Joanne Fluke – författare

Tis the season for trimming the tree, caroling, baking cookies, and curling up by the Yuletide waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney. But in this festive collection of holiday whodunits, murder is also paying a visit. . ."Candy Cane Murder" By Joanne FlukeWhen a trail of candy canes leads to a corpse outfitted in a Santa suit on a snowy bank, Hannah Swensen sets out to discover who killed Kris Kringle. . . "The Dangers Of Candy Canes" By Laura LevineA wealthy suburbanite takes a lethal tumble off his roof while installing a giant candy cane. Now it''s up to Jaine Austen to sift through a long list of scheming neighbors with dirty secrets in their stockings to expose a murderer. . . "Candy Canes Of Christmas Past" By Leslie MeierLucy Stone must learn the mystery of a glass candy cane that was found smashed to bits by a corpse''s body to unlock the doors of Christmas past--and find a killer who got away with murder. Whether a gift for yourself or that special someone on your list, there''s no better way to spend the holidays than with these tantalizing mysteries of murder. . .Includes over 10 luscious holiday recipes!Scrumptious Praise For Candy Cane Murder! "Like a box of holiday chocolates, this recipe-studded assortment gives all readers a crack at their favorites." --Kirkus Reviews"Entertaining. . .a sweet holiday treat for mystery lovers." --Publishers Weekly"Delicious. . .will have your mouth watering." --Romantic Times

Bakery owner Hannah Swensen has a dress to fit into and a date with her sister, Andrea, at Lake Eden''s new health club, Heavenly Bodies. Dragging herself out of bed on a frigid Minnesota morning for exercise, of all things, is bad enough. Discovering the body of man-eating bombshell Ronni Ward floating in the gym''s jacuzzi? Okay, that''s worse. Nor does it help that there''s a plate of The Cookie Jar''s very own cream puffs garnishing the murder scene.Trying to narrow the list of Ronni''s enemies down to fewer than half the town''s female population, Hannah has her plate full. Trouble is, when it comes to cookies--and to murder--there''s always room for one more. . . "Foodie fans will eat up Fluke''s cozy. . . A fluffy mix of sweets and suspense." --Publishers Weekly"Entertaining and sprinkled with tempting recipes. It''s a sweet treat of a novel." --The Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)"A tasty treat." --Kirkus Reviews

Now A Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original Movie MURDER, SHE BAKED: A Plum Pudding Murder Mystery The yuletide season in Lake Eden, Minnesota, guarantees a white Christmas, delectable holiday goodies from Hannah Swensen''s bakery, The Cookie Jar—and murder…   The Cookie Jar''s busiest time of the year also happens to be the most wonderful time...for Christmas cookies, Hannah''s own special plum pudding—and romance! She also gets a kick out of “Lunatic Larry Jaeger’s Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot,” a kitschy carnival taking place smack-dab in the middle of the village green. But then Hannah discovers the man himself dead as a doornail in his own office...   Now, with so many suspects to investigate and the twelve days of Christmas ticking away, Hannah''s running out of time to nab a murderous Scrooge who doesn''t want her to see the New Year...   Includes Hannah’s favorite Christmas dinner recipes!

The Luscious Los Angeles Times And USA Today Bestseller!Early summer brings plenty of work for baker Hannah Swensen, even before Mayor Bascomb''s wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order for her charity event. . .for eleven-hundred cookies! And Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. But she places her faith in Lisa and agrees to be a magician''s assistant in the fundraiser''s talent show. . .The only snag is the show''s host, college professor Bradford Ramsey. Hannah and her sister, Michelle, each had unfortunate romances with Ramsey, and when the cad comes sniffing around between acts, Hannah tells him off. But when the curtain doesn''t go up, she discovers Ramsey backstage--dead, with a turnover in his hand. Now Hannah must find a killer who''s flakier than puff pastry--and far more dangerous. . .Includes Over Ten Cookie and Dessert Recipes From The Cookie Jar, Including Chocolate Sugar Cookies and Breakfast in a Muffin! "The ever popular Fluke writes engaging cozies with one part great characters, one part gentle story, and three parts the best recipes in the genre." –Library Journal"Catch up with the gang in this delightful, thoroughly entertaining series that keeps readers coming back for more." –Romantic Times

