Christmas Cupcake Murder
While Hannah speeds through a lengthy holiday checklist, drama in town grows like Santa’s waistline on Christmas Eve. Her sister Andrea wants to stave off the blues by helping out at The Cookie Jar, Michelle’s love life is becoming complicated, Lisa needs Hannah’s advice, and Delores has a Christmas secret she’s not willing to share. But nothing dampens the holiday mood more than the chilling mystery surrounding the man found near death in an abandoned storefront two doors down from Hannah’s bakery.
The befuddled John Doe can’t recall a thing about himself, except for his unusual knowledge of restoring antique furniture. With a smattering of clues and barely enough time to frost Christmas cookies, Hannah must solve a deadly puzzle that could leave her dashing through the snow for her life!
Series: A Hannah Swensen Mystery – Book #26
Author: Joanne Fluke
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary/Holiday
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 368
Rating: 
Hannah has been around for a very long time and is the main character in the “A Hannah Swensen Mystery” series as well as the star of the holiday book Christmas Cupcake Murder. A sweet story that will have readers drooling over the delectable concoctions and inspiring flavors.
When Hannah finds a homeless man at her door, she has to help. Realizing that he is hungry, cold and needs to get out of the elements, she brings him inside The Cookie Jar and sets to work filling his stomach while taking the edge off the winter chill. Many cupcakes and lots of coffee later, she promises him more food and work the next day. He happily goes off with a bag of goodies and a smile. But the next time she see’s him; he is crumpled in a heap in an empty building. Before long, the homeless man they call Joe is resting at the hospital. Hannah and friends have a new mystery to solve. Who is this stranger, and why can’t he remember his name or anything else about himself?
There is no murder in this holiday book, and it makes for a nice change this year when so much misery is rampant throughout the world. The only mystery is figuring out who Joe is and how he ended up in Eden Lake with severe head trauma and no memory. Throughout the story, Hannah, her friends, and family start getting bits of information that lead them to Joe’s identity. After a few weeks and many cupcakes, Joe’s memories are returning, and they dash off to find his family home. In a last-minute save, Joe stops a wedding, restores his memories, and brings the villain out of hiding.
Christmas Cupcake Murder is sweet in more ways than just the wonderful recipes and delightful descriptions of Hannah’s mouthwatering cupcakes and cookies. It’s not the type of book that is filled with tons of action, nor does it dig too profoundly into death and drama, but it has just enough to move the story along and keep readers entertained and happy. Not to mention their stomachs rumbling with each new dessert recipe. The relationship dynamic between Hannah, Mike, and Norman plays little part in this book, and for this, I am grateful. This is a story filled with hope during the holiday season. Readers will delight in the feel-good moments that make cozy mysteries popular and easy to love.
Other delectable holiday food-based books readers enjoy without the cupcakes include Tina Kashian’s savory “A Kebab Kitchen Mystery” and Sharon Farrow’s fruit-inspired “A Berry Basket Mystery”.
About the Author:
Like Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke grew up in a small town in rural Minnesota where her neighbors were friendly, the winters were fierce, and the biggest scandal was the spotting of unidentified male undergarments on a young widow’s clothesline. She insists that there really are 10,000 lakes, and the mosquito is NOT the state bird.
While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public school teacher, a psychologist, a musician, a private detective’s assistant, a corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical secretary, a short-order cook, a florist’s assistant, a caterer, and a party planner, a computer consultant on a now-defunct operating system, a production assistant on a TV quiz show, half of a screenwriting team with her husband, and a mother, wife, and homemaker.
She now lives in Southern California with her husband, her kids, his kids, their three dogs, one elderly tabby, and several noisy rats in the attic.
Contact Joanne: gr8clues@joannefluke.com
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