If there’s one network that loves a screen adaptation more than most, it’s the Hallmark Channel. Officially branded in 2001, this greeting card company turned multi-network behemoth churns out original movies and series all year, every year. You may be shocked to learn, but the Hallmark Channel and all of its subsidiary networks will often adapt books and their sequels into some popular romance, holiday, and most importantly, mystery films.
As a lover of all things cozy mystery, the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries portion of the network naturally drew my eye a number of years ago. While the films may not always have the highest script or production value out there, they manage to deliver a casual, quaint watch for those looking for a dash of mystery in their watching experience.
Where Did Hallmark Mysteries Come From?
Having launched with a few procedural-style series at an earlier date – such as reruns of Magnum PI – the Hallmark Movie Channel officially announced its rebrand to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries back in October of 2014. The network kicked things off with book adaptations, initially running reruns of the Jesse Stone mysteries, detective novels based on the series by author Robert B. Parker.
RelatedHallmark Cozy Mysteries: An Enigmatic Dive
In 2015, Hallmark began airing its original mystery programming, again sticking to the cozy mystery source material with a few series to kick things off: Garage Sale Mysteries (based on the books by Suzi Weinert), Murder She Baked (based on the Hannah Swensen mysteries by Joanne Fluke), and Gourmet Detective (based on the books by Peter King).
Which Hallmark Mysteries Are Based on Books?
Cozy mysteries often feature several installments, so Hallmark would have no trouble finding source material to work from. As things picked up for the network, new mysteries often air on Sunday nights and are highly publicized by the network. Some series have become wildly successful and include several installments, while others only seem to manage one or two. But rest assured, if you’re looking for many films to wile away these early fall days, there’s no shortage of content to keep you busy.
Per a little digging, it appears that the following films or series of films on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries are based on books:
- The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries (based on the books of the same name by Charlaine Harris)
- Murder, She Baked (based on the Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke)
- The Gourmet Detective Mysteries (based on the series of the same name by Peter King)
- The Fixer Upper Mysteries (based on the series of the same name by Kate Carlisle)
- The Flower Shop Mysteries (based on the series of the same name by Kate Collins)
- The Emma Fielding Mysteries (based on the series of the same name by Dana Cameron)
- The Curious Caterer Mysteries (based on the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson)
- Family History Mysteries: Buried Past (based on Paging the Dead by Brynn Bonner)
- The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost (based on A Hopeless Case by K.K. Beck)
- Garage Sale Mysteries (based on the series of the same name by Suzi Weinert)
- Morning Show Mysteries (based on the series of the same name by Al Roker)
- The Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries (based on the series of the same name by Philip R. Craig)
- The Hailey Dean Mysteries (based on the series by Nancy Grace)
RelatedWhat Makes A Cozy Mystery?
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries: Adaptations That Lack Stakes
In spite of having so many books at their disposal, Hallmark Mysteries tend to fall into the trope of so many of their other more toothless properties. The stakes-already low in most cozy mysteries-are even lower, with the characters rarely seeming to experience any real peril.
That being said, Hallmark is a network that appeals to its base audience, and the young, squeamish, or mystery newbies are bound to find some enjoyment in what they have to offer.
Cozy mysteries are a great easy read for a fall day, and any network that chooses to capitalize on that is making the right decision to appeal to the masses. Here’s hoping that we continue to see many adaptations for years to come.