Apple Turnover MurderThe Luscious Los Angeles Times And USA Today Bestseller! Early summer brings plenty of work for baker Hannah Swensen, even before Mayor Bascomb''s wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order for her charity event. . .for eleven-hundred cookies! And Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. But she places her faith in Lisa and agrees to be a magician''s assistant in the fundraiser''s talent show. . . Key Lime Pie MurderNew York Times BestsellerIt promises to be a busy week for Hannah Swensen. Not only is she whipping up treats for the chamber of commerce booth at the Tri-County fair, she''s also judging the baking contest;acting as a magician''s assistant for her business partner''s husband;trying to coax Moishe, her previously rapacious feline, to end his hunger strike, and performing her own private carnival act by juggling the demands of her mother and sisters. With so much on her plate, it''s no wonder Hannah finds herself on the midway only moments before the fair closes for the night. After hearing a suspicious thump, she goes snooping–only to discover Willa Sunquist, a student teacher and fellow bake contest judge, dead alongside an upended key lime pie. But who would want to kill Willa and why? Cherry Cheesecake MurderHannah Swensen and her bakery, The Cookie Jar, bask in the glow of Hollywood glamour when Main Street becomes a movie set. And although tensions simmer as the cameras roll, no one expects the action to turn deadly. . .until it''s too late. . . There''s no such thing as privacy in Lake Eden, but Hannah never thought things would go this far. Everyone has been telling her what to do ever since she got not one but two marriage proposals. Movie mania soon shoves Hannah''s marriage dilemma into the background and even gives her cat a shot at stardom. The Cookie Jar serves as snack central with Main Street rented out for the week. She stirs lots of fresh gossip, whipping up treats for cast and crew, including demanding director Dean Lawrence''s favorite--cherry cheesecake.Lemon Meringue Pie MurderHannah Swensen thought she''d finally discovered the recipe for a perfect life. But her sometime beau Norman Rhodes tosses a surprise ingredient into the mix when he phones to tell her he''s just bought a house from local drugstore clerk Rhonda Scharf--which he plans to tear down in order to build the dream home he and Hannah designed. It seems the plan has been cooking for quite some time, and Hannah''s shocked. Especially since her ring finger is still very much bare. . .The good news is that the soon-to-be-torn-down house is full of antiques--and Norman has given Hannah and her mother first dibs. They uncover some gorgeous old furniture, a patchwork quilt. . .and Rhonda Scharf''s dead body. A little more sleuthing turns up the half-eaten remains of a very special dinner for two--and one of The Cookie Jar''s famous lemon meringue pies. Now it''s up to Hannah to turn up the heat--and get busy tracking down clues. Starting in her very own kitchen. . .

In this merry collection of holiday mysteries, murder is making its own special delivery. . ."Gingerbread Cookie Murder" By Joanne FlukeWhen Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah''s Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that''s as long as her holiday shopping list."The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies" By Laura LevineJaine Austen has been enlisted to help with her parents'' retirement community''s play The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. Playboy Dr. Preston McCay is playing the role of the gingerbread cookie when he "accidentally" falls to his death during the final act. Now Jaine must figure out if one of the doctor''s jealous lovers was capable of murder. "Gingerbread Cookies And Gunshots" By Leslie MeierWhen Lucy Stone discovers the body of Rick Juergens, whose five-year-old son Nemo disappeared, she senses foul play. Crumbs from a gingerbread cookie Lucy gave to Nemo are found in the back seat of Rick''s car. With the hours quickly ticking till Christmas, Lucy races against the clock to find a killer before he strikes again. Includes Over 10 Luscious Holiday Recipes!

The USA Today Bestseller Guaranteed to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth!Hannah Swensen has to admit life is pretty sweet. Things are going well in the romance department and her bakery''s delectable confections are selling as fast as she can bake them. Even her good friend Claire is head over heels with her new husband, Reverend Bob Knudson. If only they could find time to take their honeymoon! When Bob''s childhood friend, Matthew Walters, comes to town, it seems like divine intervention. Matthew, like Bob, is a Lutheran minister with a stubborn sweet tooth. Since he''s on sabbatical, Matthew is happy to fill in for Bob while he and Claire take that long-awaited honeymoon. It sounds like the perfect plan--until Hannah finds Matthew face-down in a plate full of Devil''s Food Cake, a single bullet in his head. It will take some sleuthing to sift out the killer, but Hannah is sure of one thing: even the most half-baked murder plot can be oh so deadly. . .Features over Ten Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar, Including Red Devil''s Food Cake and Carrot Oatmeal Muffins!"Fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment." --Booklist"Joanne Fluke is the doyenne of deadly desserts with her deliciously popular Hannah Swensen series." --Publishers Weekly

