Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths (2022 TV Movie) User Reviews

Good Chemistry

[doug2go · 8/10 · 4 October 2022]

The Story was a little weak but the chemistry between the two main characters was a 10 - and the ending was an unexpected surprise - which makes this new Hallmark Mystery series a winner in my book. Given the departures of so many Hallmark Mystery stars over the last few months - this is a breath of fresh air and I am looking forward to the next mystery in this series.

I give high marks for the direction that kept this somewhat weak story moving so that the actors didn't get bogged down with minutia - the head fake romance was a great diversion and super misdirection for the story - that will become clear when you watch the whole show.

A Pleasant Surprise

[kpassa · 7/10 · 19 October 2022]

We weren't expecting much. After all, this is a Hallmark Mystery so the bar is set low right from the beginning. Okay, so it isn't going to win any awards for creativity, keeping you on the edge of your seat guessing or acting skills but the ladies did a good job and there were a few surprises thrown in that you normally don't see in a Hallmark mystery. Nobody even got a gun kicked out of their hand by the good guys! At the end we actually were entertained and, rather than dreading the next installment we are hoping that this turns into a series so we can see what they manage to come up with next.

Lots of promise

[xbatgirl-30029 · 7/10 · 23 November 2022]

I found myself liking this movie a lot and, in the end, hope this becomes a series of more movies. Was it the best Hallmark mystery ever? No. But this basically is a pilot episode and most pilots are pretty bad. There's so much hokey exposition that usually bogs pilots down and this movie is no exception, which means the actual mystery got less time. With that in mind, I am grading this on a curve.

I found it very believable that the two leads were sisters. They look a lot alike. Yet I noticed how their costumes carefully were chosen to have contrasting styles to match their personalities and that initially they don't get along. They are also a lot younger than most Hallmark leads, which has 2 positives. One, in recent years all Hallmark casts have become more and more cookie cutter the same and generic. Same exact hair styles, same body type, same plastic surgery. It's very Stepford Wife. And yes, I'd say the same about Hallmark male leads as well. This cast felt less tightly wound, more relaxed, and slightly more real.

Second, I think a young cast has the potential to go on for years making a series. Don't get me wrong, I'd love another series with older actors playing their own age, but 50 year olds playing 28 year olds gets tedious. Like the channel thinks middle aged women aren't attractive or interesting.

I would love if the bar owner and the assistant to the private detective who died are back along with the grumpy police detective. They were all really fun. I wouldn't be sad if Nora quits her job at the law firm though.

Now the spoilery stuff. While I did like the chemistry Nora had with the younger cop, I enjoyed having certain tropes turned on their head when he turned out to be the killer. I also thought it was smart to make the clichéd, lovable moppet, deaf niece turn out to be his crucial motivation to turn dirty. I was not expecting that at all. Also, while I did think the animosity between Nora and Sanchez(?) was so over the top, it did make me wonder in the beginning if they would end up together. But the script did also allow me to buy that he could be the killer later on. So that impressed me.

In the end, I am willing to overlook certain flaws since this could be a pilot movie. And I do hope there will be more movies. I assume the next installment will deal with their parents' death and how they are related to the dead private detective. Most of the recent Hallmark mysteries had lost their luster. I was getting worried. This has me hopeful.

Looking Forward to More

[rebekahrox · 7/10 · 14 October 2022]

I really enjoyed this one and assume it is the beginning of a new series. Certainly hope so. I liked both of the lead actresses and their characters. Even though superficially they do not look like sisters, one brunette and one blond, I was intrigued to note a resemblance in the eyes and mouth that added to the authenticity. The mystery was so-so but the final solution and the killer were a surprise.

I have to give serious props to this one though. I really was fooled by who the possible love interest is going to be going forward. I really thought he was a bad dude, and he was at the beginning. He was very sexy and really had an edge. Looking forward to the romance developing in episodes to come.

I think this new Hallmark mystery has a lot of potential and this first entry was well worth the watch.

[cgvsluis · 7/10 · 26 April 2023]

This new Hallmark mystery took me by surprise, I enjoyed it. I liked the storyline brewing between the twins, the animosity between Nora and Detective Sanchez, and the friendship between Nora and police officer Robby Watts. I do hope there will be more of Nikki and Nora...but while being happy with the whodunnit, I will miss a particular character moving forward, assuming there is more. I hope we will eventually discover why the private investigator left his business to both Nikki and Nora.

