Double Fudge Brownie Murder

January 26, 2015
Bestseller Fluke’s lively 18th Hannah Swensen mystery (after 2014’s Blackberry Pie Murder) finds the Lake Eden, Minn., baker a murder suspect, after she discovers the dead body of Judge Colfax in his chambers. She has solved plenty of crimes in the past, but can she clear herself? Fortunately, family lawyer Howie can keep her out of jail, and her relatives can operate the bakery while Hannah searches for the real killer. It takes a lot of digging to unravel the mystery of the murder of Judge Colfax, but fortunately she can rely on the help of sisters Michelle and Andrea, as well as an assist from an exciting visitor from her past. In her spare time, Hannah always manages to come up with new recipes for loyal readers to try, close to 20 of them this time. Add the big surprise ending, and fans will be more than satisfied. Author tour. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

April 27, 2015
Set in the idyllic little town of Lake Eden, Minn., this 18th entry in Fluke’s popular series begins with its cookie-maven heroine, Hannah Swensen, about to go on trial for her involvement in a fatal auto accident. If that’s not disturbing enough (even for the self-possessed Hannah), she discovers the judge murdered in his chambers. But the mystery element quickly gives way to Hannah’s more personal adventure—she’s falling in love with Ross, a former college classmate who may be moving back to town. Along with a soupçon of suspense and a large helping of amour, Fluke manages to stir in a fair amount of cookie chat with matching recipes. The latter, which has aided the series’ popularity, doesn’t work so well in audio format. The recipes also interrupt the generally entertaining plot (previous audio versions of this series wisely saved the recitation of recipes for after the story’s conclusion), which Toren narrates in splendid fashion. She also does a noteworthy job of giving voice to the novel’s charming red-haired Hannah; her engaging, multigenerational family; friends old and new; and assorted unpleasant antagonists. A Kensington hardcover.