The 28th entry in the Hannah Swenson Mysteries presents a mixed bag to long-time readers. The story seems to get shorter while the recipes inserted between chapters get longer. The mystery is well conceived. However, progress among the characters is a bit slow until the bombshell cliff hanger in the last sentence. While this novel is a good read, it is not one of the series’ strongest.

I am addicted to these books...

Even though I groan and roll my eyes over some of the innocence in the characters (Seriously, who cares if they are staying at the same hotel and is Andrea that incompetent???), I'm too far in to this series to give it up. The recipes are the absolute best and are pretty easy to follow for the Andreas in the world and the small town world of Eden Lake is a nice fantasy place to mentally visit and I'm already looking forward to next February for the next installment...

Caramel Pecan Roll Murder is book #25 in the Hannah Swenson Mystery series by Joanne Fluke.

The pastry chef at the hotel hosting a fishing tournament has a family emergency so Hannah steps in to help with the desserts. While on the lake with Norman, they spot a boat that didn’t look right. Hannah and her sister, Andrea, help investigate while providing pastries and cookies to the fishermen.

I enjoyed this story. The victim wasn’t wasn’t the nicest person so there were plenty of suspects. I thought I’d figured it out, but I was wrong. There were quite a few recipes and I’ll be trying a few of them, especially the Caramel Pecan Rolls. I look forward to reading the next book.

Thank you to the author, Kensington, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Wow! I can't believe this is book number 28 in the series. Hannah's still going strong as a baker and an amateur detective. There were some fun and interesting parts to this story, like the fishing tournament, but I think I'm still reading this series out of habit.
I'm sure many long-time readers will enjoy it.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Alright here we go. I finally made it through this one.

1. There’s an acknowledgment in the front to Trudi Nash and her husband for being brave enough to try several of the recipes. I gotta agree here, some of these recipes in the series I don’t even think Sandra Lee would have dreamed up.

2. We learn that Digger Gibson was the local undertaker. Digger! Oh a pun.

3. Hannah is back to her old tricks. Thawing store bought puff pastry to make Danish for her bakery. Come on Hannah! At least try. How much does she have to sell a Danish for to recoup the cost here. Phew.

4. Norman arrives to pick up cookies for Mike who is working a road accident. Hannah informs him that she’s already sent cookie out to Mike. Norman: “Mike knew that but he just called me to ask me to bring out more” gosh Mike is a pig.

5. And we’re back with a terrible recipe that instructs us to use “a spoon from your silverware drawer” to drizzle something over a cookie. Ok but what if I want to use a spoon from m sock drawer? Try and stop me.

6. Here we go. The recipe for the “easiest caramel pecan rolls you’ll ever make” know how? Use premade canned pillsbury cinnamon rolls. 3 cans! Those cans are expensive. She’s calling for the grands big ones here. Phew. I wonder how much these sell for at the red owl.

7. The instructions for the rolls tell me to place three rolls across the top of the pan, then place another three rolls under the first roll. So should I flip the pan over and place the rolls on top? Can I use a pan from my junk drawer?

8. Hannah asks poor Norman what time he left the house. Everyone is staying out with Sally and Dick! Norman tells her it was lonely at home without her. Hannah still doesn’t get it.

9. Delorimother is back! She told Hannah that it’s very relaxing when Stephanie drops by after the mayors office closes. They sit outside and drink champagne and watch the cats play. Did I mention Delorimother is babysitting the cats? Well she is.

10. Hannah is concerned that both she and Norman are staying at the hotel. Delorimother doesn’t want Lake Eden to get the wrong idea about her daughter who married a con artist. So Hannah assures Delorimother “you won’t have to do any damage control for us, I checked with Sally and she’s going to make it clear to anyone who asks that Norman and I have separate rooms” who’s asking? I mean how many people care?

11. Delorimother bought a litter robot for the cats! I wish I could tell her how much they suck. They leave little nuggets of dirty litter behind and coat the inside with nice dirty dust for your precious cat to get coated in. I like my cats too much to use this machine.

12. Dick has made a cocktail that is a miniature dirty martini and declares “the olive juice looks a little like cloudy lake water” mmmm cloudy lake water. My fave.

13. Sally explains Boursin to Michelle. Fancy French cheese. Michelle’s mind is blown.

14. Delorimother plans to trip someone in public! Then she declares “there’s no way I’m going to let my girls dance with a drunk for long” For long. Just chew on that.

