Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel.

This story takes place early in the series before Delores has opened her antiques store. Hannah is working in the Cookie Jar one morning when she gets a visit from a homeless man who asks for work in exchange for food. Seeing that he is very cold and hungry, Hannah gives him food and coffee and finds him a warm sweater and scarf from her lost and found box. A couple of days later, Hannah, Delores and Carrie are checking out an empty storefront for a potential spot for the antiques storage, when they find the homeless man lying under a pile of rags, unconscious and near death. After he's taken to the hospital, he tells them he thinks his name is Joe, but can't remember much else. Doc finds he's had a severe head injury. But Joe has a talent for restoring wood and furniture, so ends up doing odd jobs around the hospital and for Delores. Eventually, Hannah gets enough info from him to find out where he comes from.

This was a nice story, but the ending was too rushed with several big holes in the story. But I enjoyed it anyway. It's always nice to get back to Lake Eden.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While a prequel to a long-running series, it is easily read as a standalone. Hannah owns a bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and spends part of everyday devising new cookie and cupcake recipes. The mystery involves a polite, homeless man who appears at her back door on a cold, Minnesota morning and asks about odd jobs. She feeds him cupcakes and coffee and has him scrape her car of ice/snow. A few days later, Hannah, her mother and her mom’s best friend explore an empty store that might become her mom’s antique store. They discover the man, unconscious and almost frozen. The town rallies around him to discover what clues they can, as he suffers from amnesia but remembers vague memories relating to his mother, a farm and furniture refinishing work. Thanks to their efforts, the mystery man is able to recover his memories and his former life.
I’ve not read the series so I’m writing about this book as a stand-alone. Ms. Fluke ends each chapter with a recipe so there are lots of delicious treats featured in this cozy. I applaud her for detailed and imaginative recipes that sound wonderful (and caloric!). The book introduces what are, probably, recurring characters in the series. Hannah is single and at her mother’s beck and call. She bakes for the hospital, helps decorate for Christmas and runs the bakery, with the help of an assistant. She also creates new recipes every chapter, which leads me to believe she’s both superwoman and has the patience of a saint. Seems a likeable heroine, as evidenced by the number of books in the series. Her mum strikes me as a pain but that allows for character growth, I suspect.

Thank you to Kensington Books for the gifted review copy of Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. All opinions are my own.

Hannah Swenson is back and she's trying to solve a missing person case. The story goes back in time to before her mother and Carrie own the antique business near her. When a nice man knocks on her back door and asks for work Hannah wants to help him. He's very polite but also very cold and thin. She knows he needs help. Soon "Joe" is hospitalized. He doesn't know his name or how he got to Lake Eden. It will take Hannah with all of her family and friends to help him.

I do recommend the entire series but for anyone new to the series this could work as a stand alone or be read out of order. It is not a continuation of her current storyline so this book will work for all readers.

Joanne Fluke has a way with her feel good Hannah Swenson series. The characters are people you would want to be your friend. The town of Lake Eden feels like a family. I read the series because I love the characters.

As with all of the books in the Hannah Swenson series, it is full of beautiful recipes. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes in Christmas Cupcake Murder. All of the recipes I have tried from previous books and her cookbook have been amazing.

Cozy mysteries are perfect for light and fun reads.

Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: September 29, 2020

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC. This story is not set in the current time. She went back in time before the Antique shop was open. I did enjoy the new characters she introduced in this backstory. There were quite a few new recipes. Can't divulge too much or will give the plot away. Enjoy! Looking forward to her next book.

This is book 26 (!!) of this sweet little series, and another winner from Joanna! FYI, book 27 is due out in February! First recommendation- have a snack nearby and do NOT read on an empty stomach, as you will soon be craving cookies and cupcakes! LOL. This isn't your traditional murder mystery, as there isn't a murder, but possibly an attempted one! It's more of trying to figure out who John Doe IS first, and then figuring out if something bad DID happen to him! It's a charming, quick read, and features some AMAZING recipes, that I will be baking this holiday season for sure-especially the devine and easy German Chocolate Cake and Blue Apple Pie!! So your second recommendation is you might want the print form of this book for all the wow recipes!

I love a good Hannah Swenson Baking/Murder Mystery. This book is not set in the present day like so many of her stories, but goes back and fills us in on some earlier history. I have read all of the Hannah Swenson books and I am always looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.

In Christmas Cupcake Murder we are transported to a time before Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. So this book can be read even if you have never read another Hannah Swensen book. Hannah, one morning while getting her baking done for the day hears an unrecognizable knock at her back door. She encounters a stranger, who seems to to underfed and frozen. She invites him in for a cup of coffee and some cookies. She asks him to brush off her truck and gives him money asking him to come back the next day and she will find some odd jobs for him to do then. Turns out the mysterious stranger has amnesia and is significantly malnourished. Hannah's German Chocolate Cupcakes are the catalyst that start to jog John Doe's memory-who prefers to be called Joe Smith instead. What follows is many different cup cake recipes, Hannah dealing with her mother's antics, and small town life in Lake Eden.
I did not have high hopes for this book. I have been disappointed by several of the Joanne Fluke's recent books. This one has its faults, Delores saying "dear" every sentence when talking to Hannah, Hannah saying "mother" just as often. I find the dialogue completely un-relatable and unnatural most of the time--but that has been a theme for me throughout the series, I tend to skip words to make it more readable. That being said this was a cute book, for the holiday season. It was a quick read full of holiday cheer.

I really love this series, especially the holiday themed books. This one is set back in time, before any of the Mike/Norman/Ross drama so don’t expect any progress on that point. We learn how Hannah’s mom came to open her own antique store and there is a mystery revolving around a new man in town who is hurt and has amnesia. Holiday recipes feature throughout, Mike and Norman are both around and the holiday setting makes for a story that any Hannah Swenson fan will enjoy reading.

Lake Eden seems to be the most dangerous small town in MN--so many murders, and Hannah Swenson, owner of the Cookie Jar Bakery, is always involved.. Fortunately, this book only involved attempted murder and amnesia.. There are a lot of recipes included, most of which involve cake mixes and copious amounts of butter. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I'm new to the world of Joanne Fluke and I understand this book was a prequel of sorts.

I enjoyed the book but the mystery centers around a homeless man who comes into Hanna's bakery asking to do small jobs in exchange for something to eat. A few days later, Hannah finds him in a serious medical state in an abandoned building her mother and friend are looking into leasing. and has him rushed to the hospital

The mystery resolves around trying to identify the young man and he has suffered a traumatic head injury and has amnesia. Hannah and her friends and relatives all try to get "Joe" to remember things and take notes of the memories he does have. The ending seems a bit rushed to me and a bit off as well. But it is a cute holiday story. and I enjoyed meeting Hannah's friends and family in Lake Eden, Minnesota.

I'm not a baker but I enjoyed the discussions around coming up with cookies and cupcakes ideas and the author also provides the recipes with quite detailed instructions. I look forward to reading more of the author's books and maybe trying some of her recipes!

I received an ARC from Kensington but the opinions expressed are my own.

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.