Caramel Pecan Roll Murder

I know these books aren't written to be spectacular mysteries but I read these mainly for the cozy aspects: a group of people who love and care for each other and the funny antics of their respective cats. But, this book was so rote, the murderer so obvious (I knew who it was the minute the character was introduced), the cozy aspects barely present that I had a hard time finishing this.

It didn't help that this book had continuity issues i.e. we're told that Hannah got off the elevator to head towards the bar only to be told a couple of sentences later that Hannah was waiting to get on the elevator to take her down to the bar. In another incident we're told that Hannah and Andrea woke up together only to be told a few pages later that show more Hannah woke up before Andrea and left her sleeping!

I'm seriously wondering if the author was watching television or multi-tasking when writing this. show less

Hannah does it again. She finds a dead body, but this time the corpse is in a boat on the water. At least that’s a change! Sonny was not well liked, which is not surprising since he really wasn’t a nice person. Still, his fiancée was willing to go through with the wedding, even after she caught him cheating on her. Now Hannah must go through her list laundry list of suspects to get to the murderer. It’s an intriguing mystery, but it probably takes a backseat to the ongoing tale of Hannah’s love life. Mike and Norman are both still pursuing her. But she seems content with the status quo for now. I never get tired of these mysteries, and the several recipes that come with each story always sound tasty and easy to make, especially show more with Hannah’s tips. show less

Caramel Pecan Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke is the 28th A Hannah Swensen Mystery. I do not feel Caramel Pecan Roll Murder is a standalone book. New readers will find the background information needed to be missing. Fans of the series (like me), though, will enjoy it. I have read every Hannah Swensen mystery. Caramel Pecan Roll Murder picks up a few weeks after the death with Ross, Hannah’s “husband” has been cleared up. Hannah is lacking her confidence after everything that has happened. I hope she gets it back soon. I understand that Hannah loves her condo, but I feel it would be best for her and Moishe if she sold it and found a new place to live (I see her in a cozy little house with lots of play space for Moishe and Cuddles). I show more feel bad for Moishe, and I am glad that he has Cuddles to keep him company and has Hannah’s mother to spoil him. The mystery had a dead television host at a fishing tournament. The man was a piece of work so naturally there are a number of suspects. Hannah with help from Andrea sets out to hook the killer. Hannah could use the diversion as her thoughts keep going back to Ross. There are good clues to help readers solve the crime before the reveal. The reveal was dramatic and tense. We get all our questions answered regarding the whodunit. The pacing was a little slower for Caramel Pecan Roll Murder. I enjoyed my latest visit to Lake Eden. We are left with a little cliffhanger at the end of Caramel Pecan Roll Murder. I am curious how it will turn out. I enjoyed catching up with Hannah, Mike, Norman, Delores, Andrea, Michelle, Lonnie, Lisa, and, of course, Moishe. I look forward to seeing what Hannah will do next. Caramel Pecan Roll Murder is a tasty treat with timorous Moishe, a sloshed Sonny, a distressed Sally, a helpful Hannah, a considerate Norman, able assistant Andrea, a sympathetic Mike, and a mysterious murder. show less

Hannah Swensen has been asked to step in as the pastry chef at the Lake Eden Inn which is hosting a national fishing contest. As usual Hannah gets caught in the middle of a murder investigation when the celebrity competition host is found in his boat dead.

The mystery as usual is extremely light but the recipes that are included sound delicious.
The ending had a twist in character development that I'm not sure seem true to the character but we shall see in the future.

An enjoyable book, just not too heavy on the mystery.

I have read a lot from this series, and I'm probably ready to move on. So sorry. I found this book to be almost maddingly simple. Not only is everyone a goody two shoes, but the way they talk to each other is completely ridiculous, coming off feeling stilted and simplistic. The story includes recipes for the cookies etc. that Hannah is making, but once again, we're being treat like morons. Ex: " If you can't find shredded pepper jack cheese buy a block and grate it." "put the shredded (or grated) pepper jack cheese in a second bowl" etc. One recipe takes up 8 pages, way too much explanation. Plus there were several glaring grammar boo boos; using I, instead of me. The story itself had the potential to develop into something worthwhile show more since it touched on the topic of burnout, but it didn't take it and run. show less

Embracing a sweet escape from her usual routine at The Cookie Jar, Hannah gets asked for her help in baking pastries at the local inn for a flashy fishing competition with big prizes and even bigger names. But the fun stops when she spots a runway boat on the water and, on board, the lifeless body of the event’s renowned celebrity spokesperson…
Famed TV show host Sonny Bowman wasn’t humble about his ability to reel in winning catches, and no one knew that better than his tragically overworked sidekick, Joey. Did Joey finally take bloody revenge on his pompous boss—or was Sonny killed by a jealous contestant?
With goodies to bake and a mess of fresh challenges mixed into her personal life, it’s either sink or swim as Hannah joins show more forces with her sister, Andrea, to catch a clever culprit before another unsuspecting victim goes belly up… show less

As someone who has been reading this series for many years, I could not pass up the opportunity to return to return to Lake Eden, Michigan and become reacquainted with the town residents. Owner of the local bake shop, Hannah Swensen, is known for her amateur sleuthing abilities.

A fishing competition is being held at the lake and Sally, who co-owns the inn where it is being held, asks Hannah to fill in as her dessert chef when her regular employee finds it necessary to take the week off work. While the kitchen runs smoothly, the same can not be said of the fishing tournament. Wally Wallace, the Minnesota sporting business tycoon sponsoring the event, has hired the very handsome Sonny Bowman as his television show host and has him as the show more face of this competition.

Sonny has a less than stellar reputation when it comes to the ladies. When his fiancé and her mother arrive in Lake Eden, they learn that he has been unfaithful. They, and the husbands of the women who have been throwing themselves at him, are not at all happy. When Sonny turns up dead, Hannah starts snooping around for clues.

Although the police generally want Hannah to step aside, this time she is asked to help with the investigation. The reason why is likely to take you by surprise.

As always, the book is filled with delectable sounding recipes for the reader.

I received an advance copy from the publisher through a Goodreads giveaway with no promise given of a positive review. However, I am delighted to say that this story was fun and easy to read – and has me ready for the next book in the series. show less