15. Michelle acts sexy and Lonnie is rattled. So Hannah tells him that Michelle’s sexy talk is from a one act play that Michelle did in college. “Mother and I drove down to see if. She directed it and she also played the lead” hate to break it to you Lonnie but she probably also wrote it. You’re not getting the sexy talk though.

16. We learn Hannah has a favorite hockey expression. Who knew?

17. Hannah implores a drunk to not fall down yet so as not to “spoil Mother’s fun”

18. There is a DRI. I repeat a DRI. A dance related injury. Call Doc.

19. Another recipe tip “if your mushrooms have stems, twist and pull them out. Throw away the stems” how wasteful! Make some mushroom turnovers or stew or soup or put the stems in an omelet. Jeeze

20. We learn Hannah’s great grandmother Elsa used to spread rhubarb on Bologna sandwiches to “add a little interest” ok. I mean. Gross.

21. Hannah and Andrea are helping Sally since her baker had to go on leave but then they get croissants sent to the room. Who made the croissants??

22. Doc admits to checking peoples work records and personnel files. Jeeze doc. Is this through the hospital or what?

23. Andrea learns her husband Bill was quite the fisherman in his day. And she’s shocked. They’ve been together for years. Lake Eden is on lakes. Shouldn’t she know her husband likes to fish?

24. We learn that Norman knows a lot about fishing and bait. Norman knows it all.

25. Norman asks Hannah for Mike’s number. What? Surely they have swapped numbers. In lake Eden the number is likely something like KL5-MIKE.

26. Wally (owner of the fishing show and shops) is so rich he arranged for a cell tower to be built next to the inn. In general or for the contest? Who knows? Not me.

27. Normal Norman teaches us about sidedrafting. Once again his racing background pops out. I love it!

28. Someone suggests the pecan rolls are poisoned. Hannah implodes. Half of this item is true.

29. Hannah considers not telling Dick and Sally that one of their guests has been murdered. But luckily she decides it’s the right thing to do. So glad she has the authority.

30. Hannah says she hates to deliver bad news. You know about murder. Yet..she does this often. Hm…

31. Hannah interrogates someone by saying “So you took a shower and dressed in clean clothes?” Who puts on dirty clothes after a shower?

32. Hannah declares that since Mike was the person who discovered the murder, if he tells her he doesn’t need her help she will step back. Because Mike isn’t a detective or anything.

33. Norman tells Hannah they are part of the investigation. Since Bill is out of town and so is Rick, with the new guy on vacation…Mike and Lonnie are the only detectives left. So they will need “us to do some of the legwork for them” hah

34. The recipe for the Reuben omelets says that Mike has had these before, but talking to Sally he asked if he will like them or not. Strange eh? Then Doc tells Sally to make three more for Mike. The man can eat.

35. Andrea wants to know why she can’t be the one to tell her husband the sheriff there was a murder. She even says “he ought to know there’s been a murder” yeah he should Andrea and Mike should have told him. Hannah says “that’s not wise. Do you really want him to come home early and miss his televised speech?” Because what’s a murder when there’s a speech to be orated.

36. Andrea brings an apparently weighty box of goldfish crackers to the inn on recommendation of her daughter Tracey. So heavy that it makes her suitcase hard to move. Even Costco doesn’t sell boxes this big. But Andrea bought them from the red owl.

37. Hannah uses the word sexy. That’s all.

38. Rosa apparently goes into peoples rooms to turn down the lights at night. What kind of trickery is this? Turn down the bed I’ve heard of but not the lights. Sheesh

39. Andrea says she’s too tired to “work” but delivering drinks and appetizers isn’t working. Andrea have you ever met someone who works full time in the service industry? I thought not. How ignorant.

40. Hannah tries to hypnotize Lily with baking imagery. It doesn’t work but suddenly I am hungry.

41. Mike tells Hannah his heart is not in his work. We are all shocked. What does Mike do again?

41. Andrea kinda made a recipe! Sort of.

42. Hannah tells Lily’s mom that if she was engaged and had trouble with the man she was going to marry she would talk to her mom. But she didn’t. Remember Ross Hannah? We do.

43. Lily’s mom wonders what good it would have done to tell her daughter that she knew the man she was going to marry was engaged four times before. Yes what good indeed.

