If you’ve ever spent a rainy Sunday afternoon curled up on the couch with Hallmark Mystery, you probably know Aurora Teagarden. Honestly, she’s basically the queen of the "cozy mystery" genre. But if you’re trying to figure out the Aurora Teagarden movies order, things get a little messy. Hallmark didn't exactly release them in the order the books were written, and then they went and threw a prequel series into the mix.
It’s a lot.
Whether you're a die-hard fan of Candace Cameron Bure or you’re just getting into the newer Skyler Samuels era, you’ve gotta have a roadmap. Watching them out of sequence is sorta like reading the last chapter of a book first—you’ll get the gist, but you’ll miss all the relationship drama and the slow-burn romances that make the series actually work.
The Original Candace Cameron Bure Era (Release Order)
Most people start here. This is the "classic" era that ran from 2015 to 2022. It follows "Roe" (Aurora), a librarian in Lawrenceton, Georgia, who is obsessed with true crime. She’s part of the Real Murders Club, a group of buffs who sit around discussing famous cold cases—until real bodies start dropping in their own backyard.
You’ll notice that her love life changes significantly throughout the series, which is the main reason you should stick to the release order. If you jump from movie one to movie fifteen, you’ll be very confused about why she’s suddenly dating a different guy.
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- A Bone to Pick (2015) – This is the one where Roe inherits a house from an acquaintance, only to find a skull hidden inside. Talk about a housewarming gift.
- Real Murders (2015) – Members of the Real Murders Club start getting killed in ways that mimic famous crimes.
- Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (2016) – Aurora tries her hand at real estate. It goes about as well as you’d expect: she finds a body.
- The Julius House (2016) – Roe buys a house with a dark past involving a family that vanished four years prior.
- Dead Over Heels (2017) – This one involves a personal clash with Detective Sergeant Frederick Burns.
- A Bundle of Trouble (2017) – Aurora and her boyfriend Martin deal with a disappearance and a mystery baby.
- Last Scene Alive (2018) – A film crew comes to town to make a movie based on a book by Roe’s ex, Robin.
- Reap What You Sew (2018) – An old family friend and internet sensation is murdered.
- The Disappearing Game (2018) – Aurora’s nephew goes missing, and we meet the handsome Professor Nick Miller for the first time.
- A Game of Cat and Mouse (2019) – Someone starts leaving cryptic clues for Aurora at crime scenes.
- An Inheritance to Die For (2019) – A wedding toast turns deadly when a wealthy aunt is poisoned.
- A Very Foul Play (2019) – During a murder mystery convention, a real murder happens on stage.
- Heist and Seek (2020) – A priceless Tudor crown is stolen during a gala.
- Reunited and It Feels So Deadly (2020) – High school reunions are usually awkward, but for Roe, they involve finding a body in a pool.
- How to Con a Con (2021) – While planning a wedding, Aurora has to help her mother, Aida, solve a real estate scam that turned fatal.
- Til Death Do Us Part (2021) – Just days before her wedding, a body is found, and Roe’s own father is a suspect.
- Honeymoon, Honeymurder (2021) – Even on a "pre-honeymoon" lake trip, Roe and Nick can't escape the carnage.
- Haunted by Murder (2022) – This was the final film for Candace Cameron Bure, involving a "haunted" house from Aurora’s childhood.
The Skyler Samuels Prequel Era
After Candace Cameron Bure moved to Great American Family, Hallmark didn't want to let the franchise die. Instead, they rebooted it by going back in time. These movies feature Skyler Samuels as a younger Aurora Teagarden. They take place in the post-college years when Roe returns home to Lawrenceton.
Even though these are "prequels" in terms of the timeline, most fans prefer watching them after the original series. It’s fun to see how the younger versions of characters like Aida (still played by the legendary Marilu Henner!) and Arthur Smith evolved.
- Something New (2023) – Young Roe is back from school, working as a waitress, and gets pulled into a mystery when her friend’s fiancé is accused of murder.
- A Lesson in Murder (2024) – A student from Aurora’s true crime literature class is found dead.
- Death at the Diner (2025) – The owner of the diner where Aurora works is killed, putting her new boyfriend in the hot seat.
Why the Order Actually Matters
Honestly, the biggest reason to watch these in order is the rotating door of boyfriends and the evolution of the Real Murders Club.
Early on, Aurora dates Martin Bartell (played by Yannick Bisson). He was a fan favorite, but when Bisson had to leave the show due to scheduling conflicts with Murdoch Mysteries, the writers had to pivot. Eventually, Nick Miller (Niall Matter) enters the picture, and his slow-burn romance with Aurora leads all the way to the altar in the later films.
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If you watch Honeymoon, Honeymurder before The Disappearing Game, you’ll be wondering why this random professor is suddenly the love of her life.
Where the Books Fit In
The movies are based on the book series by Charlaine Harris (the same woman who wrote the True Blood books). Interestingly, the movies don't follow the books strictly. For instance, the first movie, A Bone to Pick, is actually based on the second book. The second movie, Real Murders, is based on the first book.
Hallmark basically took the best bits of the novels and rearranged them to fit a TV movie format. They also softened the tone—the books are a bit grittier and have more "adult" themes than the cozy, family-friendly vibe you see on screen.
Quick reference for the completionists:
- Book 1: Real Murders
- Book 2: A Bone to Pick
- Book 3: Three Bedrooms, One Corpse
- Book 4: The Julius House
- Book 5: Dead Over Heels
- Book 6: A Fool and His Honey
- Book 7: Last Scene Alive
- Book 8: Poppy Done to Death
- Book 9: All the Little Liars
- Book 10: Sleep Like a Baby
How to Stream the Whole Series in 2026
By now, the easiest way to catch up is through Hallmark+ (formerly Hallmark Movies Now). They usually have the entire library of all 21 films (18 original and 3 prequels). You can also find them on Prime Video or Apple TV for purchase if you’re the type who likes to "own" your mysteries.
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If you’re watching on cable, Hallmark Mystery (the channel) often does weekend marathons. Just keep an eye on the titles so you don't accidentally jump from her wedding back to her first date with Martin.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist
To get the best experience, start with A Bone to Pick to understand Aurora's baseline. Once you've finished the 18-movie Candace Cameron Bure run, switch over to the Skyler Samuels prequels to see the "origin story" of the Lawrenceton sleuth. This path ensures you catch every character beat and inside joke without the confusion of a jumping timeline.