Joanne Fluke Reviews

Page Four

Updated! April 17, 2006

Peach Cobbler Murder

Author: Joanna Fluke
Publisher: Kensington Books
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: February 2006
Genre: Mystery: Cozy
Format: Paperback
Price: $6.99
ISBN: 0758201559
Author Email/Website: www.murdershebaked.com
Reviewer: Sharyn McGinty
Rating: 8.75 Gargoyles

Joanne dishes up a sweet treat in her latest Hannah Swensen mystery.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and Hannah's once thriving business is practically nonexistent thanks to a new bakery opening just down the street. The Magnolia Blossom Bakery run by Hannah's rival Shawna Lee and her sister Vanessa is slowly sending the Cookie Jar out of business. With only a few loyal customers remaining, she makes the heart-wrenching decision to close the Cookie Jar if business doesn't pick up by the end of the month.

In the midst of all this gloom, there is one beautiful bright spot: her business partner's wedding. Hannah is determined to make Lisa's wedding one she and her husband to be will never forget. Between Hannah and her sister Andrea, the wedding turns out beautiful and the reception spectacular.

Lake Eden is a very friendly community and almost everyone who attended the reception brought some kind of dessert. Hannah volunteers to oversee the donation of the remaining desserts to several charities. She returns to the Cookie Jar after the wedding to place the desserts in her freezer and notices a light on at the Magnolia Blossom Bakery. Feeling a bit generous, not to mention curious, she crosses the street to see if there is anything amiss. Her discovery of Shawna Lee's lifeless body catapults her to the top of the suspect list.

With plenty of suspects with plausible motives, this case is easily one of the most difficult Hannah has investigated to date. As alibis are confirmed and suspects eliminated, Hannah's worries increase. Who killed Shawna Lee? When her mother Delores sees Shawna's sister Vanessa and at first believes it to be Shawna Lee's ghost, Hannah's investigation changes course. What if Shawna's murder was just an accident and Vanessa was the true target?

Digging into the southern sisters past reveals the truth but an unexpected discovery could mean danger not only to Hannah but to her mother as well.

A superb mystery, with the perfect amount of suspense, laughs and a plot sure to impress, Peach Cobbler Murder is unforgettable. Joanne writes with ease, adding layer upon layer of suspense and throwing all the clues out for readers to find and analyze. While the mystery might be easy to solve, it is the thrill of watching Hannah and company interact, play off each other and let's not forget Delores' matchmaking schemes that keep this reader coming back for more. Of course, the ending will leave readers screaming "Evil author! How dare she leave it like that!" *g*

A delightfully delicious read from beginning to end.

Return to top of page.

This page was last updated on January 1, 2008

This page and all its contents are Copyright© 2002-2008 In the Library Reviews and the individual reviewers. Except where noted, all graphics are Copyright© Eos Development and are used with permission. All book covers are Copyright© their respective publishers and are used with permission. The In the Library Reviews logo is Copyright© 2002 by In the Library Reviews/Sharyn McGinty. Site maintained by In the Library Reviews.