Key Lime Pie Murder

And that is the setting for this eighth entry in the Hannah Swenson series. Hannah is involved in a big way in the Tri-County summer fair, and she and her friends also get involved in a murder. One of her fellow judges in the Baked Goods section is murdered right at the fair, and Hannah stumbles on the body. These people (Hannah and her family and friends) are starting to really feel like friends of mine. I love the interplay between the characters, and the various personalities. And the stories are quite funny too. Hannah's ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl at the end of the book is hilarious! Sometimes the mysteries are a little easy to figure out, like this one is, but that does not detract from the sheer fun of reading these books. It is a show more delight, and I'm sorry that I'm almost up-to-date on this series, and will be left waiting each year for the next one. show less

A messy instalment in an otherwise enjoyable series. Too fractured, too obvious & a little too repetitive with the whole Norman/Mike thing

Good thing for me that I have a connection with some of the characters because this book was so much slower than previous books in the series and I would have lost interest. I love Hannah and her cat Moishe, but it wasn't enough to keep me going for several chapters before the mystery kicked off.
Hannah's love triangle is getting weird at this point in the game. Both men know about each others relationship with Hannah and are quite chummy about it.
Either way, I'll be back for more. Historically, there has been more to love between the characters, the setting and a mystery that almost always pleases, so on to the next.

Back for a visit with the Lake Eden folks and I noticed that not much has changed (not surprising). Murder continues to be an ongoing occurrence for the lake town, and Hannah continues to dither in choosing between her two romantic interests. The town fair is a nice change of pace, introducing some new characters, even though I had to groan when Fluke rolled out the county fair baking contest as part of the story. Yes, it gives Fluke an opportunity to share more food recipes, something that is unnecessary given that Fluke doesn’t seem to have any difficulties in bringing food into any part of her stories. The mystery is okay, albeit a weak one, and it took a looong time before the murderous act occurs. When it did, I had to rewind show more back a few minutes to identify the murderous moment. And here I was thinking/hoping that this installment was going to be a murder-free murder mystery. Silly me. Of course, this means that the actual clues gathering and investigation is rushed through the final part of the story, and another strike against the overall effect the mystery had on me. Yes, I still enjoy the cast of Lake Eden townfolk that, IMO, give the series its overall appeal. I just wish I could understand why Fluke has taken to having her characters make Hannah feel self-conscious about weight, body shape and dieting…. I found that just, odd. show less

It’s summer in Lake Eden, Minnesota, Hannah’s cat Moisha is acting strangely, there’s a fair on, which means temptation in the form of all things fried candy bars, and of course, a baking contest to judge. And wherever Hannah goes? Murder follows.

So many yummy recipes in this one, plus lots of fun scenes at the fairgrounds. The judging of the baking competition got into lots of different pies, which is going to get me on a pie kick for sure, especially with that key lime! When one of the judges is murdered, Lucy has to figure out whodunnit. Lots of twists and turns with this particular mystery. And figure out what’s up with Moisha (which I confess, I found even more perplexing than the main murder plot! Oh, the cats!)

Please show more excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

Hannah is at it again, dishing out yummy food and discovering bodies! Hannah has her hands full as she is busy cooking for the Tri-County Fair, bakes treats for the Chamber of Commerce, judging the baking contest, and finding a fellow judge, and a key lime pie overturned. WHAT A HORRIBLE DEATH AND A TERRIBLE WASTE OF A PIE!

Hannah is up to her knees in murder gain as she discovers another dead body and as with the other books in this series, she is up to her knees in cookies, coffee, other baked goods, two guys competing for her affections and the regular cast of Lake Eden.
This is one of those series that is simply fun to read. I will be honest here and admit to you that I do not take the mysteries in these books by Joanne Fluke all that serious, and I have the distinct feeling that the author does not either. I really don’t feel they are set up as traditional “who done its,” but rather pleasing little vehicles to describe the life in a small Minnesota town. As with the other books in this series, Hannah, et al are kind of caught in a time warp, show more especially Hannah who is thirty something, is not married, has rejected cell phones, computers and many of the techie stuff we are all surrounded with on a daily basis. Her attitude toward sex, excitement, game playing is right out of the 1950s. This in a strong way is quite refreshing. I rather admire the author for sticking to her guns.

In this story, Hannah is the baking judge at the annual town get-together, her younger sister is in the beauty contest, her mother is still trying to get Hanna married off and our heroine is still baking up a storm at her cookie shop and home while consuming mass quantities of coffee. I do not that in this offering that our young Miss in mentioned to have put on about twenty extra pounds…hmmm, I wonder why. Anyway, one of the ladies connected with the pageant is murdered, in a rather brutal way and guess what? Yup, Hannah finds the body. Furthermore, our nosey redhead immediately sets about the task of solving the murder.

These are simply written books and are quite predictable. If you are looking for something that will challenge your mind, leave you gasping in awe over the twisting turning plot, or are looking for some torrid love scenes, then you probably should look else where. These, as I stated, are simply fun books to read; good ones to kill (no pun intended) a rainy Saturday with. The author has again been kind enough to share in great detail, many of the recipes included in the book. I have, like in the past, tried some of these edible delights and the author has come up with some winners here.

For a good enjoyable read, one that will not tax you all that much, you could do worse. Now if you are looking for great literature, Greek tragedies, complex Victorian syntax, complicated plots or jaded romance, then there are literally thousand upon thousands of those lining your library shelves…go read them.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks show less