Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder

6.7/10 · 964 ratings20171h 30mWeirdness 2/10Bingo card

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The premise

After buying an old reel-to-reel recorder at a garage sale, Jenn discovers that it includes the sound of a man pleading for his life.

How unusual is it?

Honestly? Not very — and that's the charm. It plays the hits, which is exactly the point for a cozy night in.

Who’s in it

You’ve seen this pairing before: Lori Loughlin and Sarah Strange have made 13 Hallmark movies together.

Behind the camera

Show

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

  • The protagonist finds a murder via a vintage reel-to-reel tape recorder bought at a yard sale.
  • The recurring 'man-cave' vs 'woman-cave' debate involving velvet drapes.
  • A professional psychologist using a 1960s recording device for his modern memoirs.
  • The 'vision-board party' subplot as a serious character development tool.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 17 to find more movies that do the same thing.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)
The film opens with Dr. Edward Vedders conducting a final session for his relationship therapy group, announcing his retirement to focus on his memoirs. Meanwhile, Jennifer Shannon and her business partner Dani visit a garage sale hosted by Mae Vedders, where Jennifer buys a rare peacock mirror and a vintage reel-to-reel audio recorder. Upon testing the recorder at her shop, Rags to Riches, Jennifer hears a terrifying voice screaming, 'Someone's trying to kill me!' before the tape jams. Driven by curiosity and concern, Jennifer takes the machine to a repairman named Drew, who reveals he recently serviced the same unit for Dr. Vedders at a local apartment. Jennifer visits the apartment and discovers Dr. Vedders' lifeless body, noting that the scene appears meticulously cleaned with industrial chemicals. Detective Frank Lynwood takes the case, and Jennifer begins profiling the therapy group members: Deb, a blogger with OCD; Kendahl, a woman with a history of stalking; and Chris, a volatile textile engineer. A subplot involves Jennifer's husband Jason and son Logan building a 'man-cave' in their basement, which Jennifer eventually insists be rebranded as a 'woman-cave' or 'shan-cave.' As the investigation proceeds, Jennifer finds a rock-carving chisel—the murder weapon—hidden in a floor vent at the Vedders' home. She eventually tracks a missing Kendahl to a campground, where Kendahl reveals she was never having an affair with the doctor; he was actually helping her hide from a dangerous stalker. Jennifer realizes the killer is Callum Selski, the community center janitor, who had been stalking Kendahl and killed Vedders for interfering. In the climax, Callum traps Jennifer in the community center boiler room, intending to kill her in a staged explosion. However, Frank and the police arrive just in time to arrest Callum. The movie ends with the Shannon family enjoying their new basement theater and Dani reconnecting with Drew, her high school sweetheart who repaired the recorder.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Jennifer buys a vintage reel-to-reel recorder at a garage sale and hears a recording of a man being attacked.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Jennifer discovers the body of Dr. Vedders in a secret apartment he rented in town.

  3. Midpoint

    The investigation focuses on three members of Vedders' therapy group: Deb, Kendahl, and Chris.

  4. Turning Point

    Jennifer finds Kendahl at a campground and learns that Vedders was protecting her from a stalker, not having an affair.

  5. Climax

    Callum the janitor traps Jennifer in a boiler room, confessing to the murder before attempting to blow up the building.

  6. Resolution

    Callum is arrested, and the Shannon family celebrates the completion of their basement 'shan-cave' viewing room.

Peak comfort viewing

It scores just 2/10 on our weirdness scale — about as by-the-book cozy as Hallmark gets.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Rating 6.7 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.7567

Higher-rated than 75% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Garage Sale MysteriesPart of the 16-film Garage Sale Mysteries series.

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

  • “Everything that we want in love and life is just on the other side of fear.”
    — Dr. VeddersGiving advice to his therapy group.
  • “Someone's trying to kill me! No. No, please. No.”
    — Dr. Vedders (on tape)The recording Jennifer finds on the reel-to-reel.
  • “I don't know who finds more dead bodies, you or random joggers.”
    — Frank LynwoodArriving at the crime scene Jennifer discovered.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

  • Jennifer Shannon

    Lead

    Antique Store Owner

    ObservantPersistentIntuitive
  • Callum Selski

    Antagonist

    Janitor

    Stalker of her acquaintance

    ObsessiveDeceptiveViolent
  • Frank Lynwood

    Supporting

    Detective

    Friend and professional contact

    ProfessionalPatientMethodical
  • Dani

    Supporting

    Antique Store Co-owner

    Business Partner

    SupportiveSearching for directionRomantic
  • Jason Shannon

    Supporting

    Contractor

    Husband

    HandyPatientLoving

Questions people ask about Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder

Where can I watch Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder?

Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder is available via fuboTV, Hallmark+ Amazon Channel, and Hallmark+ Apple TV channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder?

Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder runs about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and was released in 2017.

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Sources:IMDbTMDB