Sampling of Mystery Reads & Baked Goods

Kathryn's and Lit Chicks's first Review:  
Gingerbread Cookie Murder
by Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier, and Laura Levine
(Hardcover - Oct 1, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0758234957

I like anthologies as a way to sample new authors without the major time commitment of a full length book.  In this holiday themed anthology gingerbread is the common denominator. This book contains three stories by well established cozy mystery authors.

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke 

A Hannah Swenson story.  A neighbor with an excessively enthusiastic Christmas display is at the center of this story. Once again Hannah steps up to the cookie plate to help a friend and solve a murder.  Just as in the full length books, this short story contains recipes.  There are a total of twelve recipes in this story.  There are not only the requisite gingerbread cookie recipe but also ones for oven burgers, crunchy coleslaw, oven bean hotdish, and a very unusual fruitcake.

The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies by Laura Levine

A Jaine Austen story.  Jaine is visiting her parents in their Florida retirement community when tragedy falls, literally.  The resident playboy and star of the community’s play dies during his final scene.  It is up to Jaine to find out if this was merely a tragic accident or something more sinister.  If you are a regular fan of the Jaine Austen series, don’t worry, Prozac is along on the visit also.  Sorry, no recipes were included with this story.

Gingerbread Cookies and Gunshots by Leslie Meier  

A Lucy Stone story.  Lucy Stone - a busy wife, mother, and grandmother - is feeling sorry for herself. She feels her family is abandoning her for Christmas.  So she decides to help out a struggling young family that has a little boy.  When the boy is kidnapped Lucy takes it on herself to see that he makes it home for Christmas.  Two recipes included with this story.