Raspberry Danish Murder

January 1, 2018
In bestseller Fluke’s flaky 22nd Hannah Swensen mystery set in Lake Eden, Minn. (after 2017’s Banana Cream Pie Murder), Hannah’s new husband, Ross Barton, vanishes, leaving her mopey but otherwise strangely unaffected by his absence. For someone who can’t resist trying to solve murders, she doesn’t really search for Ross at all, other than to note that, since he took only his condo keys, he must be planning on coming back one of these days. When Ross’s assistant at the local radio station dies after eating poisoned candy that he found in Ross’s desk, Hannah jumps into the investigation. Was the candy actually meant for Ross, and if so, could he have disappeared because someone is out to get him? Hannah’s sleuthing is haphazard at best, and the solution is far-fetched. Ross’s disappearance is beside the point, even if the reader gets a partial answer at the end. But the Hannah Swensen books have always been more about the food than the mystery, and this installment contains enough recipes to satisfy the most enthusiastic baker. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

January 1, 2018
Heartbroken by the unexplained disappearance of her new husband, Ross, Hannah Swensen Barton soldiers on, running her bakery and coffee shop while trying to locate her missing spouse. When Ross' assistant, P. K., dies after eating poisoned candy left in Ross' desk at work, police detective Mike Kingston and Hannah must first determine who the intended victim wasRoss or P. K.? Hannah and her friends and family members investigate, interviewing possible suspects in P. K.'s murder while trying to locate the missing Ross from clues he left behind. Along the way to identifying the killer, the self-esteem-challenged Hannah broods about what she might have done to cause Ross to leave, all the while baking up a vast array of yummy cookies and other treats (mouth-watering recipes included). Another satisfying entry in the long-running series with its small-town Minnesota frame, familiar cast of well-drawn characters, and details of baking and running a bakery. A final twist will have fans eagerly awaiting the next installment in this ever-popular cozy series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)