Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
97th out of 660 books
—
636 voters
Plum Pudding Murder (Hannah Swensen #12)
by
Joanne Fluke
Holiday business is booming at Hannah Swenson's Cookie Jar pastry shop, but the mysterious murder of "Lunatic Larry" Jaeger puts a serious crimp in the season of good cheer.
From the looks of it, Larry had as many enemies as Hannah's sugar cookies have sprinkles. With the 12 days of Christmas ticking down and cookie orders piling up, tracking down the killer won't be easy....more
From the looks of it, Larry had as many enemies as Hannah's sugar cookies have sprinkles. With the 12 days of Christmas ticking down and cookie orders piling up, tracking down the killer won't be easy....more
Hardcover, 307 pages
Published
October 1st 2009
by Kensington Books
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
In terms of mystery plot and suspense, these stories are on the low end of the scale... Not too complex or suspenseful, and rather tame. That's all right, sometimes I don't want to know about ever more inventive and gruesome ways to kill a human being or about the deeply convoluted psychological depravities of twisted killers. Plain human motives like pain, greed, revenge, etc. are just fine. I don't need to try too hard to guess at the killer as I spend my time enjoying the fluffy lifestyle of...more
I like to read Christmas themed books this time of year, and willingly set aside some standards to read books from series I would not otherwise choose to read. However, I can't imagine how this one was published. Hannah has to be the most annoying character in current fiction. She even makes the recipes annoying with all her side comments. She has a business partner who not only continually holds down the fort while she runs around sticking her nose in other people's business, she actually encou...more
Hannah Swenson owns a cookie bakery in Minnesota. She is also an amateur sleuth who has apparently solved other murders in previous books. This one, set around Christmas, involves a murder that happened at the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree lot. There were so many things about this book that annoyed me. First, the murder happens on page 5, but no one discovers the body until page 209. There is a lot of inconsequential fluff in between, mainly centering around the new types of cookies Hannah is selling...more
1 like
·
like
· see review
Ok so one thing I have decided in this series' favor is the ongoing storylines. It's also kind of a downside, because I've read them out of order thinking they would be one-offs, and it's not like you need tons of backstory for them or anything, but I do like that there is an overarching storyline.
This one also has lots of recipes I want to try, including an entire Christmas dinner!
But seriously, Hannah is such a wet blanket sometimes. I mean I get that these are cozy mysteries and as such are g...more
This one also has lots of recipes I want to try, including an entire Christmas dinner!
But seriously, Hannah is such a wet blanket sometimes. I mean I get that these are cozy mysteries and as such are g...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
1 like
·
like
· see review
Last February, when I started working at Barnes & Noble "Cream Puff Murder" (Hannah Swensen Mystery, Book 11) had just been released and we had it everywhere in the store. The cover was so pretty that I kept meaning to read it, but never took the plunge. Then, we got in the newest addition to the series and I had to pick it up. The series just looked like a nice fun entry into the mystery genre. I mean, really, even if the story itself hadn't been that great, you at least got all the fun rec...more
Another enjoyable Hannah Swensen book by Joanne Fluke. I'm thinking that as long as you like her style of writing, you won't dislike any of her books as it follows the same kind of storyline as the other previous books.
In this book, it's the Christmas season, and Larry, the guy that runs the Christmas tree shop has just been murdered. It's up to Hannah to discover who the murderer is, at the same time, coming up with lots of yummy recipes to cope with the Christmas rush!
There's one recipe that s...more
In this book, it's the Christmas season, and Larry, the guy that runs the Christmas tree shop has just been murdered. It's up to Hannah to discover who the murderer is, at the same time, coming up with lots of yummy recipes to cope with the Christmas rush!
