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Hannah Swensen #22
Raspberry Danish Murder
Thanksgiving has a way of thawing the frostiest hearts in Lake Eden. But that won’t be happening for newlywed Hannah Swensen Barton—not after her husband suddenly disappears . . .
Hannah has felt as bitter as November in Minnesota since Ross vanished without a trace and left their marriage in limbo. Still, she throws herself into a baking frenzy for the sake of pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving-themed treats while endless holiday orders pour into The Cookie Jar. Hannah even introduces a raspberry Danish pastry to the menu, and P.K., her husband’s assistant at KCOW-TV, will be one of the first to sample it. But instead of taking a bite, P.K., who is driving Ross’s car and using his desk at work, is murdered. Was someone plotting against P.K. all along or did Ross dodge a deadly dose of sweet revenge? Hannah will have to quickly sift through a cornucopia of clues and suspects to stop a killer from bringing another murder to the table . . .
Hannah has felt as bitter as November in Minnesota since Ross vanished without a trace and left their marriage in limbo. Still, she throws herself into a baking frenzy for the sake of pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving-themed treats while endless holiday orders pour into The Cookie Jar. Hannah even introduces a raspberry Danish pastry to the menu, and P.K., her husband’s assistant at KCOW-TV, will be one of the first to sample it. But instead of taking a bite, P.K., who is driving Ross’s car and using his desk at work, is murdered. Was someone plotting against P.K. all along or did Ross dodge a deadly dose of sweet revenge? Hannah will have to quickly sift through a cornucopia of clues and suspects to stop a killer from bringing another murder to the table . . .
364 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2018
2572 people are currently reading
10681 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Fluke
138 books8,635 followersLike Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke grew up in a small town in rural Minnesota where her neighbors were friendly, the winters were fierce, and the biggest scandal was the spotting of unidentified male undergarments on a young widow's clothesline. She insists that there really are 10,000 lakes and the mosquito is NOT the state bird.
While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public school teacher, a psychologist, a musician, a private detective's assistant, a corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical secretary, a short order cook, a florist's assistant, a caterer and party planner, a computer consultant on a now-defunct operating system, a production assistant on a TV quiz show, half of a screenwriting team with her husband, and a mother, wife, and homemaker.
She now lives in Southern California with her husband, her kids, his kids, their three dogs, one elderly tabby, and several noisy rats in the attic.
Series:
* Hannah Swensen
While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public school teacher, a psychologist, a musician, a private detective's assistant, a corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical secretary, a short order cook, a florist's assistant, a caterer and party planner, a computer consultant on a now-defunct operating system, a production assistant on a TV quiz show, half of a screenwriting team with her husband, and a mother, wife, and homemaker.
She now lives in Southern California with her husband, her kids, his kids, their three dogs, one elderly tabby, and several noisy rats in the attic.
Series:
* Hannah Swensen
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,244 reviews
February 9, 2018
Raspberry Danish Murder was better than the previous Hannah Swenson book but still seems very odd compared to the rest of the series.
Is there a ghostwriter writing these books now? It seems every character name is overused. I don't remember early in the series Hannah constantly addresssing her sisters or Norman by name in every statement during a conversation like this:
"If we stop to eat we can have a break Hannah"
"That sounds good Michelle"
"I thought so too Hannah" etc. Very stiff and formal dialogue.
Also a lot of repeating the same information over and over and over. As if the reader needs reminding every two paragraphs or so.
This particular book has Hannah telling Michelle that a character is beginning to develop feelings for her. Michelle's response: "You mean you think that he might be falling in love with me?" Oh honey. This just means he may like you as more than a friend, not that he is head over heels in love with you all of a sudden. I kind of feel like the ghostwriter here may be a man, the dialogue between Hannah and any other female in these last 3 books is just too stiff and not at all natural.
Again this book finds Hannah very upset that Michelle and Mike can eat whatever they like and not Gina weight. When did Hannah get so inwardly nasty? She has some downright nasty thoughts in this book.
At least we have Hannah realizing she knows nothing about Ross, the man she married. Married! She even admits she didn't question why no one from Ross' family came to the wedding.
Looking back on it now I realize I have no idea how many relatives Ross has or where they live.
I know I loved him and I think he loved me. But...I'm beginning to think that I really didn't know Ross very well at all! ya think?
Another example of amateur dialogue: Hannah arrives home to see her answering machine light blinking.
The red light was blinking and the numeral five was displayed. That meant five people had called while she'd been at work.
No, it doesn't. It means five people left messages but thirty people could have called. Do we really need a lesson in messages?
Finally my favorite from this book. Hannah frets that maybe she snores and that's why Ross has left her. Seriously. This is what Hannah Swenson has been reduced to. A dumb ditz that worries her husband had left her with no word because she snores.
In the end Hannah realizes Ross has lied to her about pretty much everything but she decides to give him the benefit of the doubt because "that's what a good wife would do". Ok Hannah.
This story was at least better than #21, and thankfully Ross is still gone for most of it. But there is a scene where Hannah's mother Delores accuses her of flirting with Norman while her husband is still missing. A big jump from previous books where Delores was forcing Norman on Hannah in every paragraph.
I hope that whoever is writing these books gets let go, and we get our old Hannah back. In this book we find out Hannah only has a little over three hundred dollars in her banking account. But if the cookie shop is turning no profit how is Hannah employing Michelle, Lisa, Aunt Nancy and a whole host of others that do work for her while she's out sleuthing for free?
Is there a ghostwriter writing these books now? It seems every character name is overused. I don't remember early in the series Hannah constantly addresssing her sisters or Norman by name in every statement during a conversation like this:
"If we stop to eat we can have a break Hannah"
"That sounds good Michelle"
"I thought so too Hannah" etc. Very stiff and formal dialogue.
Also a lot of repeating the same information over and over and over. As if the reader needs reminding every two paragraphs or so.
This particular book has Hannah telling Michelle that a character is beginning to develop feelings for her. Michelle's response: "You mean you think that he might be falling in love with me?" Oh honey. This just means he may like you as more than a friend, not that he is head over heels in love with you all of a sudden. I kind of feel like the ghostwriter here may be a man, the dialogue between Hannah and any other female in these last 3 books is just too stiff and not at all natural.
Again this book finds Hannah very upset that Michelle and Mike can eat whatever they like and not Gina weight. When did Hannah get so inwardly nasty? She has some downright nasty thoughts in this book.
At least we have Hannah realizing she knows nothing about Ross, the man she married. Married! She even admits she didn't question why no one from Ross' family came to the wedding.
Looking back on it now I realize I have no idea how many relatives Ross has or where they live.
I know I loved him and I think he loved me. But...I'm beginning to think that I really didn't know Ross very well at all! ya think?
Another example of amateur dialogue: Hannah arrives home to see her answering machine light blinking.
The red light was blinking and the numeral five was displayed. That meant five people had called while she'd been at work.
No, it doesn't. It means five people left messages but thirty people could have called. Do we really need a lesson in messages?
