Coconut Layer Cake Murder By Joanne Fluke Review

I received a digital advanced reader’s copy of Coconut Layer Cake Murder from NetGalley. This review may contain minor spoilers.

If you are here for my review of the latest Hannah Swensen Mystery, it is likely you are already familiar with the series. This is the 25th Hannah Swensen Mystery. You would expect the murder victim would be important, right? Michelle, Hannah’s youngest sister’s boyfriend Lonnie, who is a Lake Eden detective, finds himself accused of murder. As usual, Hannah must solve the murder, except this time she has Mike’s blessing. You should know that it’s not the murder that matters in this installment. It is the subplots that matter most. Hannah’s relationships with the other characters are the actual heart of the story. It sets the tone for the next book in the series.

As usual recipes take up at least a quarter of the book. Making this Hannah Swensen Mystery a quick read compared to some longer books in the series. We all know adding Ross to the mix made a lot of longtime fans upset. I call it Rossgate as some readers liked a new love interest who was not Mike or Norman. It seems this volume is trying to correct that, but not the way longtime readers would like.

Let’s get a few of my gripes aside. When the book begins Dolores insinuates that Hannah is fat. Reminding us after a few books where Hannah did not complain about her hair or weight, that Dolores can be very hurtful towards Hannah. 

Then it looks like the book will fix Rossgate and I have hope. I am a Norman and Hannah shipper myself, Mike has cheated, and he doesn't love her. Only to have that hope dashed further in the book. 

This is the real tea Hannah Swensen Mystery fans want to hear. We do not care who dies. And we know Hannah will solve said murder. The readers want to know is Hannah getting back together with Norman or Mike? Well, this important subplot is left unresolved in the book. Though I feel like there is an indicator, she will end up with one of them. 

The murder itself is stupid. It is no one Hannah knows. Hannah could have solved the murder sooner. Hannah should have questioned all witnesses who were there that night right away. But she didn’t for some unknown reason. Not to mention Hannah led herself into mortal peril on purpose. I wish Hannah would stop doing that. 

Overall, I rated the book 3 out five stars on Goodreads. I hope that I am not being set up for a letdown. It feels like the books will go back to the love triangle that everyone hates. I felt a glimmer of hope it will not a few times. Hannah’s friend Lynn said something to her I think that may help her make the right choice. 

If the victim hadn’t been a nobody to the series and Hannah had investigated better, I would have enjoyed the plot more. I was so happy that Ross was gone and if the love triangle wasn’t looming on the horizon, I would have rated the book 4 stars instead. Hopefully reader feedback will be taken into account before the next book and our beloved series will be back on track.