"Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder" Review

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
(Hannah Swensen Murder Series #1)

By Joanne Fluke

6/10

My Synopsis:

Hannah Swensen is the owner of The Cookie Jar – Lake Eden’s sweet indulgence shop.  When her local dairy deliveryman is found shot dead in the alley behind her store, Hannah lends a helping hand to the investigation.  Add all of the ingredients – one nosey mother, an interested suitor, a reluctant snitch and an array of suspects – mix well and bake to a reveal the murderer.  Hannah assumes the role of silent sidekick to her cop brother-in-law leaving a trail of cookies crumbs and full tummys in her wake.  Will Hannah and her unconventional methods find the killer or will she end up in danger herself?

My Opinion:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke is a cute, little murder mystery.  No chills.  No thrills.  Just a very basic murder mystery.  That’s it plain and simple and that’s exactly what this book was – plain and simple.  The characters weren’t deep but were likable.  The story itself was rather bland.  As for the mystery, I solved that at least halfway through the book.  I was hoping for a big twist at the end but was unhappily not rewarded with one.  I actually started this book four months ago and kept putting off reading more of it because it was a bit slow.  I wanted more excitement.  I wanted more intrigue.  I wanted it to be a better book than it was.  Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is the first in an extensive series by Ms. Fluke.  Each book contains recipes for various treats referred to throughout the book.  I plan to try at least one of these recipes at some point as they sound delicious.  Overall, it’s not a bad read but if you are looking for action and suspense in your murder mystery, keep on looking.  If you like simple murder mysteries, then this is the series for you.  I just can’t figure where the author will take the small town of Lake Eden and its citizens to have multiple murder mysteries that follow this one.  Although that does slightly interest me, I will most likely pass on the rest.  6 out of 10. 

Please note: The edition I read also included a short story titled Candy for Christmas also by Joanne Fluke which I did not read and am not reviewing.