Blackberry Pie Murder

Hannah Swensen #17

by Joanne Fluke

It's been a sleepy summer for the folks of Lake Eden, Minnesota. In fact, it's been a whole four months since anyone in the Swensen family has come across a dead body—a detail that just made the front page of the local paper. And that means Hannah Swensen can finally focus on her bakery. . .or can she?

Life is never really quiet for Hannah. After all, her mother's wedding is a little over a month away and guess who Delores put in charge of the planning? Yet just when Hannah believes her biggest challenge will be whether to use buttercream or fondant for the wedding cake, she accidentally hits a stranger with her cookie truck while driving down a winding country road in a raging thunderstorm. Hannah is wracked with guilt, and things get even worse when she's arrested. . .for murder! But an autopsy soon reveals the mystery man, his shirt covered in stains from blackberry pie, would have died even if Hannah hadn't hit him. Now, to clear her name, Hannah will have to follow a trail of pie crumbs to track down the identity of the deceased, find a baker who knows more about murder than how to roll out a perfect pie crust—and get herself to the church on time. . .

Indulge In Joanne Fluke's Criminally Delicious Hannah Swensen Mysteries!

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder

"Culinary Cozies Don't Get Any Tastier Than This Winning series." —Library Journal

"Loaded with mouthwatering recipes and clever plotting, the latest Hannah Swensen mystery delights." —RT Book Reviews

"If your reading habits alternate between curling up with a good mystery or with a good cookbook, you ought to know about Joanne Fluke." —The Charlotte Observer

Cinnamon Roll Murder

"Fans of this wildly popular series will not be disappointed. Fluke has kept this series strong for a long time, and there is still plenty to enjoy for foodie crime fans." —Booklist

Devil's Food Cake Murder

"Fabulous." —Publishers Weekly

Apple Turnover Murder

"The ever popular Fluke writes engaging cozies with one part great characters, one part gentle story, and three parts the best recipes in the genre." —Library Journal

Cream Puff Murder

"Entertaining and sprinkled with tempting recipes. It's a sweet treat of a novel." —The Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Romance

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

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 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

Reviews

[Jennifer Burtch · Rating 1 out of 5]

It makes me sad to give this book only one star. I have read all of the Hannah books and this by far is the worst and such a complete and utter disappointment. The storyline was so weak. There wasn't a "murder". There wasn't even an ending (I thought the book hadn't downloaded to my kindle properly and I was missing something). There were way too many recipes (please put them at the end of the book and not between the chapters). The characters seemed juvenile in the way they spoke to one another and interacted. Plus, it is time to end the Hannah/Mike/Norman love triangle. Ms. Fluke has carried it on for too long and she needs to either let Hannah choose and get married to one of these guys (Norman please!) or move on to someone new. 17 books is much too long for a love triangle to carry. Grow Hannah up and have her act like a modern woman of her age - pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease.

I would like to say I am done reading the series but since I've invested so much time in reading the series I will probably buy the next book but that may very well be my last if it is as bad as this one.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been trying to catch up on the Hannah Swensen series this summer, so I picked up the 17th book in the series, Blackberry Pie Murder, written in 2013 by Joanne Fluke. All I can say is I just can't get enough of this silliness. The murders and mysteries are very light, but the characters are fantastic. I want to live in Lake Eden and be Hannah's new best friend solving crimes together. No, I don't want to be killed... just putting that out there!

In this one, Hannah accidentally hits someone with her car. She's then charged with vehicular manslaughter because of a few interesting traffic laws. Although it's completely not how it should happen, the laws are actually in place and could be used to convict someone. After 17 books, you have to cut the author some leeway to make the reason for the mystery be something stronger. For that reason alone, I give 5 stars to Fluke for coming up with this one.... but then it gets a bit dull with the actual investigation once we learn the guy was already beaten up and likely to die from a head injury. And he's really not connected to many people we know, so for those reasons, I dropped it down to a 3.

That said... I still want to read more and it's fun for 2-3 hours of light reading. Bring on more!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 17th book in the 'Hannah Swensen Mystery' series, the baker/amateur sleuth is arrested for homicide. The book can be read as a standalone but the main characters have an arc over the course of the series.

*****

Hannah Swensen and her bakery partner Lisa are riding in the bakery truck when hazardous weather leads to an accident.



Turns out Hannah has struck and killed a man on the side of the road. The dead man has no ID but his nice clothes and the diamond in his tooth indicate he's not an itinerant drifter. An autopsy reveals the man was beat up before his death, but Hannah's truck actually killed him.

