by Joanne Fluke
Part of Hannah Swensen, book 12
First published 2009
Christmas orders flood Hannah Swenson's Cookie Jar bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota. Business booms as the holidays approach, but Hannah's festive mood sours when someone kills Larry Jaeger, the local troublemaker everyone calls "Lunatic Larry." The victim had countless enemies scattered throughout town like sprinkles on sugar cookies. Hannah faces a dilemma. Twelve days remain until Christmas, and cookie orders stack higher each day. She needs to focus on her bakery, but the murder investigation pulls her attention away from baking. Finding Larry's killer proves challenging when so many people wanted him dead. Hannah must balance her business responsibilities with her amateur detective work. The clock ticks down toward Christmas as she sifts through suspects and motives. Her investigation reveals the darker side of small town life beneath the holiday cheer.
Genres: christmas, mystery, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth
Vibes: cozy, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Lake Eden, Minnesota
Period: Christmas
307 pages · Hardcover · Kensington Books