Finally my favorite from this book. Hannah frets that maybe she snores and that's why Ross has left her. Seriously. This is what Hannah Swenson has been reduced to. A dumb ditz that worries her husband had left her with no word because she snores.
In the end Hannah realizes Ross has lied to her about pretty much everything but she decides to give him the benefit of the doubt because "that's what a good wife would do". Ok Hannah.
This story was at least better than #21, and thankfully Ross is still gone for most of it. But there is a scene where Hannah's mother Delores accuses her of flirting with Norman while her husband is still missing. A big jump from previous books where Delores was forcing Norman on Hannah in every paragraph.
I hope that whoever is writing these books gets let go, and we get our old Hannah back. In this book we find out Hannah only has a little over three hundred dollars in her banking account. But if the cookie shop is turning no profit how is Hannah employing Michelle, Lisa, Aunt Nancy and a whole host of others that do work for her while she's out sleuthing for free?
October 16, 2018
I cannot even with these books any more. They have gotten progressively worse with each one. This book was literally 90% people eating or talking about what they're going to eat, or what they just ate, or how to cook the recipe that appears on the next page. Throw in boringly long pages about random things like how to recycle and scammer phone messages. There was hardly anything about the murder of the week or the investigation into Ross's disappearance, and what did happen, happened off-screen so to speak, so we just got a quick blink or you'll miss it sum up. This wasn't a murder mystery, nothing was solved, nothing was explained, it was just a long list of cookies and other assorted foods being eaten.
I've been firmly #TeamNorman since the beginning, but Mike wasn't even in this book (except when he was eating) and I see no reason why either of them stick around for Hannah other than the food.
Also, seriously, another cliffhanger ending that comes out of nowhere in a rushed paragraph at the end, which I'm sure we'll have to wait another year for. I doubt I'll be back for it.
See this review and others on my blog.
I've been firmly #TeamNorman since the beginning, but Mike wasn't even in this book (except when he was eating) and I see no reason why either of them stick around for Hannah other than the food.
Also, seriously, another cliffhanger ending that comes out of nowhere in a rushed paragraph at the end, which I'm sure we'll have to wait another year for. I doubt I'll be back for it.
See this review and others on my blog.
October 31, 2018
A little over a year ago, I joined NetGalley and Raspberry Danish Murder, the 22nd book in the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series by Joanne Fluke, was one of the first books I requested. It had just been published, but I was ten books behind in the series. Throughout the last year, I finally caught up and read this one. From what I'd read, given the strange arc the books took a little while ago, it wasn't going to be good. Forgetting the love/romance change, the mystery itself in this book was very typical and fit well within the boundary or range we've seen from the author.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I was sad to see who was killed given (s)he seemed nice in prior books. Sometimes the good ones have to die, I completely understand that as an author of a book series myself. Fluke balanced the past and the present, the known and the unknown in this book trying to find a way to explain how/why Hannah's husband might or might not stick around. That said, it ended with a cliffhanger bombshell that makes us think... are we going back to the way things were four books ago before the proposal? Wow, I can't wait to see. I have the next book ready to read, but I haven't bought the last one yet. I wonder how many more there will be!
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I was sad to see who was killed given (s)he seemed nice in prior books. Sometimes the good ones have to die, I completely understand that as an author of a book series myself. Fluke balanced the past and the present, the known and the unknown in this book trying to find a way to explain how/why Hannah's husband might or might not stick around. That said, it ended with a cliffhanger bombshell that makes us think... are we going back to the way things were four books ago before the proposal? Wow, I can't wait to see. I have the next book ready to read, but I haven't bought the last one yet. I wonder how many more there will be!
March 2, 2018
My favorite line of this book was:
"And a school yearbook usually contains some student photos."
I've never seen a school yearbook that didn't contain student photos.
"And a school yearbook usually contains some student photos."
I've never seen a school yearbook that didn't contain student photos.
March 9, 2018
Rather interesting characters, but elementary and lackluster writing. In some places the writing is so bad as to be the sort found in chapter books—
"We have a custard for dessert."
"Did you hear they have a custard for dessert?"
"I think I will order the custard for dessert."
(To other character at table)
"Did you know they have a custard for dessert?"
Waitress: "We have an almond custard for dessert."
"An almond custard. How unique."
"A very smooth custard."
"A smooth, almond custard. Yes. I will take the almond custard for dessert."
Repetitive conversation of that sort isn't just elementary, it's unrealistic...no one talks that way! And you really don't have to figure out someone to attribute the quote to when you use a cliche. "My great-aunt used to say..." To her own sister? It's her great-aunt, too.
Also the emotional responses to things are way unrealistic, and the clues are often entirely by chance. It's a fun and fast-paced read, though! Some of the included recipes look really promising, and Imll be trying them out. Perhaps I'll find a new favorite.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy.
"We have a custard for dessert."
"Did you hear they have a custard for dessert?"
"I think I will order the custard for dessert."
(To other character at table)
"Did you know they have a custard for dessert?"
Waitress: "We have an almond custard for dessert."
"An almond custard. How unique."
"A very smooth custard."
"A smooth, almond custard. Yes. I will take the almond custard for dessert."
Repetitive conversation of that sort isn't just elementary, it's unrealistic...no one talks that way! And you really don't have to figure out someone to attribute the quote to when you use a cliche. "My great-aunt used to say..." To her own sister? It's her great-aunt, too.
Also the emotional responses to things are way unrealistic, and the clues are often entirely by chance. It's a fun and fast-paced read, though! Some of the included recipes look really promising, and Imll be trying them out. Perhaps I'll find a new favorite.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy.
January 19, 2018
Hannah Swensen is still reeling from the disappearance of her new husband, Ross Barton. He disappeared without a trace, leaving no explanation. When Ross' former assistant at KCOW-TV, P.K. Alesworth, is killed after eating poisoned candy that was left on Ross' desk, Lake Eden police start to investigate to find out if Ross might have been the intended victim, Hannah and her crew, of course, decide to also investigate. Turns out, there are a lot of discrepancies in the things Ross told Hannah about his past and his family. She is unsure if Ross is in danger and fled to avoid others getting hurt, or if he's just an outright cad. Was Ross involved in something dangerous? Or did the murderer intend to kill P.K.?
Well, first off, I am going to say that I enjoyed this book. Raspberry Danish Murder is the 22nd book in the Hannah Swensen series. I've read them all. And I love the characters! I've even baked many of the recipes from the books. :) When I got my review copy, I started reading immediately....and didn't stop until I finished the book. I waited an entire year to find out what the heck happened to Ross so I devoured this book in one sitting. But, I do have to be honest and say that the feel is still a bit off. The last three books in this series seem to be different. The personality and behavior of some main characters are changed. The writing style and dialogue seem to be amateurish at times. The writing is just not up to Joanne Fluke quality. The books just seem.....different. That's the best word I can come up with. Not bad.....different. My best guess is that the new books might be written by a ghost writer. I can't be sure.....but it's just the feeling that I get. This newest book was tweaking my inner editor. There is some poorly written dialogue, overuse of characters' names and cookie names, too much repetition and over-explanation. For example, several times characters discovered new evidence in the case and went to share that evidence with other characters, repeating the entire story about finding said evidence all over again. Or repeating character names within dialogue when it's obvious which character they are addressing. It doesn't seem like natural conversation. Nobody repeats a friend's name over and over again during a casual discussion. That's just poorly written dialogue. Now....did that damage my enjoyment of the story? No, not really. I feel the book could use another edit and some tweaking before publication....but.....it's Lake Eden, Hannah, and all the characters I love from this series I've been enjoying since the first book came out in 2001......I can overlook some issues.