Before long Hannah is arrested for vehicular homicide by her brother-in-law, the sheriff (only doing his job).



This causes a ruckus among some of Hannah's family and friends, who are angered by the arrest. Not sure how to help herself, amateur detective Hannah makes it her mission to find out who the man is.



Her investigation reveals the dead man had unsavory connections and a disreputable job.

Meanwhile, Hannah's mother Delores is preparing to marry her fiancé "Doc" (the medical examiner).



Delores allows her three daughters to make most of the wedding plans....but not really. Delores nixes everything the girls suggest, changes her mind every five minutes, can't decide on the dresses, colors, food, flowers, desserts, etc. It's a nightmare!

To add to Hannah's troubles a local girl, Jennifer - who ran away from home many years ago - has returned. Jennifer's mother is thrilled but her sister suspects an imposter, and confides this to Hannah.

While Hannah's dealing with all this she hosts a couple of dinners at her home and bakes a lot of cookies - recipes included. In fact there are so many recipes that the book feels like half mystery, half cookbook.



Hannah also starts using an exercise machine in her bedroom, and in some of the cuter scenes in the book Hannah's cat Moishe takes to doing some exercise himself.



Hannah's complicated love life - which has frustrated readers for years - seems to be heading toward resolution in this book. Hannah has apparently given up Mike (the detective).....



.....and settled on Norman (the dentist).



But who knows if this is permanent. Another quibble I have with this series is that Hannah's sister Michelle, who's in college, never seems to be at school. She's 'visiting home' in every story, ready to contribute cookie recipes and assistance with investigations.

The book ends in a cliffhanger as Hannah's trial for vehicular homicide is delayed until the next book, as is Delores' marriage.

In the end this book didn't really feel like a mystery as no 'culprit' was uncovered. However, readers who enjoy visiting with the characters and reading about the cookies will probably like the book okay.

Recipes in the book include:


Blackberry Pie


Graham Cracker Cake


Fettucini Porcini


Lime Bar Cookies


Bacon, Egg, and Cheddar Cheese Toast Cups


Treasure Chest Cookies

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/

[Sparkle · Rating 1 out of 5]

*****Spoilers*****
A storm forces Hannah to drive a back road to avoid rising waters-which ultimately leads to her hitting and killing a guy on the side of the road. Long story short, the guy would have died anyway because of head trauma suffered in a fight..turns out he's a pimp from minneapolis chasing down a girl trying to escape him, who is posing as a girl who was missing for 16 years...yes, unbelievable. Long boring story that treats the reader like a moron. How many words does it really take to describe the most mundane of tasks? Apparently for Fluke, it takes many many words. Maybe she is paid by the word, who knows?
Hannah has turned into a boring aging undecided ninny!
Unfortunate because I really used to love these books. Hannah used to be smart and witty, now she comes off as reptitive and predictable.
..and PLEASE for the love of all that is good..please make her choose her guy. I want her to pick Mike and regret it for the rest of her life. I mean come on! 'Smart' Hannah can't see through this guy's disgusting character? Some sleuth she is.
That is what this book has reduced me to..hoping a fictional character is tortured forever by her make-believe choice.
This book was unimaginative. The Norman/Mike storyline did not advance, and I swear if she completes a 'Mike and Norman sandwich' one more time.....
Skip this one, save your ten bucks. If you HAVE to read it, check your local library. Personally I don't think I will be funding this series any longer.
Did I mention that this book does not end?
.......Yeah, there is also that.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Hannah Swensen mystery took a crazy twist! Hannah is featured in the local town newspaper for her “slaydar” ability to find all the dead bodies in Lake Eden, Minnesota. Her mother is just relieved she hasn’t found one recently. Unfortunately, while driving home in a storm, Hannah accidentally hits a man and kills him. This leads to Hannah being the murder suspect in the case she has to solve (and some funny scenes at the local county jail.) But as more information comes to light, the case gets more complex. And of course, because this is Hannah, there are cookies at every turn. This one had some really yummy sounding recipes. With regards to the Mike/Norman love triangle, I must confess that after so many books of Hannah dating both men, I rather wish she would pick one. I’m partial to Norman, though I really like the friendship he and Mike have so I hope he stays around in the best friend to Norman role.

[Regina the Constant Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook 🎧

Book #17 in the Hannah Swensen Series

I’ve been noticing subtle changes to this series the last few books and I’m starting to wonder if Ms. Flukes son is helping her write these newer books.
In this book Hannah is arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter after hitting a man on the side of the road during a bad storm. It’s the first time that the plot hasn’t been wrapped up by the end of the book and will continue to the next book, Double Fudge Brownie Murder. I’m interested to see what happens next.

