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Hannah Swensen #25
Coconut Layer Cake Murder
Bakery owner Hannah Swensen is leaving Lake Eden to help a friend in sunny California. But an unexpected phone call swiftly brings her back to a cold Minnesota winter . . . and murder . . .
When Hannah learns that her sister Michelle’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, is the prime suspect in a murder case, she goes straight from a movie studio sound stage to the Los Angeles airport.
Back in frigid Minnesota, she discovers that proving Lonnie’s innocence will be harder than figuring out what went wrong with a recipe. Lonnie remembers only parts of the night he went out to a local bar and ended up driving a very impaired woman home. He knows he helped her to her bedroom, but he doesn’t recall anything else until he woke up on her couch the following morning. When he went to the bedroom to check on her, he was shocked to discover she was dead.
Hannah doesn’t know what to believe—only that exonerating a suspect who can’t remember is almost impossible, especially since Lonnie’s brother, Detective Rick Murphy, and Lonnie’s partner, Chief Detective Mike Kingston, have been taken off the case. Before everything comes crashing down on Lonnie like a heaping slice of coconut layer cake, it’ll be up to Hannah to rack up enough clues to toast a flaky killer . . .
When Hannah learns that her sister Michelle’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, is the prime suspect in a murder case, she goes straight from a movie studio sound stage to the Los Angeles airport.
Back in frigid Minnesota, she discovers that proving Lonnie’s innocence will be harder than figuring out what went wrong with a recipe. Lonnie remembers only parts of the night he went out to a local bar and ended up driving a very impaired woman home. He knows he helped her to her bedroom, but he doesn’t recall anything else until he woke up on her couch the following morning. When he went to the bedroom to check on her, he was shocked to discover she was dead.
Hannah doesn’t know what to believe—only that exonerating a suspect who can’t remember is almost impossible, especially since Lonnie’s brother, Detective Rick Murphy, and Lonnie’s partner, Chief Detective Mike Kingston, have been taken off the case. Before everything comes crashing down on Lonnie like a heaping slice of coconut layer cake, it’ll be up to Hannah to rack up enough clues to toast a flaky killer . . .
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2020
2510 people are currently reading
12385 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Fluke
127 books8,412 followersLike Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke grew up in a small town in rural Minnesota where her neighbors were friendly, the winters were fierce, and the biggest scandal was the spotting of unidentified male undergarments on a young widow's clothesline. She insists that there really are 10,000 lakes and the mosquito is NOT the state bird.
While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public school teacher, a psychologist, a musician, a private detective's assistant, a corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical secretary, a short order cook, a florist's assistant, a caterer and party planner, a computer consultant on a now-defunct operating system, a production assistant on a TV quiz show, half of a screenwriting team with her husband, and a mother, wife, and homemaker.
She now lives in Southern California with her husband, her kids, his kids, their three dogs, one elderly tabby, and several noisy rats in the attic.
Series:
* Hannah Swensen
While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public school teacher, a psychologist, a musician, a private detective's assistant, a corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical secretary, a short order cook, a florist's assistant, a caterer and party planner, a computer consultant on a now-defunct operating system, a production assistant on a TV quiz show, half of a screenwriting team with her husband, and a mother, wife, and homemaker.
She now lives in Southern California with her husband, her kids, his kids, their three dogs, one elderly tabby, and several noisy rats in the attic.
Series:
* Hannah Swensen
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,071 reviews
January 31, 2020
Phew lawd help me. So many highlights to mention here in my review. So many WTF things!
Hannah is back with her special brand of airhead logic. This time around Lonnie is accused of murder and since all the detectives in Lake Eden are either busy on other cases or related to the accused (WTF Lake Eden!) Hannah is called back from a vacation to do the detective work on a suspected homicide. Yes, the police have asked Hannah to do her detective work on this case alone. Reminder: Hannah is not a cop and cannot even seem to remember how to take care of herself let alone run a business.
But let's get down to the bits at hand that made me scratch my head.
1. Hannah is called to the hospital by her new stepfather "Doc" about her test results. No spoilers here but when Hannah arrives at the hospital the volunteer greets her by name and says "Doc's waiting for you in his office!" The Lake Eden hospital must be very tiny.
2. Hannah is told she is being sent on a vacation. Upon learning this Hannah exclaims "I'm going to drive over to Mother's and ask her advice on what I should pack!" Hannah, girl you are an adult. You do not need "Mother's" advice on your clothing.
3. During the plane ride Hannah has to be told by her Mother to wait until the sign goes off in order to get up during a plane landing/taxiing. At least Hannah chided herself here realizing that hey she just went on a fancy plane ride during her honeymoon with the now dead (RIP) Ross
4. Hannah is bemoaning the fact that she doesn't have the coloring of her mother or sisters, and then says that Michele the youngest of the sisters had been nicknamed Jeanie. Um... ok. Pretty sure Shelly is the nickname for Michele. But let's go with Jeanie.
5. This one's my favorite. Hannah offers someone a piece of coffee cake on a movie studio lot and reaches into her handbag and pulls out a tub of softened, salted butter and a plastic knife asking "Would you like butter on your coffee cake?" I nearly gagged. Hannah, don't carry butter in your bag. Just don't.
6. Butter again! On the plane ride back to Lake Eden we find Hannah having a very unsatisfactory cinnamon roll. She ponders a career in airplane food but then changes her mind. All is saved, however ,when the stewardess appears again bearing a small plate of gold foil-wrapped butter asking "Butter?" Hannah gratefully accepts! Then later Hannah whines about the four letter word D-I-E-T Honey just give up the butter a bit.
7. Did I mention every recipe in this book once again uses like a pound of butter. Hannah also insists it be salted butter. No one likes unsalted butter but losers!
8. Norman picks up Hannah from the airport. Poor wet noodle doormat Norman. At this time having left her mother in California in order to fly home immediately and detect with the police, you'd think Hannah would know where her mother is. But nope. Normal-Norman declares people will be at the condo so she may opt to go elsewhere instead of you know home to her condo, Hannah asks "Will everyone be there?" upon with Normal-Norman let's special Hannah know "Not everyone, Doc's at the hospital and your mother's still in California" phew. Glad we cleared that one up. Hannah may have forgotten where poor Mother Delores is having not seen her for a few hours after leaving California herself.
9. Hannah opts to go to the condo anyway, despite her bad feelings about her place post-Ross. Upon entering Hannah slips off her parka and... hands it to Michele. Is Michele the maid now? Does Michele own the condo? This remains to be seen. Maybe it is the job of younger sisters to collect coats even in houses they do not own.
10. Hannah is surprised to learn Andrea's new cookie "recipe" includes funfetti cake mix. Hannah exclaims "There's a funfetti cake mix?" Hannah realizes she's never seen it at the Lake Eden Red Owl store. Should have checked CostMart Hannah, I hear they have everything!
11. Lonnie tells everyone what a roast end sandwich is, truthfully we may all know this as a burnt end sandwich but whatever. He gives a blissful description of a lovely sandwich. Normal-Norman is enthralled. Lonnie asserts his dominance by letting Norman know that when Rose has the ends leftover she calls Lonnie directly to let him know it's sandwich time. Presumably no one else in Lake Eden has had a roast end sandwich because Lonnie has the direct hotline on the roast end alert. No word on whether he shares with Michele/Jeanie
12. Moishe and Cuddles are back and faster than ever. During a dinner at the Doc and Delores' condo (where by the way Hannah made dinner in two brand new crockpots she bought from CostMart just for the occasion, you'd think by now she has 80 crockpots of her own. Should have checked CostMart for that funfetti cake Hannah, chance missed!) the cats zoom around and land on Delores and Norman's laps. It's Doc's time to shine here! He asks "Do either of you need medical attention?" No word on whether the fat cats are offended by this suggestion.
13. Hannah laments that Detroit has bad winters just like Lake Eden "but at least there were trees and birds here [in Lake Eden]" Because Detroit is devoid of all trees and birds. Not sure if you all knew that but there you go.
14. Oh one last dig at poor Ross. Hannah laments about how Ross loved to change into his "design sweat suits" when he came home from work and how they were "made of velour" with his initials embroidered on them in gold thread. Stay classy Ross. I'm not convinced he wasn't a pensioner in disguise.
15. Mike is the only man in the world to be disappointed to find bags full of cash. "Oh no! Not again" spread it over here Mike, make it rain. You can't make that much as a detective in Lake Eden.
16. Speaking of Mike, he's inferring he wants to marry Hannah still on one page and then on another saying how he's still not over the death of his wife. Hannah and Norman agree, but hey why let a dead wife stop you from moving on? Story at 11.
17. Hannah's friend Lynne smartly exclaims how a light tan car is much easier to find than a pinkish-orange color car. What? Surely it's the other way around Lynne. I've seen Fargo I know how many light tan cars there are in the midwest. (Tan sierra! Tan sierra! - Marge) Just check with the DMV to see, Hannah must have access now seeing as she's a lead detective?
18. Finally, Hannah has a nightmare while staying at poor Norman's house and he comes in to soothe her. Hannah: "Thank you Norman. You're wonderful in the middle of the night" whooo boy is it getting hot in here or is it just me?
