Publisher's Weekly Review
Bestseller Fluke's fabulous 14th foodie mystery (after 2010's Apple Turnover Murder) finds Hannah Swenson, the baking whiz of the Cookie Jar in Lake Eden, Minn., still torn between the two less than perfect men in her life-dentist Norman Rhodes, whose attractive former fiancee and fellow dentist, Bev Thorndike, has just joined Norman's practice, and Mike Kingston, Winnetka County's chief detective, who has a roving eye. When someone shoots visiting Lutheran minister Matthew Walters, who's covering Rev. Bob Knudsen's duties at Holy Redeemer while Bob is on a belated honeymoon cruise, the only witness to the murder is Jacob, a mynah bird, who squawks, "The wages of sin is death." Unlike your typical boyfriend cop, Mike is thrilled to have Hannah tracking down clues. Between eating and baking, Hannah and cronies investigate Matthew's background, especially his relationship to his creepy, paroled convict cousin, Paul. Mouthwatering recipes include butterscotch bonanza bars and pineapple casserole. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
In Fluke's (www.murdershebaked.com) 14th Hannah Swensen mystery-following Gingerbread Cooking Murder (2010), also available from Recorded Books and read by Suzanne Toren-a new minister arrives in Lake Eden, MN, only to end up dead in the rectory, and Hannah must use all her sleuthing skills to suss out who murdered him and why. Actress Toren, a recipient of the Library of Congress's Narrator of the Year Award, slips Hannah on like a good-fitting dress. Her familiarity with the series' key players gives her more space to render the memorable secondary characters, like Grandma Knudsen, whose creaky voice belies a sharp intellect. This compelling mystery will hold listeners in rapt attention. ["More baking, less sleuthing in this very gentle mystery.the mouthwatering recipes are winners," read the review of the New York Times best-selling Kensington hc, LJ 2/1/11.-Ed.]-Jodi L. Israel, MLS, Birmingham, AL (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
