Ruby Herring Mysteries (TV Series) Her Last Breath (2019) User Reviews

A better Ruby Herring

[wjspears · 8/10 · 9 September 2021]

This was much improved over the first Ruby Herring mystery. It focused as much on the characters as the mystery, and we watched better chemistry, particularly between Ruby and Jake.

Bringing in an older looking actor to play Ruby's dad (John Wesley Shipp) was a good idea. The previous actor (Shawn Christian) while good, was too young for the part which was an unnecessary distraction.

The producers also seemed to have replaced Ruby's sister Charlotte (Alyson Walker) with friend Jenny Taylor (Chelsea Hobbs), as Ruby's "Girl Friday" researcher. I'm not so sure that was an improvement.

Having Ruby's sister in the series gave Ruby some history and emotion, that Jenny doesn't seem to provide. Also, having Jenny as a research source seems to conflict with the news character, Angela Bircham (Karen Holness) who also seems to play the same research role for Ruby.

There were a number of sweet moments between Ruby and Jake, and the writers did a nice job of humanizing Jake's character.

The mystery itself was good. It was fairly easy to follow, even as there were a number of characters with possible motives for murder--some emotional, others financial.

I especially enjoyed the clever way that Ruby gets the better of the murderer at the end. The murderer intends to leave in the car. Ruby unlocks and relocks the car doors--indicating that she is the one who has the "keys" to the car!

Enjoyable Mystery Series

[lakebotany-32808 · 8/10 · 15 March 2020]

This one starts out a bit slow but picks up. Really enjoyed the cast, Jake (Stephen Huszar) is very easy on the eyes & Taylor Cole as Ruby is very likeable & believable. One of the better Hallmark mysteries!

A carefully thought out plan

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 30 September 2019]

Seattle's intrepid consumer reporter Ruby Herring is on the case again. In this film Taylor Cole has a guest fitness guru on her segment of the news hour. After she leaves the studio the women who is clearly disoriented as we see her, plunges over an embankment.

This was a beloved figure known for her philanthropy. Her company and herself gave millions away to environmental causes. Who would want to hurt her?

All I'll say is that this was one carefully thought out scheme by the perpetrator, from using a really exotic poison to dating a person for the express purpose of framing them.

This was a good entree in the Ruby Herring series.

Ruby Herring Mysteries: Her Last Breath

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 6/10 · 30 September 2019]

6/10 - a sub-par mystery, but the characters kept the movie engaging

Her last Breath

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 7 July 2023]

Seattle TV consumer reporter Ruby Herring turns unorthodox investigator when the strange death of her friend, a celebrated health/fitness guru, turns out to be premeditated murder. Determined to find out who killed her friend, Ruby works in the shadows while forming an unofficial alliance with Jake Killian, the handsome Seattle P. D. homicide detective assigned to the case.

Quite a good mystery featuring a typical inquisitive reporter - well all of them are such - who is a few steps ahead of her detective friend. It's standard stuff, well worn, but entertaining. Taylor Cole is quite likeable and cute.

Dogged Determination

[alan-oreilly-1 · 9/10 · 8 March 2021]

"When those fellows get started, all hell can't stop them" - Union corps commander General Gordon Granger during the Battle of Missionary Ridge November 25 1863 when the Union Army of the Cumberland advanced up the ridge without orders, drove off the Confederate defenders and raised the siege of Chattanooga. General Granger's remark applies perfectly to Ruby's relentless and astutely resourceful determination to see the mystery through to a successful conclusion with the identification and arrest of the criminal. Her overriding concern is, as is Jake's, to bring closure and comfort to those most deeply affected by the crime. "I want the same thing you do," she declares to Jake. That priority undergirds the burgeoning relationship between Jake and herself that won't be deterred by negative criticism, ponderous officialdom and false trails from leads that don't pan out. Ruby therefore comes across as the most compassionate of Hallmark Mysteries' quiet heroines. She doggedly follows up leads, enlists professional help as necessary, stoically absorbs rebuffs* and carries on regardless, totally unafraid to speak her mind. "The system stinks," she roundly rebukes Jake at one point. *Travesty Tru is an exception but that's for the next review. Ruby wouldn't back down even from Lynn Smith, which is saying something. This episode is further compelling in bringing to the fore more of Jake's and Ruby's personal lives and in scripting the character of Kate Billings. Kate is lithe, beautiful, highly intelligent and thoroughly resilient both in having to bear a shed-load of grief and in not holding a grudge even though deeply wronged by one of her nearest and dearest whom she tried to help. It would be great to see Kate reappear in RHM4+ paired, say, with Jake's rangy lookalike BFF Killian cousin of about the same age, let's call him Scott, ex-US Army Engineer with service in Helmand, having worked on the Alaska pipeline and now back in Seattle as a city engineer. Scott's reaction on learning of Jake's friendship with Ruby would no doubt be "Ruby Herring!? That out-of-this-world red-haired cutey cup-cake from Channel 57 News! Way to go, Cuz!" Ruby would be red-faced as well as red-haired at that evaluation, manifesting genuine humility as she does throughout the series. I award 9/10 for the episode because Kate should have been visible at the final function.