Long time readers will enjoy this throwback to the old school style of Hannah mysteries. But once again the plot is mostly a flaming pat of butter.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review, all opinions are my own.
PS: When does Norman ever have time to see patients? He's always with Hannah, helping Hannah, at the Cookie Jar, doing things for Hannah, running errands for Hannah. Poor Norman. And the poor people of Lake Eden and their teeth!
Hannah is back with her special brand of airhead logic. This time around Lonnie is accused of murder and since all the detectives in Lake Eden are either busy on other cases or related to the accused (WTF Lake Eden!) Hannah is called back from a vacation to do the detective work on a suspected homicide. Yes, the police have asked Hannah to do her detective work on this case alone. Reminder: Hannah is not a cop and cannot even seem to remember how to take care of herself let alone run a business.
But let's get down to the bits at hand that made me scratch my head.
1. Hannah is called to the hospital by her new stepfather "Doc" about her test results. No spoilers here but when Hannah arrives at the hospital the volunteer greets her by name and says "Doc's waiting for you in his office!" The Lake Eden hospital must be very tiny.
2. Hannah is told she is being sent on a vacation. Upon learning this Hannah exclaims "I'm going to drive over to Mother's and ask her advice on what I should pack!" Hannah, girl you are an adult. You do not need "Mother's" advice on your clothing.
3. During the plane ride Hannah has to be told by her Mother to wait until the sign goes off in order to get up during a plane landing/taxiing. At least Hannah chided herself here realizing that hey she just went on a fancy plane ride during her honeymoon with the now dead (RIP) Ross
4. Hannah is bemoaning the fact that she doesn't have the coloring of her mother or sisters, and then says that Michele the youngest of the sisters had been nicknamed Jeanie. Um... ok. Pretty sure Shelly is the nickname for Michele. But let's go with Jeanie.
5. This one's my favorite. Hannah offers someone a piece of coffee cake on a movie studio lot and reaches into her handbag and pulls out a tub of softened, salted butter and a plastic knife asking "Would you like butter on your coffee cake?" I nearly gagged. Hannah, don't carry butter in your bag. Just don't.
6. Butter again! On the plane ride back to Lake Eden we find Hannah having a very unsatisfactory cinnamon roll. She ponders a career in airplane food but then changes her mind. All is saved, however ,when the stewardess appears again bearing a small plate of gold foil-wrapped butter asking "Butter?" Hannah gratefully accepts! Then later Hannah whines about the four letter word D-I-E-T Honey just give up the butter a bit.
7. Did I mention every recipe in this book once again uses like a pound of butter. Hannah also insists it be salted butter. No one likes unsalted butter but losers!
8. Norman picks up Hannah from the airport. Poor wet noodle doormat Norman. At this time having left her mother in California in order to fly home immediately and detect with the police, you'd think Hannah would know where her mother is. But nope. Normal-Norman declares people will be at the condo so she may opt to go elsewhere instead of you know home to her condo, Hannah asks "Will everyone be there?" upon with Normal-Norman let's special Hannah know "Not everyone, Doc's at the hospital and your mother's still in California" phew. Glad we cleared that one up. Hannah may have forgotten where poor Mother Delores is having not seen her for a few hours after leaving California herself.
9. Hannah opts to go to the condo anyway, despite her bad feelings about her place post-Ross. Upon entering Hannah slips off her parka and... hands it to Michele. Is Michele the maid now? Does Michele own the condo? This remains to be seen. Maybe it is the job of younger sisters to collect coats even in houses they do not own.
10. Hannah is surprised to learn Andrea's new cookie "recipe" includes funfetti cake mix. Hannah exclaims "There's a funfetti cake mix?" Hannah realizes she's never seen it at the Lake Eden Red Owl store. Should have checked CostMart Hannah, I hear they have everything!
11. Lonnie tells everyone what a roast end sandwich is, truthfully we may all know this as a burnt end sandwich but whatever. He gives a blissful description of a lovely sandwich. Normal-Norman is enthralled. Lonnie asserts his dominance by letting Norman know that when Rose has the ends leftover she calls Lonnie directly to let him know it's sandwich time. Presumably no one else in Lake Eden has had a roast end sandwich because Lonnie has the direct hotline on the roast end alert. No word on whether he shares with Michele/Jeanie
12. Moishe and Cuddles are back and faster than ever. During a dinner at the Doc and Delores' condo (where by the way Hannah made dinner in two brand new crockpots she bought from CostMart just for the occasion, you'd think by now she has 80 crockpots of her own. Should have checked CostMart for that funfetti cake Hannah, chance missed!) the cats zoom around and land on Delores and Norman's laps. It's Doc's time to shine here! He asks "Do either of you need medical attention?" No word on whether the fat cats are offended by this suggestion.
13. Hannah laments that Detroit has bad winters just like Lake Eden "but at least there were trees and birds here [in Lake Eden]" Because Detroit is devoid of all trees and birds. Not sure if you all knew that but there you go.
14. Oh one last dig at poor Ross. Hannah laments about how Ross loved to change into his "design sweat suits" when he came home from work and how they were "made of velour" with his initials embroidered on them in gold thread. Stay classy Ross. I'm not convinced he wasn't a pensioner in disguise.
15. Mike is the only man in the world to be disappointed to find bags full of cash. "Oh no! Not again" spread it over here Mike, make it rain. You can't make that much as a detective in Lake Eden.
16. Speaking of Mike, he's inferring he wants to marry Hannah still on one page and then on another saying how he's still not over the death of his wife. Hannah and Norman agree, but hey why let a dead wife stop you from moving on? Story at 11.
17. Hannah's friend Lynne smartly exclaims how a light tan car is much easier to find than a pinkish-orange color car. What? Surely it's the other way around Lynne. I've seen Fargo I know how many light tan cars there are in the midwest. (Tan sierra! Tan sierra! - Marge) Just check with the DMV to see, Hannah must have access now seeing as she's a lead detective?
18. Finally, Hannah has a nightmare while staying at poor Norman's house and he comes in to soothe her. Hannah: "Thank you Norman. You're wonderful in the middle of the night" whooo boy is it getting hot in here or is it just me?
Long time readers will enjoy this throwback to the old school style of Hannah mysteries. But once again the plot is mostly a flaming pat of butter.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review, all opinions are my own.
PS: When does Norman ever have time to see patients? He's always with Hannah, helping Hannah, at the Cookie Jar, doing things for Hannah, running errands for Hannah. Poor Norman. And the poor people of Lake Eden and their teeth!
January 12, 2020
Coconut Later Cake Murder is the 25th book in the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series by Joanne Fluke. I've read all the books in order, and when the latest showed up at both my library (I got my lending request in the day it was made available) and on NetGalley, I had to grab a copy. While the series is much lighter and getting a little too formulaic, I adore the characters. It always feels like 'going home' when I spend an hour or two with Hannah and the Lake Eden residents. And when I say an hour or two, I mean it... as the books are generally on the shorter side and are at least 1/3 recipes, so it's a fast read.
In this caper, Hannah is recovering from the death of her marriage... death because she was tricked into it by a former friend, and things went awry quite quickly. At the end of the last book was a shocker, but this time, things are back to normal. Unfortunately, while Hannah's on a vacation to somehow get away from all the stress, her sister Michelle calls her back home to solve a murder. Michelle's boyfriend, Lonnie, is the main suspect. We know he couldn't have done it. Yet... we never met these new characters in the mystery before. What's going on?
The books follow the same pattern as previous ones, which can be fun. A third is recipes, a third is general town news about our fave characters, and a third is the mystery. Most of these characters (the victim and the other suspects) were new or not big in the series, so it wasn't as immersive as I would've liked. Instead, I enjoyed all Hannah's time with Mike, Norman, Michelle, Andrea, Dolores, and the supporting characters. I liked Lynn, who's been in the books before. She was front and center this time, which made for a good segue in the Los Angeles trip.
So... fans of the series will get what they normally get in these books. But... the one difference I saw was the hint that Hannah might be ready to choose between Mike and Norman. They both had equal time with her, yet in the last few pages, something seemed different in how she thought about one of them. Maybe I'm reading into it, because that's the direction I want her to go in... see for yourself! Thanks for another fun book.
In this caper, Hannah is recovering from the death of her marriage... death because she was tricked into it by a former friend, and things went awry quite quickly. At the end of the last book was a shocker, but this time, things are back to normal. Unfortunately, while Hannah's on a vacation to somehow get away from all the stress, her sister Michelle calls her back home to solve a murder. Michelle's boyfriend, Lonnie, is the main suspect. We know he couldn't have done it. Yet... we never met these new characters in the mystery before. What's going on?
The books follow the same pattern as previous ones, which can be fun. A third is recipes, a third is general town news about our fave characters, and a third is the mystery. Most of these characters (the victim and the other suspects) were new or not big in the series, so it wasn't as immersive as I would've liked. Instead, I enjoyed all Hannah's time with Mike, Norman, Michelle, Andrea, Dolores, and the supporting characters. I liked Lynn, who's been in the books before. She was front and center this time, which made for a good segue in the Los Angeles trip.
