What's not real? Everybody looks like acting models, and acting & dialogue to match. Crimes & the continuing stringing along litany of solving clues. You're going "sure" w/each obscure step in figuring it all out. Police department is all in, and bringing in psychics & conjurers next. Hallmark - fast food pablum for those needing easy digestibility.

Lacey Chabert the crossword puzzle editor and creator of the crossword puzzles of a fictional NYC newspaper despite homicide detective Brennan Elliott's best efforts to keep her out is invaluable in his latest case.

The murder Elliott is looking to solve is that of Kyle Buchanan a friend of Chabert's aunt Barbara Niven. No way she's keeping out of this.

The late Mr. Buchanan a writer was working on a book about code names for World War 2 operations from all countries. Chabert figures out his code expertise is what got him into a modern treasure hunt.

Her work at creating crossword puzzles makes her a natural codebreaker. It's the cops who are having trouble keeping up with her.

Nice story with a bit of a surprise in the end.

In this Hallmark mystery movie, crossword editor Tess Harper (Lacey Chabert) is once again set on helping Detective Logan (Brennan Elliot) with a murder investigation. Tess feels she must get involved as the victim was a friend. The clues lead to a valuable ring, a code cipher, an elusive children's book, and at least one attempt on Tess' life.

For the first time since I began watching these Hallmark movies, I found one that failed to entertain. I can and have overlooked a lot of shortcomings with these films as long as I enjoy the experience. But with clues that go nowhere, police that act like idiots, and the forced chemistry between the two main leads, Proposing Murder just didn't work for me. But my main complaint comes in the film's last act. One of the things that bothers me most about a mystery is one that doesn't play fair with the viewer. You know, the ones that present vital clues in the final scene that lead to unmasking the killer. The kind of clues that the viewer would have no way of knowing anything about. Well, Proposing Murder commits this sin. While most of these Hallmark mysteries are guilty of this to some degree, this one is the worst I've run across so far.

4/10.