‘MISS WILLOUGHBY AND THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP’: ONE HALLMARK-ESQUE MYSTERY

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With its smart heroine and light mystery themes, Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is a cute adventure.

Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop (2022) Film Review

Losing her parents as a child affects Elizabeth. Raised by a stranger, a military friend, Robert Windsor, of her parents, she has the best of everything. She earns a good education academically and is also trained by her guardian in hand to hand combat skills. Some twenty years later, Elizabeth (Nathalie Cox) is all grown up and adds smart businesswoman to her impressive resume. She also considers Robert (Kelsey Grammer) one of her closest friends and confidants.

Then their mutual friend arrives with concerns that the ghost of her long-gone father is haunting her. Excited to have something new, after all it’s been a while since she had a case, Elizabeth takes on this new curious adventure.

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‘MISS WILLOUGHBY AND THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP’: ONE HALLMARK-ESQUE MYSTERY. A review of the 2022 indie #Mystery drama. Share on X

A seemingly indie type of mystery, Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is a fun movie. It’s uncomplicated and simple, but that is also part of why it has appeal. Films need to be more wholesome – and by this I don’t mean strictly “clean” – and have that indescribable feeling. The kind that just makes the viewer feel good. This one mostly achieves this.

I really like the heroine even though she is someone I don’t know or recognize from other movies. I like that she has so much talent and knows quite a lot which is admirable, and yet she recognizes the value of Robert in her life. The story isn’t dynamic or something we haven’t seen before. Still if you like Hallmark type mysteries, then this film presents a similar aspect. The mystery is fun and presents a kind of Nancy Drew-esque portrait, and though it is set in modern times, the British set drama still presents an old school face. And I love this.

While similar to a number of other stories and mysteries, Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop is something I’d recommend. It’s a good time with a good cast.

Stream, at publication, on Peacock or Roku; or digitally rent / purchase on places like Prime Video

Content: Nothing to make note of unless spirit stories or ghost elements bother you. There are also the thematic elements of parental loss. The film is PG.

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