Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)

A Hannah Swensen Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke
Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Coming soon (01-21-25)

Strawberry Shortcake Murder

Book 2
Paperback $17.95

A Hannah Swensen Mystery Series : Titles in Order

Book 29
Fans of deliciously charming, page-turning whodunits rejoice! Beloved New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Culinary Mystery Joanne Fluke delivers the twenty-eighth mouthwatering Hannah Swensen Mystery!

The Tri-County Summer Solstice Celebration has come to town, and even among local artisans, athletes, and marching bands, Hannah attracts fans of her own while serving lip-smacking pink lemonade desserts. But the mood sours when a body turns up, leading revelers to wonder if the festivities mark both the longest day of the year and the deadliest . . .

A retired professional MLB player has met a terrifying end—and, considering the rumors swirling about his past, the list of suspects could fill a small stadium. Among them could soon be Delores, Hannah’s mother, who publicly held a grunge against the victim after he infamously dunked her in the tank at a previous county fair . . .

Now, with her mother’s innocence on the line, a life-changing announcement at The Cookie Jar, and a plethora of desserts to bake, Hannah can’t afford to strike out as she begins a dangerous investigation into the ruthless killer who’s truly in a league of their own . . .

Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
Book 28
In this scrumptious new read in the blockbuster series packed with delightful recipes from a beloved New York Times bestselling author, baker Hannah Swensen is tempted by a high-profile tournament in Lake Eden that quickly turns deadly…

“A good puzzle, lots of delicious recipes…Fluke reinforces her place as the queen of culinary cozies.” – Publishers Weekly

Embracing a sweet escape from her usual routine at The Cookie Jar, Hannah gets asked for her help in baking pastries at the local inn for a flashy fishing competition with big prizes and even bigger names. But the fun stops when she spots a runway boat on the water and, on board, the lifeless body of the event’s renowned celebrity spokesperson…

Famed TV show host Sonny Bowman wasn’t humble about his ability to reel in winning catches, and no one knew that better than his tragically overworked sidekick, Joey. Did Joey finally take bloody revenge on his pompous boss—or was Sonny killed by a jealous contestant?

With goodies to bake and a mess of fresh challenges mixed into her personal life, it’s either sink or swim as Hannah joins forces with her sister, Andrea, to catch a clever culprit before another unsuspecting victim goes belly up…
 
“Delicious-sounding recipes…A final twist will have Fluke’s many fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.” – Booklist

Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
 
Book 27
The beloved New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Culinary Mystery delivers a new mouthwatering Hannah Swensen Mystery with brand new recipes, but it’s not just chocolate bunnies and Peeps on the menu, this year someone is serving up murder for Easter!
 
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller!

Spring has sprung in Lake Eden, Minnesota, but Hannah Swensen doesn’t have time to stop and smell the roses—not with hot cross buns to make, treats to bake, and a sister to exonerate . . .
 
Hannah’s up to her ears with Easter orders rushing in at The Cookie Jar, plus a festive meal to prepare for a dinner party at her mother’s penthouse. But everything comes crashing to a halt when Hannah receives a panicked call from her sister Andrea—Mayor Richard Bascomb has been murdered . . . and Andrea is the prime suspect.
 
Even with his reputation for being a bully, Mayor Bascomb had been unusually testy in the days leading up to his death, leaving Hannah to wonder if he knew he was in danger. There are plenty of suspects to sift through for sure. And as orders pile up at The Cookie Jar—and children line up for Easter egg hunts—Hannah must spring into investigation mode and identify the real killer . . . before another murder happens!
 
Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
 
“Another sweet-tempered outing filled with tempting sweets.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
Book 27
Beloved New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanne Fluke dishes the next irresistible Hannah Swensen mystery, with Hannah scrambling to bring the flavors of autumn to Lake Eden, Minnesota . . . and the sweet taste of justice to an indulgent killer!

As Lake Eden’s Harvest Festival sends The Cookie Jar into pumpkin spice mania, Hannah splits her focus between scrumptious treats and sharing her tiny condo with new roommates: Norman Rhodes and his cat, Cuddles. It’s an awkward but necessary solution after Norman’s dream farmhouse burned down over the summer, torched by a criminal desperately trying to conceal a terrifying secret . . .

No one has a clue about the arsonist, the body found among the ruins, or the old class ring from a local high school partially melted by the flames. But when a celebration leads to the discovery of another murdered graduate, Hannah realizes someone might be seeking violent revenge against former classmates—and must whip up a last-minute plan to find out who . . .

