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4th out of 293 books
—
979 voters
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1)
by
Joanne Fluke
Hannah Swensen already has her hands full, between dodging her mother's attempts to marry her off, and running Lake Eden, Minnesota's most popular bakery, The Cookie Jar. But when the Cozy Cow Dairy's beloved deliveryman is found murdered behind Hannah's bakery with her famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, Hannah sets out to track down a killer. The more H...more
Hardcover, 436 pages
Published
September 1st 2006
by Kensington
(first published April 1st 2000)
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I had been eyeing this book for a while, mostly because the cover amused me so. I finally picked it up when I was on one of my cosy mystery tears. Knowing it had been written in the 80s made the content a little less annoying. Unfortunately, the first book is the best of this sad lot.
However, having read all but the latest (Key Lime Pie Murder, which I am still debating whether or not to read) in the series, I have to say that the series is not that great. The latter books were written more rece...more
However, having read all but the latest (Key Lime Pie Murder, which I am still debating whether or not to read) in the series, I have to say that the series is not that great. The latter books were written more rece...more
Is it difficult reading? No. Are the characters the best characters I've ever read? No. But what this series does have going for it is that all the books are a fun, light read. You could probably start reading any of these books as your first and you would have no trouble understanding the characters or the plots (some would find this a plus while others would see it as a drawback, I'm sure).
Hannah Swensen, the main character, while not as pretty as her sister Andrea, or her mother, for that mat...more
Hannah Swensen, the main character, while not as pretty as her sister Andrea, or her mother, for that mat...more
Oct 22, 2012
Marianne -유진이 ☆-
marked it as did-not-finish
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ph-kensington
One day Hannah Swensen, who's running her own bakery business The Cookie Jar, finds her usual delivery guy murdered in his truck. He has been shot, and Hannah's cookies were scattered around him.
To help his brother-in-law, who's the investigating detective, Hannah starts to collect clues from unexpected sources. And all that while baking cookies, running a business and dodging her mother who's trying to fix her single daughter up with every single man she sees.
This is it - Chocolate Chip Cookie...more
To help his brother-in-law, who's the investigating detective, Hannah starts to collect clues from unexpected sources. And all that while baking cookies, running a business and dodging her mother who's trying to fix her single daughter up with every single man she sees.
This is it - Chocolate Chip Cookie...more
My book is about a girl named hannah. She owns a chocolate chip cookie shop, in lake edin,lake edin is a very small town andonly a few people live there. There has been a terriable accident, the worker for the cozy cow milk company has been shot while eating hannahs chocolate chip cookies. Hannah has to find how shot him before people in her town find out that he was eating her chocolate chip cookies while he died,or her company will go down thedrain.
Today whe i read this book Hannah was still...more
Today whe i read this book Hannah was still...more
3 likes · like · see review
I am a sucker for the quick, easy, light-hearted mystery novels and I really enjoy Joanne Fluke. The characters are fun and the "whodunits" are clever enough. Not surprisingly many of the situations the heroine finds herself in are a bit unlikely. But it's not meant to double your IQ, just entertain and all of her books do well at that.
10 likes · like · see review
Really wanted to like this book (bought a later one from a used book sale... and wanted to start with this first book in the series).
It started okay and then there was the addition of a chocolate chip cookie recipe... a little gimmicky, but okay.
The characters could have been much more likeable. The main character admittedly lacks tact, which could be humorous (but I found the remarks she was making in her mind about an overweight person distasteful). The sister uses her female charms to manip...more
It started okay and then there was the addition of a chocolate chip cookie recipe... a little gimmicky, but okay.
The characters could have been much more likeable. The main character admittedly lacks tact, which could be humorous (but I found the remarks she was making in her mind about an overweight person distasteful). The sister uses her female charms to manip...more
3 likes · like · see review
A few months ago, I went to the walk-in clinic because I was feeling miserably sick. They told me the wait would be at least 3 hours. I wasn't about to sit there and read the same out-dated magazines for 3 hours, so I snuck out and picked up this book at Walmart. I normally don't choose mysteries, but I figured anything with the words "chocolate chip cookie" in it had to be worth reading. I devoured this book just like I would a cookie, because it really was a fun and quick read. (I had already...more
This book is the first novel in the Hannah Swensen series. I thought it was an all-around great mystery story. It kept me guessing who the killer was right up until the end and left me shocked by the conclusion. What more can a mystery reader ask for?