So... fans of the series will get what they normally get in these books. But... the one difference I saw was the hint that Hannah might be ready to choose between Mike and Norman. They both had equal time with her, yet in the last few pages, something seemed different in how she thought about one of them. Maybe I'm reading into it, because that's the direction I want her to go in... see for yourself! Thanks for another fun book.
July 12, 2020
WARNING: long and rambling review below.
Why do I keep on with a series I’m obviously not enjoying? The answer to this very good question is, like a few other long- runners, this one started out pretty good, only to drop off the quality cliff at the four to ten book mark.
I keep reading with the faint hope that things will improve because, as is the case with said long-runners, the author has proven that he or she can tell a good story.
In Fluke’s case, there were half a handful of later installments that were surprising in how good they were. Add to that the fact that the blurb for book 25 sounded compelling enough that I decided to pre-order months in advance.
I usually wait to see what friends and reviewers think before plunking down money on an installment of a flagging series; I made an exception because I really, truly expected that *this* was going to Signal a return to the Lake Eden I once loved.
Unsurprisingly, I got more of the same. Sigh.
Coconut Layer cake Murder, the 25th installment of Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swenson series, can best be summarized as eight plus hours of continuity errors, victim blaming, rants on the evils of unsalted butter, stiff and unrealistic dialogue, weird dream sequences and awkwardly placed recipes (many of which I intend to copy and try because yummy) all baked into a pocket of endless boring that had me dozing off at various points throughout the audible book.
The story opens with a huge shocker; Hanna Swenson, principle owner of The Cookie Jar, is actually at work and awake.
She gets a call from Doc and, *** spoiler alert***, surprise, the earth-shattering cliffy that had completists sighing and making “what the hell” purchases and/or trips to the library turns out to be a cheap ploy to get us to do just that.
At any rate, Doc informs Hannah that she is far too stressed to function normally and that, for the millionth time, her family has gone behind her back and arranged her life. She will, whether she likes it or not, be leaving the running of her bakery to her sisters, her business partner, and her business partner’s relatives. No worries,though; they’re used to unpaid labor so it’s all good. After all, they have all the free baked goods they can eat.
Of course, Hannah, people pleaser that she is, caves and jets home to consult with her mommy on what to pack.
Hanna is allotted a whole five days to recover from “stress” before she is summoned back to the field. That’s right; the concern that compelled the family to make major decisions for her evaporates the second that Lonny Murphy, Michelle’s boyfriend, finds himself in the kind of hot water that only Hannah the wonder detective can get him out of.
Hannah’s “come back quick so you can risk your life making *our* problem *your* problem” conversation with Michelle is, hands down, one of the longest, most ridiculous dialogue exchanges I’ve ever read/heard in this series.
And there’s this weird phenomenon that has me wondering, “Oh where, oh where has Fluke’s editor gone?”.
Lines like “So I went to the bar,” followed by “You went to the bar?” get repeated again and again, prompting me to wonder about someone’s short term memory.
And, as is her wont, Fluke takes care to reassure us that the murder wasn’t one of those bad things that happen to good people; Darcy joins the ranks of nearly every female murder victim of the series. Simply put, she lives life on her own terms and makes choices with which certain circles disagree and becomes one more example of what happens to naughty little girls.
The killer’s identity was a surprise; I really didn’t see it coming. This in no way means that the path to this revelation was anything worth raving about. I found myself skimming huge sections because they were everything I’d heard 20 times before.
Now, will I, like a good little completist, order the next installment of the series? Probably. Will I flog and pan it to bits if it turns out to be more of the same dreck? Absolutely.
Right now, book 25 gets two stars.
Why do I keep on with a series I’m obviously not enjoying? The answer to this very good question is, like a few other long- runners, this one started out pretty good, only to drop off the quality cliff at the four to ten book mark.
I keep reading with the faint hope that things will improve because, as is the case with said long-runners, the author has proven that he or she can tell a good story.
In Fluke’s case, there were half a handful of later installments that were surprising in how good they were. Add to that the fact that the blurb for book 25 sounded compelling enough that I decided to pre-order months in advance.
I usually wait to see what friends and reviewers think before plunking down money on an installment of a flagging series; I made an exception because I really, truly expected that *this* was going to Signal a return to the Lake Eden I once loved.
Unsurprisingly, I got more of the same. Sigh.
Coconut Layer cake Murder, the 25th installment of Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swenson series, can best be summarized as eight plus hours of continuity errors, victim blaming, rants on the evils of unsalted butter, stiff and unrealistic dialogue, weird dream sequences and awkwardly placed recipes (many of which I intend to copy and try because yummy) all baked into a pocket of endless boring that had me dozing off at various points throughout the audible book.
The story opens with a huge shocker; Hanna Swenson, principle owner of The Cookie Jar, is actually at work and awake.
She gets a call from Doc and, *** spoiler alert***, surprise, the earth-shattering cliffy that had completists sighing and making “what the hell” purchases and/or trips to the library turns out to be a cheap ploy to get us to do just that.
At any rate, Doc informs Hannah that she is far too stressed to function normally and that, for the millionth time, her family has gone behind her back and arranged her life. She will, whether she likes it or not, be leaving the running of her bakery to her sisters, her business partner, and her business partner’s relatives. No worries,though; they’re used to unpaid labor so it’s all good. After all, they have all the free baked goods they can eat.
Of course, Hannah, people pleaser that she is, caves and jets home to consult with her mommy on what to pack.
Hanna is allotted a whole five days to recover from “stress” before she is summoned back to the field. That’s right; the concern that compelled the family to make major decisions for her evaporates the second that Lonny Murphy, Michelle’s boyfriend, finds himself in the kind of hot water that only Hannah the wonder detective can get him out of.
Hannah’s “come back quick so you can risk your life making *our* problem *your* problem” conversation with Michelle is, hands down, one of the longest, most ridiculous dialogue exchanges I’ve ever read/heard in this series.
And there’s this weird phenomenon that has me wondering, “Oh where, oh where has Fluke’s editor gone?”.
Lines like “So I went to the bar,” followed by “You went to the bar?” get repeated again and again, prompting me to wonder about someone’s short term memory.
And, as is her wont, Fluke takes care to reassure us that the murder wasn’t one of those bad things that happen to good people; Darcy joins the ranks of nearly every female murder victim of the series. Simply put, she lives life on her own terms and makes choices with which certain circles disagree and becomes one more example of what happens to naughty little girls.
The killer’s identity was a surprise; I really didn’t see it coming. This in no way means that the path to this revelation was anything worth raving about. I found myself skimming huge sections because they were everything I’d heard 20 times before.
Now, will I, like a good little completist, order the next installment of the series? Probably. Will I flog and pan it to bits if it turns out to be more of the same dreck? Absolutely.
Right now, book 25 gets two stars.
August 17, 2023
In this 25th book in the Hannah Swenson series, Hannah is still reeling from events in previous books, and Doc Knight recommends a trip to de-stress. So she and Dolores head off to sunny LA. But of course, Hannah is soon needed back in Lake Eden to solve a crime.
This book had a slightly different feel from others in the series—large sections from Lonnie’s pov, the part at the beginning in LA that was fun at first but then didn’t seem to connect to the rest of the narrative. I found myself getting much more into it once Hannah was back in Lake Eden with the gang, spending time with Norman (I am so team Norman), watching Moisha and Cuddles go cat crazy, hanging out with the familiar Lake Eden residents and doing town events, and cooking all those delicious recipes. The mystery only played a small role in this book compare to some others. I was guessing all the way up until the end!
Trigger Warnings:
This book had a slightly different feel from others in the series—large sections from Lonnie’s pov, the part at the beginning in LA that was fun at first but then didn’t seem to connect to the rest of the narrative. I found myself getting much more into it once Hannah was back in Lake Eden with the gang, spending time with Norman (I am so team Norman), watching Moisha and Cuddles go cat crazy, hanging out with the familiar Lake Eden residents and doing town events, and cooking all those delicious recipes. The mystery only played a small role in this book compare to some others. I was guessing all the way up until the end!
Trigger Warnings:
Read
February 27, 20202 stars
This series just isn’t what it used to be.
I think I’m done with this series which is a shame but I don’t enjoy it anymore, it just seems like reading someone’s food diary, and the recipes to go with it.
This series just isn’t what it used to be.
I think I’m done with this series which is a shame but I don’t enjoy it anymore, it just seems like reading someone’s food diary, and the recipes to go with it.
March 25, 2020
I was so happy when I learned I was returning to Lake Eden! It is one of my favorite places to visit! No sooner then I got there Doc is prescribing a trip for Hannah (get it...prescribing...because he is a doctor). Per Doc's orders we were off to California with Hannah’s mom Delores. Hannah’s college roommate and friend Lynne is moving to Lake Eden after her divorce, and we are going to help her with the transition. However Hannah’s trip (and mine) is cut short when her sister Michelle calls her frantic. Michelle's boyfriend and Lake Eden police officer Lonnie is the prime suspect in a murder.
Upon the request from the Lake Eden police force Hannah is asked to investigate the murder. The other officers all have a conflict of interest in being involved in the case investigating one of their own. So of course Hannah and I immediately return to figure out what happened to Darcy and keep officer Lonnie out of the clinker.
