''Mystery Woman'' is the name of a series of 11

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

mystery film A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means ...

s released by the

Hallmark Channel The Hallmark Channel is an American television channel owned by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., which in turn is owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc. The channel's programming is primarily targeted at families, and features a mix of television movies and ...

between 2003 and 2007, and now appearing regularly on the

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (formerly known as Hallmark Movie Channel, and also known as HMM) is an American digital cable and satellite television channel owned by Crown Media Holdings. The channel was spun off from sister network Hallmark Chan ...

. While on the Hallmark Channel, it was broadcast in rotation with the movie series '' McBride'', '' Murder 101'', and ''

Jane Doe John Doe (male) and Jane Doe (female) are multiple-use placeholder names that are used when the true name of a person is unknown or is being intentionally concealed. In the context of law enforcement in the United States, such names are ofte ...

'', under the

umbrella title An umbrella title is a formal or informal name connecting a number of individual items with a common theme. It is most often used in lieu of listing the separate components or providing a convenient "label" for a collection of disciplines. Uses of ...

Hallmark Channel Mystery Wheel A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of metal, mostly to certify the content of noble metals—such as platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium. In a more general sense, the term ''hallmark'' can al ...

''. In the UK these movies are aired, on a rotation basis, in the afternoon drama slot on Channel 5. The series pilot aired in 2003, followed by ten episodes that ran through 2005–07. ''Mystery Woman'' stars

Kellie Martin Kellie Martin (born October 16, 1975) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Rebecca "Becca" Thatcher in '' Life Goes On'' (1989–1993), Lucy Knight on '' ER'' (1998–2000), Samantha Kinsey in the '' Mystery Woman'' TV film seri ...

as Samantha Kinsey, proprietor of a bookstore specializing in mystery books who gets involved in solving real-life mysteries. Martin has also directed two episodes.

Main cast

as Samantha Kinsey: an avid murder-mystery fan who inherits a bookstore in the first film. Her extensive knowledge of murder-mystery books assists her in her amateur sleuthing. In the pilot, she is divorced, but this is never mentioned in the other films. * J.E. Freeman in the first film,

Clarence Williams III Clarence Williams III (August 21, 1939 – June 4, 2021) was an American actor. He played the character of Linc Hayes in the police television series ''The Mod Squad'' from 1968 to 1973. He also appeared in films such as '' Purple Rain'', '' 52 ...

in subsequent films as Philby: Caretaker of the bookstore, later revealed to have worked in a secret agency for the government identified as O.S.D. Level 6 in ''Mystery Woman: Oh Baby''. He is like a father figure to Samantha. *

Constance Zimmer Constance Zimmer (born October 11, 1970) is an American actress. She rose to prominence for playing Dana Gordon in the television series '' Entourage'' (2005–2011) and Claire Simms in the television series ''Boston Legal'' (2006–2007). Sh ...

in the first film, replaced by

Nina Siemaszko Antonina Jadwiga Siemaszko (born July 14, 1970) is an American actress. Best known for her film roles in ''Little Noises'' (1992), ''The Saint of Fort Washington'' (1993), and for her role as Eleanor Bartlet in ''The West Wing'' (2001–2006). B ...

in subsequent films as Cassie Hillman: An assistant to the District Attorney, and personal friend of Samantha's. *

Casey Sander Clinton O. "Casey" Sander (born July 6, 1956) is an American actor known as the character "Captain" Jimmy Wennick on the short-lived TV series '' Tucker''. His television credits also include ''Criminal Minds'', ''The Golden Girls'', ''Grace Und ...

as Chief Connors: The often-foiled police chief who is quick to arrest before Samantha usually proves him wrong. Despite the fact that he hates it when Samantha interferes in his investigations, Chief Connors does care for her, as shown in the last episode of the series ''Mystery Woman: In the Shadows'' when he tells her that she may be a pain in the backside but she is his pain in the backside. His affection is also shown in his nickname for her: "Snoopy".

Films

Notes

Continuity

Throughout the series, the Jeep Liberty driven by Samantha alternates from an all silver vehicle with a large roof rack, to one that's silver with black trim and a smaller roof rack.

References

External links

* {{Hallmark Channel Mystery Wheel Film series introduced in 2003 2000s crime drama films 2000s thriller films American crime drama films American mystery films American film series Hallmark Channel Mystery Wheel Hallmark Channel original films Hallmark Channel original programming American drama television films 2000s American films