Best Hallmark Mysteries of 2023
Hallmark has a history of creating cozy mysteries that we love. Full of clever amateur sleuths, fun hobbies, and the potential for romance, we look forward to every premiere. 2023 presented us with new cozy mystery series and returning favorites.
From a ghostly musician to tangos to delicious desserts, there was a lot to enjoy this year!
Here are our top 13 Hallmark Cozy Mysteries from 2023:
13. A Lifelong Love
Description:
In A Lifelong Love, Annika (played by Andrea Brooks) teams up with her college sweetheart Ryan (played by Patch May) to track down her grandfather Abe’s (played by Tom Young) first love.
Why we love it:
If you’re looking for a non-murderous mystery, this is a sweet case to crack. We love watching Annika and Ryan’s relationship bloom as we root for them to find answers for her grandfather.
Not currently streaming. Keep an eye on the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Schedule for its next air time.
12. The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost
Description:
In The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost, Singer Jane Da Silva (played by Jodie Sweetin) returns to her hometown after her uncle’s death when she inherits The Foundation, a charity detective agency that seeks to right wrongs. Though she doubts her abilities during her first case, Jane agrees to help a teenage girl get answers about her mother’s missing money and supposed suicide fifteen years ago. With the help of her Aunt Sadie (played by Paris Jefferson) and Detective John Cameron (played by Stephen Huszar,), she might just solve this cold case.
Why we love it:
Though it has a less-than-clever series name, we love seeing Jodie Sweetin in this role. It’s fun to hear Jane singing on stage, and the costumes for going undercover are to die for!
11. Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New
Description:
In Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New, (a prequel to the existing Aurora Teagarden Mysteries), we meet young Aurora “Ro” Teagarden (played by Skyler Samuels) as she returns to Lawrenceton to earn her postgraduate degree, involving her passion for true crime books. During her time as maid-of-honor for her best friend, Sally (played by Kayla Heller), she encounters her first mystery.
Why we love it:
With the original actress (Candace Cameron Bure) leaving Hallmark, a prequel seemed like a smart way to continue the beloved franchise. It’s a lot of fun to see young versions of the characters (including Marilu Henner still playing Aurora’s mother Aida) and catch the Easter egg clues of what we know will happen later in the series.
10. Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
Description:
In Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (film number seven in the series - though they changed titles from “Murder, She Baked” to “Hannah Swensen Mysteries” at installment six when Hannah makes a decision about her love triangle), Hannah (played by Alison Sweeney) is happy to bake sweets for a surprise party but comes across her own surprise when she stumbles across a skeleton.
Determined to solve the case, Hannah begins investigating, though is causes some problems for her detective fiance, Mike Kingston (played by Cameron Mathison) at work.
Why we love it:
The Hannah Swensen Mysteries / “Murder, She Baked” series are the exemplification of cozy mysteries and we love them for it. We always enjoy seeing Hannah baking and sleuthing. The finding of a skeleton to kick-start the investigation was exciting and we loved going along for the ride.
The only thing we didn’t love was some uncertainty in the romance, which was probably only amplified by the horrendously worse cliffhanger in the Mystery 101 series. (Have you seen our feelings on this cancellation? Check out our YouTube.) Luckily, Hannah Swensen Mysteries continues with another film in Zest for Death.
9. Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows
Description:
In Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows, amateur sleuth and amazing caterer, Goldy Berry (played by Nikki Deloach) is baking for a lavish wedding that just so happens to be for Detective Tom Schultz’s (played by Andrew W. Walker) ex-wife. When the groom is found dead, Tom winds up as a suspect. Goldy must find the real killer to clear his name and find the missing bride.
Why we love it:
With Tom being considered a person of interest, it made him more open to Goldy’s techniques and it was a joy to watch them investigate together. We loved seeing Tom forced to help in the kitchen, and Detective Mason’s heartfelt attempts to help.
8. Mystery on Mistletoe Lane
Description:
Mystery on Mistletoe Lane follows Heidi Wicks (played by Erica Cerra), a recently divorced woman who moves to New Hollow, a small town in New England, for a fresh start with her children and to accept the role of director at the local historical center. However, former director David (played by Victor Webster) is still involved with the historic society and isn’t very impressed with her Christmas-themed ideas.
If figuring David out wasn’t enough of a puzzle, Heidi and her children start to uncover trinkets and riddles throughout their new historic home. With clues starting to lead them to uncover what “Mistletoe Manor” is, the family finds a holiday mystery on their hands.
Why we love it:
If you’re looking for a mystery that is cute, cozy, and Christmas-themed, this is the one to go to! It’s a very festive film, but contains a sweet mystery that is relevant to the characters.
Interested in other Christmas mysteries? Here are the 2023 Hallmark Christmas Mystery Premieres that have something mysterious amid the holly-jolly-ness.