My thoughts: I rated this book 3 large cups of coffee...more like 3.5...if I can carry without burning myself.
I am one of those people who have been very disappointed in the last few books. The writing and dialogue had some major issues, and the Ross issue….INFURIATING!! Hannah marrying….Ross...who??... are you kidding me??....we have been reading the NEVER-ENDING love triangle with Mike and Norman (#team Mike) for how many years...and now she chooses neither???...and so out of the blue??? To make matters even more infuriating and UNBELIEVABLE Mike and Norman stick around with no hard feelings. I was really glad the Ross situation was taken care of, but I REALLY wish this book didn’t jump right back into the love triangle fiasco. It was already drug out waaaaay too long, and as mentioned above at this point is really unrealistic. These two men are both still pining and trying to win Hannah after she picked someone else….and are the best of friends to boot...NO WAY...WOULD NOT HAPPEN!!
I also thought the police force even in a small town like Lake Eden asking a citizen to investigate a crime (a murder no less) was silly. I get the conflict of interest....but come on….they would call in officers from another district to investigate. That all being said….….for lovers of this series who have been disgruntled....
This book felt much more like the older books that made this series amazing!! HOORRAAY!! The writing issues and dialogue (for the most part) seem to have straightened themselves out. The characters and setting now and have always been my favorite of any cozy series!! I am a sucker for a small town with lots of quirky lovable characters...and well with Delores, Michelle, Lisa, Doc, Andrea, The cookie jar, just to name a few...this series is packed with greatness!!!
I enjoy the recipes and the notes that come along with them. They always sound delicious!
The mystery was light and fun (just like a cozy should be)!! I would recommend anybody and...well.... everybody visit the cookie jar and get to know the residents of Lake Eden. While you're there….grab a cup of coffee...and try one of Hannah’s amazing cookies….there are so many to choose from. Although this book can be read by itself...start at the beginning...you're in for a great time!!
check out my blog at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Joanne Fluke, and the publisher for this opportunity.
Upon the request from the Lake Eden police force Hannah is asked to investigate the murder. The other officers all have a conflict of interest in being involved in the case investigating one of their own. So of course Hannah and I immediately return to figure out what happened to Darcy and keep officer Lonnie out of the clinker.
My thoughts: I rated this book 3 large cups of coffee...more like 3.5...if I can carry without burning myself.
I am one of those people who have been very disappointed in the last few books. The writing and dialogue had some major issues, and the Ross issue….INFURIATING!! Hannah marrying….Ross...who??... are you kidding me??....we have been reading the NEVER-ENDING love triangle with Mike and Norman (#team Mike) for how many years...and now she chooses neither???...and so out of the blue??? To make matters even more infuriating and UNBELIEVABLE Mike and Norman stick around with no hard feelings. I was really glad the Ross situation was taken care of, but I REALLY wish this book didn’t jump right back into the love triangle fiasco. It was already drug out waaaaay too long, and as mentioned above at this point is really unrealistic. These two men are both still pining and trying to win Hannah after she picked someone else….and are the best of friends to boot...NO WAY...WOULD NOT HAPPEN!!
I also thought the police force even in a small town like Lake Eden asking a citizen to investigate a crime (a murder no less) was silly. I get the conflict of interest....but come on….they would call in officers from another district to investigate. That all being said….….for lovers of this series who have been disgruntled....
This book felt much more like the older books that made this series amazing!! HOORRAAY!! The writing issues and dialogue (for the most part) seem to have straightened themselves out. The characters and setting now and have always been my favorite of any cozy series!! I am a sucker for a small town with lots of quirky lovable characters...and well with Delores, Michelle, Lisa, Doc, Andrea, The cookie jar, just to name a few...this series is packed with greatness!!!
I enjoy the recipes and the notes that come along with them. They always sound delicious!
The mystery was light and fun (just like a cozy should be)!! I would recommend anybody and...well.... everybody visit the cookie jar and get to know the residents of Lake Eden. While you're there….grab a cup of coffee...and try one of Hannah’s amazing cookies….there are so many to choose from. Although this book can be read by itself...start at the beginning...you're in for a great time!!
check out my blog at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Joanne Fluke, and the publisher for this opportunity.
February 25, 2020
There is so much that is problematic about this book - while I am glad to be over the whole Ross debacle [mostly anyway], it is like Hannah has seriously lost her mind and is acting like she is 12. WHO acts that way on an airplane? WHO acts like they've never heard of LA or that its a huge city? WHO says thank you while thinking in their mind that they are doing it just as they were taught [WTHECK was that about? It happens several times in the book and I just ended up shaking my head as my eyes were already sprained from all the rolling they did]? And I have even mentioned how EASY this murder was to solve [though I wasn't 100% sure about the why, I figured it had to be that. And I had this figured out as soon as Lonnie told his story. Seriously].
Sigh.
I was asked several times while reading this [and exclaiming over and over just how ridiculous it was], WHY was I reading it and the answer is simple. I really love every character in these books. All of them. Except Hannah. And Delores [though her marriage has softened her some and she is easier to take now]. So I read them to see what ALL the characters except Hannah are up to. Hannah, quite simply, makes me crazy. She does the DUMBEST things. And truly doesn't learn from them. It is so infuriating. And I SWEAR TO GOD IF SHE DOES NOT PICK NORMAN AND PICK HIM SOON I WILL LOSE MY EVERLOVING MIND. [#teamnormanforever] The end of this book gives me hope that this may happen soon. I may throw a party when it does. Seriously.
I may or may not keep reading these - she has another one coming out this year and I have been contemplating giving the series just one more chance. I do love Lake Eden [even if the author writes it as everyone who comes from a small town is a freaking moron] and the people that live there. So we will see. It isn't like they are hard reads you know? [Sigh].
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sigh.
I was asked several times while reading this [and exclaiming over and over just how ridiculous it was], WHY was I reading it and the answer is simple. I really love every character in these books. All of them. Except Hannah. And Delores [though her marriage has softened her some and she is easier to take now]. So I read them to see what ALL the characters except Hannah are up to. Hannah, quite simply, makes me crazy. She does the DUMBEST things. And truly doesn't learn from them. It is so infuriating. And I SWEAR TO GOD IF SHE DOES NOT PICK NORMAN AND PICK HIM SOON I WILL LOSE MY EVERLOVING MIND. [#teamnormanforever] The end of this book gives me hope that this may happen soon. I may throw a party when it does. Seriously.
I may or may not keep reading these - she has another one coming out this year and I have been contemplating giving the series just one more chance. I do love Lake Eden [even if the author writes it as everyone who comes from a small town is a freaking moron] and the people that live there. So we will see. It isn't like they are hard reads you know? [Sigh].
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2020
I have been reading the Hannah Swensen series ever since the first book, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, came out in 2000! I love the setting, the characters, the recipes, and the light mysteries. Each time a new book comes out, I nab it as quickly as possible and binge read it to find out what's going on in good ol' Lake Eden, MN.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder is the 25th book in the series. I happily curled up with this newest book, a cup of tea and my chihuahua for a long night of happy reading. The last book ended on a bit of a cliff hanger of sorts and I just HAD to find out what was going on..... I waited an entire year to find out! :)
I enjoyed this newest book. About 3 books ago, there were some major writing problems with this series, but it's HANNAH....I can't do without my Hannah-fix each year. The writing seems to have smoothed itself out for the most part, as have some plot developments that left long-time Hannah fans upset (the evil R...boooo hisssss). But, I still see differences in these later books when compared to earlier books in the series. The mystery portion of the plot is much lighter, and the recipes are much longer (instead of just recipes and cooking instructions, they include cute comments from story characters and other things. And each one can be 3 pages long or more). After reading a series this long, I'm ok with the books being shorter, but it does make me think that the series might be winding down. Maybe when Hannah finally makes The Decision, the series will have a final book? I read through this entire book in less than 2 hours....I'm a fast reader, but a lot of this book is recipes. I'm ok with that -- some of them really sound YUMMY this time! I'm going to do a bit of experimenting and see if I can't change over some of the cookie recipes to a diabetic version my hubby can enjoy. :) There are several savory recipes as well -- a mushroom rice dish as well as other non-dessert goodies.
All in all, a fun entertaining read as usual. I'm definitely in line for my next visit with my book friends from Lake Eden! And maybe......The Decision???? It's been 20 years....we need The Decision.ha ha Full stars from me..... 'cause it's Hannah. :)
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Coconut Layer Cake Murder is the 25th book in the series. I happily curled up with this newest book, a cup of tea and my chihuahua for a long night of happy reading. The last book ended on a bit of a cliff hanger of sorts and I just HAD to find out what was going on..... I waited an entire year to find out! :)
I enjoyed this newest book. About 3 books ago, there were some major writing problems with this series, but it's HANNAH....I can't do without my Hannah-fix each year. The writing seems to have smoothed itself out for the most part, as have some plot developments that left long-time Hannah fans upset (the evil R...boooo hisssss). But, I still see differences in these later books when compared to earlier books in the series. The mystery portion of the plot is much lighter, and the recipes are much longer (instead of just recipes and cooking instructions, they include cute comments from story characters and other things. And each one can be 3 pages long or more). After reading a series this long, I'm ok with the books being shorter, but it does make me think that the series might be winding down. Maybe when Hannah finally makes The Decision, the series will have a final book? I read through this entire book in less than 2 hours....I'm a fast reader, but a lot of this book is recipes. I'm ok with that -- some of them really sound YUMMY this time! I'm going to do a bit of experimenting and see if I can't change over some of the cookie recipes to a diabetic version my hubby can enjoy. :) There are several savory recipes as well -- a mushroom rice dish as well as other non-dessert goodies.
