Girls Gone Hallmark takes on The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening, the latest installment in the Hallmark Mystery series. What will Megan and Wendy think of the second movie in The Cases of Mystery Lane collection? And surely there’s more to come, right? Fans can’t be left hanging after that dramatic cliffhanger!

When can we expect a third installment of The Cases of Mystery Lane?

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About The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening – (Hallmark Mystery, 2024)

• Mike Rohl directed. With 63 directing credits, Rohl has directed several episodes of When Calls the Heart, two episodes of Signed, Sealed, Delivered, as well as the first installment of The Cases of Mystery Lane. This isn’t his only movie in the fall 2024 lineup; Rohl directed the upcoming Falling Together also starring Paul Campbell.
• Joel Dovev & Margaux Froley are the husband/wife writing team behind The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening.
• Joel Dovev has just three writing credits: these two movies, as well as a short called Bruce. IMDb also lists he is a writer on a project in development, and all it says is “Untitled Ashley Williams Kimberley Sustad Project.” Also noteworthy, Dovev was an assistant producer on the recent Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.
• Margaux Froley has six writing credits, including the Cases movies, a Lifetime movie called Let’s Get Physical with Jenna Dewan, as well as an episode of a 2008 series called Privileged, which starred JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Lucy Hale, and Ashley Newbrough. Froley is also listed as a writer on the Ashley Williams/Kimberley Sustad project.
• Aimee Garcia plays Birdie. Garcia’s TV credits include Dexter, Hulu’s WOKE, Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K., Rush Hour, Vegas, and The George Lopez Show. She also headlined a Netflix film called Christmas with You. This movie marks Garcia’s second movie for Hallmark, and it was just announced that Garcia will join the third season of Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+.
• Paul Campbell plays Alden. With Campbell’s 54 acting credits, we last saw him in last year’s Magic in Mistletoe. It’s kind of wild that it’s almost been a whole year since he’s been in a Hallmark movie. However, he has been busy. He’s got two more movies on Hallmark, including Falling Together, which airs this Saturday. He will also reprise his role as Stephan in Three Wiser Men and a Boy this holiday season.
• Matt Hamilton returns as Officer ‘Air Quotes’ Newton. Hamilton has 62 acting credits, with three non-Hallmark projects in production. He was last seen in A World Record Christmas during last year’s Countdown to Christmas. Fans in the GGH FB group are calling for Matt to step into a lead Hallmark role.
• Meghan Heffern plays Birdie’s old friend Kristen. Heffern has 69 acting credits, with roles in Betty’s Bad Luck in Love and Retreat to You. She will be seen next in Autumn at Apple Hill.
• Samantha Ferris plays podcaster Laurel St. James. With a whopping 92 acting credits, you might recognize Ferris from Hallmark faves like A Picture of Her, A Winning Team, When Calls the Heart, and Christmas Under the Stars.
• Lillian Doucet-Roche plays fellow crime podcaster Katie. She has 18 acting credits, with the last six projects being for Hallmark. She recently played Mia Cavendish in February’s Paging Mr. Darcy.
• Brandi Alexander plays yogi Wintress. Brandi is no stranger to Hallmark. She has appeared in movies like Wedding Every Weekend, Darrow & Darrow, and Christmas on Cherry Lane. No news if she will reprise her role as Daisy in the rumored sequels to Cherry Lane.
• Peter Benson makes a brief appearance as Pat. This movie marks his 170th acting credit. Benson directed the upcoming Love on the Danube: Kissing Stars, which will premiere on Hallmark+ on September 26th.

Watch the Trailer for The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening

Our Thoughts on The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening

The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening – A Girls Gone Hallmark Review

Welcome to our recap of the Hallmark movie “The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening.” This post provides a comprehensive rundown of everything we discussed in the corresponding Girls Gone Hallmark podcast episode.

What We Liked

Current and Relevant Storyline:
True crime podcasts are having an extended moment in pop culture, and this movie brilliantly employs this theme. Not only is it a nod to an ongoing trend, but it also brings the crime back to the podcaster, which was both clever and engaging.

Strong Chemistry:
Aimee Garcia and Paul Campbell were phenomenal together. Their chemistry was apparent, creating a believable and compelling married couple whose relationship dynamics were both relatable and endearing.

Comedy Elements:
The blend of comedy within the mystery plot was brilliantly executed. Paul Campbell is absolutely in his element here. His turn as a salsa instructor? Masterful!

Supporting Characters:
Officer Tom Newton, played by Matt Hamilton, was a perfect complement to Alden and Birdie. His dry humor balanced the quirky personalities of the lead characters, providing a well-rounded trio.

Touching Moments:
We appreciated the touching tribute to the victims at the end, which provided a thoughtful conclusion to the story.

Cliffhanger:
The low-stakes cliffhanger concerning Birdie’s dad was a genius move that left us wanting more without overshadowing the main plot.

What We Wished For

Recap at the Beginning:
Given that this movie is a sequel, a quick recap at the beginning would have been beneficial to refresh our memories about the character backgrounds and key plot points from the first installment.

Better Rodent Awareness:
Birdie’s surprisingly nonchalant reaction to the potential rodent issue in their house was unrealistic. We wished she had shown a bit more concern.

Did You See That?

Podcast Studio Unrealism:
All the podcasters using a studio rather than recording from home felt out of touch with reality, as most podcasters don’t have access to such professional setups. Or maybe we’re just jealous!

Mouse Scene:
Um, does Hallmark have CGI mouse budgets we don’t know about? Or did they employ a mouse trainer? Or a third option that we’re not thinking about?

Murder Victims Uniformity:
All the previous murder victims shown at the end were white males, which seemed statistically improbable and a bit too convenient for the narrative.

Monica Padman Lookalike:
One of the women shown on the murder board at the end bore a striking resemblance to Monica Padman from Armchair Expert, which left us curious about whether it was intentional or a mere coincidence.

Our Rating

Wendy – 4.5 stars

Megan – 4.75 stars

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