| Title | : | Fudge Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #5) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0758201532 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780758201539 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published March 1, 2004 |
For Hannah, life seems to be lacking a certain flavor. It's not that she doesn't enjoy teaching a weekly "Potluck Cooking Class" at the community outreach center. Or that she's not excited about her sister Andrea's bun in the oven -- watching the very pregnant Andrea try to sit on a stool at The Cookie Jar is worth it every time.
Maybe it's this year's sheriff's election that's got her down. For years, Sheriff Grant's been the iron hand in town. But now, Hannah's brother-in-law Bill is giving the old blowhard the fight of his long, dubious career -- and Grant's not taking it in stride, especially once the local polls (and The Cookie Jar gossip) show Bill pulling ahead.
But before anyone can get a taste of victory, things go sour. Just as Hannah's emptying the trash, she makes a very unappetizing discovery: Sheriff Grant's body in the dumpster behind the high school where she's teaching her cooking class. And if that weren't bad enough, the poor man still has fudge frosting on his shirt from the cupcake she gave him earlier. She'd been trying to find the secret ingredient left out of the recipe. Now she has a more important mystery to crack.
The number one suspect is none other than Bill. In fact, he's the only suspect. But Hannah's not swallowing it. Plenty of people had reason to hate Sheriff Grant, starting with all the deputies whose cases he stole during election years just so he could take the glory. Soon, Hannah's dishing up scandalous secrets, steaming hot betrayals, and enough nastiness to keep the gossip mill at The Cookie Jar going through several pots of decaf. And the closer Hannah gets to the truth, the closer she gets to smoking out a murderer with a very nasty recipe for silencing people. Will Hannah be able to stand the heat when someone wants her out of the kitchen... for good?
Fudge Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #5) Reviews
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Andrea is pregnant in this book, and watching the relationship between the two sisters is fun. You can see how they fight and get along. But when the sheriff dies in this book, the girls must bond because everyone's a suspect. I didn't really buy the whole "cops are the suspects" because of it being the sheriff. It made for a fun story tho.
Still a good series. I happened to catch 2 of the stories they made into a TV series on Hallmark (I think). I enjoy the cozy mystery... like-able main character but I think she needs to choose 1 of the 2 men soon. I would walk away if I were them at this point. :)
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For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at
https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators. -
It’s October. Minnesota is getting cold. Hannah is teaching a baking class, trying to figure out the “secret ingredient” in a long-deceased town elder’s fudge cupcake recipe, and her brother in law is running for sheriff against the current sheriff. Then, the current sheriff turns up dead… with chocolate cupcake smeared on his shirt. Hannah is working to clear her brother in law’s name, and find that missing ingredient. The trouble is, everyone had a bone to pick with the old sheriff so the suspect list is a mile long. Also, Mosiha won’t eat the cat food the vet wants him to (been there) and only wants cheap “Kitty Crunchies.” How will Hannah get his vitamins into him? As usual, a delightful mix of baking, murder mystery, and fun small-town characters.
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Despite her revulsion, Hannah looked at the area Mike indicated with his flashlight. He was right. There was a smear of something dark on Sheriff Grant's uniform shirt. She cleared her throat and forced herself to speak. "That's not blood."
"It's not?"
Hannah shook her head. "It's fudge frosting. Sheriff Grant died eating one of my cupcakes!"
Hannah is teaching her weekly cooking class in cozy little Lake Eden's school, when she discovers the fudge-stained corpse of overbearing, unscrupulous Sheriff Grant, hiding in the trash bin. And if the stuffed Dumpster wasn't enough of an unpleasant surprise, her brother-in-law has been accused of the murder by non other than handsome, sexy, Mike; who is now off the datable list, at least until Hannah can find a way to clear Bill... That is, finding out who really killed Sheriff Grant. Do I smell the sweet, sweet scent of another investigation?
Hannah is back in action, her love life is more complicated than ever, her sister is more pregnant than ever, her cat is more annoying than ever, and her mother... oh, well. But will all of this stop Hannah from snooping around and involve literally everyone in town with a dangerous murderer? Of course not! I mean, if I was in Lake Eden I would think twice before committing a crime! Those small town citizens are infallible first-class detectives (when they are not killers)!
If you like perfectly baked cookies, nosy relatives, murder, and a clever woman who doesn't take no for an answer, this book will definitely be your cup...cake of tea 😉😉 -
One of my favorite Hannah Swensen's mysteries. I disliked Sheriff Grant and was not sorry to see his character go. Mike once again acted like a jerk in this mystery and is more proof why I'm 100% Team Norman.
