There’s nothing like getting stuck into a good book. If you’ve been struggling to find a new captivating page-turner, it’s time to broaden your horizon.
Today, we’ll be taking a close look at all of Joanne Fluke’s impressive novels (there’s a lot). Whatever the genre, you’re sure to find something to suit your tastes.
About Joanne Fluke
Joanne Fluke (real name Joanne Fischmann) is an American author, who is best known for her cozy mystery series that follows the stories of baker Hannah Swensen.
Throughout her career, Joanne Fluke has published many novels, which have included mysteries, horrors, and period romances. She has also published her work under several pseudonyms.
Hannah Swensen Books
The following books are a part of the Hannah Swensen series.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is the first book in the Hannah Swensen series, following the story of Hannah who owns a cookie store called The Cookie Jar.
When her local delivery man is found murdered behind her bakery, with a batch of her delicious cookies surrounding him, Hannah sets off on a mission to track down his killer…
Pros
Mysterious
Witty
Unusual
Cons
The main character feels unlikeable in this first installment
In Strawberry Shortcake Murder, Hannah is chosen as head judge for the first-ever annual Dessert Bake Off in Minnesota.
However, when fellow judge Boyd Watson is found dead with his head inside Hannah’s strawberry shortcake entry, Hannah will once again find herself on a mysterious journey to hunt down the killer.
This time, she’ll have to work quickly, because someone else has murder on their mind, too…
In the third installment in the series, Blueberry Muffin Murder, protagonist Hannah is preparing a batch of delicious recipes to serve up at her store.
One of the country’s most famous TV bakers, Connie, soon rolls into town, but Hannah suspects she’s not as sweet as meets the eye…
Soon enough, Connie is found dead in her own pantry, murdered while eating one of Hannah’s famous muffins.
With the police closing her store and branding it a crime scene, Hannah must take matters into her own hands and track down the killer if she wants to save her business.
Pros
Rich, descriptive scenes
Strong dynamic between characters
Compelling mystery
Cons
The relationship between the reader and protagonist feels weaker in this book
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder is the fourth book in the series.
Hannah and her mother examine the antiques left in a building she’s soon to move into, and among several treasured finds, they also come across something a little more unexpected: a dead body.
Now, Hannah must work to track down the clues, starting right in her own kitchen.
Next up, we have Fudge Cupcake Murder. In this installment, Hannah once again finds herself in the heart of a murder mystery, when the local sheriff winds up dead, and his innocent deputy is accused of the crime.
While emptying her trash, Hannah discovers the Sheriff’s body in her own dumpster, and he still has the remnants of her fudge cupcake on his shirt…
On a mission to uncover the truth, Hannah soon finds herself in a world of mystery, betrayal, and secrets that will keep readers thrilled.
Pros
Classic ‘whodunit’ vibe
Interesting characters
Cons
Some subplots, such as Hannah’s dating dilemmas, feel rehashed and boring in this book
In Sugar Cookie Murder, the local Christmas Buffet is underway and Hannah is preparing her recipes.
A recent divorcee makes an appearance with his new glam Vegas wife, and although his ex sees them together, she appears surprisingly calm… that is, until Hannah’s antique knife goes missing, and soon after, the divorcee’s new wife shows up dead…
Now, we have the Peach Cobbler Murder. Although Hannah is usually the one tracking down killers, in this installment, she finds herself the main suspect of a murder when the owner of another rival bakery is found dead in Lake Eden…
This book ties up a few loose ends from previous installments, develops core characters, and offers a resolution to some unanswered questions from previous books.
Pros
A light, enjoyable read
Offers more sustenance and development than other books
In the Cherry Cheesecake Murder, the main streets of Hannah’s town, Lake Eden, are turned into a movie set.
However, a cunning killer uses the opportunity to their advantage, and rewrites the script in order to pull off their sinister plot…
Now, Hannah, who is also trying to decide which marriage proposal she should take, must narrow down the suspects before the cast finishes filming, with an ending that may surprise some readers.
