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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was a quick choice from the available now list on Libby when I needed a book for a task—was hoping to find a new long series to jump into. But this cookie baking “caterer” playing detective in a setting full of Midwest stereotypes isn’t the character for me!
When was this book written? 1980? The copyright date for the first edition is 2000, but, wow, does it not read like it was written only 18 years ago. I'm giving it 1 star because although moments of it are OK, but the rest was...just...I can see why the series has been made into a TV show on the Hallmark Channel. (Don't get me wrong--some of the things on the Hallmark Channel are pretty decent, but a large majority of them are cheesy beyond belief, have plot holes you could drive a semi through, and are replete with absurdities such as 20-somethings who have high-powered careers, wardrobes, and homes WAY beyond what their experience and pay grades would really afford them.)
Many other reviewers have discussed the many ways this book is teeth-gratingly bad, so I won't enumerate them all. I'm honestly surprised I listened to the whole thing. The narrator did a decent job of giving each character a mostly-unique voice, but her baseline vocal age was way too old for a main character who's supposedly only about 30. Her voice didn't dispel the feeling that the story was written about 40 years ago.
Just a few tiny examples of the MANY annoying details:
* Hannah didn't have dates in high school because she was too smart, and in college a lot of the "bubble-headed" girls dropped out to get their "MRS degrees." REALLY??
* The cookie recipes all mentioned sifting--either to sift, or that sifting wasn't necessary. I haven't sifted anything since I baked with my grandmother in the '80s! Does *anyone* still sift flour or sugar?
* At the end, Hannah's brother-in-law decides to "let" her sister keep her job...but only because their daughter enjoys preschool, so she can work during school hours. Seriously. *facepalm*
Aside from the constant reminders of yesteryear, my biggest beef with the story was that Hannah did ALL of the investigating, and her brother-in-law the cop apparently did nothing, yet still got the promotion & credit. I could see Hannah doing some snooping on his behalf and having conversations where she could, say, get the battered woman to open up to her, but really, Bill should have been making progress on his own end of the investigation. Willing suspension of disbelief got stretched beyond the breaking point in pretty much every chapter.
OK, moving on to mysteries written by people in my own generation....
Many other reviewers have discussed the many ways this book is teeth-gratingly bad, so I won't enumerate them all. I'm honestly surprised I listened to the whole thing. The narrator did a decent job of giving each character a mostly-unique voice, but her baseline vocal age was way too old for a main character who's supposedly only about 30. Her voice didn't dispel the feeling that the story was written about 40 years ago.
Just a few tiny examples of the MANY annoying details:
* Hannah didn't have dates in high school because she was too smart, and in college a lot of the "bubble-headed" girls dropped out to get their "MRS degrees." REALLY??
* The cookie recipes all mentioned sifting--either to sift, or that sifting wasn't necessary. I haven't sifted anything since I baked with my grandmother in the '80s! Does *anyone* still sift flour or sugar?
* At the end, Hannah's brother-in-law decides to "let" her sister keep her job...but only because their daughter enjoys preschool, so she can work during school hours. Seriously. *facepalm*
Aside from the constant reminders of yesteryear, my biggest beef with the story was that Hannah did ALL of the investigating, and her brother-in-law the cop apparently did nothing, yet still got the promotion & credit. I could see Hannah doing some snooping on his behalf and having conversations where she could, say, get the battered woman to open up to her, but really, Bill should have been making progress on his own end of the investigation. Willing suspension of disbelief got stretched beyond the breaking point in pretty much every chapter.
OK, moving on to mysteries written by people in my own generation....
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The first in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. The main character Hannah is deeply flawed and at times it can be off putting. She's extremely judgemental towards her sister and mom even as she proclaims to love them. It's an okay story when you need a fluffy cozy mystery.
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
As weird as it may sound to some... this is a cute little murder mystery. The owner of the little cafe works to help her brother in law with his case of who the local murder is. What's more... she is the one who found the body. Cookies can get you info...
I love that at the end, there's a recipe included.. even with audiobooks.
I love that at the end, there's a recipe included.. even with audiobooks.