Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder: An Entertaining & Delicious Cozy Mystery with Recipes

This is an amazing story. I love getting the point of view from the person finding the body. It really adds to the whole perspective. I love how much a family person Hannah is. This was a great addition to the series. I loved watching this one unfurl. To be honest I never really liked Mayor Bascomb. Absolutely adore this book.

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke is the 27th A Hannah Swensen Mystery. This is not a book that can be read on its own (new readers would be lost). Hannah Swensen is currently living at Norman’s since the death of her husband, Ross. Hannah and Moishe are not ready to face the condo and the memories it holds. Mayor Bascomb is upset with Andrea’s husband, Bill because he arrested his nephew who was driving drunk. Bascomb has threated Bill’s position and Andrea has taken offense. She decides to chat with Mayor Bascomb and try to make him see reason. Unfortunately, Andrea ends up losing her temper after Bascomb makes some derogatory comments. That night, Andrea takes a piece of Hannah’s triple chocolate cheesecake to Mayor Bascomb to apologize for her actions (which will have readers laughing and applauding) and finds him murdered in his office (I am surprised it took this long). Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder is easy to read with steady pacing). This book can easily be read in a couple of hours. Hannah Swensen and all our favorites are back for another adventure. There is plenty of eating, coffee drinking, cooking, baking, and cat cuddling in this cozy mystery. Hannah is worried about Moishe because he cannot return to their condo. He gets upset each time they approach it. What is a cat mama to do? Hannah is busy baking up Easter treats at The Cookie Jar. The death of Mayor Bascomb has a multitude of suspects (how did this man get elected). The investigation takes a backset to cooking, baking, eating, coffee drinking, and chatting. The mystery is simple and can easily be solved early in the story. I prefer a more complicated mystery, but this whodunit does suit the book. I do feel that the last several books in this series are not on par with the earlier ones (like someone else is writing them). There is repetition of information and there are more recipes than content. Recipes are included for the various dishes whipped up in this tale. Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder is a story for fans of the series who want to know how Hannah is faring after the death of her husband and wish to catch up with gang in Lake Eden. Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder is a lighthearted culinary cozy with a surfeit of suspects, a fearful feline, a distraught sister, a scrumptious cheesecake, and a murdered mayor.

Another disappointment in the Hannah Swenson series, seems like half of the book is devoted to recipes versus substance of the story line. The premise of Hannah's "subconscious mind conversations" were silly and totally distracting. It would be a pleasure to have the author return to the actual story line and refrain from the multitude of recipes (a couple would be enjoyable) just not half of the book. Very sorry to be so blunt but this has been the trend in the last several books and it truly is disappointing to the integrity and enjoyment of the storyline/character.