Pros
Introduction of new characters
Interesting structure
Intriguing plot
Cons
Hannah’s character feels unlikeable and unrelatable in this book
For this installment, we have the Key Lime Pie Murder – main character Hannah is back, and this time, she’s the judge of a baking contest at a local fair.
However, when one of the local judges is murdered, Hannah decides to track down the killer… Is it someone from the judge’s mysterious past, or is something else going on here?
Pros
Quick read
Simple plot, but well-developed
Cons
Feels a little too familiar to the second installment in the series
Next up, we have Candy Cane Murder. In this festive-themed entry, Hannah follows a trail of candy canes, which leads to an unexpected Christmas gift – a corpse dressed head to toe in a Santa suit.
Who killed Santa Claus, and can Hannah track down the killer? Readers will also have 15 delicious recipes to feel inspired by in this unique murder mystery book.
Pros
Witty
Interesting characters
Unusual plot
Cons
The same subplot that follows Hannah’s dating dilemmas feels unnecessary and boring
Now, we have the Carrot Cake Murder. It’s the height of summer in Lake Eden, and while Hannah is looking forward to her family reunion, the get-together soon takes a sinister turn, and now, Hannah must unravel a mystery, and solve an unexpected murder.
Could her cat Moishe’s unusual behavior help her discover the truth?
Pros
New and engaging characters
Well written
Subplots are neatly bought together
Cons
Some descriptions feel too long, and just act as extra ‘filler’
In the Cream Puff Murder, one of Hannah’s on-off lovers, Detective Mike, may have just found himself the prime suspect in a brand new murder… Although plenty of people won’t miss the victim, bombshell Ronni, all eyes turn to Mike.
In order to prove his innocence, he asks Hannah to help him narrow down the suspects, as the two take on a unique investigation of their own.
Pros
A refreshing plot that’s different from others in the series
Now, we have the Gingerbread Cookie Murder. Once again, Hannah finds herself at the heart of a murder mystery when she discovers her neighbor, Ernie, dead at the hands of an apparent brutal murder.
A box of her unopened gingerbread cookies lays next to him… As she searches for the truth, a surprising list of murder suspects rises to the surface, which is sure to keep readers guessing.
In the Devil’s Food Cake Murder, Hannah’s close friend Claire is planning her honeymoon, and when her husband’s friend Matthew comes to town, he offers to fill in for Bob’s work while they’re away.
Although it seems like the perfect plan, Hannah soon finds Matthew shot in the back of the head, face down in a serving of Devil’s Food Cake.
Who could be behind the murder? Hannah soon finds that not all is as it seems…
Pros
Unpredictable ending
Plenty of mystery
Good humor
Cons
Plot feels a little formulaic and repetitive if you’ve read the other installments
Now, we have the Red Velvet Cupcake Murder. Hannah’s famous cupcakes are being served at the grand opening of the Albion Hotel.
As the party gets underway, plenty of unexpected, scandalous guests make their way through the doors, and things take an even more sinister turn when one guest leaps to their death from the hotel rooftop.
As if that wasn’t enough, Hannah’s rival is found dead, with one of Hannah’s cupcakes… Hannah is once again the prime suspect, and this time, she’s really feeling the heat.
Pros
Multiple mysteries that tie together well
Interesting characters
Cons
Some love-related plots from the first book are still going on, which feel dull
Hannah is back in Blackberry Pie Murder. In this installment, Hannah and Lake Eden have gone a whole peaceful four months without finding a dead body.
While Hannah finally gets to shift her attention to her bakery, she’s in for a shock – during a thunderstorm, she hits a stranger with her truck and is not investigated for murder.
However, the autopsy reveals he would have died anyway, but Hannah must work to clear her name and identify the deceased…
Next up, we have Double Fudge Brownie Murder. This book carries on from the previous installment, and the main character Hannah is nervous about her upcoming trial.
However, her concerns are only exacerbated when the judge is found bludgeoned with his own gavel. It’s no surprise that Hannah has become the prime suspect. Can she find the killer and prove her innocence?
In Wedding Cake Murder, we’re kicking things off on a high – it’s Hannah’s wedding day!
