The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost (2023)

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April was a dry month as far as new Hallmark mysteries go. I was spoiled with having new ones in each of the previous three months of the year and I was devastated that my birthday month had no new ones. What were they thinking???

However, this month we get two new mysteries! Okay, all is forgiven, Hallmark. The first of the two premiered last Friday, May 12th at 9pm eastern time on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries - The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost. It is based on the book series by Katherine K. Beck, the Jane Da Silva Mysteries, which I have not read.

Jane Da Silva (Jodie Sweetin) is living a glamorous life as a singer in Paris. She receives word from Detective John Cameron (Stephen Huszar) that her uncle who was living in Baltimore, Maryland has passed away. Jane travels to Baltimore to be with her aunt, Sadie (Paris Jefferson). It is then that Jane learns her uncle chose her to take over a foundation he led while in retirement. The foundation's purpose is to solve old cases and provide closure for people who need it.

Jane is reluctant to take on this new role as a detective until she is approached by a teenager who wants to find answers involving the death of her mom several years earlier. The death was ruled a suicide, but Lia (Danielle Smith) believes something else happened to her mother. The mystery is actually two-fold, as there is also the question about an inheritance Lia's mother had received before she died. Jane sees a bit of herself in Lia and agrees to take on this case. 

This is a solid start to what I hope becomes a long-running series of movies. In fact, it is my favorite movie of the year so far. The role of Jane Da Silva is perfect for Jodie Sweetin. She's always been one of my favorite Hallmark stars. Hopefully the Jane Mysteries is the beginning of a franchise for her as the amateur sleuth. This was a great way to combine her real-life love and talent for singing with her love and talent for acting. 

All of the main characters are a joy to watch. Sadie is a quirky and supportive aunt who happens to have some delightful resources to help Jane go undercover when needed, and Detective John Cameron is a supportive detective. Yes, you heard me right. He is actually supportive of Jane's efforts to solve cases. Having the detective support the amateur sleuth in cozy mysteries in books and television is almost unheard of. They are usually at odds with each other. This was a refreshing departure from that. Also, while it's too early for a romance to really take off, I see a lot of potential between Jane and John. I felt their chemistry, especially close to the end of the movie. 

About an hour into the movie I was certain I identified the culprit, though I didn't know why this person committed the crime. It was fun to see it all unfold. While I was partially right about the whodunnit, there was more to it than I originally thought. I like to be surprised like that.

I am so happy Stephen Huszar has taken on the role of Detective John Cameron. I saw him in another Hallmark movie this year, Love in Glacier National: A National Park Romance. It's the only Hallmark movie I've ever given only one star. I did not like Stephen Huszar in that movie. (I really didn't like much about that movie at all.) On the contrary, he really shines in Inheritance Lost. This is only the second Hallmark movie this year I've given five stars. The other one was Unexpected Grace.

I was hooked on The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost from the very beginning of the movie, partly because it takes place in my home state (though I don't think it was filmed here). I went to college in Baltimore and the city was also the last place I saw my best friend who passed away in 2010. So Baltimore will always hold a special place in my heart. But it's everything else about the movie that held my interest until the very end, and then left me wanting more. Jane isn't a perfect detective. She makes mistakes, but I'm okay with that. She's not a professional and she's just now learning the ropes. However, I see room for her to grow, especially since she has a supportive aunt and a supportive detective.

The end of the movie gave the indication that there is potential to make this a series. I really hope that's what it becomes. I applaud Hallmark for giving us new cozy mysteries that are all so very different from each other. They really hit a homerun with The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost.

Did you watch The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost? If so, what did you think of it?