Review

Past Malice: An Emma Fielding Mystery – Archaeology, Murder, and a Shovel Full of Hallmark Charm

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Indiana Jones traded his whip for a sensible cardigan and a penchant for stumbling into murder scenes, Hallmark Channel movies have the answer: Past Malice: An Emma Fielding Mystery. Because nothing says romance and lighthearted intrigue like an archaeologist who can't dig up an ancient artifact without also unearthing a fresh corpse.

In the grand tradition of Hallmark movies mixing cozy careers with totally casual homicides, Emma Fielding (Courtney Thorne-Smith) is an archaeologist who’s just trying to lecture about old pottery without tripping over a dead body. But this is the Hallmark Channel, where no job is safe from murder-adjacent hobbies. Whether you're running a bookstore, baking cupcakes, or in Emma's case, excavating ancient ruins, you’re bound to find yourself solving crimes with absolutely no formal training but plenty of charming intuition.

This time around, Emma is invited to a historic castle-like estate—because of course there’s an ominous, drafty mansion involved—to authenticate some ancient artifacts. But wouldn't you know it, before she can even dust off her first relic, someone ends up mysteriously dead. At this point, Emma should probably start charging a murder consultant fee on top of her archaeology gigs.

Enter FBI Special Agent Jim Conner (James Tupper), whose primary job seems to be rolling his eyes at Emma's constant interference while secretly appreciating her relentless amateur sleuthing. Their chemistry is textbook Hallmark Channel movies: lots of banter, lingering glances, and the occasional moment where they’re trapped in a dark hallway with nothing but flashlights and unresolved romantic tension.

The plot unfolds with all the subtlety of a trowel hitting bedrock. There are hidden passages, ancient secrets, and a list of suspects longer than Emma’s dissertation. But let’s be real—if you’ve seen enough Hallmark movies, you know exactly who the killer is by the 25-minute mark. It's always the least suspicious person with a vague backstory and an overly dramatic reaction to mundane questions like, “So, how did you know the victim?”

Of course, no Hallmark Channel movie would be complete without the classic “dangerous but non-lethal confrontation” scene, where Emma, armed with nothing but her archaeological wits and maybe a decorative candlestick, faces off with the killer. Don't worry—Jim will show up just in time to save the day, and they’ll share a meaningful look that screams, “We might kiss by the next movie, but let's not rush things.”

By the time the credits roll, the murder is solved, the artifacts are authenticated, and Emma has somehow avoided both jail time and professional consequences for meddling in yet another crime scene. But that’s the beauty of Hallmark movies—no matter how many bodies pile up, there’s always time for a warm cup of tea and a charming smile.

So, if you like your murder mysteries light on gore, heavy on charm, and served with a side of archaeological banter, Past Malice: An Emma Fielding Mystery will dig up exactly what you’re looking for. And if Emma finds another body in the next movie? Well, let’s just say it’s past malice at this point—it’s practically her side hustle.