Days of our Lives star Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady) could be nicknamed the Hallmark Queen, already having a slew of films with the family-friendly network under her belt. And it seems her reign will continue. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries has announced that it is producing a new movie franchise starring the former daytime star.
Titled The Chronicle Mysteries, the series of films will center around Roberta "Robbie" McPherson (Sweeney), a novelist and podcaster. According to the official description, Robbie "is researching the cold case of Gina DeSavio. Robbie loves the chase, loves solving any puzzle or mystery. She is particularly interested in Gina's disappearance because Robbie and Gina knew each other as children growing up in a small town. Robbie is also niece to Miles Lawrence's, the owner of the local paper the Harrington Chronicle, and she's about to inherit the paper."
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries also announced that it is adding a Crossword Mysteries film franchise to its lineup, starring Lacey Chabert (ex-Bianca Montgomery, All My Children).
"A brilliant crossword puzzle editor (Chabert) finds her life turned upside-down when she is pulled into a police investigation after several of the clues in her recent puzzles are linked to unsolved crimes," says the official Hallmark description. "The lure of an unsolved puzzle leads to an unlikely partnership working with a tough, but charming police detective (Brennan Elliott) as the two set out to solve the murder before the killer strikes again."
Says Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming and Network Publicity, Crown Media Family Networks: "Each of our new franchises have great hooks and engaging amateur sleuths to draw in viewers who love to solve a great mystery as the story unfolds."
Crossword Mysteries is set to premiere in June. There's no official release date for Sweeney's The Chronicle Mysteries at this time.
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