Dear Prudence

Prudence MacIntyre, the 'New York home tips' TV show presenter, is sent on holiday, by studio boss Jeffrey Symcox, to a secluded lodge in Tassajero, Wyoming. The lodge was built on the last remnant of Indian land preserved by the Andrews family. Her celebrity status and sassy charm help her quickly get acquainted with local notables, including French heir Jean Phillipe Andrews, his land trust lawyer Doug Craig and police detective Eddie Duncan. Pru is with lodge caretaker Ruth Vigil when she discovers her estranged son JR is missing from his home after leaving a message. Pru finds blood, and although it's not JR's, insists he must have been murdered. After her research assistant, a computer whiz with a minor criminal record, joins her, they soon get in danger snooping ahead of the incredulous authorities to discover several linked crimes.

Directed by Paul Schneider, Dear Prudence leans on a strong ensemble — Jane Seymour, Jamey Sheridan, Ryan Cartwright — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about mystery titles of 2008.