Banana Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

A romantic seven-day cruise is the perfect start to bakery owner Hannah Swensen’s marriage. However, with a murder mystery heating up in Lake Eden, Minnesota, it seems the newlywed’s homecoming won’t be as sweet as she anticipated . . . 

After an extravagant honeymoon, Hannah’s eager to settle down in Lake Eden and turn domestic daydreams into reality. But when her mother’s neighbor is discovered murdered in the condo downstairs, reality becomes a nightmarish investigation. Victoria Bascomb, once a renowned stage actress, was active in the theater community during her brief appearance in town . . . and made throngs of enemies along the way. Did a random intruder murder the woman as police claim, or was a deadlier scheme at play? As Hannah peels through countless suspects and some new troubles of her own, solving this crime—and living to tell about it—might prove trickier than mixing up the ultimate banana cream pie . .

My Take:  I have read all of the Hannah Swenson Mysteries and have enjoyed all of them but this one wasn't as enjoyable as the others.  I don't know if it was because I really don't like Hannah's new husband.  He is just a blah character or if it was that the mystery was blah.  I really find it hard to concentrate on the mystery as I didn't feel that invested in the character who was murdered or in the crime itself.  I did figure out the murderer before the reveal.  Seemed as if most of the characters that I have enjoyed in the past were left out of this one.  Did end on a cliffhanger?  Maybe for next book.  I will continue the series.

I received a review copy from Amazon Vine in Exchange For my honest opinion.

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

From Goodreads.com:
This summer has been warmer than usual in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and Hannah Swensen is trying to beat the heat both in and out of her bakery kitchen. But she's about to find out the hard way that nothing cools off a hot summer day like cold-blooded murder. . .
It's a hot, muggy evening, and the last thing Hannah wants to do is squeeze into a pair of pantyhose for the Grand Opening of the refurbished Albion Hotel. But with Hannah's famous Red Velvet cupcakes being served in the hotel's new Red Velvet lounge, she can't bring herself to back out.

The party starts off with a bang with the unexpected arrival of Doctor Bev, a Lake Eden legend who left town in shame after she two-timed her fiancé one too many times. Bev's splashy appearance on the arm of a wealthy investor is the talk of the night. But the gossip comes to a screeching halt when a partygoer takes a mysterious dive off the hotel's rooftop garden.

The victim is the sheriff's secretary, Barbara Donnelly, and she is barely clinging to life. The question is, did she fall--or was she pushed? As the police investigate, the only one who isn't preoccupied with the case is Doctor Bev. She's too busy trying to stir things up with her old flame Norman, who's reunited with Hannah.

Just as Hannah's patience with Bev runs dangerously thin, her rival is found dead at the bottom of Miller's Pond. The only clue the police have is the Red Velvet cupcake Bev ate right before she died--and the tranquilizers someone seems to have baked into it. To everyone's shock, Hannah is now the unlikely target of a murder investigation--and she's feeling the heat in a way she never has before. . .

My Take:    I really like this series.  Some People are getting tired of the love triangle and the lack of sex but that is exactly why I like this series.  I do wish that Hannah would make a decision between Mike and Norman but the very definition of a cozy mystery means the lack of sex and the lack of language.  I have gotten a bit upset recently when I have read a book that was deemed a cozy that had sex or language.  I read cozies for exactly that reason. 

Ok off my soapbox,  I had this mystery figured out fairly early but I couldn't figure out the reason for murder.  I liked all the little details that were mentioned in the story to make it about others in the town also not just about the mystery.  Life has to carry on even when a murder mystery is going on.  The recipes look really good again and I will really have to try some of them out someday.(I just don't really like to take all the time for some of the recipes).  I liked how Moishe played an important part in solving what the monster was in Barbara's Hospital Room.  I will be picking up the next one in this series just so I can visit with Hannah and the gang. 

This was taken from my personal library.

Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke Cozy Mystery of The Month

Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke

From Goodreads.com:
 It's June in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and for Hannah Swensen, that means bridal showers galore, plus a massive fundraising event in need of confections—not to mention a killer who never learned that charity begins at home...