Nikki added the lighter aspects to this mystery series with her understudy to the understudy acting jobs. Nora brought the more serious side as the established lawyer whose boss is thought to have committed suicide. Not trusting the detective on the case who wraps up the suicide quickly, Nora teams up with her sister to get to the bottom of what really happened.

The dynamics in this series were great and I can't wait to see more. As mentioned, I thought Madison Smith was a real highlight of the show and his on screen chemistry with Rhiannon Fish was wonderful. This is a recommendation for hallmark mystery fans, I think you will love it.

Good all around- excited for more

[mccabe-shannon · 9/10 · 4 October 2022]

The story was good, the acting was good, the production was good. It's less cheesy than the other HM mysteries series. I mean not much but a bit. I think the casting was really well done, I love the leads on this one. They play off each other well and have a good chemistry. Some of the side characters were a bit... much (or well typical for hallmark).

It was well written, it wasn't completely obvious from the outset who did it. There were clues along the way so it wasn't a complete shock but the misdirection was good.

The background story about the parents is a good way to keep this one going for a Bit.

As always I have the complaint of why say you're somewhere if it's obviously not filmed there. The overview shots of Chicago were nice, but it's obviously not filmed in Chicago. And If they're going to use real areas to make it believable, atleast make it believable. It would take one consultant or a few hours of research to make it more believable.

I'm excited for more installments and will definitely watch them when they come out!

Fun watch

[BigGuy · 7/10 · 30 June 2023]

I don't expect a lot from a Hallmark mystery, but this was a pretty good one overall. I was a little generous with the rating, giving it a bit of a bump for being unexpectedly fun.

The actresses who play the sisters are great. The ditzy sister might have been a bit too ditzy at the beginning and the serious one too serious, but a few scenes in and that evened out. The actresses are also very believable as sisters.

Overall the story has the usual red herrings, which weren't too overplayed (which is a nice change) and actually contributed to the overall story, since usually they are just dead ends.

I think to put it another way, I really hope this does well, because it would be a lot of fun to see a series of these movies, akin to Hallmarks other winners.

Better than expected!

[ngbnd-56608 · 8/10 · 8 October 2022]

I know a lot of people didn't care for this title, thinking it boring, or whatever; but my family and I quite enjoyed it. Nikki and Nora were fun sleuths, sisters and their relationship was pretty believable. The girl who played Nikki (sorry, I didn't look at the actresses names) did an excellent job portraying a fun and quirky character and I liked her a lot. The girl playing Nora likewise did a fabulous job as the more down to earth sister who still got sucked into the mystery and solving it. I thought the chemistry between actors was there and they each played their respective parts well. I love the overarching theme of their parents' deaths, but please don't blow it with this one and never take that story anywhere, Hallmark. I ended up liking all the characters and actually felt empathy at the end, which doesn't usually happen. The ending was a bit of a surprising twist that most viewers might not see coming. This movie was very clean: no woke agenda, no swearing, though there was a shot of the "body" after the fact. I'd like to give all the actors a round of applause for their performances. I hope Hallmark keeps to this formula and makes more of these. Nikki and Nora might actually get my vote for my favorite Hallmark sleuths since Hallmark started movies and mysteries. In fact, the only one they can't top is McBride, IMO. Can't wait for the second installment.

Great sisters act, idiotic crime plot.

[gfrasmd · 4/10 · 4 October 2022]

Let me begin with stating that, despite spoilers comments, I will not perpetrate the major crime of revealing the culprit.

From the content of this movie, it is safe to assume Hallmark is planning to make Nora and Nikki a returning couple in a series of productions that I do wish successful.

There is a lot of potential with the characters, whom I have really enjoyed. Besides the fact that I like Rhiannon Fish, Hunter King was a welcome addition. The interaction of the sisters, one serious, methodical and tenacious, the other free-spirited, ebullient and creative, makes it more than enough for a good show and captivates the audience.

The problem is the crime canvas, psychologically lame and fraught with an inexcusable flaw.

That characters involved would show emotions and behaviors stretched to the limit of credibility, it almost a given. The intent is to create drama and sway a confused audience from the suspect. Only really intelligent and insightful scriptwriters can achieve this goal with subtlety.

