Book Review: Apple Turnover Murder

✰✰✰✰ Amateur sleuth Hannah Swensen is back having solved over a dozen mysteries. This time the town of Lake Eden is pulling together for a big charity gala featuring a talent show. The mayor's wife, Stephanie Bascomb, is counting on The Cookie Jar to provide goodies for the big event. Hannah's business partner, Lisa, comes up with a great plan to donate profits to the charity drive by selling apple turnovers.

Meanwhile, the whole town is buzzing with excitement about the talent show featuring Lake Eden's hottest acts. However, when Hannah's old flame, Professor Bradford Ramsey, turns up dead during intermission with one of Hannah's apple turnovers nearby, things start to heat up. It turns out that Professor Ramsey wasn't the most popular person in town having broken the hearts of many naive co-eds and romanced many married women as well. But who could have been spurned enough to want the professor dead? It's up to Hannah to get to the bottom of it before she herself becomes a victim of the killer running loose in Lake Eden.

The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a fun mystery to read at the beach this summer, pick up Apple Turnover Murder. Lake Eden's usual cast of characters keeps things cozy. This mystery is a quick read and perhaps a bit predictable. However, the Hanna Swensen mysteries are always good clean fun. As a bonus, there are over 20 recipes, including a unique recipe for Watermelon Cookies which I can't wait to try. Highly enjoyable reading for everyone who enjoys mysteries.

Details: Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke. Hardcover published by Kensington Books in 2010. 304 p. ISBN: 978-7582-3489-6 NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books in exchange for a review. This was made possible by the Early Reviewers Program at LibraryThing.