Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
Joanne Fluke
Kensington
<p>Discover the delicious mystery that started it all! </p><p>No one cooks up a delectable, suspense-filled mystery quite like Hannah Swensen, Joanne Flukes dessert-baking, red-haired heroine whose gingersnaps are as tart as her comebacks, and whose penchant for solving crimesone delicious clue at a timehas made her a bestselling favorite. And it all began on these pages, with a bakery, a murder, and some suddenly scandalous chocolate-chip crunchies. Featuring a bonus short story and brand new, mouthwatering recipes, this limited edition of the very first Hannah Swensen mystery is sure to have readers coming back for seconds </p><p>Hannah Swenson already has her hands full trying to dodge her mothers attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden, Minnesotas most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannahs famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just cant get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer. </p><p>Who would have the sheer audacityand the motiveto kill the most punctual delivery man Hannah ever had? Topping the list is the high school football coach. What exactly was his wife doing, making the rounds with the milkman? Could Max Turner, owner of Cozy Cow Dairy, have had a secret he didnt want to share with his top employee? The more Hannah snoops, the more suspects turn up. Why has Lake Edens most prominent prodigal son, Benton Woodley, just resurfaced? And what about the mysterious Mr. Harris who seemed interested in buying the property next to the dairy, but then disappeared? This is one murder thats starting to leave a very bad taste in Hannahs mouth. And if she doesnt watch her back, Hannahs sweet life may get burned to a crisp. </p><p>Filled with a healthy sprinkling of humor and a delightful assortment of nuts, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER serves up a great new mystery series and introduces a delicious, down-home sleuth that mystery readers will surely savor for years to come.</p>From Publishers Weekly<p>Independent-minded Hannah Swenson makes her debut in a cleverly plotted cozy, full of appealing characters and delicious cookie recipes. Returning after her father's death to her hometown of Lake Eden, Minn., Hannah opens her own shop, the Cookie Jar, where much of the town's gossip percolates along with the strong coffee. Early one morning, she finds the driver of a delivery truck shot dead in the alley behind her shop. Hannah's brother-in-law, Bill, the county's deputy sheriff, recruits her to help him chase down the culprit. A surprising number of suspects emerges, but due to her cafe business and catering of local social events, Hannah is admirably placed to hear all, see much and investigate a little. Motives ranging from blackmail to extortion abound, as do descriptions of clothing and shopping. Cat fanciers will appreciate knowing how Hannah found her cat, but separating the wheat of the significant from the chaff of the irrelevant can be challenging. Fluke also stretches the imagination when Bill leaves most of the sleuthing to Hannah and when the sheriff's men fail to discover a second body at the dairy where the first victim was employed. But these are minor lapses in a story satisfyingly packed with plot twists and red herrings. The Pecan Chews recipe is especially recommended. (Apr.) <br>Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. </p>From Library Journal<p>Hannah Swensen, amateur sleuth, runs an eat-in cookie establishment in little Lake Eden, MN. When the well-liked milkman is murdered in the alley near her shop, Hannah joins forces with the deputy sheriff, who just happens to be her brother-in-law. While delivering cookies, catering scouting events, and otherwise gadding about the community, Hannah gathers important clues. Family and other connections, concern with finding Hannah a "steady," and several cookie recipes lend this debut series a small-town, rural flavor. This mystery is pleasant and easy to take. <br>Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. </p></br></br>