Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) [Paperback]

Joanne Fluke (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hannah Swensen Mysteries | Publication Date: February 1, 2004

Hannah Swensen thought she'd finally discovered the recipe for a perfect life. But her sometime beau Norman Rhodes tosses a surprise ingredient into the, mix when he phones to tell her he's just bought a house from local drugstore clerk Rhonda Scharf-which he plans to tear down in order to build the dream home he and Hannah designed. It seems the plan has been cooking for quite some time, and Hannah is shocked-especially since her ring finger is still very much bare. The good news is that the soon-to-be-torn-down house is full of antiques- and Norman has given Hannah and her mother first dibs. They uncover some. gorgeous old furniture, a patchwork quilt...and Rhonda Scharf's dead body. A little more sleuthing turns up the half-eaten remains of a very special dinner for two-and one of The Cookie Jar's famous lemon meringue pies. Now it's up to Hannah to turn up the heat-and get busy tracking down the clues. Starting in her very own kitchen.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fun...frothy...Enticing recipes for cookies and other treats, presented with helpful procedural hints, are an extra bonus." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758211481
• ISBN-13: 978-0758211484
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,824,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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, [e-mail], or by visiting her website at www.MurderSheBaked.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Many Calories Can Be Murder To Your Waistline!, July 7, 2003

By 

L Smith "acozylover" (Macomb, MI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Hannah Swensen returns in the 4th book in this series. In this installment, Hannah jumps in to help solve a murder when a lemon meringue pie from her bakery, The Cookie Jar, is found at the crime scene. When Norman Rhodes, one of Hannah's "boyfriends", purchases a home, he does not realize that the dead body of the previous owner will be found inside. It seems that this owner, Rhonda, stopped at her old home to pick up a few last items and thought she would have one last meal there. This meal was definitely her last, as the person that met her there may have been the last to see her alive! Adding to Hannah's troubles is the fact that some of her clothes just seem too tight, and so she sets out to put herself on a diet (even while she is baking all kinds of yummy cookies!). Playing a part in this mystery is Hannah's nagging mother, Norman's mother, and Mike, the policeman who usually fights to keep Hannah out of each case but finally gives up this time. As Hannah fights to keep her life in order and her weight in check, she must find a killer before he/she strikes again!

I have enjoyed each of the Hannah Swensen mysteries and have loved the recipes that are included in each book. Each time I have read one of the books, I find myself getting hungry (not good for my waistline either!) for all of the goodies that Hannah serves. The mysteries are interesting, but as I like culinary cozies, I enjoy the books more for the food and the characters. My only complaint about this series has to be in the dialogue between characters, as they are constantly repeating each other's names. Other than that, this delightful read will leave you "hungry" for more!

The first book in this series is "The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder". Enjoy!

A Cozy Lover

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hannah Bakes Up Another Murder, March 18, 2003

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Hannah thinks her life is settling into a comfortable rhythm. Then Norman announces he's bought a house he intends to turn into the dream home the two of them designed together. This startles Hannah because he hasn't proposed and she doesn't even know for sure what she'd say. Then, while searching the existing house for antiques, her mother stumbles on a body in the basement. Rhonda had come back to pick up a few personal items, but the food Hannah finds leads her to believe that she planned to meet someone there the night she was murdered. Who killed her right before she left for a trip to Europe? Who was the mysterious dinner guest? Add in Hannah going on a diet and her youngest sister visiting for the Fourth of July and you've got the recipe for another winner.

Those who already love this series will enjoy the latest addition. With three other visits under our belts, it's like meeting up with old friends again. I was thrilled to finally get to meet Michelle, and her scenes were hilarious. I hope we see more of her in the future. The murder plot takes a little time to get started, but it soon takes center stage. This one seemed a little more straight forward then the others, and I had the killer figured out before Hannah did. Even so, I enjoyed every minute leading up to the suspenseful and creative ending. This book features a total of 9 new recipes to try. I have yet to try any of the recipes in this series, but they all sound so good, I swear I really will someday.

If you enjoy cozies, this series is for you. It's best to jump in with the first, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, to fully enjoy this book. But you'll enjoy every delicious minute along the way.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine mystery for all ages from 9-90, December 19, 2003

By 

Jim Albertson (Aimes, Iowa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) (Hardcover)

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.