[Ashley Arthur · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the seventeenth (!) book in Joanne Fluke’s mystery series about Hannah Swenson, owner of Lake Eden Minnesota’s coffee shop and bakery called The Cookie Jar. Hannah, along with her mother and sisters, has developed a reputation for uncovering dead bodies. It’s been several months since the Swenson girls solved a mystery, and Hannah is looking forward to focusing on her bakery and planning her mother’s wedding. But Hannah’s peace of mind is short-lived, and in the midst of a terrible thunderstorm, she accidentally hits and kills a stranger with her Cookie Jar delivery car. As she awaits the date of her trial for vehicular homicide, Hannah searches for the truth about the man she hit – what was he doing in Lake Eden, and why was he waiting by the side of the road in the storm?

I really enjoy mysteries, and I liked the idea of a bakery owner who solves crimes in her free time. While the mystery plot was fine, and I enjoyed the recipes that Fluke scatters throughout for the cookies she mentions in her chapters, this book left me cold. Maybe it’s my own fault – maybe it was arrogant to think I could slide into a series with book seventeen and pick right up where all Fluke’s regular readers left off. But something about Fluke’s style of writing rubbed me wrong.

First, Fluke has a habit of creating a metaphor for a situation and torturing it out over multiple pages. At one point, she compares Hannah’s emotions to the feeling of riding a roller-coaster. Fluke treats the reader to five pages of “Hannah’s emotional roller coaster car climbed toward the top of the slope… Hannah pictured the roller coaster car as it teetered on the very apex of the downslope… Hannah’s roller coaster car was on its way up the track again… the car on her emotional roller coaster was starting down the slope again…” She does the same thing about a hundred pages later, comparing her questioning of a suspect to a pitcher trying to strike out a batter. I appreciate the use of the metaphors in the story, but once the comparison has been made, trust your readers to understand and go with it – no need to reiterate it so much.

Second, Fluke seems fond of the technique of “telling” rather than “showing” in her writing. She tends to be repetitive. We are told time and time again that Hannah’s mother, Delores, loves chocolate. Every time Hannah bakes something chocolate for Delores, readers are reminded that Delores is a chocoholic, or that Delores thinks chocolate makes everything better. Also, there are several places where the sentences themselves seem repetitive – for example: “It seemed the ongoing feud was still going on.” Yikes.

I did think the actual mystery element was interesting. Fluke did a good job of tying together some plot lines that I didn’t realize were connected. She does create the atmosphere of the cozy small town where, when accidents happen, a community comes together to make things right. Also, I plan to try the recipes for some of the desserts that Fluke includes, like Fresh Blackberry Cookies and Yummy Yam Cookies. These look great, at Fluke added “notes” from the characters with baking tips and tricks.

If you’ve read the other Hannah Swenson mysteries, you’ll probably like this one. I read reviews for some of the earlier novels, and they are pretty positive overall. Again, maybe my issues with this book come from unfamiliarity with a set of well-established characters. If I’m in the market for this kind of mystery novel again any time soon, I’ll probably stick with Donna Andrews.

[Cris (The Biblio Blonde) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series was so fun at first. Now... Not so much. It still has potential to end on a great book or two, but it's gotten very stale, and rather unbelievable. The ending was very abrupt, and now we have to wait a year to learn what could have easily been wrapped up in an epilogue or final chapter. By the time that year rolls around, I'm not sure I'll care about Hannah's case, unfortunately.

[Kerry Boerst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously...Does anyone ever read what their friends have to say about the books they've read?? I really doubt that very many people care enough about what their friends are reading to take the time to actually read through the review that was so carefully written.

On the off chance that someone does give a flying f*ck about what I have read, this is what I thought about the Blackberry Pie Murder: I liked it more than the last two books in the series -- combined. The last two were such crap that I nearly decided to stop reading any future books in the series. I am glad that I did take one last chance with Joanne Fluke, though. She seems to have found her voice again. I felt that the characters were much more entertaining and, even though I had an idea what was going to happen, I did not know for sure. In short, it kept me guessing and that is important. This book felt like it was written with the love and care needed for a story to properly engage the reader. I am already looking forward to the next Hanna Swensen mystery.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Joanne Fluke’s twenty novels about bakery owner / amateur sleuth Hannah Swensen have become less and less interesting. In fact, I could not force myself to finish this one.

Hannah is the Jessica Fletcher of Lake Eden, Minnesota. She and her family members have found so many dead bodies that the local newspaper prints an article pointing out that the Swensens have not found a corpse in four months. Well, you know what that means!

