What do You think about Sugar Cookie Murder (2005)?
I'm always torn as to how many stars to give this series. I love the books themselves, but there are just a few things that annoy me so I always take a star away for that. This was a short book in the series when you don't included the many pages of recipes for the cook book. However, I am getting annoyed at the fact that Joanne needs to write " It was 7:30 pm , I looked at my watch". Really you can't say 7:30ish!! I really find it hard to believe people look at their watch at those exsact places. The other thing is when she nags people about their grammar. I get that Joanne is the writter here, but the good part about a book is, you can say your character has bad grammar, but not actually write it out. My finally thought is please, please, please put Norman as the boyfriend or Mike. At this point just pick one, not both. Hannah needs to step up to the plate already!
—Michelle
While I was thinking about this book after I finished reading it, I had two distinct opinions about it. First and most prominent was the idea that this book was very disappointing. The murder was more boring than the previous entries. I did like the idea of all the suspects being together in a building during a blizzard where no one could leave. That felt all Agatha Christie to me. However Hannah felt more forced and less personable then usual. Even the secondary characters felt like caricatures of themselves. I didn't care about the victim or the suspects. Wow, this series is going downhill I thought. Half the book is recipes so it reads more like a short story or entry into an anthology then it did a regular Hannah Swenson murder mystery. Joanne Fluke for a fact, gets tons of comments and complements on her novels. It's almost like for some of her readers, the recipes are the best part. Everyone's always wanting more. I think Joanne wrote this book to do something different for her faithful readers. I think this is a Christmas gift to them, in a way. I refuse to make any judgments about this book not being up to par or going downhill until I read the next full volume in the series. Two stars given because the story is too short, too many recipes for my taste, and a plot that could have been planned out a little better. I'm also about sick of Mike snapping at Hannah and then being forgiven because his kisses are so "hot". Its time for Hannah to settle down with Norman, who would NEVER snap at her. I think together the two of them could make for some great future adventures. Hannah wouldn't suffer as a character at all for her marriage. All of Fluke's characters need to be evolved a little bit. Thanks for the gift here, but I think I'd prefer another full book any time.
—Stacey
This was a disappointment. As with others I thought I was getting a whole book instead of a novella. The mystery felt forced, perhaps if she'd had an entire novel to work with Fluke could have rounded the characters out a bit more. Hannah was pushier and more controlling that ever. Mike was total jerk,but he is always a jerk, it was just more emphasized in this one. Mike's jerkiness made Hannah seem very shallow. He's rude, overbearing and sexist to her but because he is tall dark and handsome all is forgiven as soon as he smiles at her. Dump the idiot already. And just what is wrong with Delores' new man? Lots of hints that are not developed at all which makes Hannah & her sisters seem very petty & jealous that her mom has met someone. Perhaps it's all foreshadowing for a later novel where he turns out to be a mass murderer and extortionist or something. But I put this book down dearly hoping Hannah is completely wrong about him because I am just sick of her know it all attitude. Not to mention her petty nagging about the use of English. Only Norman & his mom came out of this one ok.Probably I am so annoyed about the interpersonal relationships of the regular characters because the mystery itself was so forgettable. It was all about the food for a cookbook, oh and someone died. Mike was a jerk and Hannah solved who dunnit by being so exceedingly nosy she sounded like a blackmailer half the time, but then she often does.Very disappointed in this one
—Stacey Lynn
