Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) [Paperback]

Joanne Fluke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 2002

Joanne Fluke introduced small-town Minnesota bakery owner Hannah Swensen in Chocolate Chip Cooke Murder. Now, this intrepid amateur sleuth returns in another dangerously delicious mystery.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Following her successful debut, 2000's Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Fluke brings back amateur sleuth and Lake Eden, Minn., bakery owner Hannah Swensen for another delicious adventure. Hannah has the honor of serving as head judge of the first annual Hartland Flour Dessert Bake-off, which she anticipates will be good advertising for her already popular bakery, The Cookie Jar. Then one of the judges, high school basketball coach Boyd Watson, is found dead, face down in Hannah's strawberry shortcake, and suspicion falls on Watson's abused wife, Danielle. Determined to prove Danielle's innocence, Hannah ignores the warnings of romantic interest Mike Kingston, the supervisor of detectives at the Winnetka County sheriff's station, not to get involved. Tempting descriptions of meals served at the local establishments, mouth-watering recipes and a warm family of characters ward off the vividly depicted bitter chill of a Minnesota winter. While the other characters tend to be stereotypical, Hannah is a believable, down-to-earth protagonist who can't function without her morning coffee, justifies her passion for chocolate as a biological need for endorphins and deals with a matchmaking mother and a needy sister with understanding and humor. Add the ingredients of a cleverly crafted mystery and a realistic portrayal of smalltown life, and you have a superior cozy sure to leave readers satisfied... but hungry for more.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Cookie entrepreneur Hannah Swensen is recruited to judge a bake-off but gets embroiled in a bittersweet murder. The victims are not Lake Eden's finest; one is a wife abuser and the other is a snippety blackmailer, but the town is small, concern is rampant, and Hannah is curious. She and her sister Andrea begin sleuthing to prevent their friend (the wife of the first victim) from being accused of a crime she did not commit. The story is at times dense with detail, but the relationships among family and neighbors are pleasingly homespun-and occasionally sophomoric. Spanning the time of the bake-off, this whodunit is appropriately interspersed with mouthwatering dessert recipes. Readers who don't like guts or gore will enjoy this mystery and stick with the amateur detectives as they reach an action-packed conclusion.

Karen Sokol, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (February 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575667215
• ISBN-13: 978-1575667218
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Series

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 Another Sweet Hannah Swenson Mystery, November 3, 2006

By 

Smash B (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) (Paperback)

Following up on the success of The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, this is the second volume in the Hannah Swenson Murder Mysteries. Here again, we find Hannah coping with the brutal Minnesota winter when the unthinkable happens. Hannah finds a body! The local high school coach and secret wife beater is found dead face down in Hannah's strawberry shortcake. His wife certainly has a motive, but is she the real killer? The police are inclined to think so, but Hannah certainly does not. With the aide of her sister, Andrea, she sets out to find the real killer. Many suspenseful twists and turns follow as Hannah and Andrea proceed on their relentless mission to free an innocent woman. Will they succeed and find the real killer? Only in the last few chapters will you find out the answer to this riddle.

Once again, author Joanne Fluke has surpassed herself with another excellent novel. The cozy and inviting atmosphere found in the first novel continues here against the backdrop of the cruel Minnesota cold. Many delicious recipes are included so you can share the experience right along with Hannah and her friends. Her strained relationship with her mother continues as her friendship with Norman grows and her closeness to her sister Andrea deepens. The novel keeps you in suspense right up until the very end providing an exhilarating mystery ride. This is a novel not to be missed. Very highly recommended.

Smash B

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book in a fun series, March 6, 2001

By 

Nancy Sapir (kingston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Veteran author Joanne Fluke has produced another winner in the Hannah Swensen series. This time the cookie baking sleuth finds her friend Danielle standing over the dead body of her abusive husband, a local high school coach. Never doubting Danielle's innocence, Hannah, with the surprisingly able assistance of her ever so feminine sister, Andrea, tackles a private investigation of the murder. The twists and surprises don't stop and neither do the mouth-watering references to dinners and desserts.Part of the charm of this series is that Hannah is surrounded by nice people and loving, supportive family members. She also has two competing admirers, one, a fix-up by her mother and his, the other a police officer who works for her brother-in-law. Hannah thoughtfully debates the virtues of each since one is movie star handsome and the other is bright and kind. There is no question we'll see Hannah exploring her options next time around. The series is set in Minnesota where the weather is cold but the people are not, but don't start with this book. Please read "The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder" first so you can meet Hannah, her friends, her family and her suspects and not miss a single detail. You won't be sorry, and you'll wait anxiously for next year's book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mouth Watering Mystery, April 16, 2006

By 

J. E. Stephens "Jeanne" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) (Paperback)

This was my first Joanne Fluke novel, but will definitely not be my last. It was entertaining and informative. There were seven recipes contained within.

Just when you think you've figured it out- more evidence leads you in a different direction.

Warning!!! Read the recipes first and have the ingredients on hand. Reading this book may cause the urge to bake!!!