Book Review: Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

When Hannah learns that her sister Michelle’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, is the prime suspect in a murder case, she goes straight from a movie studio sound stage to the Los Angeles airport.

Back in frigid Minnesota, she discovers that proving Lonnie’s innocence will be harder than figuring out what went wrong with a recipe. Lonnie remembers only parts of the night he went out to a local bar and ended up driving a very impaired woman home. He knows he helped her to her bedroom, but he doesn’t recall anything else until he woke up on her couch the following morning. When he went to the bedroom to check on her, he was shocked to discover she was dead.

Hannah doesn’t know what to believe—only that exonerating a suspect who can’t remember is almost impossible, especially since Lonnie’s brother, Detective Rick Murphy, and Lonnie’s partner, Chief Detective Mike Kingston, have been taken off the case. Before everything comes crashing down on Lonnie like a heaping slice of coconut layer cake, it’ll be up to Hannah to rack up enough clues to toast a flaky killer . . .[summary via Amazon]

It's time for another visit to Lake Eden, and this time it is going to be Hannah Swensen's 25th mystery!! I can barely believe it's been 25 books since I picked up Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, one of the very first cozy mysteries I ever read. From that very first book, Joanne Fluke has been delighting me with suspenseful mysteries and mouth-watering recipes, and Coconut Layer Cake Murder is no exception!

In Coconut Layer Cake Murder, Hannah and her mom, Delores, are off to sunny California, to help a friend move back to Lake Eden. However, not all is sunshine and happiness. When Hannah receives a frantic phone call from her sister, Michelle, she must turn her back on the sunshine and head back to freezing Lake Eden to help clear Michelle's boyfriend, Lonnie, who is the number one suspect in a murder case.  It's up to Hannah, with help from Norman, and the rest of the Lake Eden gang to put their heads together and solve the crime before Lonnie is put away for life.

I've loved every book in the Hannah Swensen mysteries, and it's one of two very long-running series that I've kept up with every book. It always delivers the coziest of cozy towns (I want to move to Lake Eden - minus the murders of course!) and a page-turning mystery. This time, I guessed the mystery quite a while before Hannah and her sleuthing friends, but this didn't diminish my enjoyment. I love watching Hannah follow the clues, and solve the mystery. 

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (book 24) leaves readers with a cliffhanger, and Coconut Layer Cake Murder picks up this storyline right away. For this reason I don't recommend starting this series with Coconut Layer Cake. Each book in this series builds on the previous, and it's best to read in order. I suggest starting with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. You won't disappointed, as this series is one of the most recommended, for good reason!! If you are a fan of "food-themed" cozy mysteries you need to read this series!

I'm looking forward to Christmas Cupcake Murder, coming out in September. From the start I've been #TeamNorman and I can't wait to see if my Christmas wish comes true!! I would love to see Hannah settle down with ever-lasting romance one of these days!!

Book Review: Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

When The Cookie Jar becomes the setting of a star-studded TV special about movies filmed in Minnesota, Hannah hopes to shine the spotlight on her bakery—not the unsavory scandal swirling around her personal life. But that’s practically impossible with a disturbing visit from the shifty character she once believed was her one and only love, a group of bodyguards following her every move, and a murder victim in her bedroom. Now, swapping the crime scene in her condo for her mother Delores’s penthouse, Hannah and an old flame team up to solve a case that’s messier than an upended chocolate cream pie. As suspects emerge and secrets hit close to home, Hannah must serve a hefty helping of justice to an unnamed killer prowling around Lake Eden . . . before someone takes a slice out of her![summary via Amazon]

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder is the 24th book in the Hannah Swensen mysteries. Hannah is reeling after the shock of her husband leaving her, and finding out the real story as to why he left. All Hannah wants to do is get on with her life. However, it seems like her ex-husband, Ross, has other ideas. When Ross turns up dead, Hannah must sift through a whole town-full of suspects to find the killer.

The Hannah Swensen mysteries were one of the first cozy mystery series I discovered. I've been reading (and re-reading) them over the years and they still delight me. After finishing Christmas Cake Murder (in which the reader is taken back to before the beginning), I leapt right into the next (and most current) book in the series.

With Ross's death in Chocolate Cream Pie Murder it feels like the story arc involving Ross is finally over. Being a Team-Norman girl myself, it could be wishful thinking on my part!  From the second Ross comes back into town, and starts threatening Hannah, it becomes apparent that he is destined to turn up dead. With Ross being the most disliked person in Lake Eden, anyone (and maybe everyone) could have been the killer! 

