Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New (2023)

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Note: To read my review of Real Murders and A Bone to Pick, by Charlaine Harris, click here. Those are the first two books in the Aurora Teagarden mystery series. Within that review of both stories, there is also a link to my overall review of the first 18 movies in Hallmark's Aurora Teagarden franchise.

Last year, I binged all 18 movies in Hallmark's Aurora Teagarden franchise for the first time. While some movies are better than others, there isn't a movie in the series I disliked. It became one of my favorite movies series and I was sad when it ended. 

Little did I know, less than a year after I binged the franchise, Hallmark would find a way to bring it back with Something New.

Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New is set in 2008 and follows the same core characters we grew to love in the original series. Roe (now played by Skyler Samuels) has graduated from college and returns home to Lawrenceton to work on her master's degree. She is a teaching assistant, as well as a waitress at a diner. She is living with her mother, Aida (continued to be played by the lovely and talented, Marilu Henner). Her old friend, Arthur (now played by Evan Roderick), is a police officer. Roe is also joined by her best friend, Sally (now played by Kalya Heller). Sally is preparing for her wedding, but things go awry when some strange events begin to happen and the groom, Matt (Madison Smith), goes missing before the big day after a dead body is found. Roe begins sleuthing, which she promises will not become a habit. (LOL).

This movie had a tough act to follow in more than one way. Firstly, the original Aurora Teagarden franchise is one of the most beloved movie series in the world of Hallmark mysteries, so much so that there are more movies than there are books. Secondly,  the cancelation of several older mysteries have caused many fans to lose faith. Skyler Samuels alone had a gargantuan task ahead of her following in the footsteps of Candance Cameron Bure.

So how did this movie do with such a tough assignment? For me, it definitely delivered in every way possible. I could tell Hallmark really put a lot of thought and effort into making this movie. It's the perfect balance of paying homage to the original series, while also making it its own. Dare I say, I actually like this version of the Aurora Teagarden character more than I did the original one? Yes, I dare say I do. I can't say I liked the rest of the cast more or less. They are just different to me, but equally likeable as the originals. 

Think back to who you were in 2008. Were you exactly the same as you are now or have you changed? I know I have changed a lot. I am not the same person I was 15 years ago. Neither are the characters in this movie. It's real life. People change over time. 

As for the mystery, there was more than one layer and I loved that about it. The icing on the cake was that I did not figure out who the killer was. I thought about that person for half a second maybe, but then convinced myself it couldn't be them. When I found out it was in fact that person, I was surprised, and yet it also made sense.

I really enjoyed this prequel and I hope it continues with more movies. I want to see how these characters grow and I'm interested in the mysteries they will solve (because we all know in cozy mysteries the mystery is always solved). I also want to see how their relationships develop. Even as a fan of the original movies, I am already completely on board with the prequel.

What are your thoughts on the Aurora Teagarden franchise, both old and new?