There's one recipe that s...more
I don't know why I keep doing this to myself, knowing that I don't like these books. It's nice to have the recipes, and the cover, as always, is beautiful, but otherwise... ugh. This time, the mystery had, essentially, no suspects and no clues. There was one bizarre point where there was a football game on TV and she mentioned seeing that one of the teams was "LA" (which in Hannah's mind could have been Los Angeles or Louisiana), which I assumed must be a clue given that neither existed when the...more
This series is another mystery series that includes receipes. (no, I haven't cooked any of them)
The story has many characters, but the author lets you get to know the characters before the murder occurs.
It is the Christmas season, a busy time of the year at the Cookie Jar. Owner, chef Hannah is busy with her regular orders plus those for the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot. The Crazy Elf not only sells trees, but ornaments, toys, has rides for the kids.....plus the snack area that sells cookies....more
The story has many characters, but the author lets you get to know the characters before the murder occurs.
It is the Christmas season, a busy time of the year at the Cookie Jar. Owner, chef Hannah is busy with her regular orders plus those for the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot. The Crazy Elf not only sells trees, but ornaments, toys, has rides for the kids.....plus the snack area that sells cookies....more
This book was ok. It seems like they are getting more and more predictable and formulmatic. The characters are becoming characters of themselves. I was able to guess very early on who the murderer was.
I am very tired of the whole Mike and Norman thing. There is no way if this were to happen in real life that these 2 men would be so friendly and able to handle each other so well.
With each book Hannah seems to give over more and more control to Lisa at the Cookie Jar. I am waiting for the time th...more
I am very tired of the whole Mike and Norman thing. There is no way if this were to happen in real life that these 2 men would be so friendly and able to handle each other so well.
With each book Hannah seems to give over more and more control to Lisa at the Cookie Jar. I am waiting for the time th...more
The plot is thinner than usual, the Hannah self bashing is still on big time with a nice dose of you are not 'normal' from her mother and one half of her romantic triangle (Mike, which is one of the most despicable romantic lead I've read in a cozy in a long time, the character makes me want to take a shower and get clean every time he's there).
Why would I still read these books? I don't know. 75 pages of the 300 or so pages are recipes, the action revolves around food all the time. The female...more
Why would I still read these books? I don't know. 75 pages of the 300 or so pages are recipes, the action revolves around food all the time. The female...more
Another yummy treat from Joanne brought back my craving for food related mysteries, there is a lot of holiday cheer in this one but reading it in April is just as good. I enjoyed how different this one was, the murder happened right away but the story back tracks to events before it which take up half the book, I like the buildup knowing that there will be a bad guy and trying to see who was suspicious form beginning was actually fun! This is the thirteenth effort from Fluke, some sites don’t co...more
1 like
·
like
· see review
Easy read...was first time I've read a book that had recipes mixed in ....Some of them made me hungry and made me want to get a little midnight snack. Reminded me of Jessica Fletcher....and the 'Murder She Wrote' TV series from years ago -- which I actually enjoyed very much - despite how corny it usually was. Hannah is the unofficial crime solver...just like Jessica was. But do people actually work all day ..then go home and cook a meal..and then bake a dessert from scratch --then agree to meet...more
Another adventure-filled caper set in snowy Minnesota, starring cookie baker and mystery solver extraordinaire Hannah Swensen. The series is light, fun and doesn't take itself too seriously, so it's also quite believable, despite the rather incredible things that keep happening in this small, otherwise unremarkable town.
However, I was only able to give book 12 a 3-star rating for a couple of reasons. First, the writing seemed rather lower in quality than previous books, as if the writer had to...more
However, I was only able to give book 12 a 3-star rating for a couple of reasons. First, the writing seemed rather lower in quality than previous books, as if the writer had to...more
What better combination is there than a cozy community, cats, capers, Christmas and cookies in a mystery? I set aside my regular list of books to read for some Christmas themed books. I always enjoy visiting Hannah at The Cookie Jar to see what kind of scrapes she gets into now.