The mystery mixes the search for information about Ross and the investigation into the murder of P.K. so there is always something going on. There is also a lot of baking and cookie munching, as usual. The crime wrap-up and the ending are a bit abrupt, but the ending does answer a lot of questions. Not all of them, but several important ones. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book!
Is this book the best in the Hannah Swensen series? No. Is it still an enjoyable read? Definitely! I love this series. I read every book, and I watch the Hallmark movies, despite the fact they don't follow the books. And, I will continue to read this series until it reaches the final book.
There are lots of yummy recipes included between chapters in this book, as usual. I definitely feel a danish baking session coming on soon! :) Mmmmm....raspberry danish!! But not all of the recipes are for desserts. There is also pizza dip, asparagus rolls and other non-sweets. :) nom nom!
At the very end of the book, there is an exceprt from Winter Chill, a thriller also written by Joanne Fluke. She has written several suspense/thriller novels. Maybe I can read those novels to tide me over until the next Hannah book comes out!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Well, first off, I am going to say that I enjoyed this book. Raspberry Danish Murder is the 22nd book in the Hannah Swensen series. I've read them all. And I love the characters! I've even baked many of the recipes from the books. :) When I got my review copy, I started reading immediately....and didn't stop until I finished the book. I waited an entire year to find out what the heck happened to Ross so I devoured this book in one sitting. But, I do have to be honest and say that the feel is still a bit off. The last three books in this series seem to be different. The personality and behavior of some main characters are changed. The writing style and dialogue seem to be amateurish at times. The writing is just not up to Joanne Fluke quality. The books just seem.....different. That's the best word I can come up with. Not bad.....different. My best guess is that the new books might be written by a ghost writer. I can't be sure.....but it's just the feeling that I get. This newest book was tweaking my inner editor. There is some poorly written dialogue, overuse of characters' names and cookie names, too much repetition and over-explanation. For example, several times characters discovered new evidence in the case and went to share that evidence with other characters, repeating the entire story about finding said evidence all over again. Or repeating character names within dialogue when it's obvious which character they are addressing. It doesn't seem like natural conversation. Nobody repeats a friend's name over and over again during a casual discussion. That's just poorly written dialogue. Now....did that damage my enjoyment of the story? No, not really. I feel the book could use another edit and some tweaking before publication....but.....it's Lake Eden, Hannah, and all the characters I love from this series I've been enjoying since the first book came out in 2001......I can overlook some issues.
The mystery mixes the search for information about Ross and the investigation into the murder of P.K. so there is always something going on. There is also a lot of baking and cookie munching, as usual. The crime wrap-up and the ending are a bit abrupt, but the ending does answer a lot of questions. Not all of them, but several important ones. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book!
Is this book the best in the Hannah Swensen series? No. Is it still an enjoyable read? Definitely! I love this series. I read every book, and I watch the Hallmark movies, despite the fact they don't follow the books. And, I will continue to read this series until it reaches the final book.
There are lots of yummy recipes included between chapters in this book, as usual. I definitely feel a danish baking session coming on soon! :) Mmmmm....raspberry danish!! But not all of the recipes are for desserts. There is also pizza dip, asparagus rolls and other non-sweets. :) nom nom!
At the very end of the book, there is an exceprt from Winter Chill, a thriller also written by Joanne Fluke. She has written several suspense/thriller novels. Maybe I can read those novels to tide me over until the next Hannah book comes out!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
July 22, 2021
In this 22nd book in the 'Hannah Swensen' series, Hannah investigates the death of a television station employee. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
Warning: If you haven't kept up with the series this review will contain a minor spoiler.
*****
Hannah Swenson, owner of 'The Cookie Jar' confectionary in Lake Eden, Minnesota, is a talented baker and experienced amateur detective.
As the story opens, Hannah's new husband, Ross Barton, has disappeared, taking nothing but his condominium keys.
The police - and Hannah - are looking for Ross, but have no clues as to why he left or where he went. The mystery only deepens when Hannah pays a routine visit to the bank and makes a startling discovery.
Shortly after Ross vanishes, his assistant at KCOW-TV, P.K. Aylesworth, is poisoned by chocolates left on Ross's desk....which P.K. has been using. The police don't know whether Ross or P.K. was the intended victim, but P.K. is dead - so the official investigation centers on him.
Hannah and her sister Michelle take up the cudgel as well, and make inquiries about P.K.'s co-workers, family, girlfriend, etc.....to see who might have wanted him dead.
In between her sleuthing activities, Hannah is running her bakery; testing new recipes with Michelle.....
.....having her former boyfriends (and current best buddies) dentist Norman.....
.....and police detective Mike over to dinner;
going to restaurants with Norman and Michelle; worrying about her cat Moishe - who's sleeping more than usual; getting Michelle a reliable used car; manning a cookie booth at the 'Holiday Gift Convention'; and more.
That's the gist of the story, which takes up about half the book. The other half of the book is composed of recipes - for cookies, pastries, and savory foods (see below). I like recipes in novels, but this book has too many.....and it feels like serious padding.
I have other issues with the book as well: much of the dialogue is stilted and unnatural; there are excessive descriptions of common things - like traveler's checks, yearbooks, and safe deposit boxes - that most people are familiar with; and Hannah and Michelle would have to be in the gym for half their lives to work off all the cookies they eat.
Cookies for breakfast; cookies for snacks; cookies for dessert; and frequent cookie-tasting to try out new recipes. This would put the average person into sugar shock! And anyone who drank as much coffee as these folks would never fall asleep.
My biggest problem, however, is with Hannah's demeanor. Considering that her husband Ross is missing, Hannah is unusually cheerful, happy, and busy.....when I would expect her to be sad, depressed and worried. One could almost imagine that Hannah is happy Ross is gone (and maybe she is 😉).
