Garage Sale Mystery: The Novel Murders

The film begins with Jennifer Shannon delivering a repaired birdhouse to Arthur Henley, an elderly man she finds dead in his apartment. Though the police initially suspect natural causes, Jennifer notices oddities: Henley is wearing a priest's collar despite not being a priest, and there is a smell of whiskey but no bottle. An autopsy reveals nicotine poisoning, which Jennifer identifies as the MO from Agatha Christie's 'Murder in Three Acts.' She concludes that Henley was a 'dress rehearsal' for a larger scheme. A second murder occurs involving Gerald McNally, a life coach and former book editor. His death scene is a recreation of Sherlock Holmes' 'A Study in Scarlet,' complete with the word 'Rache' written in blood and a gold ring on the floor. Jennifer consults with Terrance Duncan, a mystery novelist, and Professor Myles Fowler, a Sherlock Holmes expert. Meanwhile, a subplot involves Jennifer's husband Jason and son Logan attempting a 'man vs. nature' wilderness camping trip, which they quickly abandon for a motel and diner while lying to Jennifer about their success. Another subplot follows Jennifer's business partner Dani, who is being scammed by a psychic named Magdalena. Jennifer eventually exposes Magdalena as a fraud named Melody Monroe. The investigation takes a turn when Professor Fowler is found murdered in a scene mimicking Mary Roberts Rinehart's 'The Circular Staircase.' Jennifer discovers that the killer used misdirection, including wearing oversized shoes to leave false footprints. She realizes Terrance Duncan is the culprit after learning McNally rejected his book and Fowler blocked his promotion. Jennifer goes to Duncan's office to read his manuscript, 'The Novel Murders,' only to find it is a trap. Duncan appears as a pre-recorded hologram, taunting her while he pumps carbon monoxide into the sealed room. Jason and Detective Frank Linwood use a phone-tracking app to locate Jennifer just in time. Duncan is arrested, and Jennifer is awarded a medal of honor for her detective work.