To Catch a Spy (2021)

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Since I just started watching The Hallmark Channel two years ago, I have a lot of movies to catch up on. To Catch a Spy has been on my radar and on my DVR for a while. Being travel season in real life, I thought now would be the perfect time to watch this standalone movie.

Chloe Day (Nathalie Kelley) and her team work for a destination travel magazine. Their next assignment is to cover travel in Malta, where they stay at the newly renovated Hotel Optima during their soft re-opening. While there, she also plans to spend time with a friend she hasn't seen in a while. 

Chloe is in her hotel room when, through the window, she sees a body fall to the ground.  She is especially concerned when the friend she was planning to meet up with while there goes missing. Is the body that fell to the ground that of her missing friend? And what exactly happened? Are voices she heard earlier through the vent related to the body dropping? Chloe and her team, along with FBI agent, Aaron Maxwell (Colin Donnell), who also happens to be staying at the same hotel, set out to find out what exactly happened.

I'm sad to say, this is my least favorite mystery movie I've seen on Hallmark. While the scenery was beautiful and the mystery was strong, the execution was not. Although I liked a few of the side characters, as well as Colin Donnell as the detective, I wasn't crazy about Nathalie Kelley in this role and I had a difficult time feeling chemistry among all of the characters. I think Nathalie Kelley would be better suited for the lead in a rom-com, rather than in a mystery. 

I do feel that the mystery aspect of this movie was the best part. There were several viable suspects, and unlike most Hallmark mysteries I've seen, I had no idea who the culprit was until it was revealed. A strong mystery that keeps me guessing is usually enough for me to give a movie at least four stars, but I realized in To Catch a Spy that if other ingredients, such as the acting and writing, don't come together, it doesn't work well for me. There was also a minor subplot that I found to be completely unnecessary and uninteresting. The movie would have been better without it.

This is the first Hallmark mystery where I can say I'm okay with there not being anymore to make this a series. I would certainly watch a second one if it's made, but I'm not excited to see another one. If you enjoy watching cozy mysteries and you want to get away to Malta for a while, I recommend watching To Catch a Spy. However, if you've never seen a Hallmark mystery, this is not the place to start. It does not measure up to other Hallmark mysteries I've seen. It will definitely not be a re-watch for me.

Have you seen To Catch a Spy? If so, what did you think of it?