As with a lot of long-running series, I really enjoy the character development. Having finished Christmas Cake Murder just prior, it is interesting to see how far the characters have come, and the growth they've made. Particularly Hannah's relationship with her mother. I'm eager to watch the characters grow and develop, in hopefully many, many more books in this series.

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder is a good addition to this series. From the mystery of Ross's past, to solving of the murder, it kept me guessing until the end. Add in the delicious recipes, and it's easy to see why I'm hooked on this series!! I will be eagerly awaiting the next book, Coconut Layer Cake Murder, which releases in February, 2020. 

Book Review: Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

It’s Christmas many years ago, and topping young Hannah Swensen’s wish list is becoming the go-to baker in Lake Eden, Minnesota. But as Hannah finds out, revisiting holiday memories can be murder . . .

With her dream of opening The Cookie Jar taking shape, Hannah’s life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle in Lake Eden—especially when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball from the past in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes for the merry festivities, she instantly becomes enthralled by Essie’s old notebooks—and the tale of a woman escaping danger on the streets of New York . . .

Hannah’s surprised by Essie’s secret talent for penning crime fiction. She’s even more surprised when the story turns real. As Hannah prepares to run a bakery and move out of her mother’s house, it’ll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake . . .[summary via Amazon]

I know it's only September, but I'm already in the holiday spirit. I'm enjoying digging into all the "holiday-themed" cozy mysteries, and no one does holidays better than Hannah Swensen!

Christmas Cake Murder is set before the first Hannah Swensen mystery, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, and sees Hannah back in Lake Eden. Hannah is home from college to help her mom and sisters, after the death of her father. Together with her mom and sisters, Hannah helps organize a Christmas Ball, in honour of Essie, a much-loved elderly local. What begins as just organizing an event, turns into so much more when they uncover what seems like a "crime fiction" story, written by Essie. Could it be fiction or is it fact, and is Essie's life in danger?

The Hannah Swensen mysteries were some of the first cozy mysteries I read when I discovered the genre, and they still remain a favourite of mine. The combination of a cozy small town, delectable recipes and a tantalizing mystery make them a favourite for mystery readers around the world. In this, the 23rd book in the series, Joanne Fluke is taking us back to before the beginning. I really liked seeing how Hannah comes back to town, and her idea for setting up The Cookie Jar, and all of her family's life before the first book.

The mystery storyline was cleverly done. What begins as a crime fiction story turns into much more. I loved reading the story within the story and trying to guess how it fits into everyone's life in Lake Eden.

Christmas Cake Murder is a wonderful addition to this series, and it has definitely gotten me into the holiday spirit! It's the perfect cozy mystery to add your reading list this holiday season! 

Book Review: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen thought she'd finally discovered the recipe for a perfect life. But her sometime beau Norman Rhodes tosses a surprise ingredient into the mix when he phones to tell her he's just bought a house from local drugstore clerk Rhonda Scharf--which he plans to tear down in order to build the dream home he and Hannah designed. It seems the plan has been cooking for quite some time, and Hannah's shocked. Especially since her ring finger is still very much bare. . .

The good news is that the soon-to-be-torn-down house is full of antiques--and Norman has given Hannah and her mother first dibs. They uncover some gorgeous old furniture, a patchwork quilt. . .and Rhonda Scharf's dead body. A little more sleuthing turns up the half-eaten remains of a very special dinner for two--and one of The Cookie Jar's famous lemon meringue pies. Now it's up to Hannah to turn up the heat--and get busy tracking down clues. Starting in her very own kitchen. . .[summary from Amazon]

Another week and another delicious, scrumptious Hannah Swensen mystery to devour! This time with my favorite desert on the front cover, Lemon Meringue Pie!

In Lake Eden, Hannah is getting used to life dating both Norman and Mike, running The Cookie Jar and having her mother's new business right next door! Life is busy, but good for Hannah and her friends. Things start to get interesting, however, when Norman announces that he has bought a house, and the previous owner is found dead in the basement!! It's another murder mystery for Hannah to solve, with the help of not just her sister, Andrea, but her mother too!!

This is the fourth Hannah Swensen I've read as part of my read-along and I'm loving each and every one of them. With each book I'm developing a feeling of coming home, to visit family and friends, and in my opinion that is the mark of a good cozy mystery! Just like real estate it's "location, location, location" and I love visiting with all the folks at Lake Eden! 

I solved the mystery in Lemon Meringue Pie Murder about two-thirds of the way through the book but this didn't take any enjoyment away from the story. I enjoyed watching Hannah try to piece the story together. 