Early summer brings plenty of work for Hannah, even before Mayor Bascomb's wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order ...for eleven-hundred cookies! Stephanie Bascomb is organizing an elaborate three-day event to support local charities, and though it's a worthy cause, Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. Hannah's never made a turnover—but, pushover that she is, she places her faith in Lisa's mother-in-law's recipe and agrees to be a magician's assistant in the fundraiser's talent show...

Dozens of pastries and one hideous purple dress later, Hannah has to admit that stepping out of her comfort zone has been fun as well as profitable. The only snag is the show's host, community college professor Bradford Ramsey. Hannah and her younger sister Michelle each had unfortunate romantic relationships with Ramsey, and when the cad comes sniffing around between acts, Hannah tells him off. But when the curtain doesn't go up, she discovers Ramsey backstage—dead as a doornail with a turnover in his hand...

Now, to protect her reputation and Michelle's, Hannah must get to the bottom of the professor's bitter end. There are plenty of scorned suspects, including an ex-wife who feels cheated in more ways than one, and a prominent local who may have been using Ramsey to avenge her own randy spouse. But who was unstable enough to snuff out Professor Love? A killer who's flakier than puffpastry—and far more dangerous...

Includes Over Ten Cookie and Dessert Recipes!

My Take:

I love the whole Hannah Swenson Series,  but  the books seem to be taking turn where almost the half the book is taken up with reintroduction of characters and such and we haven't even gotten to the mystery yet. 

This time the person who is murdered is the professor that Hannah had an affair with in college.(which is the only time that she seems to do anything questionable on the romance front, except for leading two men on)  After his murder they find out that she wasn't the only jilted student as the suspect list gets longer and longer. 

Lake Eden for being a small town sure does get alot of murders.  And everyone in Hannah's circle of friends seems to get in on the act to help solve them. 

As usual the book has many delicious sounding recipes (I haven't tried any of them yet but I hope to soon)

Hannah still needs to make up her mind about whether it will be Norman or Mike.  I mean these are two truly patient men to be waiting for her to make up her mind. 

The ending introduces a new person who just may shake things up a bit in the next book.  We will see.

This book was taken from my personal library.

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laure Levine and Leslie Meier

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier

I had read

Candy Cane Murder and really enjoyed it so I thought I would give Gingerbread Cookie Murder a go.  I knew I wouldn't be disappointed because I already read two of the three ladies series and I think I will be adding the third to my list of series that I read.  

Joanne Fluke starts the book out with Gingerbread Cookie Murder.  Hannah once again stumbles upon a murder when she goes to confront her neighbor about his playing his Christmas music way to loud.  along with her family and friends and some delious recipes along the way she finds the murderer.    

Next up is Laura Levine with The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies.  Jaine Austen is in Florida visiting her parents at their retirement communtiy.  In between her father trying to put up a rotating Christmas tree, and the community's Christmas Tree Rehearsal the local gigalo windups dead after falling to his death because the wire that held him up was cut.  So Jaine goes into detective mode to find  the killer.  

Last but certainly not lest is Leslie Meier with Gingerbread Cookies and Gunshots.  Between her children not coming home for Christmas and a little local boy being kidnapped right outside his home this is not turning into the Christmas that Lucy Stone had hoped for.  She can't help but try to track down the kidnapper because the little boy just tuggs at her heart.  

All Three stories are great stories for this time of the year.  The mystries are good and kept me guessing to the very end.         

Cozy of Month Plum Pudding by Joanne Fluke

What better way to celebrate the month of December that to have a Christmas Themed Cozy Mystery


Plum Pudding Murder by Joanne Fluke fits the bill perfectly. 

Hannah Swenson is busy with the holiday season at The Cookie Jar.  She is even providing cookies for the local Crazy Elf Christmas Tree lot.  But when she and her sometimes boyfriend Norman go to the lot to question the owner Larry about some of his business practices they find Larry dead in his trailer.  Was he killed because of his creative bookkeeping? or is there something else going on?

