Plum Pudding Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) (edition 2009)

Recipes were interesting but I did't think there was much suspense or intrigue. Just not very well written. ( )

Hannah Swenson is as busy as ever at the Cookie Jar, not only is she baking for her shop but for the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot as well. It’s no surprise that the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot is running out of cookies way before closing time and so Hannah meets with the owner, Larry Jaeger to add more cookies to the order. Late one night she stops by the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot to pick up a check, she discovers the body of Larry. With the support of various friends and family, Hannah is on the hunt for the killer. Can she survive another confrontation with the killer?

Yes, this is like the other Hannah mystery- main plot with subplots (this one being about Norman's mom, Carrie and how she has been blowing off friends and family causing everyone to worry about her making Hannah and Norman make sure she's not in any trouble. Even Mike is involved as he is worried Carrie is stealing from the mall.) But this book is different Larry dose not die for a long time! Pages and pages go by without his death. I was left wondering if it would ever happen!

I have a few problems with this book as well. First being Hannah use to be a strong women in my mind and lately I just don’t see it anymore. I feel like she is being walked over by everyone because she can cook. You can really see it in the scenes were Mike comes over late for no real reason at a time when he should know she would be sleeping as she gets up super early every day. You can even tell by her thoughts that she does not want to make more coffee and just wants to go to bed but will so that Mike is not disappointed in her. The other time this problem occurred was when Hannah was serving x-mass dinner. It was not about being with family and friends but about the food that on the table. I was left with a feeling of her being used.

Next problem is the Mike and Norman issue. We still have a triangle… and everyone looks happy about it. Mike is shown hardly at all and when he dose… not in the best light. Believing that Carrie is stealing- shows his off to be a bad detective in my mind. Coming late to Hannah’s place- makes his out to be a jerk who only wants to be feed well. Saving her at the end- kind of random as Mike is hardly investigating at all in Larry’s death. Mike= Steam man beef. And I hate to say it but I feel like Mike is being used by Hannah, used for his hotness. When Hannah’s thoughts bring up his cheating again, I no longer feel bad for her, but happy that Mike can see that his relationship with Hannah is going no were at all…

Norman on the other had is the opposite of Mike. In this book he is her right hand man, even finds the body with her. He asks Hannah all the time if he can help with anything, even cooking and wrapping her gifts. But there is two things he lacks: steamy heat and willingness to win Hannah hands over his friendship with Mike. Norman is almost too safe to pick. And wait! The love triangle might become a square?!? Who is this blast from the past? Do we hate him… love him? I really don’t know other than Hannah looks as if she does not want to see him again.

Will I keep reading this? Yes I will. It is not because the town will soon have no one left to kill, but for the fact that it’s light and fluffy. What I want most is for Hannah’s love life to be with one man, and the cat to keep on being entertaining. I hope with this new guy something happens to shake up this little town from the nap it’s been having! ( )

I loved the earlier Hannah Swansen mysteries, but the last four (Plum Pudding, Devil's Food Cake, , Cream Puff, Apple Turnover) have become problematic. Way too many recipes, way too little mystery. And, frankly, the love interests are getting very rote and her attempt to make them more complex has just made Mike more callous and put Norman in an absurd situation that has no credibility. And her other characters are losing their edge. ( )

Light and Fluffy and fun! It was exactly what I was looking for in a cozy. This is generally a very comfortable series.I skipped over book #11 since it wasn't available for download from my library, and I don't think I missed anything.I particularly liked that Hannah actually seemed to be making some progress with her dueling suitors, and it is in the direction I'd choose for her. I wouldn't be surprised for this to all be undone in the next book, which would disappoint me tremendously, but for now I'm happy.The dessert recipes made me hungry, as usual. One day, I'll actually try making one of them. The characters are generally likable.I didn't buy the storyline with Norman's mother, but it wasn't unexpected, given the history of the series. ( )

If I wasn't hungry for dessert, all I had to do is pick up this book and read a chapter. Almost every chapter ends with a dessert recipe. I found the book a bit boring. Something I might write, but not something I want to read by a published author. ( )