Banana Cream Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery Book 21)

Banana Cream Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery), book 21 in the series has 432 pages. The author Joanne Fluke has written, at the time of this review, more than 40 books with most of them being the “A Hannah Swensen Mystery” series.Delores Swensen, author of Regency books and mother of Hannah Swensen has just found the body of her friend Tori Bascomb, the Mayor’s sister. Hannah and her husband have been on a cruise for their honeymoon. Hannah gets a message from her sister, Michelle. The message tells her about Tori’s murder and that Delores wants her to come home right away. Delores thinks that Tori knew her killer because a couple of plates and Hannah’s Banana Cream Pie was on the coffee table. Also, after returning home, Hannah doesn’t know where Ross is.Banana Cream Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) was a fun, quick read, and I love the way the plot was written. The author, Joanne Fluke has a smooth way of unfolding her stories. There is a murder involved but it isn’t revolting, and there is a dessert near the body, in this case, a banana cream pie. Once the reader learns about the murder and how it was committed the author doesn’t dwell on the death, just details and the suspects. It is a wonderfully written whodunit book which includes recipes.I love how all of Hannah’s family and friends come together to assist with the investigation. They each have their own talents, and of course they have suspects. Hannah’s “murder book” is where she keeps a list of all her suspects. Then she checks for an alibi to mark them off her list.I like the way the customers come into The Cookie Jar owned by Hannah and Lisa, wanting information about the murder. They are not disappointed because Lisa, co-owner of The Cookie Jar, tells the story about how the body was found with and puts her own spin on it.The author has included twenty-five recipes including, the banana cream pie, cookies, oven French toast, candy, chicken stroganoff, muffins, cheese pops, breakfast bake, and more. They all sound delicious. When Hannah, Lisa, and the gang talk about something they are making in the book there will be a recipe soon to follow. I have not made any of the recipes in this book, but I have made some of the recipes in the other books and they have all be delicious.The one thing I didn’t like about this book was Ross, Hannah’s new husband. He didn’t really seem to have a place in the book.I give Banana Cream Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) a 5 out of 5 stars. The book appears to have been professionally edited, though I did find a couple of errors, but the book is so well written that they were hardly noticeable. The recipes also appear to have been well tested. This book would be great for anybody who likes to cook or read whodunits.

Hannah Swenson is on her honeymoon with her new husband, Ross. At the same time in her hometown her mother, Delores hears a strange sound. Delores investigates and finds her neighbor dead. The victim, Victoria Bascomb was a renowned actress and theater director in the local community. She didn’t have a lot of friends, but being the mayor’s sister, everyone respected her work. Except the one person who hated her enough to kill.This was a quick lighthearted cozy mystery. I love reading about these wonderful characters. The one troubling thing I felt was the lack of growth in Hannah’s character. In the first part of the series she doesn’t like technology and needs help with computers and cell phones. You would think that by the 21st novel she would’ve learned something. It seems that her technological growth is lacking. There was also something odd with how the characters related to one another. They seemed weirdly polite. I missed the banter and camaraderie between the Swenson sisters and their mother. Even with the abovementioned quirks, I can’t wait to read the next installment. An Advanced Reading Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! This was so fantastic! I loved the characters, the settings, the delicious recipes, the twisty mystery. The ending left me dying to read more!!!

This book is filled with so many twists and turns we’ve finally gotten Hannah to the altar. Through her honeymoon and then back home, where her mother has found the body of a friend who was murdered. How killed the mayor’s sister, could it be the mayor himself? So naturally, Hannah feels she must solve the case, putting herself into danger once again. How will come to her rescue?

I use to wait so impatiently for the new Hannah Swenson book to come out. I would buy it right away or, after I got my Kindle, download it immediately. I enjoyed Hannah's quirky sense of humor, the fact that she wasn't stick thin but still had 2 guys interested in her, and of course her silly cat Moishe. I even tried and enjoyed some of the easier recipes. But her dithering between which guy she loved the best, her smugness in believing that she knew so much better than the trained professionals how to solve a murder mystery and the fact that she usually only really figured it out when the killer was trying to kill her has definitely blunted the fun. Even the recipes have too many ingredients and are too complicated for most of us home cooks. Unfortunately this new book is more of the same. Granted Hannah is married now so no more dithering between 2 boy friends. Too bad she didn't marry either one of them so her husband who is an old college friend doesn't know much about her and she doesn't know much about him so she dithers about that! Too bad she not only still continues her old habit of withholding information from the police but now her mother is doing it too. Her mother's friend is a famous actress who is retired and lives downstairs from her mother. When Victoria is found dead by Hannah's mother of course Hannah must solve it. With all the experience she has had you would think Hannah could have figured it out before the killer was advancing on her. I certainly did. And why can't this woman in her 30's program her own cell phone! With Hannah's younger sister Michelle doing most of the baking, Hannah's seemingly total dependence on her new husband and long detailed recipes this was one of my least favorite books in the series. If it wasn't for the cliff hanger at the end I probably wouldn't buy the next one. However I'm definitely not preordering it.

Once again Hannah Swenson solves another murder mystery and not only was the murderer a surprise but what occurred when she got home was too!! These are definitely a quick read because they’re hard to put down because you want to find out what’s happening next!!

I love these books. They are well written, with enough grittiness and suspense to keep me reading. And the recipes just add an extra yum!

Love this series of books and this one did not disappoint. Can't wait for more.

Although the plot was rather extended and somewhat repetitious, I always enjoy the recipes in a Joanne Fluke novel. This was not disappointing in that regard.

Was disappointed with story line and I'm beginning to feel this series has run its course

very pleased with this product, arrived quickly and in good condition.