Sunday night, the newest Hannah Swensen mystery pops on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The holiday-themed Murder She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery, is rife with intrigue, danger, and tasty holiday goodies. And of course — murder, we can’t forget a murder. I mean really, what is the holiday season without a few dead bodies? I’m obviously kidding here, but still, insert your own ominous music, ‘cause of the whole murder, thing.
Sharing the Love
I chatted with Alison Sweeney before the premiere of the first Murder She Baked movie, so this time I thought I’d give her charming co-star, Cameron Mathison a chance to talk about the action.
Credit: ©2015 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss
Merry Murder!
Of course, when I think of Christmas, my first through isn’t about murder, but Mathison assures us the plot will make sense. “It takes place at Christmas in and around a tree lot. The Plum Pudding Mystery wouldn’t make sense any other time of year. Let me just say… Nobody does Christmas like Hallmark!” Agreed, Cameron. Nobody can deck a hall like the folks at Hallmark.
Credit: ©2015 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss
Det. Mike on Hannah
This is the second time that Det. Mike Kingston has found Hannah Swenson mixed up in a murder. I asked Mathison how the Mike & Hannah (who Det. Mike calls an “undercover baker, ninja, spy”) relationship is different in the second movie and Mathison loved that I was quoting his character back to him. “Ha! Love that,” he laughed. “She is all those things! I think the love triangle between Hannah, Mike and Norman is getting more and more complicated… You know… As triangles do. By the end of this film Hannah does plant a big kiss on one of her men, though.” Oooh! So don’t miss the film’s last act or you may miss the big smoocheroo!
About that dessert…
I have always avoided plum pudding because in my opinion, pudding should be either chocolate or tapioca, but after a quick internet research, plum pudding is “pudding” in the British sense, meaning a dessert, not a relative of mousse. It’s like bread pudding, with plums. I asked Mathison is he tried eat plum pudding while working on this film. “I actually did not!” he marveled. “Which is shocking because usually I’m the guy who has to eat like 45 cookies shooting a scene. Wait… I did eat 45 cookies shooting one of the scenes, just no plum pudding.” Ugh, 45 cookies!?! No thanks, even if they’re from Joanne Fluke’s tasty recipes. Speaking of which, her recipe for plum pudding can be found here.
Cameron’s Faves
Even though Mathison stuffed his tummy with cookies, it may have been his own choosing; he shared that his favorite holiday treat is sugar cookie dough. And the devoted family man dad said a few of his favorite holiday traditions include: “Setting up and decorating the tree. That and Christmas morning watching the kids open presents … and ice skating on Christmas Eve … and reading ’Twas The Night Before Christmas [A Visit from Saint Nicholas] on Christmas Eve.” Simply charming.
About the film
Murder She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery stars Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison, Barbara Nivens and Farrah Fath. Based on the Joanne Fluke book series, the adventures of Hannah Swenson (Sweeney) continue in this holiday edition featuring the baker-turned-sleuth making plum pudding and trying to solve the murder of a man on his Christmas tree lot. The list of suspects who would have wanted to see the guy dead is a long one, from a bitter ex-wife to exasperated investors. But Hannah and her love interest and detective Mike, (Mathison) are on the case, not to mention ready for a little Christmastime romance.
Hungry for more?
FYI- if you’re hankering for more tasty mysteries from the pen (and whisk) of Joanne Fluke, Murder She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery premieres Jan. 10 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. And my mouth is already watering!
Murder She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery > Hallmark Movies & Mysteries > Sunday, Nov. 22 at 9pm ET/PT
Love the Hallmark Movies. Wish the mysteries were on at seven or eight o’clock. I always fall asleep and miss the end . I watch both Hallmark Channels. You have the best on.