Rating: 
Summary: DELIGHTFUL!!!
Review: I loved this book SOOO much. It is the best Hannah Swensen mystery there is yet!
Rating: 
Summary: You're kidding me, right?
Review: I picked this book up at random from the library and I cannot believe how badly written and amateurish it is. First of all, it seems to be written for a 7th grade audience; the language is that simplified and dumbed down. I realize this takes place in a small town, but some serious breaches of confidentiality take place. A dentist casually gabs about the dental problems of a current patient. Has he never heard of HIPAA? Hannah is allowed to enter the victim's apartment unaccompanied and take whatever she wants. At the least it should have been cordoned off with police tape. Naturally, she finds obvious clues that the police somehow missed. The identity of the killer is so obvious, that as I was reading I would sometimes wonder if I had guessed incorrectly and this person was really a red herring. Nope, come to find out I was right all along. The only positive thing I can say about this book is that some of the recipes sound interesting and I'm looking forward to trying them out.
Rating:
Summary: Who Doesn't Love Lemon Meringue?
Review: I really enjoyed this book and as a series, it just keeps getting better and better.Joanne Fluke's books have the best recipe's of any of these books. I baked three of the recipe's in her first book "Chocolate Chip Murder Mystery" for the Christmas Party at work and they were a hit. Now, on to the mystery. Hannah Swensen, owner of the Cookie Jar in Lake Eden, Minnesota can't seem to get away from murders. When her sometimes boyfriend, Norman Rhodes buys an old house, he invites Hannah and her mother, Delores, who owns an antiques store to come out and check out the house furnishings before he has it torn down. Delores is checking out the basement when she accidentally stumbles over the half buried body of the former owner, drug store clerk, Rhonda Scharf. Who would want to kill her? Everyone wants Hannah to investigate the murder, her mother, Norman and especially her pregnant sister Andrea, who's bored, and wants to help. The only one who doesn't want her help, is boyfriend number two, Mike, a police investigator, whose partner is Andrea's husband, Bill. Will she be able to solve the crime before Mike, or before the killer stops her. Hannah is very funny and I think she's the only female in a mystery series who has two boyfriends. Norman, is a dentist who until now has lived with his mother and who's late father, also a dentist had a very nasty secret that was revealed in the first book. I always wondered if he was supposed to be a continuing character after the first book, "I mean, his name is Norman." NO OFFENSE TO ANY NORMAN'S OUT THERE. But it isn't the usual name for a guy who's having a serious romantic relationship with the lead character. But he's a wonderful character, sweet and gentle. Mike, is a police detective and is the macho, [attractive] kind of guy. He's also very likeable. I'd hate to be Hannah and have to choose between these two. What I like about this series is that it gives you the feeling of family and friends, you like everyone, Hannah, her sisters, Andrea & Michelle, her parter Lisa. Her & Norman's mothers. Even the poor murder victim, Rhonda who had appeared in an earlier book. Definite Thumbs Up. Looking forward the Fudge Cupcake Murders.
Rating: 
Summary: entertaining and delightful
Review: It's hot and muggy right now in Lake Eden, Minnesota; but even though the weather is less than ideal, things have just turned up a notch for Hannah Swenson, owner of THE COOKIE JAR, when she finds herself, once again enmeshed in a murder investigation, but this time at her mother's behest! Norman Rhodes, one of the two men that Hannah casually dates, has just bought Rhonda Scharf's great-aunt's house with plans to tear it down and in order to build the dream house that he and Hannah had designed together for a home design competition (they had won first prize at the competition with that design) in its stead. And while Hannah is thrown that he had been planning such a move with nary a word to her and no hints that he wanted to move their relationship to the next level, she cannot help but he thrilled for him. Especially when as a peace offering to both their matchmaking mothers, Norman gives the mothers first dibs at all the antiques left in the house before he has it demolished. Wouldn't you know that along with some valueable pieces of china, Hannah's mother would also discover a body in the basement. And not just any body but that of Rhonda Scharf's herself -- the town's biggest gossip and flirt. And in a turn around from her usual stance, Hannah's mother is now insisting that Hannah investigate and discover who murdered Rhonda and why! The clues are practically scarce, and include two potions of osso buco, an empty Chianti bottle and one of Hannah's own barely eaten lemon meringue pies. Not much to go on but seemingly indicative that Rhonda may have had company for her last meal. Was Rhonda murdered because she had flirted with the wrong man, or because she was privy to some bit of gossip? In between waking up and dawn in order to open her incredibly popular dessert store, inventing new and scrumptious desserts and juggling not one but two beaux (Norman and Mike, the handsome policeman), Hannah is determined to come up with the answer... While the "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" proved to be an incredibly fun read, I have to admit that the mystery subplot did take a while to unwind. Hannah spent a lot of time trying to come up with new recipes, juggling her beaux and dishing out advice to her two sisters. But all this, far from detracting, actually did add to the charm of the book. The characters were all well developed and the mystery at hand was a perplexing one that intrigued no end. And once the pace picked up, about half way through the book, the "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" turned out to be quite the read. Now, if only the authour would allow Hannah to decide which man she wants (I'm rooting for Norman), the series would be a near perfect one for me!
