This was a quick and fun read. The story takes place long before Hannah started solving murders so you kind of learn how she got her start and a bit more about her friends and family. If you are a fan of this series, which I am, this book does not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

This is a cozy mystery, and it is the 26st in the Hannah Swensen series. This book has cute short mystery, several recipes, and cute characters. I have to say the mystery is not the best. If you are looking for a cute fun book with recipes then this is the book for you. I receive an e-copy from Netgalley or Goodreads Giveaway, and I will post a honest review that is 100% my own opinion about the book.

Christmas Cupcake Murder
A Hannah Swensen Mystery with Recipes!
by Joanne Fluke
Kensington Books
Kensington
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 29 Sep 2020 | Archive Date 28 Sep 2020

Everyone needs some Joanne Fluke in their lives. This is the 26th book series and I am still loving them. Great recipes as well as a good mystery. I will recommend this to our Hannah Swenson followers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Book for the ARC.
Christmas came early to me!

5 star

In typical Hannah Swensen style, the readers are given a great storyline and a bunch of wonderful sounding recipes that i myself cannot wait to try. However what is different about this the 26th book in the series is the loose definition of murder. While there is no dead body there was still a heart warming family inspired tale that will please everyone who picks up the book. I just love this series.

I get really excited when the annual Christmas Hannah Swenson story comes out....or a new book in the series! I have been visiting Hannah & the crew in Lake Eden, MN since the first book in this series was published in 2000! While not the first culinary cozy series, this one is definitely my favorite....and one of the first!

A couple of the most recent books in the series were disappointing (changes in writing quality, bizarre plot choices....things just seemed off), but I am happy to say that things in Lake Eden appear to be coming back to their usual feel and quality. Although certain side plots (long time fans of this series know which side plot I am referring to) still has yet to be resolved. Hannah will make a decision someday. I hope....it's been 20 years...get on with it already, Hannah! lol And none of that stupid R-like stuff again!

This story is sweet and fun to read! Hannah bakes holiday cookies and cupcakes....and the gang discovers a homeless man who has lost his memory and needs help. So, while Hannah does not find a dead body laying about this time, there is still an enjoyable mystery. Who is Joe? And why can't he remember who he is or how he came to Lake Eden?

This story is the usual Christmas holiday filler story.....Joanne Fluke publishes a Christmas Hannah story each year. It's a shorter read than the novels in this series, but a very enjoyable holiday treat! The recipes included between chapters are varied.....everything from colorful pickles to cherry frosted cupcakes! Mmmmmmmm! And the recipes include cute little comments from Hannah and the gang.

I was VERY happy to see that the next novel -- Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder -- is coming out in February 2021!!!! (I think I gained 3 lbs just reading the title though!) I wonder if The Decision will be made? or hinted at? Or discussed? Or.....anything???? I have a few months to ponder on that.....

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Even this one: Hannah, make up your mind already!**

As a long time fan of this sweet series, I enjoyed reading this prequel to the actual series.
Hannah hasn’t gotten totally into her sleuthing, Lisa isn’t married to Herb, and Delores still hasn’t opened her antique store with her friend, Carrie.

When a stranger knocks on the bakery door, Hannah finds herself swept up in another mystery, and of course the book is filled with mouthwatering recipes.

This is a fast paced, light holiday mystery.

I enjoyed this very much - it was my first book by Joanne Fluke and it won't be my last. Fun story, great details, interesting mystery to solve. I gave this a mention in my Christmas in July post for Frolic. Link below.

Thank you NetGalley for my arc. Another Hannah Swenson mystery. I always enjoy a story about Hannah and her pals. This story centers around a mystery man who literally lands in Hannah's kitchen, needing a bite to eat. he doesn't remember his name or his history and Hannah and the gang work together to help him find out who he is. It was a good quick read.

Christmas Cupcake Murder was a quick, easy ready and a prequel to the Hannah Swenson books. The story follows the same format as all previous books. I enjoyed the recipes and the special notes throughout. I was provided an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

A cute Christmas treat without much meat to it. I've read a lot of books in this series and consider Fluke to be the godmother or the cozy mystery world. She's been around forever and usually hits home runs every time. However, this book was not like her others. The character's voices and personalities are different than they normally are and there are a few strange techniques used in the narrative. There is a huge cheese factor in this one as well. Everyone is completely dorky and the most innocent jokes or puns get huge laughs. It just wasn't up to the normal quality of a Joanne Fluke book. I don't feel like I've visited Lake Eden this time. That said, it's a sweet book for the holidays and will help put you in the festive spirit.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I was so thrilled when I got the chance to read Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke in advance. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read this book for a fair and honest review.
Reading Hannah Swenson cozy makes me feel like I'm at home with Hannah and the gang. This book is actually set before Hannah started solving so many murders and there was not a murder in it! After discovering a John Doe with her Mother and Carrie while touring a space for the antique store, Hannah wants to help him find out who he is and where he is from. Along the way, she is getting ready for Christmas and baking up a storm. Of course, there are amazing recipes and I can't wait to try some of them out. I enjoyed this one as much as ever and can't wait for another trip back to Lake Eden.

