Ep 1. Scavenger Hunt

Frankie Drake Mysteries season 4 episode 1 titled "Scavenger Hunt" takes us on a thrilling ride where Frankie and her team venture into an underground world of gambling, smuggling, and stolen artifacts. Set in Toronto in the 1920s, the series follows the adventures of private detectives Frankie and Trudy as they solve crimes and mysteries.

In this episode, the ladies get hired by a wealthy socialite, Lady Suzanne Atherly, to find a bejeweled egg that's gone missing from her mansion. The egg is a valuable and sentimental family heirloom, and Lady Atherly is desperate to find it before her son's engagement party that evening. Frankie and Trudy quickly get to work, scouring the mansion for clues, interviewing multiple suspects, and ultimately discovering that the egg is just the tip of the iceberg.

As they follow the trail, the detectives realize that the missing egg is connected to an underground scavenger hunt organized by a mysterious man named "Maven." Teens and young adults gather to participate in Maven's crude adventure race where they hunt for hidden treasures across town. He is rumored to supply the participants with various clues and challenges that lead them to the treasures. Maven's scavenger hunt is not just a fun activity for the youth, but the hidden prizes are valuable, thus attracting several underground businesses, including smugglers, gamblers, and art thieves.

Despite the risks, Frankie and Trudy decide to infiltrate the scavenger hunt by posing as participants. Their mission is to find out who stole the egg and why. Clues come thick and fast, ranging from secret codes in newspapers, coded messages in graffiti, and anagrams on postcards. The scavenger hunt takes Frankie and Trudy across several locations in Toronto, from Chinatown to the waterfront, each step of the way revealing a new twist to the mystery.

Meanwhile, their colleague, Mary, discovers that the scavenger hunt is not just a game and that Maven is into much darker dealings. Frankie and Trudy must hurry to solve the mystery and stop Maven before he puts Mary's life at risk.

The tension heightens when Lady Atherly's son becomes the subject of suspicion, and the detectives find themselves racing against time to solve the case before the engagement party begins. As the scavenger hunt comes to a dramatic end, and Maven's secret dealings are exposed, the detectives must use their clever minds, street smarts, and vast network to crack the case.

The episode showcases Frankie's and Trudy's different strengths as detectives; Frankie's fearlessness in the face of danger and Trudy's analytical abilities. It also highlights how the two women work well together, defying the stereotypes of their era, and paving the way for female empowerment.

Overall, the season 4 premiere of Frankie Drake Mysteries is a fun, fast-paced thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with each twist and turn. It showcases how even in the 1920s, the female detectives manage to solve crimes and fight injustice. The "Scavenger Hunt" episode is a perfect start to what promises to be a riveting season.