Cozy Mystery Books That Inspired Hallmark Mystery Movies

15 Cozy Crime Books and Their Hallmark Adaptations

Hallmark has a television channel called Hallmark Mystery. This channel airs mystery movies and TV series that are cozy, wholesome, and family-friendly (well…as wholesome and family-friendly as a murder mystery can be). These programming options include original movies, Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations, and acquired series. Some Hallmark Mystery movies have been written from scratch, and some have been adapted from existing cozy mystery book series.

15 Cozy Mystery Novels Adapted Into Hallmark Mystery Movies

Some of the most popular Hallmark mystery movies started out as cozy mystery book series. In most cases, the major characters and plot points from the books were carried over into the movies, but not always! It is fun to read the books and then watch the movies (or vice versa) to see their similarities and differences. Here are 15 cozy mystery series to explore. Each selection showcases the first novel in the series, but some series have as many as 30 books to read!

Here is a Book-To-Hallmark Movie Lookbook if you’d rather just look at the covers of the books included in this curated list of book-to-movie adaptations.

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Aurora Teagarden Mysteries

  • The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries are written by Charlaine Harris.

  • There are 11 books in the Aurora Teagarden Mystery series.

  • There are 18 movies in the Aurora Teagarden film series. There is also a prequel series featuring Aurora in her early post-college days after she returns to her hometown of Lawrenceton (in addition to the original 18 Aurora Teagarden movies).

The Aurora Teagarden Mystery book series by Charlaine Harris features eleven novels published between 1990 and 2017. The series protagonist is Aurora (Roe) Teagarden, a librarian and true crime enthusiast in small-town Lawrenceton, Georgia. This popular book series was made into a series of equally popular feature-length movies for Hallmark starting in 2014. Candace Cameron Bure starred in the lead role as Aurora Teagarden, and Marilu Henner played Aurora's mother Aida Teagarden. Some things were switched up for the movies. For example, the films are set in the Pacific Northwest instead of the South, and the film order doesn't exactly match the order of the books in the series. Candace Cameron Bure left the Hallmark network after the 18th movie, but the film series continues with prequel movies that feature Aurora in her younger years (early post-college days).

Hannah Swensen Mysteries

  • This Hannah Swensen Mystery series is written by Joanne Fluke

  • There are 30+ books and counting in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series.

  • There are 9 movies and counting in the Murder She Bakes/Hannah Swensen film series.

The Hannah Swensen Mystery series by Joanna Fluke is a long-running cozy mystery series featuring bake shop owner and amateur sleuth Hannah Swensen. In 2015, Hallmark adapted the first book in the series, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, into a movie called Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery. The film starred Alison Sweeney as Hannah Swensen, Cameron Mathison as Detective Mike Kingston, Gabriel Hogan as Doctor Norman Rhodes, and Barbara Niven as Delores Swensen. Hallmark adapted four more books into movies over the next two years before taking a multi-year hiatus. In 2021, the movie franchise returned. This time, the Murder, She Baked name was dropped and replaced with the name of the book series so that the films all include the words "A Hannah Swensen Mystery." The books and movies are both set in Lake Eden, Minnesota, though the film series called the town Eden Lake for a while. The book series and movie series do not follow the same order. For example, the fifth movie (Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts) is based on the second book (Strawberry Shortcake Murder). See a review of Joanne Fluke’s Lake Eden Cookbook and get a recipe from Joanne Fluke.

Goldy Schulz Mysteries

  • This book series was written by Diane Mott Davidson.

  • There are 17 books in the Goldy Schulz Mystery series.

  • 4 movies and counting

The Goldy Schulz Mystery series (known initially as the Goldy Bear Mystery series) contains 17 books published between 1990 and 2013. The series author, Diane Mott Davidson, is somewhat of a trailblazer in the cozy mystery world. Many publishers turned her down when she pitched the first book in the series. They didn't think anyone would be interested in a mystery featuring a cooking sleuth. One publisher even called the recipes intrusive. They were wrong. Culinary cozies have become one of the most popular subgenres in the cozy mystery world. In 2022, Hallmark premiered a movie adaptation called Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate. Multiple movies have been made since, and more are on the way. The movies are loosely based on characters and plots from the books. The books are a little darker than the movies, which star Nikki DeLoach as caterer Goldy Berry and Andrew Walker as police detective Tom Schultz.

Gourmet Detective Mysteries

  • Peter King wrote the Gourmet Detective Mystery series.

  • There are 8 books in the Gourmet Detective Mystery series.

