This is the fourth book in the well-known Hannah Swenson series by Joanne Fluke. I had read several of the later books in the series as ARCs and forgot just how much I enjoyed the earlier books. I can definitely see this one playing out as a TV mystery, but I don’t think they’re going to be making any more of this series into movies, unless I heard wrong. I didn’t hear anything official though.
My Goodreads review:
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was one of the first books I put on my Goodreads TBR back when I first joined, and I was glad to revisit it and read it. There’s just something extra awesome about the older books in this series. The new ones seem a little different, but this book is how I always remembered the characters. The mystery was a good one! Poor Norman had bought some land wanting to demolish the house on it, but Delores discovered a body in the basement, the woman who sold Norman the house and land. Hannah swore she wouldn’t investigate this time, but since Mike never got terribly upset anymore, she gave in. I love how the chapters in the older books tend to end on a little bit of humor.
I was already completely familiar with all the main characters, so the newer one I really liked was Freddy, the handyman who was a little slow, but his cousin was teaching him the trade. The side story of robbery money starting to appear in Lake Eden was interesting, and I couldn’t help but think that maybe it tied into the murder. I had an idea of who might have been the killer, but changed my mind until the clues started coming fast at the end. It was a pretty exciting ending, no real action like clobbering the killer or anything, but it was cool how it played out (pun intended, you’ll see why if you read it!). If I only went by the books, I would be like Hannah and not be able to decide between Mike and Norman. They both so darn nice!
Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery 
This was a good review! I’ve seen all of the “Murder, She Baked” movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and it is one of my favorite series from that network. Unfortunately, Hallmark isn’t planning on continuing the “Murder, She Baked” series. They have, instead, invested in a new series called “The Chronicle Mysteries”, which stars the same lead actress from the “Murder, She Baked” series. If you haven’t checked out this new series yet, you should definitely consider it!
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Thanks! And yes I love Chronicles, Allison is awesome in it. At least the Hannah movies ended in a good place, a place I wish the books would get to 😉. I liked what I saw of the new Crossword Puzzles too!
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Nice review Tari. I agree the earlier books are better than the new ones. I have not read this one, but I keep saying I am going to go back and read them all. I stopped reading the newer ones.
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Thanks! I read the newer ones as ARCs but that’s pretty much it. The most recent was pretty good as far as the plot line went, at least I was happy with what happened. 😉
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That’s good, I have read mixed reviews on the newest ones.
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Something is lacking in them but I like how the Chocolate Cream Pie Murder turns out. But there is something different about the writing, not a terrible something but worth mentioning. You may want to grab them from the library 😉
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I probably won’t buy them, but I think Hoopla had several of them.
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Good choice! I like that if it’s on Hoopla, there’s no waiting for it
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