This book seems out of sync with previous novels in the series, and I wonder if a ghostwriter was involved. Still, I'd recommend the book to devoted Hannah Swenson fans, and to people interested in the recipes, which sound yummy.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
Partial list of recipes in the book:
Raspberry Danish
Cherry Chocolate Bar Cookies
Pineapple Crunch Cookies
Light Fandango Cookies
Mixed Berry Muffins
Blueberry Shortbread Bar Cookies
Pineapple Raisin Whippersnapper Cookies
Ultimate Fudgy Chocolate Bundt Cake
Upside Down Pear Coffee Cake
Maple Crunch Cookies
Sweet and Salty Strawberry Bar Cookies
Chocolate Cashew Bar Cookies
Butterscotch Marshmallow Bar Cookies
Chocolate Caramel Bar Cookies
Piccadilly Mini Cheese Muffins
Omelet Squares
Jambalaya
Pizza Dip (appetizer)
Asparagus Rolls
May 24, 2018
This series jumped the shark awhile back and I just haven't been able to cut the cord though I was seriously going to stop after the last book and the surprise ending. However, curiosity got the best of me. Raspberry begins where #21 left off, but any active investigation by Hannah doesn't really begin until about the half way mark...way too late for a mystery. Prior (and after) we get WAY too much cookie and food talk. Take that away and the book would be a good 60% shorter.
Hannah has completely devolved into an idiot, both professionally and personally. How can a store that just sells cookies pay a staff of 6 and it's expenses, especially when Hannah keeps giving the stuff to everyone? Later, we do find out that one of the staff doesn't get paid, so how the heck can she afford to live?!? We saw in the last book that Hannah seems to have lost any self confidence and it's just plain weird. Why? She questions that her husband left her with no word because she snores??? She needs Cher to give her a good slap and a "Snap out of it!" Hannah also comes to the conclusion she may not have known Ross very well at all. Really? You think so when you can't answer basic questions about your husband??? She's also very passive as an investigator until about the 50% mark as I mentioned. She used to be much more proactive.
We, the readers, are also treated like we're brainless. We have to be told that the fact the telephone is showing the number 5 that there were 5 callers while Hannah was gone? (Actually, that 5 messages were left, could have been more callers.) The characters have to constantly call each other by name so we don't have to keep track of their minimal interaction.
The actual murder, who did it and why was weak. It was surprising and Hannah did investigate to get the answers, but it made no sense. Given what little we find out about the person who is the reason for the murder (trying not to give spoilers) what that person does makes no sense. We're not given any reason for that person's actions, therefore the murderer's decision to do what he/she does makes no sense. Less than half a page of additional information to flesh it out would have helped.
What really frosted my cookie is what we and Hannah are informed of at the very end. Without giving any spoilers all I can say is WTF?!? You have to be kidding me. It just doesn't make sense so no spoiler here, I think it's a fake out.
Chances are I will read the next book only to find out if I'm right (or to see if the series continues on it's insane trajectory into the dumpster) and only if I get the book free again from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review or if I get it from the library.
Hannah has completely devolved into an idiot, both professionally and personally. How can a store that just sells cookies pay a staff of 6 and it's expenses, especially when Hannah keeps giving the stuff to everyone? Later, we do find out that one of the staff doesn't get paid, so how the heck can she afford to live?!? We saw in the last book that Hannah seems to have lost any self confidence and it's just plain weird. Why? She questions that her husband left her with no word because she snores??? She needs Cher to give her a good slap and a "Snap out of it!" Hannah also comes to the conclusion she may not have known Ross very well at all. Really? You think so when you can't answer basic questions about your husband??? She's also very passive as an investigator until about the 50% mark as I mentioned. She used to be much more proactive.
We, the readers, are also treated like we're brainless. We have to be told that the fact the telephone is showing the number 5 that there were 5 callers while Hannah was gone? (Actually, that 5 messages were left, could have been more callers.) The characters have to constantly call each other by name so we don't have to keep track of their minimal interaction.
The actual murder, who did it and why was weak. It was surprising and Hannah did investigate to get the answers, but it made no sense. Given what little we find out about the person who is the reason for the murder (trying not to give spoilers) what that person does makes no sense. We're not given any reason for that person's actions, therefore the murderer's decision to do what he/she does makes no sense. Less than half a page of additional information to flesh it out would have helped.
What really frosted my cookie is what we and Hannah are informed of at the very end. Without giving any spoilers all I can say is WTF?!? You have to be kidding me. It just doesn't make sense so no spoiler here, I think it's a fake out.
Chances are I will read the next book only to find out if I'm right (or to see if the series continues on it's insane trajectory into the dumpster) and only if I get the book free again from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review or if I get it from the library.
March 8, 2018
Say what you will about these books, but the cliffhanger endings are what saves them. Somehow I have got to know how this Hannah-Mike-Norman-Ross love "square" ends!!
I read most of this all in one morning, and... as usual ...there were things that bugged me. Right out of the gate (p. 3), Michelle says, "They were sitting right on top of my warmest winter scarf." Who says things like that? What is she, twelve?? Some of the language in these books seems stinted and mechanical -- like no one talks like that.
On p. 7 Hannah and Michelle seem confused on how many "ends" comprise a danish. Two. They can both have an "end piece" of the danish. Thank goodness Lisa was there to settle things for them!
At the top of p. 19 Michelle seems to not know when her mother's (and Doc's) wedding anniversary is. How do you not know when your parent's anniversary is??
On p. 34 Hannah and Michelle are leaving a restaurant. Michelle says that she's going up to the register to get coffee for the road. FOUR PARAGRAPHS LATER Michelle says that she's going to make coffee when they arrive at the condo. How much coffee do these two need???
On p. 64 Mike is at the Cookie Jar, and Hannah has a couple of thoughts that almost seem rude about him. She offers him cookies, asking him how many he wants. True to form, Mike says something along the lines of he would eat the whole pan. "I'll give you eight for now," Hannah says, "just ask if you want more." EIGHT COOKIES? Does a typical man usually eat more than eight cookies in one sitting? Does Mike not have diabetes by now, feasting as he so often does on Hannah's cooking??
Ross has left his car keys (that's a whole other conversation I could have) and in the course of events Hannah decides to buy a car for her sister, Michelle. Hannah is thinking about her bank balance, and the line goes "She might need some or all of that money" if the car she was going to buy cost more than she originally thought. All of that money? If she spent it all on Michelle's car, what would she have to live on??
There is what I think is a ridiculous scene concerning Swenson family matriarch Delores on pages 222-223. If I had a mother like Delores, I would want to shoot myself. She can be so rude and obnoxious and thoughtless.
Tracey, Hannah's niece, makes a few appearances in this installment. Tracey is a precocious child, and she can pronounce the word "consolation," but she can't pronounce "protrusions"??
Apparently when Andrea, Hannah's other sister, was in high school, she (obviously underage) went to a bar. Telling Mike about it when they were all adults, she made up a "ridiculous" excuse. Who cares what she did as a teenager? Who cares that she basically broke a law when she was younger? Haven't we all done that? Mike couldn't do anything about it at that point. Why lie??
More questions... Why did Ross give up his car and assets? How does he have so much money? What does he DO???!!!
Actually, I enjoyed all the food and going-out-to-eat scenes in this book. There are several interesting recipes in Raspberry Danish, including omelet squares, pizza dip, and Piccadilly cheese muffins. Maybe I'll actually make these...