Life in tiny Lake Eden, Minnesota, is usually pleasantly uneventful. Lately, though, it seems everyone has more than their fair share of drama--especially the Swensen family. With so much on her plate, Hannah Swensen can hardly find the time to think about her bakery--let alone the town''s most recent murder.  . 

Hannah is nervous about the upcoming trial for her involvement in a tragic accident. She''s eager to clear her name once and for all, but her troubles only double when she finds the judge bludgeoned to death with his own gavel--and Hannah is the number one suspect. Now on trial in the court of public opinion, she sets out in search of the culprit and discovers that the judge made more than a few enemies during his career. With time running out, Hannah will have to whip up her most clever recipe yet to find a killer more elusive than the perfect brownie.  .  .

The holidays are the icing on the cake for bakery owner Hannah Swensen. Surrounded by her loved ones, she has all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas--until murder is added to the mix. . . When it comes to holidays, Minnesotans rise to the occasion--and the little town of Lake Eden is baking up a storm with Hannah leading the way. The annual Christmas Buffet is the final test of the recipes Hannah has collected for the Lake Eden Holiday Buffet Cookbook. ''Tis the season for trimming the tree, caroling, baking cookies, and curling up by the Yuletide waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney. But in this festive collection of holiday whodunits, murder is also paying a visit. . . "Candy Cane Murder" By Joanne Fluke When a trail of candy canes leads to a corpse outfitted in a Santa suit on a snowy bank, Hannah Swensen sets out to discover who killed Kris Kringle. . . The yuletide season in Lake Eden, Minnesota, guarantees a white Christmas, delectable holiday goodies from Hannah Swensen''s bakery, The Cookie Jar--and murder. As a shadow hangs over her friends'' Christmas wedding, Hannah''s determined to cook a killer''s goose before anyone else gets burned. . . The Cookie Jar''s busiest time of the year also happens to be the most wonderful time. . .for Christmas cookies, Hannah''s own special plum pudding--and romance! She also gets a kick out of "Lunatic Larry Jaeger''s Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot," a kitschy carnival taking place smack-dab in the middle of the village green. But then Hannah discovers the man himself dead as a doornail in his own office. . . Nothing''s better on Christmas Eve than waiting for the stroke of midnight with a cup of eggnog and a plate of warm gingerbread cookies. But in this merry collection of holiday mysteries, murder is making its own special delivery. . . "Gingerbread Cookie Murder" By Joanne Fluke When Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah''s Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that''s as long as her holiday shopping list.

The Fresh Baked Usa Today, San Francisco Chronicle And Chicago Tribune Bestseller!April is a busy time for Hannah Swensen and her bakery; the warm weather makes folks in Lake Eden, Minnesota, go wild for something sweet. When Hannah hears that the Cinnamon Roll Six jazz band will be playing at the town''s Weekend Jazz Festival, she''s more than happy to bake up a generous supply of their namesake confections to welcome the band to town. Before the festival even begins, tragedy strikes when the tour bus overturns. Among those injured is Buddy Neiman, the band''s beloved keyboard player. Buddy''s injuries appear minor, until his condition suddenly takes a turn for the worse--as in dead. Hannah''s no doctor, but she suspects that the surgical scissors someone plunged into Buddy''s chest may have something to do with it. Hannah isn''t sure just how she''ll unravel the mystery, but one thing''s for sure: nothing''s sweeter than bringing a killer to justice. . .Features over Ten Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar, including Peaches and Cream Cookies and Chocolate Caramel Bars! "Fans of this wildly popular series will not be disappointed. Fluke has kept this series strong for a long time, and there is still plenty to enjoy for foodie crime fans." --Booklist

Lights. . .Camera. . .With painstaking care, he "casts" his victims, each woman resembling an Alfred Hitchcock star, each killing echoing six of the legendary director''s films. The only clue he leaves behind is a gruesome video of his handiwork. But the Video Killer shoots the death scenes as he believes they should have been done--with total realism. . .Kill! A former actress, Allison Rocca knows her husband, Tony, a screenwriter, has been extra busy lately. And news reporter Katy knows her ex, Chief Detective Sam Ladera, is desperately hunting the Video Killer. Still, each woman senses something unusual about the men''s behavior. But as they attempt to find the truth, they unwittingly draw closer to the lens of a calculating madman searching for his next leading lady. . .

