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Mystery Woman: Mystery Weekend | 
 enlarge | Director: Mark Griffiths
Actor: Kellie Martin; Clarence Williams Iii; Nina Siemaszko; Casey Sander; Julianna Mccarthy; Deborah Van Valkenburgh; Paul Satterfield (ii); Beth Broderick; Michael Chieffo; Linda Larson (iii); Sally Wells Cook; Colleen Camp; Beth Grant; Victor Browne; Shannon Schlussel; R. Baxter; Autumn Leigh Brown
Studio: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $6.99
Buy Used: $2.78
You Save: $4.21 (60%)
New (18) Used (17) from $2.78
Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 22097
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 87 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: PLTD44709D
UPC: 096009447090
EAN: 0096009447090
ASIN: B000EWBO7W
Theatrical Release Date: January 7, 2005
Release Date: May 2, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
After a mystery writer is murdered at her book signing the book store owner turns sleuth & exposes a convoluted plot of blackmail greed & deceit that would stump agatha christie. Studio: Platinum Disc Llc Release Date: 05/01/2007 Starring: Kellie Martin Beth Grant Run time: 87 minutes
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Murder among the books December 11, 2008
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
If you've seen Peter Jackson's movie "Heavenly Creatures," then you know the story of two young girls who savagely beat one of their mothers to death.
But "Mystery Woman: Mystery Weekend" spins its plot around some not-so-well-known details about what happened later on in one of the girls' life -- and whips up a clever little "what if?" scenario. Kellie Martin makes an engaging heroine for a modern version of the traditional cozy mystery, with plenty of suspects, a beautiful bookshop and some interesting twists along the way -- including a little old lady with a secret and too many mystery novels.
Samantha (Martin) is organizing a mystery weekend with a trio of bestselling authors -- including the dramatic, reclusive diva Claire Beckman (Beth Broderick). And Claire turns up the tension when she announces that she's retiring... only to be narrowly missed by a rigged gunshot mere seconds later. Even more bizarre, the gun belongs to Dorothy (Julianna McCarthy), a friend of Samantha's who is suspiciously absent during the signing... and who is visibly upset by the mention of Claire.
But at the second signing, Claire collapses and dies, after being pricked by a poisoned corsage. Once Samantha finds out what killed her, she begins digging to figure out who could have killed Claire -- especially since only someone close to her could have done it. Was it jealousy, money, or revenge? As Samantha finds out the past that Dorothy is zealously keeping secret, she uncovers an even darker past that Claire Beckman kept secret -- one centered around a gruesome murder.
"Mystery Weekend" is one of the tighter, cleverer entries in the "Mystery Woman" series of TV movies -- not only is it obviously based on real-life events (particularly on a certain real-life mystery writer), but it has layers upon layers of mysterious pasts and eccentric motives. But despite the rather dark subject matter, "Mystery Weekend" is presented in a very relaxed, laid-back manner -- cozy bookstores, sunny small towns and luxurious hotels, with lots of enthusiastic mystery geeks and quiet lunches.
And the plot does have some drawbacks -- primarily that it's quite obvious who the teenage murderers in the first scene will become, and that it's pretty easy to figure out who killed Claire. But the writers do a good job muddying the waters with plenty of red herrings and secret backgrounds, with Samantha zipping around grabbing little piece of evidence and piecing them together. And there's an added subplot about a creepily charming new lawyer who is hitting on both Samantha and her best friend.
Kellie Martin does a solid job as Samantha -- while she's a bit stiff during the perkier moments ("He's SLIME... thanks for telling me!") she does the professional-woman-with-an-inquisitive-bent well, whether she's breaking into suspects' houses or wheedling clues from gigolos. Clarence Williams III is nicely warm and laid-back as a retired man of mystery (secret agent?), Nina Siemaszko is good as Sam's friend, and Deborah Van Valkenburgh is quite good as Claire's jittery, twitchy assistant.
"Mystery Woman: Mystery Weekend" is a solid little cozy mystery with a likable heroine and some interesting twists and turns. It's a bit too easy to figure out, but a fun little ride.
 Enjoyable mystery October 20, 2008
C. O'Hare (Paris, France)
I enjoyed the setting and the acting in this mystery. I'd like to know, though, why the man who is the bookstore owner's assistant works in a bookstore when he is so highly qualified that he can call up the Canadian PM for information. It would have been good to have backstory, unless one of the other Mystery Women movies offers this. I've watched the Snapshot mystery, which I enjoyed, and there was no backstory there either.
Mystery Woman September 30, 2008
D. S. Levinne (Camp Hill, PA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is one of the better episodes of the Mystery Woman series. I look forward to seeing the entire series on DVD. Good viewing for the eintire family.
Great Fun For Mystery Fans February 1, 2007
Bobby Underwood (Bakersfield, California United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This series of films from Hallmark Entertainment is delicious fun for mystery lovers and Kellie Martin fans. Martin is Samantha Kinsey, the owner of the Mystery Woman Book Store who finds herself involved in her own favorite pastime. There is a warmth and sense of fun to the story in this one and a fine atmosphere just right for light entertainment.
Samantha is making plans for a "Mystery Weekend" for her avid customers sure to please them. At her weekly "Thursday Night Mayhem" event, however, the very reclusive and prolific mystery writer, Clare Beckman, just misses being shot. Samantha's close friend and Assistant D.A., Cassie (Nina Siemaszko), is shot in the arm instead, and the mystery begins.
One of Samantha's elderly customers is the obvious suspect, at least to Chief Connors (Casey Sander), but Samantha has other ideas. There are two other female mystery writers present at the shooting whose jealousy is hardly masked. And when bee venom is used by someone to finish the job, Clare's trophy boyfriend might have motives also.
There is a real sense of fun as Samantha starts questioning people to get to the bottom of things. Clarence Williams III of "Mod Squad" fame is simply terrific as Samantha's pal, Philby, with a past so mysterious he has access to the Prime Minister! Pretty Nina Siemaszko is endearing as Samantha's best friend, helping her best bud and getting into hot water while fending off a hunky lawyer trying to romance she and Samantha at the same time.
It's all tied to a 30 year old murder. And as Samantha knows, everybody loves a murder. Mystery lovers won't be able to get enough of Samantha and her buds sluething around. Martin looks fantastic and it's great to see her find a fun project like this one. It's a great premise executed with just the right sense of mischief. A great find.
I loved it! January 8, 2007
p.d.h (Florida)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I happened to see this DVD at the library today and thought it looked interesting and I was right! What a great mystery! I am now looking to purchase the entire set. It's a good, clean, fun show. Loved it!
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