I found the fact that the main character was a baker very entertaining. It made me want to run to my nearest bakery every time I read what newest cookie recipe Hannah would be preparing. The characters are also very amusing, but of course, Moishe m...more
I found the fact that the main character was a baker very entertaining. It made me want to run to my nearest bakery every time I read what newest cookie recipe Hannah would be preparing. The characters are also very amusing, but of course, Moishe m...more
If I could I would give this 2 1/2 stars but since I can't I am leaning more to two stars. Here's the breakdown for me:
The Good- It was a quick, easy read. I didn't know who the murderer was and was slightly surprised when finding it out. The recipes look delicious that were added, very cute idea! And lastly, it's good to read someone else has the same belief as I do, "Chocolate can cure just about anything!" :)
The Bad- The characters are a bit annoying, the story highly unrealistic, the main ch...more
The Good- It was a quick, easy read. I didn't know who the murderer was and was slightly surprised when finding it out. The recipes look delicious that were added, very cute idea! And lastly, it's good to read someone else has the same belief as I do, "Chocolate can cure just about anything!" :)
The Bad- The characters are a bit annoying, the story highly unrealistic, the main ch...more
5 likes · like · see review
The only reason I read the book in its entirety is because I was traveling and had nothing else to read in English. Aside from the flimsy plot and even flimsier characters, the thing that irked me most about the book was when the author tried to dress up her writing with mixed metaphors and other weak attempts at plumping up the lackluster text. "She was going to have a shiner the size of the Grand Canyon," and "She looked at the chisel-faced anchorman" ???!! Yes, I know what she meant, but I ca...more
3 likes · like · see review
Jun 20, 2012
Helen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fellow Scandinavians who will recognize themselves
Recommended to Helen by:
Ttigrlili
Shelves:
mysteries
The 3 stars are for the story, but I give 5 stars to the recipes. Cookies and coffee make everything go better! It requires steely resolve to read this book without heading to the kitchen to bake something. I will probably get the cookbook before the holidays so that i will have an excuse to try some of these cookies (to give as gifts!).
I have been wanting to get into this series for a couple of years. Since I had gotten the audio for Melinda, I figured I might as well have my turn at it as well. I was not disappointed. Everything I'd heard about it was true: light, clean (not squeaky, but pretty near), some humor, and leaving me anxious to try the recipes. Of course, I had the audio version so I'll need to get a print copy so I can write out the recipes. I liked the characters. And I liked the story. As I'm getting the rest of...more
Hannah Swenson runs a cookie and coffee shop named The Cookie Jar in the small town of Lake Eden, MN. One morning a popular milk delivery man Ron LaSalle is found murdered in the stores parking lot. Since Hannah’s brother in-law is the deputy sheriff for the county and the murder happens right outside of her shop Hannah feels drawn into the case and does what she can to solve the crime. Things heat up when
Nat Turner, owner of the huge Cozy Cow Dairy goes missing when he did not appear to speak a...more
Nat Turner, owner of the huge Cozy Cow Dairy goes missing when he did not appear to speak a...more
Oh, what a cute quick little summer read! I have been so busy lately, so this part of the summer has been spent reading quick, enjoyable "non-thinking" reads. And this was a nice addition to that list! "Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder" by Joanne Fluke is an odorable mystery that takes place in a small Minnesota town where Hannah, a baker and cookie shop owner, stumbles upon a murder behind her shop!
The cast of characters are delightful, and although it is a "murder mystery", it is so cozy and light...more
The cast of characters are delightful, and although it is a "murder mystery", it is so cozy and light...more
My first and last cozy, I think. I was expecting cookie recipes and a fluffy murder mystery, which I got. I was not prepared for five shopping trips--two for dresses, one for shoes, two for makeup--only two of which were relevant to the plot. In fact, there was a great deal of discussion of clothing and the tidbits that were supposed to make our heroine seem smart and rebellious seemed to have been shoved in with a crowbar. She knows basic facts about radio call signs, geography, and read an int...more
Oy. I picked up one of these a while ago from the library shelf because it looked cute. I didn't love it. In fact, it annoyed me. But for some reason, I kept reading them. Not obsessively, but I picked up a few more. So when I was trying out the eLibrary, I saw one of these and put it on hold. I don't remember if it was this one or the next one I'm about to read, but it took about 3 months before it finally became available. Most of the actual hard copy books take way less time to get to me. Any...more
I loved this book and was finished in a day and a half, it was a quick and easy read. At first I didn't think I was going to enjoy reading this book, it seemed like a cheesy who done it mystery in the beginning. I was trying out the library borrowing via download onto the kindle and figured I might as well read the book after figuring out how to download it.
