"Dear Prudence," I'm writing you this letter to ask you why you brought back the long-lost Jessica Fletcher-like character in such a distorted way. In spite of the fact that there are some dissimilarities between "Murder, She Wrote" and the new Hallmark Channel Mystery Movie, fans of Angela Lansbury might as well get used to Jane Seymour, the former "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," impersonates TV host Prudence McCoy who bumps into some murder mysteries while on vacation.

She's not so warm and does not walk in the shoes of Prudence as well as she once used to walk in those of Dr. Quinn. Moreover, the former Bond girl doesn't seem very convincing, as her character is a mix of distinct personas, all rolled into one. It may actually feel like looking back to Mary Poppins, Miss Marple or Martha Stewart.

"Dear Prudence" is the first in a series of Hallmark mystery movies starring a rather stiff Jane Seymour in the role of the implausible and somehow irritating female protagonist. Prudence McCoy is a compulsive, workaholic television figure who entirely dedicates to handy household tips dubbed "Pru Pointers." Her chief drives her into taking a vacation in Wyoming, where she suddenly finds herself caught in a plot involving a zone of sacred Native American land. What's more, the death of a local named J.R., who was said to be a suicide, lures Prudence into investigating it and proving it was a coldblooded murder.

The maneuvers of this movie are audaciously limp, and unfounded, as Prudence and her young assistant, Nigel (Ryan Cartwright), trip up on inane clues. The key to the much talked about mystery is clearly evident from the very start and really makes one believe there's an unexpected twist in the end or at least some missing pieces of the puzzle.

Unfortunately for "Dear Prudence," anything that could fuel the movie with a bit of suspense and thrill is completely missing. This is the real mystery. Where is everything that spiced up the traditional mystery movies? And why was it replaced with an obtuse, silly love story? As I recall, Hercule Poirot did not even want to know what the "L-word" really was.