Mystery will be back on the menu with Hallmark’s latest offerings! The Cinemaholic can reveal that the network has greenlit two more ‘Hannah Swensen Mystery’ films, titled ‘Cooked to Death’ and ‘A Pie to Die For.’ Both television films will star Alison Sweeney, Barbara Niven, and Gabriel Hogan. While the casts are confirmed, the respective projects’ crews remain under wraps for now. ‘Cooked to Death’ and ‘A Pie to Die For’ will enter production in Vancouver, British Columbia, in November and October, respectively.
‘Cooked to Death’ follows Hannah Swensen, whose long-awaited wedding to her college crush, Ross Barton, is finally happening in Lake Eden, Minnesota. Adding to her excitement, her partner will accompany her to New York City for Food Channel’s dessert chef contest. After a taste of city life and winning the hometown challenge, the contest shifts to Lake Eden for the remaining episodes. But the competition takes a deadly turn when the celebrity chef Alain Duquesne, known for his ruthless critiques, is found stabbed in the Lake Eden Inn’s walk-in cooler—before he can even try Hannah’s famous Butterscotch Sugar Cookies. Now, she must navigate a mystery as complex as a five-layered wedding cake while trying to stay ahead in the competition.
‘A Pie to Die For’ starts with bakery owner Hannah Swensen enjoying a romantic seven-day cruise, the perfect way to celebrate her new marriage. But her peaceful return to Lake Eden, Minnesota, is shattered by a new murder mystery. After the honeymoon, Hannah is eager to settle into married life, but those plans are derailed when her mother’s neighbor, the former stage star Victoria Bascomb, is found murdered in the condo below. Known for stirring up trouble in her brief time in town, Victoria had no shortage of enemies. While the police suspect a random break-in gone wrong, Hannah isn’t convinced. As she digs deeper into a growing list of suspects, she finds herself unraveling a complex mystery. But with her own life at risk, solving the crime may prove more difficult than perfecting the ultimate banana cream pie.
Earlier this year, Alison Sweeney starred in ‘One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery,’ with Barbara Niven and Gabriel Hogan. The plot follows Hannah as she investigates a suspicious explosion during her baking class and the murder of a colleague. Sweeney’s recent credits include ‘A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery‘ and ‘Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery.’ These films are based on Joanne Fluke’s eponymous novel series.
‘One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery’ was filmed in Vancouver, a popular location for Hallmark’s mystery productions. Other detective projects shot in the area include ‘The Cases of Mystery Lane‘ and ‘Family Practice Mysteries: Coming Home.’
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