A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2023 TV Movie) User Reviews

Better than the last one, but

[wfw-93416 · 6/10 · 18 January 2024]

... Mike should not have apologized. Also, Hannah crosses the legal line several times, yet she never apologizes. I liked the Murder She Baked original series, and I like Sweeney in 'Recovered' series, but these latest ones are disappointing.

I like Hannah's mom, but she was more competent in the earlier episodes. Why must older women be portrayed as boring or vapid? Sorry to list so many negatives. I loved seeing her sister Andrea back, hope she is in more episodes. At this point she appears to be the most grounded and capable woman in that family. Please bring back the old Hannah, who was clever and fun to watch without being silly.

I love Hannah Swensen and this film was no exception!

[cgvsluis · 9/10 · 9 October 2023]

I love Hannah Swensen! It is one of my three favorite mystery series on Hallmark (along with Aurora Teagarden the original with Candace Cameron Bure and Mystery 101) and I am so happy that they brought it back. I love the cast, although I am still warming up to Tess Atkins, who is playing the other sister...Michelle. The main cast is back Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison, Barbara Niven and there is even an appearance by Lisa Durupt who reprises her role as Andrea the sister who we know and love!

Hannah is trying to help her sister Michelle find her own place, so she can move out of Hannah's guest room and things are still strained between Hannah and Mike. When one of Hannah's regular customers doesn't come to pick up her lemon meringue for Mahjong night, Hannah decides to bring the pie to her. While chatting she discovers that Rhonda is putting her lovely home up for sale. The next day when Hannah brings Michelle and their mother over to take a look...they discover Rhonda's dead body in an upstairs bedroom. When all signs point to an ex-con handyman that Hannah has employed, Hannah steps in to try to prove his innocence...which has her running in to Mike. Meanwhile, at the Cookie Jar, an old flame of Hannah's, one Bradford Ramsay played by Oliver Rice, is back in town and has accepted a professorship at the local college.

This was another great entry in the Hannah Swensen Mystery Series...I was thrilled to see Andrea, even if it was brief (I am also missing our good friend and dentist), I was even more thrilled to see Hannah and Mike working things out. The mystery was decent and I highly recommend this as an excellent cosy mystery to all those cosy mystery fans out there.

I am still getting used to the new more modern sets, but I am so grateful the series is back that I will get over it!

FANTASTIC MOVIE.

[ashlyansalam · 10/10 · 9 October 2023]

I have read the book "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" based on which the Movie A zest for Death is made. The story line is similar with respect to book but not entirely same as the victim in both movie and the book is same but the murderer is different. In both movie and book, Delores found the body and she investigates the case in her own manner. Both in the book the character of Norman is there but in the movie he had been removed only mentioning his name and the house where the body is found have been bought by Norman for demolition and constructing a new house making him a possible suspect unlike in the movie where the house is visited by Swensen family for Michelle. Delighted to see Andrea back and eagerly waiting for the character of Bill to return and very much happy to see that Hannah and Mike continuing their relationship.