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.
Booklist Review
When Matthew Walters returns to Lake Eden, Minnesota, to fill in for the Reverend Bob Knudson, who will soon be leaving on his honeymoon, Grandma Knudson suspects that Walters is not the same person who summered with her as a teen while his parents were doing missionary work. She asks Hannah Swensen, owner of the Cookie Jar bakery, to verify Walters' identity. Hannah determines Walters is who he says he is, but shortly thereafter, he's murdered. Hannah and her family, along with her dentist boyfriend, Norman, work to solve the crime. Hannah's life is complicated by Norman's former fiancee relocating to Lake Eden to join his dental practice. Series readers will enjoy plot twists, the small-town winter setting, and the bakery backdrop, but the main pleasure here remains the opportunity to get reacquainted with Hannah, her family, and the other Lake Eden residents. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment, thanks especially to a bombshell Norman drops at the end of the story. As always, delicious, easy-to-follow recipes are sprinkled throughout the text.--O'Brien, Sue Copyright 2010 Booklist
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.