44. Hannah spills the beans about the murder to strangers again. Even she knows she’s not supposed to tell anyone and she still does. Again.

45. Suspects ask Hannah over and over again if they are suspects still. Hannah. Who is not a police detective. Then Andrea spills the beans on the cause of death. Oh those Swensen sisters.

46. I learned that on the packs of Uncle Bens rice there is no longer any mention of anybody’s “Uncle”Apparently this is so alarming that it needed to be in the book.

47. Hannah tells Andrea that “detectives can’t have blind trust, and maybe that’s why many of us are single” are you a detective though Hannah? And furthermore are you single? I heard you are staying in the same hotel as Norman after all. How classy.

48. Rosa says Lily has ain interview with Mike at two. Then Hannah asks Mike when Lonnie is interviewing Lily. Who’s on first?

49. Mike declares he’s losing his humanity. Did he have any? I thought he was just the Baltimore Trash Wheel. Actually Mr Trash Wheel has more humanity than Mike.

50. Hannah bakes Lonnie brownies for his birthday. Then Sally shows up with not one, not two, but three special desserts she made for Lonnie. What happened to the brownies? And if Sally is baking cakes, a pie, and another cake why did she hire Hannah to bake? The mystery deepens.

51. Finally Mike says what we are all wondering about “I couldn’t have solved that murder case…I’m not sure Lonnie could have either” ok so why are you both employed then? Someone call Bill!

This one gave me a BRI - book related injury. By which I mean a headache. Does anyone know if Florence down at the Red Owl sells Bufferin/Anacin/Excedrin? None of that new fangled hooey for me. I gotta stop in anyway for some Pillsbury Grands!

I have been reading every single one of the Hannah Swenson books in the series, and I loved this newest book. I loved the idea of a fishing tournament in town with new people and a new murder. Sonny is a smooth talker and a hit with the ladies, but loves to drink as well. He has a couple of women who he adores, but the husbands do not adore him as much. When he turns up dead, who all could want this charismatic fisherman dead? There is not a shortage of suspects thanks to his behavior, and only Hannah Swenson can narrow down the list.

I loved this newest installment and felt it brought back the excitemen, right up until the end. And the recipes are amazing! Making those breakfast enchiladas ASAP.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

With all the recipes in this book, I was hungrier than ever for the different items, lol. Not only did the caramel pecan rolls sound yummy, but there were some lemon desserts that sounded...killer-yeah, pun intended since this is a mystery book.

The action took place mostly around the Lake Eden Inn and lake where Hannah and Andrea were filling in for Sally's pastry/dessert chef during a fishing tournament. Andrea's become quite the kitchen helper and was even able by now to make some simple recipes. I think it's kinda cool how she wanted to start learning more about baking, and I really like it when the sisters sleuth together. Hannah can be very blunt with her questions or blurts, but Andrea's the type everyone wants to talk to. Maybe they just sense she's a real estate seller and used to talking a lot. Although, Hannah had a couple of sessions where her questioning method would've made Mike proud.

I was so sure I knew whodunit because of what I realize now was a clever red herring, but wasn't super surprised at the real perp once who I thought was cleared. Hannah again had a close call, but thanks to Andrea paying attention while boating/fishing with Bill, well she got a good part in the take down. Someone dropped a real bombshell at the very end, and now I'm so curious and eager for the next book to come out! Gonna be a long year or however long it takes! I just hope the next book is just that, an actual new book and not another compilation of already published books like we've seen before.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This is the twenty-eighth book of the series. I found the story interesting and learned about functioning alcoholics. I find that I am reading them out of habit. Since the book that has Ross appearing on the scene, I just can’t enjoy them as I once did. It could also be that when I started reading them, I was in my early 30’s- about the same age as Hannah. As the years progressed, I aged and learned a lot. These characters are learning but I think I have outgrown them since they haven’t progressed but a few years in the story’s timeline.
I disliked Ross very much from the get go and I feel bad for Hannah still trying to get over Ross’ betrayal and death. It’s time to move on. This has carried for a few years and we have only progressed 3 weeks in the story from Ross’ death. I really have a hard time believing there has been so much killing in that three weeks. But each book since his death has a body or two in it.

I did like the story except for the dealing with Hannah’s insecurities about her choice of Ross as her husband. It is really time to move on from this story but I can see it’ll be a long while since the timeline on the story hasn’t progressed beyond three weeks even though it’s been years for the reader.

