Bakery owner Hannah Swensen has a dress to fit into and a date with her sister, Andrea, at Lake Eden's new health club, Heavenly Bodies. Dragging herself out of bed on a frigid Minnesota morning for exercise, of all things, is bad enough. Discovering the body of man-eating bombshell Ronni Ward floating in the gym's jacuzzi? Okay, that's worse. Nor does it help that there's a plate of The Cookie Jar's very own cream puffs garnishing the murder scene. Trying to narrow the list of Ronni's enemies down to fewer than half the town's female population, Hannah has her plate full. Trouble is, when it comes to cookies - and to murder - there's always room for one more...
Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries)
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
It was inevitable that Hannah Swensen’s sweet lifestyle was going to catch up with her. That time has come in this eleventh entertaining cozy featuring the cookie baker: she must go on a diet. Hannah starts working out at a health club and vows to stop tasting the scrumptious treats she prepares every day for the Cookie Jar bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota. Stress mounts when Hannah discovers the body of a fitness instructor floating in her club’s Jacuzzi. The acerbic trainer was universally loathed by women and liked by most men (including the staff of the local police department) for her flirtatious ways. In a reversal of the usual procedure, this time one of Hannah’s boyfriends, Detective Mike Kingston, recruits her help in solving the mystery, as he and his fellow cops are potential suspects. Hannah and her other boyfriend, dentist Norman, go to work to solve the mystery with dubious and conflicting suggestions from all of the real detectives. As usual, Fluke intersperses delectable recipes and reveals plenty of new personal details about her eccentric and likable cast of characters. --Judy Coon
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Review
"Foodie fans will eat up Fluke's cozy.... A fluffy mix of sweets and suspense." - Publishers Weekly "A tasty treat" - Kirkus Reviews"
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More About the Author
Joanne Fluke is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 novels. Like Hannah Swensen, she was born and raised in a small town in rural Minnesota, but now lives in sunny Southern California. She is currently working on her next Hannah Swensen mystery and readers are welcome to contact her at the following e-mail address, Gr8Clues@aol.com, or by visiting her website at www.MurderSheBaked.com.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have been a fan of this series since the beginning and have faithfully read each and every one of them as they are published. It's one of my favorites and I look forward to settling in with Hannah and her friends and family as well as having a mystery mixed in for good measure.
This one was different for me. The first 100 pages or so I was really enjoying the book. Definitely a "cozy" story since no murder had been committed yet. I was appreciating getting caught up with the characters from the previous novels and zipped right along. Around page 110 things started deteriorating. The mystery portion was introduced and I thought it was fairly weak. Lots of unrealistic situations occur to the point of spoiling it. All cozies have bits of reality that you have to ignore, but this one pushed it past acceptable. All of the police department's detectives are unable to work the case for some reason or another, so they decide to have a cookie shop owner run the police investigation? It's one thing for a mystery to revolve around a person sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong, its another thing to have us all swallow that four different police officers recruit an amateur and let her solve the mystery. A detective is brought in from the big city and even she lets Hannah take the lead and do all the investigation. Just too over the top for me.
By the time the last 100 pages came around, I was finding it hard to stay with the book. I wasn't motivated to finish other than out of loyalty to the series and a personal desire to finish every book I read.
I did like the Mike/Norman/Hannah situation and was glad to see some movement in that story line. I also got a real kick out of Moise (Hannah's cat) and the mystery of the disappearing food. I actually liked that mystery better than the main murder in the novel.
I'll keep reading these since they have been so good so far, but I am hoping for better in the future. If you have never read this series, I would recommend going back and starting with the very first one. Since so much of this book is dependent upon characters, it would be really helpful to have all the previous background -- won't stand alone very well.
This one was different for me. The first 100 pages or so I was really enjoying the book. Definitely a "cozy" story since no murder had been committed yet. I was appreciating getting caught up with the characters from the previous novels and zipped right along. Around page 110 things started deteriorating. The mystery portion was introduced and I thought it was fairly weak. Lots of unrealistic situations occur to the point of spoiling it. All cozies have bits of reality that you have to ignore, but this one pushed it past acceptable. All of the police department's detectives are unable to work the case for some reason or another, so they decide to have a cookie shop owner run the police investigation? It's one thing for a mystery to revolve around a person sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong, its another thing to have us all swallow that four different police officers recruit an amateur and let her solve the mystery. A detective is brought in from the big city and even she lets Hannah take the lead and do all the investigation. Just too over the top for me.
By the time the last 100 pages came around, I was finding it hard to stay with the book. I wasn't motivated to finish other than out of loyalty to the series and a personal desire to finish every book I read.
I did like the Mike/Norman/Hannah situation and was glad to see some movement in that story line. I also got a real kick out of Moise (Hannah's cat) and the mystery of the disappearing food. I actually liked that mystery better than the main murder in the novel.
I'll keep reading these since they have been so good so far, but I am hoping for better in the future. If you have never read this series, I would recommend going back and starting with the very first one. Since so much of this book is dependent upon characters, it would be really helpful to have all the previous background -- won't stand alone very well.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Hannah has two weeks to lose enough weight to fit into the dress that her mother bought her to wear for a book launch party. That means a strict diet and joining Heavenly Bodies, the new gym out at the mall. With Andrea cheering her on, Hannah might actually make her goal.
