Hollywood comes to Lake Eden. The film crew brings the drama. The author provides the recipe. Hannah decides not to investigate rather to just snoop. She snoops her way to solving more than one murder. The PB&J cookies are soft and sweet and delicious.
This is book #8 of the Hannah Swensen mystery series. Hannah owns The Cookie Jar bakery and uses her leftover cookies to help convince people to talk. Hannah plays mediator with the film crew and local residents as they try to finish Trouble in Cherrywood.
Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Fantastic Peanut Butter and Jam Cookies
from a Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes
by Joanne Fluke
Murder Mystery Books
Book Review Outline and Tone:
If only they would make a Hallmark movie based on this Joanne Fluke novel! It would be perfect because it would be a movie about making a movie in Lake Eden. So meta!
Hollywood comes to Lake Eden along with Hannah’s Friends Ross and Linda. Everyone in town is excited because they get to be extras and some even have small roles. This book does a great job of making the reader dislike the potential murder victim. His behavior reeks of old Hollywood sexism. I’m glad that even in this novel that was published in 2007, long before the #MeToo movement inspired women (and men) to report and resist sexist behavior, Joanne Fluke was calling it out through her characters.
I also really enjoyed that this sexist behavior was not the only focal point of the novel. There are interesting side stories that get revealed while Hannah is searching for the killer. There didn’t seem to be much character growth in this part of the series, but the time spent meeting new characters still made the book interesting.
The Best Quote:
“Dean reached out to give her a little hug and his hand was overly affectionate. Hannah stepped back. Was that intentional? She couldn’t quite decide.”
I chose this quote because this is the perfect representation of a situation that too many women have been through. We have to decide was that over the line? Was that a careless accident or something more inappropriate? I am the kind of person who usually gives someone the benefit of the doubt and I don’t jump to hasty conclusions. On the other hand, I have become more attuned to my instincts. If it seems off, you must trust your gut instinct.
The Author: Joanne Fluke
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?:
It is necessary to suspend some disbelief about how movies are made. I don’t have any actual first hand experience, but casting locals who are not a part of SAG and some other minor things made me doubt the credibility of that part. But I didn’t pick up this novel for a lesson on how movies are made, rather for an enjoyable mystery and th at is what I got!
The verdict:
This one is a fun read and the cookies are not only easy, but versatile and super yummy!
Books to Read 
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).
Peanut Butter and Jam Cookies
Assemble the Ingredients
Easy dessert to make: 4/5 on the Easy as Pie scale 
Preheat the oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
Microwave the butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl for approximately 90 seconds on HIGH to melt it.
Easy to read measure marks on inside of cup. Dishwasher safe.
Mix in the brown sugar, white sugar,
vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir until they’re thoroughly blended.
Measure out the peanut butter. I use the OXO adjustable measuring cup. After you measure, twist it to put the peanut butter in and the cup scrapes the sides for you.
OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Adjustable Measuring Cup, Clear/Black
Add it to the bowl and mix it in. Pour in the beaten eggs and stir it all up.
Add the chopped salted peanuts and mix until they’re incorporated.
- Double-sided, non-porous surfaces resist odors and won't dull knife blades
- Integrated drip-catchers and easy-pour corners minimize messes
- Non-slip feet keep boards in place while chopping and slicing
- Durable and dishwasher safe
Add the flour in one-cup increments, mixing it in until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
Form the dough into walnut-sized balls with your hands and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. (If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for an hour or so, and then try again.) Use a silicone baking sheet so the cookies won’t stick.
Make an indentation in the center of the dough ball with your thumb. Spoon in a bit of jam, making sure it doesn’t run over the sides of the cookie.
I used the back of a teaspoon to make the indents and used a slightly smaller measuring spoon to put the jam in the divots.
Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops are just beginning to turn golden. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Best Dessert 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
So delicious 😋😋😋😋😋
Taste: 5 stars! 
I used blackberry jam because it was what I had in my fridge. You can use whatever you have or whatever jam is your favorite.
Peanut Butter & Jam Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup melted butter (2 sticks, ½ pound)
- 2 cups brown sugar (firmly packed)
- ½ cup white (granulated) sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 2 eaten eggs (just whip them up with fork)
- ½ cup chopped salted peanuts (measure AFTER chopping)
- 3 cups flour
- ½ cup your favorite jam
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, rack in the middle position.
- Microwave the butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl for approximately 90 seconds on HIGH to melt it.
- Mix in the brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir until they're thoroughly blended.
- Measure out the peanut butter.
- Add it to the bowl and mix it in.
- Pour in the beaten eggs and stir it all up. Add the chopped salted peanuts and mix until they're incorporated.
- Add the flour in one-cup increments, mixing it in until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
- Form the dough into walnut-sized balls with your hands and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. (If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for an hour or so, and then try again.)
- Make an indentation in the center of the dough ball with your thumb. Spoon in a bit of jam, making sure it doesn't run over the sides of the cookie.
- Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops are just beginning to turn golden. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
What would I do differently next time?
I would try a different jam. Not because I didn’t like the blackberry jam: just because I would like to mix it up.
Will I make it again?: Yes! Without a doubt! 
Some of the best cookie recipes I’ve reviewed.
Lemon Tea Cookies from Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith
Red ‘N White Strawberry Cookies from The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies from Death of a Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis
Cocoa Snaps from Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke.
