Christmas Cake Murder

By: Joanne Fluke

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

It's Christmas many years ago, and topping young Hannah Swensen's wish list is becoming the go-to baker in Lake Eden, Minnesota. But as Hannah finds out, revisiting holiday memories can be murder....

With her dream of opening The Cookie Jar taking shape, Hannah's life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle in Lake Eden - especially when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas ball from the past in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes for the merry festivities, she instantly becomes enthralled by Essie's old notebooks and the tale of a woman escaping danger on the streets of New York.

Hannah's surprised by Essie's secret talent for penning crime fiction. She's even more surprised when the story turns real.

As Hannah prepares to run a bakery and move out of her mother's house, it'll be a true miracle if she can prevent another yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake....

©2018 H.L. Swensen, Inc. (P)2018 Recorded Books

How It Began

I loved hearing how The Cookie Jar started, and the “diary mystery” thread was emotional and riveting. I enjoy all the daily details and especially the recipes in the series.

Best book of the series What will be next?

I enjoyed more than any of the other Joan Fluke Hannah Swensen series. Can’t wait to see what is next.

Enjoyable story

I thoroughly enjoyed. I hated that it ended. That was a great story line inside the story.

One of my favorites by Fluke.

The sub plot is well thought and engaging.
The delivery, however, does not hold to Suzanne Toren’s usual quality, especially towards the end of the novel. In some scenes Hannsh sounds like a man, while Annie sounds like a bird.

Loved it

The story was well written and flowed smoothly. I like the recipes breaks as well.