Double Fudge Brownie Murder (Hannah Swensen #18) by Joanne Fluke

Hannah has to go court.  She was driving down a country road in high winds and rain and attempted to drive around a downed tree.  She made it but while doing it, she ran over a body at the side of the road.  The DA has decided to charge with her vehicular manslaughter.  Her attorney tells her there is no case against her but it doesn't feel like that to Hannah.

Kensington Books sent me an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  It will be published this month, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

The judge has called Hannah and her lawyer to meet with him.  They are to wait until he's ready for them.  Her lawyer goes out to take a cell phone call and she hears a strange noise in the judge's chamber.  She leaves the lawyer to his call and opens the door to check on the judge.  Yep, you guessed it.  Hannah has found another body...

Her cop boyfriend, Mike, tells her she's on his list of suspects.  The judge had dismissed her case, but she didn't know that at the time.  She gets a bit irritated at him because he knows she didn't do it but she can't argue over the point.  She had access to him.

Norman is still around and still has moon struck eyes for her.  He's mellow and hugs good and has a cat that's compatible with hers.  Both men would like to marry her but she's resisted so far.

Hannah and her sisters are going on a private jet to Las Vegas where the her mother and her new love will be marrying.  This is the doctor's idea to avoid the big wedding and the girls aren't sure how Mom is going to like it.  Fortunately, she does.

What Hannah didn't expect was the best man.  He's another love interest that she hasn't seen for a long time.  She's still attracted by him and he seems mutually interested.  It seems Mom was doing a bit of match making.

There are lots of new recipes in the book and by the end of the story, Hannah has received three marriage proposals all in the same day.  She thinks she's decided but Hannah isn't reliable in the men department.  I'm waiting for the next book to see what really happens.

Dead Giveaway by Joanne Fluke

It's hot in Las Vegas and not just from the heat...

Kensington Books sent me a copy of their new publication of this book for review (thank you).  It has been republished and you can buy a copy at your local bookstore now.

A beautiful condo has been built in the pristine mountains close to Las Vegas and only certain people are allowed to rent the units.  You have to be discreet, rich, well-mannered and have no bad habits.  The select few chosen to live there fit that description.  What no one knows is that the disabled lady living there is a ticking time bomb for others...

This had the feeling of an old Agatha Christie story.  When I read it, it was Ten Little Indians.  It was later retitled And Then There Were None.  

The plot of this story consists of a few killings at the start of the book, meeting the folks that live at the condo, and then being stuck in the condo due to an avalance.  When people start dying in the condo, they think it's all accidental.  Then they realize they are housing a murderer.  But which one is the murderer?

This is a suspenseful, tense story with several unusual characters.  Most are very resourceful and are more than they seem in appearance.  It was much more exciting than I anticipated.  It would make a great movie.

My favorite part are the romances.  Couples that had separated came together again, the main female character finally found a man worth her love, and the ironic ending with disabled woman was perfect.  I really enjoyed this read.  Maybe you will, too!

Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen is back in her bakery and can focus on her business now.  She's creating new recipes and spending time with family and friends and life is good.  At least it is until she's driving home in foggy stormy weather and goes around a fallen tree.  As she comes around the tree, she hits a man she couldn't see...

Kensington Books sent me an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  It's being published this month, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Hannah explains what happened and thinks it's over with but she's rudely arrested in a restaurant and put in jail for murder.  Her brother-in-law is the sheriff, and he's suddenly at odds with his wife over this action.  Mike refused to do it, so he's been suspended.  He may be a cop but he's also Hannah's friend and knows it was not intentional.  She finally gets bail put up for her by Norman (another love interest for Hannah) and then it becomes apparent she's going to have to figure out how that man got there, who he is, and why he was there.  The police seemed to have stopped their hunt when they picked her up.  Luckily, Mike is off and he can help.