By Reason Of Insanity. . .Ten years ago, a jury found Michael Hart guilty of murdering his wife. Confined to a state hospital for the criminally insane, Michael has never stopped insisting on his innocence--even though his memories of the trial are murky and his nights are plagued by bad dreams and sleepwalking. After years of being tormented by doctors who believe he is guilty, Michael finally gets his chance to prove them wrong--by escaping. Hiding in a safehouse, Michael must rely on two allies to find an alibi. One is a beautiful woman who believes his story and is willing to gamble her life to help him. The other is Michael''s brother, an attorney at law who''s at risk of losing everything. But all the evidence in the world won''t be enough to overturn twelve guilty verdicts. . .Not when the members of Michael''s jury begin to get brutally murdered. One. . .by one. . .by one. . .

One By OneEllen Wingate thinks she''s hit the jackpot when she learns the millions she''s inherited comes with a super-exclusive condo in the mountains outside of Las Vegas. But leaving Minnesota for paradise turns out to be the ultimate nightmare. Trapped with her neighbors in a freakish winter avalanche, a chilling discovery at the bottom of an indoor pool signals a frightening turn of events. . . Until There Were NoneA ruthless killer has infiltrated the Deer Creek Condos. With each killing more terrifying than the last, the panicked survivors face almost certain death. Their only hope is to band together to escape the unrelenting pursuit of a deadly intruder, but trusting each other could be their most fatal instinct. . .

The Perfect CureOn the surface they are beautiful and talented. But few know of the harrowing darkness inside each of them, how close they are to losing their tenuous grip on sanity. Dr. Elias is their only hope. But he''s dying. And he''s made his cold, final judgment: Those he can''t cure, he must kill. For The Perfect CrimeIn order for Dr. Elias''s deadly prescription to succeed, none of the eight patients must know someone is stalking them, murdering them one by one. Even if they were to suspect that their lives are in danger, no one would believe them. But if there''s any chance they can stay alive, they must face the madness within. . .

A Small Town. . .The moment Marian Larsen sees the patrol car stop outside her house, she feels a shiver of foreboding. The news is even worse than she feared. Marian''s husband and young daughter have been in a snowmobile crash. Dan is paralyzed and Laura is dead, her body broken on the icy ground. . . .With A Chilling SecretFriends and colleagues in Marian''s Minnesota hometown rally around to try and ease her grief. But soon there are more horrible accidents. Then the rumors start--that these are not coincidences at all, that someone is picking off victims one by one. And as winter deepens, the search for answers will reveal a killer whose blood runs colder than the blinding snow. . .

Where Innocence Dies. . .Expectant parents Karen and Mike Houston are excited about restoring their old rambling Victorian mansion to its former glory. With its endless maze of rooms, hallways, and hiding places, it''s a wonderful place for their nine-year-old daughter Leslie to play and explore. Unfortunately, they didn''t listen to the stories about the house''s dark history. They didn''t believe the rumors about the evil that lived there. . . .The Nightmare Begins. It begins with a whisper. A child''s voice beckoning from the rose garden. Crying out in the night. It lures little Leslie to a crumbling storm door. Down a flight of broken stairs. It calls to their unborn child. It wants something from each of them. Something in their very hearts and souls. Tonight, the house will reveal its secret. Tonight, the other child will come out to play. . .

