Hallmark+ decks the halls with crime in “Mistletoe Murders”

The all-new Hallmark+ crime drama “Mistletoe Murders” offers a little murder with a little spooky Christmas spirit.

Mistletoe Murders is a six-episode series. “It’s our first season, hopefully of many,” Sarah Drew, 44, said in a Zoom interview. “We’re all spreading prayers out there.

“It started as an Audible podcast series, which is still running. It just dropped its third season. From the same creator who made the great TV series.

“So,” said this “Everwood” and “Grey's Anatomy” veteran, “when I got the offer and read the script, I fell madly in love with it.” It's so much fun! It combines two very popular genres, the mystery genre and the Christmas genre, and puts them together into this beautiful Christmas noir cozy Christmas crime thriller with lots of action and adventure as well as comedy and romance. The show has everything.”

On her character Emily Lane: “She is fascinating, a multi-dimensional character that I was just allowed to play.”

Is Emily an amateur detective given the crime aspect of the series?

“Yes, on the surface,” Drew explained. “She runs a Christmas shop that is open all year round. She loves Christmas! And she just moved to this little town. But when someone she cares about dies, she puts on her detective hat.

“You can tell she has skills that she shouldn’t have as a retailer. And we start to get something from her former life, like breadcrumbs.

“Where does she come from? Throughout the season, the question is: Who is Emily Lane? Is she running away from someone? Something? Is she running towards someone? Something? What is their story?

“We get little, tiny snippets and a real sense of danger amidst all the crime solving she's doing.

“So yes, in some ways she is an amateur detective. But she also has other skills that would make her the best detective of all.”

On a practical level, how does running a Christmas store all year round in July, August and September work? Does anyone actually buy?

“Yes,” Drew replied emphatically. “Talk to my stepmother because she shops at Christmas, she shops all year round.

“And for the best deals on Christmas items, go there in June or July. And some people stay decorated all year round. I don't begrudge anyone any of this because 'tis the season.

“It's a wonderful time of year. Why not extend it throughout the year?”

Mistletoe Murders is streaming on Hallmark+