Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "Cherry Cheesecake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery " by Joanne Fluke

Friday, November 11, 2016

Review of "Cherry Cheesecake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery " by Joanne Fluke

In this 8th book in the 'Hannah Swensen' series, the baker/amateur sleuth investigates when an actor is murdered with a 'prop gun.' The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

The star of this series is Hannah Swenson - amateur sleuth and entrepreneur - who owns a cookie bakery and loves to create new cookies for her shop and prepare treats for her friends and relatives. Luckily for readers who'd like to try the sweets, recipes are provided.

In this story some scenes for a Hollywood movie are slated to be shot in Hannah's home town of Lake Eden, Minnesota. The producer, director, actors and supporting staff flood into town, and - to the delight of the townsfolk - local citizens will be involved as advisors and bit players.

The murder in this book involves a character dying from a bullet wound from what was supposed to be a prop gun. This doesn't occur until about page 200, however, and until then we visit with the characters and follow Hannah's apparently eternal romantic triangle with Norman the dentist.....

.....and Mike the detective.

In fact, this book has an additional boyfriend - Hannah's attractive friend Ross - who's on the movie staff.

It's hard to believe Hannah's beaus would put up with her indecisiveness forever, but it's a book - not real life.

Once the murder occurs Hannah and her sisters are on the job - not "investigating" (which is frowned on by Mike the detective) but rather "snooping" to help find the killer. As usual with amateur detectives in these kinds of stories, they withhold information from the police, go where they shouldn't, etc.

This isn't a complex mystery but rather an entertaining cozy with fun characters that are staples of the series - and lots of good pastries.

*****

These are some of the recipes in the book.

Cocalattas

Peanut butter and jam cookies

Fruit pocket French toast

Cherry cheesecake

Mini cherry cheesecakes

Chocolate truffles

Cream cheese puffs

Lemon cream torte

Angel kisses

Ooey gooey chewy cookie bars

Rating: 3 stars

4 comments:

IcewineanneNovember 12, 2016 at 10:26 PM
This series is just too silly for me.
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Barb's Book Reviews

Friday, November 11, 2016

Review of "Cherry Cheesecake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery " by Joanne Fluke

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