7. Mystery Island
Description:
In Mystery Island, psychiatrist Dr. Emilia Priestly (played by Elizabeth Henstridge) agrees to accompany her eccentric friend Baroness Jane Alcott (played by Kezia Burrows) on vacation to an immersive murder-mystery-themed island. When a real murder occurs, Emilia and the other players help and hinder the real detective (played by Charlie Weber) in his search for the killer.
Why we love it:
The premise of a murder mystery themed resort on a tropical island is a premise we can get behind and place we wish we could really visit! We found the baroness hilarious and her enthusiasm infectious. It was also fun to figure out the “real crime” behind the fictional one on the island.
Not currently streaming. Keep an eye on the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Schedule for its next air time.
6. Curious Caterer: Grilling Season
Description:
In this second installment of the “Curious Caterer” franchise, Grilling Season, Goldy Berry (played by Nikki Deloach) caters a lavish barbecue for a friend and is devastated when the grill explodes later that night and kills the host. With Goldy’s professional reputation on the line and a need to find justice for her friend when she suspects this was not an accident, this curious caterer begins investigating. While Detective Tom Schultz (played by Andrew W. Walker) might not appreciate her interference again, he can’t deny her charm.
Why we love it:
There is great chemistry between the main actors and Goldy’s tenacity and talent in the kitchen are a delight to watch. Also, using a grill is a pretty ingenious murder method!
5. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major
Description:
In Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major, Gethsemane Brown (played by Tamera Mowry-Housley) moves to Ireland to accept a music teacher and choral leader position at a prep school. While there, she discovers that the house she is renting is haunted by the ghost of a musician, Eamon McCarthy (played by Risteard Cooper), who can’t move on because he has been wrongly accused of killing himself and the woman he loved. Deciding to help her new ghostly friend, Gethsemane searched for clues to solve the case.
Why we love it:
It might be tinged with nostalgia, but we always love watching Tamera Mowry-Housley. Add to this film a charming ghost, an Irish setting, musical melodies, and a murderous cold case that keeps a spirit from moving on and there’s nothing not to like!
4. The Cases of Mystery Lane
Description:
In The Cases of Mystery Lane, a restless Alden (played by Paul Campbell) begins secretly taking private investigator lessons but then becomes entangled in a real murder mystery! He might just need to come clean and gain the help of his successful attorney wife, Birdie (played by Aimee Garcia), in order to figure out who killed her boss. Throughout the investigation, they begin to repair some of the issues with their marriage and find new excitement while working together.
Why we love it:
It’s so fun to see a married couple dealing with their relationship issues while bonding over an investigation. The two actors shine together and make us laugh throughout the mystery. It is witty and charming and no mystery why we love it.
3. A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
Description:
In A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (film number eight in the series), Hannah (played by Alison Sweeney) and Detective Mike Kingston (played by Cameron Mathison) have not moved past their recent rough patch in their relationship, but they can no longer ignore one another when Hannah and her family find a dead body while house-hunting for her sister’s new home.
Why we love it:
We love the parallel themes of second chances as Hannah tries to prove her handyman’s innocence paired with how she and Mike could repair their broken romance. Seeing Hannah’s mother Delores (played by Barbara Niven) finally get excited about sleuthing is a delight to watch, and we loved the cameo appearances of characters we haven’t seen in a while.
Not currently streaming. Keep an eye on the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Schedule for its next air time.
2. Family History Mysteries: Buried Past
Description:
In Family History Mysteries: Buried Past, genealogist Sophie McClaren (played by Janel Parrish) uses her skills to find and reunite families, but this case is personal. Sophie must now search for the long-lost father of her best friend Jonathan (played by Morgan David Jones) and old flame Jackson (played by Niall Matter) in order to get Jonathan the life-saving bone marrow transplant that he desperately needs before it’s too late.
Why we love it:
It was fun to see a mystery series without a dead body, but that still had a lot of drama. We loved the journey this case took and the backstory between the main characters, as well as the romantic subplot with Sophie’s assistant and the local coroner. This premiere has us wanting to see more!
The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango
Description:
In The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango no-nonsense Detective Bailey (played by Hallmark favorite Lacey Chabert) prefers to work alone. She’s usually very effective when she does so, but when she is sent undercover to investigate a CEO’s murder and must blend in with a senior executives ballroom dance competition, she needs a partner - and some dance lessons!
Paired with the charismatic professional dancer Sebastian Moore (played by Will Kemp), they couldn’t be more different in personality. However, together, their differing skills and fancy footwork on the floor might allow them to catch a killer.
Why we love it:
The chemistry and charm between this couple is undeniably and we loved watching them together. They make an unlikely but delightful dancing duo. The Malta location is also as exciting as the murder.
We can’t wait to see this detective and dancer team up for another mystery!