no location. The filming locations can usually be found by clicking on Full Cast and Crew, and scrolling all the way to the bottom of the page.

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        • Just finished watching some of the re-runs, of the Mystery Woman series. I checked the cast list and they never said where the one about finding her mother was filmed although it looks like the area up by either Tahoe or Big Bear – I would really love to know where it was done. Also found out that I can not find several of the movies for sale any where except if you buy all of them. I really want Vision Of A Murder, my favorite, Redemption and In The Shadows.

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          • My favorite is Snapshot because it stars Patty McCormack as an adult (she was the child star from the 1956 movie, The Bad Seed).

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            • My favorite and tried to purchase it by itself but can’t find a way, is the one about the vision, that takes place at the health spa.

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      • I was watching the episode called “Oh Baby”. The woman who took Susie’s baby into foster care at the local Police Station said, “Don’t worry. He will stay right here in Waldon.”
        There is a small city in California called Waldon, which is only .07 square miles.
        It could be the location of Samantha’s Book Store.

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      • I just saw one of the drama’s and recognized the buildings and golf course in Thousand Oaks, California. It is definitely the Los Robles Golf Course. I’ve been there and in the buildings numerous times–same trees, landscape and fencing plus I held several Senior Luncheons (that is High School Seniors) in the buildings they show behind the actors. I wasn’t watching closely for other local landmarks, but I will now!

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  2. This is so great! I reviewed the one and only episode I’ve been able to find and am so excited to find out I can DVR all of these. Thanks so much!

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    • Karen, that’t the beauty of DVR-ing these movies. You can watch them in their chronological order even though the Hallmark Movie channel is choosing to show them “not so organized”.

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  3. I watched and enjoyed all the Mystery Woman shows. Was quite sorry when the series ended. Thanks for the update. Will check my local listing (Eastern Time Zone) to see when the shows will air.

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      • Thanks Danna. I guess my brain is still thawing out from the “Polar Vortex” cold we just had in Connecticut.

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        • I know I have said this before, but I bet it is absolutely beautiful up there during your snowy times. (If it could just be beautifully white without all of the dirty snow sludge and blistering cold, right?)

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    • Hallmark just recently aired several of the movies. I have wondered if that movie series is where the idea for the set of mystery books I really love reading called Death On Demand got their idea from to begin with

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  5. This is a great series! I’ve seen all of them quite a few times. It seems like there hasn’t been a new one in awhile, though. Hope they haven’t stopped making them. It’s hard to find anything worth watching these days.

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    • Laurel, Mystery Woman was first aired in the early to mid 2000s. I doubt there will be any more made, although it would be nice.

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  6. I’m excited for a new mystery DVD as I ordered the DVD with 3 of the shows on it. I do have all of the Murder She Wrote DVDs so I know I will enjoy these. Thanks, Danna, for all the information you share with us.

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    • PamB, I take it you don’t get the Hallmark Movie channel. I hope you enjoy these very Cozy mystery shows.

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      • Danna, where I live to have the Hallmark Movie Channel I would have to subscribe to digital service which is quite a bit more money so I just have the basic service. I’m not techy at all so I am not for sure if there is another way to receive it.

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        • PamB, if you’re not “techy” than I would guess basic cable service would be your best bet. I am very lucky to have a husband who enjoys all things “techy”.

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          • Danna, guess what? I asked my daughter if she has the Hallmark Movie Channel and she does (may be a promo tho for a short time for her) so she is going to DVR these movies for me (excluding the 3 on the DVD I ordered). I am so excited…what does that say about my life if I’m so excited about cozy mystery movies!! She lives fairly close to me. I ‘m sure you are thankful to have a husband who enjoys technical stuff.

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            • Pam B, you might want to tell your daughter to keep the next weekend on her DVR schedule, also. I’m trying to get an entry written up about all of the mysteries they will be showing then.

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            • That’s awesome ♥️ I’ve watched these before, and I had a mystery woman marathon yesterday, all day, because I was in bed sick. I am so thankful for Kellie Martin, and the whole cast, for making such a great series to watch over and over again. They have like, the other ones, like flower shop mystery, and the ones with Laurie McLaughlin, Candace Cameron But, but it’s not the same as the original one, with Kellie Martin. Mystery Woman. I wish they’d make new ones, I know I would watch them.

