Bibliography: Fluke, Joanne.  (2011).  Devil’s Food Cake Murder.  New York: Kensington. ISBN: 978-0758234919

Plot Summary:  Still torn between dentist Norman and detective Mike, Hannah Swensen manages to stumble over another body in between baking and serving cookies at The Cookie Jar.  The visiting minister winds up dead, and the only witness is a mynah bird squawking ”The Wages of Sin Are Death.”  Hannah, her sisters, and mother all get in the sleuthing act but when Hannah realizes who the murderer is, she almost doesn’t live to tell the others.

Critical Analysis:  I admitted in my last review to being a mystery junkie.  And now I am going to tell you that I don’t really read this series for the mysteries.    I read to see what is happening in Lake Eden and with Hannah and her family.  And I read for the fabulous and delicious recipes.  This entry was a little stronger plot-wise then the last couple that came before it, for which I am glad because I wasn’t sure how much more less than stellar mystery I could take to get my character development and recipe fix.

I think I like Hannah because she is such a normal person–she struggles a little with her weight (taste testing all those cookies!) and her hair (it can be on the frizzy side.)  She has a loving family and friends, and a small town that supports her.  I also think I enjoy the sort of romantic fantasy of what it must be like to have two very different guys be in love with you at the same time.  (I think that the Stephanie Plum series by Evanovich is similar in this way.)  I am sure there are some people who want her to make up her mind already.  (I did enjoy the third person added to the mix in Cherry Cheesecake Murder–Joanne Fluke, if you are reading this, please bring him back!)  And in this volume, I loved the whole mystery with Norman.  I felt it added to the continuing story, that everything was not going to continue as it had.

And the recipes–oh the recipes–all I can say is, even if you don’t read this series, you should look for Fluke’s Lake Eden Cookbook coming this fall–it seems like it would be perfect for holiday gifts.

Review Excerpts:  ”Bestseller Fluke’s fabulous 14th foodie mystery….Mouthwatering recipes include butterscotch bonanza bars and pineapple casserole.”–Publisher’s Weekly

“More baking, less sleuthing in this very gentle mystery. The mouthwatering recipes are winners.”–Library Journal

Reviewed from public library audiobook.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.