You'll be able to find me reading the next darn book in this next darn series, because, for some reason, I can't put these down. Bright covers, recipes and food that appeal to any good foodie's heart, and cliffhangers for endings. Quick reads, they're fun, they're fluffy, and maybe one day Hannah will finally end up with the guy who I have in mind for her. #TeamNorman
I read most of this all in one morning, and... as usual ...there were things that bugged me. Right out of the gate (p. 3), Michelle says, "They were sitting right on top of my warmest winter scarf." Who says things like that? What is she, twelve?? Some of the language in these books seems stinted and mechanical -- like no one talks like that.
On p. 7 Hannah and Michelle seem confused on how many "ends" comprise a danish. Two. They can both have an "end piece" of the danish. Thank goodness Lisa was there to settle things for them!
At the top of p. 19 Michelle seems to not know when her mother's (and Doc's) wedding anniversary is. How do you not know when your parent's anniversary is??
On p. 34 Hannah and Michelle are leaving a restaurant. Michelle says that she's going up to the register to get coffee for the road. FOUR PARAGRAPHS LATER Michelle says that she's going to make coffee when they arrive at the condo. How much coffee do these two need???
On p. 64 Mike is at the Cookie Jar, and Hannah has a couple of thoughts that almost seem rude about him. She offers him cookies, asking him how many he wants. True to form, Mike says something along the lines of he would eat the whole pan. "I'll give you eight for now," Hannah says, "just ask if you want more." EIGHT COOKIES? Does a typical man usually eat more than eight cookies in one sitting? Does Mike not have diabetes by now, feasting as he so often does on Hannah's cooking??
Ross has left his car keys (that's a whole other conversation I could have) and in the course of events Hannah decides to buy a car for her sister, Michelle. Hannah is thinking about her bank balance, and the line goes "She might need some or all of that money" if the car she was going to buy cost more than she originally thought. All of that money? If she spent it all on Michelle's car, what would she have to live on??
There is what I think is a ridiculous scene concerning Swenson family matriarch Delores on pages 222-223. If I had a mother like Delores, I would want to shoot myself. She can be so rude and obnoxious and thoughtless.
Tracey, Hannah's niece, makes a few appearances in this installment. Tracey is a precocious child, and she can pronounce the word "consolation," but she can't pronounce "protrusions"??
Apparently when Andrea, Hannah's other sister, was in high school, she (obviously underage) went to a bar. Telling Mike about it when they were all adults, she made up a "ridiculous" excuse. Who cares what she did as a teenager? Who cares that she basically broke a law when she was younger? Haven't we all done that? Mike couldn't do anything about it at that point. Why lie??
More questions... Why did Ross give up his car and assets? How does he have so much money? What does he DO???!!!
Actually, I enjoyed all the food and going-out-to-eat scenes in this book. There are several interesting recipes in Raspberry Danish, including omelet squares, pizza dip, and Piccadilly cheese muffins. Maybe I'll actually make these...
You'll be able to find me reading the next darn book in this next darn series, because, for some reason, I can't put these down. Bright covers, recipes and food that appeal to any good foodie's heart, and cliffhangers for endings. Quick reads, they're fun, they're fluffy, and maybe one day Hannah will finally end up with the guy who I have in mind for her. #TeamNorman
September 28, 2025
Hannah’s short-lived marriage may be over. Ross Barton has disappeared without a trace, leaving only a few clues behind. Car keys in a dresser. Money. No explanation. What is Hannah to assume about why he suddenly left her?
I found the slow reveal of clues for the most part well-paced. PK has been poisoned by candy perhaps intended for Ross. But where is Ross and who could have meant him harm? And so the plot thickens…
I found the slow reveal of clues for the most part well-paced. PK has been poisoned by candy perhaps intended for Ross. But where is Ross and who could have meant him harm? And so the plot thickens…
March 28, 2018
I was gifted an ebook via Netgalley.
I'm sad to say that this is the last Hannah Swensen book I will be reading. I've made it to 22 and that is an accomplishment, right? I feel like 80% of the book is food now. I love food, don't get me wrong, but there is little plot other than that. In the first book, there was only 7 recipes and this one has 29 recipes, if that tells you anything. The most interesting part to me in this installment was Moishe. I love Moishe.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
I feel like these stories are so unrealistic now. The police wouldn't be giving out information to a civilian. No matter how small town and close they are. And no one could HONESTLY be as clueless as Hannah when she approaches a killer, especially after doing it so many times. GIRL - GO TO THE POLICE AND STAY SAFE. Once again, different scenes in the book (that don't include food) are so spelled out that it hurts to read the story. Once upon a time, these were some of my favorite easy reads, but now I feel like my enjoyment of these characters is gone. Also...#TeamNorman
I'm sad to say that this is the last Hannah Swensen book I will be reading. I've made it to 22 and that is an accomplishment, right? I feel like 80% of the book is food now. I love food, don't get me wrong, but there is little plot other than that. In the first book, there was only 7 recipes and this one has 29 recipes, if that tells you anything. The most interesting part to me in this installment was Moishe. I love Moishe.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
I feel like these stories are so unrealistic now. The police wouldn't be giving out information to a civilian. No matter how small town and close they are. And no one could HONESTLY be as clueless as Hannah when she approaches a killer, especially after doing it so many times. GIRL - GO TO THE POLICE AND STAY SAFE. Once again, different scenes in the book (that don't include food) are so spelled out that it hurts to read the story. Once upon a time, these were some of my favorite easy reads, but now I feel like my enjoyment of these characters is gone. Also...#TeamNorman
April 24, 2018
I have been such a fan of the Hannah Swensen Mysteries. They’re good, clean, entertaining fun. Well, you know, with murder. But I have to say, I’ve not been overly thrilled with the last few books in the series. As with a good percentage of Hannah fans, I do not like her husband, Ross. I cheered when he disappeared. So, the fact that this book would maybe be Ross free made me excited to read it. But for reasons other than Ross, RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER was not the best book in this series.
The concept of the mystery in RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER is a good one. I didn’t guess the killer, but I think it’s because I was so distracted by things in the book, the murderer just got past me.
Distraction 1) Hannah has solved countless murders. She’s a good sleuth. But she can’t find her husband? Nothing? Distraction 2) Author Joanne Fluke’s writing was just not up to her normal standard. This series has always been an easy read, but this one felt like it was written for a younger demographic. I would read the name Hannah, but just kept envisioning Nancy Drew. Maybe Fluke is using all her adult level writing in her thrillers? Distraction 3) I love recipes in my cozies. And the Hannah Swenson books always serves up great ones. But there were so many recipes in this book, it was more like reading the Hannah Swensen cookbook. There is one at the end of just about every chapter.
Even with the above being said, I love Hannah and all the residents of Lake Eden. They have all come to feel like close friends. Reading a Hannah Swensen mystery has always felt like going on a much anticipated vacation. I’m thrilled to get there, and sad when I have to leave. I will return again for another visit. But it will be with the hopes that the series is back to the same standards that were set in the very first book.
The concept of the mystery in RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER is a good one. I didn’t guess the killer, but I think it’s because I was so distracted by things in the book, the murderer just got past me.
