Picture Perfect Mysteries (2019-2020)

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May is both National Mystery Month and National Photography Month. I've had Hallmark's Picture Perfect Mysteries recorded and on my radar for a while now and I figured this was the perfect (pun not originally intended, but it's cool isn't it?) time to watch and review them. There are three movies in this series, with no plans for more to be made. I will rank the episodes according to how much I enjoyed each one.

3. Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead (Episode 1 - 2019)

Coming in at number 3 is the first movie in the series.  Just like with the Darrow and Darrow Mysteries, the pilot for the Picture Perfect Mysteries was my least favorite. In this episode Allie (Alexa PenaVega) is the photographer at a wedding. Unfortunately, the happily ever after is marred with a murder. To the dismay of Detective Sam (Carlos PenaVega), Allie is convinced she can help solve this case and she sets out to do so.

 Although the two leads, Alexa and Carlos PenaVega, are a happily married real-life couple, I often struggle to feel their on-screen chemistry. That was no different in this movie. I also felt that Detective Sam came across as unlikeable.  He clearly did not want any help from Allie. I felt like he could have been more open to her ideas. On the other hand, her actions were sometimes questionable, though quite entertaining for me as a viewer. The mystery was good. I did have a hunch who the culprit was, but I wasn't completely sure until all was revealed. The romance in the pilot was minimal, which was fine with me. 

2. Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit Stage Death (Episode 3 - 2020)

My second favorite episode was the final one in the series. The dead body of an actress is found on the opening night of a play. Detective Sam asks Allie to help with solving the crime. I liked it more than the first episode, but at least one subplot wasn't developed and a character I liked in the second movie wasn't present in the third one. Knowing that there will be no more of these mysteries, it felt incomplete.  I loved that Sam warmed up to Allie and was much less annoying than he was in the first movie. The mystery in this one was good. I thought I had it figured out and although I was close, I didn't completely solve it.

1. Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Over Diamonds (Episode 2 - 2020)

My favorite episode in the series was the second one. It centers around a mysterious theft of a valuable necklace during an art collection exhibit. I thought the mystery in this one was the strongest and I enjoyed the chemistry between Allie and Sam. Sam especially was much more light-hearted and relaxed than he was in the first movie.

Final Thoughts:

The Picture Perfect Mysteries got off to a slightly rocky start for me, but I ended up really enjoying the three movies and wishing there were more. I loved the idea of the amateur sleuth being a professional photographer. For the most part, I enjoyed the leads and the supporting cast. I liked that Sam warmed up to Allie. I gave each movie four solid mushrooms, and therefore the overall series four mushrooms, and I would likely watch them again.