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              • If you like to read, you can get the Flower Shop ones in books, I loved the Garage Sale ones but there will be no more of those, and the ones of Aurora Teagarden and the Murder She Baked, the books are much better.

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              • The bookstore set looks eerily familiar to the store/set from Friday the 13: The Series. Can anyone confirm this?

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                • The bookstore is just a set. It also appears as a cafe in an episode of McBride Mysteries (starring John Larroquette).

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  7. I love these shows also! Like Ann, I couldn’t place Philby right away.
    The show that has Michael Cole, his costar from Mod Squad in it is one of my favorites! I also love the McBride show that has Charles Robinson from Night Court as the judge.

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    • Wow, Colleen! I remember that McBride show vividly. I also enjoyed seeing Charles Robinson back with John Larroquette.

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  8. Love Mystery Woman. Also if anyone has Netflix you can watch another fav series – Rosemary and Thyme. They are two middle aged English ladies who landscape beautiful gardens while solving crime. Wonderful series. Wish they had more of both.

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  9. For the theme where a doctor is the mc, how about Caroline Roe’s Issac of Girona medievel series?

    Really enjoy and appreciate this site. Thanks.

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    • Thank you, Mari, I just added Caroline Roe’s medieval Chronicles of Isaac of Girona Mystery Series to the list.

      (And I’m glad you are enjoying the site!)

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  10. I love these movies! I watch them all the time. I am not a big fan of the pilot movie. It’s still good, but some of the characters aren’t the same. Very good movies especially for the cozy mystery lovers!

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    • SHW, while I know these movies aren’t for everyone, I agree that they are especially perfect for Cozy Mystery lovers.

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  11. Danna I hadn’t heard of this series but loved Murder She Wrote so I’ll be sure to catch it. Thanks for bring it to my attention.

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    • BrendaC, I hope you enjoy these television movies. I truly think they are very much like Murder, She Wrote >>> with a younger sleuth.

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    • Ann, I would miss it, too. I am finding that most of the things I’m interested in watching are on either Turner Classic Movies, the ID channel, or Hallmark – in either its movie or non-movie format.

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  14. I saw the pilot. They are all the same actors in the pilot except for Philby and Cassie. In the pilot Philby was payed by an actor J. E. Freeman and Cassie was played by Constance Zimmer.

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  15. Has anyone approached a company like PBS, Movies Unlimited, Acorn or the like to see if the Mystery Woman shows could be released on DVD for all of us diehard fans? I gave up on TV and cable years ago and now it’s just Netflix, books, my e-readers and my very small DVD player. I’ve collected Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Poirot, Cadfael and Phryne Fisher so far. I’d love to have Mystery Woman in my collection.

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  16. I have been searching for years. I loved the series also. Kellie was great. I would buy the video series. I’ve been looking on youtube.
    If someone finds it please let us know!!! Thanks.
    Nice to know I’m not alone in this hope.

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  17. I just finished watching the pilot online and was going to watch “sing me a murder”, but see that it is fourth in the series…. So I’ll watch Mystery Weekend next. I do dislike it when you enjoy a series and they change the characters, but they have to star who they can (available for a series).

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  18. Hey Annelise, I also don’t watch regular tv or cable! I just hook up my tv to my computer (HDMI cable), and watch my shows that way. I can watch my dvds, online shows, or even read my kindle or other e- books w/o eye strain. Technology is always great when it works for you, and the best part is minimal commercials if any…..

    Thanks all for your input…. Have a Merry Christmas !

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      • Since we don’t subscribe to cable or satellite television because 1. They play entertainment aimed mostly at the younger set and we have nothing in common, many ways,.
        2. There, you spend your money on programs that are selected for a special demographic, which we usually don’t belong to and after you pay for the month’s entertainment, you have NOTHING to show for it but another upcoming bill, thus intangible.
        3. So we decided that since my Sweetie likes certain programs like Columbo, Murder She Wrote, Monk, Matlock and Mystery Woman, we would buy the complete series of each and actually HAVE SOMETHING to show for our moolah. My dear lady will play them over an over again and never complain. She’s content. So my job is to find her some programs that she will enjoy. Risky business. Well she liked Mystery Woman Series but I can’t find the complete season ANYWHERE. Amazon only has a limited selection as does Ebay, the same ones. I think there are eleven of them and I would like to find the whole series. Also, any suggestions as to similar Mystery Series that might run parallel to the ones she already has would be good. Any help would be very appreciated. Any ideas and I can buy a couple and then if she likes them I can look for the complete series box set. Thanx!

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  21. Love Kelli Martin in all of the Hallmark movies she’s done, especially Mystery Woman series. Love Clarence Williams as Philbe and the other cast members too. I sure do wish Kelli and cast would do more Mystery Woman movies, I’d definitely be watching!!

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    • Vickie G, I really like these mystery shows, too, but I doubt they make any more. However, if you get a chance to watch some of the Hallmark mystery movies they are making now, they are pretty close… (If they made more Mystery Woman shows, I’d definitely be watching, too!)

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  22. I absolutely LOVE the Mystery Woman movies, wish they would make more. Now we can look forward to the Hailey Dean mysteries. I also enjoy Garage Sale Mysteries, Murder, She Baked, Aurora Teagarden and Gourmet Detective.

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  23. Does anyone know if a box set of all the episodes for the Mystery Woman is available? I have the dvd set containing “Mystery Weekend”, Snapshot and “Sing me a Murder”.

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  24. I love this series…I even wrote Hallmark and asked them to bring it back, no response of course….I love most of the cozies, from the classics to the current. I’m glad Kellie Martin is in that new Hallmark mystery series…I look forward to watching them! The new one don’t have quite the same feel, but it’s close I guess…Garage Sale Mysteries and Flower Shop mysteries with Brooke. Shields are my top picks out of the current ones.

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  26. I am going crazy trying to remember the TV series Kellie Martin starred in about a woman riding a horse and going into the mountains to check on the residents a long way from towns.

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  27. Loved the mystery woman series, why they stopped making them I have no clue! I love Philby such a shame. I love McBride, the Garage sale mysteries, Murder she baked, Fixer Upper mystery…. all of them…

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  28. Joyce…I love these shows and don’t understand why they quit making them…kinda like when Doc was taken off of Murder she wrote….

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      • I’ve seen all of the Mystery Woman episodes several times already (just this past Saturday, 7/22/17) and none of them shows Samantha firing Philby. I have all of the episodes in a box set.

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        • Serenityspring, thanks! By the way, another commentor asked what the name of the name of the bookshop was in Mystery Woman and I’m afraid I don’t recall. Do you happen to remember offhand since you’ve seen them so recently?

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  30. Does anyone know the name of Sam’s mystery bookstore in the series? Of course fictional but have discussion with best friend and neither one of us have it right.

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  31. Samantha Kinsey is the greatest Mystery Women show ever!! Kellie Martin plays her to a T. I love this show! And Cassie (Nina), plays the D.A. her best friend. Great chemestry there. Mystery Women shows on Hallmark channel is the best ever. Get rid of Monk and play these shows all day instead! Thank you for these shows. Is that a book on this show?? I would love to read those if they are out there.

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  32. I’ve never figured out the protective relationship of Philby toward
    Samantha. Is there something in the background that would explain it?

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    • Judy, it’s been a while since I watched the first Mystery Woman movie, but as I recall, Samantha shows up at the bookstore unannounced – which she would of course do since she inherited the place from her uncle. Unbeknownst to Samantha, Philby is living in the bookshop and didn’t expect her to be arriving. Apparently Philby and Samantha’s uncle were great friends.

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  33. The cantina in wild west located near Brandeis University. The vision movie was filmed at Brandeis.

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  34. Samantha’s shop was called Mystery Woman. When her uncle owned the shop it was called Mystery Man and Philby suggests she change it after she inherits it.

    This show is definitely my favorite Hallmark mystery show. Mystery Weekend is my favorite, followed by the Western One because of Bruce Boxleitner. After watching his episode I always get a hankering to rewatch Scarecrow and Mrs King, which I also consider a cozy series.

    Reply

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