Do you remember the essay in which Mark Twain listed James Fenimore Cooper’s literary offenses? I could probably write just as long a list about Joanne Fluke, but instead I will mention only my top three peeves.

Tedious exposition. Fluke needs to put Lisa into Anna’s truck. The simple explanation that Lisa is having her car worked on takes almost a full page. Another writer could succinctly set the scene of rain so intense that visibility is limited, but Fluke describes the rain and booming thunder and blinding lightning over and over. When Hannah is in jail, “[t]he only thing she could do was pace across the floor (Where else could one pace in a jail cell?), and that’s what Hannah did until Rick came back ten minutes later.” Enough examples.

Tedious love triangle. Since the early books of this series, Hannah has been torn between the devoted, reliable, sensitive dentist Norman (“She really ought to marry Norman. He made her feel wonderful and he was perfect for her.”) and the touchy-feely, sexy, rakish policeman Mike (“...Hannah dated Mike occasionally and ... felt a surge of excitement when she saw him....”). Hannah’s indecision has become annoying. She and Stephanie Plum need counseling about relationships. I used to prefer Norman because he seems like a long-time keeper, but I’ve started to doubt his common sense. What man would tolerate being second place so often?

Tedious mother. In the early books, Hannah’s mother Delores amused me with her neediness and extravagance. Those characteristics have worn thin. Now, Delores seems a little deranged. For her upcoming wedding, she has left the arrangements to her daughters, except that Delores has vetoed every color scheme and menu that they have suggested. Why doesn’t she just say what she wants?

Blackberry Pie Murder is the last Joanne Fluke novel I will pull from a library shelf.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

The series has gone on too long without any progress in the characters. Either kill it or move them forward. I'm glad I no longer buy these and just borrow them from the library.

[Hannah Bugey]

Dnf at page 74. There was nothing wrong with this book this is a me thing. I wasn’t feeling this book and it was getting repetitive. Also this is far into the series and isn’t the first book.

[Heather Schmitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with other reviewers of this book - PLEASE,Hannah/Joanne,for the love of God, pick a boyfriend -JUST ONE!!!! My vote would be for Norman,who would be every woman's dream,and I can't comprehend just WHY Hannah is still interested in that schmuck Mike.And the only time she shows any relationship fire is when she thought she might lose Norman/Mike to a past flame (in previous books in the series).Really - what man in their right mind would be strung along like this ,other than in Ms.Fluke's world?
Hannah hits and kills a man while driving in a storm - yes,the man would've died anyway due to previous head trauma,but the fact remains Hannah hit him and kills him. Seems that Hannah's friends (and Hannah)are more concerned with her comfort in jail than necessary - come on! She needs a blankie? This is only because she has an "in" with the police department. Throughout the rest of the book,Hannah treats her hitting and killing this man as an inconvience to her. And her mom is a royal pain in the butt in this book. Even though mom "promises" to stop meddling in her daughters' wedding preparations,mom just HAS to keep changing her mind and driving everyone nuts. Did this have to go on so long in this book?Really? It seems like this part was just filler to pad out the book. And who didn't see coming the solution that Doc has? All in all, I can't believe I paid for this book - will NOT make that mistake with further books in this series. This series used to be good - seems Ms.Fluke is getting tired of it.
Then have Hannah choose Norman,marry him, and end the friggin' series.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the seventeenth book in the Hannah Swensen series and features the usual cast of characters. I didn't read the previous book so I'm not sure if this one picks up right where it left off, but I didn't feel as though I was missing any important information.

The plot of this book was slightly different then almost every other book in this series because Hannah didn't just stumble on the body (or one of her family members) but instead she ran over it while driving her cookie truck. Now Hannah is in trouble and going to be tried for vehicular manslaughter. The love triangle between Hannah, Mike and Norman is still ever present and there were a few side plots happening throughout the story. One being Hanna's mom getting married, and another of a lost runaway who returned home and suspicions were abound that she wasn't really the same girl who originally ran away.

All in all, it was a quick read but honestly it was very generic. Yes the plot was somewhat different at first, but in reality it all ended up the same way as the previous books. There are two things that really bothered me throughout the book. One being the way that Hannah and her sister refer to their mom. Constantly calling her "mother". Which is just odd to me. It sounds very "Psycho" to me and just shows their weird family dynamic. Another thing, after the accident where Hannah hit a human being, she wasn't really overly upset. At first she was, and yet within pages she was very worried about fufilling a pirate cookie order when she had NO idea how to do that. I mean really? You effecitviely hit and killed a person and yet you are more worried about cookies? It just fell flat for me and seemed a very odd reaction. Lisa's reaction seemed more appropriate and she was only the passenger in the car.

