Apple Turnover Murder

Early summer brings plenty of work for baker Hannah Swensen, even before Mayor Bascomb's wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order for her charity event...For eleven-hundred cookies! And Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. But she places her faith in Lisa and agrees to be a magician's assistant in the fundraiser's talent show. The only snag is the show's host, college professor Bradford Ramsey. Hannah and her sister, Michelle, each had unfortunate romances with Ramsey, and when the cad comes sniffing around between acts, Hannah tells him off. But when the curtain doesn't go up, she discovers Ramsey backstage - dead, with a turnover in his hand. Now Hannah must find a show more killer who's flakier than puff pastry - and far more dangerous. show less

There is no better series to pick up when you're trying to complete a challenge that either requires you to read a book with a specific color cover, or something with dessert/food on the cover. Hannah Swensen is the owner of The Cookie Jar in Lake Eden, Minnesota. She bakes cookies and desserts and for some reason, practically always discovers a dead body at some event she is catering.

In this book, Hannah discovers Dr. Bradley Ramsey, dead backstage at a charity talent show clutching one of her apple turnovers. Since Bradley played fast and loose with her during her graduate days and has also been involved with her sister, Michelle, she knows she needs to step in and help find his killer. While helping love interest, Mike, with his show more investigation, she discovers Bradley left a trail of heart broken women so there are plenty of suspects to choose from.

Fans of the series will be happy to see the plot formula is similar to the others of the series and that Hannah's romantic triangle is still going strong. I hope at some point Hannah will finally make up her mind between Mike and Norman. The author populates her stories with warm and friendly characters and even includes non-human characters like Moishe, Hannah's persnickety cat. The very best part of the books are the delicious recipes included at the end of the chapters. Overall, a nice cozy mystery that you will probably enjoy if cozy mysteries are among your favorites. show less

This is the latest in a long-running cozy series featuring a small town Minnesota cookie maker. I have absolutely loved this series but this one doesn't live up to the usual standards, I feel.

In this one, Fluke places far too much emphasis on cookie talk and cookie recipes and the mystery seems almost like an afterthought.

I have thought, for quite some time, that the author needs to shake up this series and now, the potential for that is in place. (I won't spoil by providing details.)

Summer has arrived and so has a ton of work. The mayor's wife has placed an order for cookies for her three-day charity event. Lisa, Hannah's business partner, adds to this with the idea of supplying apple turnovers for the event. This puts The Cookie Jar in overdrive to keep the charity supplied while keeping up with her usual customers at the bakery.

Hannah is still juggling her two beaux, but is presented with a road bump when Bradford Ramsey turns up to be the emcee of the charity. Bradford is a local community college professor, and was Hannah's romantic interest when she was in college. A relationship with a bitter ending that she has never shared with anyone, not even her family.

It seems that Bradford hasn't changed from when show more Hannah knew him, and possibly his activities are what lead to Hannah finding him backstage...dead. Hannah has no love for Bradford, but she feels obligated to find his killer and the reason for it.

While sleuthing for answers to the murder, she is also trying to figure out why one of her beaux is acting strange. Things aren't as close and light has they have been. What is causing the change.

Another fun read in the ongoing Hannah Swensen series. show less

Summer’s about to arrive in Lake Eden and Hannah’s committed The Cookie Jar to providing eleven hundred cookies for a charity event organized by Mayor Bascomb’s wife, Stephanie. In addition, Lisa’s convinced Hannah to set up an apple turnover stand and all that baking is keeping the Cookie Jar staff hopping.

The downside of the whole charity event is community college professor Bradford Ramsey serving as host. When Hannah discovers the smarmy professor’s dead body, she’s determined to figure out who brought about the professor’s end. But will she be putting herself in harm’s way?

All the usual characters are around for this story, again filled with Hannah’s indecision between Norman and Mike. This has dragged out over show more far too many books and has become a detriment to the telling of the tale. Surely, no one in Eden Lake is missing the smarmy professor, with his long trail of broken hearts, as he blithely moves from one affair to the next, to the next, to the next, ad nauseum. [It does make it easy for readers to pick out the murder victim before the crime occurs, though.]

Hannah has developed an annoying, self-centered, condescending attitude, which is not becoming for our intrepid heroine. She needs to stop whining, stop correcting everyone’s grammar, make some grown-up choices, and, if she’s unhappy about her appearance, do something about it. As for the coffee drinking, readers who drink just as much coffee as Hannah accept this as standard behavior and find no fault here.

One has to wonder why Mike and Norman are both still hanging around, waiting for Hannah to feel like she’s ready for a committed relationship. Of course, there’s the free meals, but now that Norman’s acting weird, is there trouble brewing in Hannah’s little triangle? And, sad to say, there’s the ubiquitous cliffhanger, just to make sure readers grab the next book to find out what happens.

However, like the other books in this series, this thirteenth book is a quick read with characters readers care about, a not-too-complicated mystery to solve, and some recipes guaranteed to make readers head for the kitchen to pull out the baking bans. [And maybe, someday, if readers are truly lucky, there will be a whole book filled with recipes and NONE of them will include oatmeal or dry cereal or marshmallows.] show less

An old flame/professor of Hannah's has come to town and is murdered shortly after Hannah threatens to kill him if he doesn’t leave her little sister alone. Of course, he winds up dead and Hannah has to investigate. Meanwhile, Norman is acting very strange after meeting up with some old pals from dental school. If you are a fan of this series, the ending will leave you with your mouth hanging open and extremely impatient for the next installment. I love all the Hannah Swensen books but this is the best yet!

It’s summer in Lake Eden, Minnesota and Hannah and her crew have been enlisted to bake a gazillion apple turnovers for a charity event. Hannah has also been volunteered to serve as a magician’s assistant again (her favorite duty) when things go wrong, she discovers a murder. This one had some interesting developments. Cat sitting for Cuddles and something up with Norman. A lecherous college professor who I can’t say I was sorry to see bumped off .

The delight in reading this series continues to be spending time with the familiar Lake Eden characters—Hannah, Andrea, Michelle, Dolores, Mike and Norman--as they bake their way through cozy days together solving small town crime. It continues to be in my top two favorite cozy show more mystery series and my go-to for when I want something light and comforting. This started really picking up for me in the second half when the investigation into the murder mystery began to take center stage. This particular victim had plenty of enemies and I was kept guessing. And mmm… so many chocolatey baked treats to enjoy!

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