Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV
Here is the list of new releases for February 1 to February 7!
Lorraine Bartlett (aka L. L. Bartlett & Lorna Barrett): Dead Man’s Hand (This will be the 8th in the Victoria Square Mystery Series.)
Larissa Reinhart: 18 1/2 Disguises (This will be the 7th in the Maizie Albright Star Detective Mystery Series.)
Dana Stabenow: Spoils of the Dead (This will be the 5th in the Liam Campbell Mystery Series.)
Oh my goodness, it’s the “Hallmark month of the year” and here I am, telling you about the Cozy Mystery movies that the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel will be showing during February! I remember years ago, my husband and I gave each other Valentine’s Day cards (no doubt Hallmark cards!) on February 14. As I said, “years ago” — since then, my husband refers to this month as a “Hallmark month” — so I need not tell you that we don’t “do the card thing” anymore. However, I have kept all of the cards I received and get them out every once in a while to enjoy them again. And of course, with Covid 19 doing its thing, probably most of us aren’t spending a lot of time looking at cards in the stores. (Oh how I miss the actual Hallmark stores!)
Getting back to the reason for this post…
The Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel will be airing a new Crossword Mystery called Terminal Descent. Tess will be going up against a supercomputer when a murder occurs which will get Logan and Tess investigating. All will be revealed when it premieres on February 14. The second premiere will be a Chronicle Mysteries – on Sunday, February 21. It is called Helped to Death and will have Alex and Drew investigating a life coach.
Monday – February 1, 2021
5:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: Recovered
Alex McPherson launches a podcast with a cold case from her past. With the help of local reporter, Drew Godfrey, new mysteries mix with old as the two work to recover what’s been lost. Starring Alison Sweeney and Benjamin Ayres.
7:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: Vines That Bind
Podcaster Alex McPherson travels to a vineyard to investigate the suspicious death of a winemaker, while partner Drew explores corporate buyouts surrounding the vineyard’s town. Starring Alison Sweeney and Benjamin Ayres.
9:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: The Deep End
When a man’s body is discovered in a pond, his wife finds herself in a complex trial, which causes podcaster Alex and the Chronicle team to seek answers surrounding this unusual case. Starring Alison Sweeney & Benjamin Ayres.
***** ***** ***** *****
Tuesday – February 2, 2021
5:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: Murder With Love
Former prosecutor-turned-therapist Hailey Dean is acutely observant. During a tragic week, one of her patients loses her parents to fatal accidents. Stars Kellie Martin, Giacomo Baessato, Cindy Busby.
7:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: Deadly Estate
When Hailey helps her friend Pam sell her recently deceased parent’s estate, she becomes suspicious when Pam suddenly leaves town without notice. To make matters worse, Pam’s boyfriend is the sudden victim of an accident.
9:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: Dating is Murder
Attorney turned therapist Hailey Dean is pulled into another investigation when a popular new dating app links multiple missing persons cases from around the city. Stars Kellie Martin.
***** ***** ***** *****
Wednesday – February 3, 2021
5:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game
Aurora and her new neighbor, a handsome professor named Nick, investigate when four students from a nearby college (including her cousin) go missing. Stars Candace Cameron Bure.
7:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Game of Cat and Mouse
A taunting clue left for Aurora at a meeting begins a cat-and-mouse game between her and a mysterious criminal who commits increasingly serious crimes that leave the town rattled. Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
9:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: An Inheritance to Die For
When Sally’s wealthy aunt Gladys, dies from poisoning after giving a wedding toast, Aurora inspects if Glady’s will hints at who may have wanted her gone. Stars Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
***** ***** ***** *****
Thursday – February 4, 2021
9:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Bone to Pick
A librarian with a sharp mind for murder, Aurora Teagarden is known around her small town as a master sleuth. When her friend Jane dies and leaves Aurora everything in her will, she also leaves a troubling murder mystery.
***** ***** ***** *****
Friday – February 5, 2021
5:00 PM
After All These Years
When a woman is wrongly accused of the death of her ex-husband, she sets out to solve the murder mystery and find the real killer before the day of the funeral, when she is to be taken into custody.
9:00 PM
Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts
Hannah is thrilled when she is chosen as a guest for the first Eden Lake Dessert Bake-Off, but when a fellow judge is found murdered, Hannah takes it upon herself to find the killer. Stars Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison.
***** ***** ***** *****
Saturday – February 6, 2021
9:00 AM
Morning Show Mysteries: Murder On the Menu
Beloved cooking show host Billie Blessings finds herself in hot water when a dead body turns up in the car of one of her guests, a temperamental celebrity chef, with dark secrets in his past. Stars Holly Robinson Peete, Rick Fox.
11:00 AM
Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind
Billie Blessings investigates murder charges against friend and actress Katie Saunders, when a death is linked to her TV show based on a series of novels about a corrupt local lawyer. Stars Holly Robinson Peete, Rick Fox.
1:00 PM
Gourmet Detective
A chef turned culinary sleuth is partnered with a beautiful detective to unravel the clues surrounding the unexpected death of a guest at a prestigious dinner party. Stars Dylan Neal, Brooke Burns, and Matthew Kevin Anderson.
3:00 PM
Gourmet Detective Mysteries: A Healthy Place to Die
When Henry, the Gourmet Detective, is invited as a guest speaker at a luxury resort spa, he quickly finds himself at the center of another murder. Stars Dylan Neal and Brooke Burns.
5:00 PM
Gourmet Detective Mysteries: Death al Dente
San Francisco homicide detective Maggie Price and former, world-class chef Henry Ross are on the case once again. The crime-solving odd couple investigates the murder of Henry’s friend.
