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What Happened to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Cozy Mystery Movies Premieres?

I thought I’d write a quick not to tell you why I stopped posting the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel’s mystery movies. I hated to stop posting them, but I found that it took more time than it should have to find the dates and synopses of the different new mystery movies. Since I post the Upcoming Television Mystery Movies entries during the month before they air, a lot of the time I had to rely on outside sources to post the actual dates of their premieres. Perhaps the channel likes to keep us unaware of the actual airing dates of the movies so that we watch the channel hoping to find out when the movies will finally air, or possibly the channel just wants us to really anticipate the movies. (I don’t know why they use the “Coming in April” tactic, but it doesn’t work for me… I’d much rather they simply tell us when in April the movies are going to air.)

For those of you who miss finding out about these Hallmark Movies & Mysteries premieres, I suggest you look you TV listings for Sunday nights at 8:00 PM (central) to see if they will be airing a new Cozy Mystery movie. That is when they premiere their mystery movies. That’s exactly what I am doing these days, which is how I found out about:

Joanne Fluke‘s Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts premiering tonight (March 26, 2017),

Kate Carlisle‘s Concrete Evidence: A Fixer Upper Mystery premiering next Sunday night (April 2, 2017),

and Nancy Grace‘s Hailey Dean Mystery: Deadly Estate premiering Sunday, April 9, 2017.

Also, last week Charlaine Harris‘ Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery premiered. Just in case you missed it, the next showing will be tonight (March 26), right after the premiere of Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts.

Comments

  1. Yes, that makes me crazy! I just got Hallmark and would love to watch all the Murder She Baked mysteries, but their website seems so secretive about show times. I don’t get it!

    Reply

    • Karen, you would think they would want us to know when the movies air! The only thing I can think of is that they want us to feel like we need to watch their channel all of the time so we can finally find out when the movies will be on…

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    • Karen, there are on ALL OF THE TIME. I bet I’ve seen every show about 7 or 8 times. Just turn on the channel each day and U’ll see all of the Mystery series. Honest.

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    • I want to know dates of newest Hallmark Mystery Movies so I can set my recorder. I can watch them at another time. I know they replay often but I want to watch whenever it works for me…….

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  2. Thanks for giving an explanation, I’m missing you not posting it. However I totally understand and did not realize it took you so long to track down the information.

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  3. I have been on their web site several times trying to get information about movies and when they air and have found it quite frustrating! Not user friendly.

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    • Jan, when I first started posting their movies, their site was a little easier for me to find the movies. Of course, as it is with almost everything these days, they changed their site to be “new and improved” >>> which rarely is improved (at least for me!).

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  4. Thanks for posting this….I agree that you must be a “detective” to find when they air…I believe they are now scheduled thru 4/16…I love your blog!!

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  6. Thanks for these! I don’t know why they wouldn’t either, your suggestion that it could be to have people watch and try to find out seems like a good one.

    Reply

      • Hallmark has been like this since I can remember. When they blazed the trail for cable series movies by alternating Mystery Woman, the one with Leah Thompson and the one with John Larroquette, they never told you when the next one was going to be on, and they changed the name of each episode so you couldn’t set up a dvr to catch the series. After the first year I just got tired of chasing them and quit trying. I suspect had Hallmark made it easier those series would have lasted a lot longer.

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  7. Totally agree, I went to their site a couple times to see what dates and they didn’t have them, so I figure the heck with it, they usually show them a couple times, I will catch them sometime.

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      • Debbie, would you happen to know if and when they will be bringing us new Murder She Baked Mysteries and Flower Shop Mysteries? Those 2 are my favorites. I had all the Murder She Baked and 3 Flower Shop Mysteries DVR’d, but lost them all when we had to cancel our Dish subscription.

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  10. It seems things have changed on the Hallmark Channel: it is difficult to find the new movies, there are so many repeats then a new one is slipped in. You have done such a great job in posting, I think I would have given up a while ago! I have never watched a Torchy Blaine movie so I am so excited there is a marathon.
    Thanks for all you do and have a great Sunday!!

    Reply

  12. Another way is to follow the HM&M FB page or sign up for the newsletter. I noticed that there is another Aurora Teagarden movie coming out in a couple of months, I think it May? Keep your eyes open!

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  13. Danna, thanks for all your past posts about upcoming mystery movies on Hallmark Mystery Channel, and all the other upcoming mysteries (especially the classics!) that we can look forward to watching or DVRing for later! I’ve been suffering from a case of spring laziness and spent last weekend and this weekend watching nothing but the Hallmark Mystery Channel, FINALLY watching all the great mystery shows produced by Hallmark. Yesterday I discovered the “Garage Sale” mysteries and absolutely love them! I think they’re my favorite so far. I must say, I might never have discovered these movies–or the books–if it hadn’t been for you and your blog (even though the Hallmark Mystery Channel shows are advertised all the time on the Food Network and HGTV!) So thanks again!!! Now… you should just kick back and enjoy watching them!