A KILLER IN THE DEAD OF WINTER… As a family clinic administrator, Michele Layton has seen her share of suffering. But never anything like this. Not here in St. Cloud, Minnesota. A local activist has been found murdered, his body frozen like a statue and placed in a Winter Carnival ice sculpture display. Next a vicious hate crime puts a man in the ICU. And locked away in the Holy Rest mental ward, a deranged man of the cloth prays for more sinners to be punished—and waits for a sign from above. These seemingly random acts lead police chief Steve Radke to Michele, who could be the next pawn in a madman’s chess game of life and death, good versus evil…

A college student is haunted by dreams of the past that could get her into trouble in this psychological thriller by the New York Times bestselling author. Kathi Ellison is an English literature major at the University of California in Berkeley, living with her boyfriend off-campus. She is also the daughter of a candidate for the U.S. Senate, a role that could affect her life should her father win the election. But before she can consider her future, Kathi must first come to terms with her past. A car accident when she was four-years-old killed her mother and left her in a coma for several days. The migraines and nightmares that plagued her as a child have recently returned with a vengeance, leaving her mind full of visions that feel more like memories. Memories that are not her own. Memories of a frightened and traumatized child named Sheri Walker. Memories linked to her mother’s death that her stepmother doesn’t want her to remember . . .For lighter mysteries, don’t miss Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen series!

Two Women. One Nightmare.Except for their gorgeous faces, identical twins Mercedes and Marcie Calder are nothing alike. Mercedes is a movie star in L.A. with a sexy husband, two beautiful children, and an exciting, glamorous lifestyle; Marcie is an art teacher in Minnesota with a shy disposition and a quiet life alone. But when Mercedes is found dead--mysteriously drowned in her swimming pool--Marcie is the only person who can step into her shoes and finish her latest movie. On a Hollywood sound stage, she will take on her sister''s greatest role. In her Beverly Hills mansion, she will play mother to her children. In her sister''s bed, she will make love to her husband. But there is one part of Mercedes'' life that Marcie isn''t prepared for--until it''s too late. . . A deranged psychopath is hiding in the wings. Watching her every move. Waiting for his chance to kill. . .and kill again.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing…   The last thing Maura Thomas remembers before her car careened over a steep embankment is having dinner with her college roommate…over twenty years ago. Everything in between is a blank. Maura has no recollection of her husband, her daughter, or her busy, glamorous existence as owner of a Beverly Hills boutique.   Maura can’t even be sure that everyone around her is who they claim to be. Is it paranoia or self-preservation that makes her uneasy? And then there are the images starting to fill her head—pictures of a life at odds with everything she’s been told.   As Maura begins to piece together the fragments of her previous life, she grows convinced that her car crash was no accident. But the moment she remembers the truth she’ll find herself at the mercy of a killer determined to silence her forever…

Dear Reader, In the early 1990s, I published a suspense novel called Eyes under the name Chris Hunter. Now I''m thrilled that it''s available again with a striking new cover! A mild-mannered car salesman…a womanizing bartender…a beloved minister with a devoted family. Except for the fact that each of the murder victims is male, Minnesota police can''t find a connection between the crimes. But that''s because what links them can''t be seen with the naked eye…Losing everything can make a person do crazy things. No one knows that better than Connie Wilson. The shock of suddenly losing her fiancé, Alan, in a car accident, is almost too much bear…Until Connie comes up with a plan to stay close to Alan forever. And she''s finally found just the man to help her. There''s only one thing standing in her way: his wife. She''s smart, beautiful, and has exactly what Connie desperately needs. Connie will just have to be smarter, more seductive--and stay one step ahead of a detective who''s as determined to save her as Connie is to destroy her. . . If you''ve enjoyed my earlier novels like Final Appeal and Fatal Identity then I believe you''re going to love reading Eyes!Joanne Fluke

Joanne Fluke Invites You To Celebrate The Holidays With Hannah Swensen And All The Wonderful Folks Of Lake Eden, At The Annual Cookie Exchange. . .All-New Recipes Included!It''s a picture postcard December in Minnesota, and Main Street is brimming with festive holiday decorations. Best of all, it''s time for the annual Holiday Cookie Exchange at the Community Center--catered by none other than The Cookie Jar! Gathered together for the delicious event, the Swensen clan and their friends share their favorite juicy tales of Lake Eden--and their favorite scrumptious cookie and luncheon recipes, including: Candy Cane Cookies Heavenly Eggnog Cookies Little Snowballs Merry Berry Cookies Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies Regency Ginger Snaps Norwegian Pizza Razzle Dazzle Champagne Cocktails. . .plus all the recipes from Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder to Carrot Cake Murder. Now you can bring the irresistible flavors of The Cookie Jar into your very own kitchen! "Joanne Fluke is the doyenne of deadly desserts with her deliciously popular Hannah Swensen series." --<>I>Publishers Weekly