Blackberry Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery)

This wasn't typical, solve the murder....but had different twist to it. Plus with Hannah's family's upcoming celebration... It can be very interesting. As usual the recipes that follow along look scrumptious! I'm hoping to try we deal of them soon! Enjoy the read and the mystery.... maybe make some desserts before you start?😊

Where do I begin?The beginning, I suppose. I first got into this series purely by chance. Long story short, I started in the middle somewhere with Cream Puff Murder. It was a light, easy read. Later, I decided to read the series from the beginning as I had somewhat enjoyed the first book I'd read. As I read more and became familiar with the characters and story line, I found myself enjoying them a little less with each book.It's safe to say I'm thoroughly disillusioned with this series. I doubt I'll be reading any more installments, and those I might will be borrowed from the library. Definitely won't be throwing anymore money away on these books. The series is tired, stale, and more unbelievable (in not a good way) with each subsequent book. And the characters grow more intolerable as the series goes on. Qualities that were quirky and endearing, if reading only a single book, become grating and irritating as you read more about the characters. This pretty much sums up my review of the series.As to this particular book, I felt the story jumped around too much and was not fully developed. The non-ending was a joke; obviously intended for you to hurry up and pre-order the next book. The police work, especially in regards to identifying the body and evidence handling were off-base and unrealistic. As far as other things discussed in the book, like prostitution, dentistry, etc. I feel like the only research the author spent was perhaps asking her next door neighbor "What do you suppose a prostitute looks like? Do you think one would talk to me if I baked her some cookies?" I wonder if the author thinks we're all as naive and stupid as her main character, Hannah, seems to think of all those around her. I usually have these books read within a few hours, but it took me several days to get through Blackberry Pie Murder because it was so disjointed and frankly, not very interesting.Feel free to stop reading here, if you'd like. I spend the rest of this continuing to rant/vent mainly to make myself feel better for wasting so much time reading these books. Suffice to say, I don't recommend you read Blackberry Pie Murder.*Mild spoiler alert* In Blackberry Pie Murder, as usual, Hannah comes off as prudish, smug, self-righteous, condescending, and a bit full of herself, despite her insecurities. And yet, while managing all to convey all those characteristics, she also seems to have no emotional depth. This was even more apparent with this most recent installation in the series. "I killed a man with my car. Oh no. I sort of feel bad about it. Oh well, guess I'll get to the bakery and make some cookies." I don't feel she was "wracked with guilt" as one of the other characters quipped in the book. The story jumped around so much that it was almost as if the author wanted to discuss anything *but* Hannah's accident. So we get a couple side stories as filler - the pimp-would-be-kidnapper-of-dead-hooker's-best-friend and Delores' wedding. And then the usual bilge as filler: Hannah knows everyone, everyone loves Hannah, no one can do anything without Hannah, let's ask Hannah, Hannah can do everything, Hannah's the most glorious creature, Hannah has the perfect life everyone wants. And about a hundred bazillion recipes.And then we have the traditional cast of characters.Norman, perhaps the only normal, though slightly odd character in the series; Hannah's prime love interest. And yes, she should have just freaking married him when he asked however many books ago. I agree with every other reviewer in that sense - let's move on, please! Especially since the proposalS appeared in whichever novel that was, is when I really noticed the series taking a nosedive. I digress. Back to the characters.Next we have Mike. Had once proposed to Hannah the same time as Norman had, though I don't know why as he's never really seemed to care for her that deeply. Occasionally a decent guy, but pretty much written like a colossal jerk the remainder of the time. Apparently, his only redeeming quality is that he is good-looking, but even then, when he's described, doesn't really sound like he qualifies for that either.Delores, aka Mother, overbearing and snobbish, yet apparently has lived in a cave. She's never heard of a VIN? Seriously?Andrea, the dimwitted sister, concerned with only her looks and making sure her nanny can raise her children while she gets a manicure or cooks terrible-tasting food.Michelle, the actually intelligent and almost through college sister, yet everyone treats her as though she were seven years old.Tracey. the overly-precocious child. Typical cutesy, 'wise beyond her years', blah, blah, blah.Oh, and we can't forget Moishe: Cat Prodigy. I consider myself a cat person, so it's a lot for me to say I hate this cat. Reading about Moishe's antics reminds me of parents who like to tell you, "Oh, you just potty-trained your three-year-old? Ours just finished learning French."Others I'm not going to mention because they make basically cameo appearances in this installation of the series.I'm not sure if Lake Eden counts as a character, but I'm listing it anyway. The most unconvincing small town I've ever read about. I realize it's fictional, but that doesn't mean it can't be believable. And it's not believable. I live in what I consider a small town (1,500 pop.) and we have about a dozen basic businesses offering basic services (think grocery store, insurance agency, etc). No way would a small town support the number of businesses listed in the books, much less the 'specialty' businesses detailed: a cookies-only bakery, a designer clothing boutique, a hospital with surgical staff, etc. Maybe in a city of 50,000 people, but not the little hamlet as Lake Eden is described. Oh, and we don't have a murder rate, either. I'm not even sure you could say we have a crime rate.I'm disappointed. There was a time when I was interested in what was happening next. Excited for the characters to 'start a new chapter' and do something else with their lives. Now I don't care, mostly because I don't ever think they're going to go anywhere. I feel like Ms. Fluke has let down her readers. And with that, I'm done. Done with this review, done with this series, just done.

