Dead Over Diamonds

Allie, Noah, Maya, Sam and Nick are all back in the second episode in the Picture Perfect Mystery series. Mystery is afoot in Willow Haven.

Allie is photographing a gallery show, put on by Noah's mom, Camille. It was a who's who of the elite in town. During the art owner's speech, the lights go out and a very valuable diamond necklace is stolen. This could ruin Noah's mom's reputation...so he enlists Allie to help him find the necklace and figure out what happened.

"We're trying to catch a thief."-Allie

Uncle Luis, Sam's chess partner, has been called in from his island retirement to help with the renovation. Uncle Luis is played by none other that Chips star Erik Estrada.

A fair bit of comedy is added in to this episode, like with the three card Monty chase scene.

"Well, I married well and divorced better."-Mr. Baxter

Enter a pushy reporter for the Gazette named James...maybe a romantic rival for Sam?

"She has this infuriating habit of just showing up at crime scenes. It's like she can't just leave well enough alone. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was actively seeking out trouble."-Sam

Allie and Sam go on their first coffee date...or do they?

"Luis! Get off that couch! Get out of the house!"-Luis (channeling his diseased wife)

The mystery was complex and well put together, the show is still being built and it is not up to par yet with my three Hallmark favorites...Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and Mysteries 101...but I have hope for this sweet couple!

Photographer Allie and Detective Sam's investigation into a priceless stolen necklace leads to danger and an unexpected death.

A simple plotted mystery featuring real-life married couple Carlos and Alexa who play a cop and photographer in a small town. Carlos is a new guy, a cop, from NYC trying to adjust to small town life, and obviously they have a "maybe or maybe not" romance. It's a u demanding yet safe mystery which is quite fun, especially with Alexa's sidekicks Noah, and Maya around. They make a great team. There's no murder, just a diamond theft. Erik Estrada from CHiPs fame stars as a lively character.

6/10 - clever mystery is a nice follow up in the HMM series

While typically I cannot watch a Carlos PenaVega movie (as nice as he is, his acting can be way over the top), this was much better from him. He often in my opinion has acted over the top, and in this movie it started out that way, but his cop character is actually a good fit for him and he settled down after the first couple of scenes. When he is being serious in a role he does a good job. I also can appreciate Alexa more here than in some of her other movies.

I don't know if this is the case, but it seems like they would bring their kid/teen Nickelodeon personas to their movies in the past. Maybe the challenge has been how to transition out of that. This movie however is more toned down for them and I was really able to enjoy it so much more.

Hallmaek....Stop posting those AGGRIVATING, IRRITATING AWFUL promos on the bottom of our screens throughout the movies!!! 20% of the screen is taken up with these 2 logos on every movie. Total disrespect to your viewers.