Joanne Fluke introduced small-town Minnesota bakery owner Hannah Swensen in Chocolate Chip Cooke Murder. Now, this intrepid amateur sleuth returns ...
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Oct 28, 2011
Chrissy
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Another delicious murder mystery! Hannah has become a cooking judge in front of a live audience. She is also given her few minutes of fame before each contest begins by baking a recipe and sharing it with the viewers.
One of the judges has to back out at the last minute due to a dental emergency, so the station has to have another person randomly choosen to be a judge on such short notice. They draw the name Boyd Watson. A basketball coach at the local high school where they are filmi More...
One of the judges has to back out at the last minute due to a dental emergency, so the station has to have another person randomly choosen to be a judge on such short notice. They draw the name Boyd Watson. A basketball coach at the local high school where they are filmi More...
Aug 22, 2011
Lelia
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Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Joanne Fluke
Kensington, 2001
ISBN 1575667215
Mass Market Paperback
Hannah Swensen, cookie baker extraordinaire, is once again on the snoop. This time, she’s after the murderer of the husband of a friend, struck down right after his judging duty at a dessert bake-off — and he’s literally facedown in Hannah’s own strawberry shortcake. Only Hannah and a few others know just how nasty-tempered this man was and she’s determined to track down the More...
Joanne Fluke
Kensington, 2001
ISBN 1575667215
Mass Market Paperback
Hannah Swensen, cookie baker extraordinaire, is once again on the snoop. This time, she’s after the murderer of the husband of a friend, struck down right after his judging duty at a dessert bake-off — and he’s literally facedown in Hannah’s own strawberry shortcake. Only Hannah and a few others know just how nasty-tempered this man was and she’s determined to track down the More...
May 10, 2010
Jaime
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Dec 26, 2009
Jess
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Someone recommended this series to me because she said it was similar to the Stephanie Plum Novels from Janet Evanovich. So I gave it a try.
I couldn't find the first book in the series anywhere so I just started with this one instead. I didn't feel as if I was missing any information, the characters were all re-introduced at one point.
I liked the book, I thought the murder was interesting to try to solve as I went along through the book and I picked out one of the "bad" More...
I couldn't find the first book in the series anywhere so I just started with this one instead. I didn't feel as if I was missing any information, the characters were all re-introduced at one point.
I liked the book, I thought the murder was interesting to try to solve as I went along through the book and I picked out one of the "bad" More...
Apr 12, 2010
Lindsay
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I've really got to learn to stop reading books in this series because the main character owns a bakery so throughout the book it talks about cookies, cakes, and other yummy goodies. Plus it has recipes, which, if I was a cook, would be very handy.
Last winter I was on the mission to read all the books in the series in order, and so did everyone else apparently because it took me forever to get this book from the library, and once I finally did, I didn't really want to read it, More...
Last winter I was on the mission to read all the books in the series in order, and so did everyone else apparently because it took me forever to get this book from the library, and once I finally did, I didn't really want to read it, More...
Aug 09, 2011
RC
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I started this book a last week, but I was having a hard time getting into it. I was then stuck in the car for 12 hours and decided to pick it up again. I must say I enjoyed the story. I think I enjoyed it because I could see what was going to happen, but there was just enough twists to keep it interesting. Cookie shop owner, Hannah Swensen, is judging a local bake-off. After the first round of judging, fellow judge Boyd Watson is found dead. Not a totally surprise. He is judging was heartless a
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Jun 28, 2011
Kaisera
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Some people have called these books guilty pleasures. Some have called them "Fluff". To me they are a very interesting book of intrigue. The whole point of this book for me is trying to figure it out how, the who, and all that. However, while that makes this book good, it doesn't give it a high re-read value. To me an outstanding book is one that I would not only spend my hard earned money on, but one I would also read many times over. This book falls short, only because to me th
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Aug 31, 2010
Liralen
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It's a cop-out, but the Hannah Swensen mysteries really only need a lump review:
For some reason, I keep reading these when they show up at the library. I don't know why. Do I enjoy them? Sure. They're trashy murder mysteries that don't always make sense. I can huff at them in irritation when the main character does, or thinks, something especially stupid. They involve recipes.