Here, the victim, Bolton, is presented as very capable, even too artful. Yet, he totally mishandles the case of a young baseball player, There is no apparent explanation for this, if not the need to create two irate suspects of his murder, father and son. What's more, the end shows Bolton to conveniently turn his back to his murderer, leaving his safe wide open, with his gun in plain view. Not very smart for a smart guy. So, the culprit, whose motive I shall not reveal, fuming with rage, stuns him with a blow on the back of the head, kills him with his gun, and rationally creates the scene of a suicide, including typing a brief "suicide" note. A murder staged as such, could only be carried on successfully with cold planning and premeditation. It is hard to believe that an enraged person, filled with conflicting emotions, could perform it well.

Yet, these flaws become irrelevant, compared to the next one, that renders the plot absurd. The murderer STUNS the victim with a HARD BLOW on his head. Yet, nobody, including the medical examiner, notices the head injury, which would have made it highly unlikely to rate the death as SUICIDE. Hence, the entire story of the sisters investigations is built on an impossibility and, retrospectively, makes no sense. Unless you assume the event was handled by La-la-land Police and the most careless, inept medical examiner, ever.

Thus said, I do hope Nora and Nikki come back to us, with a more intelligent script.

Nikki and Nora make a great team

[coltras35 · 8/10 · 3 June 2023]

Fraternal twins Nikki and Nora are forced back into each other's lives when they inherit a detective agency. Nikki is independent and is happy to be so, and Nora is a flaky would-be actress. They both haven't spoken to each other for years, and have some issues. However, as they work together to try and solve a murder, they soon realize that their differences may be their greatest advantage.

Quite an enjoyable mystery, mainly due to the chemistry and the bantering between the leads. It helps that their characters are quite differing, assuring a good rapport and some drama. It's a well-paced mystery, has solid investigation and holds the attention till the end. There's the usual Hallmark style, but it's all well done.

I'm still shouting from the rooftops, "BRING BACK Mystery 101 & Auroura"

[Itsfunnytobefunny · 3/10 · 10 September 2023]

Before starting, I must state that I have missed some of the former hallmark mysteries. (Aurora and Mystery 101)

This was a fun try. I appreciated the sister dynamic with two strong females. However, the plot could use more. Some of their detective skills were a bit shallow. They were asking some basic questions. I would have loved to see them tie into their mystery with their parents.

*SPOILER ALERT* Halfway through, I enjoyed their solid romantic relationship with a long-term friend. It didn't seem like love at the first-glance situation. He seemed like a good guy...and then last minute, he came in as the bad guy!!!

Wow!

It came out of nowhere, but not in a good way. Bad surprise! It seemed like a weird switch when he had previously apologized for kissing his long-term friend but felt no moral issues for murdering someone. 🤔

Overall this was an okay try. It was a fun and light-heartwarming sister show. However, I didn't connect with the characters and felt a little out of the loop with the surprise ending.

I'm still shouting from the rooftops, "BRING BACK Mystery 101 & Auroura"

Gorgeous, gritty and glam

[MickyG333 · 8/10 · 29 March 2023]

7.6 stars.

Not bad at all if I do say so myself. Where this film lacks in the spit and polish it makes up for with sassiness and spunk. Twin girls (fraternal) now in their twenties have been on their own for years. Their parents are long dead and we are not told how or exactly when. Nikki left Chicago years ago and became a traveler and a grifter of sorts. She returned a few months ago, but doesn't pay rent and has had many odd jobs. In spite of her reputation as an adventurer with no money that to speak of, she still retains the glam and the bling a young woman craves. Nora, 8 minutes older, is a lawyer and a very good one. She stayed in Chicago all these years and never fully recovered from being abandoned by Nikki after their parents died. They discover they've inherited a private detective practice and the legacy of a man who knew their parents well. They somehow make nice with each other after all these years of estrangement and solve a murder by breaking rules and cutting corners. Suffice it to say the police department isn't exactly delighted by their antics.

This film has a ton of potential to become a series, and I'm sure it's in the works. The girls are gorgeous, gritty, and fun. There is no romance, in fact it's anti-romance, and you'll see what I mean if you stick with it until the end. I think this needs a pinch of passion, don't pull a "Mystery 101" where there is only a hint of romance that never comes to fruition, and when it sort of does, we are left with an indefinite cliffhanger.

