Weekend Book Reviews

Banana Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke is book twenty-one in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. This book finds Hannah returning home from her honeymoon to solve the murder of her mother's friend.  For me the series seems to be going downhill.  Hannah spent more time developing new recipes than solving the murder.  It was practically an afterthought in the last chapters.  Hannah's marriage is just strange.  I cannot imagine any actual married couple acting the way Hannah and her new husband do.  Hannah seems to have lost the ability to function as a normal person.  Even my mom, who hates her cell phone, knows how to see a missed call.  The book did end with a major cliffhanger which means I will likely read the next book.  Otherwise I feel sure I would be done with this series.

Marilyn Leach's Up From the Grave is an older book, but it is new to me.  Former investigative reporter, Berdie is now the vicar's wife.  At the groundbreaking for a water feature for the church's garden, the body of a young child is discovered.  In the small village of Aidan Kirkwood, the gossip begins flying.  Berdie steps up to solve the mystery before things are completely out of hand.  The characters and setting were charming.  This was an excellent cozy mystery, and I am happy to have discovered a new favorite author.

disclosure:  I received these e-books from NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!