Hannah Swensen Mysteries
About the Series
The Hannah Swensen Mysteries follow Hannah Swensen, owner of The Cookie Jar bakery in the fictional small town of Lake Eden, Minnesota. Hannah is smart, witty, and has a talent for both baking and stumbling into murder investigations. She is supported by her mother Delores, her sister Andrea, and a rotating cast of Lake Eden residents.
A major draw of the series is the love triangle between Hannah and two very different men — detective Mike Kingston and dentist Norman Rhodes. Fans are passionately divided on which man Hannah should choose, and the romantic subplot is nearly as important as the mysteries.
Every book includes multiple tested recipes, and many readers bake along with the series. The Cookie Jar recipes have become beloved favorites in the cozy mystery community. Lake Eden feels like a real place by the time you have read a few books, and the seasonal setting — many books are tied to holidays or seasons — adds to the charm.
Complete Reading Order
1. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2000)
2. Strawberry Shortcake Murder (2001)
3. Blueberry Muffin Murder (2002)
4. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (2003)
5. Fudge Cupcake Murder (2004)
6. Sugar Cookie Murder (2004)
7. Peach Cobbler Murder (2005)
8. Cherry Cheesecake Murder (2006)
9. Key Lime Pie Murder (2007)
10. Carrot Cake Murder (2008)
11. Cream Puff Murder (2009)
12. Plum Pudding Murder (2009)
13. Apple Turnover Murder (2010)
14. Devil's Food Cake Murder (2011)
15. Gingerbread Cookie Murder (2011)
16. Cinnamon Roll Murder (2012)
17. Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (2013)
18. Wedding Cake Murder (2014)
19. Double Fudge Brownie Murder (2015)
20. Banana Cream Pie Murder (2017)
21. Raspberry Danish Murder (2018)
22. Christmas Cake Murder (2018)
23. Coconut Layer Cake Murder (2020)
24. Christmas Cupcake Murder (2020)
25. Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder (2021)
26. Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (2022)
27. Pink Lemonade Cake Murder (2023)
Reading Notes: The books should be read in order. The romantic subplot and character development build throughout the series. The holiday-themed books (Sugar Cookie Murder, Plum Pudding Murder, etc.) fit into the chronological sequence and should not be skipped.
Back to all reading orders. Learn more about Joanne Fluke.