It seems like the whole town of Lake Eden, Minnesota is in an uproar with the news that Detective Mike Kingston is thinking of quitting police work. Our heroine Hannah Swensen calls in the big guns to help her sort-of boyfriend Mike figure out what he really wants and feels. Top of her list is his career mentor Stella Parks, who was also his training officer back in Minneapolis. When she hears Hannah’s story, she diagnoses burnout and decides to whisk Mike off for a lakeside rest cure.

Unfortunately for Mike’s peace of mind, however, murder soon strikes their small town once more. Using a combination of supportiveness and reverse psychology, Hannah, Stella and Hannah’s other boyfriend, dentist Norman Rhodes, assure Mike that they don’t need him back in town, and conspire to keep him up at the cabin where he’s staying. Of course, this strategy will only work if Hannah and co can actually solve the case before he can make his way back home.

The case itself is tricky. Former Major League Baseball star Bernie ‘No-No’ Fulton has come roaring back into town for the Tri-County Summer Solstice Celebration, which features a mini-tournament starring local high school baseball teams and retired celebrity ringers. No-No’s pitching talent is unfortunately exceeded by his arrogance. He’s made a habit of collecting enemies, from the athletes whose careers he ruined to the irate parents of the impressionable teen girls he’s sweet-talked or worse. Even Hannah’s mother Delores has sworn vengeance on him for a series of completely unnecessary humiliations.

So when Hannah finds Delores standing over No-No’s dead body while holding a baseball bat, Hannah knows she has a formidable task in front of her. Delores would never resort to murder, but the real killer likely has no qualms about letting her take the fall. Hannah will have to sort through a long list of suspects to figure out whodunnit, and fast. After all, the last thing she needs is for Mike to come running back into town at the expense of his own cure. But when things get dangerous for both her and Norman, who else will they be able to turn to?

Despite the emphasis on figuring out whodunnit quickly, this mystery is quite leisurely paced, perfect for anyone who wants a soothing cozy mystery to mull over while getting reacquainted with the inhabitants of Lake Eden. Baseball fans will also find much to love with the many anecdotes of the sport. I was most taken with the cliffhanger ending that has me super ready for the next book in the series!

As with all the other books, there were over twenty recipes included here. I really wanted to make this dessert, and have edited the recipe lightly here for space:

QUOTE
Tropical Pie

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

Ingredients:
1 Frozen deep-dish premade pie crust
1 15-ounce can apricot halves (cut into slices as you would for an apple pie)
2 15.25-ounce cans pear halves (cut into slices as you would for an apple pie)
1 20-ounce can pineapple slices (cut each ring into 8 chunks)

French Crumble:
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup (1 stick, 8 tablespoons, ¼ pound) cold, salted butter (cut into half-inch chunks)
½ cup brown sugar

Directions:
Remove the deep-dish pie and thaw according to package directions.

In a bowl of your food processor combine the flour, salted butter, and brown sugar.

Process with the steel blade in an on and off motion until the resulting mixture is in uniform small pieces.

In a medium-sized bowl combine the apricot slices, pear slices, and pineapple chunks with ½ of the French Crumble mixture.

Arrange this mixture in the deep-dish pie shell.

Sprinkle the rest of the crumbled mixture over the top of your pie.

Pat the top down with your impeccably clean hands and cut several slits in the top to vent.

Place your pie on a baking sheet lined with aluminum and bake at 375 degrees F. for 45-55 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let your pie cool on a cold stovetop burner or wire rack.

Serve with strong, hot coffee or glasses of icy-cold milk.
END QUOTE

This tastes a lot more sophisticated and complicated than it was to actually make! It’s also delightfully different from your usual pie, even if the name is a misnomer: while pineapples are certainly tropical, apricots and pears come from more temperate climates. Regardless of the name, the fruit mixture is delicious in this pie (and I saved the juices from each can to make the base for punch by adding ice and fruit flavored seltzers later on.)