Distraction 1) Hannah has solved countless murders. She’s a good sleuth. But she can’t find her husband? Nothing? Distraction 2) Author Joanne Fluke’s writing was just not up to her normal standard. This series has always been an easy read, but this one felt like it was written for a younger demographic. I would read the name Hannah, but just kept envisioning Nancy Drew. Maybe Fluke is using all her adult level writing in her thrillers? Distraction 3) I love recipes in my cozies. And the Hannah Swenson books always serves up great ones. But there were so many recipes in this book, it was more like reading the Hannah Swensen cookbook. There is one at the end of just about every chapter.
Even with the above being said, I love Hannah and all the residents of Lake Eden. They have all come to feel like close friends. Reading a Hannah Swensen mystery has always felt like going on a much anticipated vacation. I’m thrilled to get there, and sad when I have to leave. I will return again for another visit. But it will be with the hopes that the series is back to the same standards that were set in the very first book.
March 27, 2018
A sad attempt to revive a dying series. This particular book seemed like a juvenile wrote it. Very little mystery as most of the book was taken up with recipes and food talk. The rest was Hannah obsessing about what was wrong with her that her new husband left and hasn't come back. I hope the author either gets this series back on track or puts it to bed.
February 21, 2018
This is a difficult review to write as I have read all of The Hannah Swensen Mysteries and, for the most part, enjoyed most of them. The last book was an exception to that and sadly, this book isn’t much better. The series is feeling increasingly stale and this book is one of the weakest. I honestly believe that Ms Fluke might better serve Hannah and her readers if she took an extra year off between books, recharged her batteries and wrote the next book with renewed vigor.
While the murder mystery itself started off intriguing—was it linked to Hannah’s husband Ross’s disappearance or was P.K. the intended victim all along?—the resolution of the mystery was abrupt, almost coming out of thin air, and didn’t really tie in that well to the rest of the book. The focus of this book seemed to be just how many calories Hannah, Michelle and their friends could eat. I’m sorry, no one could eat as much as these people do and not gain weight. Two pieces of pie? Dessert with virtually every meal? While the food and the featured recipes sound delicious, that’s not my primary focus for reading this series.
The interaction of the characters has always provided a great deal of the charm in any Hannah Swensen mystery but several of the characters normally featured were nearly missing in this book. Lisa, Andrea and even the almost always annoying Delores, were given nothing more than cameos. Michelle and, to a lesser degree, Norman, were Hannah’s main counterparts. Mike, when present, was almost a caricature of his former self.
I will continue to read the series, at least in the near future, because I am curious about what happens next. Like the last book, this book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger.
Fans of this series will probably enjoy another visit to Lake Eden and I recommend it to them, though with the above reservations. I think a reader new to the series would be better served reading an earlier entry.
I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.
While the murder mystery itself started off intriguing—was it linked to Hannah’s husband Ross’s disappearance or was P.K. the intended victim all along?—the resolution of the mystery was abrupt, almost coming out of thin air, and didn’t really tie in that well to the rest of the book. The focus of this book seemed to be just how many calories Hannah, Michelle and their friends could eat. I’m sorry, no one could eat as much as these people do and not gain weight. Two pieces of pie? Dessert with virtually every meal? While the food and the featured recipes sound delicious, that’s not my primary focus for reading this series.
The interaction of the characters has always provided a great deal of the charm in any Hannah Swensen mystery but several of the characters normally featured were nearly missing in this book. Lisa, Andrea and even the almost always annoying Delores, were given nothing more than cameos. Michelle and, to a lesser degree, Norman, were Hannah’s main counterparts. Mike, when present, was almost a caricature of his former self.
I will continue to read the series, at least in the near future, because I am curious about what happens next. Like the last book, this book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger.
Fans of this series will probably enjoy another visit to Lake Eden and I recommend it to them, though with the above reservations. I think a reader new to the series would be better served reading an earlier entry.
I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.
March 20, 2018
Hannah is trying to deal with her new husband, Ross, having vanished while still getting her cookie shop ready for Thanksgiving. Then P.K., Ross’s assistant at the station, dies in a car accident. The police quickly determine that P.K. crashed because of poisoned candies he ate that were sent to the station. Was he the intended target? Or was Ross? Who sent the poisoned candies? Is this why Ross disappeared?
As you can see, there is plenty here for a good mystery. Instead, we get an average mystery. Much of the book is taken up with talking about food and baking, used to introduce the almost 30 recipes spread out over the story. There are some good twists in the mystery and the story of Hannah’s life, but the mystery especially is short changed and the ending feels rushed. The characters are fun as always. Longtime fans will still want to visit Hannah, but this is not going to draw new readers to the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As you can see, there is plenty here for a good mystery. Instead, we get an average mystery. Much of the book is taken up with talking about food and baking, used to introduce the almost 30 recipes spread out over the story. There are some good twists in the mystery and the story of Hannah’s life, but the mystery especially is short changed and the ending feels rushed. The characters are fun as always. Longtime fans will still want to visit Hannah, but this is not going to draw new readers to the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 10, 2020
3 ½ stars
This is the coziest of mystery series. If you are ok with that you will love the series. I’d say about 15-20% of this book is about trying to solve the crime and the overall series mystery about the location of Hannah’s husband Ross. The other 80-85 % of the book is about the characters all of whom I love, drink coffee, eat cookies, go out to dinner, bake, have dinner parties and play with the cats. Which I find charming and entertaining just not very exciting just know that going into it.
I absolutely hated it when
Cozies Reading Challenge
This is the coziest of mystery series. If you are ok with that you will love the series. I’d say about 15-20% of this book is about trying to solve the crime and the overall series mystery about the location of Hannah’s husband Ross. The other 80-85 % of the book is about the characters all of whom I love, drink coffee, eat cookies, go out to dinner, bake, have dinner parties and play with the cats. Which I find charming and entertaining just not very exciting just know that going into it.
I absolutely hated it when
Cozies Reading Challenge
January 4, 2019
I have to say that the mystery part of this book was pretty good.
*SPOILER*
Hannah's husband goes missing, leaving her a car and tons of bank accounts and actual cash--->
If your husband went missing after only 2 or 3 weeks of marriage, wouldn't you be concerned? Wouldn't you take some time off of work and if you were in the habit of snooping and solving crimes wouldn't you hunt your beloved, down?
Nope, not Hannah -she keeps the Cookie Jar going with her umpteenth 'new creation' (which sounds just like all the other cookies she's written about) plus she takes on the mystery of PK's death and his beloved Pinkie AND the responsibility of having a cookie booth at a crafts convention (?) Then to find out in the very last part of the very last chapter that Ross ISN'T married to Hannah -a freaking cliff-hanger???
