Review

"Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play – Where Murder Meets Mistletoe (Sort Of)"

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Nancy Drew grew up, joined a book club, and decided to solve crimes while wearing cardigans, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play is here to answer that very specific question. Released in 2019, this Hallmark movie is the 15th installment in the Aurora Teagarden series, which is impressive because most of us can’t even commit to a gym membership for 15 months, let alone 15 movies.

The plot revolves around Aurora Teagarden (played by the ever-charming Candace Cameron Bure), a librarian-turned-amateur sleuth who stumbles upon a murder during a community theater production. Yes, you read that right—community theater. Because nothing screams “danger” like a group of overly enthusiastic locals performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a high school auditorium. The victim? A wealthy businessman with more enemies than a reality TV villain. The suspects? Everyone, including the guy who probably just wanted to steal the spotlight (and maybe the prop sword).

Now, if you’re expecting Knives Out levels of suspense, you’re in the wrong place. This is a Hallmark movie, which means the murder weapon is more likely to be a candlestick than a chainsaw, and the most intense moment is when Aurora has to choose between two love interests (spoiler: she’ll probably pick the one who brings her a pumpkin spice latte). But hey, that’s the charm of Hallmark movies—they’re like a warm blanket, except sometimes there’s a dead body under it.

What sets A Very Foul Play apart from your typical Hallmark holiday movies (you know, the ones where everyone falls in love while decorating Christmas trees and drinking cocoa) is its commitment to cozy crime. There’s no gore, no swearing, and definitely no one questioning why a librarian is allowed to investigate murders instead of, say, the police. It’s the perfect movie for when you want to feel like a detective without having to leave your couch or put on pants.

In conclusion, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Very Foul Play is a delightful blend of mystery, small-town charm, and questionable detective work. It’s not going to win any Oscars, but it might win your heart—or at least make you laugh at how casually everyone reacts to murder in this town. If you’re a fan of Hallmark movies, cozy mysteries, or just really love cardigans, this one’s for you. Just don’t expect it to replace your annual binge of Hallmark holiday movies. After all, nothing beats a good old-fashioned Christmas love story… unless it involves a dead body in a Santa suit.