The "love" triangle is just a completely bore at this point. There's not even any drama to it, or any sexiness either. Hannah just keeps referring to both men as her boyfriends and that she should choose but can't. ZZZZZZZ. Maybe make it a menage to shake things up a bit? (that's a joke of course).

Lastly, the ending of the book was bizarre. As in, there was no ending. Hannah was in the middle of musing about whether her case would really go to trial and then it just ended. Not even a cliffhanger IMO, it just stopped. I scanned to see if I missed a page or if it downloaded incorrectly, that's how odd the end felt. I'm not sure if the author was attempting a cliffhanger, but to me it just felt unfinished.

But anyway, I'm not sure about whether I will continue with the series or not. It just seemed like a chore to read this one but I also feel invested and want to know the ending since I've been reading them for so long. Time will tell.

Thanks to netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been four months since Hannah last found a dead body, and the only thing on her mind is getting her mother to settle on something for her wedding. That is until a sever summer storm forces Hannah to lose control of her car and hit a man, killing him. But no one recognizes him. Who is he? And what was he doing in Lake Eden?

There is little that changes in the lives of the characters, but I still enjoyed visiting them again since I found them their normal charming selves. The cliffhanger at the end definitely made me want the next book out soon. Can't believe I have to wait a year to find out what happens next.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book as a part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Now this one’s on me. I was expecting a cozy atmospheric little mystery. It missed the mark on that a little bit. It’s a little mystery, and by that I mean it is about as simple as it can be (but that’s fine for a cozy mystery honestly). But there are just no vibes. It’s very straightforward and literal.

That being said, I would recommend this to any grandma that casually reads. The recipes sound awesome and the story is easy to follow. It’s someone’s cup of tea, just not mine <3

2/5

[Jac (For Love and Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a Hannah Swensen fan since the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was originally released! (I was a senior in high school, and am now in my 30′s – if that tells you how long I’ve been following this saga!) While I still enjoy aspects, the series is tired and I’m ready for Hannah to pick between Mike and Norman (which isn’t even really a question anymore, since the men have become besties themselves!) and settle down into a nice, quiet, murder free life.

That said? Blackberry Pie came with a new twist. Hannah is now the one and only murder suspect. And? She actually did it! (As we find out in the first few pages -and the blurb- so I don’t consider it to be a spoiler!) The fresh twist, and the idea that Hannah actually did commit the murder made this book a bit more interesting than it’s predecessors! Although it still had the same old predictability.

I do have a rant- Joanne Fluke left a cliffhanger. She left a major plot point unanswered. And that drives me nuts, no matter who the author or what the subject! But even moreso in this case, because there is no inclination of when book 18 will be released!

The whole Mike and Norman thing is getting a bit tired, and I don’t really see chemistry anywhere anymore. (And despite that time in the book world moves slower, it’s been 14 years and she still has barely kissed either of them!! I’m sorry, but no man is sticking around that long. LOL!!) But as a romance fan, it appears that Fluke has taken all of the romance out of these books, minus the occasional hint that she can’t pick between the two. Which is a huge disappointment to me!

All in all? I give this book 3 stars (hearts) for the new twist and the delicious recipes! (I am eating the toast cups as I sip my morning coffee and type this review!)

[Rachel Aranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! It was impossible not to be drawn into this story with all the drama going on in it. This book is unique as Hannah has gotten herself into some trouble and she didn’t miraculously get out of it by the end of the story. The main mystery that was needing to be solved was the identity of the man Hannah hit and why he was in Lake Eden. It was nice having a different kind of killing happen then Hannah just stumbling on a dead body and trying to find the killer. This time we know who killed him but not the circumstances that lead the victim there. Many readers may not like this change in formula but I appreciate it as it added a subtle difference to the series. Color me intrigued to continue on to the next book to discover Hannah’s fate.

[Lisa Currier · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always say I am done with the series, but read the new one, mostly for the recipes. The series needs some conclusions. Hannah is a grown woman who can't decided between her "boyfriends", shocked that other adults are having sex. I mean, seriously! The story was weak, light fluff.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

FIRST READ: This book took forever to read. I'm not enjoying them as much as I did earlier. May read more but may not. Was just looking at my books, and I've read 184 this year. Kinda cool. Looking at the list was fun bringing back memories of the Lake Eden’s favorite baker, Hannah Swensen (Red Velvet Cupcake Murder, 2013, etc.), finds herself on the wrong end of a police investigation.

