Lake Eden’s homes are growing by one as Norman has decided to build the dream home that he and Hannah designed for a contest. Meanwhile there is another murder, counterfeit money, and canning jars filled with jam. It is up to Hannah to determine how they all come together.
This is author Joanne Fluke’s 4th book in the famous Hannah Swenson mystery series. In this novel Hannah is curious about Norm’s decision to build a home they designed together.
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes
Book Review
Outline and Tone:
July in Minnesota brings muggy air and mosquitoes. July in Lake Eden also brings a murder mystery. Whenever I watch a movie or tv show and someone is A- about to retire or B- says exactly what they will be doing tomorrow or even C- about to go on a dream vacation, I know it’s curtain time for that character. It’s a foreshadow that writers and readers love. Joanne Fluke uses one of these troupes in Lemon Meringue Pie Murder. While it is a give away to me as to who is about to be murdered, it doesn’t take away from the fun of solving the mystery. In this novel, the reader is introduced to fun new characters. The love triangle with Hannah, Norman, and Mike progresses as Norman decides to build the home that he and Hannah designed for a contest. Does Noman have an ulterior motive for building what amounts to Hannah’s dream home? Does the murder that takes place in this novel put that dream in jeopardy? No spoilers from me!
Hannah Swensen’s intellect and creativity are always a delight to read. She is able to flesh out suspects and cross them off her list while keeping the reader guessing. Hannah is a lucky character to have so many friends and family members supporting her sleuthing hobby. In this novel even Sheriff Mike wants Hannah’s help.
The author:
Joanne Fluke published her first Hannah Swenson novel, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, in 2001. Since then she has been a New York Times bestselling author several times. She is a popular guest on her local television station and she always uploads her interview to her Youtube Channel. She even has many interviews organized by the book. Some of her books have been made into movies on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel. Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery can be found https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/. Joanne Fluke will interact with fans on her Twitter and her Facebook accounts.
What is not to like?:
Sometimes it seems as though Hannah puts together clues out of mid-air and other times things that seem like obvious clues to the reader are left alone until the resolution.
The verdict:
Another classic from Joanne Fluke. This series is so enjoyable. Pick it up, try a recipe and let me know if you figured out the mystery before Hannah did.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Cinnamon Crisp Cookie Recipe
Assemble the ingredients
Directions:
Melt the butter.
As you can see in the ingredients picture, I first melted the butter and then gathered the remaining ingredients. The reason for this is the recipe calls for the butter to cool after melting. I love using the OXO Good Grips 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup because it is both microwave and dishwasher safe. It also has a pour spout so pouring out liquid ingredients is easy.
Easy to read measure marks on inside of cup. Dishwasher safe.
Add the sugars and mix. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
Beat the eggs, and then stir them in.
Add the vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Mix well.
Add flour in increments, mixing after each addition.
When the dough is combined it is a very soft dough. The recipe says you can chill for an hour, I feel that chilling the dough is a must.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or better yet, a silicone baking mat like this one.
OXO Good Grips Silicone Baking Mat White:
Here it is on top of my cookie sheet. Use your hands to roll the dough into walnut-sized balls or use a cookie scoop.
I decided to get creative and tried using 2 different size scoops. A large on and a small one from OXO.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl to make the dough-ball rolling mixture. (Mixing it with a fork works nicely.) Roll the dough balls in the mixture, then place them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Flatten the dough balls with a greased or floured spatula.
This set has small, medium, and large scoops. Perfect for even cookies or filling cupcake liners.
Being a sweet tooth, I was excited about the larger cookies, but with this soft dough, the cookies spread more than I was expecting.
Because of the spreading, the smaller scoop worked better.
Bake at 325 degrees F. for 10-15 minutes. (They should have a touch of gold around the edges.)
Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove the cookies to a rack to finish cooling.
Yield: Approximately 8 dozen, depending on cookie size.
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Cinnamon Crisp Cookies from: Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 cups melted butter (4 sticks)
- 2 cups brown sugar (loosely packed)
- 1 cup white sugar (granulated)
- 2 beaten eggs (just whip them up with a fork)
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cream of tartar (critical!)
- 1 tsp salt
- 4½ cups white flour (not sifted)
Dough-ball rolling mixture
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Melt the butter.
- Add the sugars and mix.
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature while you beat the eggs, and then stir them in.
- Add the vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Mix well.
- Add flour in increments, mixing after each addition.
- [chill dough in refrigerator for up to1 hour]
- Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl to make the dough-ball rolling mixture. (Mixing it with a fork works nicely.)
- Roll the dough balls in the mixture, then place them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet.
- Flatten the dough balls with a greased or floured spatula.
- Bake at 325 degrees F. for 10-15 minutes. (They should have a touch of gold around the edges.)
- Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove the cookies to a rack to finish cooling.
- Yield: Approximately 8 dozen, depending on cookie size.
What would I do differently next time?
As I wrote above, I would use the small cookie scoop since these cookies spread. Other than that, I would not do anything differently.
More cookies to try!
Cocoa Snaps from Strawberry Shortcake Murder and Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies from Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. Both of these recipes are also from Joanne Fluke.