All in all, a fun entertaining read as usual. I'm definitely in line for my next visit with my book friends from Lake Eden! And maybe......The Decision???? It's been 20 years....we need The Decision.ha ha Full stars from me..... 'cause it's Hannah. :)
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
February 29, 2020
I would like to read a spin off series about the Lake Eden Police Department. They are too busy and incompetent to solve the startlingly high number of murder cases in their small town, so they rely on a baker to put herself in harm's way on the regular. Every single denizen of Lake Eden, weary of their absent police force, knows this. Complicit, Hannah misses almost everything of importance and waits until the eleventh hour to question the most obvious of suspects because she is busy cooking mundane meals for her comrades and railing against the evils of unsalted butter. The Lake Eden Police has entrusted their town's safety and justice for victims of violent crime in what is apparently the Gotham of Minnesota to a woman who admits to once having married a man with an elaborate collection of velour tracksuits.
March 2, 2020
I keep returning to Lake Eden hoping the storylines will be fresh again. Alas, that hope is not to be realized in this latest installment. I really like these characters, though they are pretty two-dimensional, but the storylines get less interesting with each new book. Although these stories are clearly wrappers for the recipes, I don't want to give up. With each lackluster book, I am torn between reading the next book and giving up on the series altogether.
Come back to your best, Ms. Fluke!
Come back to your best, Ms. Fluke!
March 23, 2022
Although I didn’t know it when it came home from the library this was book 25 in the series with Hannah Swenson. However, I had seen some of the movies so had enough knowledge of the characters to fill in the blanks. That said, I won’t be reading any more of this series.
Hannah’s sister’s boyfriend Lonnie is the prime suspect in a murder. Hannah sets out to solve the mystery. Sad to say, this story got bogged down with all the baking info and recipes. The characters never were that interesting or came to life. Plus, I got sick of hearing how amazing Hannah’s cookies were. Since I am not a baker, I skipped through recipes. Others may enjoy them. I also tired of the repeated emphasis on how amazing Hannah’s cookies were. Pace was slow. Not enough happened. I ended up skimming and the dialogue was often banal.
Maybe those with a passion for baking and a love of a meandering cosy mystery will enjoy it, but for me it was only just okay. Two stars is perhaps generous.
Hannah’s sister’s boyfriend Lonnie is the prime suspect in a murder. Hannah sets out to solve the mystery. Sad to say, this story got bogged down with all the baking info and recipes. The characters never were that interesting or came to life. Plus, I got sick of hearing how amazing Hannah’s cookies were. Since I am not a baker, I skipped through recipes. Others may enjoy them. I also tired of the repeated emphasis on how amazing Hannah’s cookies were. Pace was slow. Not enough happened. I ended up skimming and the dialogue was often banal.
Maybe those with a passion for baking and a love of a meandering cosy mystery will enjoy it, but for me it was only just okay. Two stars is perhaps generous.
July 6, 2020
This is my second book by Joanne Fluke. She does build up a nice, comfortable community feeling with lots of people having fun, gossiping, and eating cookies. But they all also seem to be blithering idiots. The murder plot also seems to be a little over the top.
Going in, Hannah is being told left, right, and centre, what to do by her family. Then she docilely says she will ask her mother for advice on what to wear. And then she comes up with this gem Hannah remembered what her mother had taught her about accepting compliments and gave Lynne a big smile. “Thanks, Lynne,” she accepted the compliment gracefully. We are talking about an adult woman here! Hannah irritates me with this kind of behaviour. Her mother is no less. She is dazzled by Hollywood stars and demands a photo with a lookalike of some random star. It was really disgusting to see a grown woman behave in this manner.
The plot revolves around Detective Lonnie. Lonnie is suspected of murdering a woman he took home from the bar. But Michelle, Hannah's sister, is also his girlfriend, and she gets Hannah there pronto because there are no detectives to take on the case. So they were all depending on Hannah! WTF?
I would say there are far too many recipes that actually began to get in the way of the plot. It appears as if Fluke might not have wanted to bother with the act of actually plotting a story, and instead wanted to just write a cookbook. Some of the incidents that take place are random. And Hannah's brush with the killer at the end is totally random. There was no reason why the killer would confess, but they do, putting Hannah in a precarious situation. This was badly written.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder is also the 25th book in the series, and you need to read it in sequence. Otherwise, there are a lot of developments that are missed out. For example, we learn that Hannah's husband, Ross, is a bit of a bad lot. But there are a whole bunch of scenes where Ross is absent but people talk about him as if the reader knows what is happening. This was so boring and annoying! And I really don't care to go back and read 24 mediocre books just to get the hang of what these people were blathering about.
On the bright side, the recipes were actually rather nice.
Going in, Hannah is being told left, right, and centre, what to do by her family. Then she docilely says she will ask her mother for advice on what to wear. And then she comes up with this gem Hannah remembered what her mother had taught her about accepting compliments and gave Lynne a big smile. “Thanks, Lynne,” she accepted the compliment gracefully. We are talking about an adult woman here! Hannah irritates me with this kind of behaviour. Her mother is no less. She is dazzled by Hollywood stars and demands a photo with a lookalike of some random star. It was really disgusting to see a grown woman behave in this manner.
The plot revolves around Detective Lonnie. Lonnie is suspected of murdering a woman he took home from the bar. But Michelle, Hannah's sister, is also his girlfriend, and she gets Hannah there pronto because there are no detectives to take on the case. So they were all depending on Hannah! WTF?
I would say there are far too many recipes that actually began to get in the way of the plot. It appears as if Fluke might not have wanted to bother with the act of actually plotting a story, and instead wanted to just write a cookbook. Some of the incidents that take place are random. And Hannah's brush with the killer at the end is totally random. There was no reason why the killer would confess, but they do, putting Hannah in a precarious situation. This was badly written.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder is also the 25th book in the series, and you need to read it in sequence. Otherwise, there are a lot of developments that are missed out. For example, we learn that Hannah's husband, Ross, is a bit of a bad lot. But there are a whole bunch of scenes where Ross is absent but people talk about him as if the reader knows what is happening. This was so boring and annoying! And I really don't care to go back and read 24 mediocre books just to get the hang of what these people were blathering about.
On the bright side, the recipes were actually rather nice.
February 21, 2020
3.5 / 5 stars
This 25th installment in author Joanne Fluke's, "Hannah Swensen Mystery" series is a sweet addition to the mix. Although, one might think of it more as a baking cookbook. Roughly a third of the book is mystery, a third - a return to Eden, Minnesota to reminisce and a third for the myriad of baking recipes, replete with characters' comments within each recipe.
Don't get me wrong, the recipes appear to be creative and instructive. In fact, I'll be testing out the Minestrone soup recipe after I complete this writing. However, having anticipated the reading of a cozy mystery, I was a bit disappointed that this installment was rather light in that department.
The premise, albeit charming, is a bit thin. It turns out that the main suspect, a police detective, Lonnie, was the last known person to be with deceased Darcy - a local Jezebel. Nobody believes him to be the culprit. Well Eden, MN has a rather small police force. Lonnie cannot be involved, for obvious reasons. Detective Mike can't be involved because he's Lonnie's partner. Officer Rick can't be on the case because he's related to Lonnie. That leaves Bill and a deputy, whom they just made detective. Instead of asking the state for assistance (which might be the logical choice), they decide to bring in Hannah, the owner of a local bakery. Well, it at least secures free baked goods for the force and admittedly, as an amateur sleuth, she's been helpful in the past.
You may well ask, "Can this be read as a stand-alone?" Not recommended. Most of the characters appeared in previous installments and it's assumed that the reader is already familiar with these folks. Although I've not read the entire series, having read at least 3 of the last 5 installments has helped to understand the interplay among characters.
For the loving fans of this series, no doubt you'll be happy to be back on familiar ground in Eden, MN even if the love triangle continues to play on. There are hints that this too may soon be tied up with a pretty bow. Now wouldn't that be lovely?!
I am grateful to author Joanne Fluke and Kensington Books for having provided a free advance uncorrected edition of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
This 25th installment in author Joanne Fluke's, "Hannah Swensen Mystery" series is a sweet addition to the mix. Although, one might think of it more as a baking cookbook. Roughly a third of the book is mystery, a third - a return to Eden, Minnesota to reminisce and a third for the myriad of baking recipes, replete with characters' comments within each recipe.
Don't get me wrong, the recipes appear to be creative and instructive. In fact, I'll be testing out the Minestrone soup recipe after I complete this writing. However, having anticipated the reading of a cozy mystery, I was a bit disappointed that this installment was rather light in that department.