Dodging lightning on an icy road, Hannah finds herself facing a driver’s worst nightmare: Her car hits something, and all of a sudden, there’s a body lying on the pavement. Hours later, her mother’s fiance, Doc Knight, delivers his terrible findings. The man she hit was alive when Hannah struck him, and he died on impact. Sheriff Bill Todd orders Hannah’s arrest and fires Deputy Sheriff Mike Kingston for refusing to bring her in. Eventually, Hannah winds up in the Winnetka County jail, where she spends three days, surrounded by friends and family (and three nights covered in a fuzzy blanket supplied by boyfriend Norman Rhodes), before Judge Colfax grants her bail. Once sprung, amateur sleuth Hannah is faced with an unusual case. She knows who the killer is, but who’s the victim? Armed with scant physical details—height, weight, approximate age and a diamond set in one of the man’s teeth—Hannah sets out to find out exactly whom she killed. The investigation, of course, requires multiple dinners in Hannah’s cozy apartment, where she and Norman, her mom and Doc, her sisters Michelle and Andrea (the latter is too mad at her husband, Sheriff Bill, to eat at home), and even Mike brainstorm over plates of Smothered Chicken and Oodles of Noodles as Hannah’s cat, Moishe, and Norman’s cat, Cuddles, play “chase.”

It’s amazing how little a vehicular homicide charge changes Hannah’s life in Fluke’s good-natured 19th.

Lake Eden’s favorite baker, Hannah Swensen (Red Velvet Cupcake Murder, 2013, etc.), finds herself on the wrong end of a police investigation.

It’s amazing how little a vehicular homicide charge changes Hannah’s life in Fluke’s good-natured 19th.

SECOND READ: Lake Eden’s favorite baker, Hannah Swensen (Red Velvet Cupcake Murder, 2013, etc.), finds herself on the wrong end of a police investigation. Dodging lightning on an icy road, Hannah finds herself facing a driver’s worst nightmare: Her car hits something, and all of a sudden, there’s a body lying on the pavement. Hours later, her mother’s fiance, Doc Knight, delivers his terrible findings. The man she hit was alive when Hannah struck him, and he died on impact. Sheriff Bill Todd orders Hannah’s arrest and fires Deputy Sheriff Mike Kingston for refusing to bring her in. Eventually, Hannah winds up in the Winnetka County jail, where she spends three days, surrounded by friends and family (and three nights covered in a fuzzy blanket supplied by boyfriend Norman Rhodes), before Judge Colfax grants her bail. Once sprung, amateur sleuth Hannah is faced with an unusual case. She knows who the killer is, but who’s the victim? Armed with scant physical details—height, weight, approximate age and a diamond set in one of the man’s teeth—Hannah sets out to find out exactly whom she killed. The investigation, of course, requires multiple dinners in Hannah’s cozy apartment, where she and Norman, her mom and Doc, her sisters Michelle and Andrea (the latter is too mad at her husband, Sheriff Bill, to eat at home), and even Mike brainstorm over plates of Smothered Chicken and Oodles of Noodles as Hannah’s cat, Moishe, and Norman’s cat, Cuddles, play “chase.”

It’s amazing how little a vehicular homicide charge changes Hannah’s life in Fluke’s good-natured 19th.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hannah Swensen is having a bad time. Her mother is getting married soon but is rejecting all suggestions for the reception menu, and then during a thunderstorm Hannah accidentally runs over a man standing in the road. Nobody recognizes the man. He's a stranger in Eden Lake. Why was he standing in the roadway in the middle of a violent thunderstorm? When Hannah is arrested for vehicular homicide and thrown in jail, her family and friends rally around her to help investigate the case. The investigation leads to the seedy world of prostitution and drugs in the Twin Cities. Hannah wonders what sort of nefarious criminal she ran over with her cookie truck....and what was he doing in Lake Eden?

Well, Hannah definitely managed to get herself into hot water this time. I never thought Hannah would end up in a jail cell....but it was definitely a new plot line for this series. This time Hannah still found a body....but she ran the victim over with her truck. Yikes! lol.

Blackberry Pie Murder is the 17th book in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. Lots of recipes are included, as usual. Most are cookie recipes because Hannah owns a bakery, but there are some others as well including fettuccine, salmon, pate and two blackberry drink recipes.