The story get’s 4 stars from me but the time progression gets 0.5.
There is a surprise ending that will lead to an interesting follow on book.
I was given an advanced copy and am not required to leave a positive review.
The recipes look wonderful and I plan on trying a few.

Ok, I am from Minnesota and these used to be my absolute favorite books in the world, so I feel really bad saying I think maybe Hannah might need to retire. 😭

The recipes are still incredibly good and this book has so many! I just cannot take the lack of communication with Norman anymore. It’s become cruel.

Mike isn’t even a relevant character anymore, I realize you can’t keep a love triangle going for 28 books but he literally doesn’t even care anymore. The man clearly has clinical depression.

I never really had any problem with these books until the last few, the dialog between characters has become so stilted and the story suffers. Here’s an example:

"I don't like this, Hannah. I feel like I'm losing my way. And
even worse, I feel like I'm losing my
. my humanity. And
that's why I need your help on this case. I can't solve it on my
own, Hannah. And I'm not sure that Lonnie can, either. Let's
go over your notes, Hannah. Maybe it'll help.”

Why would anyone repeat someone’s name three times in a one on one conversation with another person? This is how the whole book is written, basically. Lots of filler.

Ok so, I have read all of these books. And I am all about keeping beloved characters around but things need to improve with the characters before I’ll read another.

Thank you Kensington for giving me a free copy of this book.

Hannah and Andrea are helping out their friend Sally at the inn for the fishing tournament. What should be a fun action-packed week turns into solving a murder, fast paced sleuthing and yummy recipes as usual in this fun series by one of my all-time fav authors!

Caramel Pecan Roll Murder is the 28th book in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series by Joanne Fluke. I picked up this series with Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (book 24) and I also thoroughly enjoyed book 25, Coconut Layer Cake Murder as well as book 26, Christmas Cupcake Murder, and Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder, the 27th instalment. I also found the time to squeeze in book one, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, going back to when it all started.

In Caramel Pecan Roll Murder the mystery is who killed TV show host Sonny Bowman. Hannah, whilst taking a break from The Cookie Jar, in Lake Eden, Minnesota, dons her sleuthing hat again to figure it out, teaming up with her sister, Andrea. A delightful book, a champion mystery, and some yummy recipes. Roll on book #29!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I’m a long time reader of the Hannah Swensen series. I enjoy visiting Lake Eden each time a book comes out, but the lack of progress in the personal lives of the main characters is getting harder to stomach. Hannah is still keeping company with both Norman and Mike, but living at Norman’s house. There are reasons for this from previous books. I don’t blame town residents for assuming that something more is going on between Norman and Hannah. Hannah is unsettled by this and moves to Eden Inn while helping Sally to provide desserts for a fishing competition. The fishing competition is the premise for having a new story with one of the big names, Sonny, getting murdered.
This book takes a new tack - Mike doesn’t care who the culprit is and actively encourages Lonnie to take the lead and Hannah to investigate.
Hannah has three suspects in mind and ends up putting her life in danger when she is proven correct in her deductions. Mike comes to the rescue and is the subject of the cliffhanger paragraph at the end of the book.
There are numerous recipes, many of which sound very tasty. This book tips toward more recipes than story. It makes me wonder if it isn’t past time for the series to conclude. Don’t get me wrong I have enjoyed getting to know Hannah and crew. I love the Hallmark movies and mysteries made from the series. And though the fishing competition gives the reader a new perspective on Lake Eden, recent books have failed to have the same spark as the early books.
I enjoyed reading Caramel Pecan Roll Murder and am grateful for the opportunity to receive pre-publication copy to review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the E-ARC copy of this book. The rating of this book is entirely of my own opinion.

Bestselling author Joanne Fluke never stops. Caramel Pecan Roll Murder is the 28th installment of the popular Hannah Swenson series. Hannah Swenson usually does most of the baking at her bakery/coffee shop, The Cookie Jar, in Lake Eden, Minnesota, but as a favor to a friend at a popular inn nearby, she agrees to bake for a big fishing conference and spend a few days at the inn. While taking a break, Hannah takes her friend’s boat and sees some suspicious activity. It is then found that the celebrity star of the conference, and popular TV personality, Sonny Bowman, is found dead – murdered in a fishing boat. As usual, Hannah becomes involved in the investigation, with the help of her sisters and mother.