    Reply

    • Patti B, I watch the Food Network, but since all we ever watch is Tivo-ed shows, we skip right through the ads. However, looking back, this now explains why Alison Sweeney (Hannah Swensen) was one of the judges on the Chopped Junior show. They must be sister networks.

      Have you seen Nancy Grace’s Hailey Dean yet? I enjoyed Kellie Martin in the Mystery Woman show, and am now enjoying her in this mystery movie series. (Also, it was a fun twist to see Nancy Grace in the pilot of the show…)

      P.S. You’re welcome!

      Reply

      • Danna, I saw the Hailey Dean movies on my TV “guide,” but had no idea what they were, so I didn’t bother taping them. Thanks for the heads up! I’ll set the series to tape…whenever they’re on.

        Right now I’m binging on Murder She Baked. Great shows! Also, since two episodes of Monk are now being shown each day on Hallmark Mysteries, I’m taping them and watching them after my husband goes to bed. although he did catch a couple of episodes the other day and remembered how much he loved them. In a lot of ways, Monk is very much a cozy, kind of like Poirot with a ton of quirks!

        I do think you and everyone else are right. Hallmark must be keeping schedules a big “secret” to keep viewers tuned in to their channel. Kind of a shame, but their marketing team must think this is a great idea. And like you, if one more website decides to become “new and improved,” I’ll scream! 🙂

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        • Patti B, make sure you try the Hailey Dean movies. So far they have only aired one: Murder with Love, which will be on again Friday, March 31 at 8:00 PM (central time zone).

          (Monk really is a great show. I loved Sharona (Bitty Schram) so much. She was absolutely perfect as his helper/aide.)

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          • Thanks, Danna, I’ve already set the DVR to tape the first Hailey Dean movie. Looking forward to it!

            And by the way, I added a B. after my name since I noticed posts from another Patti yesterday!

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  14. Could you still give us a heads up after they premiere, like you just did with Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery. I can always catch up to it after it airs, but I’m afraid I’ll miss it in the TV listings. Not sure why Hallmark has to make it so hard to find premiere dates on it’s site.

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  16. I retired recently and had to cut the budget so bye bye dIrect Tv, which. Meant bye bye Hallmark channel. Oh well. Not available on Netflix.

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    • Sandy, not only that, the mystery movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries don’t air on the regular Hallmark channel, which I could write about in another “rant” entry! Clearly Hallmark doesn’t have enough original content to justify two channels >>> making people subscribe to their Movies & Mysteries channel if they want to see the four original mystery movies they air (+/-) every other month.

      OK, rant over!

      Reply

  17. I’m on the East Coast, and I have Comcast. The HM&M premiers are on Sunday evenings at 9 PM. Tonight it is Murder, She Baked, but I don’t see the exact movie title. I’ll keep looking for a complete listing.

    (I just noticed another “Sharon” on this blog, so I will add an “S” to my name).

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  18. Thanks, I was wondering why you just posted the other ones.

    I enjoy the Hallmark Channels.

    I have just finished Leighann Dobbs Mystic Notch Mysteries. Loved them. I especially like the perspectives of the cats.

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    • I really enjoy those as well but I prefer actual books and I have not found any of her books in print, though I think a few may be available as Print On Demand, but at $10 to $15 each, I am holding off on buying them.

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  19. Thanks for trying. I usually have the dates but with the constant software upgrades from comcast, I can’t set the DVR for them when i am thinking of it due to it being to far out. i can’t get past 2 Apr.

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  20. I don’t know who we’d contact at Hallmark for both of their channels but it would be wonderful if we could program our DVR’s to get every new mystery or romance movie they have. If they’d start every new movie with Hallmark mystery:.. Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts
    it might work. Who to contact at Hallmark ? They’d have a much greater viewer base if they’d make it easier for us.
    Thank you for helping us in the past – sure did love your listing on the Christmas movies!!

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  21. Thank you! I’ve been waiting for another Murder She Baked movie. I can totally see why you don’t have time for this though. It’s kinda frustrating to even go to the Hallmark site and try to find out when a movie will be airing. Trying to remember if “Just Desserts” is the one they said was based on the Blueberry Muffin murder book.

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  22. Thanks for all the time and work you put into your site. I really enjoy it. Have found many new favorite authors since reading you (too many for my shelves).
    Do you think something’s changing at Hallmark? Their stores are suddenly closing all around me. I would hate to lose one of my favorite channels.

