Murder, mystery and recipes make for a delicious read

This heat has made me do almost anything to avoid cooking or baking, but I do love to eat. So, when I found “Raspberry Danish Murder” by Joanne Fluke, I grabbed it. I knew the story line would be good and recipes delicious and easy.

First, let me say that there was no back story to set the scene for this book. The events and characters just appear, but it still works.

Hannah Swensen Barton owns The Cookie Jar, a café and bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota. She is helped by her partner Lisa, her Aunt Nancy, friend Marge and her sister Michelle. All love to bake and are constantly working up new recipes for cookies and bars.

She also has close friends to rely on. Police Chief Mike and local dentist Norman are like family to both Hannah and Michelle.

When Hannah and KCOW television’s new cameraman Ross Barton met, it was love at first sight. They soon married and began a life together. But two weeks ago, Ross simply disappeared. No note, no calls, no indication of where he was going or why.

With no sign of foul play, Hannah is sure he will return soon. But in the back of her mind, Hannah knows there is much more to his disappearance than meets the eye. The Lake Eden police agree and have asked Hannah to tell people that Ross is on a special assignment somewhere unknown while they search for clues.

Apparently, Hannah has a history of investigating and solving crimes, so Mike and his deputy Lonnie include her in everything. Since Ross has been gone, his assistant PK has been filling in and helping Michelle with PSAs for the school play.

One morning, PK stops at The Cookie Jar to ask for a ride, but the sisters insist that he take Ross’s car, as they just discovered that he left it for them to use. Later that day, they listen in horror as PK tries to drive while under the influence of some strong drug. As he drives, he tells them that he ate some candy that had been sent to Ross, and he’s sure it was drugged. PK dies in the subsequent crash, and his death is quickly ruled a homicide.

No one wants to say it, but they all wonder if the candy was meant for Ross. Things become more complicated when Hannah learns that Ross has given her several large bank accounts plus a safe deposit box filled with cash and a storage unit key.

Through some real digging, they learn the real name of PK’s former fiancee, Pinkie, but hopes are dashed when they find that Pinkie killed herself only weeks before PK’s death.

The mark of a good investigator is the ability to notice the little things. During a Christmas gift convention, Hannah meets a man named Gary. He says he’s selling handmade ornaments, but she finds a “Made in China” sticker on one. Later, she notes that his black Jeep was once bright pink. Pinkie drove a pink Jeep and had a brother named Gary. Now the pieces begin to fit. Gary believed that PK broke Pinkie’s heart and pushed her to commit suicide, so he poisoned the candy.

Everyone is relieved that the case is solved, but Hannah still has no hint of why Ross left or where he went. She’s not surprised when Mike and Norman drop by but is totally unprepared for what they have found out about Ross and his disappearance. Sadly, the book ends there.

Now I have to find “Chocolate Cream Pie Murder” to see what happens next. To learn Hannah’s history, I’ll need to read “Christmas Cake Murder,” too. It is a good dilemma to have.

AT A GLANCE

BOOK: “Raspberry Danish Murder”

AUTHOR: Joanne Fluke

PUBLISHER: Kensington Books

PUBLISHED: Feb. 27, 2018

PAGES: 385