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Hannah discovers another body. This time it is local sheriff. This series in all honesty is starting to bug me. Mainly it is the indecision on Hannah's part of whether to date Norm or Mike. It is getting really old.
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This book was terrible. I don’t know if it’s because I read 2 of these books back to back but in this book I noticed so many things that annoyed me.
I keep comparing this series to Stephanie Plum which isn’t fair because it’s no where near on the same level as the Plum books. But in this series there is a “love triangle” or something like it. She is openly dating 2 men. Which to me isn’t a big deal. Do what makes you happy. But it annoys me so much that she keeps thinking one of them is going to propose to her after a few weeks. Every time she hangs out with one of them she always thinks “I wonder if he is going to propose”. No bitch he isn’t. You are CASUALLY dating 2 guys. Get over yourself. I have no issues with her dating 2 men. I do have issues with her jealousy if one man is seen with another woman... girl you are dating someone else. Why can’t they?
Also her cat.. I get it cats are cool but I do NOT want to read a book going into details about how to change a cats food and give a cat medicine. Seriously I felt like this was a huge chunk of this book.
I will probably read the next book because it’s free but I have to take a break from this series. I’m honestly so annoyed that I never want to pick up another book from this series again. -
These books get better and better. I knew who the killer was for about half the book but I still enjoyed it. These books are so simple and delightful to read. I could go for less froo-froo from everyone in town. There is no way everyone is so sugary sweet all the time. However I believe Hannah should become a detective because she is the one figuring it all out. Mike is just a piece of eye candy that I think should be pushed out. He's no fun and I think he's a player! Especially with that little tart Shawna Lee. Ugh. I like simple Norman, he's just the right guy! Now on to read number 6!!!
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Among the few active series of cozy mysteries I'm following, this one, and to be more precise, this book, is the one who steps up a gear. Indeed, no other books I've read had the guts to kill off the town Sheriff. To sum it up, Sheriff Grant is murdered and the heroine, Hannah's brother-in-law is suspected due to lack of alibi. He's suspended from work, by Hannah's beau, Mike. This is interesting. It would translate well to the screen as a television movie. Or as an animated series, if it were all up to me.
Like a classic hero, Hannah has well defined quests. She has to cater to the culinary needs of her geriatric (and methinks, highly detestable) cat. Secondly, she must solve the identity of the secret ingredient in a recipe that has a publishing deadline. Also, the main quest is that of course, the murder has to be solved. A minor quest, that of the precedents of Harrington, is not uncovered here. It will, no doubt, be in the next book, which I'm dying to read.
Hannah has green fingers it seems, for her workplace has the grapevine running through it lustily. This solves the need to juggle her work and her sleuthing. Detectives interrogate suspects, but Hannah talks to friends. That's what it looks like. The gradual progression in the case was more intriguing, interesting and intricate than ever before. There are no annoying characters this time. The author shows us new situations and uses barely used words. All of them were appealing to me. If the book was a hundred pages leaner, I'd rate this four stars or more. I liked the climax. For someone so quick, Hannah really put her life in jeopardy by taking a senseless risk. I'm amused at how casually Hannah and Andrea discuss her involvement in the case, forgetting that it's life-threatening at all times. I should have guessed the identity of the murderer, as it didn't take a genius to know. But I forgot who was who and I guessed a bit too late. Until next time. -
All right--I really can't stand Mike. All girls must have their idiotic tendencies. That one must be Hannah's. Aside from that, this mystery/story was a lot more fun for me to follow than the previous book. Especially because there were two mysteries--the murder as well as the secret ingredient to the cupcakes. Mmm--I wished I could have been sampling all of the attempts, though. Yum! And the climax at the end was a lot of fun--the intensity of it any way. I love page-turners!
And the best thing of all with this book--I finally made a Hannah Swensen recipe! It was the Boggles (recipe found in this book) and they turned out great!!! -
I am enjoying this series!! I love Hannah
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The killer was pretty obvious.
I'm starting to not like either of Hannah's men. Norman lacks fire and Mike doesn't support Hannah like he should. He started to do better in book 4, but he resorted back to an idiot in this book. If he spent more time with Hanna then perhaps she wouldn't almost get herself killed all the time.
Anyway, I'm kind of tired of the fact that Bill and Mike are apparently not intelligent enough to solve a case. The cops should get one eventually, and not because Hannah has to pretend to not know how things fit together. What on earth are the guys doing working until midnight with nothing to show for it?
It doesn't sound like I enjoyed it, but it's still a fun read. I'm just flustered with it at the same time. -
Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for a cozy mystery series. You give me someone with a fluffy occupation stumbling onto a mystery where she or he manage to outwit the police and solve the crime and I’m all in. Be they housewives, mystery bookstore owners, southern sisters, or small town bakers I love them. I have an infinite ability to suspend disbelief.