The two are also planning for their trip to the Big Apple, where her husband will accompany her on her trip to judge a dessert chef contest.
However, things soon turn sour when celebrity chef Alain is found stabbed to death in a walk-in cooler… There are plenty of layers of mystery to work through with this one.
Next up, we have the Christmas Caramel Murder. In this story, Hannah and her friend Lisa have offered to cook up plenty of goodies for the town’s production of A Christmas Carol.
However, before the performance even starts, the ex-girlfriend of Lisa’s husband is found dead in the snow, wearing a rather… racy outfit. As the suspects pile up, can Hannah uncover the truth?
In the Banana Cream Pie Murder, Hannah is setting off on a romantic week-long cruise. But as Hannah returns home to Lake Eden, her mother’s neighbor is found murdered, and a nightmare investigation soon ensues.
Who murdered the neighbor, and is there a deadly plot beneath the surface?
Next up, we have the Raspberry Danish Murder. In this installment, Hannah is diving headfirst into a baking marathon, and keeping busy with all the Thanksgiving orders coming in.
However, her husband’s assistant is the first to sample one of her new treats, but she’s in for a shock when he ends up murdered.
Could this be linked to her husband’s mysterious disappearance?
In the Christmas Cake Murder, we take a step back in time. Hannah is dreaming of opening her bakery, The Cookie Jar.
When she agrees to help recreate a Christmas Ball in honor of former local Essie Granger, Hannah becomes mystified by her old notebooks, and Essie’s talent for writing crime fiction – or so she thinks.
It seems there’s some truth to Essie’s stories, and now, Hannah is on a mission to solve a mystery…
Next up is the Chocolate Cream Pie Murder. In this story, Hannah’s beloved bakery becomes the setting for a new TV special.
Hannah hopes to draw attention to her talents (rather than her personal life), but she’s soon met by a group of shady bodyguards and a dead body in her bedroom… Now, Hannah must team up with an old lover to discover the truth.
In the Coconut Layer Cake Murder, Hannah’s sister Michelle discovers that her boyfriend Lonnie is the prime suspect in a murder case. However, his memory of that night is patchy, so proving his innocence (or guilt) feels almost impossible.
Is he really a murderer, or was someone else involved in this sinister plot?
Now, we have the Christmas Cupcake Murder. In this festive installment, Hannah, her family, and her friends are all experiencing their own festive blues.
Just as things seem complicated enough, a dead body is discovered just two doors down from Hannah’s bakery… Who is John Doe, and are there enough clues to crack the case?
In the Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder, Hannah is working through her immense Easter order list, when she is unexpectedly pushed to investigate the death of the town mayor.
A series of unexpected twists and turns give rise to mysterious suspects and tough decisions.
Now we have the Christmas Dessert Murder. In this installment, Joanne includes two of her previous festive novels, Christmas Caramel Murder and Christmas Cake Murder in one place.
If you haven’t read either, this is a great way to get your hands on both.
Pros
Interesting plots
Good character development
Cons
This is not a new story, it’s just two previous books in one place
Last up, we have Caramel Pecan Roll Murder. When Hannah is asked to help bake for a local competition, she spots a runaway boat, carrying a lifeless body on board.
A TV show host becomes an unlikely suspect, and Hannah’s investigation often throws more questions than answers…
Pros
Intriguing characters
Descriptive
Funny
Cons
Once again, some subplots feel repetitive
Standalone Novels
The following are standalone novels by Joanne Fluke.
In The Other Child, expectant parents Karen and Mike are on a mission to renovate their old Victorian mansion.
However, the chilling tales they once branded ‘ghost stories’ about their property seem to have some element of truth, sparking an unexpected nightmare they must fight to survive.
Next up, we have the Winter Chill. Wife and mother Marian Larsen is delivered the horrific news that her husband and young daughter have been found dead after a tragic snowmobile crash.
However, this was no accident, and there’s a chilling secret behind these mysterious deaths…
In Cold Judgement, a reputable psychiatrist turns into a frenzied killer. When he finds out he’s dying, he becomes concerned about the fate of his most dangerous patients.