Lemon Meringue Pie Murder was another enjoyable visit to Lake Eden. It has all the thrills of a good adventure, romance and scrumptious recipes. I do warn readers though, after you finish reading you'll be rushing to the kitchen to bake some of these yummy recipes yourself!

Buy Lemon Meringue Pie Murder at Amazon.

Book Review: Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke

Preparations are underway for Lake Eden, Minnesota's annual Winter Carnival--and Hannah Swensen is set to bake up a storm at her popular shop, The Cookie Jar. Too bad the honor of creating the official Winter Carnival cake went to famous lifestyle maven Connie Mac--a half-baked idea, in Hannah's opinion. She suspects Connie Mac is a lot like the confections she whips up on her cable TV cooking show--sweet, light, and scrumptious-looking, but likely to leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

Hannah's suspicions are confirmed when Connie Mac's limo rolls into town. Turns out America's "Cooking Sweetheart" is bossy, bad-tempered, and downright domineering. Things finally boil over when Hannah arrives at The Cookie Jar to find the Winter Carnival cake burnt to a crisp—and Connie Mac lying dead in her pantry, struck down while eating one of Hannah's famous blueberry muffins.

Next thing Hannah knows, the police have declared The Cookie Jar's kitchen crime scene off-limits. She's a baker without an oven--and the Carnival is right around the corner. Hannah's only alternative is to cook up a plan to save her business--by finding the killer herself...[summary via Goodreads]

Blueberry Muffin Murder is the third book the Hannah Swensen Mysteries, and for me was a re-read. I originally read Blueberry Muffin Murder in 2011 and I've now re-read it as part of my Hannah Swensen Mysteries readalong. It was just as delightful the second time around!!

Hannah is busy helping with the Winter Carnival. However her life gets a whole lot busier with the arrival of America's Cooking Sweetheart, Connie Mac, who is bossy and seems to get on the bad side of everyone! When Connie turns up dead, and one of Hannah's oldest friends is pinned for the murder, Hannah and her sister, Andrea, must try and find the killer.

Every Hannah Swensen mystery I've read so far has been a delicious read. Blueberry Muffin Murder is no different. The mystery itself was interesting, especially as it involved the empire of a cooking sweetheart, that certainly left enough suspects in her wake. It was interesting watching Hannah and Andrea hunt for clues and find the killer, especially with such a long list of suspects!

I enjoy every visit to Lake Eden. There is the eclectic mix of people in Lake Eden, especially their mother, Delores, who is determined to marry Hannah off!!! It's always fun watching Delores and her match-making. I especially enjoy the relationships in Lake Eden, watching Hannah and Andrea's sisterly bond growing and watching Hannah's romance with dentist, Norman, and police detective, Mike. It all made for an another enjoyable visit to Lake Eden!

If you haven't visited Lake Eden yet, what are you waiting for? Pickup The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and enjoy this fabulous series.

Purchase Blueberry Muffin Murder at Amazon.

Book Review: Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

When the president of Hartland Flour chooses cozy Lake Eden, Minnesota, as the spot for their first annual Dessert Bake-Off, Hannah is thrilled to serve as the head judge. But when a fellow judge, Coach Boyd Watson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in Hannah’s celebrated strawberry shortcake, Lake Eden’s sweet ride to fame turns very sour indeed.

Between perfecting her Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie and Chocolate Crunchies, Hannah’s snooping into the coach’s private life and not coming up short on suspects. And could Watson’s harsh criticism during the judging have given one of the contestants a license to kill? The stakes are rising faster than dough, and Hannah will have to be very careful, because somebody is cooking up a recipe for muder…with Hannah landing on the “necessary ingredients” list.[summary via Goodreads]

I first read Strawberry Shortcake Murder in 2011, and I'm now re-reading the series as part of my Hannah Swensen Mysteries Readalong. While I'm familiar with the characters and Lake Eden, I had forgotten the details of the murder and who the murderer was. This made my re-read quite enjoyable. It was almost like I was experiencing it for the first time, but with the added enjoyment that I already knew the characters.

Hannah is participating in the first annual Dessert Bake-Off as head judge, and she couldn't be more thrilled. After all, we know how much Hannah, owner of The Cookie Jar, loves her desserts. Of course things turn from quiet to deadly, when one of the judges turns up dead. Even though Hannah isn't officially on the case, she feels the need to find the killer, when one of her friends becomes the prime suspect.

