Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind

Name: Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind
Genre: Big City, Pet, Cute Kid, Colleagues/Coworkers
Released: 2019-01-01
Duration: 1 h 24 min
Rating: 6.6
Cast: Holly Robinson Peete, Rick Fox, Karen Robinson, Anna Van Hooft, Jesse Moss

6.6/10 · 580 ratings20191h 24mWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind poster

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The premise

Billie Blessings searches for the real killer, when her friend is accused of murder.

Themes:Protective parenting gone wrong The weight of past secrets Loyalty to friends Justice for the marginalized

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

Our Girl

Holly Robinson Peete

as Billie Blessings

Our Guy

Rick Fox

as Ian Jackson

You’ve seen this pairing before: Holly Robinson Peete and Rick Fox have made 5 Hallmark movies together.

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Kevin Fair

Written by

Wait, what?

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

The central motive involves the 'Millionaire Pup Case' where a dog inherited millions of dollars.
The villain attempts to force the protagonist to sign a suicide note before drowning her, which is unusually dark for Hallmark.
A character is obsessed with the etymology of the word 'pancake' as a research task.

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 24 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 Billie Blessings welcoming her friend Katie Sanders to her morning show, 'Wake Up,' where Katie is promoting her new TV series 'Kelso's Law.' Katie reveals she is being harassed by anonymous letters, which her father Donald suspects are coming from Hannah Kelso, the real-life lawyer the show is based on. Hannah is protective of her son Derek, the show's author, and views Katie as a gold-digger. The tension escalates when Billie discovers the body of Jerry Patton, a corrupt former cop and Hannah's investigator, in Hannah's backyard. Katie is seen fleeing the scene, leading Detective Ian Jackson to consider her a suspect. Derek Kelso later provides a false confession to protect Katie, claiming he accidentally killed Jerry during an argument, but the medical examiner reveals Jerry was actually suffocated after being knocked unconscious. Billie’s research team discovers that the first episode of Katie's show is based on the 'Millionaire Pup Case,' where a dog named Rex inherited a fortune. They realize that Brian Reynolds, the show's dog trainer, is actually the son of the man who lost that case to Hannah. When Brian is found shot dead at Hannah's house, she claims self-defense. However, Billie deduces that Jerry Patton had found a second will from the dog case that would have stripped Hannah of her wealth. Jerry was blackmailing Hannah, and she killed him to keep the money. In the climax, Hannah kidnaps Billie and takes her to a lake, attempting to force her to sign a suicide note at gunpoint before drowning her. Ian and the police arrive just in time to save Billie and arrest Hannah. The film concludes with Billie and Ian finally acknowledging their romantic feelings during a dessert party for Ian's daughter.

Beat by beat

Opening
Billie welcomes Katie Sanders to the morning show, but learns Katie is being harassed by anonymous blackmail letters.
Inciting Incident
Billie discovers the body of Jerry Patton in Hannah Kelso's yard; Katie is seen fleeing the scene.
Midpoint
Derek Kelso confesses to the murder to protect Katie, but his story contradicts the medical examiner's report of suffocation.
Rising Action
Brian Reynolds, the dog trainer, is killed by Hannah Kelso, who claims he attacked her.
Climax
Hannah kidnaps Billie and attempts to force her to sign a suicide note before drowning her in a lake.
Resolution
Ian rescues Billie, Hannah is arrested, and the 'Millionaire Pup' fortune is returned to its rightful heir.

24 tropes in one movie

We counted 24 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

How it stacks up

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

Higher-rated than 66% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Morning Show MysteriesPart of the 6-film Morning Show Mysteries series.

BINGOThe lead works as a actorThe town pulls together for one of its ownA new legal TV drama gets promotedSanta Claus appearsA cosy interior full of warm lightingSet in autumnA scenic spot becomes their meeting placeA quiet moment under string lightsSomeone cooks or bakes on screenA chef hosts a live morning showA first impression that turns out completely wrongSomeone is hounded by anonymous blackmail letters★A nervous voicemail goes unsentA famous celebrity character appearsA disapproving parentSet in a big cityA heart-to-heart on a porch or benchA slow-burn romanceAn inheritance left to a dog comes upSomeone decorates a Christmas treeA show research team digs into old case filesA meaningful look held a beat too longA best friend who has all the answersA second chance worth taking

Hallmark Bingo

Your Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind card is dealt.

Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

Open your card

Lines worth quoting

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

“What good's a suicide note without a signature?”
— Hannah KelsoWhile holding Billie at gunpoint by the lake.
“The etymology of the word 'pancake' totally lead me down a rabbit hole.”
— LucyDiscussing her research for a cooking segment.
“Even in the darkest of times there's always a spark of hope waiting to light the way.”
— Billie BlessingsOffering comfort to Katie.

Meet the characters

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

Billie Blessings
Lead
Chef and Morning Show Host
InquisitiveLoyalObservant
Ian Jackson
Love interest
Police Detective
High school sweetheart and current romantic interest
ProtectiveProfessionalPatient
Hannah Kelso
Antagonist
Lawyer and Producer
Professional acquaintance and mother of Billie's friend
ManipulativeGreedyOverprotective
Katie Sanders
Supporting
Actress
Close friend and former employee
AnxiousAmbitiousKind
Derek Kelso
Supporting
Author
Friend and love interest of Katie
DevotedNaiveHonest

Questions people ask about Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind

Where can I watch Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind?

Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind?

Morning Show Mysteries: A Murder in Mind runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2019.

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