7:00 PM
Gourmet Detective Mysteries: Eat, Drink and Be Buried
Henry and Maggie attend a party of a local publisher, where his son and stepson reenact a historical dual. Someone, however, has loaded the pistol with a real musket ball, so when the son pulls the trigger, he kills his stepbrother.
9:00 PM
Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery
Henry and Maggie find themselves in a murder mystery where secrets hidden within a treasured recipe book have dire consequences for all who own it. Starring Dylan Neal and Brooke Burns.
***** ***** ***** *****
Sunday – February 7, 2021
Murder, She Wrote marathon
***** ***** ***** *****
Monday – February 8, 2021
5:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play
Aurora and friends are off to a resort for a true crime convention. While there, they take part in a mystery dinner theater, but art imitates life when a fellow actor gets killed. Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
7:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Heist and Seek
When a priceless crown is stolen during a benefit gala held by the Lawrenceton library, Aurora and the Real Murders Club must investigate who would kill to get their hands on it. Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
9:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Real Murders
Aurora finds a member of her crime buff group, the Real Murders Club, killed in a manner that eerily resembles the crime the club was about to discuss. As other brutal “copycat” killings follow, Aurora will have to investigate.
***** ***** ***** *****
Tuesday – February 9. 2021
5:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2+2=Murder
Hailey attends her niece’s school recital only to learn that the beloved music teacher has vanished. Hailey soon discovers several startling secrets amongst the staff. Stars Kellie Martin.
7:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Marriage Made for Murder
Hailey finds herself entangled in Atlanta’s notorious “Black Widow” murder case and it will take all her personal resources to bring the killer to justice.
9:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill
Emotionally ready to confront her fiancé’s 15-year-old murder, Hailey finds herself caught up in the case of a missing college coed.
***** ***** ***** *****
Wednesday – February 10, 2021
5:00 PM
Flower Shop Mysteries: Mum’s The Word
Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She’s determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral. Stars Brooke Shields, Brennan Elliott and Beau Bridges.
7:00 PM
Flower Shop Mysteries: Snipped in the Bud
When Abby Knight, former lawyer turned flower shop owner, agrees to deliver an anonymous bouquet of black roses to her daughter’s disagreeable law professor, she is hoping for a chance to get him on her good side. When he responds by throwing the flowers in the trash, Abby realizes she may be fighting a losing battle and leaves. Unwilling to sacrifice the bouquet, she returns to claim the flowers, only to discover the dead body of another professor and her former courtroom adversary. Now as the main suspect, Abby must work to clear her name and keep those she loves out of danger. Stars Brooke Shields, Brennan Elliott, and Beau Bridges.
9:00 PM
Flower Shop Mysteries: Dearly Depotted
Abby Knight, ex-lawyer and crime buff, and the owner of Bloomers Flower Shop, is having a week to be reckoned with. A reluctant bridesmaid at her drama queen cousin’s wedding, Abby ends up not just doing the flowers…but having to find out who murdered a wedding crasher. Stars Brooke Shields, Brennan Elliott, and Beau Bridges.
***** ***** ***** *****
Thursday – February 11, 2021
9:00 PM
Along Came a Nanny
Detective Mike Logan takes on a special undercover assignment as a nanny when a quiet, upscale neighborhood is turned upside down by a string of robberies. When the mystery begins to unravel, new relationships are threatened.
***** ***** ***** *****
Friday – February 12, 2021
9:00 PM
Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For
After several of her puzzles are linked to the murder of an art gallery owner, a crossword puzzle editor teams up with a no-nonsense detective to stop a killer in their midst. Stars Lacey Chabert, Brennan Elliott.
***** ***** ***** *****
Saturday – February 13, 2021
9:00 AM
Emma Fielding Mysteries: Site Unseen
A dedicated archaeologist gets involved in a murder investigation when she and her students unearth a dead body while searching for evidence of a 17th-century coastal Maine settlement. Stars Courtney Thorne-Smith and James Tupper.
11:00 AM
Ruby Herring Mysteries: Silent Witness
When consumer reporter, Ruby Herring stumbles onto a murder, the spunky redhead discovers a knack for crime-solving. With the help of a handsome detective, Ruby finds a new career covering crime. Stars Taylor Cole, Stephen Huszar.
1:00 PM
Ruby Herring Mysteries: Her Last Breath
Ruby and Detective Killian investigate a suspicious fatal car accident. With their yin and yang relationship, they solve the case, until Ruby finds new evidence that they may have it all wrong. Stars Taylor Cole, Stephen Huszar.
3:00 PM
Ruby Herring Mysteries: Prediction Murder
When crime reporter Ruby Herring receives clues to a murder that happened five years earlier involving a local psychic, she joins forces with Detective Jake Killian to help crack the case. Stars Taylor Cole, Stephen Huszar.
5:00 PM
A Beautiful Place to Die: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery
After being forced into retirement, former detective Jeff Jackson returns to a quiet life on Martha’s Vineyard. Quiet, at least, until a body washes up and he’s drawn back into crime-solving. Stars Jesse Metcalfe, Sarah Lind.
7:00 PM
Riddled with Deceit: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery
Former detective Jeff Jackson teams up with Dr. Zee Madeiras to track down their friend’s missing emerald brooch, a thief, and also… a murderer. Stars Jesse Metcalfe, Sarah Lind.
9:00 PM
Ships in the Night: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery
When an art gallery robbery leads to the death of the contemptible gallery manager, former Boston detective teams up with local doctor–and old flame– to catch the killer. Stars Jesse Metcalfe and Sarah Lind.