*END SPOILERS*
Faugh - with the next book being a prologue book not about Ross's, shall we say, issues, I'm annoyed even more than usual! Well, this author is just going to lose money from me 'cause I ain't going to do it. I hate the new writing style, I hate all the unappetizing recipes, but I need to admit that at least Fluke has me hooked on how Ross is going to get out of this one ---OH! I know! He'll be murdered before he has time to explain!!! Hannah will have to invent a multitude of new cookies that are just the same as all the other 3,000 cookies she has invented, stick her nose into things that are not meant to have a civilian stick their nose into and eat 5,000 calories of cookies and muffins in each chapter. LOL
I truly feel sorry for all of those who paid full price for this book instead of getting it as a Kindle book special like I did. If I were one of those who paid full price I would ask for my money back (you can you know even on Kindle) -maybe that would make the author sit up and take notice that 'fans' are starting to get a bit annoyed.
*SPOILER*
Hannah's husband goes missing, leaving her a car and tons of bank accounts and actual cash--->
If your husband went missing after only 2 or 3 weeks of marriage, wouldn't you be concerned? Wouldn't you take some time off of work and if you were in the habit of snooping and solving crimes wouldn't you hunt your beloved, down?
Nope, not Hannah -she keeps the Cookie Jar going with her umpteenth 'new creation' (which sounds just like all the other cookies she's written about) plus she takes on the mystery of PK's death and his beloved Pinkie AND the responsibility of having a cookie booth at a crafts convention (?) Then to find out in the very last part of the very last chapter that Ross ISN'T married to Hannah -a freaking cliff-hanger???
*END SPOILERS*
Faugh - with the next book being a prologue book not about Ross's, shall we say, issues, I'm annoyed even more than usual! Well, this author is just going to lose money from me 'cause I ain't going to do it. I hate the new writing style, I hate all the unappetizing recipes, but I need to admit that at least Fluke has me hooked on how Ross is going to get out of this one ---OH! I know! He'll be murdered before he has time to explain!!! Hannah will have to invent a multitude of new cookies that are just the same as all the other 3,000 cookies she has invented, stick her nose into things that are not meant to have a civilian stick their nose into and eat 5,000 calories of cookies and muffins in each chapter. LOL
I truly feel sorry for all of those who paid full price for this book instead of getting it as a Kindle book special like I did. If I were one of those who paid full price I would ask for my money back (you can you know even on Kindle) -maybe that would make the author sit up and take notice that 'fans' are starting to get a bit annoyed.
March 5, 2018
I've read every book in this series and the last few have been declining. This one is a disappointment, though the conclusion gives me some hope. It seems like the book was "padded" with so much extra dialogue, i.e. addressing each character by his/her first name even if they were the only one in the room. It was also so unrealistic that Hannah, Norman, and Michelle were given such free reign to investigate. I know this is a cozy, but this was beyond ridiculous. Mike and Lonnie barely played a role in solving the crime. I really wasn't that engaged solving the mystery either and didn't really care who killed P.K.
I was also overwhelmed by the seven pages of instructions, comments, hints, etc. for the signature recipe of book, the Raspberry Danish. It is definitely not something I will be making. On the plus side, there are several recipes, like the Lemon Bars, that I will most likely try.
I was also overwhelmed by the seven pages of instructions, comments, hints, etc. for the signature recipe of book, the Raspberry Danish. It is definitely not something I will be making. On the plus side, there are several recipes, like the Lemon Bars, that I will most likely try.
July 6, 2018
2.5 stars
I still love this series, because it's been my brain candy for so long, but this book was truly bizarre. Most of it was inane chitchat about who was getting who coffee, what was for dinner that night, and whether or not Hannah should plug in her "cookie truck." Why did we need several detailed descriptions of outdoor outlets in this book? And I understand info dumps, but why did Fluke include them for things like dental implants and world-record sprinters, neither of which had anything to do with the story? Not to mention metal shortages during the war....
"I remember Great-Grandma Elsa telling us about the old rusty tractor that they hauled out from behind the barn and gave to a scrap metal drive."
"Yes, farm equipment was heavy (wow, really?!), and there were shortages of metal to make tanks, and ships, and all sorts of things. Some people even removed non-essential parts from their cars and donated those."
"Like what?"
"Bumpers and in some cases, even fenders. People went through their homes to donate anything made out of metal, and some families tore down wrought iron fences and donated those. Most families had someone close to them fighting in the war, a neighbor, a son, a nephew or cousin. Scrap drives became very important to them because everybody wanted to help the soldiers."
"Were there scrap drives for other things besides metal?" (Who would ask that?)
"Oh, yes..."
This riveting conversation ends with Hannah telling her sister about her condo's new recycling bin. What does all this have to do with the story? Absolutely nothing.
I love the recipes in these books, but about 90% of this "novel" involves discussing new recipes and how to make them.
"What's in the salad bowl?"
"I made a cut green bean, chopped hard-boiled egg and crumbled bacon salad. There's a sweet vinegar and ginger dressing in the bottom of the bowl, and I'll toss it when the guys arrive."
"But...I didn't buy any green beans. How did you...?"
"You had a package in the freezer," Michelle explained, anticipating the rest of Hannah's question. "All I had to do was cook them. And you had a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator."
Riveting.
Why don't we stop pretending Michelle goes to college, when all she does in every book is stay at Hannah's place, help out at the Cookie Jar, and make breakfast? Why doesn't Mike ever spring for food instead of showing up uninvited every time another character makes a meal? Argh.
And the non-ending cliffhanger. Talk about bad behaviour. Don't do that to your loyal readers. Just no.
I still love this series, because it's been my brain candy for so long, but this book was truly bizarre. Most of it was inane chitchat about who was getting who coffee, what was for dinner that night, and whether or not Hannah should plug in her "cookie truck." Why did we need several detailed descriptions of outdoor outlets in this book? And I understand info dumps, but why did Fluke include them for things like dental implants and world-record sprinters, neither of which had anything to do with the story? Not to mention metal shortages during the war....
"I remember Great-Grandma Elsa telling us about the old rusty tractor that they hauled out from behind the barn and gave to a scrap metal drive."
"Yes, farm equipment was heavy (wow, really?!), and there were shortages of metal to make tanks, and ships, and all sorts of things. Some people even removed non-essential parts from their cars and donated those."
"Like what?"
"Bumpers and in some cases, even fenders. People went through their homes to donate anything made out of metal, and some families tore down wrought iron fences and donated those. Most families had someone close to them fighting in the war, a neighbor, a son, a nephew or cousin. Scrap drives became very important to them because everybody wanted to help the soldiers."
"Were there scrap drives for other things besides metal?" (Who would ask that?)
"Oh, yes..."
This riveting conversation ends with Hannah telling her sister about her condo's new recycling bin. What does all this have to do with the story? Absolutely nothing.
I love the recipes in these books, but about 90% of this "novel" involves discussing new recipes and how to make them.
"What's in the salad bowl?"
"I made a cut green bean, chopped hard-boiled egg and crumbled bacon salad. There's a sweet vinegar and ginger dressing in the bottom of the bowl, and I'll toss it when the guys arrive."
"But...I didn't buy any green beans. How did you...?"