On the down side, membership at Heavenly Bodies means interacting even more with Ronni Ward. One of the instructors at the gym, Ronni has made enemies out of every woman in town with her constant flirting. Still, Hannah is shocked to find Ronni floating face down in the gym's Jacuzzi. To make matters worse, sometimes boyfriend Mike is a suspect in the case. Since Mike is suspended until things are resolved, he is becoming irritating. Can she solve the case before Mike drives her completely crazy?
Let's be honest, there are a couple of things in this series that are highly unrealistic. And this book does nothing to change that. Mike and other police officers are actually trying to run their investigation through Hannah. Realistic? No. But it does provide for some very funny scenes. As in Murder, She Wrote, I ignore it and move on. The Mike/Norman triangle certainly doesn't seem to be going anywhere either, although this book makes it very clear who she should chose.
Now that I've noted those items, I must confess I still enjoy these books. The cast of series regulars always makes me smile. This is another great visit with old friends. For that reason alone I will keep reading the series. The mystery could have been stronger earlier, but it still captured my interest and kept me guessing until the end. I count something in the neighborhood of 20 recipes that made my mouth water as I was reading.
Like the chocolate Hannah is always prescribing, this series is a cure for any problem. This is another light, fun read.
On the down side, membership at Heavenly Bodies means interacting even more with Ronni Ward. One of the instructors at the gym, Ronni has made enemies out of every woman in town with her constant flirting. Still, Hannah is shocked to find Ronni floating face down in the gym's Jacuzzi. To make matters worse, sometimes boyfriend Mike is a suspect in the case. Since Mike is suspended until things are resolved, he is becoming irritating. Can she solve the case before Mike drives her completely crazy?
Let's be honest, there are a couple of things in this series that are highly unrealistic. And this book does nothing to change that. Mike and other police officers are actually trying to run their investigation through Hannah. Realistic? No. But it does provide for some very funny scenes. As in Murder, She Wrote, I ignore it and move on. The Mike/Norman triangle certainly doesn't seem to be going anywhere either, although this book makes it very clear who she should chose.
Now that I've noted those items, I must confess I still enjoy these books. The cast of series regulars always makes me smile. This is another great visit with old friends. For that reason alone I will keep reading the series. The mystery could have been stronger earlier, but it still captured my interest and kept me guessing until the end. I count something in the neighborhood of 20 recipes that made my mouth water as I was reading.
Like the chocolate Hannah is always prescribing, this series is a cure for any problem. This is another light, fun read.
21 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Pandy
Format:Hardcover
Joanne Fluke needs to just stop - her books are all exactly the same. I am so disappointed in how this series has turned out. Hannah doesn't act like a 30 year old, but like a celibate 50 year old. Not making up her mind about Mike or Norman is completely annoying and both men have ceased to be fleshed out characters and are now just caricatures.
After reading the last book and finding it dull, I decided to give her one more chance with this novel. I am now finished with this series. It doesn't go anywhere, it's boring, and it is completely unrealistic (even by cozy standards)
After reading the last book and finding it dull, I decided to give her one more chance with this novel. I am now finished with this series. It doesn't go anywhere, it's boring, and it is completely unrealistic (even by cozy standards)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cream puff murder
Nice, easy read. This is a fun series. The Hannah Swenson series is great for the beach. If you need a break from serious life issues these books fill the bill.
Published 20 days ago by runnerdoggy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating Family and Friends
Ms. Fluke is really good with her characters and dialog, and she keeps them consistent. Obviously by now, she seems to think that keeping the suspense going with the two suitors... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Commenter77
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great story.
I love her books. The recipes are great. I have the book on tape but I wanted a copy of the recipes. there are some really tasty ones especially the cream puffs.
Published 1 month ago by Bonnie Sisler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great series
I like these books by Joanne Fluke - easy read, keep you in the story, great characters - feel like people you know!
Published 1 month ago by Susan Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD READING
I HAVE ENJOYED ALL OF THE BOOKS THAT JOANNE FLUKE HAS WRITTEN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE IN THE FUTURE. HER CHARACTERS ARE INTERESTING.
Published 1 month ago by Judith W. Bohall
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cream puff murder
Nothing new or exciting, but it is a nice easy read. Hannah flip flopping on men is getting tiresome and tedious.
Published 1 month ago by Karen Beaumont
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ceam Puff Murder
Loved the book. Light reading. The recipes are to die for,lol.I say buy the book and copy the recipes to bake. They are scrumpious.
Published 2 months ago by Saphira
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book!
arrived promptly and in good condition. The novel was a good light mystery! I am very glad that I bought this book!
Published 2 months ago by Janice Davis-Patella
3.0 out of 5 stars
She finds dead people
Just how many more books can this series go on? Hannah finding dead people in almost every book. This is a small town or appears to be. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sheila_fw
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed
I don't know if I'm getting bored with the series or what, but I just found this installment boring. It took so long to get into things. I hope the next one is better. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bren
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