Actually, the books are formulaic enough that they themselves were written by recipe.
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For some reason, I keep reading these when they show up at the library. I don't know why. Do I enjoy them? Sure. They're trashy murder mysteries that don't always make sense. I can huff at them in irritation when the main character does, or thinks, something especially stupid. They involve recipes.
Actually, the books are formulaic enough that they themselves were written by recipe.
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Feb 10, 2012
Brittiany
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Hannah Swensen, owner of the Lake Eden's Cookie Jar, has been asked to judge Hartland Flour's first Dessert Bake-Off. One of the other judges has to back out at the last minute and Hannah's neice Tracey picks a fill-in judge at random. Who should be drawn from the hat but none other than Lake Eden's local lovable basketball coach, Boyd Watson... who also happens to be a domestic abuser in his private life.
When Hannah's friend Danielle calls in a panic, she rushes right over. There's More...
When Hannah's friend Danielle calls in a panic, she rushes right over. There's More...
Dec 16, 2010
Ruth
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Lake Eden is a small, close knit town in Minnesota. Right now I might be afraid to live there! This is the second book in the series by Joanne Fluke and of course, the second murder. Hannah Swensen is still baking up some delicious treats in her shop "The Cookie Jar" and in her spare time sleuthing to solve the latest murder in the town. Her brother-in-law and "boyfriend" are the local detectives and it is under the guise of helping them that Hannah looks for clues in ord
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Oct 05, 2010
Sheri
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Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Joanne Fluke)
Murder Mystery. Hannah Swensen is a baker living in rural Minnesota. When she is not baking she is solving crimes...this job just comes naturally to her. Hannah is asked to judge a four day bake sale. After the first day one of the judges, Coach Boyd Watson is found dead and Hannah is on the scene.
Hannah with the help of her sister Andrea, decide to do some investigating
Fast paced who done it, with twists, turns a lot of suspects More...
Murder Mystery. Hannah Swensen is a baker living in rural Minnesota. When she is not baking she is solving crimes...this job just comes naturally to her. Hannah is asked to judge a four day bake sale. After the first day one of the judges, Coach Boyd Watson is found dead and Hannah is on the scene.
Hannah with the help of her sister Andrea, decide to do some investigating
Fast paced who done it, with twists, turns a lot of suspects More...
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Jul 12, 2011
Andrea
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I got this book for my birthday and wasnt sure if I was going to like it, but I love murder mysteries so I decided to give it shot and I fell in love with it. This book is about a murder that takes place in a small town during a baking contest. In almost every chapter you will also find a variety of recipes, some of which are really good. Great book and it will keep you guessing the whole way through. Joanne Fluke wrote a series of this type of murder mystery recipe books and this was the second
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May 08, 2010
Sara
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The second in the cookie mystery series starring Hannah Swensen. I think the later books are better written, but this one was okay-struggled a bit to finish it.
Boyd was not beloved and certainly Hannah was not a fan, but when he is murdered Hanah is detrmined to find out why. Between running her successful cookie shop and working nights at the TV station, Hannah has to find time to investigate Boyd's death. As she finds clues and starts putting it all together her very own life is a More...
Boyd was not beloved and certainly Hannah was not a fan, but when he is murdered Hanah is detrmined to find out why. Between running her successful cookie shop and working nights at the TV station, Hannah has to find time to investigate Boyd's death. As she finds clues and starts putting it all together her very own life is a More...
Jul 24, 2010
Scarlett
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The problem with reading this series out of order is that when a character shows up who I haven't seen in the later books it's easy to tell that they are the killer/will get murdered.
It was kinda cool to read an earlier book though because it introduces problems that have already been resolved in the books I've read.
My biggest problem with this one was that everyone seemed a little too willing to be outside the law/their ethics... it seems like in the later books Hannah i More...
It was kinda cool to read an earlier book though because it introduces problems that have already been resolved in the books I've read.
My biggest problem with this one was that everyone seemed a little too willing to be outside the law/their ethics... it seems like in the later books Hannah i More...
