Great American Family’s Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series has become a pleasant surprise for 18 Cinema Lane. My review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker became one of my most popular movie reviews of all time, garnering over seven thousand views in almost two years. The positive reception of this review led me to cover the sequel, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker. That review has also been well received, obtaining over two hundred views so far. When I discovered Great American Family was not only releasing a third chapter, they were also premiering the third chapter in January 2026, I knew that’d be one of the first movies to be written about in the New Year! Though there’s only been two movies in the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series, so far, the series as a whole has been quite enjoyable. What has worked in the series’ favor is improving upon the flaws of the previous chapter and providing consistent strengths. Will the third chapter, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, continue this pattern? Let’s find out in this review!

Things I liked about the film:

Subtle hints of Texas: When I reviewed Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker, I criticized the film for its constant reminders of the story’s Texas setting. To me, these reminders tried to make the movie’s setting a little too obvious for the audience. This flaw was remedied in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker! References to the series’ Sweet River, Texas setting were represented through some of the women’s wardrobe. One of the Book Club members, Maria, sometimes dons turquoise jewelry. Another Book Club member, Lily, wears a sweatshirt featuring a cowboy/cowgirl hat and cowboy/cowgirl boots. Even Ainsley herself can be seen wearing a blouse similar to those worn by country music stars. Besides the wardrobe, there were other subtle hints of Texas found in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker. A great example is when one of the Book Club members uses a pen shaped like a cactus.

Selecting a cold case: While seeking another mystery to solve, the Book Club decides on a cold case. As they mentioned in the movie, the cold case provided a nice change of pace for them. Not only did this decision benefit the Book Club, it also benefitted Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker! By having a cold case as the movie’s main mystery, it prevents the series from becoming repetitive, as the previous two chapters revolved around murder mysteries that happened in the present. This creative choice shows other ways mysteries can become solved as well. In the case of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, most of the clues were found within the dialogue. Selecting a cold case for the characters to solve was definitely an interesting decision for the third film in the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series!

Rance Moseby: A new character that was introduced in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker was Rance Moseby, the proprietor of a local pawn shop. At first, Ainsley and Jake believe Rance may be up to no good. But as the story progresses, Rance proves that looks can be deceiving. While I was watching Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, I grew to like Rance as a character. David Milchard, the actor who portrayed Rance, had great on-screen chemistry with the movie’s cast. The strength of David’s acting talents helped make Rance seem like he was always meant to exist in the world of the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series. Rance’s drier sense of humor nicely provided the film’s comic relief as well. If there are more Ainsley McGregor Mysteries movies in the works, I really hope Rance Moseby becomes a part of the series’ regular cast!

What I didn’t like about the film:

An unnecessary subplot: Throughout Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, a subplot revolved around Jake’s past romantic relationship with the mayor of Sweet River, Jane Reval. Even though it was interesting to see how this new character connected to an established character like Jake, I found this subplot unnecessary. Because Jake and Ainsley are currently dating, Jake has no interest in reuniting with Jane. This fact prevents the subplot from going anywhere. It also doesn’t help that the subplot has a loose connection to the main mystery. In my opinion, the least interesting part of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker was the subplot between Jane and Jake.

Inconsistent humor: In my review of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, I praised the movie’s inclusion of humor. It was not only sprinkled throughout the story, it was also woven into the dialogue. While there was humor in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, it wasn’t consistently featured in the story. In fact, most of the movie’s humor was found in the second half of the film, when Rance becomes more involved in the mystery. This flaw kind of makes me wish Rance debuted in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker sooner.

Limited screen-time for George: One of the aspects I liked in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker was Ainsley’s dog, George. Moments where Ainsley talks to George gave viewers a break from the heaviness of the story’s murder mystery. Plus, his larger role in the first chapter gave the film a more unique identity. But in the second movie, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Yarn Maker, George’s screen-time was reduced. I was hoping this flaw would be corrected in Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker. But, unfortunately, George received even less screen-time, only appearing in two scenes. The reduction of George’s screen-time as the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series continues disappoints me, especially since George is one of my favorite parts of this series.

My overall impression:

When I talked about Mystery by the Book in my list of The Best and Worst Movies I Saw in 2025, I brought up how Great American Family’s Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series is growing stronger in quality. The third chapter, Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, proves my statement correct, as I found it the best movie in the series so far! Selecting a cold case as the movie’s main mystery prevented the overarching story of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries from becoming repetitive. The creative team behind the 2026 film improved upon flaws from the previous titles, such as making subtle references to the series’ Texas setting. Even though the acting was, once again, one of the strengths of Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker, David Milchard’s portrayal of Rance Moseby stole the show. In fact, I’d say Rance was the MVP of this movie! Despite the film having its flaws, the film itself shows the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series is moving in the right direction. I do hope this series continues, as I believe there are many more stories to tell!

Overall score: 7.5-7.6 out of 10

Have you seen Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Watchmaker? What would you like to see happen if the series continues? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen