Review

"A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery – Where Murder Tastes Like Sugar and Suspicion is Iced to Perfection"

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a baker with a penchant for solving crimes stumbled into a Hallmark movie, A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery is here to answer that very specific question. Released in 2024, this film is the latest installment in the Hannah Swensen franchise, and it’s everything you’d expect from a cozy mystery wrapped in the warm, buttery embrace of Hallmark movies. Think Murder, She Baked, but with more frosting and fewer consequences for eating evidence.

The plot is as predictable as a Hallmark holiday movie’s happy ending, but with a dash of murder to spice things up. Hannah Swensen (played by the ever-charming Alison Sweeney) is back in her quaint hometown, running her bakery, The Cookie Jar, and somehow always finding herself in the middle of a homicide investigation. This time, a local food critic drops dead after eating one of Hannah’s signature red velvet cupcakes. Was it the frosting? The sprinkles? Or just bad luck? Spoiler alert: it’s never the sprinkles.

The film is a delightful mix of small-town charm, amateur sleuthing, and baked goods that look so good you’ll wish your TV came with a snack dispenser. The supporting cast is a who’s who of Hallmark regulars, including the obligatory love interest (a ruggedly handsome detective who somehow never gets annoyed that Hannah keeps tampering with his crime scenes) and a quirky best friend who provides comic relief and questionable fashion advice.

What sets A Sprinkle of Deceit apart from your typical Hallmark holiday movies is its willingness to lean into the absurdity of its premise. Yes, Hannah solves crimes while whipping up batches of cookies. Yes, the town’s entire police force seems to rely on her for leads. And yes, there’s a scene where she deduces the killer’s identity based on the way they stir their coffee. It’s ridiculous, but it’s also ridiculously entertaining.

The film’s pacing is as smooth as Hannah’s cream cheese frosting, and the mystery, while not exactly Agatha Christie-level, is engaging enough to keep you guessing. Plus, there’s a subplot involving a bake-off that will make you question why you’ve never entered one yourself. (Note: If you do, maybe avoid serving your cupcakes to food critics.)

In the end, A Sprinkle of Deceit is the cinematic equivalent of a warm cookie fresh out of the oven: comforting, familiar, and just sweet enough to make you forget about the real world for 90 minutes. It’s not going to win any Oscars, but it’s perfect for a cozy night in, especially if you’re a fan of Hallmark movies or just really like baked goods. Just don’t watch it on an empty stomach—trust me, you’ll regret it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 sprinkles. Would watch again, preferably with a plate of cookies.