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!
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!
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