Rating:
Summary: A fine mystery for all ages from 9-90
Review: Joanne Fluke's latest book just keeps adding to the reasons why I love to read this author. This is a well-written mystery with loveable charaters that you really care about ( such as Hannah and Moishe the cat)and want to read more about. The plot, even with it's twists and turns, can be followed easily ( although who actually was the murderer suprised even me!) and you can see the logic when the murderer is unmasked. This is a book with no swearing, sex scenes, or ugly racism (which is a rarity in the times) and can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. Two thumbs up, Joanne!!! I can't wait for your next one book.
Rating:
Summary: delighful culinary mystery
Review: Lake Eden is a small resort town in Minnesota that is relatively crime free but when a homicide occurs, Hannah Swensen, the owner of the cookie Jar, is usually in the middle of the investigation. Murder is the farthest from Hannah's mind because her beau, Norman Rhodes bought a house from Rhonda Scarf and plans to demolish the building to build his and Hannah's dream home. Rhonda sold the home with the contents included so Norman, Hannah and her mother, an antique collector search the house for hidden treasures. After looking in every nook and cranny in the cluttered home, Hannah's mother decides to look to in the basement to see if there are any antique tools. She doesn't find any treasures, but in the furnace room she sees Rhonda's body with a knife protruding from her chest. The police specifically tell Hannah not to get involved but everyone close to her wants her on the case. She finally agrees because she hopes it will get her mind off food and diets. There is not one heroine who loves being involved in a homicide investigation as much as Hannah Swensen does. This culinary mystery has easy mouth-watering recipes that have easy to follow directions. (I tried two of them and the deserts were scrumptious, but no comments on my weight). The who-done-it is fun in large part due to the support cast who adds flavoring ingredients to an exciting mix. LEMON MERINGUE PIE MURDER is a delicious reading experience. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Another yummy mystery from Joanne Fluke!
Review: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder, the 4th in the Hannah Swensen series, is fantastic! I was positive I knew "whodunit" -- about 3 times! Need I say I was wrong?? But the fun was in trying! I'll buy anything by this author - my mouth waters just thinking about what the next one might be!
Rating:
Summary: Another yummy mystery from Joanne Fluke!
Review: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder, the 4th in the Hannah Swensen series, is fantastic! I was positive I knew "whodunit" -- about 3 times! Need I say I was wrong?? But the fun was in trying! I'll buy anything by this author - my mouth waters just thinking about what the next one might be!
Rating:
Summary: Another yummy mystery from Joanne Fluke!
Review: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder, the 4th in the Hannah Swensen series, is fantastic! I was positive I knew "whodunit" -- about 3 times! Need I say I was wrong?? But the fun was in trying! I'll buy anything by this author - my mouth waters just thinking about what the next one might be!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Awful
Review: This series by Joanne Fluke is fresh as the yummy cookies character Hannah Swensen offers at her shop, "The Cookie Jar." I got a big kick out of one of the sub-plots that worked nicely with her attempts to solve the murder -- Hannah's efforts to fit into her clothes. (I won't give away the surprise.) These books are just plain good fun. I suspect the author has as much fun writing them as we do reading them and we know that's always good.
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