This is the series pilot aired in 2003, followed by ten episodes that ran through 2005–07. Mystery Woman stars Kellie Martin as Samantha Kinsey, proprietor of a bookstore specializing in mystery books who gets involved in solving real-life mysteries.

Brought up on a steady diet of mystery fiction by her Uncle Bob, Samantha Kinsey inherits his bookstore, complete with its live-in expert, retired former CIA agent Ian Philby. Now, in her new position, mysterious murders seem to occur all around her. Fortunately, she is the perfect person to solve them, because of all her years of reading about every possible fictional crime. She gets assistance from her friend Cassie, an aspiring district attorney, and from police chief Connors.

She's an avid mystery lover and bookseller, for whom crime has been comfortably confined to the pages of her favorite novels-until a real-life murder turns a weekend of fun and games into a chilling whodunit... The quaint mystery bookshop bequeathed to Samantha Kinsey may be struggling, but the idea she's concocted for the weekend should drum up some killer publicity-a book signing by three very popular and very competitive mystery writers: Maura Hobbs, Angela Cooke, and the reclusive Clare Beckman. Unbeknownst to Sam, Clare is using this "mystery weekend" to make the shocking announcement of her retirement. Just as Clare poses for a final career photograph, an ear-shattering gunshot rings out. Clare manages to dodge the bullet, but later falls victim to a cleverly planted poison. Wading through a long list of suspects and motives, Sam manages to uncover a convoluted plot of blackmail, greed, and deceit-a real-life mystery that would have thrilled Clare...had she lived to see it unfold.

Amateur sleuth Samantha Kinsey's latest case has her trying to figure out who killed her best friend Barbara after she was left out of her family's will and every one of the family members become suspects.

Murder is something to sing about when Mystery Woman Samantha Kinsey-an expert in pulp fiction, and increasingly proficient when it comes to real-life crime-untangles a record-breaking murder. Mystery Woman bookshop owner, Samantha Kinsey, has offered to host a charity concert for a once-famous folk-rock trio out to recapture their old fame flame. But sweet success hits the ultimate sour note when the band's promoter is found murdered in his hotel room. Sam and her partner in crime, Philby, investigate, digging up deadly secrets of private indiscretions, professional greed, and personal vengeance that put a twisted spin on fame and fortune-and bring a whole new meaning to a Top Ten hit.

Sam lands a job photographing a new spa in Southern California for their brochure and brings her best friend Cassie along to enjoy some pampering. When one of the guests staying at the upscale retreat turns up dead, Sam is once again on the trail of a murderer. As the investigation progresses, Sam uncovers a scam that the spa Dr was testing unapproved drugs on the patrons.. filler implants, etc. without the patients' informed consent.

Bright youngest graduate Randy (Stinky) Lawrence convinces Samantha to promote his brilliant murder video game in the bookstore in exchange for his help in convincing 'old friend' Donald Fiske, a celebrated author, to do a signing session there. To Randy's surprise, it works, but Fiske is poisoned after slipping out angry. Randy is Chief Connors's only suspect. Despite obvious repeated lies, Samantha sets out to prove his innocence. Fiske's greedy ex, Jody, pretends to have convinced him to remarry, yet she never even allowed their teenage son Cameron to set foot in Donald's fine home.

After dating hot doctor Ben, "Mystery Woman" Samantha becomes curious about her family medical history so she sets out upstate to fictitious small town; Whiptail, California in search of her birth mother. Samantha finds her unfortunately she has just been arrested as a suspect in a murder. Murder and mystery follow Samantha wherever she goes.

Former Red River TV series star Clint Lawson's Wild West show is in town, the prize act in the annual festival, which the sponsoring bookshop is presiding over. He strains a leg due to a sabotaged saddle strap. His stand-in, Dogie, is fatally shot while starring in his place, so who was the intended target? Evidence seems to pile up against Clint, so the chief simply jails him without further investigation. However, the bookshop sleuths team digs up dirty secrets from their past and that of other show cast, such as ex-con announcer Jeb Fletcher, Clint's ex-lover Annie whom he promised a movie part like Strother Elam, and Zeke Foster, who secretly deals in illegitimate Red River memorabilia.

A couple accused of a murder go on the run, leaving their baby in the care of bookshop owner & amateur sleuth Samantha Kinsey. Can Samantha look after the baby and solve the case?

A rare first edition from a pioneer author goes missing in the mystery novels-specialized Kinsey bookshop during remodeling by the local firm of Tyler Dell, who recently lost his father, a Vietnam veteran. Retired English teacher Jim Carter, who overheard everything, is murdered shortly after a row in Reverend Tucker's homeless shelter Haven with aggressive lush Murphy. Rude police chief Connors isn't up to an investigation while the killer keeps sniping, so the bookstore's armchair sleuths duo does it alone, starting from a lacquered box left by Jim for his illegitimate daughter, who never even knew his name. It starts a set of cues, slowly unraveling a grim intrigue starting during a 1965 US illegal intrusion into Red Khmer territory.

While searching for a KGB double agent who was about to be exposed by another Russian spy-turned-successful author, mystery bookstore owner Samantha Kinsey and her secretive friend and store manager, Philby are thrust into the murderous world of international espionage.