Hannah Swensen Series Book Review

6 min readJun 19, 2023

If you like to listen to this review, check out my podcast episode.

What's this series about?

Hannah Swensen decided to own her own bakery, and she is doing well in that spot. When murders occur in Lake Eden, Hannah who is a red head turns into an adult Nancy Drew dectective who almost gets herself killed several times.

Lake Eden hasn't seen murders until now. There's been several popping up in each book. What I realized is that Joanne kills off people you don't like right away. Every time.

This series has been going on since 2000 with the first book called Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. Each book has a key desert that always happens to be involved with the murder. The first book, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, is where Ron the delivery man for Hannah’s milk is shot dead outside Hannah’s bakery. The dessert Ron loved and actually had in his hand before he died were chocolate chip cookies.

If you get into this series, let me tell you that this series has a ton of books (29 so far). It’s the longest series I’ve ever read, but they’re great books. Some of the books do blend together, but all of them have a combined plot that helps you figure out more about the characters, the town, and your thoughts on Hannah herself.

With that information, you have to read them in order or you’re going to get lost on what’s happening in Hannah’s life, specifically, in the romance department. It takes a ton of work to write several books in a series. Let alone 29! Here’s the full list of the books starting from the first one to the new one coming out on July 25th, 2023:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2001)
Strawberry Shortcake Murder (2002)
Blueberry Muffin Murder (2002)
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (2003)
Fudge Cupcake Murder (2004)
Sugar Cookie Murder (2004)
Peach Cobbler Murder (2005)
Cherry Cheesecake Murder (2006)
Key Lime Pie Murder (2007)
Candy Cane Murder (October 2007) (novella)
Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2008)
Cream Puff Murder (March 2009)
Plum Pudding Murder (October 2009)
Apple Turnover Murder (February 2010)
Gingerbread Cookie Murder (October 2010) (novella)
Devil’s Food Cake Murder (February 2011)
Cinnamon Roll Murder (February 2012)
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (February 2013)
Joanne Fluke’s Lake Eden Cookbook (September 2013) (includes short stories and recipes)
Blackberry Pie Murder (February 2014)
Double Fudge Brownie Murder (February 2015)
Wedding Cake Murder (February 2016)
Christmas Caramel Murder (September 2016)
Banana Cream Pie Murder (February 2017)
Raspberry Danish Murder (February 2018)
Christmas Cake Murder (September 2018)
Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (February 2019)
Coconut Layer Cake Murder (February 2020)
Christmas Cupcake Murder (September 2020)
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder (February 2021)
Christmas Dessert Murder (October 2021)
Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (February 2022)
Pink Lemonade Cake Murder (Coming Out July 25, 2023)

Because this series has become popular over the years, Hallmark decided to make the series into a show. They skipped some books, but they have 28 ideas to choose from for episodes. There has only been a couple episodes so far, but this is an awesome series that I also recommend watching.

First though, I would read the series then binge watch the show with a dessert. Maybe a chocolate chip cookie.

Who is Joanne Fluke?

My review:

I got into these books because of a coworker who read majority of them. She stated they were great books and to read them. I started with the first one, and I flew through that one. The second one took me a little bit longer, so I decided to just listen to that book. Ever since the second book, I’ve listened to the audiobooks.

They kept me engaged for 20 books. By listening to the books, I was able to finish this series in about two months. I just couldn’t stop listening to them. Honestly, I enjoyed the audio books better, so I would recommend listening to this series.

Overall, should you read this series? Hell yeah. This series has a ton of plot development, murder mystery, a PG related romance blossoming, and recipes you can use on your own time if you bake. What more can I ask for? Nothing.

What did I like?

1. Female led

I love Hannah, and I wouldn’t like this series as much if it was a guy as the main character. Hannah is just personable, funny, and a great person. This was a great character choice for one of my favorite fiction characters out there.

2. Mike and Norman

I love these two guys. Mike is the dectective from Detroit who moved to Lake Eden, and Norman is the town's dentist. Both have a fling with Hannah, and both have proposed to her. There's a big romance triangle going on, and the guy's are fine with Hannah waiting on what person she should choose to marry. This also is something I dislike, which I'll talk about soon.

What did I not like?

1. Hannah still hasn’t decided

The only thing I don't like is that Hannah still hasn't chose who she wants to marry yet: Norman or Mike. It has been over two years (maybe more), and she still hasn't figured out the person she wants to fully say yes to yet. Maybe in this book, but I think Joanne is going to drag it out a little longer for us Hannah Swensen lovers to keep on reading for that moment. Pretty soon, I might just end the series if she doesn't announce the person Hannah will marry.

The tv show (made from Hallmark) has already made the decision. Hannah chooses Mike in the show, and I honestly want Norman to be the person Hannah chooses. I think Norman is the better fit for Hannah. He loves cats, funny, and gives all of his attention to Hannah when they’re together. He also does somethings to suprise Hannah, which is sweet. A guy should do that. Norman is something Hannah needs, especially after a bad break up she had with one guy (not Mike or Norman) in this series.

Any lessons:

1. Make the careers align

Hannah loves to bake and is good at it, but she has to decide what she would rather do. Either bake or become a dectective. I think baking allows her to think about the case, but it’s also a distraction from her business. Her mind isn’t thinking about building her business, and this distracts from what she’s doing each day at her baking store called Cookie Jar.

Both careers aren't related and don't work together. For me, this was the case a couple years ago. I was going into a career in athletic training, but I was focusing on Johnnysbookreviews and reviewing books. It didn't mesh well. I was distracted each day, didn't want to read, and didn't focus on Johnnysbookreviews that much. So I had to make the big decision on changing careers where Johnnysbookreviews related to my 9-7. I started working at a bookstore, and this opened my perspective on what sells, any books to read, and how to market a book. The two things I love doing work together, so it makes it a lot easier to read more books, write reviews, and help customers.

2. Waiting it out

This is related to her romance. She hasn't decided between the two man (Mike and Norman) who proposed to her. Sometimes, it's better to wait it out and see what she feels. She did marry someone in the 21st book, but it was a bad relationship. This allows Hannah to be picky on the next guy she brings into her life. Which one is she bringing into her life forever?

Marriage is a huge decision, and choosing the right partner should be the right decision for her. She has dated both men multiple times, and the feeling to marry either will come to her. I think we jump too quickly into marriage, and Hannah makes this mistake with a guy who she didn't know much about. From this mistake, she has learned to take it slow and decide over a length of time on the right guy for her.

3. Joanne Fluke makes all the deserts she mentions in the book

This is awesome. She will make every dessert she mentions, and this is why it takes her so long to write the books. She has over four recipes in each book, and she makes each and every item mentioned. She taste tests them, and works on a better recipe to do for that item.

She has baked over 500,000 cookies! Come on now. She actually does what she is writing about. Hannah is a lot like a young Joanne, and I love that Joanne puts in the work to make the desserts.

A great series, so I would recommend reading these books. Their quick reads and fun to read.

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