This novel has lots of interesting twists and turns as it winds through a labyrinth as a snake would through the grassy terraine.

While speeding down a back road to hide under trees from lightning, without her lights on and barely able to see, Hannah Swenson runs over a man.Who is this man and why was he on an old back road, don't seem to interest the police at all, and they arrest Hannah for vehicle manslaughter and she has to spend the weekend in jail.Hannah spends the rest of the book doing all the police work, including getting all the evidence available and talking to suspects with the help of another police force who don't know her at all.The other half of the book deals with the girls trying to plan their mother wedding when Dolores changes her mind about every minute detail every day. And we have to read about them all. (This reminds me of the last Jill Churchill (Jane Jeffrey mystery) book where we had to read about her wedding plans including her checking out material swatches for her hat).Highlights:Norman. The only character I even care about in this book anymore. I now think he's too good for Hannah. This books gets the 2nd star because of him.Has some good recipes, but too many. I don't want to know how to cook every piece of food mentioned in the storyline.*Lowlights:Other reviews have mentioned the fact that going to hide under trees when you in a car to be protected from lightning is ridiculous.Plus the issue is, Hannah did kill this guy through her negligence. (Just because someone may die from another cause doesn't make you any less responsible - suppose he had a fatal disease and was going to die in a week - that doesn't mean you can run him over without getting in trouble). Being a bad guy also doesn't make it ok for some stranger to run you over.Since we know the guy was conscious after the beating, he picked up the ring and put it on, he was probably standing. There isn't any indication from the story that I could see that he was laying in the road. Hannah couldn't see anything because she didn't have her lights on, she was speeding, and the rain was so hard visibility was minimal. So I think she is guilty of the manslaughter charge - which is never good for the heroine.The police don't investigate anything. They don't even appear to be trying to find out who this victim was or why he was out there on some back road.Needless to say the triangle with Norman and Mike ran its' course about 10 books ago. There is nothing, not even a spark between her and Mike anymore. It's more she feels so superior that two guys are interested in her than any feelings she might have. Just sleep with Mike and get it over with as the physical part is the only thing she ever talks about when she thinks of Mike.Her entire family has just become one big irritant. Andrea's behavior over her husband's arresting Hannah is ludicrous (he's the sheriff - and can't expect other people to do what he won't). And why isn't he doing everything he can to help Hannah's case? He isn't even investigating, technically he shouldn't as he's a family member, but they don't even bring in someone else to do it.The absolute worse is the storyline doesn't wrap up. You should never have to buy a second book to find out what happens. Especially when this books is so bad.

Another cracker by Joanne Fluke. This novel has you hanging wanting more. Only problem is that it ends on a cliffhanger so you need to have or download the next book in the series the second you finish.

As usual, an entertaining story, with the tempting recipes. It's a shame not all the ingredients can be bought here, but there are enough to keep a baker busy until the next in the series is published.Off to make blackberry cookies!

I enjoy the Swenson stories, but this one seems to be incomplete with no satisfactory ending to the tale, what happens to Hannah's court case, the book stops dead at dinner.

I love Joane Fluke's books.I have read all the Hannah Swensen mystery story's. Can't wait for the next one.😀

Book for a colleague after I received a gift. Haven't read but sounded good.