Customer Reviews

Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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

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.

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.

The fourth and truly mouthwateringly delightful book in any baker's dream series hasn't disappointed. If anything it's my favorite so far, so cute in fact that I'm all ready breezing through the next novel; I wasn't ready to let go of Hannah just yet so I had to come back for another bite of crime and cookies. In this series it's best to read in order because key characters are quickly killed off in each book and not starting at the very beginning will ruin some surprises.

Hannah Swensen is quite an interesting character, while innocent and sweet she ends up with a nose for crime solving since she is always stumbling across dead bodies. Unable to choose between two men who are giving her mixed signals she happily works away at Lake Eden's coziest place, The Cookie Jar Bakery. Busy with her expanding career and trying her best to fend off her mother Delores and her constant knack for butting in, Hannah discovers another dead body, somehow her luscious Lemon Meringue Pie ends up in the house of the deceased and with a table set for two, only one slice eaten raises suspicions on Hannah's part. The problem is that Norman, one of her suitors has purchased the home in which the body has been found, and he can't take it down to build another one until the police straighten up the matter. Hannah of course gets involved, creates some new cookie recipes that the author graciously shares and gets into all sorts of trouble on her way to the truth.

So far this was one of the more intricate murder mysteries I have read in a cozy mystery type of a book, these are cute novels with charm oozing out, not hard crime thrillers, but there is something delicious and satisfying about them, especially with all the coffee drinking and baking going on, not to mention the hilarious daily escapades of a woman and her cat and everyone else who finds the need to try and involve themselves in her life. It's not a graphic or loud series; it has a slightly old fashioned charm, but just a teeny bit to make it really appealing, if anything it makes the book more honest and down to earth.

I can't wait to bake some of the cookies in this book, the Pecan and the Banana cookies will get tested in my kitchen soon, it's really hard to read about them and not try some. One thing that gets to me is the amount of coffee Hannah drinks; I think only a fictional character can down that much joe and not turn into a cactus.

- Kasia S.

I did not read the first books but jumped in with this title. It was a very fun read. I enjoy all the characters and the way the plot develops I am looking forward to reading the previos ones and all the new ones. Well worth the time.

I am now a fan. I will buy anything that Joanne Fluke writes. I LOVE her characters and the directions that she takes them. The "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" is just the latest in a series that just keeps getting better.

I like the fact that this isn't a "girl gets boy" type of series and end of story. It is more in line with real life where Fluke lets us see a glimpse of the emotions of a woman who previously has not encountered a great deal of "male attention" and who suddenly has the interests of two men. Go figure, but it's closer to what is more realistic.

You don't even have to read the synopsis of this book to know that it's going to be great. I will buy anything that Fluke writes. The Lemon Merangue Murders will keep you turning page after page from the minute you crack the cover. In this one Hannah finds even more innovative ways to get herself embroiled in the thick of things. As always, a well constructed plot keeps you guessing as to who the culprit really is. I had it pinned on 3 different characters and was still wrong. This is a book (and series) for a wide range of ages. Don't forget to have some blank recipe cards handy, and don't drop pastry dough on the pages. Put the book down first......if you can. When I read The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murders, I thought things couldn't get any better but each book in the Hannah Swenson series is just as great as the one before or after it. Each has it's own unique "flavor." Fluke maintains a truly high level of fun and suspense in everything she writes. By the time you've gone through all 4 of the books in this series (so far) , you feel like you have gotten to know old friends much better, and have enjoyed meeting new ones as well. I LOVE it.

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.

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.

This series just gets better and better! As Blueberry Muffin Murder drew to a close, I grabbed Lemon Meringue Pie Murder quick as a flash. As the extremely patriotic small town of Lake Eden, Minnesota, prepares for the Fourth of July, Hannah is surprised to learn that her sometimes-boyfriend Norman the dentist has bought the old house that once belonged to Rhonda Scharf, the drugstore clerk lady. Mike, her other sometimes-beau, rushes to Hannah, fearing that she will get married to Norman and move in with him. Hannah assured him that she has thought of no such thing. Hannah's mother Delores learns of the buying of the ancient house, and wants to go with Hannah and Norman to search for antiques for her shop, Granny's Attic. As they reach the house, Delores goes into the basment herself, and discovers the body of Rhonda Scharf, and one of Hannah's famous lemon meringue pies on the table in the kitchen. At first, Hannah doesn't want to investigate, but eventually gives into her own curiosities and her friends' and family's beggings. Joanne Fluke has written another great book that will satisfy all fans of the series. Read this book!