"You had a package in the freezer," Michelle explained, anticipating the rest of Hannah's question. "All I had to do was cook them. And you had a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator."
Riveting.
Why don't we stop pretending Michelle goes to college, when all she does in every book is stay at Hannah's place, help out at the Cookie Jar, and make breakfast? Why doesn't Mike ever spring for food instead of showing up uninvited every time another character makes a meal? Argh.
And the non-ending cliffhanger. Talk about bad behaviour. Don't do that to your loyal readers. Just no.
April 16, 2018
Hannah's husband Ross is missing. She's worried about him, so she throws herself into her work. Ross's coworker P.K. is filling in for Ross, using his office and driving his car. When P.K. dies mysteriously, Hannah looks into his death to determine if it was related to Ross's disappearance. Along the way, Hannah learns some new things about her husband.
The 22nd book in the Hannah Swensen series. These cozy mysteries are light and entertaining. A fast read that's good for fans of cozies. Plus, recipes are included for the mouthwatering treats they mention in the story.
I received a digital copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The 22nd book in the Hannah Swensen series. These cozy mysteries are light and entertaining. A fast read that's good for fans of cozies. Plus, recipes are included for the mouthwatering treats they mention in the story.
I received a digital copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2018
This was one of my favorite Hannah Swenson books!❤️
Schennagins+Mystery+cats= a fun and captivating read
I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. It kept me up at night.
Schennagins+Mystery+cats= a fun and captivating read
I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. It kept me up at night.
dnf
February 27, 2019I FINALLY WON A GOODREADS GIVE-AWAY! Woooooo hooooooo!
Should be getting this book soon.
**********
Ugh. This was so boring. I made it to pg. 88 and I couldn't read anymore.
Too much baking and coffee and not enough plot or story.
I love recipes in my culinary mysteries, but this was excessive.
I also wasn't impressed with the writing.
Oh well. My first GR giveaway win was a big bust.
Grade: DNF
Should be getting this book soon.
**********
Ugh. This was so boring. I made it to pg. 88 and I couldn't read anymore.
Too much baking and coffee and not enough plot or story.
I love recipes in my culinary mysteries, but this was excessive.
I also wasn't impressed with the writing.
Oh well. My first GR giveaway win was a big bust.
Grade: DNF
March 14, 2018
I tried very hard to like this book. So many recipes, so many cookies, I know that is her schtick, but it was overkill for me. The only thing that kept my interest was the mystery about where her new husband went. Maybe I will give the next one another chance.
March 4, 2018
I have read every single book in this series! I definitely liked this one more than the last one given that I HATED Ross.......all I want is for the Norman and Mike and Hannah triangle to last forever ;-)
March 4, 2018
3.5/5.....NOT MY IDEA OF A GOODS ENDING, THOUGH. So disappointed & frustrated that the next book will be a retrospective story.
September 10, 2018
I was very excited to read Raspberry Danish Murder (largely because of the title, not going to lie), but, ultimately, I couldn't plow through it and ended up abandoning it. You may be wondering: what could make a COZY MYSTERY so hard to read? After all, this genre is renowned for being very accessible, and how could a book with the words 'raspberry' and 'Danish' in the title be anything but?
Well, first and foremost, the author unleashes a positive BARRAGE of names on the reader. By the time I got to chapter ten or so, I realized I still had no clue who the characters were and what the differences between them were, which had never happened to me before. They all felt interchangeable, and that's clearly not good. That was pretty much the main reason why I gave up on this book. It made me feel very confused and disconnected from the story.
It is a shame, really, because the writing wasn't bad, and giving this book such a low rating doesn't feel right (especially given the fact that I didn't finish it), but I have to be honest. I was given a free e-book copy in exchange for a review.
Well, first and foremost, the author unleashes a positive BARRAGE of names on the reader. By the time I got to chapter ten or so, I realized I still had no clue who the characters were and what the differences between them were, which had never happened to me before. They all felt interchangeable, and that's clearly not good. That was pretty much the main reason why I gave up on this book. It made me feel very confused and disconnected from the story.
It is a shame, really, because the writing wasn't bad, and giving this book such a low rating doesn't feel right (especially given the fact that I didn't finish it), but I have to be honest. I was given a free e-book copy in exchange for a review.
February 10, 2018
Raspberry Danish Murder has brought back the Hannah we've all come to love.
Still trying to come to terms with the disappearance of her husband Ross, Hannah leaves no stone unturned as she continues to search for answers.
With the sudden death of her husband's assistant, Hannah has the feeling that something just isn't right.
Of course Hannah has the help of her best friends Mike and Norman, and her sister Michelle is back as well.
It was nice having Hannah back as her usual self even though she was worried about Ross.
The end startled me, I was not prepared for what Mike had found out.
I don't want to reveal to much but for all the devoted Hannah fans, you won't be disappointed.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
Still trying to come to terms with the disappearance of her husband Ross, Hannah leaves no stone unturned as she continues to search for answers.
With the sudden death of her husband's assistant, Hannah has the feeling that something just isn't right.
Of course Hannah has the help of her best friends Mike and Norman, and her sister Michelle is back as well.
It was nice having Hannah back as her usual self even though she was worried about Ross.
The end startled me, I was not prepared for what Mike had found out.
I don't want to reveal to much but for all the devoted Hannah fans, you won't be disappointed.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
March 8, 2018
**I voluntarily read this ARC**
Well, it's an improvement over Banana Cream Pie Murder. The writing style is still very confusing. It started out with a juvenile style, then randomly switched to describing the death in detail, and went right back to juvenile. I'm still not sure who the target audience is at this point. Ignoring the weird writing, the mystery was pretty good. I am a little annoyed that it ended on another cliffhanger (but wow, that was a shocking one). Since cliffhangers were never used in the series until recently, could this be a ploy to try to keep readers?
Well, it's an improvement over Banana Cream Pie Murder. The writing style is still very confusing. It started out with a juvenile style, then randomly switched to describing the death in detail, and went right back to juvenile. I'm still not sure who the target audience is at this point. Ignoring the weird writing, the mystery was pretty good. I am a little annoyed that it ended on another cliffhanger (but wow, that was a shocking one). Since cliffhangers were never used in the series until recently, could this be a ploy to try to keep readers?
June 12, 2018
It's Thanksgiving, and Hannah's husband has gone missing. A good beginning, I thought. Hannah is trying to cover her grief by working. Of course, super cop Mike is no help. Then Ross's assistant is murdered, while driving Ross's car. Hannah starts to investigate. She finds things out about Ross she wishes she didn't, and of course, solves the mystery.
Was this part of the plan all along? Marriage, abandonment, then back to status quo ante?
Was this part of the plan all along? Marriage, abandonment, then back to status quo ante?
July 29, 2020
Well, well, well the plot thickens around the illusive missing Ross. I must say the murder plot was back on a good track for a cozy mystery considering the lousy plots of several past books of the series which were just so poorly written. Unfortunately, in my opinion the writing flow, especially the dialogue in this book is still too sub par to rate a higher rating.
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