Review by Booklist Review
Hannah Swensen's eighteenth adventure in Lake Eden, Minnesota, begins with a suspicious accident at the opening of a refurbished hotel Hannah's famous red-velvet cupcakes are being served in the hotel's new Red Velvet Lounge. After police-department secretary Barbara, a recurring series character, falls off the roof during the party, Barbara insists her brother pushed her, but no one is aware that she had any siblings. Then Hannah finds the fiancee of one of her former boyfriends at the bottom of a lake and becomes a suspect. Although Hannah's infallibility defies belief and tries patience, Fluke continues to appeal with delicious recipes and warm, small-town personalities. Series readers will enjoy following the continuing story, and, of course, fans of cupcake-themed mysteries by Jenn McKinlay will savor those red-velvet treats.--Alessio, Amy Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Despite the 26 sweet and savory recipes scattered throughout, crime buffs may find little nourishment in bestseller Fluke's 16th Hannah Swenson novel (after 2012's Cinnamon Roll Murder). As the owner of the Cookie Jar coffee shop and bakery in Lake Eden, Minn., Hannah helps cater the Albion Hotel's grand reopening, where the main event proves to be the return of the notorious town floozy, "Doctor Bev," on the arm of the hotel's owner, wealthy playboy Roger Dalworth. More than gossip is in the air, though, after the Lake Eden sheriff's secretary, Barbara Donnelly, falls from the hotel penthouse, sustaining serious brain damage. A subsequent fatal automobile accident suggests to Hannah that murder is once again stalking the small town. Fluke fans should appreciate the reappearance of series regulars like Hannah's two boyfriends, Mike Kingston and Norman Rhodes (who turns out to be an old flame of Bev's), but the tepid humor and meandering storyline are unlikely to win newcomers. Author tour. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Hannah Swensen's cupcakes come under suspicion when an old rival dies from poisoning. Culinary cozies don't get any tastier than this winning series, now serving up case number 18 (after Cinnamon Roll Murder). (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
All of Lake Eden is agog when the police chief's secretary takes a tumble from the penthouse of a condo complex. Fabulously wealthy Roger Dalworth has pulled out all the stops for the grand reopening of the Albion Hotel, his new luxury condo project. A caterer from Minneapolis! Red Velvet Surprise Cupcakes from The Cookie Jar for dessert! The evening is so grand that The Cookie Jar's owner, Hannah Swensen (Cinnamon Roll Murder, 2012, etc.), in eye makeup and pantyhose, decides to tour the Albion's posh penthouse, complete with its outdoor garden. Hannah is luckier than Barbara Donnelly, whose own tour of the penthouse ends in a headfirst plunge to the parking lot. Barbara survives, much addled, leaving amateur sleuth Hannah to decode her ramblings about her brother (Barbara is an only child) and a furry white monster that lurks in her hospital room. Hannah soon has her own worries. She finds Dr. Bev Thorndike, her former rival for local dentist Norman Rhodes' affections, in her red Maserati at the bottom of Miller's Pond. Even though Dr. Bev has recently become engaged to Roger, her death puts Hannah very much on Detective Mike Kingston's radar screen. Can Hannah find the real culprit before Mike ends the discussion of whether he or Norman will be the one to wrestle her to the altar by putting her in the slammer instead? Even when she's in pantyhose, Hannah's grit and quick thinking once more save the day.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