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Jan 02, 2012
Sam
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I liked this murder mystery novel. It was an easy read, a book to curl up on the couch with and spend an afternoon enjoying. I especially liked the recipes included and will definitely be baking the 'Strawberry Shortcake' and 'Choclate Highlander Cookie Bars' YUM!!
Hannah Swenson was a fun character to read, she is ballsy but not in an aggresive way, which I like. The mystery was a like expected, I knew how it would turn out but still enjoyed getting to the reveal.
Overa More...
Hannah Swenson was a fun character to read, she is ballsy but not in an aggresive way, which I like. The mystery was a like expected, I knew how it would turn out but still enjoyed getting to the reveal.
Overa More...
Dec 27, 2011
bellareads
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This is the second book in the Hanna Swensen series by Joanne Fluke.
Hannah is back and trying to solve the murder of Boyd Watson, along with the help of her sister, Andrea. As Hannah digs deep she uncovers lots of secrets about the citizens of Lake Eden.
I quite liked this mystery, even though I solved the mystery before Hannah. I like the close relationship Hannah is starting to have with her sister, especially as they were never close growing up. It's nice to see them t More...
Hannah is back and trying to solve the murder of Boyd Watson, along with the help of her sister, Andrea. As Hannah digs deep she uncovers lots of secrets about the citizens of Lake Eden.
I quite liked this mystery, even though I solved the mystery before Hannah. I like the close relationship Hannah is starting to have with her sister, especially as they were never close growing up. It's nice to see them t More...
May 25, 2010
Wendy
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Hannah is back again in this story, baking amazing cookies and finding dead bodies. In this installment, she is head jusdge for a bake-off when one of her judges is found dead. Suspicion immediately shifts to the wife, a good friend of Hannah's, since the victim abused her. As Hannah tries to solve the crime, she finds herself in danger from the murderer.
One of the best things about this series is the recipes included every few chapters. While I am not much of a baker they sound mighty yum More...
One of the best things about this series is the recipes included every few chapters. While I am not much of a baker they sound mighty yum More...
Sep 25, 2011
Josephine
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At sixteen volumes in the series, clearly someone does like Joanna Fluke's Hannah Swensen mysteries; I'll do my best to describe them in a reasonably positive way. There've been plenty of long running mystery series with a hook or gimmick before Joanne Fluke started writing; Qwilleran has his cats, Jane Jeffrey her carpool schedule, Mrs Malory her pets, literary criticism and the Women's Institute. I've read, and even liked, many of these 'gimmick' series; it isn't even the formulaic aspects I m
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Sep 19, 2011
Crystal Starr Light
rated it:
After the treat of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, I decided to plunge ahead with number two in the Hannah Swensen series.
The first annual Hartland Dessert Bake-off is being held in Lake Eden with Hannah Swensen, the owner of The Cookie Jar, acting as head judge. But the initial round is barely over before one of the judges, Coach Boyd Watson, is found in his garage bludgeoned to death. The first suspect is his wife, Danielle, whom he had been abusing for years. But Hannah does not believe th More...
The first annual Hartland Dessert Bake-off is being held in Lake Eden with Hannah Swensen, the owner of The Cookie Jar, acting as head judge. But the initial round is barely over before one of the judges, Coach Boyd Watson, is found in his garage bludgeoned to death. The first suspect is his wife, Danielle, whom he had been abusing for years. But Hannah does not believe th More...
Dec 28, 2011
Kasia
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What can be tastier than fresh, juicy strawberries nestled in a bed of whipped cream, gently cascading down the crumbly slopes of a golden pound cake? In her second installment of this fantastic culinary cozy mystery series, Joanne Fluke truly outdoes herself with the Strawberry Shortcake Murder. She gives the reader great recipes in-between the chapters that are being discussed and baked in the book as the small town nestled in beautiful nature has murders galore. I have to recommend reading th
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Jul 10, 2010
Cameron
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I pretty much knew what to expect from Strawberry Shortcake Murder the moment I finished reading the sleeve of its Pepto-Bismol colored jacket. With more puns than an entire season of CSI: Miami could shake a stick at, the book immediately shows that it doesn't take itself too seriously and neither should the reader. Much like its predecessor, this is a murder mystery that's farther on the light side of the spectrum than the dark. However, this time around, it isn't nearly as charming and fun.