  • There are five Gourmet Detective movies

Eight Gourmet Detective Mystery books were published between 1996 and 2003. Peter King, a retired Cordon Bleu chef, wrote the book series. The series protagonist is the "Gourmet Detective," a former chef who solves food and murder mysteries in the culinary world. He identifies key ingredients in dishes, sources rare food, and lends his taste buds to various situations involving yummy (and some not-so-yummy) dishes. The books are heavy on exotic food descriptions, covering everything from gourmet food preparation to culinary travel. Between 2015 and 2020, Hallmark adapted several books into a made-for-TV movie series called The Gourmet Detective. All five movies star Dylan Neal as gourmet detective Henry Ross and Brooke Burns as homicide detective Mary Price. Dylan Neal also helped to write the film adaptations. Each movie features food-related themes and cases involving food or restaurants so that the Gourmet Detective can put his skills to work. The detective has been softened somewhat for the movies.

Flower Shop Mysteries

  • Kate Collins is the author of the Flower Shop Mysteries.

  • There are the 19 books in the Flower Shop Mystery series.

  • There are three Flower Shop Mystery movies.

The Flower Shop Mysteries is a series of 19 books by Kate Collins. They were published between 2003 and 2017. Hallmark adapted some of the books into a three-film series that premiered in 2016. There are some notable character differences between the books and movies. In the first book, protagonist Abby Knight is single, in her twenties, and freshly flunked out of law school. In the first movie, Abby is a widowed middle-aged ex-NYC lawyer with an adult daughter. In both cases, Abby decides to follow her dream of being a florist, opens a shop named Bloomers in her hometown, and flirts with the neighboring bar owner, Marco. The movies star Brooke Shields as Abby Knight and Brennan Elliott as Marco, a former investigator turned restaurant/bar owner.

Fixer Upper Mysteries

  • The Fixer-Upper Mystery series is written by Kate Carlisle.

  • The Fixer-Upper Mystery series has 11 books and counting.

  • There are three movies in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series.

The Fixer-Upper Mystery book series by Kate Carlisle features eleven novels and counting. The series protagonist is Shannon Hammer, a female contractor with a home renovation and repair business in Lighthouse Cove, California. Hallmark adapted three of the books into movies. They premiered between 2017 and 2018. This Old Homicide (book) was adapted into Framed for Murder (movie), Crowned and Moldering (book) was adapted into Concrete Evidence (movie), and Deck the Hallways (book) was adapted into Deadly Deed (movie). The movies star Jewel as Shannon Hammer and Colin Ferguson as investigative reporter and sidekick Mac Sullivan. Author Kate Carlisle also has a brief cameo in Concrete Evidence.

Morning Show Murders

  • This book was edited by Kate White. Other contributors include some members of Mystery Writers of America, including Mary Higgins Clark, Harlan Coben, Nelson DeMille, Lee Child, Gillian Flynn, Sue Grafton, Kinsey Millhone, Charlaine Harris, James Patterson, Louise Penny, and Scott Turow.

  • There are four books in The Morning Show Murders series.

  • There are six movies in The Morning Show Murders series.

The Morning Show Murders is a series of mystery books written by famous television personality Al Roker (from The Today Show) and crime/suspense author Dick Lochte. There are four books in the series, published between 2009 and 2024. Al Roker reads the audiobooks. The story's protagonist, Billy Blessing, is a celebrity chef in New York who hosts a segment on a popular morning show. Hallmark made six movies out of this award-winning book series. They originally aired between 2018 and 2021. The books had a male protagonist, but in the Hallmark movies, the protagonist is female, located in Seattle, and named Belinda "Billie" Blessings. Holly Robinson Peete plays Billie. Rick Fox plays police detective Ian Jackson, and Karen Robinson plays Billie's Aunt Cassandra "Cassie" Shaw.

Martha's Vineyard Mysteries

  • The Martha's Vineyard Mysteries were written by Philip R. Craig

  • There are nineteen novels in the Martha’s Vineyard Mystery series.

  • There are four movies in the Martha’s Vineyard Mystery series.

The Martha's Vineyard Mystery series has 19 books written by Phillip Craig and published between 1989 and 2008. The series protagonist is a former Boston cop named Jeff "J. W." Jackson. J.W. retired to Martha’s Vineyard to fish, cook, and relax but ends up getting involved in one murder mystery after another. Hallmark created four mystery movies based on this book series. They originally aired between 2020 and 2021. Jesse Metcalfe plays the lead role of Jeff Jackson. His sidekick, doctor and medical examiner Zee Madieras, is played by Sarah Lind. Phillip Craig's son, police sergeant James "Jamie" Craig worked as a consulting producer on the movies.

Emma Fielding Mysteries

  • Dana Cameron wrote the Emma Fielding Mystery series.

  • There are six books in the Emma Fielding Mystery series.

  • There are three movies in the Emma Fielding Mystery series.

The Emma Fielding Mystery series by Dana Cameron consists of six books published between 2006 and 2009. The series follows brainy archaeologist Emma Fielding, who specializes in uncovering lost items, secrets, and clues at New England digs in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Hallmark created three movies based on this book series. They originally aired between 2017 and 2019. The Hallmark movies feature Courtney Thorne-Smith as Emma Fielding and James Tupper as her FBI pal Jim Conner.

