Blueberry Muffin Murder

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Confection!
Review: Although this is Hannah Swenen's third adventure, it is the first I've read. I'm now looking forward to reading both past and future installments in the series.

Celebrity chef Connie Mac (think a Minnesota Martha Stewart) is found murdered in the pantry of Hannah's store, The Cookie Jar, and Hannah is plunged into the murder investigation. There is no shortage of suspects, as Connie wasn't known for her pleasant manner. Hannah manages to investigate while fending off the matchmaking attempts of her sister and mother, and while baking batches of cookies for the town's winter festival. Her investigation is complicated by the fact that one of her suitors is conducting the police investigation, the other is a suspect, and her mother is concerned that Hannah's habit of finding dead bodies (this isn't the first) may ruin her reputation.

The characters and plot elements are blended as skillfully as the ingredients in Hannah's delectable cookies. Speaking of which, the recipes in the book are a wonderful addition. Gotta go--I've got a batch of Peanut Butter Melts in the oven and I can't wait to taste them!

Rating:
Summary: Blueberry Muffin Murder
Review: Hannah Swenson should be making a bundle. As sole supplier of cookies for the Lake Eden (Minnesota) Winter Carnival, she and Lisa Herman, owners of The Cookie Jar, are selling Peanut Butter Melts and White Chocolate Supremes as fast as they can bake them. But when the Carnival's star attraction, deceptively nasty Connie MacIntyre-known to cable TV fans everywhere as "Connie Mac," America's Cooking Sweetheart-gets her head bashed in right inside their pantry, detective Mike Kingston seals the store shut until further notice, leaving Hannah literally out in the cold. You'd think that getting The Cookie Jar reopened would be motive enough for her to look into Connie Mac's murder. So should clearing her childhood friend Janie Burkholtz, who, as Connie Mac's assistant and frequent target of her ill temper, is Mike's favorite suspect. Or clearing Norman Rhodes, Mike's second-favorite suspect-at least in part because Hannah just might prefer Norman's friendly, familiar kisses to Mike's more stirring embraces. But you'd be wrong each time, for Hannah seems far more interested in tweaking Mike's adorable nose by investigating a murder he specifically warned her away from. And she succeeds brilliantly, placing herself in peril repeatedly as she breaks into hotel rooms, steals keys, pays after-hours visits to deserted shopping malls-and ultimately unmasks a killer. A more engaging supporting cast and less-routine plots kept Hannah's earlier adventures (Strawberry Shortcake Murder, 2000, etc.) a hair away from soap opera. This one lands her firmly in the suds.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Addition to this Cozy Series
Review: Hoping to boost their winter economy, Lake Eden Minnesota is holding it's first annual Winter Carnival. Hannah Swensen is delighted about the extra revenue this will bring to her cookie shop. The town is thrilled to have Connie MacIntyre, celebrated TV chef and cookbook author, designing and baking their Winter Carnival cake. But when Connie Mac arrives, she quickly makes enemies with her overbearing personality. Hannah reluctantly agrees to let Connie use her shop to bake the cake, but arrives the next morning to find the cake burned and Connie face down in a tin of Hannah's Blue Blueberry Muffins. With her shop closed off as a crime scene and a very good friend, Connie Mac's personal assistant Janie, the prime suspect, Hannah starts investigating the murder. But can she provide the cookies for the carnival, solve the murder, and find Janie?

This is the third Hannah Swensen mystery, and the series has only gotten stronger. Hannah and her sister Andrea make a great detective team. All the supporting characters are back and used well in the plot. They're really starting to feel like good friends. I especially enjoyed watching the love triangle with dentist Norman and police detective Mike heat up. The mystery itself was very enjoyable. I had a hard time figuring out where this one was going, but the solution made perfect sense. And the climax kept me glued to the book trying to figure out how Hannah would escape with her life. There are 7 more delicious sounding recipes included. Someday I'm going to make them.

My only complaint with the book was that it ended too soon. If you're already a fan of the series, you'll love this book. If you have yet to meet Hannah, start with the first, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, and enjoy this delightful culinary themed mystery series.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Addition to this Cozy Series
Review: Hoping to boost their winter economy, Lake Eden Minnesota is holding it's first annual Winter Carnival. Hannah Swensen is delighted about the extra revenue this will bring to her cookie shop. The town is thrilled to have Connie MacIntyre, celebrated TV chef and cookbook author, designing and baking their Winter Carnival cake. But when Connie Mac arrives, she quickly makes enemies with her overbearing personality. Hannah reluctantly agrees to let Connie use her shop to bake the cake, but arrives the next morning to find the cake burned and Connie face down in a tin of Hannah's Blue Blueberry Muffins. With her shop closed off as a crime scene and a very good friend, Connie Mac's personal assistant Janie, the prime suspect, Hannah starts investigating the murder. But can she provide the cookies for the carnival, solve the murder, and find Janie?