Fans of this culinary cozy series know that Hannah, et al, spend most of their time drinking coffee and eating cookies (no one gains weight or gets the “over-coffeed skin”), but they still find time to discover clues which lead to finding the murderer. Lake Eden is a fun place to escape to – a make-believe world where the only bad thing that happens is that people get murdered. Everyone else is happy, everyone else drinks gallons of coffee and spends hours drinking it, and most of the residents are good friends. The characters are much-loved by cozy readers, and Fluke is a great storyteller who has the talent of writing fun stories that have a bit of suspense and keep readers on the edge.

The books in the series, including this one, always include several recipes (they actually turn out good), and if patient can be made by almost anyone. It is frustrating that the recipes aren’t in traditional form, and assume that readers have underdeveloped brains and need instructions that can be understood by a kindergarten child. Nevertheless, this is a fun novel – a feel-good novel – with enough references to food that most will break down and cheat on their diets.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Another fantastic installment in the Hannah Swenson series! A big fishing tournament has come to Lake Eden. When one of the main contributors winds up dead it's up to Hannah to do her sleuthing. But will she sleep with the fishes.

Joanne Fluke never disappoints with her food themed cozy mysteries. This one is on par with her previous works. Fair warning - never read one of her books when you’re hungry or on a diet.

Thank you you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC. I have to give this one 3 stars. I enjoy reading the Hannah Swensen series. With each new book the characters are not getting any smarter. This book was also full of repeats and forgetting what someone said a paragraph or sentence before. The continuity just did not flow well with this one. Needed more Cuddles and Moishe. The 3 stars because I love the recipes and someday will try them.
I will continue to read this series since I have to see what happens with each cliff hanger <s>

Caramel Pecan Roll Murder
Joanne Fluke
February 22, 2022

Hannah Swenson is at it again, filling up the Cookie Jar shelves for the morning customers. Lake Eden, Minnesota is in the midst of another winter storm. Up and coming is the opening of fishing season. This year, a famous host and owner of a chain of sporting goods stores, Wally Wallace will be in town to open the Walleye Fishing Tournament. Local fishermen would stay at the Lake Eden Inn. Fans of the fishing TV show are excited about Lake Eden being one of the tours selected cities. Hannah is staying in Norman’s home along with her kitty, Moishe. The cat refuses to climb the stairs to enter her condo. Hannah misses living there but memories of her husband, Ross fill her dreams each night. Their wedding, honeymoon and his departure leave her empty each morning. The reality of coming home from work finding him murdered was daunting.
A call from the Lake Eden Inn drew her from a painful memory. Sally needed her help. The pastry chef needed time off. Would Hannah fill in?
Hannah Swenson #25 gives us a carry-on from her previous couple of novels that explored her wedding to Ross and the trepidation that followed. She gladly accepted the offer. Hannah’s sister, Andrea will be able to stay with her in a double room to help with the baking.
Caramel Pecan Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke will be published by Kensington Cozies on February 22, 2022. I appreciate their allowing me to read Fluke’s next book via NetGalley. There are many recipes included for a variety of pastries. The heart of the story took place in the Inn with familiar characters providing the heart of this fishing story. An easy read, I enjoyed visiting the Minnesota town once again. Enjoy!

I’ve been following this series from the beginning, and hoped that a change of scenery from Hannah’s bakery, The Cookie Jar, to the Lake Eden Inn would bring back the spark Hannah has seemed to lost since a traumatic turn in her life that has been part of the last few books. It didn’t, but it’s a bit better! When a famous tv angler dies in Lake Eden Hannah and her crew get involved in solving the mystery, The love triangle that has been building through the series between Hannah, Mike (the police chief) and Norman (a dentist) seems to have finally ended, I’d like to see the story line between Hannah and Norman get resolved in future books. I’ll still be back for the next in the series, they are quick, light reads with the inclusion of the recipes in each chapter. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy for my reading and baking enjoyment.

The highlight of this story is the recipes and there are a lot of them. The caramel pecan roll one is an easy one too. Of course, Hannah has a murder mystery to solve but more interesting is what is up with Mike. Mike has always given 110 percent as a detective and wished Hannah would stay more on the sidelines. This time things are different.

The story is a quick read with a lot of the pages being recipes. I have read all of the books in the series and like some readers am tiring of the love triangle. That has tamed down in this story with only Norman behaving as the smitten boy. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.