As a amateur sleuth, I like Hannah a lot. She's nosy, but doesn't recklessly throw herself into danger, and is very protective of her sister, Andrea, who is happy to come along for the ride. I love how, with each book, Hannah and Andrea are getting closer. They are nothing alike, but as adults they are becoming closer and its nice to watch the relationship grow with each book.

Alike to a lot of readers I can't get enough of this series. From the mystery, that is always fun to untangle, to the delicious cookie recipes, the Hannah Swensen mysteries don't disappoint. While the series is a long one, with 21 books and counting, it is well worth the investment of your reading time. They are a delight to read (and re-read) and I can't wait to see what Hannah gets up to next!

Purchase Strawberry Shortcake Murder from Amazon.

Book Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen already has her hands full, between dodging her mother's attempts to marry her off, and running Lake Eden, Minnesota's most popular bakery, The Cookie Jar. But when the Cozy Cow Dairy's beloved deliveryman is found murdered behind Hannah's bakery with her famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, Hannah sets out to track down a killer. The more Hannah snoops, the more suspects turn up. This is one murder that's starting to leave a very bad taste in Hannah's mouth, and if she doesn't watch her back, her sweet life may get burned to a crisp.[summary via Goodreads]

Meet Hannah Swensen. She's Lake Eden's cookie lady and amateur sleuth all rolled into one delightful package. In her debut adventure Hannah must help her brother-in-law, police officer, Bill, solve the murder of local deliveryman, Ron La Salle. In between making cookies and hunting down a killer, Hannah must also fend off her mother's attempt to marry her off!!

I love this series! I'm re-reading the series from the first book, and the second time around I loved it just as much as the first. Hannah is a fun, feisty character, that loves her life exactly as it is - she runs her own business, The Cookie Jar, shares her condo with her delightful cat, Moishe, and enjoys living in picturesque Lake Eden.  Of course, her life gets a little complicated with her first murder investigation, and not to mention two potential love interests, dentist, Norman, and police detective, Mike. Add it all up and you've got a fantastic first book in a series!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was a super, fun book! I loved all the recipes throughout the book, and it had me wanting to step into the kitchen to bake a few batches of cookies!! The mystery itself was great, and there were plenty of clues for me to collect and try to solve the murder before Hannah. I didn't quite get there with solving it before Hannah, and it was fun to see it all unravel.

If you're new to cozy mysteries this is a fantastic book to start with. However, be warned, one book won't be enough! You'll be wanting to read the whole series.

Purchase Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder from Amazon.

Visit Lake Eden, Minnesota, home of Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen Mysteries

Right now I'm deeply immersed in Joanne Fluke's Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. I'm re-reading the entire series and you can find out more about the readalong here. I'm absolutely loving taking another trip to Lake Eden, Minnesota. 

For those that don't know, Joanne Fluke has a fantastic website at MurderSheBaked.com, and she even has an interactive map of Lake Eden. Doesn't this town look like it would be fun to visit?

 

You can check out the complete interactive map here.

If you're reading along, or if you have read this series, leave a comment and let us know. We'd love to hear from other readers that love the Hannah Swensen mysteries just as much as we do.

Series Readalong: the Hannah Swensen Mysteries

Quite often I discover a book in a long series and rather than reading the series from the beginning, I'm tempted to just read the recent release. However, I love reading series in order, so I might move onto a shorter series. Or as is the case with the Hannah Swensen Mysteries I read the first book in the series and I didn't get back to the rest of the series because of the overwhelming amount of books on my shelves. Well this summer I'm going to change that! I'm going to re-read the Hannah Swensen Mysteries from the beginning.

Have you read the Hannah Swensen books? Maybe you've seen the movie, Murder, She Baked, based on the first book, and you want to read the series? Then join me on my readalong adventure!

I'm going to read and review the books in order, bake some of her delicious recipes and watch the movies!

If you want to join along grab a copy of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder from Amazon or your local bookstore or library and join us for a delicious mystery.

Take one amateur sleuth. Mix in some eccentric Minnesota locals. Add a generous dollop of crackling suspense, and you've got the recipe for this delicious new mystery series featuring Hannah Swensen, the red-haired, cookie-baking heroine whose gingersnaps are almost as tart as her mouth and whose penchant for solving crime is definitely stirring things up. 

Hannah already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother's attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden's most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah's famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can't get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer. But if she doesn't watch her back, Hannah's sweet life may get burned to a crisp.

Find out more about Hannah Swensen and the books and movies at Joanne Fluke's website here. Check out all the books on Amazon.