It's Murder Dontcha Know: A Quirky Murder Mystery with Recipes

by Jeanne Cooney

After a hard life on a farm in northwestern Minnesota’s Red River Valley, Doris Connor buries her philanderer husband and moves her century-old Sears and Roebuck farmhouse into the small Scandinavian community of Hallock, located on the edge of nowhere. She longs for a retirement heavy on solitude and serenity, but her plans are put on hold when her flamboyant sister and a ninety-year-old friend of the family move in. To further complicate matters, the local pharmacy is robbed, the suspect is murdered, and the sheriff believes Doris’s two adult children of being complicit in the crimes. Doris realizes that a placid existence is possible only if she first proves her children’s innocence. But can she find the killer among the folks in Hallock? And if she does, will the sheriff, an old flame but a new headache, believe her?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

354 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2022

About the author

Jeanne Cooney, a native of Minnesota’s northern Red River Valley, presently lives and works in the Twin Cities but is eager to return to the northland when she retires from the U.S. Department of Justice. Jeanne holds a bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, where she studied public affairs and writing.

When not at work, Jeanne enjoys reading and writing cozy mysteries. Her favorite authors are Janet Evanovich (the Stephanie Plum series), Sarah Strohmeyer (the Bubbles series), and Lois Greiman (the Chrissy McMullen series). She also enjoys baking and has won a number of ribbons for her cookies and bars at the Minnesota State Fair. But mostly, Jeanne loves time with family and friends, particularly her children and granddaughter. These times are especially treasured when spent at her lake cabin in central Minnesota.

When asked about her experience as a newly published author, Jeanne said, “A few years back, I started writing a quirky family cookbook. It turned into my first novel, Hot Dish Heaven: A Murder Mystery with Recipes. And now that, in turn, is becoming a series. Granted, it’s not the great American novel. People won’t learn the meaning of life by reading it. But they might laugh away an afternoon or discover a simple comfort-food recipe for supper. And that’s not so bad now, is it?”

(from her website)

Reviews

[Dori Anvinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It takes place near where I live and has lots of local references. And it’s funny! Plus recipes!

[Jodi Haen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, sure, you betcha.

Cooney nails the Minnesota vibe perfectly—think hotdish gossip at the local café, "you betcha" dialogue, and that warm, folksy humor that feels like home for anyone from the North Star State. The recipes sprinkled throughout are a fun bonus too!
It's light-hearted, engaging, and full of heart—perfect for a cozy winter read. I give it a solid 4/5 stars. Highly recommended, especially if you're a Minnesotan who loves a good murder mystery with authentic local flavor, dontcha know!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read any books by this author, but this one caught my eye in the “new” section at my local library. Another fun mystery! Doris Connor hasn’t had an easy time recently, her cheating husband died on her and she had their century-old farmhouse moved closer to town. She just wants to rest and decide what will come next for here, but the local pharmacy is robbed, the suspect is murdered and she finds the body in a dumpster, and now the sheriff suspects Doris’s two adult children of committing the crimes. What’s a person to do? I’ll be finding more of this lady’s books.

[Sue Ready · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Jeanne Cooney has cooked up another cozy mystery titled “It's Murder, Dontcha You Know.” Her pot simmers on the stove with crisp, sharp, witty sentences peppered with metaphors, similes, idioms and hyperboles that are gently stirred in. Each one added captures the distinctive flavors of Midwest humor. Once cooked, readers will find themselves being served a heaping bowl of satisfying and entertaining fun.

“It's Murder Dontcha You Know” is Cooney's first book on her new three book “It's Murder” series set in the small town of Hallock located in the Red River Valley. While the town's name is real as well as some roads and businesses, the characters are fictitious. Doris Connor, the protagonist, narrates the story. After a hard life on a farm in northwestern Minnesota's Red River Valley, she buries her philandering husband and moves to the small Scandinavian community of Hallock, located on the edge of nowhere. She's hoping her move will finally bring her peace and solitude. But her plans are waylaid when her sister Grace, owner of The More Hot Dish, Please Cafe, and their feisty ninety-year-old friend of the family, Rose moves in. Doris's life is never the same as they embark on many unexpected adventures.