I highly recommend this first installment of what I'm sure will be many more to come. Hallmark rarely disappoints with their family friendly mysteries.

Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths

[aab874 · 10/10 · 29 October 2022]

Favorite scene with

Nicole "Nikki" Sullivan (Hunter King) - Fake Crying and Pretending to have a Cheating Boyfriend to get Video Footage.

Nora Sullivan (Rhiannon Fish) - Illegally Searching Scott's House with Nikki, Sneaking Out only to get Caught by him, and Confronting him only to Discover that Robby is the Murderer.

BTW #1, I Loved this movie! I Love Hunter King and Rhiannon Fish Together! They So Very Much look like (Fraternal Twin) Sisters! Please make a Second Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths movie! BTW #2, While I did Like Nora and Robby Together, the Chemistry between Nora and Scott was Hot!

Set in Illinois.

the Porter case

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 17 October 2022]

Nora Sullivan (Rhiannon Fish) is a no-nonsense Chicago defense attorney. Nikki Sullivan (Hunter King) is a struggling actress. The estranged twin sisters cannot be more different. They inherit a detective agency from Charles Porter. They've never heard of the man. They investigate the death of Nora's boss who was her supportive mentor.

This is a Hallmark Mystery. I assume that this will be an ongoing series with these two characters. They are fine. These are two beautiful ladies. It's a halting start for the series. There is only one mystery for this first movie to solve. Why did Porter leave his agency to these girls? The reason seems obvious. It's only after a whole other case that the movie gets to that reveal. The Porter case should be the pilot case. It's poor construction for the writers. It's a poor start although the actresses could still be good.

Enjoyable Hallmark mystery

[wjspears · 9/10 · 23 March 2024]

This was a well written and well acted Hallmark Mystery show. Hunter King as Nikki, and Rhiannon Fish as Nora are believable playing fraternal twins, who have a rocky relationship.

Like all of the best Hallmark mystery shows, there is a pleasing blend of lightly staged mystery, intelligent characters, and a healthy dose of humor to keep things moving and lively.

As an example of the show's humor, late in the movie, Nora's police officer friend, Robby, remarks, "Can I trust you two to stay our of trouble until--I don't know--lunch?"

From opposite sides of a kitchen, Nikki and Nora both turn and give Robby the same silent stare.

Robby winces, while putting on his jacket, "I can finally see the family resemblance!"

For anyone who enjoys Hallmark mysteries, this is a good entry into their video library. I certainly hope they produce another Nikki and Nora mystery, with the same cast and much of the same writers.

TypicalHallmark

[Gaslog · 3/10 · 30 December 2022]

Another failed Hallmark effort......... I have attempted to watch numerous Hallmark productions, always holding out hope that I might discover an entertaining effort. Nikki and Nora is another Hallmark production that I hoped I would enjoy. Sadly, it ended up being a rather boring film,filled with the usual amateur acting efforts and poorly written story. Mumbly speech and speed talking are apparently requirements to get a job at Hallmark film studio......one of the main characters...the lead detective in the case......is a perfect example of poor casting. The lad apparently has a minimal experience in the art of acting, providing us with an annoying and amateurish performance......Oh well, on to the next Hallmark film.

Love the concept!

[ceboya · 10/10 · 18 March 2024]

These two should do another one. I would love for Hallmark to challenge their characters as they solve what happened to their parents. Don't make it Hallmark predictable. Make it a Hallmark-think outside the box! The two characters work well together, I almost thought they were real siblings. Not every Hallmark has to have a love interest. This type of mystery show can work with just the two of them solving mysterys. I love Murder She Wrote. These two should do episodes like those. Bring old close mystery solving and combine it with new style. I do hope Hallmark thinks of making another one with them.

S. L O W

[d-robold · 4/10 · 7 October 2022]

This (obvious) series might have made a good 1 hour Murser She Wrote, but it did not need 2 hours. I picked out the guilty person in the first 30 minutes. The obnoxious, self-important police detective was such a cliche and an irritant. The absolutely predictable relationship between the sisters gave no surprises, and their "Oh, you left me here alone" and "Oh, I couldn't stay, it was too painful", was overdone and repetitive. Stop beating the viewers over the head with things. Some warmth between characters before the ending moments would be welcome. Really hoping the next installment will be better.