Really enjoyed this book. Great plot and engaging, believe characters. I was drawn right into the story. Would definitely recommend.

This is the 24th book in the Hannah Swensen mystery series. What a delight! I love the story and the characters from previous books, but this could easily be read as a standalone novel. In this story, Hannah reveals to her hometown of Lake Eden, WI that her husband Ross was never really married to her, because he already had a wife!

The townspeople rally around Hannah and show her support in little and big ways. Some townspeople actually threaten Ross harm if he returns to town. The Cookie Jar, Hannah’s bakery is set to be the site for a TV special , and speculation abounds that Ross will be returning to town for the celebration.

I enjoyed the characters that I have come to love so much, and the story was great…there was more than one mystery to solve, which I always think is fun. I’d highly recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery.

There's a lot of recipes here - more savory than normal, and also a few like the frozen grapes, tortilla snacks and 'forgotten' cookies that are a delicious departure from her norm. And it's great to catch up with the Lake Eden gang - this is a really cozy book, with at least half the book taking place in a snow storm and the least bloody murder I've read about in a long time.

Her writing is better than is has been in a while, but the story is almost filler here. I think it's time for another cookbook. There is a delicious cliffhanger.

This book is full of Hannah's recipes and is a good, quick read.

Hannah Swensen's announcement to her church sets the scene for this cozy mystery. She tells the congregation that her recent marriage isn't valid since her 'husband' had another wife. He had lied to them all, abd they're all furious. There's no shortage of suspects when he's found dead in Hannah's condo.

Another fabulous cosy mystery! Love everything Joanne Fluke writes and this one is no exception. Great novel that keeps you guessing.

Fans of small town Lake Eden and baker, Hannah Swenson, will no doubt enjoy this 24th entry in the long running series.

Here is the publisher’s synopsis of this title:

When The Cookie Jar becomes the setting of a star-studded TV special about movies filmed in Minnesota, Hannah hopes to shine the spotlight on her bakery—not the unsavory scandal swirling around her personal life. But that’s practically impossible with a disturbing visit from the shifty character she once believed was her one and only love, a group of bodyguards following her every move, and a murder victim in her bedroom. Now, swapping the crime scene in her condo for her mother Delores’s penthouse, Hannah and an old flame team up to solve a case that’s messier than an upended chocolate cream pie. As suspects emerge and secrets hit close to home, Hannah must serve a hefty helping of justice to an unnamed killer prowling around Lake Eden…before someone takes a slice out of her!

So, as readers can see a lot is going on here. It is good to know that Hannah always comes out okay in the end. Readers will be treated to a good story line, some vicarious baked goods and a number of recipes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this book in a new to me author. The characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

I always look forward to Joanne Fluke's next Hannah Swensen novel. This novel was a little more serious from past novels as Hannah Swensen's personal life was swirling with scandal. I recommend this series to anyone that enjoys a good cozy mystery. The recipes are also an added bonus! I am anxiously awaiting the next one in the series.

Quiet and cozy Lake Eden has another mystery on their hands. Hannah Swensen enters married life blissfully unaware of what waits for her around the corner.

In just a few weeks from getting married, her beloved bakery, The Cookie Jar, is highlighted on a TV special. Sounds delightful, until tragedy strikes. Not just anywhere but in Hannah's own bedroom! She is forced to move in with her mother, as she tries to sort out her life and the murder.

Someone from the past steps in to help Hannah solve the murder and possibly help solve her love life as well.

I can't believe after nearly 20 years Hannah married outside the love triangle and her marriage fell apart almost immediately. Still more recipes than story.

Another great book in the series. Loved it. Highly recommend. Will be buying a physical copy for my shelves. 4 stars.

These just aren't the books they used to be and I probably just need to stop reading them. Thankfully the weird Ross storyline has gradually been ending. And while I have made several of the cookie recipes over the years with great luck, I still think many are too long on ingredients and would be better suited to the end of the book, rather that in chapters.

Hannah has decided to bare all to her friends at church and informs them that Ross (her supposed husband) was already married and has left to return to his wife. Everyone is very supportive and tells Hannah that Ross had better watch out if he ever returns. Which is just what is going to happen when he calls and tells her that he needs the money that he left in their bank account. Hannah tells him that she put that money back into HIS account, she wanted nothing more to do with him. Ross turns ugly insisting that she get that money for him.

There really wasn't much of a Murder mystery since the dead body wasn't found until chapter 20 and everyone knew that he was going to die so really this was more a story to close out the Hannah/Ross romance rather than a murder mystery. Story was good, mystery not so much.

The main character's bakery, The Cookie Jar is part of a TV special featuring movies filmed in the area. Of course she has high hopes this will benefit her little bakery, but of course that wouldn't be an interesting story would it. Add a little scandal, long lost love, crime and some yummy recipes then you have Hannah Swensen solving a mystery. Now, if you like the mystery part of this series then you might be a little disappointed as this book seemed to focus more on the recipes or food element. But, if you enjoy the food elements of this series then you are in for a treat -- really a treat. There are lots of recipes this time!! I kinda liked that. Those that relish in the mystery you may feel it was slow to happen and then rushed at the end. You could also feel something missing, such as some favorite main characters from other books in the series. Overall, I liked the book and the differences didn't bother me too much. I like the recipe elements as it is what makes it stand out from other mystery books making the series special.

