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
Start here: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2000) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - Book 2:
Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Strawberry Shortcake Murder - Book 3:
Blueberry Muffin Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Blueberry Muffin Murder - Book 4:
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Lemon Meringue Pie Murder - Book 5:
Fudge Cupcake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Fudge Cupcake Murder - Book 6:
Sugar Cookie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sugar Cookie Murder - Book 7:
Peach Cobbler Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Peach Cobbler Murder - Book 8:
Cherry Cheesecake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cherry Cheesecake Murder - Book 9:
Key Lime Pie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Key Lime Pie Murder - Book 10:
Candy Cane Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Candy Cane Murder - Book 11:
Carrot Cake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Carrot Cake Murder - Book 12:
Cream Puff Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cream Puff Murder - Book 13:
Plum Pudding Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Plum Pudding Murder - Book 14:
Apple Turnover Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Apple Turnover Murder - Book 15:
Gingerbread Cookie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Gingerbread Cookie Murder - Book 16:
Devil's Food Cake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Devil's Food Cake Murder - Book 17:
Cinnamon Roll Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Cinnamon Roll Murder - Book 18:
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Red Velvet Cupcake Murder - Book 19:
Blackberry Pie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Blackberry Pie Murder - Book 20:
Double Fudge Brownie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Double Fudge Brownie Murder - Book 21:
Wedding Cake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Wedding Cake Murder - Book 22:
Christmas Caramel Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Christmas Caramel Murder - Book 23:
Banana Cream Pie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Banana Cream Pie Murder - Book 24:
Raspberry Danish Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Raspberry Danish Murder - Book 25:
Christmas Cake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Christmas Cake Murder - Book 26:
Chocolate Cream Pie Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Chocolate Cream Pie Murder - Book 27:
Coconut Layer Cake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Coconut Layer Cake Murder - Book 28:
Christmas Cupcake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Christmas Cupcake Murder - Book 29:
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder - Book 30:
Caramel Pecan Roll Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Caramel Pecan Roll Murder - Book 31:
Pink Lemonade Cake Murder
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Pink Lemonade Cake Murder
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.
Reading order last verified .