Is Hallmark’s ‘Pie To Die For’ Last ‘Hannah Swensen/Murder She Baked’ Mystery?
Hallmark has surprised Sleuthers with the June 22 premiere of Pie To Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. Starring Alison Sweeney, Victor Webster, and Barbara Niven, this is the twelfth movie in the Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen Mystery series.
However, could this be the last movie in this mystery series? Here is the latest information on this fan-favorite mystery franchise.
Hallmark Is Premiering Pie To Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
Is Hannah Swensen ending? Here are the latest details. First, the good news. The Hallmark Channel, not the Mystery Channel, is premiering the new Pie To Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery on Sunday, June 22, at 8 p.m., Eastern. That is a different day of the week, along with the OG channel premiere. This new movie that stars Alison Sweeney, Victor Webster, and Barbara Niven will be available to stream on Hallmark+ the next day.
According to the official synopsis, “When Hannah’s customer and Delores’ theater rival is murdered, Hannah must find her killer in order to save her mother’s reputation. Chad and Hannah’s romance blossoms.”
In addition, the network has released some photos. They include Hannah and Chad dancing in what could be the Tango. Could dancing be part of their big date? Or could this be an opportunity for Hannah to do some investigative work?
Is Pie To Die For Last Movie In Hannah Swensen Franchise?
Next, the big question is whether Pie To Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery is the final movie in the long-running mystery franchise. That is possible. Firstly, contrary to some unfortunate published misinformation, this movie and Reality Bites were both filmed in the Autumn of 2024. Therefore, there is no other movie beyond Pie.
Next, Hallmark Mystery premiered Reality Bites, which originally had the working title of Cooked To Death, back in February. Now, Pie To Die For is premiering on Sunday, June 22. That means they need to start filming more mysteries if there are to be more in this series. Is there any news about the future of the franchise?
There is news. In late April, Alison had an Instagram Stories Q&A. One fan asked about more movies in the Hannah Swensen series. Alison’s reply was, “Thank you. I’m so glad you love Hannah Swensen. I love playing Hannah. So, hope there’s more to come.”
Currently, several sources have indicated that they are not making new mysteries at this time. The questions about the future of Hallmark Mastery started with the hoopla over whether two Curious Caterer Mysteries have been made.
Nikki DeLoach went to socials to share that they have not made these movies, but hope to. They were originally going to make them earlier this year. Then the network moved that production to the summer. However, there is no new information on the series. Moreover, as previously mentioned, the Hallmark Mysteries & More podcast has shared that their sources have revealed that the network is not making any mysteries now.
More recently, two weeks before Mystery Island: Play For Keeps was about to premiere, the network quietly removed it from the schedule, as well as the videos and information on the press site about the original June 5 premiere date.
You don’t need to be as clever as Aurora Teagarden to see that something is brewing at the feel-good network. Unfortunately, for Sleuthers, it is not new mystery scripts or filming sequels for the cornucopia of single mystery movies like Tipline. Former executive Lisa Hamilton Daly was the champion of mysteries. It appears that the new regime doesn’t have a plan.
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For right now, the network has said nothing about the future of mysteries. However, with the new Hannah, this will only be the third new mystery to premiere in 2025, not counting the two Jane and one Aurora mysteries that had previously premiered on Hallmark+ in 2024.
If you are a Sleuther, the future of Hallmark Mystery is very concerning.
Sleuthers, are you concerned that Pie To Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery is last of the Hallmark Mystery series? Be sure to catch the premiere of of this new mystery starring Alison Sweeney, Victor Webster, and Barbara Niven on Sunday, June 22, at 8 p.m., Eastern, on the Hallmark Channel.
This news about the future of Hallmark Mysteries is horrendous to me. I was totally surprised to see the new Hannah Swenson mystery advertised as premiering on the regular Hallmark channel. What is up with that?!?
For your information, I, for one, very rarely watch Hallmark. I don’t really like those sappy love stories. On the other hand, Hallmark Mystery channel is one of my very favorites. I’m quite sure I am not the only one who feels like this. I don’t know what the powers that be are thinking, but I suggest you change your thinking, or some people may forget about watching Both Hallmark channels.
I too do not like the sappy love stories. They are all the same. The mysteries are what kept me watching. The end of Pie did not feel like the last Hannah Swenson movie but then Mystery 101 was not tied up with a neat little bow either.
I agree. We wait for the next movie in the series and it never comes. All we get in the Mystery channel are rom coms. Many of us like to follow the characters and get to know them. Mystery 101 didne’twrap it up. Garage ale mystery, curious caterer mysteries. Chronicle mysteries. Flower shop mystery. Gourmet Detective. Hannah Swenson. Martha’s Vineyard. They are obviously still popular since they frequently repeat them but that just makes us mad they didn’t make more of them. I have started watching the Hallmark channels because of it. The postables were left with an open ending. The one star that has legal issues had the case dropped because they found he shouldn’t have been charged. We fans are forgiving, they should be too. Now they show their new premiere movies once and you have to pay for Hallmark plus if you missed it or didn’t tape it. What a rip off!
Hallmark’s mystery movies often feel fresher because the writers actually have to build a real plot — the whodunit gives them room for variety. Most of their love stories, on the other hand, stick to a familiar template: change the names, swap the backdrop, adjust the heroine’s job, and you’ve got the same story. A career-driven woman leaves the big city, returns to a picturesque hometown, meets a charming local or a love interest from her past, they spar a little, then fall in love, and she usually ditches her career and urban life for him.
What puzzles me is why Hallmark hesitates to make more mysteries. They already balance suspense and romance so well — every mystery still has a love story simmering in the background — so it’s not like they’d be abandoning their brand. Instead of leaning so hard on the copy-and-paste romances, they could tap into that blend of intrigue and affection that makes the mysteries so engaging. Just my opinion. 🙂