Gilded Newport Mysteries

  • Alyssa Maxwell wrote the Gilded Newport Mystery series.

  • There are 12 books and counting in the Gilded Newport Mystery series.

  • There is one movie so far in the Gilded Newport Mystery series.

The Gilded Newport Mystery series by Alyssa Maxwell contains 12 books and counting. The first book, Murder at the Breakers, was published in 2014. It follows society page writer Emma Cross as she navigates glitzy balls and murder mysteries in Newport, Rhode Island in the Gilded Age (1895). The idea for a movie adaptation came about when a film producer saw a copy of Murder at The Breakers (the first book in the series) in a gift shop while touring The Breakers. Hallmark adapted the first book in the series into a movie. It premiered in 2024. The movie stars Ali Skovbye as Emma and Danny Griffin as Detective Jesse Whyte.

Garage Sale Mysteries

  • Suzi Weinert is the author of the Garage Sale Mystery series.

  • There are four books in the Garage Sale Mystery series.

  • There are 16 movies in the Garage Sale Mystery series.

The Garage Sale Mystery book series, written by Suzi Weinert, is a three-book cozy mystery series published between 2014 and 2016. The series protagonist is Jennifer Shannon, a suburban treasure hunter who visits garage sales and estate sales in upscale neighborhoods near her McLean, Virginia home. Jennifer's character and the series concept were inspired by Weinert's own garage sale and estate sale shopping experiences in the wealthy suburbs of Washington, D.C., where she purchased items owned by politicians, diplomats, and other wealthy or influential people. Hallmark's Garage Sale Mystery series is loosely based on the book series. The series starred Lori Loughlin as Jennifer Shannon, an antique dealer with an eye for bargains, details, and clues. Sixteen Garage Sale Mystery movies aired between 2013 and 2020. Author Suzi Weinert had a small cameo in the first Hallmark Garage Sale Mystery.

Carnegie Kincaid Mysteries

  • Deborah Donnelly is the author of the Carnegie Kincaid Mystery series.

  • There are six books in the Carnegie Kincaid Mystery series.

  • There is only one Wedding Planner Mystery movie

Deborah Donnelly wrote six books in the Carnegie Kincaid Mystery series. They were published between 2002 and 2006. The series protagonist, Carnegie Kincaid, planned weddings, lived on a houseboat in Seattle, and solved mysteries. Hallmark made a TV movie adaptation of Deborah Donnelly's novel Veiled Threats, called Wedding Planner Mystery. Erica Durance played wedding planner Carnegie Kincaid, and Andrew W. Walker played news reporter Aaron Gold.

Gethsemane Brown Mysteries

  • Alexia Gordon wrote the Gethsemane Brown Mystery series.

  • There are five books in the Gethsemane Brown Mystery series.

  • There is one movie based on the Gethsemane Brown Mystery series.

The Gethsemane Brown Mystery series by Alexia Gordon is a paranormal mystery series with five books published between 2016 and 2020. It is about a classical musician named Gethsemane Brown who is working as a teacher in the Irish countryside. In the first book, Murder in G Major, she pairs up with a ghost to solve a mystery. Hallmark adapted the first book in the series into a movie called Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major, which initially aired in 2023. It was filmed in Ireland and starred Tamera Mowry-Housley as Gethsemane Brown, Risteard Cooper as Eamon McCarthy, and Marco Grazzini as Griff.

Family History Mysteries

  • Brynn Bronner wrote the Family History Mystery series.

  • There are four books in the Family History Mystery series.

  • There is one movie based on the Family History Mystery series.

The Family History Mysteries is a four-book mystery series written by Brynn Bonner and published between 2013 and 2016. The series is focused on Sophreena McClure, a genealogist who traces family histories and creates heritage scrapbooks. Hallmark has created one movie based on the series called Family History Mysteries: Buried Past. It premiered in 2023 and stars Janel Parrish as McClure and Niall Matter as her childhood friend Jackson.

Hailey Dean Mysteries

  • Nancy Grace wrote the Hailey Dean Mystery series

  • There are three books in the Hailey Dean Mystery series.

  • There are nine movies in the Hailey Dean Mystery series.

Nancy Grace wrote the Hailey Dean Mystery series between 2009 and 2016. The protagonist of this mystery trilogy is Hailey Dean, a prosecutor turned therapist who begins sleuthing to prove her innocence. Hallmark adapted these books into a popular mystery series with nine movies between 2016 and 2019. Kellie Martin played the lead character Hailey Dean in the Hallmark movies. Another movie based on the first book in the series, The Eleventh Victim, appeared on the Lifetime Television Network in 2012 and starred Jennie Garth as Hailey Dean.

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