I stumbled upon the Hannah Swensen mystery just recently. I know they’ve been around forever and that’s good for me because there’s a nice big back catalog. This is a nice traditional cozy series. None of the murders take place “on screen” and you’re never really worried about the central characters safety. And you get cookie recipes. How can you go wrong.
The one thing I am having a problem with with this series is I can’t quite picture Hannah in my head. I’ll get a picture and then the description of her doesn’t match what’s in my head. I don’t blame the author I know it’s just me but I just can’t get it. So, if anyone is reading this series and has a actress in mind I’d really appreciate a note.
I did like the outing, it seemed reasonable for Hannah to be involved (not that that matters much to me) and I love Hannah’s sister and mother.There’s an fun side mystery involving the secret ingredient in the titled Fudge Cupcakes. I do wish she’d get off the stick and pick one of the two men she bounces back and forth between but I know this should last a bit longer. I have yet to try any of the recipes but I will say they all sound yummy and they look really easy.
Don’t go into these expecting challenging writing or even mystery. They are a little formulaic but the character are charming and I have a fun time when I read them and sometimes that’s all I need in a book. -
This was one of the books that one of the Hallmark Hannah movies was based on. I was glad that the killer was a different one. I'm enjoying reading these in order now and seeing just when certain people came into the timeline (or left it). Obviously, I didn't guess the killer, since I had it in my mind who the killer was in the movie.
There were tons of great-sounding recipes as always. I'll be glad to return to Lake Eden again soon to pick up where I left off. -
Okay if Hannah doesn't get a cell phone in the next book I'm going to kill her myself. I enjoy these books but I need Hannah to start growing a bit as a character. Also I could solve her relationship problem pretty easily; a polyamorous relationship,but that's just me.
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Fudge Cupcakes, yummmm! You can't say no to fudge! And you can't say no to another Hannah Swensen mystery, it has more recipes! And....another murder case. In this book, the sheriff of Lake Eden was murdered was munching on Hannah's attempted fudge cupcakes with one special ingredient. Along the way a deputy in the sheriff's department is a suspect, and Hannah once again is taking matters into her own hands to gather clues to who the real possible killer is.
This one was read at the perfect time phrase, as this one is set right towards Halloween, so take this as a book getting into the October groove in a cozy activity. The one other mystery still sets in: which man is going to be the one for Hannah? How much longer will that be? As usual, I loved it, and I read through it pretty quick, they're pretty easy books to read. -
Fudgetastic!🍫🧁☠️
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Basic Info
Format: Audio
Pages/Length: n/a
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Reason For Reading: Like the series
At A Glance
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: No
Cliff Hanger: No
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 3.5 stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 7
Plot: 6
Characters: 7
World Building: 6
Flow: 7
Series Congruity: 8
Writing: 7
Ending: 7
Total: 7
In Depth
Best Part: Michelle stuck around.
Worst Part: Knew the killer pretty early on.
Thoughts Had: Poor Bill.
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: Yes
Recommending: Yes
Short Review: I felt like this one lacked something. For most of this book, all i could focus on was her trying to find the missing thing for the damn cupcakes, sure the guy is dead, but what the fuck is missing from that girl's perfect cupcakes?! I feel pretty back for Mike and the other cops in this town, Hannah solves everything and they didn't figure shit out, but they have the nerve to treat her like shit when it comes to her helping them Give Hannah the damn job!!!!! The little cat side story was a bit weird, but i'm not really a cat person so maybe that's why. I can't wait for Andrea to have the baby!
Misc.
Book Boyfriend: Pass.
Best Friend Material: Andrea.
Review in GIF Form:
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I'm going to make this short. I'm really enjoying the Hannah Swenson novels. I love Joanne Fluke's flair for writing and how she makes the characters engaging.
My issue is thus... The last three books I was able to guess the killer from very early on. However, I don't really mind so much. Unlike other murder mysteries, there's other things going on in the book. As mentioned, the characters are engaging and you can't help but enjoy reading about them and their life in their small town.
My second and last issue is thus... I'm hitting saturation point with the whole Mike-Hannah-Nomman triangle. I'm not a fan of love triangles and the way Ms. Fluke has been going with Hannah's love life is starting to get on my nerves. I was Team Mike all the way until this book. I admit it had a lot to do with the sexy cop image. But Mike is turning out to be incredibly insensitive and clueless. I hope either something happens with the love triangle or Hannah finally tells Mike what a dork he's being to her.