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Oct 04, 2011
3.5 out of 5
Well, I didn't love this one as much as the first, but it was still an enjoyable read. I like that Hannah has her sister Andrea with her this time. It is a pet peeve of mine when the main character in a second novel seems to either have learned nothing from their experience in the first, or it makes them a seasoned expert. This wasn't the case with Hannah. I like that she was jumpy, and appropriately scared in the beginning when she heard a crash, and thought there was so More...
Well, I didn't love this one as much as the first, but it was still an enjoyable read. I like that Hannah has her sister Andrea with her this time. It is a pet peeve of mine when the main character in a second novel seems to either have learned nothing from their experience in the first, or it makes them a seasoned expert. This wasn't the case with Hannah. I like that she was jumpy, and appropriately scared in the beginning when she heard a crash, and thought there was so More...
Oct 06, 2011
Sarah
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I have really come to enjoy sitting down and reading this series of books(even though I only just finished book 2). I was recommended the series b/c it was said it resembled the "Stephanie Plum" series by Janet Evanovich. In some ways this is true, but there are some definite differences. Hannah Swenson is not as quirky or really as obvious about her lack of knowledge! What I like most about the Stephanie Plum books is all the trouble she gets herself into. I'd like to see more twis
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Nov 16, 2008
Kay
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I enjoyed this second book in the series a great deal more than the first. The character of Hannah Swensen is growing on me! What made this book more to my taste was partly the interactions between Hannah and Andrea (her sister), her employee Lisa, and "friends" Norman and Mike. Her mother's admonitions to stop finding dead bodies were humorous, too.
In the first book, it seemed like there were a lot of loose ends - discoveries of things that had no bearing on the mystery More...
In the first book, it seemed like there were a lot of loose ends - discoveries of things that had no bearing on the mystery More...
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Aug 07, 2011
Enjoyable; better than the first in the series. In this one, all of Hannah's baking time seems to be on TV and she is not at The Cookie Jar much. The characters of Mike and Norman are a little more developed. It is doubtful whether the sheriffs would have solved these crimes without Hannah. Since I've read this series out of order, this does seem very much like an early book (its the second in the series) and I do think this series has gotten better (although a little predictable) as it has aged
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May 02, 2011
Katherine
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This is the second in the series and again has some yummy recipes I will definitely try. I enjoyed this murder mystery much better than the first. It's quick easy and enjoyable reading. The characters are fun, though sometimes hard to keep straight because there are so many. This one has a little blackmail going on and one mystery that wasn't solved that I hope will be mentioned in a following book.
Jun 07, 2011
Brittney
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I wasn't entirely sure how I'd feel about the second book in the Hannah Swensen series since, while I liked the first book well enough, I wasn't completely won over by Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.
However, I actually found myself really enjoying this book much better. Last time, I started the book and read about half before walking away to read some other things before coming back and finishing. This time it only took me a few days to get through this book.
I'm not entire More...
However, I actually found myself really enjoying this book much better. Last time, I started the book and read about half before walking away to read some other things before coming back and finishing. This time it only took me a few days to get through this book.
I'm not entire More...
Mar 20, 2011
Sara
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Why do I like this series?? I can't really say- its easy and there are good looking recipes...I just can't stop. Funny enough, I'm kind of ashamed that I like this series as much as I do because there is absolutely nothing substantial in it. I feel like I read about her feeding her cat every other page, but I like these books. They are a secret indulgence that I don't recommend to every one.
Jun 20, 2010
Cary
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I am not sure what my problem with these books is! For some reason, they just drag in opinion. On the other hand I have no trouble reading them and I like the characters. So must be the mystery that is simple to figure out since there just aren't any clues you don't get, no red herrings to ignore, etc. Also I find that all the cookie recipes make me hungry when I am not really hungry@!#@#
Jun 07, 2010
Rose
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