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  23. I think you have been doing a great job keeping us cozy mystery fans up-to-date on when the Hallmark version of the Cozy Mysteries are aired. I would like to be more aware of when the next Cozy mystery movie will be airing instead of waiting. I would like to preset my DVR if got other plans or make a set date to be available for the first viewing with my family. I love each one. Sadly, I have noticed that The Flower Shop Mysteries by Kate Collins, starring Brooke Shields, hasn’t been updated with a new movie lately. Is there a reason?

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    • Maggie, I was reading once on the Hallmark Facebook page where all these people were asking about the Flower Shop mysteries and if they were getting more, why weren’t they on etc. All Hallmark would comment is “We don’t have any information for you about the Flower Shop mysteries at this time.” I’m wondering if the Flower Shop mysteries just didn’t bring in the viewers that the Aurora Teagarden, Garage Sale and now Murder She Baked are bringing in, just a guess. Hallmark definitely makes it hard to figure things out sometimes.

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      • It could have something to do with the availability of the cast, too. Personally, Flower Shop Mysteries is my favorite of the cozy mysteries.

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        • Did they cancel the flower shop mystery series ? It is one of my favorites do we know if they are continued or cancelled ?

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          • Okay, this will leave you all even more unhappy.
            I read that Hallmark is setting up a new channel “Hallmark Drama” to show the movies like they did for Hallmark Hall of Fame. No idea when it starts.

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  24. Danna,

    Thank you for researching all the all Hallmark mystery movies. I agree their website can be confusing. I live in central time zone so I have to make sure I set my Direct TV DVR up in advance. I hate that Hallmark shows some of the movies one time and they are not available for on demand viewing.

    I appreciate the time you take to list the Turner classic movies. They also show some of those so early or late it can be hard to catch them.

    I also enjoy reading your cozy book lists and my to be read pile gets bigger every week. Thanks you for all your hard work on the list.

    Patrisna

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  25. whoo hoo love all of the Cozy mystery movies. I also was wondering about Brooke Shields series. wonder if it has been dropped?

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    • Annette, I doubt it was dropped. It seems like Hallmark usually shows a “batch” of these Cozy Mystery movies alternating the different series. I’m hoping they show another Gourmet Detective in the next batch…

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  26. Hi Danna,
    I don’t know if this series was mentioned before, but I came across Rikki Lake starring in the books based on Rita Mae Brown. They were made a while ago. It was called Murder she purred and I think others were made. I actually found it on You Tube. You can find a lot of things to watch on You Tube…

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  27. I really dislike the way Hallmark has their website organized. It is so hard to find out when these new movies are coming out or to find info about them. Unless you happen to be watching and a promotional commercial for one comes on.

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    • Kim, I just don’t get why they can’t afford to have an actual website-making company give their site a more professional look and feel. Of course, I don’t get why a channel like Hallmark needs to put advertisements up for other products on their website…

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  28. With the Halmark Mystery Channel, all new movies are featured Saturday and Sunday nights and usually repeated sonetime that week or month. I actually pay for the channel since I read and write cozies. There movies are so light heartened. Reminds me of my Grandma who introduced me to Agatha Christie. I would rather pay for this channel instead of a movie one.

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  29. I also get aggravated at trying to find out what movie is on Hallmark. My TV Guide list the movies but only as part of the series so you do not know if you are seeing a new movie or one you have seen. But Saturday night at 9PM I usually get a new one and on Sunday also at 9PM I am in Massachusetts.
    Now I have to tell you about a new cozy series I found: The Fat Cat series. There are three books in the series by Janet Cantrell. The characters are fun but Quincy the cat is a real Houdini .
    Enjoy I sure did

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  31. I just recently saw what I think might be a new murder mystery/series commercial starring Alison Sweany. Does this mean that Murder, She Baked is done?

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  32. Does anyone know what the status of The Gourmet Detective is? I don’t understand why Hallmark only makes a few movies of the series that people really like!

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  33. Do you think Hallmark wants us to subscribe to their pay channel and that’s why we don’t get many new shows and just get Monk and other reruns?

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  34. I enjoy all of your posts; thank you. I am sorry to say that in our home we don’t have cable channels but use the air/antennae to try and receive what we can; most time it is a fight…as you sit and watch something worthy and just as it is coming or getting to the point of interest the screen goes blank with that ‘no signal’ hovering in the middle of the screen. Most annoying, I say since the air is to be free, yet it always feel like some person around the building is unplugging of something to make the tv screen go blank with wording ‘no signal’. Happy Holidays, if I refrain from commenting again. Stay healthy and safe, please.

    Reply

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