Baby, it's cold outside! Time to curl up with a good mystery.

The sudden cold snap - even here in sunny California - puts me in mind to curl up with a good book...on TV.  So I guess I'm prime to be one of TNT's prime demos. The TNT Mystery Movie Night features crime dramas based on popular mystery novel and TNT is banking on some well-respected actors to bring in viewers. First up is Scott Turow's  Innocent with Bill Pullman, Marcia Gay Harden and Alfred Molina on November 29. The film is a sequel to Turow’s bestseller Presumed Innocent, with Pullman playing Rusty Sabich, a judge charged with the murder of his wife (Harden) — a situation that comes 20 years after he was cleared in the death of his mistress. I'm a fan of Bill's, having worked with him on The Favor years ago. I was just the production coordinator but he was such a nice guy to everyone. I'll be watching this one!

On November 30th, John Corbett (Sex and the City, My Big Fat Greek Wedding) stars in Ricochet based on the best selling book by Sandra Brown. Corbett appears as Det. Sgt. Duncan Hunter in story about two homicide detectives who find their careers — and lives — on the line when they get caught up in a case of murder and betrayal in high-society Savannah. Hunter, investigating a corrupt judge becomes romantically involved with his wife. John Corbett is another actor whose work I enjoy. I can't say he's ever  totally blown me away but I like  his low-key delivery. I'm curious to see what he brings to this role ... and the love scenes.

December 6th brings Lisa Gardner's Hide to the screen. Carla Gugino (Californication, Entourage) plays Boston Police Detective D.D. Warren, who is called to the grounds of an abandoned mental hospital where a buried chamber is discovered. Inside are the mummified remains of six young women, who have all been missing for years. The case leads D.D. to Annabelle, played by Bridget Regan (Legend of the Seeker). Annabelle is a young woman who spent her childhood moving from city to city, from identity to identity, hiding from someone or something totally unknown to her. D.D. uses clues from Annabelle's secret past to unravel the mystery behind her twisted family history. Confession: I have no idea who this actress playing D.D. Warren is! Will I watch? 50/50. You?

Dishy Dermot Mulroney stars in Richard North Patterson's Silent Witness on December 7. Dermot plays defense attorney Tony Lord, who returns to his hometown to defend an old friend, a teacher accused of murdering a student. Which reminds Tony of the good old days when he was falsely accused of murdering his first love back in high school! Michael Cudlitz (Southland) plays the teacher, Anne Heche plays his wife , and Judd Hirsch is Saul Ruben, Tony's close friend and colleague.
This is terrific cast of actors; I will be tuning in for sure. And more name dropping; back in my days as a production coordinator on the tv show Tales from the Crypt, - this was back in the lat 80's - Michael Cudlitz worked in our construction department.
He was always bringing his headshot into casting. So glad he made it!

April Smith wrote the adaptation of  her own novel, Good Morning, Killer which airs December 13th. The thriller stars Catherine Bell (JAG, Army Wives) as FBI Special Agent Ana Gray, an undercover operative tracking down a serial kidnapper. Good Morning, Killer co-stars Cole Hauser (Chase, K-Ville) as Detective Andrew Berringer; William Devane (Knots Landing, 24) as Everett Morgan "Poppy" Grey, Ana's grandfather; Titus Welliver (The Good Wife, Lost) as FBI Special Agent Mike Donnato, Ana's partner; and Suleka Mathew (TNT's HawthoRNe) as Anna's best friend, FBI Agent Barbara Sullivan.
Hmmm. A maybe from me.

Just in time for the holidays, Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark's Deck the Halls airs on December 20th. Kathy Najimy (Sister Act, Franklin & Bash) plays cleaning-woman-turned-private-eye Alvirah Meegan, with Scotti Thompson (Star Trek) playing Detective Regan Reilly. Two-time Emmy® winner Jane Alexander (Testament, Warm Springs) plays Regan's mother, famed mystery writer Nora Regan Reilly in this holiday tale where Alvirah and Regan race to rescue Regan's kidnapped father and get him home for the holidays.  Jane Alexander AND Kathy Nijimy?! Yes, I'll be watching.

So what do you think? Are these going to be quality films or lousy made-for-tv movies? And how about the casting? Did they get it right? Keep me posted and I'll do the same.