Those he can’t cure, he must kill, and his only prescription is death. This psychological thriller is sure to keep you turning pages.
Vengeance is Mine is a mystery thriller in which a local activist was found murdered, and in a chilling turn, their frozen body was displayed as a statue in an ice sculpture display.
A series of other unexpected events seem to be related, and the local police chief becomes embroiled in a desperate race to chase down the mad men…
Pros
Entertaining
Mysterious
Witty
Cons
Some topics such as rape and homophobia may be unappealing to some readers
In Video Kill, Erik and Tony write the best script ever (or so they think), about a mysterious psycho who takes chilling videos of the actresses he murders.
However, when the killings actually start to happen, the scriptwriters must race against time to stop the killer from striking again.
In Dead Giveaway, regular joe Ellen discovers she’s inherited millions and a mesmerizing condo in Vegas.
However, her dream soon turns into a nightmare when her neighbors become trapped in an avalanche, and she makes a terrifying discovery at the bottom of an indoor pool… a ruthless killer targeting the condos is to blame, and Ellen is in danger.
Next up is Fatal Identity. In this book, the popular movie star Mercedes Calder tragically drowns in her pool.
However, as her identical twin Marcie poses as Mercedes to get answers, she soon discovers a whole host of hidden secrets and must work hard to outsmart a crazed killer.
Wicked follows the suspenseful tale of a killer rivalry… Eve takes part in a unique writing workshop, where for one month, she’ll live alongside, and write with, other authors. The three who come out on top have a chance to get published.
However, the building they’re supposed to stay in gets swapped for a creepy mansion, and Eve has second thoughts. When death starts to wipe out the competition, things get complicated…
Pros
Quick read
Intriguing
Cliffhanger
Cons
Feels more like a teen thriller than an adult suspense
A Match for Melissa, originally published under the pseudonym Kathryn Kirkwood, is a thrilling romance in which Melissa, who is forced to become a maid, escapes her duties and meets the man of her dreams during a waltz.
The two fight to be together, and must overcome many adventures and tales of mistaken identity to get their happy ending.
In Caitlyn’s Cowboy, published under the pseudonym Gina Jackson, follows the story of Caitlyn Bradford, who is starting fresh after leaving her cheating husband, and quitting her job in advertising.
When she travels to Wyoming to organize her late aunt’s affairs, she discovers she’s inherited a beautiful ranch… and a cowboy partner.
A Husband for Holly also released under the Kathryn Kirkwood pseudonym, Lady Holly Bentworth can’t stop herself from thinking about the romantic dance she once shared with a handsome, mysterious costumed pirate.
Four years after her husband’s death, the two are reunited in a tale of wholesome true love.
Pros
Entertaining
Emotional
Heartfelt
Cons
Some subplots feel too descriptive and distracting
The Kathryn Kirkwood pseudonym is back with A Valentine for Vanessa. In this tale, protagonist Vanessa is hired to help transform the shy sister of a lord into a confident social butterfly.
However, when she arrives at the estate, she’s soon the recipient of some mysterious, but undeniably flattering, love notes from a mysterious admirer…
Last on our list is another Joanne Fluke novel published under the Kathryn Kirkwood pseudonym.
A Townhouse for Tessa tells the story of Tessa Lockhard, who after the death of her grandmother, discovers she is the daughter of a countess, with a large and elegant inheritance…
However, when she meets a witty lover, she must conceal her identity until she can prove her worth.
Pros
Entertaining
Romantic
Intriguing
Cons
Some aspects of the plot feel weak
Final Thoughts
Joanne Fluke has an impressive selection of novels under her belt. From cozy mystery to romance, she has proved that her talents truly know no bounds.
Whatever you’re searching for, you’re sure to find a novel in her collection to suit your tastes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joanne Fluke Still Writing?
Joanne Fluke is still writing, but primarily for her Hannah Swensen series.
How Many Books Are In The Hannah Swensen Series?
There are currently 31 books in the Hannah Swensen series.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
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