Hannah is supplying cookies to a Christmas themed park called The Crazy Elf Tree Lot. All seems well and her cookies are selling out so fast that she has to increase the deliveries in the midst of the rush of 10 days coun...more
Hannah is supplying cookies to a Christmas themed park called The Crazy Elf Tree Lot. All seems well and her cookies are selling out so fast that she has to increase the deliveries in the midst of the rush of 10 days coun...more
It's December at Lake Eden and the Cookie Jar is whipping up tons of new varieties of cookies and treats. They're supplying a large quantity to the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Stand and Stores, and the owner, Larry Jaeger, asks Hannah to develop a Christmas-style dessert they can sell in their coffee shop, so Hannah comes up with Plum Pudding, made with real plums (unlike the British version). We know from the start that Larry's crooked, as that's the first chapter of the book. Hannah and Norman dr...more
Starting to lose my interest in this series... I admit that I read #12 ahead of #11, and I take it by the book and the reviews that I've missed something with Mike.
But the whole Mike/Hannah/Norman thing is too much. Like many other readers with reviews here have stated, Ms. Fluke is way out of touch with romance and small towns... unless she's remembering the 50s or 60s. And, unfortunately for me, the relationship triangle is sucking the enjoyment out of these books.
I'm the most irritated with H...more
But the whole Mike/Hannah/Norman thing is too much. Like many other readers with reviews here have stated, Ms. Fluke is way out of touch with romance and small towns... unless she's remembering the 50s or 60s. And, unfortunately for me, the relationship triangle is sucking the enjoyment out of these books.
I'm the most irritated with H...more
Supposedly this was the next book in the series but something has gone wrong. This book was a little confusing for me since a character that has been killed off a few books ago is introduced in this book. I don't know if it's a publishing error or what but I pre-ordered this book so I don't know.
The book is really cute as are all Joanne Fluke's books. They follow everyone's favorite baker Hannah Swenson who discovers another dead body. Well, in her defense Norman really found the body - she was...more
The book is really cute as are all Joanne Fluke's books. They follow everyone's favorite baker Hannah Swenson who discovers another dead body. Well, in her defense Norman really found the body - she was...more
I don't know why I read these books, except that I read cookbooks too, and this is like a cookbook with a really bad mystery in between the recipes. I will have to try a recipe or two to see if they work, the mixing method is sometimes a little suspect to me. (Hannah often mixes baking soda into the wet instead of adding to the dry.)
Anyway, the book is part of a series set in small town Minnesota where I don't recommend you visit. New people in town are usually murdered, or they are the ones doi...more
Anyway, the book is part of a series set in small town Minnesota where I don't recommend you visit. New people in town are usually murdered, or they are the ones doi...more
1 like
·
like
· see review
I enjoy this series of books. They are easy reads. I like the characters, and the feel of community, and friendships. In a fantasy world, I would love to be sampling Hannah's cookies, but that isn't to be in my life time. I would be as big as a house if I ate the things Hannah bakes, and cooks for her friends and family. Life in Lake Enden goes on, even when a murder has been committed. Hannah and her friends and family come together to investigate each murder. Hannah has a notebook to write dow...more
In Plum Pudding Murder I liked the fact that Hannah is starting to think about the differences in Norman and Mike and how they treat her. For the first time she is realizing that Norman thinks about her happiness and comfort. She also realizes that Norman is faithful and that she cannot trust that Mike would be monogamous if she were to marry him. A new character is introduced, Bradford Ramsey, a person from Hannah's past and her sister Michelle's present. We are given the insight that Hannah ha...more
The thing I like about these books is that they're clean. No bad language, and pure innocence in love-seeking friendships. The mystery keeps them pretty interesting, but they're not very intense until the climax, which is nice. I think, though, that a small town with so many murders might tend to have more anxious citizens. Of course, I've only read a few, but knowing there are at least 12 gives me a bit curious. Maybe the town isn't quite as small as I've supposed? Anyway, I'm reading (aka list...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Anyone who reads will think I'm crazy...but 5 stars. I love the Hannah Swensen Mysteries!! Joanne Fluke is a genius, in my humble opinion. She has combined a murder mystery w/FOOD! She talks about and then provides the recipes in every book!! At the end of every chapter. Now, how can't I give her bonus points for that??!!