***** ***** ***** *****
Sunday – February 14, 2021
9:00 AM
Morning Show Mysteries: Countdown to Murder
When the owners of a popular grocery store chain are killed, Billie finds macabre clues linking the deaths to a children’s countdown song, Five Little Ducks. Stars Holly Robinson Peete and Rick Fox.
11:00 AM
Morning Show Mysteries: Death by Design
Chef Billie Blessings’ best friend Marian is hired to redecorate the TV studio. When Marian’s twin sister is murdered, Billie must investigate their close friends to find the killer. Stars Holly Robinson Peete, Rick Fox.
1:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Three Bedrooms, One Corpse
When Aurora pitches in to help her busy real estate mother she quickly realizes she has again walked into a life or death situation. She investigates when the body of a local realtor is found strangled in a backyard.
3:00 PM
Crossword Mysteries: Proposing Murder
Tess dives into Logan’s murder investigation of her friend who was about to propose with her help. As she grows closer to the truth, she fears it could ruin everyone’s happily ever after. Starring Lacey Chabert, Brennan Elliott.
5:00 PM
Crossword Mysteries: Abracadaver
During her birthday celebration, Tess and Logan find themselves swept up in a world that isn’t always what it seems when the headlining magician at the Magic Manor winds up dead. Starring Lacey Chabert, Brennan Elliott.
7:00 PM
Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent
*****PREMIERE*****
When Tess prepares for a crossword challenge against a supercomputer, the engineer behind it is murdered, spurring her and Logan to seek answers before they become the next victims. Starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott.
9:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Julius House
Aurora Teagarden is a beautiful young librarian with a passion for solving murders. After an exhaustive search for the perfect home, Aurora finally purchases her dream house, unaware of its murky history.
***** ***** ***** *****
Monday – February 15, 2021
Monk marathon
***** ***** ***** *****
Tuesday – February 16, 2021
5:00 PM
Emma Fielding Mysteries: More Bitter than Death
After a friend and head of the National Archaeological Society meets an untimely death, Emma and Agent Conner find themselves questioning her colleagues’ motives. Stars Courtney Thorne-Smith, James Tupper.
7:00 PM
Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent
*****Repeat of the PREMIERE shown on Sunday, the 14th.*****
When Tess prepares for a crossword challenge against a supercomputer, the engineer behind it is murdered, spurring her and Logan to seek answers before they become the next victims. Starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott.
9:00 PM
Fixer Upper Mysteries: Concrete Evidence
When Mac first moved to Lighthouse Cove, he bought the historic lighthouse mansion that the town is named after. During renovation demolition, the bones of a teenage girl were discovered. Stars Jewel and Colin Ferguson.
***** ***** ***** *****
Wednesday – February 17, 2021
5:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: Death on Duty
Hailey Dean’s best friend DA Investigator Fincher Garland asks for her help when his old Marine friend is found dead and the Military Police take over the investigation. Stars Kellie Martin and Viv Leacock.
7:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Prescription for Murder
Hailey Dean must prove a doctor’s innocence in a string of unexplainable deaths at Atlanta Memorial Hospital and stop the true killer before he can strike again. Stars Kellie Martin.
9:00 PM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: Killer Sentence
Hailey Dean knows District Attorney Paulina D’Orazio is innocent of the murder of a man she once put behind bars and must do all she can to prove it in the face of mounting evidence. Stars Kellie Martin.
***** ***** ***** *****
Thursday – February 18, 2021
9:00 PM
Ships in the Night: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery
When an art gallery robbery leads to the death of the contemptible gallery manager, former Boston detective teams up with local doctor–and old flame– to catch the killer. Stars Jesse Metcalfe and Sarah Lind.
***** ***** ***** *****
Friday – February 19, 2021
5:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: The Wrong Man
Podcaster Alex McPherson seeks the truth behind the tragic death of a young lawyer, while partner Drew finds himself diving into the shady mishaps of a shipping company. Starring Alison Sweeney and Benjamin Ayres.
9:00 PM
Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent
*****Repeat of the PREMIERE shown on Sunday, the 14th.*****
When Tess prepares for a crossword challenge against a supercomputer, the engineer behind it is murdered, spurring her and Logan to seek answers before they become the next victims. Starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott.
***** ***** ***** *****
Saturday – February 20, 2021
9:00 AM
Fixer Upper Mysteries: Concrete Evidence
When Mac first moved to Lighthouse Cove, he bought the historic lighthouse mansion that the town is named after. During renovation demolition, the bones of a teenage girl were discovered. Stars Jewel and Colin Ferguson.
11:00 AM
Fixer Upper Mysteries: Deadly Deed
Shannon Hughes has taken on a charity project renovating an old Victorian mansion. When a local banker is found murdered inside, Shannon must dust off the clues and cement the truth before her renovation becomes a demolition.
1:00 PM
Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery
Free-spirited cookie baker Hannah Swensen jumps in to help a handsome new detective track down the culprit and uncover the mystery surrounding the death of her friend and local milk delivery man. Stars Alison Sweeney.
3:00 PM
Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery
When a murder takes place at the local Christmas tree carnival, it seems there are quite a few suspects. With the twelve days of Christmas ticking away, Hannah’s running out of time to nab a murderous Scrooge.
5:00 PM
Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery
With The Cookie Jar, Hannah Swensen has a mouthwatering monopoly on the bakery business of Lake Eden, Minnesota. But when a rival store opens, and one of the owners is found dead, Hannah is determined to prove she isn’t guilty.