Now, with the help of her family, it’s on Hannah becomes a makeshift event planner to arrange an all-class alumni party at the school gym and tempt a vicious killer out of hiding. But if the true culprit RSVPs, can Hannah blow their cover and still live to slice another chiffon pie?
Book 26
Queen of culinary capers Joanne Fluke cooks up the most delicious gift of all: a recipe-filled Hannah Swensen holiday mystery in a festive trade paperback package! As December turns Lake Eden into the North Pole, the heat is on in Hannah Swensen’s kitchen to honor two Christmas promises: baking irresistible holiday cupcakes and preventing a person who attempted murder from succeeding the second time around…

While Hannah speeds through a lengthy holiday checklist, drama in town grows like Santa’s waistline on Christmas Eve. Her sister Andrea wants to stave off the blues by helping out at The Cookie Jar, Michelle’s love life is becoming complicated, Lisa needs Hannah’s advice, and Delores has a Christmas secret she’s not willing to share. But nothing dampens the holiday mood more than the chilling mystery surrounding the man found near death in an abandoned storefront two doors down from Hannah’s bakery . . .

The befuddled John Doe can’t recall a thing about himself—except for his unusual knowledge of restoring antique furniture. With a smattering of clues and barely enough time to frost Christmas cookies, Hannah must solve a deadly puzzle that could leave her dashing through the snow for her life!
Book 25
Now in paperback! In New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanne Fluke’s 25th installment in the bestselling Hannah Swensen Mystery series, Hannah leaves Lake Eden to help a friend in sunny California–but an unexpected phone call brings her back to a cold Minnesota winter for a murder investigation, and of course, new criminally delicious recipes!

When Hannah learns that her sister Michelle’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, is the prime suspect in a murder case, she goes straight from a movie studio sound stage to the Los Angeles airport.

Back in frigid Minnesota, she discovers that proving Lonnie’s innocence will be harder than figuring out what went wrong with a recipe. Lonnie remembers only parts of the night he went out to a local bar and ended up driving a very impaired woman home. He knows he helped her to her bedroom, but he doesn’t recall anything else until he woke up on her couch the following morning. When he went to the bedroom to check on her, he was shocked to discover she was dead.

Hannah doesn’t know what to believe–only that exonerating a suspect who can’t remember is almost impossible, especially since Lonnie’s brother, Detective Rick Murphy, and Lonnie’s partner, Chief Detective Mike Kingston, have been taken off the case. Before everything comes crashing down on Lonnie like a heaping slice of coconut layer cake, it’ll be up to Hannah to rack up enough clues to toast a flaky killer…
Book 24
The latest irresistible cozy mystery with recipes from a bestselling author that fans of Kathi Daley, Laura Childs, and Jessica Beck will eat up, crumbs and all . . .
 
When The Cookie Jar becomes the setting of a star-studded TV special about movies filmed in Minnesota, Hannah hopes to shine the spotlight on her bakery—not the unsavory scandal swirling around her personal life. But that’s practically impossible with a disturbing visit from the shifty character she once believed was her one and only love, a group of bodyguards following her every move, and a murder victim in her bedroom. Now, swapping the crime scene in her condo for her mother Delores’s penthouse, Hannah and an old flame team up to solve a case that’s messier than an upended chocolate cream pie. As suspects emerge and secrets hit close to home, Hannah must serve a hefty helping of justice to an unnamed killer prowling around Lake Eden . . . before someone takes a slice out of her!
 
Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
 
“Hannah’s fans will relish following Hannah’s journey as she heals and becomes stronger, surrounded by the love of family and the many familiar, quirky residents of Lake Eden.”
—Booklist
Book 23
It’s Christmas many years ago, and topping young Hannah Swensen’s wish list is becoming the go-to baker in Lake Eden, Minnesota. But as Hannah finds out, revisiting holiday memories can be murder . . .
 
With her dream of opening The Cookie Jar taking shape, Hannah’s life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle in Lake Eden—especially when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball from the past in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes for the merry festivities, she instantly becomes enthralled by Essie’s old notebooks—and the tale of a woman escaping danger on the streets of New York . . .
 
Hannah’s surprised by Essie’s secret talent for penning crime fiction. She’s even more surprised when the story turns real. As Hannah prepares to run a bakery and move out of her mother’s house, it’ll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake . . .
 
Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
 
“Series fans will enjoy learning how the Cookie Jar bakery came to be.”
—Publishers Weekly
Book 22
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.
 
Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
Book 21
A romantic seven-day cruise is the perfect start to bakery owner Hannah Swensen’s marriage. However, with a murder mystery heating up in Lake Eden, Minnesota, it seems the newlywed’s homecoming won’t be as sweet as anticipated . . .
 
After an extravagant honeymoon, Hannah’s eager to settle down in Lake Eden and turn domestic daydreams into reality. But when her mother’s neighbor is discovered murdered in the condo downstairs, reality becomes a nightmarish investigation. Victoria Bascomb, once a renowned stage actress, was active in the theater community during her brief appearance in town . . . and made throngs of enemies along the way. Did a random intruder murder the woman as police claim, or was a deadlier scheme at play? As Hannah peels through countless suspects and some new troubles of her own, solving this crime—and living to tell about it—might prove trickier than mixing up the ultimate banana cream pie . . .
 
Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
Book 19
Everyone in Lake Eden, Minnesota, may have had their doubts, but at long last, Hannah Swensen is getting married!
 
