It’s a new year and that means new episodes of Frankie Drake Mysteries on CBC! After a couple of weeks off for the holidays, Frankie, Trudy, Mary and Flo roar back with more crime-solving in Monday’s instalment, “Ties that Bind,” written by co-creator Carol Hay and directed by Eleanore Lindo, who also directed Monday’s episode of Murdoch Mysteries.

Here’s what the CBC has revealed with regard to an official synopsis:

Mary recruits Frankie and Trudy to find a missing teacher, but their investigation leads them to family secrets, Chinatown and murder.

And here are some tidbits we gleaned from watching a screener.

Wynonna Earp‘s Melanie Scrofano guest-stars
We’re used to seeing Scrofano kicking demon butt on Space’s rollicking series—heading into production on Season 3—so it was a bit jarring to see her decked out in 1920s fashion. Scrofano plays Jenny Smith, a voluntary English teacher who goes missing following a covert meeting in a darkened alleyway. Why was Mary trailing Jenny, and where did the young woman go? And how does Mary know Jenny?

TV critic gets acting gig
The Toronto Star‘s Tony Wong guests in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it gig as an extra. He wrote about his experiences on Frankie Drake Mysteries in his latest column. Give it a read.

Nora returns
We’ve missed the sass and snark of Wendy Crewson’s performance, especially when she’s in a scene with Lauren Lee Smith as mother and daughter deliver verbal jabs at each other.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

Well, last week’s episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries certainly ended in a memorable way. After assuming I’d see Frankie and Ernest Hemingway canoodling before long, it was Moses Page who she shared a liplock with. I applaud the writing room for throwing that twist in and am excited to see where that storyline goes from here.

As for this week, here’s the CBC’s official word on “Healing Hands,” written by Andrew Burrows-Trotman and directed by Sudz Sutherland:

When Trudy (Chantel Riley) gives shelter to a faith-healing preacher’s daughter, she and Frankie (Lauren Lee Smith) find themselves investigating Toronto’s jazz scene.

And here’s some more scoop after watching a screener.

Frankie and Trudy are equals in every way
It may say Drake Private Detectives on the door, but Trudy and Frankie are equal partners in this business. That means working together and a constant support system. Neither is more important than the other and we love it.

Karen Robinson returns
Yes, Karen Robinson is back on Monday as Mildred Clarke, critiquing Trudy’s driving and career choice. And just because she attends church with her mother doesn’t mean Trudy necessarily believes in a higher power. We’re getting some very interesting character backstory on Trudy so far, especially when she and Frankie get into the topic of faith.

Killjoys‘ Prince Amponsah guest-stars
Last seen in Season 3 of Canadian sci-fi hit Killjoys, Prince Amponsah drops by Frankie Drake to portray a wounded soldier who is healed at the hands of Elsie (guest star Greta Onieogou). Fellow Killjoys, Alias Grace and Murdoch Mysteries guest actor John Tench also appears as Lyle, a shady sort.

Robert Carli rules
Fans of Murdoch Mysteries already know Robert Carli is the man behind that incredible theme music as well as the weekly soundtrack. Well, Carli ups the ante with Frankie Drake‘s soundtrack, a wonderful homage to the 1920s jazz scene jam-packed with trumpet, percussion and, I’m pretty sure, some oboe too.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Image courtesy of CBC.