Book Review: Apple Turnover Murder

Author: Joanne Fluke
Title: Apple Turnover Murder
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Feb 1, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Early summer brings plenty of work for baker Hannah Swensen, even before Mayor Bascomb's wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order for her charity event...For eleven-hundred cookies! And Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. But she places her faith in Lisa and agrees to be a magician's assistant in the fundraiser's talent show. The only snag is the show's host, college professor Bradford Ramsey. Hannah and her sister, Michelle, each had unfortunate romances with Ramsey, and when the cad comes sniffing around between acts, Hannah tells him off. But when the curtain doesn't go up, she discovers Ramsey backstage - dead, with a turnover in his hand. Now Hannah must find a killer who's flakier than puff pastry - and far more dangerous.
Review: This is a light flaky cozy mystery that is almost as flaky as an apple turnover. This is book 13 in the Hannah Swensen series. Like most of these types of series, you don't need to read all the books to enjoy them. I might have read one of these awhile back, but I'm not really sure. This book worked as a stand alone for me.

It was a cute story. (That should get you right there...puppy dogs and kitties are cute...I'm not sure if that applies to cozy mysteries). I didn't feel cozy when reading it either. I did find myself wanting to start making cookies though. This book is packed with great cookie recipes! Murder however is not the focal point. In fact, the murder didn't happen until about 100 pages in! Yikes!

So yeah...things were very slow on that front, but by page 100, you've already been treated to a handful of great recipes. So you do have that.

Here are the pros and cons of the story:

Pros:

1. Hannah's family and friends are really funny and quirky.
2. The story is fast moving though the action is not so fast.
3. There are lots of animals in the story...Hannah's cat Moishe and Norman's cat Cuddle's and the dog Dillon. I love stories with lots of pets.
4. The recipes are super awesome and the book is full of them. I want to make the Cottage Cheese Cookies and the Chocolate Crack!
5. I never guessed the actual whodunit!

Cons:

1. There was a lot going on in the story. Too much at times. Hannah has two boyfriends and she can't decide which she wants, and this isn't like the Stephanie Plum, Morelli and Ranger dilemma. Neither of these guys seem to be worth her time. Not to mention subplots upon subplots some that left you hanging.

2. Speaking of being left hanging, WTF was up with Norman!!!

3. The victim: it would have been nice if we got to know Bradford Ramsey a bit more while he was alive than through the characters telling of their dealings with him.

I enjoyed this book, it was a fast fun read. I definitely want to check out some of the earlier books in the series, and maybe try some of the recipes!!

Rating: 4 flowers