Spring has sprung in Lake Eden, Minnesota, but Hannah Swensen doesn’t have time to stop and smell the roses—not with hot cross buns to make, treats to bake, and a sister to exonerate!
Hannah’s up to her ears with Easter orders rushing in at The Cookie Jar, plus a festive meal to prepare for a dinner party at her mother’s penthouse. But everything comes crashing to a halt when Hannah receives a panicked call from her sister Andrea—Mayor Richard Bascomb has been murdered . . . and Andrea is the prime suspect.
Even with his reputation for being a bully, Mayor Bascomb—or “Ricky Ticky,” as Hannah’s mother likes to call him—had been unusually testy in the days leading up to his death, leaving Hannah to wonder if he knew he was in danger. Meanwhile, folks with a motive for mayoral murder are popping up in Lake Eden. Was it a beleaguered colleague? A political rival? A jealous wife? Or a scorned mistress?
As orders pile up at The Cookie Jar—and children line up for Easter egg hunts—Hannah must spring into investigation mode and identify the real killer . . . before another murder happens!
Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
Release Date: February 23, 2021
Kensington Publishing Corporation
Hannah Swensen #27
Cozy Mystery
Review copy provided by publisher
Liza's Review:
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder is the newest release in the Hannah Swensen series from Joanne Fluke. I know with each new installment in the series I'm going to get a mystery and lots of new recipes, and in the 27th book in the series, readers are given 31 new recipes to drool over, along with the mystery of who killed Mayor Richard Bascomb.
I really enjoyed Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder. Hannah Swensen is at her sleuthing best with the help of Norman and Andrea. I will say I didn't like Hannah's new inner voice battle, and I felt like Andrea seemed to be weaker than she ever has been before in other books. Both honestly distracted me from the story a good bit. I really do hope these character changes were a one-time thing, as it was so at odds with the characters from past books.
I honestly wasn't that surprised by someone killing Mayor Bascomb. The man had cheated on his wife for years, and wasn't really a very nice person. Even with Andrea being the main suspect, Hannah knows her sister can help her once again solve a murder in their hometown of Lake Eden. The fact that Andrea's husband is the sheriff and couldn't have anything to do with the investigation, and for once Mike seemed to want Hannah's help, was actually refreshing for me. I liked they planned to share what they each learned this time to save Andrea, rather than work against each other. As Hannah is still dealing with so much from the loss of Ross, I almost wonder if Mike and even Norman aren't being extra cautious with her right now, and I have to say overall I liked, but really hope Hannah is back to the strong woman she has always been in the past soon.
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder was heavier on food and recipes than on mystery, but the mystery was part of the story for sure. I figured it out pretty early in the book, but like the path Hannah, Mike, and their friends took to find the killer. This is a cozy mystery book, so yes, the story overall is light, and that is part of the reason I keep coming back book after book. I love the community that exist in each cozy mystery series, and the Hannah Swensen books are no different. While I did have some reservations with some of the character changes in this book, it was still a good story overall and I look forward to my next visit to Lake Eden.
Rating: 4 Stars (B-)
