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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780758201539
ISBN number: 0758201532
Label: Kensington
Manufacturer: Kensington
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 304
Printing Date: February 01, 2005
Publishing house: Kensington
Sale Popularity Level: 15307
Studio: Kensington
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Product Description:
For bakery owner Hannah Swenson, life in Lake Eden, Minnesota, seems to be lacking a certain flavour. It's not that she doesn't enjoy teaching a weekly 'Potluck Cooking' class at the community outreach centre. Or that she's not excited about her sister Andrea's bun in the oven - watching the very pregnant Andrea try to sit on a stool at The Cookie Jar is worth it every time. Maybe it's this year's sheriff's election that's got her down. For years, Sheriff Grant's been the iron hand in town. But now, Hannah's brother-in-law Bill is giving the old blowhard the fight of his long, dubious career - and Grant's not taking it in stride, especially once the local polls (and the Cookie Jar gossip) show Bill pulling ahead. But before anyone can get a taste of victory, things go sour. Just as Hannah's emptying the trash, she makes a very unappetizing discovery: Sheriff Grant's body in the dumpster behind the high school where she's teaching her cooking class. And as if that weren't bad enough, the poor man still has fudge frosting on his shirt from the cupcake she gave him earlier. She'd been trying to find the secret ingredient left out of the recipe - now she has a more important mystery to crack.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
I love the Hannah Swensen series. A few times I have tried baking some of the recipes included in the books... they always taste okay, but like nothing special to me. UNTIL I decided to bake the fudge cupcakes from this book. they are THE BEST THINGS I HAVE EVER EATEN. make them... you won't be disappointed. the book's good too :-)
Rated by buyers 
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Being from Minnesota myself, as was the author and as are her characters, I relish these books. They're so "Minnestoa Nice." They seem such refreshingly normal people despite the number of murders in their midst. In this book, Hannah's brother-in-law, Bill, runs for sheriff and the current encumbant is murdered. Assisted by her sister Andrea, Hannah attempts to clear Bill and find the real culprit.
I haven't tried the recipes yet, but I intend to. The cup cakes sound exceptional.
Rated by buyers -
This is my favorite book so far of the Hannah Swensen mysteries. Partially because of the title...I cannot resist anything fudgy to include cupcakes.
The hometown charm of Lake Eden still gets to me as well. I love to read about the characters I already know, and it seems I am catching up with old friends everytime.
As far as the mystery, it had an interesting take. One of the characters we have read about in previous books is murdered. In past books (except for the murder of the coach), we are usually introduced to a new character that is murdered. One particular clue around the middle of the book, and I had already guessed who the murderer would be, but I had no idea until the end why the person would do it.
Also, a secondary mystery takes place...not a murder though. The secret ingredient of the title Fudge Cupcake. Hannah and Lisa must try to find out this left out piece of a recipe because the person who submitted did not have the whole recipe. Her mother-in-law went to her grave with it, and it seemed the mother-in-law wanted it that way. The secret ingredient does seem like a unique addition, and probably a must try recipe.
There is one instance at the end when I think Hannah is not thinking properly...her confrontation with the murderer. I will not give it away because the particular item she wants is the actual murder weapon. I think I would have taken it while the murderer was not around rather than wait for the person to return and then try to purchase it.
Also, as other reviewers have commented on the relationship triangle of Mike, Hannah, and Norman being a bit over the top, I can see this too. I thought they would be more in competition over her especially Mike with his personality. It seems each just passively lets the other take Hannah out, never giving Hannah any ultimatum. Maybe this is a sign of a mature realtionship without jealousy, but I would want to see some type of possessiveness (not too the extreme of course). I am beginning to get the idea that no one is going to choose anyone, and this might go on forever. I keep reading though to find out.
Even though, I complained a bit on the relationship front and about Hannah's narrow minded thinking when confronting the murderer, I still did not want to put this book down. Joanne Fluke's writing style keeps me hooked...well, and the delicious recipes don't hurt neither.
Rated by buyers -
I love this author. She does such a great job in making you feel like you are part of the mystery. The recipes that she includes in the books are really good. I read one of her stories to my students who love to try to figure out who has commited the crime and why they did it. I can hardly wait for the subsequent murder.
Rated by buyers 
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The is book 5 in the series, and the love triangle is starting to get pretty unbelievable. But other than that, I still enjoy the characters and the mystery was good. She definitely gives you the clues to solve it yourself this time, and you'll find yourself yelling at the main character, "Gah! Can't you see? It's so obvious!"
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