I was especially impressed by the use of the French crumble mix in this pie. Fruit pies are always tasty, but the crumble mix elevates the whole dish to another level entirely. The final product was so good that no one in my family even commented on the idiosyncratic appearance of the top crust, a result of me accidentally dropping that pan and having to reconstruct it, as has been my recent, unfortunate habit. I very much endorse Ms Fluke’s recommendation of enjoying each slice with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream and a slice of cheddar cheese as well.

Next week, I’m on vacation! I’ll be back the week after that with delightful concoctions from a book inspired by the Grand Dame of Murder Mysteries herself, so do join me then!

Another fun read about Hannah Swenson. An easy book to curl up to and to enjoy the recipes that are included. A fast read.

Hannah Swensen is back with new recipes created for the Tri-County Summer Solstice Celebration. There’s one thing more important than the celebration: Mike, Lake Eden’s handsome police detective, is determined to quit. Bill, Andrea, Hannah, Norman, and more friends want him to stay. Delaying tactics seem to be the best idea, so Mike will have time to think over his decision. A colleague spirits Mike to the lake cabin for rest, relaxation, and fishing.

As one of the big events, a former Major League Baseball player is in town, showing off as usual, driving through town with three scantily clad teenage girls perched on the back ledge of his convertible, beauty queen style. Hannah’s mother, Delores, sees him and lets loose with a long list of ‘what’s wrong with him’ opinions and a promise to get even. Delores was the victim at a dunking booth for a previous celebration, and he threw the pitch that dunked her. She’s never forgotten or forgiven.

One of the girls’ daddies is most upset with her being ‘half naked,’ riding around, and with an older man like that, which then causes problems with her boyfriend, soon to be fiancé.

When the ball player turns up dead under the bleachers, discovered by Delores whose prints are all over the murder weapon, she’s a natural suspect, along with the angry daddy and a host of others.

Hannah and Andrea are determined to prove Delores is innocent by discovering the real killer while keeping Mike out of the investigation as a lesson in how badly he wants to remain a cop.

This is book twenty-nine in the series. While the mystery is a good one with an unexpected killer, the real suspense is in the last chapter, leaving readers with a classic cliffhanger, sure to cause a multitude of changes for all concerned.

Recipes are included as always – pink lemonade whippersnappers, tropical pie, pink lemonade cake with matching cream cheese frosting, chocolate lace cookies, blue cheese meatloaf, cherry crisps, 7th inning slush, Nutella trifle with raspberry whipped cream, How Now, Brown Cow (alcoholic version), How Now, Brown Bessie (non-alcoholic version), curveball cookies, strawberry pie, root beer cookies, summertime cookies, cinnamon toast popcorn balls, egg and bacon pasta salad, lemon muffins with lemon glaze, orange marmalade muffins with a matching butter, chocolate cherry oatmeal squares, sweet and sour chicken, satin swirl cocktail, chess bars, and a pink lemon drop martini.

I really love this series, but this one just didn't hit the same as the others for me. I found myself a little bored. Not a bad book, but not a favorite either.

Joanne Fluke knocks it out of the park with this one. I am now anxiously awaiting the next in the series. I have enjoyed the entire series, and the newest addition did not disappoint.

I have read a lot in this series and have enjoyed them. This one just didn’t hit the same for me. I found it so redundant and kinda judgy at times. I mean it was okay but just kinda cringe. I’m still going to read the next book because I do like the characters. I’m just hoping it’s a little better.

Hannah is back with another great mystery to solve and some great recipes to try. The town is hosting a summer solstice festival and everyone is excited until a murder puts a damper on things. The side story is Mike seriously considering retirement. I don't think anyone could really think Hannah's mother is a murder suspect. I love Hannah Swensen and this is book 29 in her series. She doesn't get old. Can be read as a stand alone but You don't want to miss out on the previous books.

