User Reviews

Fun light show to watch but the wig they have on Candace Cameron Bure is distracting. All the others on the show look natural.

As noted by another reviewer, I can't figure out why Hallmark can't do a decent wig for its leading lady? I can only think it's the same wig maker that did the even worse job as on When Calls The Heart. Horrible.

But overall, an enjoyable whodunnit.

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries - A Very Foul Play (Series 1 - Episode 12) is a standard format Aurora Teagarden Mystery (AT), but this time not based in scenic Lawrenceton. The action is set in and around an out of town local theatre and an annual true crime & mystery conference.

I enjoyed it and I must note that the last 3 AT movies have been above the normal Hallmark family film quality threshold - with the action, dialogue and characterisations across the board being better and more believable in context. Though of course, Ro fighting back by jumping up to grab a hanging chain and swinging then kicking out at the assailant? Unrealistic fight action scene for a Hallmark film, let alone an AT movie - too dramatic and staged. First thing I did when the credit rolled was look for the stunt women. Yep.There they were. Real life situation, maybe yes, Hallmark no. Aurora acting almost like some kind of trained crime fighter or a seasoned private detective.

Outside of the Hallmark films walled garden, this movie would not rate highly at all, but in context, a much better level of presentation than normal. I could easily take or leave an Aurora Teagarden Mystery, but recently I have began to look forward to the next movie. Entertaining family movie fare with a little extra bite.

Not a bad mystery. One of my favorite of the series. The setting of a play makes it more mysterious.

7/10 - an interesting setting with a solid mystery to complement it makes for a fitting conclusion to the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries Month

Aurora (Candace Cameron Bure) attends the annual "True Crimes & Mysteries Conference" and is asked to be a speaker. When an actual murder occurs during the performance of a stage play, clues and suspects abound. The conference is cancelled, but Aurora and her true crime cohorts investigate alongside the authorities.

Though this mystery is set away from Lawrenceton, the usual crew is all there for the fun.

This Aurora Teagarden mystery takes place when the Candace Cameron Bure and the whole cast of the usual regulars all go to a planned trip to a mystery enthusiasts convention. The conference will open with a presentation of an original play with some of the conference participants in roles.

It all gets real when a cast member who was getting harassed by an ex earlier is stabbed on stage when the lights went out and suspicion falls on Aurora's cousin Dylan Sloane. Poor Sloane his character was kidnapped in an earlier mystery where he was introduced. He might consider staying away from cousin Aurora.

There's another murder and then the murderer makes the mistake of using Aurora in their scheme. You have to see how and why that was a big error.

Another good one from the Teagarden franchise.

I am a little obsessed with this series. Not only do I love Candace Cameron, I Aurora Teagarden. I love the idealistic town, so pretty. The mountains add the perfect touch for that get cozy and settle in for a good mystery. Perfect blend of characters. Who are all mostly likeable & add that little bit extra. Not many could make being a librarian look this fun. Yes, there a lot of shows of this type on tv, but this one stands alone, shining as the best. It's always fun to try and guess who the killer is before ur becomes too obvious. Maybe it's just me and i am biast. However, not much makes me happier than knowing there is a new one on tv.

Seriously, what an annoying character Marilu Henner plays in this series along with the female police chief, Lynne. Curious why the two male leads are so similar in appearance: Niall Matter & Peter Benson! I always get confused which is which until I see their roles being played out! We watched this only because of the social quarantine & extreme heat alert outside this week! Light entertainment, but not a "must watch" series!

Been laid up on crutches the past week, so watching a lot of HM&M - fun shows, enjoyable shows, and some interesting shows. Columbo almost always comes thru with an interesting episode while the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries are fun and enjoyable. The character developments have been improving, tho I do miss Martin. Thought he seemed the most compatible for her.

Additionally, the back-and-forth between Roe and Lynn has improved with each episode. You can always count on them for a good comeback or two!

As for "A Very Foul Play", it felt like many of the other Teagarden's: some good lines, an interesting plot twist, and I want to give the episode an 8, but.....then there will be some lame scene or dialogue and I end up giving it a 7. I think I've rated them all a 7, LOL!!!

Bottom line: i enjoyed this episode!

Roe heads out of town to speak at the True Crime and Mystery Conference at a scenic lodge, run by Linda Bennett (Kirsten Robek). Of course, she's on a panel with Lawrenceton's Captain Lynn Smith (Miranda Frigon) to add a little conflict to the story. Roe brings a gaggle of Real Murders Club friends, including Professor Nick Miller (Niall Matter), and they all get embroiled in a murder investigation when Aurora Teagarden's nephew, Phillip, is accused of murder when an unplanned onstage blackout during the play in which he is performing ends, revealing Phillip holding the bloody knife that has just killed one of the other performers.

