Book #11 in 2006
Finished: 04/10
Title: Fudge Cupcake Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 303
My Rating: 4/5
Book 5 in the Hannah Swensen series

In Fluke’s scrumptious fifth culinary cozy (after 2003’s LemonMeringue Pie Murder), Lake Eden, Minn., bakery owner Hannah Swensen discovers the fudge-stained corpse of overbearing, unscrupulous Sheriff Grant in a trash receptacle near her cooking school. Hannah’sbrother-in-law Bill is the prime suspect in the bludgeoning of his rival for the upcoming sheriff’s election, so Hannah’s about-to-deliver pregnant sister, Andrea, frantically begs her investigative assistance. And to kick it up a notch, Hannah’s currentred-hot squeeze, the acting sheriff, suspends Bill from the force, causing Hannah to come to a rolling boil. Moishe, Hannah’s engaging cat, gives her more grief than comfort as he adjusts stubbornly to his dotage. While Hannah tries to identify the essential ingredient of a certain cupcake formula taken to the grave by a deceased local homemaker, most readers will have figured out who the real killer is long before Hannah does. Mix unsavory small-town scandals, an annoying marriage-minded mother and quirky, sweet-toothed locals; add agenerous dollop of humor and romantic foible; sprinkle with intriguing recipes; and you have a slightly cloying though satisfying fireside read.

My Comments:
Even though it was easy to predict "who dunnit" I still really enjoy these books and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I just picked up the next 2 (Sugar Cookie Murder and Peach Cobbler Murder) to read next after I finish my current read. I liked the added parts to this book, getting Moshie to eat his diet food was a riot :) And enjoyed reading about her solving not only the murder mystery but also the mystery of the missing ingredient in the Fudge cupcakes!! :)