Once again I was entertained from beginning to the end with this book.  I love Hannah and all the characters that inhabit her world.  The book is also filled with great looking recipes that I plan on trying this Christmas season.     

Here is an interview that Joanne did


Head over to her website for a free recipe.

Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke

Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke

From Amazon:
It was inevitable that Hannah Swensen’s sweet lifestyle was going to catch up with her. That time has come in this eleventh entertaining cozy featuring the cookie baker: she must go on a diet. Hannah starts working out at a health club and vows to stop tasting the scrumptious treats she prepares every day for the Cookie Jar bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota. Stress mounts when Hannah discovers the body of a fitness instructor floating in her club’s Jacuzzi. The acerbic trainer was universally loathed by women and liked by most men (including the staff of the local police department) for her flirtatious ways. In a reversal of the usual procedure, this time one of Hannah’s boyfriends, Detective Mike Kingston, recruits her help in solving the mystery, as he and his fellow cops are potential suspects. Hannah and her other boyfriend, dentist Norman, go to work to solve the mystery with dubious and conflicting suggestions from all of the real detectives. As usual, Fluke intersperses delectable recipes and reveals plenty of new personal details about her eccentric and likable cast of characters. --Judy Coon --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

My Take:  Reading a Hannah Swenson mystery book is like getting together with old friends.  All the characters in the books are believable and like people you probably know in your life.  In this book,  Hannah has to lose weight so she can fit into the dress she is to wear for her mother's book party so she goes with her sister to the local exercise gym to start her exercise regime.  As is Hannah's luck she discovers the body of one of the instructors in the Jacuzzi.  Since most of  the police force that would normally investigate are implicated Hannah is "unofficially" asked to investigate.  Everyone has their idea on how she should best handle the investigation.  Another mystery that occurs in the book is what is Moishe, Hannah's cat, doing with all the food that is put in his feeder? 
During this book I have also made up my mind even more who I think Hannah should be with.  I am Team Norman all the way.
This  is a fun read that had me guessing till the very end.  I had no idea who the murderer was until it was revealed.    The recipes sound really delicious and I will be trying some of them. 
Another great edition to the series and I can't wait till I read the next one.       

The Hannah Swenson website is here.  You can see the other books in this wonderful series, learn about the author and see what's coming up next in the series (There will be a cookbook with all the recipes coming out in 2011 Yumm).

Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

I really like the Hannah Swenson cozy mysteries.  I love the recipes(although I haven't tried any of them yet they all sound delicious).  I love Hannah and her relationship with her sisters.  I love how the little town Lake Eden is always celebrating something it seems.
This time it is a fmaily reunion for the families of Lisa and Herb.  Guess who shows up?  Long lost Gus, who left town years ago without a word to anyone and oweing several people money and getting into a fight with Lisa's dad.  Gus is rich now and is flashing around his money, clothes and car. 
Hannah is helping out by cooking and baking like she always does.  She especially made a carrot cake for Gus at the request of his sister.
It's Family Picture time and no one can find Gus so Hannah is sent to find him and find him she does.  He is in the pavilion dead in the middle of her carrot cake.
Who would kill Gus?  There is a long suspect list.  Seems Gus made alot of enemies.
Mike makes a deal to share his info with Hannah if she will share her's with him.  But will He?
And why is Moishe the cat acting out?

As usual I had no idea who did it till the very end.        

Key Lime Murder by Joanne Fluke

This was another enjoyable mystery featuring Hannah Swensen and her ffamily and friends in Lake Eden.  This time it is set around the cLake Eden fair.  Michelle, Hannah's Sister, is entered in the beauty contest, her mother's group has a dunking booth and Hannah is judging the baking entries.  One of her fellow judges winds up found dead on the fair grounds.  Was  it a contestant?  And what's wrong with Moishe hannah's cat?  You will have to read to find out.  

Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

A movie is going to be made in Lake Eden and everyone in the town will be effected.  Main street is going to be closed down for the filming and Hannah will be making a cheesecake for the Director.  But when he is killed while demostrating how to play a scene Hannah and her friends and family are out to find out who did it.  Another enjoyable story with some delicious recipes.