Regardless of the love triangle situation, I will continue with the books. Despite it being a murder mystery novel, I consider these books "comfortable" reads. I can sit back and relax and immerse myself in the world of Hannah Swenson. -
Another good one, as usual. One criticism I have is the stupid love triangle. I don't particularly like either of the guys that much, but will Hannah just pick one of them already? Honestly, the best thing that could happen for me would be some new guy swinging into town and sweeping Hannah off her feet and her dropping the other two. Also, Hannah sees what she thinks is Mike out on date with another woman and does everything but out right call the other girl a man stealing whore. Hannah is not in a serious relationship with either Norman or Mike and she is openly dating both of them. Guess what Hannah? That means they have the right to see other people as well. Anyway, that annoyed me, and if I have to read more about it in future books in the series, it will probably start to have an impact on my rating of them.
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Finally another Hannah Swensen story got translated into Estonian and I am very happy about it! I am having a bit of a reading slump but Fluke's cozy mystery stories are always a fun and light change of pace that I read happily even in the gravest of slumps... 😋
I knew who the killer was about halfway through the book and no surprise came from that... But I am perplexed by Hannah's relationships with Norman and Mike... 🤯 And of course her usual lack of subtlety when dealing with murderers face-to-face! It's just bizarre! 😆 -
I’m so excited that I picked up on the clue and figured out the murderer ahead of time. This story was fun and I enjoy Hannah’s investigating. The recipes included sound good and maybe I’ll even try one!
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הספר החמישי בסדרת האנה סוונסן החביבה עליי מאוד. זה כיף לראות איך הדמויות מתפתחות (והספרים משתפרים) מספר לספר.
האנה היא הבעלים של בית הקפה "The Cookie Jar" ובלשית חובבת שגרה בעיירה לייק עדן (עיירה עם מספר לא קטן של מקרי רצח, אם יורשה לי להעיר...)
הגיס שלה, ביל (הבעל של אחותה אנדריאה), מתמודד בבחירות למשרת שריף העיירה מול השריף הנוכחי, ג'יימס גרנט. לאחר שהיא מעבירה סדנת אפייה בבית הספר המקומי, האנה מגלה את גופתו של גרנט במיכל האשפה הציבורי. החשוד המידי הוא ביל, והאנה יוצאת לחקור את הרצח כדי לטהר את שמו של ביל.
כרגיל יש גם עלילות משנה נוספות - האנה מנסה לגרום למוישה, החתול שלה, לאכול אוכל דיאטטי מיוחד, ללא הצלחה, ולתת לו ויטמינים (סצנות משעשעות שכל מאמצי החתולים יזדהו איתן), היא עדיין מתלבטת בין שני המחזרים, נורמן ומייק (אני לחלוטין טים נורמן, הגיע הזמן שהיא תנפנף את מייק לכל הרוחות), האנה מנסה לגלות מהו המרכיב הסודי במתכון קאפקייקס שוקולד, ועוד ועוד.
כיף של ספר ואני כמובן אמשיך הלאה בסדרה. אולי יום אחד גם אנסה את אחד ממתכוני העוגיות שמופיעים בכל ספר. -
It has recipes in it, recipes that I can't eat as I am not to have sugar. They are always baking and eating in this book but everyone seems well. No one is sick with diabetes, obesity and congestive heart failure. The only one whose diet is restricted is Moishe the cat, he is supposed to be eating senior food and taking vitamins. He hates it and protests mightily. I hear you Moishe.
So someone gets murdered in this book, obviously. Hannah, our small town's baker and amateur sleuth, is soon chasing leads. Hannah is a hero, yay! But I don't much care, I'm still thinking about cupcakes with delicious frosting. -
Still enjoying making my way through this series
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2.5 stars 🌟
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This is always a fun series. This one pretty much followed the TV movie so I spent the whole book thinking I knew whodunnit -- but I was wrong! Apparently, the TV people made some kind of change. (Sometimes I really don't understand why. They included all the characters necessary in both book and film.)
I really liked this one for the adventures Hannah has trying to change her cat's diet. What was really the best with these books is the characters and Hannah's internal dialogue. To me, the mystery is secondary. -
I just can't get enough of this series! The characters are hilarious, the setting is so cozy, and the recipes have my mouth watering! Typically cozies can sometimes get repetitive and predictable but I truly didn't know what was going to happen! On to the next book in the series...I can't wait!
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3.5 ⭐️ The concept of this book series is super endearing… baked goods and murder- perf combo LOL 🧁 As much as I thoroughly enjoyed the recipes sprinkled throughout the book, the murder mystery didn’t cut it for me. I guessed the killer early on and found the hints quite obvious. However, I think this is the perfect book for someone that wants to read a murder mystery but that doesn’t want something too dark.
