Strawberry Shortcake Murder

The Hartland Flour company chooses Lake Eden for their first annual Dessert Bake-Off, and Hannah is thrilled to serve as head judge. But when fellow judge Coach Boyd Watson is found dead, face-down in Hannah’s celebrated strawberry shortcake, the competition turns from sweet to deadly.

Why This One

The second Hannah Swensen mystery deepens everything that worked in the first book. The baking competition setting is perfectly suited to the cozy format, bringing together the community in a way that creates both comedy and suspects. Hannah is more confident as an amateur detective this time around, and her relationships with the recurring cast of Lake Eden characters grow richer.

Fluke’s plotting improves here too. The mystery is more complex, with multiple suspects and a motive that ties back to the community in unexpected ways. The seven included recipes are, as always, tested and delicious. The strawberry shortcake at the center of the mystery is itself a recurring highlight of the series.

What to Expect

A slightly longer and more assured read than the first book. The same cozy tone and recipe-laden format. Seven recipes are included, among them Molasses Crackles and Chocolate Highlander Cookie Bars. You should read Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder first to get the full benefit of the character development.