I enjoyed reading this book and it was a surprise ending for sure
As much as I love this series and all the recipes, I really wish the recipes would be at the end of the book.
Another complaint I have is the chapters are so short
And the dialogue is off putting to me, I just don’t think people talk like that
I feel like this book was written by a high schooler

*I received my copy in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley

I only keep reading these books because I really do love the characters, and I like to check back in on them and visit when a new book comes out. But sadly, the plots seem to get more and more canned, and I'm certainly not enjoying them as much as I did in the early days. I'm sure I'll keep reading them as long as she writes them, but I really do wish they would return to how good they used to be. It feels like all the characters are stagnant, like the author is afraid to move them forward in any way. I'd really only recommend this book to someone who already loves the characters and has read all the rest; otherwise, it's probably not worth. your time.

I received a complimentary electronic copy from NetGalley and was obviously not made to write a positive review.

When old history comes back to haunt Hannah’s mom, Hannah engages to figure out what happen to her mother’s nemesis.

Lake Eden is the place everyone gathers for a baseball tournament. When one of the players who has a history in Lake Eden is found dead Hannah and her partners in crime all engage to help figure out what happened and who could have wanted the victim dead.

The author also brings a difference balance to the old and established relationships when friends help a friend deal with work related burnout.

We get to meet new characters that may change the course of the established friendships and as always, some great recipes and a nod to the title in the form of a pink lemon drop martini.

This was a very good mystery. I loved familiarizing myself with characters that I enjoy reading about. It was like visiting old friends. The thing I didn't like was the cliffhanger at the end. A mystery should be completely wrapped up. There should be no loose ends.

Hannah explains why she can never choose between Mike & Norman - she loves them both and together they make her perfect man. Well that is one long-standing issue dealt with!

No-No, a former star baseball player, drives three young ladies dressed in skimpy attire around town on the back ledge of his new convertible - which scandalizes the town. When No-No is found dead under the baseball stands Hannah & Norman help Bill & his two deputies find the killer while Mike is off under medical care. The plot twists are cozy and happen rapidly. Recipes look delicious and easy to follow.

I volunteered to read an ARC. Definitely will be pre-ordering a copy for July 25, 2023 download.

Reading a Hannah Swenson Mystery is like sitting down with an old friend. This is a comfortable cozy series that incorporates murder, mystery, and mouth-watering sweet and savory treats. This newest trip to the Cookie Jar, picks right up from where the last one ended, with Mike contemplating the apathy he now feels for his job. The body drop is a few chapters in, not too far but not right away. The suspects start with Dolores, Hannah’s Mom (as she finds the body) so I guess that Hannah can no longer be teased for being a body magnet. This one takes a different avenue than what I am used to with Mike not being a lead player. The clues were laid out as well as the recipes and the story moves at a quick pace. I am still not a fan of the triangle. It also seems that Bill and crew have become dependent on Hannah as a consultant which is not how I saw the series going. All in all it still delivers on cozy content and great easy to make recipes like the Sweet & Sour Chicken for the crockpot that I plan to make with pork instead of chicken.

Another super addition to this series. Fans of Hannah Swensen know what to expect from Fluke - a somewhat repetitive story that has a lot of coffee drinking and indecisive thinking from Hannah. But the characters truly are enjoyable and the pacing of the mystery is spot on. I love these books.

I have long been a fan of Hannah Swanson. I have read all of the books in this series. I love how the author incorporates recipes into the storyline. Hannah owning a cookie shop is why I began reading. However, I have noticed in the last couple of books, the characters have changed. I found some of it hard to believe. Very few police departments would allow a civilian to solve a case. The plot of this book seemed very tired and petty. I am not sure if new ideas for murder have become harder to find. I will continue to read the series because I do enjoy visiting Lake Eden and those who live there. Plus the recipes included are a very big bonus. With this book ending on a cliff hanger, highly unusual, I will definitely be reading the next. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Well, honestly, this was a bit of a let down. I loved the early books in this series and they felt fresh and new. After 29 books, some of these characters are feeling like one trick ponies. I’d have liked to see some character development 🤷‍♀️

And I did not enjoy the story arc of the MLB player ‘ruining’ girls reputations just by having them riding in the same car as him. That was some Stepford sh*t and I won’t stand for it! This town may be Mayberry-esque but that definitely rubbed me the wrong way.