7:00 PM
Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe
Bakery owner Hannah Swensen just can’t keep her hands out of the batter when murder stirs things up in Lake Eden, Minnesota, leaving the sheriff dead, a deputy accused, and a killer on the loose. Stars Alison Sweeney.
9:00 PM
Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts
Hannah is thrilled when she is chosen as a guest for the first Eden Lake Dessert Bake-Off, but when a fellow judge is found murdered, Hannah takes it upon herself to find the killer. Stars Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison.
***** ***** ***** *****
Sunday – February 21, 2021
9:00 AM
Hailey Dean Mysteries: Dating is Murder
Attorney turned therapist Hailey Dean is pulled into another investigation when a popular new dating app links multiple missing persons cases from around the city. Stars Kellie Martin.
11:00 AM
Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent
When Tess prepares for a crossword challenge against a supercomputer, the engineer behind it is murdered, spurring her and Logan to seek answers before they become the next victims. Starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott.
1:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: Recovered
Alex McPherson launches a podcast with a cold case from her past. With the help of local reporter, Drew Godfrey, new mysteries mix with old as the two work to recover what’s been lost. Starring Alison Sweeney and Benjamin Ayres.
3:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: Vines That Bind
Podcaster Alex McPherson travels to a vineyard to investigate the suspicious death of a winemaker, while partner Drew explores corporate buyouts surrounding the vineyard’s town. Starring Alison Sweeney and Benjamin Ayres.
5:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: The Deep End
When a man’s body is discovered in a pond, his wife finds herself in a complex trial, which causes podcaster Alex and the Chronicle team to seek answers surrounding this unusual case. Starring Alison Sweeney & Benjamin Ayres.
7:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: Helped to Death
*****PREMIERE*****
Alex and Drew investigate a self-help retreat and the controversial life coach who oversees it. Starring Alison Sweeney and Benjamin Ayres.
9:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Reunited and It Feels So Deadly
Aurora’s high school reunion turns deadly when a body is found in the hotel pool. Aurora and her Real Murders Club help investigate which classmate was most likely to kill. Stars Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
***** ***** ***** *****
Monday – February 22, 2021
5:00 PM
Morning Show Mysteries: Murder On the Menu
Beloved cooking show host Billie Blessings finds herself in hot water when a dead body turns up in the car of one of her guests, a temperamental celebrity chef, with dark secrets in his past. Stars Holly Robinson Peete, Rick Fox.
7:00 PM
Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind
Billie Blessings investigates murder charges against friend and actress Katie Saunders, when a death is linked to her TV show based on a series of novels about a corrupt local lawyer. Stars Holly Robinson Peete, Rick Fox.
9:00 PM
Morning Show Mysteries: Countdown to Murder
When the owners of a popular grocery store chain are killed, Billie finds macabre clues linking the deaths to a children’s countdown song, Five Little Ducks. Stars Holly Robinson Peete and Rick Fox.
***** ***** ***** *****
Tuesday – February 23, 2021
5:00 PM
Ruby Herring Mysteries: Her Last Breath
Ruby and Detective Killian investigate a suspicious fatal car accident. With their yin and yang relationship, they solve the case, until Ruby finds new evidence that they may have it all wrong. Stars Taylor Cole, Stephen Huszar.
7:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: Helped to Death
*****Repeat of the PREMIERE shown on Sunday, the 21st.*****
Alex and Drew investigate a self-help retreat and the controversial life coach who oversees it. Starring Alison Sweeney and Benjamin Ayres.
9:00 PM
Fixer Upper Mysteries: Deadly Deed
Shannon Hughes has taken on a charity project renovating an old Victorian mansion. When a local banker is found murdered inside, Shannon must dust off the clues and cement the truth before her renovation becomes a demolition.
***** ***** ***** *****
Wednesday – February 24, 2021
5:00 PM
Gourmet Detective Mysteries: Death al Dente
San Francisco homicide detective Maggie Price and former, world-class chef Henry Ross are on the case once again. The crime-solving odd couple investigates the murder of Henry’s friend.
7:00 PM
Gourmet Detective Mysteries: Eat, Drink and Be Buried
Henry and Maggie attend the party of a local publisher, where his son and stepson reenact a historical dual. Someone, however, has loaded the pistol with a real musket ball, so when the son pulls the trigger, he kills his stepbrother.
9:00 PM
Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery
Henry and Maggie find themselves in a murder mystery where secrets hidden within a treasured recipe book have dire consequences for all who own it. Starring Dylan Neal and Brooke Burns.
***** ***** ***** *****
Thursday – February 25, 2021
9:00 PM
Ruby Herring Mysteries: Prediction Murder
When crime reporter Ruby Herring receives clues to a murder that happened five years earlier involving a local psychic, she joins forces with Detective Jake Killian to help crack the case. Stars Taylor Cole, Stephen Huszar.
***** ***** ***** *****
Friday – February 26, 2021
5:00 PM
Mystery 101
When a college student is found dead, English professor Amy uses her crime fiction expertise to unravel the case faster than detective Travis, who ends up working with Amy to catch the killer. Stars Jill Wagner.
9:00 PM
Chronicle Mysteries: Helped to Death
*****Repeat of the PREMIERE shown on Sunday, the 21st.*****
Alex and Drew investigate a self-help retreat and the controversial life coach who oversees it. Starring Alison Sweeney and Benjamin Ayres.
***** ***** ***** *****
Saturday – February 27, 2021
9:00 AM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Last Scene Alive
A Hollywood film crew descends on the town to produce a film based on a book written by Aurora’s ex Robin Daniels. However, when the actress who is playing Aurora is killed, the real Aurora and the Murders Club must investigate.