Hannah is thrilled to be marrying Ross Barton, her college crush. And her excitement only grows when she learns he’ll be able to join her on her trip to New York City for the Food Channel’s dessert chef contest. They get a taste of the Big Apple before Hannah wins the Hometown Challenge and the producers bring all the contestants to Lake Eden to tape the remainder of the show. It’s nerve-wracking enough being judged by Alain Duquesne, a celebrity chef with a nasty reputation. But it’s even more chilling to find him stabbed to death in the Lake Eden Inn’s walk-in cooler—before he’s even had a chance to taste Hannah’s Butterscotch Sugar Cookies! Now Hannah has not only lost her advantage, she’ll have to solve a mystery with more layers than a five-tiered wedding cake…
 
Features over a dozen cookie and dessert recipes from the Cookie Jar, including Chocolate Coffee Cake and Butterscotch Sugar Cookies!
Book 18
Life in tiny Lake Eden, Minnesota, is usually pleasantly uneventful. But with the upcoming trial for her involvement in a tragic accident, Hannah Swensen hardly has time to think about her bakery–let alone the town’s most recent murder. . .

Hannah is eager to clear her name once and for all, but her troubles only double when she finds the judge bludgeoned to death with his own gavel–and Hannah is the number one suspect. Now on trial in the court of public opinion, she sets out in search of the culprit and discovers that the judge made more than a few enemies during his career. With time running out, Hannah will have to whip up her most clever recipe yet to find a killer more elusive than the perfect brownie. . .

Features over a dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
Book 17
Summer in Lake Eden, Minnesota, has been oddly quiet, but rest assured, Hannah Swensen will bake her way to an unsolved murder . . .

It’s been a sleepy summer for the folks of Lake Eden, Minnesota. In fact, it’s been a whole four months since anyone in the Swensen family has come across a dead body—a detail that just made the front page of the local paper. And that means Hannah Swensen can finally focus on her bakery . . . or can she?


Life is never really quiet for Hannah. After all, her mother’s wedding is a little over a month away and guess who Delores put in charge of the planning? Yet just when Hannah believes her biggest challenge will be whether to use buttercream or fondant for the wedding cake, she accidentally hits a stranger with her cookie truck while driving down a winding country road in a raging thunderstorm. Hannah is wracked with guilt, and things get even worse when she’s arrested . . . for murder! But an autopsy soon reveals the mystery man, his shirt covered in stains from blackberry pie, would have died even if Hannah hadn’t hit him. To clear her name, Hannah will have to follow a trail of pie crumbs to track down the identity of the deceased, find a baker who knows more about murder than how to roll out a perfect pie crust—and get herself to the church on time.
Book 16
The Queen of Culinary Capers, New York Times bestselling author Joanne Fluke, concocts a criminally delicious mix of sleuthing, humor, and mouthwatering recipes in this classic Hannah Swensen Mystery, wrapped in a beautiful trade paperback package!

It’s been a warmer-than-usual summer in Lake Eden, and Hannah finds out the hard way that nothing cools off a hot summer day like a cold-blooded murder…

It’s a muggy summer evening in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and Hannah Swensen is attending the Grand Opening of the refurbished Albion Hotel, where her famous Red Velvet cupcakes are being served in the Red Velvet lounge. The event is abuzz with the surprise arrival of Doctor Bev, a local who fled in shame after she two-timed her fiancé one too many times. But the party’s over when a guest takes a dive off the rooftop garden . . .

The victim is the sheriff’s secretary, and the question is, did she fall—or was she pushed? The only one who isn’t preoccupied with the case is Doctor Bev. She’s too busy trying to stir things up with her old flame, Norman—who’s reunited with Hannah. Just as Hannah’s patience runs thin, Bev is found dead at the bottom of Miller’s Pond . . .

The only clue the police have is the Red Velvet cupcake Bev ate right before she died—and the tranquilizers someone seems to have baked into it. To everyone’s shock, Hannah is now the target of a murder investigation—and she’s feeling the heat in a way she never has before . . .

Features over Ten Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar, including Red Velvet Surprise Cupcakes and Chocolate Covered Peanut Cookies!
Book 15
Straight from the surefire pantry of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanne Fluke, a classic cozy mystery in which baker Hannah Swensen discovers that sometimes life can be a little too sweet…

April is a busy time for Hannah Swensen and her bakery; the warm weather makes folks in Lake Eden, Minnesota, go wild for something sweet. When Hannah hears that the Cinnamon Roll Six jazz band will be playing at the town’s Weekend Jazz Festival, she’s more than happy to bake up a generous supply of their namesake confections to welcome the band to town.

Before the festival even begins, tragedy strikes when the tour bus overturns. Among those injured is Buddy Neiman, the band’s beloved keyboard player. Buddy’s injuries appear minor, until his condition suddenly takes a turn for the worse—as in dead. Hannah’s no doctor, but she suspects that the surgical scissors someone plunged into Buddy’s chest may have something to do with it. Hannah isn’t sure just how she’ll unravel the mystery, but one thing’s for sure: nothing’s sweeter than bringing a killer to justice . . .

Find other titles in