Joanne Fluke, Peach Cobbler Murder

Joanne Fluke, Peach Cobbler Murder - In Lake Eden, Minnesota, two Georgia peaches, Shawna Lee Quinn and her wealthy, widowed sister Vanessa open up the Magnolia Blossom Bakery across the street from Hannah Swenson's The Cookie Jar. Because Vanessa inherited a fortune from her late elderly spouse, the siblings can afford low prices for fancy food in a chic locale that easily undercuts the competition. Hannah is losing business rapidly and faces bankruptcy if the trend continues, which seems certain as her rivals even give away free lunches.

Hannah's break occurs, though it was not what she wished for, when Shawna Lee gets killed. Everyone would have suspected Hannah murdered her competitor except that at the time of death she was at St. Peter's Catholic Church attending the wedding of her partner, Lisa Herman to Sheriff Herb Beesman. However, she notices that one of her steady dates, Mike Kingston failed to show up at the ceremony and he spent time across the street. Needing to know, Hannah investigates the murder of Shawna Lee.

The latest gourmet delight baked by Joanne Fluke is a fine amateur sleuth tale that provides an interesting look at market forces when wealth can force a mom and pop operation out of business. Though why Hannah had to investigate a murder seems inane and she resolves red herrings too quickly, PEACH COBBLER MURDER is a fun entry as the heroine leaves the bakery following the bread crumbs. As is always the case with a Ms. Fluke culinary mystery, don't read it on an empty stomach; you will gain ten pounds just by perusing the tasty recipes. Ms. Fluke's fine tale is feisty and fun.

Kensington, Mar 2005, $22.00, 292 pp.

ISBN: 0758201540

Harriet Klausner