Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, Bk 28)

Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, Bk 28)
booksinvt avatar reviewed on + 458 more book reviews


Caramel Pecan Roll Murder is the twenty-ninth installment in the Hannah Swensen series featuring Cookie Jar owner, Hannah and set in Lake Eden, Minnesota. Owners of the Lake Eden Inn, Sally and Dick are short a baker for the week of the upcoming Walleye Fishing Tournament so they ask Hannah if she will fill in for them. Not yet back living in her condo and becoming more uncomfortable living at Norman's house, Hannah agrees if Sally can provide a room for both her and her sister Andrea, (Andrea is coming along because her husband Bill is out of town at a convention).

Night one readers are introduced to Sonny Bowman, the showy host of the the syndicated fishing show. A braggart, a drunk and a little too handsy, it's not surprising that Sonny doesn't have too many admirers among the men in the fishing community, so when Hannah finds him dead in a boat the next day, it's not much of a shock. With Mike appearing not to care about investigating anymore, he asks for Hannah's help in reeling in the killer.

This book is 90% filled with overly detailed recipes and perhaps 10% plot. It really makes no sense that the girls, along with Norman had to move to the Inn just to bake a few cookies each morning. The one good thing about the change of venue was that we didn't have to listen to the incessant "door knocking" at the Cookie Jar. Still completely baffled as to why the characters have to address each other by their formal names every time they speak to each other - even if there are only 2 people in the room. Fortunately, there is very little interaction between Hannah, Mike and Norman so the dreaded (dragging) love triangle takes somewhat of a backseat to the minimal plot.