The premise, albeit charming, is a bit thin. It turns out that the main suspect, a police detective, Lonnie, was the last known person to be with deceased Darcy - a local Jezebel. Nobody believes him to be the culprit. Well Eden, MN has a rather small police force. Lonnie cannot be involved, for obvious reasons. Detective Mike can't be involved because he's Lonnie's partner. Officer Rick can't be on the case because he's related to Lonnie. That leaves Bill and a deputy, whom they just made detective. Instead of asking the state for assistance (which might be the logical choice), they decide to bring in Hannah, the owner of a local bakery. Well, it at least secures free baked goods for the force and admittedly, as an amateur sleuth, she's been helpful in the past.
You may well ask, "Can this be read as a stand-alone?" Not recommended. Most of the characters appeared in previous installments and it's assumed that the reader is already familiar with these folks. Although I've not read the entire series, having read at least 3 of the last 5 installments has helped to understand the interplay among characters.
For the loving fans of this series, no doubt you'll be happy to be back on familiar ground in Eden, MN even if the love triangle continues to play on. There are hints that this too may soon be tied up with a pretty bow. Now wouldn't that be lovely?!
I am grateful to author Joanne Fluke and Kensington Books for having provided a free advance uncorrected edition of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
March 20, 2020
Hannah Swensen, owner of The Cookie Jar, has been ordered to rest – it came straight from Doc himself. But a trip to California to help a friend pack up is cut short when Hannah’s younger sister, Michelle, calls in a panic. There’s been another murder in Lake Eden, and Michelle’s boyfriend, Lonnie, is the prime suspect. After a night out with friends, Lonnie took a drunk woman home only to pass out on her couch. The next morning, he wakes up to find her dead in her bedroom with no memory of anything after he passed out. Since Lonnie is a detective with the police department, most of them can’t investigate since they are friends with the suspect. Naturally, Hannah immediately flies home, but can she figure out who is the killer?
If you haven’t read the last few books, be aware this one spoils some pretty major things by necessity since they had a major impact on Hannah’s life. Those up to date on the series will be happy to learn we get an answer to the cliffhanger from the last book early on. This book is a return to the status quo of a few entries ago. After a slow start, the pacing gets better once Hannah returns home. There is still plenty of talk about cooking, however, but we get clues and red herrings until we reach the climax. The characters are all here, and I enjoyed seeing them, but there is little in the way of actual character development. That includes the love triangle, which is back in play here. We get another nineteen recipes, and I think I gained weight reading about them. They certainly sound delicious. Fans who have stuck with this series will enjoy this outing. If you are new, don’t jump in here but go back to the beginning to see why we love these characters.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
If you haven’t read the last few books, be aware this one spoils some pretty major things by necessity since they had a major impact on Hannah’s life. Those up to date on the series will be happy to learn we get an answer to the cliffhanger from the last book early on. This book is a return to the status quo of a few entries ago. After a slow start, the pacing gets better once Hannah returns home. There is still plenty of talk about cooking, however, but we get clues and red herrings until we reach the climax. The characters are all here, and I enjoyed seeing them, but there is little in the way of actual character development. That includes the love triangle, which is back in play here. We get another nineteen recipes, and I think I gained weight reading about them. They certainly sound delicious. Fans who have stuck with this series will enjoy this outing. If you are new, don’t jump in here but go back to the beginning to see why we love these characters.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 24, 2020
Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke is the twenty-fifth A Hannah Swensen Mystery. I have read all the books in this series and there is a marked difference between Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and Coconut Layer Cake Murder. The mystery is not the primary focus of the story. It seems that most of the book is devoted to cooking, baking, eating, and chatting. More than half of the book is devoted to recipes. I have stuck with the series this long, and I am not about to quit. After the cliffhanger left in the last book, I wanted to know what was happening with Hannah. I like how close Hannah is to her family and friends. Delores, Michelle, Doc Knight, Andrea, Bill, Norman, Mike, Lonnie and all the regulars are back. Lonnie is accused of murdering an old high school classmate and he needs Hannah’s help if he is to prove he is innocent. Mike is Lonnie’s partner so that bans him from investigating and Lonnie’s brother is also off the case. The lone detective left is Bill, Andrea’s husband, who lacks experience solving murders. This time (believe it or not) Hannah’s nosiness is encouraged. Lonnie’s fuzzy memory, though, causes some problems. Hannah zips around town in her cookie truck asking questions, dispensing cookies, and searching for clues. With help from family and friends, Hannah pieces together the clues and identifies the killer. Readers will have no problem solving this whodunit before the reveal. The story proceeds in a unique manner for cozy mysteries that was a nice change of pace, but I would not want too often. I know that Hannah needs to recover from what happened with Ross, but I believe it is time for her to decide between Mike and Norman (my pick is Mike). When A Hannah Swensen Mystery series ends (it is inevitable), I hope Joanne Fluke starts a new cozy mystery series. Coconut Layer Cake Murder is a light, feel good story firm friends, mouthwatering meals, a vital vacation, scrumptious cookies, and a busy baker.
May 21, 2020
Last time I read a book from this series. It has deteriorated into a glorified recipe book with a passing reference to a murder mystery. And Norman is no more than Hannah’s “lap dog”, especially since he is never in his dentist office.
January 21, 2020
I think it may be time to wrap this series up. The whole story line with Ross has been absolutely awful. She should have ended up with Norman in the dream house they designed together.
March 15, 2020
This is Book 25 of the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. For those who have not read all the books, especially the last two or three, please note there are spoilers in this review. Proceed with caution!
This story finds Hannah, a recent widow, totally exhausted and drained from current events. Trying to put her life back together she and her mom fly to Los Angeles so she can assist a friend who is moving to Lake Eden.
While soaking up the sun she receives a frantic call from her sister. Michelle’s boyfriend Detective Lonnie Murphy has been accused of a crime. In a town as small as Lake Eden where everybody knows everybody, and their police force being a small group, they all needed to recuse themselves from the case because they know Lonnie. So in steps Hannah and her investigating skills to save they day!
Lonnie has been accused of murdering a woman in her home. He wakes up on her couch after spending the night prior at a bar drinking with some of his friends. The only problem is Lonnie can’t remember what happened the night before. He only remembers waking up and discovering her lifeless body in her bedroom, (with a coconut layer cake on the kitchen table).
It’s all up to Hannah to try and piece the puzzle together alone (but with helpful clues and assistance from her friends). In the meantime, its seems the mystery of Ross, her late husband, continues to haunt her as she finds strange objects he owned and he kept hidden prior to his murder.
The Hannah Swensen Mysteries are like visiting with an old friend you’ve known for a while but only see maybe once or twice a year. Always happy to see and hear from them, always greatful to catch up and see what’s been going on, always enjoyable, and they always come with delicious food suggestions you want to try.
Thank you #NetGalley #KennsingtonBooks #JoanneFluke #CoconutLayerCakeMurder.
This story finds Hannah, a recent widow, totally exhausted and drained from current events. Trying to put her life back together she and her mom fly to Los Angeles so she can assist a friend who is moving to Lake Eden.
While soaking up the sun she receives a frantic call from her sister. Michelle’s boyfriend Detective Lonnie Murphy has been accused of a crime. In a town as small as Lake Eden where everybody knows everybody, and their police force being a small group, they all needed to recuse themselves from the case because they know Lonnie. So in steps Hannah and her investigating skills to save they day!
Lonnie has been accused of murdering a woman in her home. He wakes up on her couch after spending the night prior at a bar drinking with some of his friends. The only problem is Lonnie can’t remember what happened the night before. He only remembers waking up and discovering her lifeless body in her bedroom, (with a coconut layer cake on the kitchen table).
It’s all up to Hannah to try and piece the puzzle together alone (but with helpful clues and assistance from her friends). In the meantime, its seems the mystery of Ross, her late husband, continues to haunt her as she finds strange objects he owned and he kept hidden prior to his murder.
The Hannah Swensen Mysteries are like visiting with an old friend you’ve known for a while but only see maybe once or twice a year. Always happy to see and hear from them, always greatful to catch up and see what’s been going on, always enjoyable, and they always come with delicious food suggestions you want to try.
Thank you #NetGalley #KennsingtonBooks #JoanneFluke #CoconutLayerCakeMurder.
October 20, 2020
This is the second Hannah Swenson mystery I have read. I enjoyed them both & would have given this one 4 stars except for a few things. First of all, I haven’t been reading them in order so some of this was confusing to me (which isn’t the author’s fault, actually)! The other thing was she referred to the flight attendant as a stewardess and I thought that was outdated since they have not been called stewardesses in many years.
But the recipes that are included are mouthwatering even though I won’t make any of them! And I didn’t figure out who the killer was so that’s a good thing. I don’t like it when that is obvious. I will probably go back and read the first book in the series someday.
But the recipes that are included are mouthwatering even though I won’t make any of them! And I didn’t figure out who the killer was so that’s a good thing. I don’t like it when that is obvious. I will probably go back and read the first book in the series someday.
March 9, 2020
Got to the Meaty Minestrone Soup and realized I just don’t care about Hannah and Lake Eden anymore. The last several books have been painful to read...stilted and repetitive dialogue and way too much of it and the storylines are old, recycled, and uninteresting. Way past time to quit this series. Sad...