Also, no way in hell do they let a BAKER conduct police interviews 🙄

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

Hannah is back in book 29 of A Hannah Swensen Mystery series. This time, a cocky baseball player who has recently returned from the majors shows up dead. With her own mother as a suspect and with Mike on a vacation, Hannah must act fast to find the killer.
Opinion
Reading a Hannah Swensen book is like coming home. It is familiar and offers many great food recipes.
It has been a minute since I have read a book in this series, and I certainly have not read them all (why, I'm not sure) but I could easily pick up where I left off. I love that the characters while going forward also seem to be stuck in limbo where they are always the same age.
This book flew by and I was quite amazed at how quickly the resolution came. Perhaps I was just way more into the book than normal but I truly feel like I was just happy reading along and then *boom* the murderer was found.
Things I loved about this book:
*quick chapters
*the recipes
*Hannah and her struggle between Mike and Norman
*Moishe
I will have to say that this is my favorite cozy recipe mystery series.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

A fun and fast cozy mystery read! While some of the bits of this book felt repetitive to other books in this series, I really enjoy the characters and love getting new mystery stories.

I’ve been reading the Hannah Swensen series for a long time. Pink Lemonade Cake Murder is the 29th book in the series, and I have read every single one…some of them more than once. This series made me fall in love with cozy mysteries, a murder mystery where the detective is not a professional.

While Hannah and her fellow Lake Eden residents have come to feel like friends to me, the last few books don’t have the spark as the earlier books in the series.

There are a few moments, especially early in the book, where Hannah delivers very stilted dialogue in order to provide background information. Of course, I understand some exposition is necessary, but Fluke could have found a way to do it more seamlessly.

In many books in the series, Hannah’s brother in law, Sheriff Bill Todd and other members of the department, don’t condone her tendency to launch her own investigations into the murders in the town. It feels strange that in this book, they not only ask for her help, but they encourage her to be part of interviewing witnesses. Revisting my review of the last book, Caramel Pecan Roll Murder, it seems like this shift starts with that book. I am curious to see where Fluke is going with this.

In the past few books in the series, Andrea, the elder of Hannah’s two sisters, has become more of a focus. In Pink Lemonade Cake Murder, she works on perfecting her cake decorating skills and learns how to make stew. After years of reader about Andrea’s uselessness in the kitchen, it is nice that she’s getting more credit now.

A big throughline of the series is the love triangle between Hannah, Detective Mike Kingston and Norman Rhodes, a sweet local dentist. They’ve both proposed to Hannah throughout the series multiple times and been rejected. In this installment, Hannah says that she will never choose between them. I was surprised that she said that and wonder if Fluke is hinting that Hannah will, in fact, eventually make a choice.

I always love my yearly check in with the residents of Lake Eden, Minnesota. It is cozy and comforting. I look forward to reading about what Hannah gets up to next.

This installment of the Lake Eden mysteries centers around a former big league baseball player who is in town for a local baseball tournament who is causing trouble that leads to his murder. Hannah's mother is one of the people to have issues with No-No and becomes a suspect. With Mike out of town taking a break to find out if he's still enjoying being a detective or is ready to retire, Hannah takes extra interest in solving the case.

I want to give this series the benefit of the doubt, but the last at least 6 books have been lacking the original charm of the series and in all honesty, the mystery and plot are severely lacking. There's so much repetition, filler content about food and focus on unimportant details. There's very few red herrings and there need more mystery to solve. It doesn't even feel like the same writer.

There's also a lot of talk about woman's modesty in how they dress, which feels like s**t shaming and not very empowering. Hannah has always been modest, but she's also a strong woman and this felt outdated and uncomfortable to read.
There's a big cliffhanger at the end, which I feel is the writer's way to hook her readers back because the writing certainly isn't cutting it anymore. It's sad because I really used to enjoy this series.