11:00 AM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Reap What You Sew
Internet sensation and old family friend of Aurora Teagarden, Poppy Wilson, has returned to Lawrenceton to start her new embroidery business. But not everyone is happy with Poppy’s success when she turns up dead.
1:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game
Aurora and her new neighbor, a handsome professor named Nick, investigate when four students from a nearby college (including her cousin) go missing. Stars Candace Cameron Bure.
3:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Game of Cat and Mouse
A taunting clue left for Aurora at a meeting begins a cat-and-mouse game between her and a mysterious criminal who commits increasingly serious crimes that leave the town rattled. Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
5:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: An Inheritance to Die For
When Sally’s wealthy aunt Gladys, dies from poisoning after giving a wedding toast, Aurora inspects if Glady’s will hints at who may have wanted her gone. Stars Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
7:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play
Aurora and friends are off to a resort for a true crime convention. While there, they take part in a mystery dinner theater, but art imitates life when a fellow actor gets killed. Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
9:00 PM
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Heist and Seek
When a priceless crown is stolen during a benefit gala held by the Lawrenceton library, Aurora and the Real Murders Club must investigate who would kill to get their hands on it. Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter, Marilu Henner.
***** ***** ***** *****
Sunday – February 28, 2021
9:00 AM
Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead
Photographer Allie Adams is shocked when the groom at a wedding she is covering is shot dead. What’s even worse, is she must convince Detective Sam Acosta that her brother isn’t the killer. Stars Alexa PenaVega, Carlos PenaVega.
11:00 AM
Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Over Diamonds
Photographer Allie and Detective Sam’s investigation into a priceless stolen necklace leads to danger and an unexpected death. Stars Alexa & Carlos PenaVega, Erik Estrada.
1:00 PM
Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit Stage Death
Allie and Sam navigate the world of amateur theatrics as they pursue the killer of an actress. Their largest obstacle is trying to assess whether the cast members are lying or telling the truth. Starring Alexa & Carlos PenaVega.
3:00 PM
Mystery 101: Playing Dead
The local theater is producing a mystery that crime fiction expert Amy unearthed. When one of the actress’ life is threatened, Amy & Travis must uncover which character is playing for keeps. Stars Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha.
5:00 PM
Mystery 101: Words Can Kill
When a guest at the college book festival is killed, Amy and Travis clash after he arrests an unlikely person for murder. Amy must fight to prove he’s got the wrong person behind bars. Starring Jill Wagner and Kristoffer Polaha.
7:00 PM
Mystery 101: Dead Talk
Amy heads to Seattle to give a TED Talk-style lecture. When a tech genius dies, Amy suspects foul play. When local cops shut her out, Travis joins forces with Amy to figure out whodunit. Stars Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha.
9:00 PM
Mystery 101: An Education in Murder
A young writer’s research prompts the police to revisit a famous murder case that convicted Amy’s colleague at Elmstead, so Travis & Amy get a second chance at clearing the professor’s name. Stars Jill Wagner & Kristoffer Polaha.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
If you’re looking for a television series or movie to watch, take a look at the TV and Movies page on my Cozy Mystery site and click on a link (or more!) which will take you to my write-up of the show.
P.S. The above descriptions of the movies were copied from the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries website.
We’re just about at the end of January, so it’s time to discuss our favorite Cozies that we’ve read this month!
If you read a Cozy mystery this month and want to recommend it to the rest of us, be sure to post it here! For this month, I read the first entry of Bree Baker Seaside Cafe Mystery Series. For the reasons I want to recommend it, be sure to check out the blog entry!
So, what have you been reading that you can recommend in January? Please be sure to tell us why you liked these Cozies so much. I know we’re all always on the lookout for more particularly good Cozy Mystery authors! (If you have a lot of Cozies you think are great, please post the ones you like the most at the top of the list.)
As always, please do not tell us about the Cozy Mysteries you did not like.
What really good Cozy Mystery did you read during January 2021 that you want the rest of us to know about, and why did you enjoy it?
Bree Baker (aka Jacqueline Frost, Julie Chase, & Julie Anne Lindsey): Seaside Cafe Mystery Series
Jean-Luc Bannalec: Brittany Mystery Series (first entry Death in Brittany)
Lorna Barrett (aka L. L. Bartlett & Lorraine Bartlett): Booktown Mystery Series
M. C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series
S J Bennett: Queen Elizabeth II Mystery Series (first entry The Windsor Knot)
Bethany Blake: Owl & Crescent Mystery Series
Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Sereis
Ellen Byron (aka Maria DiRico): Cajun Country Mystery Series
Maia Chance: Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery Series
Jane K. Cleland: Josie Prescott Mystery Series
Cate Conte (aka Liz Mugavero): Witch Hunt
Jana DeLeon: Miss Fortune Mystery Series
Victoria Gilbert: Book Lover’s B&B Mystery Series
Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series
Sherry Harris: Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery Series
Lis Howell: Norbridge Chronicles Murder Mystery Series (first entry The Flower Arranger at All Saints)
Miranda James (aka Dean James, Jimmie Ruth Evans, & Honor Hartman): Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series
Jassy Macenzie: Jade de Jong Series (first entry Random Violence)
Edith Maxwell (aka Maddie Day & Tace Baker): Quaker Midwife Mystery Series
G. A. McKevett: Savannah Reid Mystery Series
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Library Lover’s Mystery Series
Richard Osman: Thursday Murder Club Mystery Series (first entry The Thursday Murder Club)
Louise Penny: Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery Series
Angela M Sanders: Witch Way Librarian Cozy Mystery Series (first entry Bait and Witch)
Katharine Schellman: Lily Adler Mystery Series (first entry The Body in the Garden)
Paige Shelton: Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series
Karen Rose Smith: Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series
Dorothy St. James: White House Gardener Mystery Series AND Beloved Bookroom Mystery Series
Lee Strauss: Ginger Gold Mystery Series (first entry Murder on the SS Rosa)
A M Stuart: Harriet Gordon Mystery Series (first entry Singapore Sapphire)
Leann Sweeney: Cats In Trouble Mystery Series
I will list the authors and series that have been recommended, but I urge you to read the comments below so you can see the reasons other Cozy Mystery readers thought these were their best reads of the month.
♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦
P.S. I usually don’t comment on your recommendations since they speak for themselves.
Finally, the shortest month of the year is upon us. For me, this means that the holidays are very much over! In our household our birthdays all fall from November to the end of January, so gift-giving is over for this year, as well as baking birthday cakes and holiday pies. (The cakes are from box mixes and the pies are from the freezer, so there truthfully isn’t that much to either of them.)
As I am getting the Turner Classic Movies channel’s mystery movies list together, it seems to me that there are quite a few science fiction movies on their roster. I’m not going to list them, but if you like those types of movies make sure to take a look at the channel’s guide online. I happen to like them, especially the older ones – the cornier the better. (Weird, huh?)
Also, on the second there will be a whole lot of cold-weather movies being shown in the morning followed by hot-weather-destination movies in the afternoon. But the best part of the day is when they will air several film noirs at the end of the day. The tenth seems to be devoted to movies about divorces. Who knew there were so many of these movies?! And then, the day after Valentine’s Day TCM is focusing on jealousy between couples.
***** ***** ***** *****
***** ***** ***** *****
2:00 AM
Live Flesh (1997)
Victor goes to meet Elena for a date. Elena, uninterested, tells Victor to leave the apartment before her dealer gets there. Their ensuing argument and struggle draw the attention of policemen Sancho and David. As Elena flees, her gun goes off, paralyzing David. Six years later, Victor gets out of jail and begins having an affair with Sancho’s wife. This movie is in Spanish and is based on Ruth Rendell’s novel of the same name.
Dir: Pedro Almodóvar Actors: Angela Molina, Penélope Cruz, Mariola Fuentes, Liberto Rabal
100 mins
9:00 AM
After Office Hours (1935)
A society newspaperwoman tries to prove to her editor that she can crack a murder case.
Dir: Robert Z. Leonard Actors: Constance Bennett, Clark Gable, Stuart Erwin
75 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
8:00 PM
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
A frustrated wife seduces a drifter into murdering her husband.
Dir: Tay Garnett Actors: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway
111 mins
10:00 PM
Force of Evil (1949)
Joe Morse, an attorney for racketeer Ben Tucker, realizes that thousands of people select the number “776” in the lotteries on Independence day and conceives of a clever scheme to fix that as the winning number on the Fourth of July, thus bankrupting the numerous numbers banks operating in the city and enabling Tucker to gain a stranglehold…
Dir: Abraham Polonsky, Robert Aldrich Actors: John Garfield, Thomas Gomez, Marie Windsor, Howland Chamberlin
88 mins
11:45 PM
He Ran All the Way (1951)
Despite having a premonition that he will forever be on the run for murdering a man, Nick Robey agrees on a plan to make some easy money with his disreputable pal, Al Molin. The two men rob a man for a company payroll at the local train yard warehouse, but before they can make their getaway, Al is killed by a policeman…
Dir: John Berry, Arnold Laven Actors: John Garfield, Shelley Winters, Wallace Ford, Selena Royle
77 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
1:15 AM
Nobody Lives Forever (1946)
A con artist falls for the rich widow he’s trying to fleece.
Dir: Jean Negulesco Actors: John Garfield, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Walter Brennan
100 mins
4:30 AM
Out of the Fog (1941)
A racketeer terrorizes a small fishing community until he falls in love with a fisherman’s daughter.
Dir: Anatole Litvak Actors: John Garfield ,Ida Lupino, Thomas Mitchell
93 mins
6:15 AM
Blackwell’s Island (1939)
A reporter gets himself sent to prison to expose a mobster.
Dir: William Mcgann Actors: John Garfield ,Rosemary Lane, Dick Purcell
71 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
2:30 AM
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
A black detective teams up with a racist white sheriff to solve a murder in a small town in the South. Over time, they begin to find respect for one another.
Dir: Norman Jewison Actors: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates
109 mins
4:30 AM
Edge of the City (1957)
An army deserter and a black dock worker join forces against a corrupt union official.
Dir: Martin Ritt Actors: John Cassavetes, Sidney Poitier, Jack Warden
85 mins
9:45 PM
Charade (1963)
A young woman returns home from vacation to find her elegant apartment stripped and her husband murdered.
Dir: Stanley Donen Actors: Cary Grant , Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau
114 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
2:30 AM
Ball of Fire (1942)
At the Daniel S. Totten Foundation in New York, Bertram Potts, a somber, dedicated linguistics professor, oversees the writing of an encyclopedia, on which he and his eight uniquely qualified colleagues have been toiling for nine years. When their financial backer, Miss Totten, drops by the foundation and threatens to withdraw her support, Bertram…
Dir: Howard Hawks, William Tummel Actors: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oscar Homolka, Henry Travers
111 mins
*****This isn’t a mystery movie, but if you’re a fan of Barbara Stanwyck – this comedy is for you!*****
4:30 AM
The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947)
A woman slowly discovers that her artist husband is a deranged killer.
Dir: Peter Godfrey Actors: Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck, Alexis Smith
99 mins
9:30 AM
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960)
A small-time thief kills his way to the top of the New York rackets.
