Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery

Well, back in January, I read JoAnne Fluke's "Peach Cobbler Mystery." Now, in the heat of June, I found a copy of her first book of the Hannah Swensen mystery series, "Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery." This copy was located in the San Antonio Barnes & Noble. It's a great read for the pool-side.

In her debut, Hannah has recently returned to her hometown of Lake Eden and opened a bakery. One morning she discovers the body of the dairy delivery man outside of her shop. Her brother-in-law is the police officer assigned to investigate the murder. Hannah agrees to snoop around a bit and help him out so he can receive a promotion.

During the course of the book, we're introduced to the cast of characters in the small Minnesota town. These include her sister, her niece, her widowed mother and two love interests, Norman the dentist and Mike the new detective in town.

This was a great, delightful, light read --- perfect for a vacation read. I'm even planning on trying some of the recipes which were included.

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.

Needlecraft Mystery Falls Short

I have read every single one of the Monica Ferris' needlecraft mysteries. This cottage mystery series follows Betsy Devonshire, a plump, middle-aged woman who owns a needlecraft store named "Crewel World" located in Excelsior, Minnesota. Betsy inherited the shop from her sister who was the murder victim in the first book of the series also entitled "Crewel World." Betsy shows a knack for solving murders and mysteries as she also learns the ins and outs of needlework.

Usually these books are fun reads. Being a needleworker myself, I do enjoy reading about some of the ins and outs of the needlecraft business. I can really relate to her descriptions of the products, processes and environment of her shop.

Ferris has a knack for developing some wonderful and memorable characters as well. From "manly" Alice, to her gay operations manager Goddy, and the always efficient and stoic Jill Larson, these characters become old friends.

I suppose that is what made this book a disappointment to me. Someone has stolen a check from the Heart Association. The check was for charity work done by the local EGA (Embroidery Guild of America) chapter. Unfortunately it appears that the Heart Association representative, who happens to be the husband of a needleworker there, has absconded with the check. The wife asks Betsy to investigate, but she can't get up and about because of a broken leg. She has to rely on Goddy to do the work for her.

What makes this book fall short of the mark is the excessive amount of time devoted to one of the suspects, Tony Milan, aka Stoney Durand. Ferris seems off her game here. His development seems trite and uninteresting. Goddy's investigation seems to be the same. It just doesn't work for me. Also the descriptions and voice of Jill's baby seems simplified and silly.

Let's hope Ferris' next endeavor will focus more closely on our old friends at Crewel World and that needlework will figure more prominently in the mystery itself.

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.

Cork Returns!

The work of William Kent Krueger is among my favorites in the mystery genre. He writes of Corcoran (Cork) O'Connor, a former sheriff who lives near the Iron Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. Cork, part-Native American himself, often finds himself involved in various mysteries and murders, whether he is serving as the official law enforcement presence or not.

In this book entitled "Thunder Bay", Krueger goes back to a more Native-American dominated storyline. Henry Meloux, one of the recurring characters asks Cork, a newly-licensed private investigator, to find his son. Cork is stunned, and he agrees to do so. Meloux is a Midiwiwin, a Native-American tribal spiritual leader and visionary of sorts. He has to be in his late eighties or nineties. His appearances in the previous books only serve to heighten the interest in the story and his background. After Cork finds the reclusive son in Canada followed by an attempt on Meloux's life by the son's bodyguard, fully one-third of the book is narrated by Meloux in an exploration of his past. Krueger skillfully weaves the story together, and it is just a delight.

The previous book was not one that I liked or even finished. Many of Krueger's books have won Edgar and Anthony awards. I was so disappointed in "Copper River", but "Thunder Bay" is a full redemption.

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.

Peach Cobbler Murder is a Treat

Our library had a large display of mystery books in the lobby. Now, I'm not entirely sure that for me this was a good thing --- all it did was convince me that I don't have enough time to read all that I want to read. I limited myself to picking up one new book off the display. That took some discipline.

The book I selected was "Peach Cobbler Murder" by Joanne Fluke. This is the seventh in a series featuring bakery shop owner Hannah Swenson of Lake Eden, Minnesota. I like Hannah. She is a somewhat plump woman with frizzy red hair. It would have been frustrating to me to have a skinny woman running a bakery. She has a penchant for correct grammar (how could I not like that?!). She has two love interests who are strikingly different ---- one a handsome cop, the other a dependable dentist. Hannah's sister, mother and niece figure prominently in her escapades. And Hannah also has the obligatory overweight cat.

My only complaint about the book was that it seemed to take too long to get to the murder, and it wasn't that complicated at all to figure out. The murder victim in this book is Shawna Lee, the Georgia flirt who opens up a competing bakery almost directly across the street. I hadn't figured out the entire thing, but I was completely on target for who the murderer was.

The author intersperses some recipes for various treats throughout the book which is nice. I may have to try some of those!

This book is reminiscient of Monica Ferris' series for needlework. She has a new book coming out this year, and I can't wait to read that one. It is also similar to Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Theodosia Browning. I don't think I've written much about them in this blog, but I've read all the Ferris books and most of the Childs books. I love them.

I am not sure when I'll pick up another of the Hannah Swenson mysteries, but it is a nice, light read. Quite a nice break from those grueling, rather ominous Victorian tales.

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.