SERIOUSLY????

[agambre · 1/10 · 3 October 2019]

Seriously, Hallmark???? You call this a mystery series??? The movie plot is as boring as the first episode. The leads were not in tune. I struggled to finish the movie but gave it up after one hour of watching. Per usual, Taylor Coke is so stoic and just a mediocre actress. On the good side, congrats to the hair dresser for toning down the annoying red hair from Episode 1.

rather flat

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 27 October 2019]

Ruby Herring (Taylor Cole) is doing a friendly story with rich vitamin entrepreneur Natalie Billings. When Natalie is killed in a car accident, Ruby starts investigating and discovers the case is being handled by a familiar face, police detective Jake Killian (Stephen Huszar).

It's the second movie in this Hallmark mystery franchise. I fail to see any chemistry between Cole and Huszar. He has no charisma. Cole is a beautiful woman but her acting is a bit stiff. The main difficulty is that the movie is way too stiff. The mystery isn't much and is really only worthwhile for an hour long episode at best. It's more like a series of discoveries rather than a fun whodunnit. It is all rather flat.

No, No, No

[constantina-dellopoulou · 1/10 · 13 October 2019]

Not much of a success I'm afraid. Worst than the first one. The plot was dull and on top of that Taylor's Cole acting was as cold as a fish. I seriously beleive Hallmark should cancel the show. It is as bad as the Machmaker series. Hallmark have mercy on us poor viewers....

L A M E

[blkhwk41 · 5/10 · 14 October 2019]

Hallmark must believe all their viewers are idiots....This is lamer than most, some tolerable - but this tripe is beyond watching. Cold characters and the tremendously annoying 'hallmark incessant smile' ...Terrible.

Bears in the Seattle suburbs (at least they got that right).

[cgvsluis · 3/10 · 27 February 2021]

This is the second entry in the Ruby Herring Mystery series that is supposed to be set in Seattle but is so painfully not. Natalie of Natalie's Naturals goes missing and then turns up dead, putting Ruby and detective Jake back together again. Tommy gives Ruby and Jake a pre-autopsy report and Ruby meets to hash out ideas with her retired crime beat father.

"Nancy Drew Strikes again."-Jake

"He's cute."-Jenny "Yeah if you like know it all detective types."-Ruby

This mystery is filled with yoga, smoothies and a struggling artist, but who poisoned our Natalie?

"My very own Hardy Boy"-Ruby to Jake

Ruby and Jake dance around each other solving clues, while her best friend, Jenny, looks for a house and ends up getting to meet Jake Killian's mom, who just happens to be a real estate agent...which is how they discover that Jake can bake.

"A baker with a badge."-Ruby

I'd like to say this hallmark mystery series is growing on me but it isn't. I like the cast, particularly the two leads...but there is just something lacking in the Chemistry. The writing is decent and has fun references to older detective series...like Cagney and Lacey, etc. I would like to like this more than I do, but so far the first two in the series have left me kind of flat, especially with Aurora Teagarden and the mystery 101 series to compete with.

Not a fan

[mary-179-677383 · 2/10 · 20 January 2021]

I watched a couple of the Ruby Herring movies and my general review of all of them are, Ruby is not really a likeable character. In one instance her friend dies and normal people would be upset or sad, she's emotionless and just keen to solve the murder. She has two looks, fake looking smile smirk or blank face. The detective Jake however is handsome and plays the role well. They should just make more Aurora Teagarden.

Delete

[Pvrspecialist · 1/10 · 3 February 2023]

I recorded this. Took me to the third try to watch to the end. It was lifeless, grating and a waste. Other reviewers are correct. Taylor Cole who normally is a joy to watch is full out annoying. Her tone, her postures, even her looks ( what was with the hairdo and makeup at the gala, ghastly and scary) makes you want to stop watching. This is my first Ruby Herring and this episode on Imbd was top rated. Hate to see what the others are. But will give another episode a try as I like Stephen Huzar. Hopefully the newer episodes will show him with more detective intelligence. If there was to be chemistry between the two the script and directing missed by a mile. Kinda like the Dad tho' Risk watching it if you must.