This was a pretty good mystery with good recipes thrown in but I'm growing increasingly impatient with Hannah and her love interests.  The author just keeps Hannah in limbo, loving them both but making no decisions.  I'm ready for her to settle down.  I also had a problem with the ending of this story.  It seems to be finished and then on the last page the attorney brings up another issue.  I suppose that is supposed to be a cliff hanger but it left a bad taste in my mouth.  This is a series and each book should stand alone.  This makes me feel like you need to buy the next one to finish the original story.

It is the author's story and her characters but they've become real enough to me I want to have a talk with Hannah.  I'd say Ms. Fluke succeeded in making me care about her characters!

Winter Chill by Joanne Fluke

This is a very cold tale and it's not just the weather in story...

Kensington Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

One of the worst horrors that could happen to a parent has.  Dan and Marian have lost their young daughter in a snowmobiling accident and Dan is paralyzed.  Their normal life has disappeared, the grief is overwhelming and they are both trying to become functional again.  The pain is almost overwhelming and neither one is good at expressing themselves.  They become almost strangers as they try to hide feelings from each other.

Dan tells her Laura is in heaven waiting for her and she takes heart from that.  She begins to find notes from her daughter around the house.  One was one written before her death, one Dan wrote to help her heal, and the rest just keep appearing.  Dan suspects Marian is writing them in her sleep; that's happened before.  Dan also dreams of walking.  The doctor says it's hysterical paralysis; he could get well at any time.  So is it a dream or is it true? Then Laura's classmates begin to die.  Marian says that Laura is happy to have the company.  

Ms. Fluke writes a twisted tale that gives you the creeps.  I couldn't decide who I thought was guilty, but I knew it had to be one of them.

The last line in this book is a real chiller.  It's ironic, answers the question of who the killer was, and it made me gasp.  Why don't you give the story a read and see what you think?  Just remember a perfectly normal person can be driven crazy by grief...

Happy reading.

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swenson just has a talent for finding dead bodies.  She's already found more than her fair share and now she's being accused of murdering her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend.

Kensington sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It's been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Hannah is a great cook and everyone around her is experimenting with new recipes and sharing them.  Now if she could just cook up a romance and decide on which man she wanted to pursue, it'd be great.  She's fond of both Norm and Mike and she hasn't committed to either yet.  When Doctor Bev breezes back into town, Hannah feels threatened by her.  Bev was Norman's fiance for a while.  

She doesn't have much time to dwell on that, though, because the sheriff's secretary gets shoved off the top floor of the new hotel and almost dies.  While she's wondering who did that to Barbara, Bev dies in a pond.  However, she didn't drown...

There is plenty of action, the romance angle is interesting, and the murderer is no one I suspected.  Why not see if you can figure out how to save Hannah from failed romances and a murder charge before the end of the book? 

Happy reading. 

Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen is going to lose Norman if she doesn't fight for what she wants...

Kensington will be publishing this book in March, and sent me an ARC for review (thank you).  This character has her own series, but this is the first book I've read about her.  She's an enjoyable character!

This is very interesting twisted tale with interconnections that aren't obvious.  Ms. Fluke's characters are a tight family of Mom and girls that are willing to work together to help solve mysteries.  The mystery this time is why a musician in the hospital for a bus accident injury was knifed to death.  There is seeming no connection with the people in their small town and a transient band member.  But someone killed him...

I especially enjoyed the interplay between the girls and Mom. Everyone is very independent, very opinionated and they are all passionate about chocolate.  Chocolate will comfort you when you're upset, stimulate your brain for thinking, and it just tastes good generally.

It's a good mystery with lots of intrigue, Hannah's love interest, and lots of recipes to make your mouth drool.  You can even make the goodies to enhance your future reading sessions.  What more could you want?

If you'd like to win my ARC, please leave a comment here on my blog and email me at info at bookfaerie.com with your NAME AND ADDRESS and tell me why you'd like to read it.  I'll pick a winner in about a week.

Happy reading.