by Joanne Fluke
Part of Hannah Swensen, book 6
First published 2009
Hannah Swensen prepares for Lake Eden's annual Christmas Buffet, the final chance to test her recipes before they go to print. The Minnesota baker expects a festive evening showcasing her holiday treats to the townspeople. Instead, she gets Martin Dubinski, recently divorced and flaunting his new wife, a Las Vegas showgirl. The evening takes a deadly turn when someone murders Mrs. Dubinski. Hannah discovers her own mother's prized antique cake knife lodged in the victim's low-cut dress. The police eye Hannah as their prime suspect since the murder weapon belongs to her family. Hannah must clear her name while running The Cookie Jar bakery and managing the holiday rush. She digs into the Dubinskis' past, uncovering secrets that stretch from small-town Minnesota to the Vegas Strip. Hannah races to solve the case before Christmas arrives and her reputation crumbles along with her business.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, cozy
Vibes: cozy, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Lake Eden, Minnesota, Vegas Strip
Period: Christmas
497 pages · Paperback · Wheeler Pub Inc