Dir: Budd Boetticher Actors: Ray Danton, Karen Steele, Elaine Stewart
101 mins
4:30 PM
Chandler (1971)
A former private eye lands in hot water when he agrees to protect a government witness.
Dir: Paul Magwood Actors: Warren Oates, Leslie Caron, Alex Dreier
88 mins
6:15 PM
Badlands (1973)
A teenager from a dead-end town decides to join a charming older boy on his shooting spree through Montana’s badlands.
Dir: Terrence Malick Actors: Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Warren Oates
95 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
2:30 PM
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
The legendary sleuth becomes involved with a mysterious French woman while investigating the Loch Ness monster.
Dir: Billy Wilder Actors: Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, Irene Handl
125 mins
6:30 PM
Rope (1948)
Two wealthy young men try to commit the perfect crime by murdering a friend.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Actors: Dick Hogan, John Dall, Farley Granger
80 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
12:00 AM
The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
In November, 1947, a dizzy, sweating Sheila Bennet returns to New York City from Cuba. She checks into a cheap hotel and phones her husband, Matt Krane, who warns her to stay away from their apartment in case it is under surveillance by treasury agents. Unknown to Sheila, Matt is having an affair with her sister Francie…
Dir: Earl Mcevoy, James Nicholson Actors: Evelyn Keyes, Charles Korvin, William Bishop, Dorothy Malone
79 mins
1:45 AM
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
On one of the hottest days of August 1972, three amateur bank robbers plan to hold up a Brooklyn bank. A nice simple robbery: Walk in, take the money, and run. Unfortunately, the supposedly uncomplicated heist suddenly becomes a bizarre nightmare as everything that could go wrong does.
Dir: Sidney Lumet Actors: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Carol Kane
130 mins
10:00 AM
The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
In November, 1947, a dizzy, sweating Sheila Bennet returns to New York City from Cuba. She checks into a cheap hotel and phones her husband, Matt Krane, who warns her to stay away from their apartment in case it is under surveillance by treasury agents. Unknown to Sheila, Matt is having an affair with her sister Francie…
Dir: Earl Mcevoy, James Nicholson Actors: Evelyn Keyes, Charles Korvin, William Bishop, Dorothy Malone
79 mins
5:45 PM
The Birds (1963)
An immense flock of birds descends upon a seacoast town, makes it their nesting ground, and begins to attack and kill the townsfolk.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Actors: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy
120 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
11:30 AM
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
A frustrated wife seduces a drifter into murdering her husband.
Dir: Tay Garnett Actors: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway
111 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
7:45 AM
Crossfire (1947)
A crusading district attorney investigates the murder of a Jewish man.
Dir: Edward Dmytryk Actors: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan
85 mins
9:15 AM
The Woman on the Beach (1947)
A coast guardsman begins to think his mistress’s blind husband can really see.
Dir: Jean Renoir Actors: Joan Bennett, Robert Ryan, Charles Bickford
71 mins
10:30 AM
Act of Violence (1949)
An embittered veteran tracks down a POW camp informer.
Dir: Fred Zinnemann Actors: Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh
82 mins
12:00 PM
The Set-Up (1949)
An aging boxer defies the gangsters who’ve ordered him to throw his last fight.
Dir: Robert Wise Actors: Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias
72 mins
3:00 PM
The Secret Fury (1950)
The wedding of Ellen and David is halted by a stranger who insists that the bride is already married to someone else. Though the flabbergasted Ellen denies the charge, the interloper produces enough evidence that his accusation must be investigated. Ellen and David travel to the small coastal town where her first wedding allegedly occurred.
Dir: Mel Ferrer Actors: Claudette Colbert, Robert Ryan, Jane Cowl
85 mins
6:00 PM
Clash by Night (1952)
An embittered woman seeks escape in marriage, only to fall for her husband’s best friend.
Dir: Fritz Lang Actors: Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert Ryan
104 mins
9:45 PM
Body and Soul (1947)
In New York City, Charley Davis, the middleweight champion of the world, wakes up from a nightmare screaming the name “Ben,” then visits his mother, telling her that Ben died that day.
Dir: Robert Rossen, Robert Aldrich Actors: John Garfield, Lilli Palmer, Hazel Brooks, Anne Revere
105 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
8:00 PM
Moonrise (1948)
When his wife becomes ill, Virginian Jeb Hawkins phones a doctor, but the doctor refuses to visit her, saying that her condition is not serious. Shortly thereafter, she dies, causing Jeb to lose control and kill the doctor.
Dir: Frank Borzage, Lee Lukather Actors: Dane Clark, Gail Russell, Ethel Barrymore, Allyn Joslyn
90 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
4:00 AM
Vertigo (1958)
A detective falls for the mysterious woman he’s been hired to tail.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Actors: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes
128 mins
6:15 AM
Rear Window (1954)
A photographer with a broken leg uncovers a murder while spying on the neighbors in a nearby apartment building.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Actors: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey
112 mins
6:00 PM
Party Girl (1958)
A showgirl and a crooked lawyer try to break with a powerful mob boss.
Dir: Nicholas Ray Actors: Robert Taylor, Cyd Charisse, Lee J. Cobb
99 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
6:30 PM
Rage in Heaven (1941)
A jealous man plots to fake his death and incriminate his wife’s suspected lover.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke Ii Actors: Robert Montgomery, Ingrid Bergman, George Sanders
82 mins
8:00 PM
In Cold Blood (1967)
Two vagrants try to outrun the police after committing a savage crime in this real-life shocker.