April 14, 2020
So beautifully mediocre :’)
January 22, 2020
Can't believe it's the 25th book in the series!! A comfortable return to Lake Eden, Minnesota with characters so comfortable that they feel like my cozy family after so many years. While it was interesting to see the storyline focus on Lonnie, the mystery was lacking. The romantic triangle continues but one character doesn't seem as focused on Hannah as he did in previous books. The pages were mainly recipes and for me, way too many of Hannah's hints and suggestions. They seem like page fillers to me. On the plus side, I have tried many of the cookie recipes over the years and almost all have turned just as delicious as they sound. I'll take full credit for any shortcomings!
For new readers to the series, I don't recommend reading this as a standalone; suggest reading the prior three to five books. I always prefer to start at the beginning of a series, beginning at book one may be more than what you want from this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
For new readers to the series, I don't recommend reading this as a standalone; suggest reading the prior three to five books. I always prefer to start at the beginning of a series, beginning at book one may be more than what you want from this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a copy of this book. My review is voluntary.
March 1, 2021
I get far better entertainment reading the reviews, than reading this series any longer. I'm just waiting for poor pitiful Norman to wise up and stop waiting around to be loved by someone so incapable of making a decision.
April 14, 2020
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Joanne Fluke for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of Coconut Layer Cake Murder. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
Hannah is back with a whole new slew of recipes that she dreams up on the spot. But this time the town really needs her help. Instead of her “meddling”, they need her to solve the murder. There is a dead woman and Lonnie, one of the local police, has been accused of murdering her. Mike has to take a back seat because of personal conflicts and there is no one else in the department to solve the murder. So Hannah flies back from her California vacation to gather the facts. All of the characters are part of the story like Norm, her sisters, and her mother. The coconut layer cake is at the center of the murder.
Nothing new in the story. The same characters, the same saccharine-sweet banter along with the consumption of a lot of cookies. I am surprised everyone in that town isn’t 300 pounds with cholesterol problems! These characters are super supportive, super sweet and super into everyone’s business! Look, when you read this series you know what you’re getting. I just wish there was more mystery, even in the light-as-air genre, something would be nice. Hannah talks to everyone, creating recipes as she goes and then in the last ten pages boom, it is solved. Yet, I haven’t given up on the series yet, so there’s that.
for more on this review - check out my blog Pink Purl and Prose.
Hannah is back with a whole new slew of recipes that she dreams up on the spot. But this time the town really needs her help. Instead of her “meddling”, they need her to solve the murder. There is a dead woman and Lonnie, one of the local police, has been accused of murdering her. Mike has to take a back seat because of personal conflicts and there is no one else in the department to solve the murder. So Hannah flies back from her California vacation to gather the facts. All of the characters are part of the story like Norm, her sisters, and her mother. The coconut layer cake is at the center of the murder.
Nothing new in the story. The same characters, the same saccharine-sweet banter along with the consumption of a lot of cookies. I am surprised everyone in that town isn’t 300 pounds with cholesterol problems! These characters are super supportive, super sweet and super into everyone’s business! Look, when you read this series you know what you’re getting. I just wish there was more mystery, even in the light-as-air genre, something would be nice. Hannah talks to everyone, creating recipes as she goes and then in the last ten pages boom, it is solved. Yet, I haven’t given up on the series yet, so there’s that.
for more on this review - check out my blog Pink Purl and Prose.
January 19, 2020
Coconut Layer Cake Murder is the 25th installment in the Hannah Swensen series set in Lake Eden, MN and featuring Cookie Jar owner, Hannah, her family and friends. Hannah has accompanied her mother to California to help their friend Lynne pack up her house and move back to Lake Eden. The house is almost buttoned up when Hannah gets a call from sister Michelle that her boyfriend Lonnie is the prime suspect in a murder.
Hannah's brother in law and chief of police, Bill has taken both Mike an Lonnie off the case due to conflict of interest and everyone is now looking to Hannah to solve the mystery. Hannah teams up with Mike, Norman and Andrea to identify the killer and clear Lonnie's name.
There really is no plot in this latest addition to the series. In fact, the actually mystery is only about 50 pages and the rest of the book is just filled with recipes and notes about the recipes. In the 50 pages of actual story over a third is spent at the work table in the Cookie Jar with the usual characters sampling cookies and commenting on the different knocks on the back door. Even Moishe was barely mentioned in the story. If you haven't read this series before I wouldn't start with this one as it does not read like a stand alone, you will have no idea who Lynne is or understand the casual references to why Hannah is not living at her condo or what happened to her husband. This series has become a true disappointment.
I received an advanced copy of Coconut Layer Cake Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
Hannah's brother in law and chief of police, Bill has taken both Mike an Lonnie off the case due to conflict of interest and everyone is now looking to Hannah to solve the mystery. Hannah teams up with Mike, Norman and Andrea to identify the killer and clear Lonnie's name.
There really is no plot in this latest addition to the series. In fact, the actually mystery is only about 50 pages and the rest of the book is just filled with recipes and notes about the recipes. In the 50 pages of actual story over a third is spent at the work table in the Cookie Jar with the usual characters sampling cookies and commenting on the different knocks on the back door. Even Moishe was barely mentioned in the story. If you haven't read this series before I wouldn't start with this one as it does not read like a stand alone, you will have no idea who Lynne is or understand the casual references to why Hannah is not living at her condo or what happened to her husband. This series has become a true disappointment.
I received an advanced copy of Coconut Layer Cake Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
February 19, 2020
Hannah accompanies her mother to California to visit a relative. Doc prescribed the vacation for her when he diagnosed her with stress. It isn't long until she receives a message the police need her help in an investigation in which Lonnie's presence makes him a suspect. Mike can't investigate because Lonnie is his partner. Only a newly minted detective and the chief himself can investigate, so even the chief wants Hannah to meddle this time. The victim's personality made her unpopular so several persons held motives. A remains of a coconut layer cake plays into the investigation, thus giving the installment its title. The book contains lots of recipes. The premise of this one does not really hold up that well as the police would have called in the state to conduct the investigation. However, it was fun. The love triangle between Hannah, Norman, and Mike continues. I received an electronic advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
February 27, 2020
Yet another half novel - half mini cookbook
Coconut Layer Cake Murder is book #25 in the Hannah Swensen series. Hannah is called on to help clear Lonnie's name after he becomes the main suspect in a murder.
The book picks up a couple days after the ending of book #24. Hannah gets her test results and Doc sends her on a vacation to L.A. with her mother. A few days later she gets a call from Michelle informing her of what has happened with Lonnie. Hannah rushes home and immediately starts to investigate.
Here are my thoughts:
The first 3 1/2 chapters are basically about Hannah, her test results, then her and her mothers trip to L.A. As Hannah is leaving Doc's office, she says she will have to ask her mother what to pack for the trip. Really? Her fashion obsessed mother has always criticized how Hannah dresses so why would she subject herself to even more of this for a trip to supposedly relax? This section does nothing to promote the actual murder plot but it does show a bit more of the dynamic between the mother and daughter. Yes, Delores is still critical of Hannah at times but Delores is also star struck by the whole Hollywood experience. The other plus of this section is the reconnection/update on her friend Lynne who was part of the story in #24 and at least one other book in the series. Even so, 3 1/2 chapters felt like a bit much - more filler than substance. Left me wanting to just get on with the murder already! That entire section could have been edited down to half that amount.
Once, back in MN, Norman picks her up at the airport and takes her to the condo to meet Michelle and later Lonnie to get his full version of what happened the night of the murder. Mike and Andrea arrive later to also put in the info they've gathered.
As Mike is Lonnie's detective partner he has been pulled off the case as well. Lonnie's older brother Rick is also a detective and can't work the case. That leaves Andrea's husband, Sheriff Bill Todd and a newly minted detective to run the case. Mike is chomping at the bit to be involved but realizes that he will have to work behind the scenes with Hannah (as well as Norman and the others) to solve the case. Oddly though, he wants ace mechanic Cyril Murphy - who is Lonnie's dad - to examine the victims car. Mike is busy micro managing the whole investigation and questioning Hannah on every move/development.
Mini Rant: Something that has been irking me over many of the books, is Mike, his seemingly bottomless stomach and endless ability to show up when food is being served. Rarely, is it mentioned that he chips in to pay for food or takes Hannah or the gang for a meal out. Does he ever pay for the heaping full plates of cookies he eats while in the kitchen of The Cookie Jar? Not that Hannah would ever ask him to - she's too nice for that - but she isn't rich either. Mike takes advantage of her generosity and uses her detecting skills when it suits his needs. He doesn't show her the respect she deserves or treat her as an equal. End of mini rant.
As with the previous book, there is no recipe index and the recipes are added at the end of various chapters. Predictably, the majority are calorie laden and loaded with butter and sugar. As I read, I kept a list of how many chapters ended with recipes. If there was more than one/chapter I put that number in brackets:
Ch's 3, 5, 6 (3), 8, 9, 12, 13(2), 14(3), 15, 16(5!), 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23,
That's 25 recipes in one book!! WAY too many. Not to mention that all of them have lengthy directions to cater to the novice cook/baker.