A weird love triangle between Hannah and her two love interests, Mike and Norman, is still ongoing. Sigh. This time, Norman does Hannah several huge favors and really steps up to help her.....but yet she still can't make up her mind or really fully return the love he feels for her. And, every time they try to have a private dinner at Hannah's condo, about six other people, including Mike, show up. You would think just once Hannah would understand Norman wants to spend some time with her alone....and she would tell everyone to just come another time. But no....Norman always ends up shoved aside. How on Earth has this man gone through 17 books now without losing his temper or at least telling Hannah that it bothers him? Hannah is even starting to acknowledge that it's weird. She calls the Norman-Hannah-Mike awkward moments at dinners and public events "The Hannah Sandwich". Come on, honey -- either make up your mind or break up with both of them.

I enjoyed this story. I always enjoy Hannah Swensen books. But, I do have to say that having the gang investigating a case involving prostitutes and drugs really seemed like it was pushing it a bit. The story line was a bit more edgy and dramatic. The finding of the body was definitely different. Plus, Hannah finally got into trouble, not directly because she constantly finds bodies, but because she sort of....created a dead body. oops. But....the more edgy plot was done within the confines of a cozy mystery. It seemed a bit out of place. For example, when Hannah and her mother went to the city to interview a prostitute, they offered her a box of cookies. It made me laugh. But hey, everyone loves chocolate cookies, right? Even hardened prostitutes who need interviewed for a case.

So, I did like the fact that this book went a completely new direction, but at times it just didn't work. It felt like Mister Rogers guest starring in an episode of Law & Order.

The best part of the story? Moishe the kitty discovering the joy of using a treadmill. Made me smile.

I'm almost caught up with this series! Just 3 more books, plus the new one coming out in February! I hope that the Norman-Mike conundrum has an answer by the time I get to the new book, Banana Cream Pie Murder.

[Denise Zendel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to be able to say I really liked this book (I own up to book 12 in the series in either hardback or paperback), but it's somewhere more between "meh" and "OK." I'm having a love-hate relationship with this series. I love the recurring characters and the recipes (my office mates are very happy every time I read one of these books because they get the benefits). What I don't love is that a grown 30-something woman who runs a successful business is incapable of making decisions about her own life.

In this book, No. 18 in the series, Hannah is planning her mother's wedding and still juggling two men, dentist Norman and cop Mike. She gets accused of murder and her family and friends step in to clear her.

Every time I read these, it's a little bit like visiting with old friends - a Russian novel's worth of old friends, but friends still. And I really do enjoy the recipes at the end of each chapter. The notes about how to make the food are just what I'd do for someone.

I am growing bored bored bored of the love triangle between Hannah and Mike and Norman. I want to grab Hannah and say pick one and turn the other loose, you're keeping someone from the possibility of true happiness. (And yes I know they're not real.) Also, the abrupt ending (clearly designed to drive the reader to pre-order the next book) was ... annoying.

My collection of these books stops at Book 12, I think, so I'm missing a lot between then and now. Will I buy the missing books? Eh, probably, if only for the recipes. This series is feeling a little bit to me like the last few entries of the Cat Who books - it feels like the author is just phoning it in. Will I buy successive books? Mmmm, maybe from a used book store where my investment is low.

[Susan B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was torn between giving this book 2 or 3 stars, but ultimately went with two. The writing is just okay. I think I keep reading books in this series because I'm invested in the characters, especially Hannah, her sisters and her mother. They've been well developed and I enjoy reading about their relationships with each other. I'm not at all invested in Mike as a character and Hannah doesn't convince me to be. I think we're all getting tired of the Mike vs. Norman storyline. Please Ms. Fluke, just get on with it. Hannah belongs with Norman and everyone else but her knows it. Marrying them to one another doesn't have to mean the death of the series (I was really disappointed when Jill Churchill axed the Jane Jeffry series once Jane married). Marriage does not equal the death of people as individuals, hello!

[Lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's sad when a series I've enjoyed gets old and worn out. I've read this series because I enjoyed the quirky characters who populate Lake Eden, not because I care about solving the murder mystery. The last couple of books have been disappointing. Minor characters who used to appear regularly have practically disappeared. There is too much description of Hannah's daily routine. Characters don't grow. And in this book there is no resolution. I realize it's not meant to be great literature but it should at least be a good read.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is even fluffier than it sounds. Cotton candy for the brain. I need to note that she recommends a graham cracker crust for a buttermilk pie. That's just wrong.

[Teri Sears · Rating 1 out of 5]

It feels like Joanne Fluke is tired of writing about Hannah Swenson. I know I'm tired of reading what this series has become.

When I got to the end I literally spent 10 minutes trying to figure out where the rest of the book was! I thought I'd somehow got a defective copy because the end was missing! The end is still missing, but it turns out that my copy was not defective; the story just ends rather abruptly with no resolution to the main plot!

