DEATH OF A COOKBOOK AUTHOR by Lee Hollis

RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER by Joanne Fluke

DEATH OF A COOKBOOK AUTHOR

Book 10 in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail Mysteries

by Lee Hollis

Food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell will be cooking alongside top chefs at a cookbook author's party. But a killer plans to ruin her appetite . . . 
 
When Hayley's idol, cookbook author and TV personality Penelope Janice, invites her to participate in a Fourth of July celebrity cook-off at her seaside estate in Seal Harbor, Maine, Hayley couldn't be more flattered. She just hopes she can measure up. With a who's who of famous chefs whipping up their signature dishes, this holiday weekend has all the ingredients for a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience.
 
Instead, Hayley gets food poisoning her first night and thinks she overhears two people cooking up a murder plot. The next morning, a body is found at the bottom of a cliff. Tragic accident or foul play? To solve a real cliffhanger, Hayley will need to uncover some simmering secrets—before a killer boils over again . . .
 
Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!

MY REVIEW

When I hear there is a new Hayley Powell Mystery available, my hands start to itch from wanting to hold it, and my toes start to wiggle at the thought of reading it. DEATH OF A COOKBOOK AUTHOR was totally worth the wait!

 Having been invited to participate in a celebrity cook-off, protagonist Halley Powell spend most of her time in this book out of her normal environment. The only down part of this was a 99% lack of Hayley’s best friends Libby and Mona. If you’re reading this Lee Hollis, please don’t do that to me again!

An absolutely excellent mystery, DEATH OF A COOKBOOK AUTHOR was a fast moving, I-don’t-want-to-put-this-book-down story. Twists, turns, and surprises were on just about every other page of this book. There were times when I found myself holding my breath for what felt like chapters. The only reason I didn’t pass out from a lack of air was because I was laughing out loud during the other parts! So very well done!

As always, you’ll find seven wonderful recipes from Hayley. Fourteen if you count the cocktails that go with each dish!

Hayley Powell diehards, you don’t want to miss DEATH IF A COOKBOOK AUTHOR. If you haven’t read this series, it really is time you started. You’re totally missing out on so many good reads!

📙📖📗📘📖📕

RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER

Book 22 in the Hannah Swensen Mysteries

by Joanne Fluke

Thanksgiving has a way of thawing the frostiest hearts in Lake Eden. But that won’t be happening for newlywed Hannah Swensen Barton—not after her husband suddenly disappears . . .
 
Hannah has felt as bitter as November in Minnesota since Ross vanished without a trace and left their marriage in limbo. Still, she throws herself into a baking frenzy for the sake of pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving-themed treats while endless holiday orders pour into The Cookie Jar. Hannah even introduces a raspberry Danish pastry to the menu, and P.K., her husband’s assistant at KCOW-TV, will be one of the first to sample it. But instead of taking a bite, P.K., who is driving Ross’s car and using his desk at work, is murdered. Was someone plotting against P.K. all along or did Ross dodge a deadly dose of sweet revenge? Hannah will have to quickly sift through a cornucopia of clues and suspects to stop a killer from bringing another murder to the table . . .

MY REVIEW

I have been such a fan of the Hannah Swensen Mysteries. They’re good, clean, entertaining fun. Well, you know, with murder. But I have to say, I’ve not been overly thrilled with the last few books in the series. As with a good percentage of Hannah fans, I do not like her husband, Ross. I cheered when he disappeared. So, the fact that this book would maybe be Ross free made me excited to read it. But for reasons other than Ross, RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER was not the best book in this series.

The concept of the mystery in RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER is a good one. I didn’t guess the killer, but I think it’s because I was so distracted by things in the book, the murderer just got past me.

Distraction 1) Hannah has solved countless murders. She’s a good sleuth. But she can’t find her husband? Nothing?

Distraction 2) Author Joanne Fluke’s writing was just not up to her normal standard. This series has always been an easy read, but this one felt like it was written for a younger demographic. I would read the name Hannah, but just kept envisioning Nancy Drew. Maybe Fluke is using all her adult level writing in her thrillers?

Distraction 3) I love recipes in my cozies. And the Hannah Swenson books always serves up great ones. But there were so many recipes in this book, it was more like reading the Hannah Swensen cookbook. There is one at the end of just about every chapter.

Even with the above being said, I love Hannah and all the residents of Lake Eden. They have all come to feel like close friends. Reading a Hannah Swensen mystery has always felt like going on a much anticipated vacation. I’m thrilled to get there, and sad when I have to leave. I will return again for another visit. But it will be with the hopes that the series is back to the same standards that were set in the very first book.

DEATH OF A COOKBOOK AUTHOR

Releases April 24

RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER

is available now.

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