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.
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