I am very glad I downloaded this book and stuck through the first two chapters. I became sucked in to trying to figure out the mystery as we...more
I am very glad I downloaded this book and stuck through the first two chapters. I became sucked in to trying to figure out the mystery as we...more
Apparently, this type of book is known in the literary world as a "cozy". I hadn't heard of this but the description does fit...
"...a mystery which includes a bloodless crime and contains very little violence, sex or coarse language...The character solving the crime is often an amateur sleuth who becomes involved for personal reasons"
What I loved the most about this book (awesome recipes aside - Regency Ginger Cookie anyone?) was that it was set in a cutesy little village and had quaint little...more
"...a mystery which includes a bloodless crime and contains very little violence, sex or coarse language...The character solving the crime is often an amateur sleuth who becomes involved for personal reasons"
What I loved the most about this book (awesome recipes aside - Regency Ginger Cookie anyone?) was that it was set in a cutesy little village and had quaint little...more
It’s a little odd to go backwards in a murder mystery series. When I first discovered this author, the only book available was the third – Blueberry Muffin Murder. So I gamely put the first two books on hold and read that one. Well, at long last someone decided to return this first in the series.
The “hook” for this series is the inclusion of recipes, usually which have to do something with the title (I say this only based on my reading of two books so it may in no way be construed as fact). This...more
The “hook” for this series is the inclusion of recipes, usually which have to do something with the title (I say this only based on my reading of two books so it may in no way be construed as fact). This...more
It’s funny how we discover writers and books sometimes. For instance, I was googling up Christopher Moore’s Fluke after I read it, and the name Joanne Fluke kept appearing. No, Joanne Fluke is not a whale or even a reasonable facsimile thereof, but a clever mystery writer who has written a series of mysteries revolving around an unlikely amateur detective/entrepreneur/baker extraordinaire….so I decided to give the first book in the series, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, a try.
Hannah Swenson decid...more
Hannah Swenson decid...more
Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen series is one of my decadent indulgences. *Sigh* I feel better admitting I am powerless over Jo's scrumptious series! Let me not even go into the yummy goodness nestled under the covers ;-}.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder kicks off a savory new mystery series. Fluke introduces a delectable, delightful, down-to-earth sleuth that readers of the mystery genre will definitely relish for many years to come.
I love Lake Eden! Fluke's picturesque small town Minnesota setting m...more
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder kicks off a savory new mystery series. Fluke introduces a delectable, delightful, down-to-earth sleuth that readers of the mystery genre will definitely relish for many years to come.
I love Lake Eden! Fluke's picturesque small town Minnesota setting m...more
The title of the book was the first thing that caught my eye, but what really led me to read it was the fact that it was set in Minnesota. As a Minnesota native, I enjoyed the references to Minnesota sports teams, weather, cities, etc. It's always fun to read a book set in the Midwest!
I enjoyed the character of Hannah Swenson. Hannah owns a bakery/coffee shop known as "The Cookie Jar"--hence the title of the book. Hannah is a person well-liked in the community, but has family relationships (part...more
I enjoyed the character of Hannah Swenson. Hannah owns a bakery/coffee shop known as "The Cookie Jar"--hence the title of the book. Hannah is a person well-liked in the community, but has family relationships (part...more
How is this murder mystery possible? That is the question that continued to pop in my head while reading about a civilian who took it upon herself to practically head a murder investigation. One minute Hanna is just asked to keep an ear out for any relevant news on the mystery, and the next minute Hanna is taking over the whole operation. How is this possible? In reality, it’s not, which is a little disturbing to those of us who want some realism in our fiction.
