There’s something deeply satisfying about a mystery that starts with a crossword puzzle found on a dead guy. It’s so wonderfully specific—like the killer is taunting the New York Times Sunday edition. And that’s exactly the energy A Puzzle to Die For brings to the table: cozy crime with a nerdy wink, the kind of movie that knows it’s not reinventing the genre but is absolutely committed to having a good time while solving it.
The setup is classic Hallmark‑Mystery comfort food. A prominent art‑gallery owner is murdered during what looks like a burglary, but the real clue is the crossword puzzle found on his body—one written by Tess Harper, crossword editor for the Sentinel. Lacey Chabert plays Tess with that signature blend of earnestness and “I’m smarter than everyone in this room but too polite to say it.” She’s the kind of character who sees patterns everywhere, and the movie wisely lets her intelligence drive the plot instead of treating it like a quirky hobby.
Enter Brennan Elliott as Detective Logan O’Connor, a man who radiates “I don’t need help from a civilian” energy until he realizes Tess is basically a walking, talking clue‑machine. Their dynamic is the good stuff—banter, friction, mutual respect, and that slow‑burn “we’re not flirting, we’re just solving crimes very intensely” vibe that Hallmark does better than it gets credit for. And yes, Logan eventually caves and accepts Tess’s help, because the clues she finds in her own crosswords are too sharp to ignore.
Meanwhile, Tess is also juggling a crossword tournament, because of course she is. It’s peak Hallmark multitasking: solve a murder, run a community event, keep your aunt (played by Barbara Niven) from worrying too much. The tournament scenes add levity and give the movie a fun, nerd‑culture texture—think competitive Scrabble energy but with fewer grudges.
Director Don McCutcheon keeps everything bright, brisk, and clean. The pacing never drags, the clues land with just enough weight to feel clever, and the tone stays warm even when the stakes rise. It’s a mystery you can watch with your brain engaged but your blood pressure steady. No grimdark, no trauma, no “the killer is actually your long‑lost twin”—just a tidy, clever puzzle that clicks into place.
By the time the final reveal drops, the movie has done exactly what it promises: delivered a cozy, clever, lightly snarky mystery anchored by two leads who are genuinely fun to watch. It’s not trying to be prestige TV. It’s trying to be enjoyable. And it is.
In the end, A Puzzle to Die For is exactly the kind of cozy‑clever mystery that earns its rewatch value — and thankfully, it’s easy to revisit. You can stream it on Prime Video (either through a Hallmark+ trial or as a rental), pick it up on Apple TV, or watch it through Hoopla if your library’s plugged into the system. It’s a warm, lightly snarky, puzzle‑driven comfort watch, and having it this accessible just makes it feel like a Sunday crossword waiting for you to curl back into it.
MPAA Rating: TV-G.
Runtime: 84 mins
Director: Don McCutcheon
Writer: Gregg Rossen; Brian Sawyer
Cast: Lacey Chabert; Brennan Elliott; John Kapelos
Genre: Drama | Crime
Tagline: A Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Original
Memorable Movie Quote: "You always this nosy?"
Distributor: Hallmak +
Official Site:
Release Date: March 10, 2019
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: A crossword is found on the murdered owner of a burglarized art gallery. Tess, a Sentinel crossword editor, finds clues in crosswords. Eventually, detective Logan accepts her clues and help. Tess is also running a crossword tournament.