This is the third Hannah Swensen mystery, and the series has only gotten stronger. Hannah and her sister Andrea make a great detective team. All the supporting characters are back and used well in the plot. They're really starting to feel like good friends. I especially enjoyed watching the love triangle with dentist Norman and police detective Mike heat up. The mystery itself was very enjoyable. I had a hard time figuring out where this one was going, but the solution made perfect sense. And the climax kept me glued to the book trying to figure out how Hannah would escape with her life. There are 7 more delicious sounding recipes included. Someday I'm going to make them.

My only complaint with the book was that it ended too soon. If you're already a fan of the series, you'll love this book. If you have yet to meet Hannah, start with the first, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, and enjoy this delightful culinary themed mystery series.

Rating:
Summary: Cute Series
Review: I enjoy the premise of this series. However, there are just some things about it that prevent me from giving it more stars, and unfortunately none of these things have been resolved in this installment.

When a murder takes place in town, it seems everyone seeks out the local cookie shop owner to make sure she'll be investigating. The police forbid her to get involved, yet turn around and give her confidential information, which she then proceeds to tell to others. She questions suspects as if she's an official and they immediately spill their guts to her. She even refers to the case as "her murder investigation."

I also find it annoying that everyone in town seems to whine and snivel at her feet. Her sister can't make a move without getting Hannah's approval and reassurance that she's doing a good job. She orders people around, all the way up to the mayor, and they just do whatever she says. People break the law and totally ignore the police in order to assist Hannah with whatever she needs. It just seems there's got to be a more believable way for an amateur sleuth to work on a case in a novel than by blatantly breaking the law and doing things she shouldn't be able to do since she's not an official.

I also can't stand the writing style when it comes to dialogue. Conversations between the characters comes off as stilted and unnatural. And enough already with the constant use of characters' names in every sentence ("Hi Hannah." "Hi Norman." "How are you Hannah?" "I'm fine Norman, how are you?" "Good, Hannah.") -- I'm quite capable of keeping track of who's talking to who without being reminded of it in every sentence of the conversation.

Finally, there's really no need for so many subplots to be going on at once, especially when they're obvious. I knew what the relationship between Alex and Janie was as soon as it was questioned. The same holds true for Paul. The ghost plot did nothing for the story. And I'm still trying to figure out how Hannah could draw the conclusion that her sister was pregnant just because she had a bigger breakfast than usual, especially when she states that she was away at college during Andrea's first pregnancy.

The author really does have a nice idea with this series, but she needs to work on these things for me to be able to give the books any higher of a rating.

Rating:
Summary: Cute Series
Review: I have really enjoyed each of Joanne Fluke's novels. She makes you wish you were living in that small town, eating cookies for breakfast. This was another nice installment letting us learn a little more about each of the characters. The only reason I gave this four rather than five stars was because I am a little dissapointed there was no real further development of Hannah's personal life. That of course will keep me waiting for the next book, so maybe it was the point...

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: I have really enjoyed each of Joanne Fluke's novels. She makes you wish you were living in that small town, eating cookies for breakfast. This was another nice installment letting us learn a little more about each of the characters. The only reason I gave this four rather than five stars was because I am a little dissapointed there was no real further development of Hannah's personal life. That of course will keep me waiting for the next book, so maybe it was the point...

Rating:
Summary: Third Great Book in the Series...
Review: There are some mystery series that although cozy, just get boring after awhile. The Joanne Fluke series are NOT of this genre.

I personally love the dialogue and the characters. Hannah Swensen doesn't seem to me to "order any of the other characters around" and in fact it seems as though she often has to walk a fine line between dodging her mother and her sister. I do think that the men in her life and how THEY feel could be a little more developed, but this is a really cute series.

In "Blueberry Muffin Murder," Connie Mac (who HAD to be based on a "Martha Stewart" type) comes into town and the fun begins.
I do think that this series would probably appeal more to women than to most "career driven macho men." Although, anyone who likes to cook would probably really like this series as well.

Rating:
Summary: Third Great Book in the Series...
Review: There are some mystery series that although cozy, just get boring after awhile. The Joanne Fluke series are NOT of this genre.

I personally love the dialogue and the characters. Hannah Swensen doesn't seem to me to "order any of the other characters around" and in fact it seems as though she often has to walk a fine line between dodging her mother and her sister. I do think that the men in her life and how THEY feel could be a little more developed, but this is a really cute series.

In "Blueberry Muffin Murder," Connie Mac (who HAD to be based on a "Martha Stewart" type) comes into town and the fun begins.
I do think that this series would probably appeal more to women than to most "career driven macho men." Although, anyone who likes to cook would probably really like this series as well.

Rating:
Summary: Delightfully Delicious
Review: This author has a way with words, and ingredients. Along with a tasty read with satisfying characters, each of her books contain at least 5 recipes. This one happens to include recipes for Blueberry Muffins, Peanut Butter Melts, Twin Chocolate Delights, Little Snowballs, Grilled Cream Cheese Sandwiches, Lisa's White Chocolate Supremes, Short Stack Cookes, and Multiple-Choice Bar Cookies. These recipies aren't ficticious. I've tried a few and they are absolutely delectible!