Dir: Richard Brooks Actors: Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe
134 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
6:15 PM
The Front Page (1931)
A crusading newspaper editor tricks his retiring star reporter into covering one last case.
Dir: Lewis Milestone Actors: Adolph Menjou, Pat O’brien, Mary Brian
101 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
1:15 PM
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
Young Charlie is a small-town girl consumed with finding out whether her unhinged Uncle Charlie is a serial killer.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Actors: Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, Macdonald Carey
108 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
12:00 AM
Native Son (1951)
In Chicago’s “black belt,” where nearly half a million African Americans are crowded in…
Dir: Pierre Chenal Actors: Jean Wallace, Richard Wright, Nicholas Joy
105 mins
10:00 AM
Native Son (1951)
In Chicago’s “black belt,” where nearly half a million African Americans are crowded in…
Dir: Pierre Chenal Actors: Jean Wallace, Richard Wright, Nicholas Joy
105 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
1:15 PM
Adam’s Rib (1949)
A happily-married, middle-aged husband and wife strain their marriage while serving as trial attorneys on opposite sides of the same headline-making attempted murder-marital case. He is the prosecutor, and she is the defender.
Dir: George Cukor Actors: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday
101 mins
*****Not so much a mystery movie, but it is a fun movie to watch.*****
***** ***** ***** *****
6:45 AM
Cast a Dark Shadow (1955)
A wife-killer marries an innocent barmaid and plots her death.
Dir: Lewis Gilbert Actors: Margaret Lockwood, Dirk Bogarde, Kay Walsh
85 mins
8:15 AM
Libel (1959)
A former POW is accused of being an impostor.
Dir: Anthony Asquith Actors: Dirk Bogarde,Olivia De Havilland,Paul Massie
100 mins
11:45 AM
Victim (1961)
A closeted lawyer risks his career to bring a blackmailer to justice.
Dir: Basil Dearden Actors: Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms, Dennis Price
100 mins
3:45 PM
Our Mother’s House (1967)
Afraid of being separated, a family of children keep their mother’s death a secret.
Dir: Jack Clayton Actors: Dirk Bogarde, Margaret Brooks, Pamela Franklin
105 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
5:30 PM
Mrs. O’Malley and Mr. Malone (1950)
A lawyer and a widow encounter murder on a train ride.
Dir: Norman Taurog Actors: Marjorie Main, James Whitmore, Ann Dvorak
69 mins
10:00 PM
A Soldier’s Story (1984)
A black army attorney is sent to an all-black army camp during World War II to investigate the murder of a sergeant and sees first hand the racial strife between the black soldiers and the white officers who run the boot camp.
Dir: Norman Jewison Actors: Howard E Rollins, Adolph Caesar, Denzel Washington, Dennis Lipscomb
101 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
11:45 AM
Their Big Moment (1934)
A phony psychic conjures up a real ghost who asks her to solve his murder.
Dir: James Cruze Actors: Zasu Pitts, Slim Summerville, William Gaxton
68 mins
1:00 PM
Miracles for Sale (1939)
A magician turns detective to investigate murder and a phony seance.
Dir: Tod Browning Actors: Robert Young, Florence Rice, Frank Craven
71 mins
2:15 PM
Fingers at the Window (1942)
A magician uses hypnosis to create an army of murderers.
Dir: Charles Lederer Actors: Lew Ayres, Laraine Day, Basil Rathbone
80 mins
8:00 PM
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
A Korean War hero doesn’t realize he’s been programmed to kill by the enemy.
Dir: John Frankenheimer Actors: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh
126 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
4:00 AM
Out of Bounds (1986)
Daryl Cage’s parents think that he will have a better life if he leaves the family farm and goes to live with his brother in the city. So Daryl makes the trip, but when there is a baggage mix up at the airport, he finds that he has gotten a bag full of drugs. When the ruthless dealer tracks Daryl down and murders his brother…
Dir: Richard Tuggle, James M Arnett Actors: Raymond J Barry, Ted Gehring, Jerry Levine, Kevin Mccorkle
93 mins
1:45 PM
12 Angry Men (1957)
A jury holdout tries to convince his colleagues to vote not guilty.
Dir: Sidney Lumet Actors: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley
95 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
12:00 AM
Odds Against Tomorrow (1959)
In New York City, David Burke, a former policeman who once served a prison sentence, asks bigoted Southern tough guy Earl Slater to rob a bank with him, promising him $50,000 in small bills if the robbery is successful. Earl is reluctant to accept Burke’s proposal but feels he needs the money to support his live-in girl friend, Lorry.
Dir: Robert Wise, Charles Maguire Actors: Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, Shelley Winters, Ed Begley
95 mins
10:00 AM
Odds Against Tomorrow (1959)
In New York City, David Burke, a former policeman who once served a prison sentence, asks bigoted Southern tough guy Earl Slater to rob a bank with him, promising him $50,000 in small bills if the robbery is successful. Earl is reluctant to accept Burke’s proposal but feels he needs the money to support his live-in girl friend, Lorry.
Dir: Robert Wise, Charles Maguire Actors: Harry Belafonte, Robert Ryan, Shelley Winters, Ed Begley
95 mins
***** ***** ***** *****
If you’re really looking forward to these or other mystery-themed tv specials coming up in February, be sure to leave a comment below!
In case you’re interested in seeing the rest of this month’s television mystery movies, here’s the January 2021 television mystery movies schedule:
Upcoming Television Mystery Movies for January 2021 on Turner Classic Movies channel
And here is the page on my site with plenty of entries about movies and television shows you may enjoy:
Cozy Mystery List TV and Movie Section – all you have to do is click on the link to go to that page on my site.
