Watch Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent

In the latest installment of the Crossword Mysteries franchise, Lacey Chabert portrays talented crossword puzzle editor Tess Harper, who finds herself in the middle of yet another captivating mystery. The movie, titled Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent, premiered on February 14, 2021, and features a stellar cast including Lochlyn Munro as police detective Logan O'Connor, Brennan Elliott as newspaper editor Greg, and Debs Howard as Tess's best friend and fellow crossword enthusiast, Nikki.

The story starts with Tess and Logan taking a flight to San Francisco to attend a crossword puzzle tournament. As soon as they get on board, Tess senses something suspicious going on, but she can't quite figure out what it is. Her intuition proves true when a fellow passenger dies shortly into the flight. As the flight attendants try to keep the incident under control, Tess steps in to assist Logan with his investigation.

As they go about their business, Tess and Logan discover that the deceased passenger was, in fact, the puzzle designer for the very same tournament they were on their way to attend. Despite the plane being thousands of feet in the air, Tess starts piecing together the evidence she has gathered to solve the puzzle, and eventually, the larger mystery surrounding the puzzling passenger's untimely death. The task is made even more difficult as Logan's superiors insist that they stick to protocol and avoid any unnecessary drama or panic on the plane.

Throughout the film, viewers are treated to a steadily building tension as Tess and Logan race against the clock to solve the mystery before the plane lands. Along the way, we learn more about the lives of the characters, including Tess's inner struggle with a recent romantic breakup, Logan's dedication to his work as a police detective, and Greg's journalistic instincts, which lead him to uncover some shocking facts about the victim's life.

The film features several intricately woven plot threads and clues, which will keep viewers captivated throughout. The focus on crossword puzzles remains throughout the movie, and fans of the previous Crossword Mysteries installments will find plenty of satisfying 'ah-ha!' moments.

Despite the gravity of the situation on board the plane, the movie isn't without its lighter moments. Tess's quirky sense of humor and penchant for wordplay add some much-needed levity to the tense situation, and Lochlyn Munro's portrayal of Logan adds a charming counterbalance to Tess's personality.

Overall, Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent is a well-crafted political thriller that is sure to have viewers on the edge of their seats. With its deft handling of the puzzle and wordplay elements, along with a well-rounded set of characters, this is an excellent addition to the Crossword Mysteries series. Fans of mystery thrillers and whodunits will definitely want to give this one a watch.

Crossword Mysteries: Terminal Descent is a 2021 tv movie. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.