Stream It Or Skip It?

The Hallmark Channel is back with a brand new installment in their ongoing Aurora Teagarden franchise with Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Death at the Diner. Featuring the titular character originally from Charlaine Harris‘s 1990 to 2017 crime novel series, this cozy mystery film follows up last year’s Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Lesson in Murder for another story in the young adult life of amateur sleuth Aurora Teagarden. Skyler Samuels returns as the titular role, joined by familiar faces like Evan Roderick, Marilu Henner, and Kayla Heller as their characters try to crack the case behind the murder of Aurora’s boss, Emilio (Paul Moniz de Sá). Does this movie and its cast do enough to keep longtime Teagarden fans happy and hungry for more? Keep reading to find out!

The Gist: Aurora “Roe” Teagarden (Skyler Samuels) is back and ready to use her bookish brains to solve a brand new mystery! In addition to her part-time work as a librarian and efforts to earn a master’s degree, Aurora works as a server at RnR Diner, a long-running local spot owned by Emilio Torres (Paul Moniz de Sá). Although she’s struggling to complete her thesis, Aurora seems to be doing well in other aspects of her life as she prepares to celebrate her six-month anniversary with boyfriend and RnR chef, Daniel Garcia (Jordan Buhat). But her bubble of bliss is soon rudely popped by a crime in her very own workplace when she goes to meet Daniel in the diner and instead stumbles upon Emilio’s dead body. Then, when she calls the cops, they deem Daniel the lead suspect due to DNA evidence found at the scene.

Determined to find out who (literally) stabbed her well-liked boss in the back and framed her boyfriend for the crime, Aurora enlists the help of her friends, newspaper intern Sally Allison (Kayla Heller) and rookie cop Arthur Smith (Evan Roderick), as well as her mom, Aida (Marilu Henner). At the same time, the town’s District Attorney, Larissa Morse (Kimberley Sustad), is breathing down the neck of her ex-husband, Detective Alistair Cook (Steve Bacic), to ensure that he improves his precinct’s arrest record by putting the correct killer behind bars.

While the initial evidence looks quite incriminating for Daniel, Aurora wholeheartedly believes in his innocence and finds alternative suspects while conducting her own private investigation. Aurora first sets her sights on Emilio’s angry ex-wife, Lauren (Sarah Strange), and their 17-year-old son, Stephen (Josh Zaharia), who were both left with hurt feelings after a bitter divorce and Emilio’s quick transition to a new girlfriend in real estate agent Kathleen Bleeker. Did Lauren or Stephen commit this crime in an act of jealous rage? Or was it Emiliano’s friend and business partner, Benjamin Powell (Kurt Evans), who took out his own asset after a spat about the diner’s shaky finances? Or perhaps it really was Daniel, who stands to gain the diner for himself with Emilio’s passing.

No matter who the culprit is, Aurora is determined to dig up the truth, and Arthur is set on helping her, even if it means putting his own very obvious feelings for his friend aside to help her prove her boyfriend’s innocence. Now that’s some serious drama and intrigue!

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: In addition to the previous Aurora Teagarden movies, Death at the Diner might remind you of other light-hearted or cozy Hallmark mystery movie franchises like Murder, She Baked and Garage Sale Mystery.

Performance Worth Watching: I just can’t resist a yearer, so I couldn’t help but enjoy Evan Roderick’s pining and charismatic performance as Arthur. Kimberley Sustad also shone every time she was on screen as supporting character DA Kimberley Sustad, culminating in some truly entertaining and engaging work.

Memorable Dialogue: When Aida asks Aurora how she could possibly access a suspect’s credit report, Aurora proudly replies, “Never underestimate what a librarian has access to,” to which her mom amusingly (and rightfully) responds, “Well, that’s scary.”

Sex and Skin: Besides the crackling sexual tension between D.A. Morse and Detective Cook, there’s no sex or skin here (it’s Hallmark), people.

Our Take: Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Death at the Diner doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel when it comes to murder mysteries, but it also doesn’t have to. As a part of a beloved franchise, just paying homage to fan-favorite characters and tropes while keeping you on your toes with a few new ones, is plenty for an entertaining viewing experience. This movie understands the assignment, and everyone involved seems committed to giving Aurora Teagarden fans something to hold onto or enjoy. And for those who are fresh to this franchise, the title still does well to catch you up to speed with the essentials before diving right into the story.

Most of the actors play into the Hallmark campiness in a way that really works, and they have the kind of group chemistry that pulls you in. At the center of it all are Skyler Samuels and Evan Roderick, whose connection as the plucky Aurora and desperately pining Arthur is palpable from their first scene together and can’t help but make you swoon a little (and the slow-burn of their deepening bond is also compelling). The mystery itself may not leave you completely stunned, but Death at the Diner still does well to throw some wrenches in that will keep you engaged and on your toes. All-in-all, not a bad way to spend a movie night!

Our Call: If you’re already a fan of the Aurora Teagarden franchise, then this cozy murder mystery is definitely for you. But even if you’ve never seen the film series, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Death at the Diner allows you to just shut your brain off, relax, and enjoy, to still end up with a mostly entertaining and easy viewing experience. STREAM IT.