I have 24 novels and multiple novellas/short stories invested in this series and I just don't think I can crack open the next one in the series. What happened to Hannah? Why was the Ross character even introduced? Some good recipes, but some not so great ones, mixed in with a predictable plot. The ending tastes burnt.

When The Cookie Jar becomes the setting of a star-studded TV special about movies filmed in Minnesota, Hannah hopes to shine the spotlight on her bakery, not the unsavory scandal swirling around her personal life. But that’s practically impossible with a disturbing visit from the shifty character she once believed was her one and only love, a group of bodyguards following her every move, and a murder victim in her bedroom. Now, swapping the crime scene in her condo for her mother Delores’s penthouse, Hannah and an old flame team up to solve a case that’s messier than an upended chocolate cream pie. As suspects emerge and secrets hit close to home, Hannah must serve a hefty helping of justice to an unnamed killer prowling around Lake Eden before someone takes a slice out of her!

I usually enjoy reading the books in the Hannah series but this one left me a little disappointed. The author seemed to have the characters spend way too much of the book talking about food and recipes. There are also way too many recipes that you have to skip over if you're not interested is baking like me. The author also took a long time in getting to the actual mystery and then rushed the conclusion which is very annoying. The book was also missing some of the main characters who have been in the series since book one and their absence was very noticeable. I hope the next book in the series is back up to standards of the previous books or I may move away from this series. I also hope that the author has Hannah finally make a decision between Norman and Mike since she has been stuck in triangle with both men since book #1.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

This has been a long series, with 24 titles at present, not including the novellas. I started my affair with Hannah and the gang with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, which was one of the first titles I read when I started the cozy mystery route.

One surprising thing about this series is that at first, I thought the series was fluffy. You have our cozy heroine, Hannah Swensen, who runs her own business - The Cookie Jar - and has a supporting cast of family members, friends, fellow Lake Edenites, and 2 male leads. I thought they weren't three-dimensional because everything's fine and dandy in Lake Eden.

As the series progressed, everything changes (a little). The whole thing is not fluff anymore. It's like everyone became darker and sort of meaner, and Lake Eden is not anymore the paradise it was before. We find Hannah, who after dumping both Mike and Norman (finally!) and getting married to her college friend turned director, Ross Barton (of Cherry Cheesecake Murder), who suddenly disappeared. She's trying to make sense of what happened and at the same time deal with the aftermath. And she has to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance.

Previously, I was thinking of dropping the series because I kind of lost interest (the length and the narrative was dragging.) But now, this is a different Lake Eden that we have compared to the previous titles, and there's an interesting cliffhanger which made me hold on to this series a little, so I still would know what would happen in the future.

*** I got a copy of this book from NetGalley. These are all my own opinions.

I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this more than other Hannah Swenson's mysteries that I've read. In this one Hannah's ex-husband-but-not-really comes back to town and wants the money he had left behind. She had put it all in his account, but due to an accident at the bank, he can't get it, and neither can she.

Hannah was a little more forceful in this book than she had been in others, and there was thankfully no wishy-washy feelings about her romantic relationships. She is truly friends with Mike and Norman now, although I fear that the love triangle may come back in the next book (which there will obviously be another one).

Hannah does what she does best and sticks herself into the investigation. I had the killer and the cliffhanger figured out about halfway through, but I still can't wait for the next book in the series to see what happens next.

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke was pretty good. As a long-time fan of the series, my expectations may have been too high. I wish the pacing had been faster. Adding new characters and the new spouse took too little by to get gritty. I still liked it a lot though.

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder is the 24th installment in the bestselling Hannah Swenson series by Joann Fluke. The books are mysteries, and definitely in the cozy, culinary mystery genre. However, the last few novels have become a bit more suspenseful and closer to actual thrillers, even though they still contain no graphic sex, language, or violence. Fluke also writes stand-alone thrillers, and it seems that her expertise in thrillers has influenced this delightful series of cozies. The upside is that they still contain fun recipes for those foodies who follow the series.

Hannah Swenson, who recently married, learned after her honeymoon that her husband was a fraud and was actually married. He disappeared shortly after the marriage, but has returned in this mystery, along with some shady characters who are related to some murders that are occurring in this tiny town. Hannah isn’t safe, and while investigating what is going on, puts herself, family members, and friends in danger.

While this series is lighthearted, the novels still have plenty of suspense and difficult scenarios. Most readers are familiar with the characters, who seem real, and have been well-developed throughout the series of novels. One of the best ways to escape is to read about idyllic towns with idyllic characters, and Joanne Fluke is a master; the setting and stories are almost make-believe, but are definitely worth reading. Fans are chomping at the bit while waiting to read the next installment.

Readers who like consistency in a series, and interesting, well-developed characters, believable scenarios, and building suspense, should immediately pick up Chocolate Cream Pie Murder, the latest installment in the series. It is a quick read, and also fun. Cooks will want to try the recipes, which turn out picture-perfect.

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