Hannah even seems to know more abo...more
Hannah even seems to know more abo...more
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was really sicky-sweet. (Ha ha! See what I did there? It's a pun!) Hannah Swensen, doer of the right thing and owner of a cookie shop, has the misfortune of finding a body. That qualifies her to become an investigative detective, at least according to her brother-in-law, who's a policeman so he should know. He totally gives her classified information and practically begs her to snoop around town, interrogate witnesses and suspects, and break and enter to look for clu...more
Repetitive, needs finesse; pack down the flour?
Though I thoroughly enjoy light-hearted and fun women's amateur-detective novels, and I LOVE novels that feature cooks and recipes, I couldn't force myself through this book. The writing style was surprisingly repetitive and lacked finesse. For example, how many times (in the first chapter alone) must I be reminded that everything our protagonist owns is from the thrift store? Conversation itself was mundane, not interesting. Can't advise you regard...more
Though I thoroughly enjoy light-hearted and fun women's amateur-detective novels, and I LOVE novels that feature cooks and recipes, I couldn't force myself through this book. The writing style was surprisingly repetitive and lacked finesse. For example, how many times (in the first chapter alone) must I be reminded that everything our protagonist owns is from the thrift store? Conversation itself was mundane, not interesting. Can't advise you regard...more
Feb 19, 2012
REBECCA
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Recommended to REBECCA by:
Cathy Thompson
This is the first book in a series. So far, so good. Hannah has recently moved back to her hometown after being away at school. She has opened up a cookie shop where the locals gather for great cookies and a cup of coffee...they also engage in a bit of gossip. Everything seems normal until Hannah's milkman ends up murdered in her back alley. Not one to turn away from a mystery, Hannah hooks up with her brother-in-law to help solve the case. Along the way, Hannah has to deal with her overbearing...more
Okay, first of all I am a big cozy fan, but this one was terrible! I'm glad that I picked this book up used because I would be totally pissed if I'd paid full price.
Fluke's dialogue is unbelievable at best. Nobody talks like this! "Mother, Moshie just spilled his food. I have to go!" For real? The cat spilled his dry food and this is an emergency situation that is good enough for a nosy mom to accept as hang-up worthy? I kept reading only because I had nothing else to read and I do love a good c...more
Fluke's dialogue is unbelievable at best. Nobody talks like this! "Mother, Moshie just spilled his food. I have to go!" For real? The cat spilled his dry food and this is an emergency situation that is good enough for a nosy mom to accept as hang-up worthy? I kept reading only because I had nothing else to read and I do love a good c...more
2 likes · like · see review
I should not have read other reviews of this book, before I did so I was reading along with only a slight nagging annoyance that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I'm not finished yet, but I will only be skimming the last 100 pages in order to find out who done it, I definitely won't be wasting my time with the other books in this series. Don't get me wrong, I love a cozy mystery & read lots of 'em, but why does the main character (if she’s younger than 35) always fall into one of two types...more
Starts of great but then goes into the totally unbelievable and makes you look at the book and say “really?” The main character is a small town cookie store owner. When she finds a dead body in the alley, she is approached by her brother-in-law, a police officer trying to get a promotion to detective, to help him solve the case.
While she is out playing detective and interviewing witnesses, he seems to be sitting around eating cookies, and waiting for his promotion. She asks everyone that she in...more
While she is out playing detective and interviewing witnesses, he seems to be sitting around eating cookies, and waiting for his promotion. She asks everyone that she in...more
Ok, this was a wonderful, light read and I will be reading the rest of this series! As a bonus, recipes for all these wonderful cookies are included! Hannah, who owns The Cookie Jar, a bakery/coffee shop is tangled in the middle of a murder when her delivery guy, Ron, is found shot behind her bakery. Her sister, Andrea's husband, Bill, is a sheriff's deputy, angling for a promotion to detective, asks Hannah to help her out since she is so good at talking to folks. And she seems to be very good a...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Women's Myste...: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder | 11 | 19 | Aug 11, 2012 11:41am |
Like 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 sch...more
More about Joanne Fluke...
While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public sch...more
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“IT was the time of day when Lake Eden residents decided it was too late for a breakfast cookie and too early for a lunch cookie.”
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29 people liked it
“Minnesotans who bought scenic art usually avoided winter scenes. Hannah didn't find that surprising. Minnesota winters were long. Why would they want to buy a painting that would constantly remind them of the bone-chilling cold, the heavy snow that had to be shoveled, and the necessity of dressing up in survival gear to do nothing more than take out the garbage?”
—
6 people liked it
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