Above average Aurora Teagarden episode which is a whole lot of fun. Set in a scenic lodge, there's a murder play which goes wrong with the actress found stabbed with a real knife which was switched from a fake one. It's tightly-plotted, has a usual plethora of twists - there's plenty to keep you interested.

This was a very enjoyable episode of Aurora Teagarden.

I have to say that it is more than a little disappointing that almost half the reviews here write only about about Candace Cameron Bure's hair. Seriously?!!

What I look for in reviews is discussions on plot and character development, not hair styles. This episode took things out of Lawrencetown, and to a beautiful mountain location.

The plot has an urgency to it because Aurora's cousin Phillip, (Dylan Sloane) is initially accused of the murder.

The element of the story that I enjoyed the most was the "changing-up" of Lynn Liggett-Smith's (Miranda Frigon) relationship with Aurora, and the Real Murder Club's membership.

Lynn joins with them to investigate the murder, partly because she sees that local political influence is guiding the police investigation, but also because of Lynn's respect and regard for Aida Teagarden, whose nephew it is who is being accused to the murder.

This creates a temporary bond between Lynn and Aurora that the writers do a nice job of navigating. All the actors, I thought, did a good job making the episode emotional without making it maudlin.

The initial murder struck me as a bit implausible, but the "who-done-it" was sufficiently complicated to override any skepticism I might have had initially.

For those who have been following the Aurora Teagarden series, and liking them, I think you will enjoy this episode.

Professor Nick Miller gives his first talk to the Real Murders Club as a member on Narcissistic Personality disorder. At the meeting flyers are passed around for the up coming conference "From Motive to Murder". Ro is a speaker at the conference this time, and unfortunately so is Lynne...Arthur begins to worry Lynne might back out and "with two children under five, we really need a vacation".

Not only does Ro, Nick, Phillip, Author, Lynne and Sally go to the true crime conference...but Lillian, Ro's librarian co-worker, who is meeting a fellow librarian she met on-line...in his home town, which ends up being where the conference is, and even more shocking Ro's mother Aida...who thought it was a librarian conference!

The conference resort is spectacular and the opening conference Murder mystery play, A Very Foul Play, that as a conference tradition stars the conference's speakers, starts the conference off with a rubber knife fake Murder gone awry...and a murder!

"Looks like we have all the murder weapons from the game of Clue."-Ro.

Thankfully our usual cast of crime solvers are all assembled and on the case...fortunately for Philip who seems to be their prime suspect.

As I am continually saying, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries is one of my three favorite mystery series on Hallmark, along with Hannah Swensen's Murder she Baked and Mystery 101.

Lynne and Arthur attempt to help, but are out of their jurisdiction and can do very little. Our trusty team is Philip's only hope as he is getting railroaded in to taking the blame. The conference is cancelled and things are looking pretty bleak for Phillip as he is hauled off to jail...

(I don't know why people are so hung up about Ro's wig...get over it people and just pay attention to the plot. It's a cosy mystery for peet sakes!...and forget her hair what a gorgeous grey coat!)

A wonderful entry in the Aurora Teagarden mystery series. They are doing a wonderful job building the relationship between Ro and Nick and it was nice to see them get out of town for the weekend.

I agree with the others who have commented on the bad wigs poor Candace has had to endure. They change length, color, and style on every episode. Since they have fictionalized everything else from the books, (Lawrenceton is in Georgia in the book series for example), why can't Candace just wear her own hair and we all forget that "Ro" is a redhead?

Good entertainment with no irritating bits of stupidity. It's set out of town, at a resort hosting a murder mystery conference. A murder occurs on stage during the titular "play". Aurora's cousin Phillip is instantly accused of the murder, so Aurora and her mom and friends went into high gear. The real killer was not a dead give away, but not impossible to guess, either.

I quite enjoyed police chief Lynn Liggett-Smith's role in this episode. The local cops want nothing to do with her, but she knows Phillip is innocent, so she collaborates with Aurora and the Real Murder Club to prove him innocent and find out who-really-dunnit.

Silly scene where Aurora goes into ninja warrior mode on the killer. But needs must.

Side note. People talk much about her wig. I don't notice it. I do think she wears too much makeup, especially lipstick. Most women don't lather it on like that.

The best aspect of this episode is highlighting the ensemble cast at the beginning of the movie. Rehearsing for the 'play within the play' allowed the wonderful supporting cast to stretch their characters' collective wings and show more dimension. Loved it!!! Sadly, the show then degenerates to its usual squirrelly, non-sensical whispering and dashing about complete with Aurora's squinchy-face looks and long-in-the-tooth juvenile antics. The wig is the highlight of her performance.

Maybe the atmosphere of play, the powerful man , the love stories and misteries around Monica are the good points giving a special charme to this episode not about only a murder but proposing, and the series has this gift, interesting portraits. Sure, Candace. Cameron Bure and. Marilu Henner are the most significant spices of the episode. And the work of Dylan Sloane and Ellie Harvey is real good , to. And the end, yes, real nice.