Rating: 
Summary: Straddling the fence on this one.
Review: Although I enjoyed the story and the characters, for somebody who just 'happens' upon a dead body and might even be categorized as an amateur sleuth, Hannah follows this case with the tenacity of a dog with a bone. She asks questions and follows leads as though she's assigned to the case instead of someone who's just supposed to keep her ears open and pass along any information to her brother-in-law (who really IS assigned to the case). Since moving back home, Hannah's reconnection with her family and the opening of her business, The Cookie Jar, are both wonderfully written, humorous, at at times exasperating. This series has potential, but let's hope that the author scales back a little bit on Hannah's involvement in future cases. For someone who has no law enforcement experience, she's just too involved to make it believable.
Rating: 
Summary: At least there are cookie recipes
Review: Apparently this publishing house has downsized all its editors.If Joanna Fluke's plodding, lifeless book can be published, then there's hope for hapless wanna-be authors everywhere.
The pages of this book overflow with meaningless detail -- where Hannah turned and stopped and turned again and stopped and looked up and heard the phone ring and told her assistant, no, I'll get the phone, and then turned and got the phone. Is Fluke being paid by the word?
I kept trying to read the thing, but it doesn't get better. Page after page of trivial detail that neither advances the plot nor develops character. Surely Fluke could have brought some of that passion for detail to bear on the Regency-theme party she caters for a bunch of romance book lovers. It's Jane Austen's time period -- hello? Two minutes on the Internet, [...]would have yielded plenty of historical culinary sources, not to mention recipes she could then slightly alter and call her own. Nope. In fact, she specifically claims historical data is not available.
For heaven's sake, if it's a blend of great writing, captivating characters, intriguing mystery and tasty recipes you want, try Diane Mott Davidson or Jerrilyn Farmer instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Witty character, that's about it though
Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder has a funny, witty main character. That is really all I can say about the book though. Well, let me take that back. The recipes sounded pretty good.
Hannah Swenson, main character, is a cookie shop owner who helps her brother-in-law solve the murder of a friend. I found this a little unbelievable because Hannah has no detective work skills/background. The author did have me guessing up to the very end about who the murderer was though. I did like that about the book. It was not predictable.
If you are looking for a silly, yet fun kind of read, or are a chocoaholic, then pick up Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. If you like books with a little more depth, best to skip it.
Rating: 
Summary: A great cozy mystery
Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is a great mystery filled with suspense, action, a little romance, and great recipes for cookies. I loved it. I definetly recommend this to evry one. I can't say this is the best book I have ever read, but it sure comes close. Hannah Swensen owns a shop known as the Cookie Jar, but when she finds her friend murdered outside her shop holding one of er cookies, her life might just as well end. And it just might...
Rating:
Summary: A very satisfying mystery
Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is an entertaining story with an intriguing plot that features many twists and turns, and memorable characters you can relate to. Joanne is an experienced writer and it shows in this well-crafted and satisfying mystery. I have an idea Hannah Swensen and her cookies will be around for a long time.Margaret Chittenden author of the Charlie Plato Mystery Series
Rating:
Summary: Uh-Oh; should have a disclaimer...
Review: Don't attempt reading if you're trying to be true to a diet! Ejoyed the story about a young woman who has her own business as a cookie maker. Gets involved in a mysterious murder and still manages to be "cookie-mom" to the entire town! Recipes included are divine! There's a great attention to detail, that can be tedious, and she's pretty impressive as a "wanna-be-sleuth", so much so that she makes the local detective appear dim; but I call this a dessert book... one you can enjoy without too much concentration and have a good taste in your head when you're done!
Rating: 
Summary: Promising Debut
Review: For a series debut, the book holds promise. However, there are some things that make it somewhat tedious and annoying. For some reason, the author felt compelled to overuse the character's names, both in their individual scenes (Hannah went into the bedroom to change her clothes. Ten minutes later, Hannah went and sat on the couch. Hannah then reached over to pet the cat) and in dialogue ("What's up, Hannah?" "I need to talk to you, Bill." "Okay, Hannah, what is it?" "Well, Bill, it's like this..." This wasn't a very difficult book to follow along, so I found this constant use of the character's names to be very distracting, to the point of annoyance. I also don't understand where Ms. Fluke is going with Bill, the brother-in-law. The book indicates he's a good cop who asked Hannah to help him solve the crime to make detective...yet he couldn't seem to make a move without checking it with Hannah first or asking her what he should do next. In most stories of this type, the officials usually discourage civilian involvement, but in this case, not only was it being encouraged, the civilian was made to look more competent than the official. Hopefully these little things will improve as the author goes along, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Cooking up a good read.
Review: Hannah Swensen is certainly a 'character', if you'll pardon the pun. While I am not a huge mystery fan, I love to read one every now and then, as long as it isn't too gory or scary. And I just love to read a few pages before I go to sleep each night, but I just can't seem to put this one down...it is such a fun read! And I love to bake, so Fluke has written the perfect book for me. Would love to watch 'Hannah' on TV!
Rating:
Summary: A delightful amateur sleuth makes her debut
Review: Hannah Swensen makes her debut in this culinary series. Hannah, a thirtyish spinster, is under constant pressure from her mother to get married. It's obvious that Hannah is a candidate for sainthood, as she is more than patient with her mother's constant telephone calls and criticisms. What's more, she's a great baker, and she nicely provides us with terrific (the best I've ever seen!) instructions on how to bake all those high-calorie cookies mentioned throughout THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER. There's even an index at the back of the book so you can easily locate the recipe you want. What a woman! And she has a great cat. The scenes showing Hannah's relationship with her cat Moishe are heartwarming. Oh, the mystery. Yes, there's a mystery, and it's even logical that Hannah would be involved in snooping around town (she wants to help her policeman brother-in-law solve the case and earn a promotion). Unfortunately, I felt Hannah was a bit slow to figure some things out, as certain things were clear to me quite early in the book. However, for the most part Hannah was a clever amateur detective, and I remained glued to the story until the last page. I very much look forward to the next book in this series, and I think most cozy lovers will find this series delightful.
Rating:
Summary: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
Review: Hannah Swensen of Lake Eden, Minnesota, has a better excuse than most of fiction's lady sleuths to excuse her nosiness: her sister Andrea's husband Bill Todd is deputy sheriff for the county and Hannah tirelessly maintains that she's helping him. During her inter-snooping hours, she runs The Cookie Jar, a coffee shop serving and selling the goodies Hannah bakes in the back of the store. Her supplies are delivered daily by Ron LaSalle, whom she often passes on her way to work. On this fateful day, Ron's truck is soon parked behind the store, but he fails to reappear. When Hannah finds him seated in the truck, the window open, a bullet through his chest, she's inspired to work her way through the townspeople, looking for a motive for Ron's death, even as she manfully resists her widowed mother's attempts to find her a husband. The annual bash given by wealthy Del and Judith Woodley pairs Hannah with pleasant dentist Norman Rhodes, but Hannah is soon caught up by the latest scandal: the disappearance of Nat Turner, owner of the huge Cozy Cow Dairy, who didn't show at the Buttermakers Convention, where he was to make the opening speech. Needless to say, it's Hannah who finds Max's body and evidence of the loan-sharking activities that provide a likely motive for his murder. Hannah's a likable sort despite her bent for taking over; the author's style is easygoing if slowed by too much inane chatter. In all: a modestly entertaining debut with some delectable recipes as a bonus.
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