Since I read the book on Kindle, it is impossible to tell how much of the book is actually recipes but I suspect it is likely about 30%. I felt like I did as much scrolling past all the recipe pages as I did reading the story.
Add that 30% estimate to the first 3 1/2 chapters for another 13% and that leaves about 57% for actual (loosely based) murder related story.
So once again, Ms Fluke has written more of a novella with a mini cookbook. Personally, I'd rather have maybe 8-10 recipes maximum and a more thorough plot and story-line.
Overall, the actual story content of the book is good. The murder reveal is good and the way the book ends leaves me with hope for Hannah's future. I'd just prefer more actual story/plot and a LOT LESS recipes!
If I could, I'd give this a 2 1/2 stars but since 1/2 stars aren't an option I will only give it 2.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder is book #25 in the Hannah Swensen series. Hannah is called on to help clear Lonnie's name after he becomes the main suspect in a murder.
The book picks up a couple days after the ending of book #24. Hannah gets her test results and Doc sends her on a vacation to L.A. with her mother. A few days later she gets a call from Michelle informing her of what has happened with Lonnie. Hannah rushes home and immediately starts to investigate.
Here are my thoughts:
The first 3 1/2 chapters are basically about Hannah, her test results, then her and her mothers trip to L.A. As Hannah is leaving Doc's office, she says she will have to ask her mother what to pack for the trip. Really? Her fashion obsessed mother has always criticized how Hannah dresses so why would she subject herself to even more of this for a trip to supposedly relax? This section does nothing to promote the actual murder plot but it does show a bit more of the dynamic between the mother and daughter. Yes, Delores is still critical of Hannah at times but Delores is also star struck by the whole Hollywood experience. The other plus of this section is the reconnection/update on her friend Lynne who was part of the story in #24 and at least one other book in the series. Even so, 3 1/2 chapters felt like a bit much - more filler than substance. Left me wanting to just get on with the murder already! That entire section could have been edited down to half that amount.
Once, back in MN, Norman picks her up at the airport and takes her to the condo to meet Michelle and later Lonnie to get his full version of what happened the night of the murder. Mike and Andrea arrive later to also put in the info they've gathered.
As Mike is Lonnie's detective partner he has been pulled off the case as well. Lonnie's older brother Rick is also a detective and can't work the case. That leaves Andrea's husband, Sheriff Bill Todd and a newly minted detective to run the case. Mike is chomping at the bit to be involved but realizes that he will have to work behind the scenes with Hannah (as well as Norman and the others) to solve the case. Oddly though, he wants ace mechanic Cyril Murphy - who is Lonnie's dad - to examine the victims car. Mike is busy micro managing the whole investigation and questioning Hannah on every move/development.
Mini Rant: Something that has been irking me over many of the books, is Mike, his seemingly bottomless stomach and endless ability to show up when food is being served. Rarely, is it mentioned that he chips in to pay for food or takes Hannah or the gang for a meal out. Does he ever pay for the heaping full plates of cookies he eats while in the kitchen of The Cookie Jar? Not that Hannah would ever ask him to - she's too nice for that - but she isn't rich either. Mike takes advantage of her generosity and uses her detecting skills when it suits his needs. He doesn't show her the respect she deserves or treat her as an equal. End of mini rant.
As with the previous book, there is no recipe index and the recipes are added at the end of various chapters. Predictably, the majority are calorie laden and loaded with butter and sugar. As I read, I kept a list of how many chapters ended with recipes. If there was more than one/chapter I put that number in brackets:
Ch's 3, 5, 6 (3), 8, 9, 12, 13(2), 14(3), 15, 16(5!), 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23,
That's 25 recipes in one book!! WAY too many. Not to mention that all of them have lengthy directions to cater to the novice cook/baker.
Since I read the book on Kindle, it is impossible to tell how much of the book is actually recipes but I suspect it is likely about 30%. I felt like I did as much scrolling past all the recipe pages as I did reading the story.
Add that 30% estimate to the first 3 1/2 chapters for another 13% and that leaves about 57% for actual (loosely based) murder related story.
So once again, Ms Fluke has written more of a novella with a mini cookbook. Personally, I'd rather have maybe 8-10 recipes maximum and a more thorough plot and story-line.
Overall, the actual story content of the book is good. The murder reveal is good and the way the book ends leaves me with hope for Hannah's future. I'd just prefer more actual story/plot and a LOT LESS recipes!
If I could, I'd give this a 2 1/2 stars but since 1/2 stars aren't an option I will only give it 2.
January 28, 2020
Coconut Layer Cake Murder is the 25th entry in Joanne Fluke’s long running series featuring baker and amateur detective Hannah Swensen. I have read all the books and, while I always enjoy revisiting Lake Eden and its inhabitants, I felt this was one of the weaker entries. I honestly feel like if all the references to food and recipes were removed, this book would be more of a novella. Hannah is recalled from a trip to California to aid her sister Michelle’s boyfriend, Lonnie, who is the number one suspect in a murder. Because he with the Lake Eden Sheriff’s department, the other detectives are unable to investigate. I didn’t think this made a lot of sense because Bill, Hannah’s other sister Andrea’s husband, was allowed to. I also felt that the most pertinent witnesses were the last Hannah interviewed—and surely Bill would have long before Hannah did? All those complaints aside, it was fun to revisit Lake Eden and I enjoyed the resurgence of the relationship between Hannah and Norman, a truly nice man. I am hoping the Ms Fluke will finally put an end to the Norman/Mike/Hannah triangle and give Hannah a happily ever after with Norman in the near future. Throughout the series, Ms Fluke has done a wonderful job building a community of characters that always make the books comforting and enjoyable reads. I would like to stress that this is not a standalone novel. I believe that any reader would be best served by reading not only previous entries in the series, but especially the last two or three.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.
February 2, 2020
Hannah Swensen needs some time away from Lake Eden and the cold Minnesota weather. Hannah goes to sunny California to help a friend move back to Lake Eden. Hannah's trip is cut short when her sister’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, becomes the number one suspect in a murder. With a shortage of detectives to investigate this murder, Hannah and her family and friends’ investigation may be Lonnie’s best chance of clearing his name.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder picks up where Chocolate Cream Murder leaves off. You can still enjoy the mystery as a stand-alone, however, I believe you will enjoy the book much better if you read a least the previous three books first. The issues most Hannah fans had with the series few books ago seem to have been straightened out. Even though she is still reeling with what happened to personally in the recent past, Hannah is back to her old self when it comes to helping those closest to her. The mystery is a bit on the shorter side with fewer suspects but still well-written. It seems there are more recipes included through-out the book than in past books. This doesn’t really bother me that much but the placement does. I know each recipe is included in the book when it is introduced, however, I still wish they were included at the back of the book instead of at the end of the chapter. This is just my personal preference and did not keep me from enjoying the book. I recommend this book to fans of the series and to cozy mystery fans.
I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder picks up where Chocolate Cream Murder leaves off. You can still enjoy the mystery as a stand-alone, however, I believe you will enjoy the book much better if you read a least the previous three books first. The issues most Hannah fans had with the series few books ago seem to have been straightened out. Even though she is still reeling with what happened to personally in the recent past, Hannah is back to her old self when it comes to helping those closest to her. The mystery is a bit on the shorter side with fewer suspects but still well-written. It seems there are more recipes included through-out the book than in past books. This doesn’t really bother me that much but the placement does. I know each recipe is included in the book when it is introduced, however, I still wish they were included at the back of the book instead of at the end of the chapter. This is just my personal preference and did not keep me from enjoying the book. I recommend this book to fans of the series and to cozy mystery fans.
I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.
March 1, 2020
Another terrible book from Joanne Fluke that I read anyway because for some reason I love the characters and the little town. This one was especially bad because Hannah didn’t even solve the murder. She just went to question a possible suspect and that person totally started confessing out of nowhere (wait does that happen in the other books too?). There’s a big to do about finding out the true color of a suspicious car and then that doesn’t even help them out at all. Neither do any other clues. It’s just simply a confession. Also... besides the usual complaints...how did Hannah have anything to do with Cassie’s birthday card inside the cake when she was in California when it all went down? What did Ross’ storage unit really have to do with anything? Why are we back to a love triangle again? Why did Hannah have to buy two new crockpots when she already has probably a dozen? Why does Hannah need her mommy to tell her not to unbuckle her seatbelt on the plane? Why did Ross where monogrammed velour suits? Just why??? How is she a baker and has never heard of Funfetti cake?! And I’m pretty sure there are like a dozen possible nicknames for “Hannah.”
Also- I found a typo- it says “Noman” instead of “Norman” once. Ha.
And I’ll be back next September when the 26th 😱😱😱😱 book is released- unless it’s a dumb story in a story like the last Christmas book. I didn’t even read that one. I just couldn’t go back in time with them. I just couldn’t.
Content warning: None
Also- I found a typo- it says “Noman” instead of “Norman” once. Ha.
And I’ll be back next September when the 26th 😱😱😱😱 book is released- unless it’s a dumb story in a story like the last Christmas book. I didn’t even read that one. I just couldn’t go back in time with them. I just couldn’t.
Content warning: None
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