by Joanne Fluke
Part of Hannah Swensen, book 17
First published 2014
Hannah Swensen thought her biggest worry was planning her mother's wedding cake. Lake Eden, Minnesota had enjoyed four peaceful months without a single dead body crossing the Swensen family's path. Hannah could finally concentrate on running her bakery while juggling wedding preparations for Delores, who naturally put her daughter in charge of every detail. Then a thunderstorm changes everything. Driving down a country road in torrential rain, Hannah accidentally strikes a stranger with her truck. Guilt consumes her, but her situation turns dire when police arrest her for murder. The autopsy brings unexpected relief and new mysteries. The unknown man, his shirt stained with blackberry pie, was already dying before Hannah's truck hit him. Someone else killed him first. To clear her name and make it to her mother's wedding, Hannah must discover the dead man's identity. She follows a trail of pie crumbs through Lake Eden, searching for a baker who knows more about murder than pastry technique. The clock ticks toward the wedding date as Hannah races to solve a case that mixes family obligations with deadly secrets.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, cozy-mystery
Vibes: cozy, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family, small-town
Setting: Lake Eden, Minnesota
368 pages · Hardcover · Kensington