Besides that, these are about the easiest reads you will find. Offensive language, etc is almost non existent so I feel safe recommending it to others. They are easy to read and...more
Besides that, these are about the easiest reads you will find. Offensive language, etc is almost non existent so I feel safe recommending it to others. They are easy to read and...more
Light and Fluffy and fun! It was exactly what I was looking for in a cozy. This is generally a very comfortable series.
I skipped over book #11 since it wasn't available for download from my library, and I don't think I missed anything.
I particularly liked that Hannah actually seemed to be making some progress with her dueling suitors, and it is in the direction I'd choose for her. I wouldn't be surprised for this to all be undone in the next book, which would disappoint me tremendously, but for...more
I skipped over book #11 since it wasn't available for download from my library, and I don't think I missed anything.
I particularly liked that Hannah actually seemed to be making some progress with her dueling suitors, and it is in the direction I'd choose for her. I wouldn't be surprised for this to all be undone in the next book, which would disappoint me tremendously, but for...more
A seasonal murder story set in Lake Eden, Minnesota where amateur sleuth Hannah Swensen has her thriving business, The Cookie Jar.
Hannah and her compatriots, and there are plenty of them, including her mother, are enjoying preparing for the festive season and on the way home from the preparations Hannah goes to collect a cheque from one of her customers. Unfortuantely he is discovered dead in his living room and so begins a hunt for the killer.
Hannah is involved in the search but she also manag...more
Hannah and her compatriots, and there are plenty of them, including her mother, are enjoying preparing for the festive season and on the way home from the preparations Hannah goes to collect a cheque from one of her customers. Unfortuantely he is discovered dead in his living room and so begins a hunt for the killer.
Hannah is involved in the search but she also manag...more
Another good Hannah installment. However, I'm now more aware of some of the irksomeness of Fluke's tendency to use some of the same phrases and descriptions over and over. If I were to read the books back to back, I'd probably start to get very annoyed. As it is, a few months in between helps me endure that little bit of annoyance.
I loved that Hannah was finally starting to see that Mike is not very trustworthy. Yet she's still an idiot where he is concerned. I'm serious--if we go 2 more books w...more
I loved that Hannah was finally starting to see that Mike is not very trustworthy. Yet she's still an idiot where he is concerned. I'm serious--if we go 2 more books w...more
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.
Yes, I will keep reading them, assum...more
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.
Yes, I will keep reading them, assum...more
I chose this book at a library sale as much for the recipes--28 of them--as for the story. They sound delicious, and I plan to keep this paperback, and try them out. Strangely, the book I read before this had a main character with two men--one of whom was married--interested in her, and this one is the same that way. I like to bake, but I cannot imagine doing it on the scale that Hannah Swensen does. Of course, it IS her livelihood. The story concerns the murder of a local seasonal businessman,...more
This cozy, fun novel takes place in Lake Eden, Minnesota, ten days before Christmas.
Hanna Swenson, owner of The Cookie Jar, made several cookies and even her own recipe for plum pudding (with real plums!) for the Elf Christmas Tree Lot. She and her friend, Norman (the local dentist) deliver them to Larry Jaeger, the owner of the lot), only to find him deceased. Now Hannah is up to her usual sleuthing and is determined to find out the truth of the matter.
If you like cats, Hannah has a male felin...more
Hanna Swenson, owner of The Cookie Jar, made several cookies and even her own recipe for plum pudding (with real plums!) for the Elf Christmas Tree Lot. She and her friend, Norman (the local dentist) deliver them to Larry Jaeger, the owner of the lot), only to find him deceased. Now Hannah is up to her usual sleuthing and is determined to find out the truth of the matter.
If you like cats, Hannah has a male felin...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
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
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Dec 11, 2010 07:42am