I know this small admission won’t shock a single soul out there – I enjoy watching the Hallmark Mystery Channel (cozy mysteries in film form, basically). Most especially their original movie series like Mystery 101 (which features a college professor who teaches classes based on classic mystery novels, who uses this knowledge to consult on police cases), Chronicle Mysteries (which finds a true-crime podcast teaming up with a newspaper editor to solve cold-cases) and the Crossword Mysteries (which is about a crossword writer and a detective who team up from time to time). However, the ones I really enjoy watching are the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, adapted from Charlaine Harris’s book series. 

A true-crime-loving librarian who happens to solve the occasional murder, I mean, what’s not to love about that? 

But here’s the thing…

Enjoying the movies as I did (and do), I decided to read the books and discovered (much to my delight) the films bore a striking resemblance to their paper counterparts. However, the movies do reconnoiter several characters and their backstories along with gently massaging the storylines. A phenomenon that happens in any adaptation and, in this particular case, is executed with a deft hand. 

However, much like the Agatha Raisen series by M.C. Beaton, which I first listened to on BBC radio (and then the audiobooks) – I eventually decided to dive into the written versions….and found myself disappointed by the text.

In the case of Agatha Raisen, Penelope Keith did (does) a delightful job in lending her voice to Agatha. In doing so, Keith makes Agatha’s snark and sarcasm shine rather than her bouts of misery, obsession, insecurity, and jealousy. Thus, making Agatha, a charming listen rather than (for me) a difficult read.

Similarly, Aurora’s unhappiness, waffling, and insecurities pervaded her point of view – and thus the entire story. As a result, the engaging mysteries, immersive settings, and interesting ancillary characters dull under the miasma of negativity and turned me away after plowing thru the third installment. 

Fortunately, this foray into the text didn’t blunt my enjoyment of the movies. Instead, it made me appreciate the skill of the screenwriters and actors (amongst them Candace Cameron Bure, Marilu Henner, Yannick Bisson, and Niall Matter) who brought the citizens and mysteries of Lawreceton to life in a way the books, for me, had not.  

Or perhaps I need the filter of brightly colors cloth, shelved books, and trees on the screen to connect with Aurora – hard to say. Either way, I’ve already got enough gloom floating around between my ears that taking on more, even fictional, is unappealing.

Hence my recommendation – if you enjoy reading mysteries tinged by a sense of glumness – these would be an excellent read for you. Otherwise, I would recommend watching the Hallmark movies starting at A Bone To Pick and working your way up to the latest Honeymoon, Honey Murder.

(I’d also recommend listening to the audiobooks of Agatha Raisen – they are fun!)