Another charming cozy mystery about Hannah Swensen. i was a little confused on this one as it seemed a bit out of order with the current series but went with it as I always enjoy a story about Hannah and her pals. This story centers around a mystery man who literally lands in Hannah's kitchen, needing a bite to eat. he doesn't remember his name or his history and Hannah and the gang work together to help him find out who he is.

Christmas Cheer Turns Sinister.....
The new Hannah Swensen Mystery brings December festivities and Christmas cheer but Lake Eden turns sinister when a man is discovered near to death and Hannah finds herself with a deadly mystery to solve. With a likeable protagonist in Hannah, a colourful cast of supporting characters this is a fun mystery and a worthy addition to this long running series.

Another great addition to the Hannah Swensen series. This one covers the first time Hannah solves a missing persons case. It happens fairly early in the series, before her mom and Norman's mom open their antiques shop.

The recipes sound good too, and I want to make one of them soon because I think my husband will really like it!

As always an entertaining read - the recipes look delicious and truthfully that's what attracts me to these books. the stories are nice, not terribly bloody or gory and always solved genteelly, but the food! I love the suggestions which offer alternative ingredients. A fun, uplifting read that will make you hungry.

The Christmas Cupcake Murder is (Hannah Swensen, #26) and I have read 25 of them. Since Hannah has been married and done wrong, I was ready to see where that would take her ( hopefully into Norman’s arms) but instead this books takes us back to the early years. If you are a Hallmark Christmas Movie fan then this is the book for you. It has a holiday spirit, wonderful recipes, interesting characters, and a really good mystery. The plot is light and sweet and unlike the others in the series there is no murder. This Christmas time cozy mystery is about a nice guy who has lost his memory and the whole gang pitches in to help him regain it. As always I enjoyed my time with Hannah and this group of characters, although I did miss Hannah’s little sister who is one of my favorites, and I look forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you Kensington Books via NetGalley for my copy.
#ChristmasCupcakeMurder #NetGalley

This book was a fun holiday murder mystery. The first half of the book never really focuses on the murder and it seems a little anti climatic. However, this is a cheerful holiday read with a little mystery tied in to the plot.

Thanks to Kensington Books & NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very good book if you like hallmark movies this would definitely be a book you would love it’s a very good wholesome book and I will be buying more in this series and the recipes are an amazing bonus.
PSA, have some cake, cupcakes or cookies because you will be craving them as you read this book or better yet use one of the recipes in here I definitely want to try the chocolate surprise cupcakes

This is the 26th book in the Hannah Swensen baking mystery series. I've read all of them, and enjoyed most of them! The last book left me a little disappointed so I was excited to get my hands on this one early and let Hannah have some redemption. Although I liked this one better than #25, it still left something to be desired.

It's vaguely disclosed before the book begins that this story is not in chronological order with the rest of the series, but it doesn't clearly state where it fits in. (Is this because it's a "holiday" mystery? Couldn't there be a holiday story written at the point of time where we are?) That was distracting, as I tried to figure out where this one goes. I finally decided about 35% in that it's not that important.

Hannah's usual sleuthing with her standard cast of characters is put to the test to determine the identity of a man who was found injured, and cannot remember who he is. 

Pros: It's still the cozy, comfortable mystery (with recipes!) about our old friend Hannah that readers are used to.

Cons: While I didn't get the ghostwriter suspicion that I did with the last book, it does read a bit like fanfiction. There is an inordinate amount of detail about things that just aren't necessary. A theme of this book seems to be Hannah's ability to identify cookie shop visitors by their knock (something mentioned in previous books, but not nearly as prevalently). There is also a "Hannah's inner voice" thing that is inconsistently woven into parts of the book, which has never been present before. And there is a lot of repetition. (For instance, there is a scene in the hospital which Hannah and Andrea later recount to Norman and Mike in detail, with absolutely no new information.) Also... no mention of the love triangle!?! While this angle gets a bit (a lot) cheesy at times... is she really Hannah without it???

To top it all off, the ending was so quick and a bit too... convenient.

I can't stop loving Hannah, but I didn't love this book. If you don't know Hannah yet... start at the beginning! They're so enjoyable! And make your own choices from there.

Another great Hannah Swenson book. Very cozy and Christmasy with lots of delicious sounding recipes.
I’d like it if the author didn’t make Hannah’s mom so judgmental about Hannah’s clothes and hair. I don’t know why Hannah puts up with it.