While compiling the list for a Jane Austen Movie Night, I started thinking about other book-based movies {and television shows}. In a surprising move, I do believe that some movies are better than their books, or at the very least just-as-good-as. The more I thought about it, and with more adaptations being announced, I decided to start a new blog series: Page to Screen. There won’t be serious or scholarly discussions, but there will be light-hearted opinions and commentary as I compare my reading and watching experiences.

The first adaptation to be discussed is the Hallmark Mysteries television movie of Alyssa Maxwell’s Murder at the Breakers. Since I read the book earlier this year {and am only 2 novels into the series at the time of viewing}, I was able to go into the movie with the story fresh in my mind.

While Hallmark made a pretty movie – the filming locations are absolutely gorgeous! – they made a television movie, which means it ended up being a mere 84 minutes. That’s not a lot of time, and though they did a good job getting the bare bones of the story in place, I’d have loved to see it fleshed out more in a longer film {or even a miniseries}.

I did find it interesting that the book clearly sets up Derrick as a “suitor of sorts” for Emma, while the movie portrays him as a random – but intriguing – man, with Jesse as a more obvious suitor than on the page. I can only assume Hallmark plans to make more movies, and will explore these dynamics later on, but it’s interesting that they’ve taken a clear stance so early.

Verdict: The book is much more than the movie, so it wins in that regard. But the movie was enjoyable, and I will catch future installments if they are released. Hallmark has a history of producing quality book-based mystery movie series, and I’m hopeful regarding this one. Meanwhile, I’m going to binge more of the novels.

Have you read or watched Murder at the Breakers?
What is your favorite book-based movie or series?