Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #2)
by Joanne Fluke
by Joanne Fluke
Pages: 310
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 murder…with Hannah landing on the “necessary ingredients” list.
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 murder…with Hannah landing on the “necessary ingredients” list.
You guys know I’m a sucker for a series…even a cheesy murder mystery series. This is definitely that. It’s cheesy, predictable, and filled with cookies. How could I not love it?
Hannah Swensen is back in the murder-solving business again. Well, not technically, since she’s been forbidden by her brother-in-law Bill and sometimes-boyfriend Mike (the town detectives) to get involved in anything that might compromise the case. Being the stubborn woman that she is, Hannah smiles politely and then goes on to solve the mystery with the help of her sister and a few other trusted friends.
The characters in this aren’t very multi-dimensional, but they are enjoyable enough. If you’ve ever lived in a small town, you will be able to appreciate some of the local happenings. This book was a breeze to get through. The hardest part? Not eating all the cookies in sight. Hannah owns the local cookie shop and is constantly talking about the yummy things they are making. This is not a book that a dieter should read. Oh, why do I torture myself so?
If you are looking for a quick, fluffy read, then pick this up. If you are looking for deep intellectual stimulation, pass this on. Then again, if you are reading my blog, it’s doubtful that you are looking for such stimulation. More likely, you’re reading the New Yorker. I digress…