To further complicate matters, the local pharmacy is robbed, the prime suspect is murdered, and the sheriff believes Doris's two adult children Will and Erin to be prime suspects. Grace takes it upon herself to do her own sleuthing, hoping to uncover the murderer and absolve her children of any crime.

Cooney creates quirky but relatable characters who find themselves in humorous situations while trying to discover who the murderer is. Since Hallock is a close knit community everyone knows everybody's business. Cooney is a master at creating engaging humorous dialogue as characters interact with one another. Clues, alibis, plot twists and turns, shifting relationships and alliances keep the reader guessing right down to the last page who the murderer really is.

Food plays a central theme to the story since Doris finds solace in eating while she contemplates her problems. Devouring M&M's is a frequent pastime. A favorite Doris passage of mine is “I couldn't imagine any better way to combat residual shame and despair than downing plain M&M's, followed by a peanut M&M chaser.”

A sense of nostalgia comes with the inclusion of some old fashioned food favorite recipes from the 50's, 60's and 70's such as Chicken Tetrazzini Baked Hot Dish, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars and State Fair M&M cookies found at the end of the book.

Cooney has mastered the elements of writing a cozy mystery enhanced with her Midwest humor and descriptive sentences. What joy to discover she is currently working on book two of the “It's Murder” series. A tentative book title is “It's Murder, You Betcha” for a 2023 Spring release date.

[Jess M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a cozy Minnesotan Murder Mystery! Doris Connor has a lot going on in life. She is moving on from her dead beat (literally dead) husband, taking care of Rose an elderly relative (my favorite character), a grandchild on the way.... then darn it to heck she finds a body in a dumpster. Now it's time to solve this mystery, keep her kids out of the mess and fight off romantic prospects. You'll have a great time with this book especially if you're from Northern Minnesota! It has the up north home vibe!

I listened to this audiobook, read by my friend Mary Aalgaard! She has the perfect Minnesotan voice for this book!

[Michelle Rosenau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read by local author Jeanne Cooney. Hard to put down once you've started reading. I've read all her Hot Dish murder mystery books and thoroughly enjoyed them. Her writing style reminds me of Janet Evonovich with the added bonus of recipes. Living in Hallock I enjoy all the local references also.

[Kathleen Chrisman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author had me hooked from the first page. I laughed out loud while reading all the mischief Doris and her sister Grace get into throughout the story. I haven't read this author before but am looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Candace Simar · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, you will love this book. Set in northern MN, It's Murder Dontcha Know unfolds a story that will keep you laughing. Well done, Jeanne Cooney!

[Pauline Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

U⁷⁸

[Trish Feeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A laugh out loud mystery. Plenty of kookie characters. I’d highly recommend it as a fun read.

[Tina McKeever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to get caught up in a small town murder- this is the book for you. Doris can’t help herself but to become involved and stick her nose in where it doesn’t belong. You can’t put the book down!

[Paula Stock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was certainly a fun and quick read. It just went a bit overboard on the "Minnesota talk" and descriptions of people and places...a little TOO stereotypical.

[Dwight C]

Was interesting ONLY because set in Hallock, and I still didn't read more than half.

[Mary Fahnlander · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me. Didn't finish. I may have been interested in the plot but grew impatient with all the extra verbiage meant to elicit a chuckle. Too much for my taste, and I'm from Minnesota 😀.

[Patsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Very enjoyable!

[Mary Aalgaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun read. Jeanne Cooney knows how to create quirky characters who find themselves solving mysteries and navigating the “everybody knows your business” small town. This is a murder mystery with recipes…and comedy. Cooney sprinkles in humorous actions, reactions, and quips that make you chuckle as you try to solve the puzzle of what happened to Buck Daniel. Set in the Northwest corner of MN, where the Red River flows north into Canada, Doris Connor has moved her farmhouse into town and is adjusting to life as a 50-something widow in a small town. Her daughter just got out of an unpleasant relationship. Her son and his wife are expecting their first baby. The local sheriff may, or may not, need her help solving the crime. Her sister has moved in with her, as well as their ersatz mother Rose. I enjoyed reading this book. I’ll be trying one of the recipes this week for White Chicken Chili. I read Hotdish Heaven by Cooney this year and ordered the next two books in that series. She’s writing two more with Doris as the central character. Wooo hooo!

Update: The White Chicken Chili was a hit! I’ll be making it again, and my son took a snapshot of the recipe!