Series · culinary cozy mystery

Hannah Swensen

The Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke has 31 books and is best read in publication order, starting with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2000).

Books: 29 novels + 2 novellas
First published: 2000
Status: ongoing
Last checked: 17 August 2026

Start here: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2000) — then read straight through in publication order.

Book one

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2000)

Reading order

The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.

Book 1:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
Novel2000
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
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Book 2:
Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Novel2001
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Book 3:
Blueberry Muffin Murder
Novel2001
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Book 4:
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Novel2003
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Book 5:
Fudge Cupcake Murder
Novel2004
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Book 6:
Sugar Cookie Murder
Novel2004
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Book 7:
Peach Cobbler Murder
Novel2005
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Book 8:
Cherry Cheesecake Murder
Novel2006
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Book 9:
Key Lime Pie Murder
Novel2007
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Book 10:
Candy Cane Murder
Novella2007
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Book 11:
Carrot Cake Murder
Novel2008
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Book 12:
Cream Puff Murder
Novel2008
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Book 13:
Plum Pudding Murder
Novel2009
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Book 14:
Apple Turnover Murder
Novel2010
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Book 15:
Gingerbread Cookie Murder
Novella2010
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Book 16:
Devil's Food Cake Murder
Novel2011
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Book 17:
Cinnamon Roll Murder
Novel2012
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Book 18:
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder
Novel2013
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Book 19:
Blackberry Pie Murder
Novel2014
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Book 20:
Double Fudge Brownie Murder
Novel2015
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Book 21:
Wedding Cake Murder
Novel2016
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Book 22:
Christmas Caramel Murder
Novel2016
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Book 23:
Banana Cream Pie Murder
Novel2017
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Book 24:
Raspberry Danish Murder
Novel2019
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Book 25:
Christmas Cake Murder
Novel2019
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Book 26:
Chocolate Cream Pie Murder
Novel2019
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Book 27:
Coconut Layer Cake Murder
Novel2020
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Book 28:
Christmas Cupcake Murder
Novel2020
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Book 29:
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder
Novel2021
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Book 30:
Caramel Pecan Roll Murder
Novel2022
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Book 31:
Pink Lemonade Cake Murder
Novel2023
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About the Hannah Swensen series

Hannah Swensen runs The Cookie Jar, a bakery on the town square of Lake Eden, Minnesota, and stumbles into a murder investigation roughly once a book — usually because the victim was found near a batch of her cookies, or because her mother has already decided Hannah should look into it. Joanne Fluke's long-running series is the flagship of the culinary cozy subgenre: each book comes packed with full recipes for the desserts described on the page (readers genuinely bake along), and the mystery plotting is gentle and low-stakes compared to the small-town gossip, family friction, and — for most of the series — Hannah's unresolved love triangle between dentist Norman Rhodes and detective Mike Kingston.

The appeal is comfort above all: a cast of regulars (Hannah's meddling mother Delores, her sisters, her employee Lisa) who feel like neighbors, a snowy Minnesota small-town setting, and dessert descriptions detailed enough to double as a cookbook. It's for readers who want their murder mysteries served with a side of baking, minimal gore, and a large helping of small-town warmth — one of the best-selling culinary cozy series ever published, and the basis for the Hallmark Murder, She Baked TV movies.

How to read this series

Read in publication order, starting with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2000). Hannah's relationships (especially the long-running Norman/Mike love triangle), her business, and her family all develop cumulatively, so sequence matters more here than in most cozy series. A few entries — Candy Cane Murder (2007) and Gingerbread Cookie Murder (2010) — were originally published as anthologies where Fluke's Hannah novella appeared alongside stories from other cozy authors (Laura Levine, Leslie Meier); read just the Fluke portion if you only want the series proper, at the point shown in the reading order. Christmas Dessert Murder (2021) is a bind-up reprint of two earlier books (Christmas Caramel Murder and Christmas Cake Murder) rather than new content, so it isn't listed separately here — skip it if you already own those two.

Frequently asked questions

How many Hannah Swensen books are there?

31 entries have been published as of Pink Lemonade Cake Murder (2023): 29 numbered novels plus two Christmas anthology novellas (Candy Cane Murder and Gingerbread Cookie Murder). The next planned book, Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Murder, was announced but its release has been repeatedly delayed and its status is unclear as of mid-2026.

What order should I read the Hannah Swensen books in?

Publication order, starting with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. Hannah's relationships and business develop across the series, so reading in sequence gives the fullest experience.

Is there a new Hannah Swensen book coming?

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Murder was announced for 2025 but has since disappeared from retailer pre-order listings with no official statement from Joanne Fluke or her publisher confirming or cancelling it, so no release date can be confirmed as of mid-2026.

Does Hannah end up with Norman or Mike?

The love triangle between dentist Norman Rhodes and detective Mike Kingston runs through most of the series without a permanent resolution for many books — a defining, long-running thread rather than a quick pay-off.

Do I need to cook the recipes to enjoy the books?

No, but they're a core part of the series' identity — every book includes full recipes for the desserts Hannah bakes, and many readers bake along as they read.