This is the 17th installment in the unbelievable life of Cookie Maven Hannah Swenson. She owns a cookie shop she's now rarely at. She dates two men, yet gets furious with them if they date anyone other than her. She doesn't love EITHER of them, or she wouldn't treat them so badly! When one of the dolts (sorry, but that's what they are now for putting up with they way Hannah treats them for this long) pays Hannah a complement, she isn't even honestly appreciative. Instead, she has this juvenile internal monologue about what her mother taught her was the polite way to respond. Give me a break! She's 30-something, not a tweenager!

Her mother spends the entire book being an old-age Bridezilla, not being able to make a SINGLE decision about her upcoming wedding. And NOT ONCE in the entire book did they mention Granny's Attic, the fact that Delores owns half the store, or Norman's mother, co-owner of the store. I guess Ms. Fluke forgot about them, but this reader didn't.

Then there's Hannah's sister Andrea, who had the most juvenile behavior of all when she had a temper tantrum, pouted and refused to talk to her husband after he arrested Hannah. Granted, it was THE most flimsy of charges imaginable, but the poor guy was just doing his job.

We can't leave out the third Swenson sister, Michelle, who this time was on the receiving end of Hannah's new-found prudishness. The scene where Hannah chastised Michelle for dressing in a tank top and shorts during the summer was just beyond ridiculous. Michelle is in college. Of course she's going to wear tight cloths to make her boyfriend happy. I think Hannah's just jealous. I'm sure Michelle and Lonnie have a healthy relationship. Hannah definitely does NOT have a healthy relationship with ANYONE in her life!

I think it's time that Ms. Fluke put both Hannah Swenson and her readers out of their misery. Book 18 should be the last. Let Delores marry Doc. Let Michelle marry Lonnie. Have Hannah FINALLY cut lose both Mike & Norman (please; those characters deserve a happy ending, and they won't get that with Hannah). Throw Hannah in jail for killing a dead man… have Hannah be the final Lake Eden murder victim… Do SOMETHING that makes sense, and call it done. I think I could make it through one more Lake Eden book, but that's all I've got left in me for reading.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy both sides of Joanne Fluke's books; the mystery and the recipes. Start with the lime and optional vodka cookie bars! An August rain storm brings branches crashing down onto roads and causes Hannah Swensen's truck to leave the country road and hit a person. She's understandably distraught.

Three Minnesota sisters run the Cookie Jar store and coffee shop and stumble over more than their share of murders. Now Hannah's an unintentional killer. Previously the ladies' main concern was arranging their notoriously picky mother's wedding; she keeps changing her mind about everything. The dead man was not known locally and after the autopsy, Hannah is charged with vehicular homicide, and locked in jail.

Hannah's family and friends rally around to learn who the man was and what he was doing on the country road. Supplies like food, blankets and a romance manuscript which her mother is sure she'll be delighted to proofread, pass the time. The intrepid investigators ascertain that the dead man's shirt had a blackberry stain, and a local lady had a blackberry pie stolen off her windowsill as it cooled. What else can they discover?

Readers may find certain turns of phrase too cute, such as "Norman was a great kitty-daddy". I also thought it was too steep to say "After two gruelling days in the cell" when Hannah had been treated with courtesy and allowed family visits. The story is light enough but Hannah rethinks her refusal to marry, on the basis that her gentleman friend is there when she needs him. Recipes are easy-cook, for those who don't bake often. Cream cheese and herb scones sound scrumptious. As for the ball-shaped cookies with edible treats in the centre - that's a must for a kids' party!

Fans and new readers alike should enjoy this cosy culinary crime story.

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2 1/2 stars. Not as bad as the last one, but the inane dialogue prevents it from being better. While never a hip, snappy series, it is getting a bit maudlin and the dialogue sounds dated. In some places, it reads like an 80s sitcom. The plot itself was interesting and was the only thing that kept me from chucking the whole thing.
The whole scene where Hannah was arrested was just...ridiculous. In fact, the whole plot point was just ridiculous. If Hannah should be arrested for anything, it should be for suggesting a graham cracker crust for a buttermilk pie.

[Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have all of the books in this series. This one was a huge disappointment. When I'm reading a book, especially a mystery I expect that the book will have a conclusion. I turned the page to read the next chapter, only to find a index to the recipes in the book. The recipes were also disappointing.
This is the last Joanne Fluke book I will purchase.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

MUCH better than the last one. And rather sad too. Not so much a typical mystery as a "who the HECK is this person". Not too much of Mike in this one, which makes ME happy. Leads perfectly into the next book. Not your typical "Hannah Swensen" book that is for sure.