01/01/2018
In bestseller Fluke’s flaky 22nd Hannah Swensen mystery set in Lake Eden, Minn. (after 2017’s Banana Cream Pie Murder), Hannah’s new husband, Ross Barton, vanishes, leaving her mopey but otherwise strangely unaffected by his absence. For someone who can’t resist trying to solve murders, she doesn’t really search for Ross at all, other than to note that, since he took only his condo keys, he must be planning on coming back one of these days. When Ross’s assistant at the local radio station dies after eating poisoned candy that he found in Ross’s desk, Hannah jumps into the investigation. Was the candy actually meant for Ross, and if so, could he have disappeared because someone is out to get him? Hannah’s sleuthing is haphazard at best, and the solution is far-fetched. Ross’s disappearance is beside the point, even if the reader gets a partial answer at the end. But the Hannah Swensen books have always been more about the food than the mystery, and this installment contains enough recipes to satisfy the most enthusiastic baker. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Mar.)
As the bleak winter months drag on, it becomes even more important to take time to do the things you enjoy. For armchair detectives, this means stocking up on some of February’s best new mysteries. From twisty tales of murder and mayhem, to cozy cloak-and-daggers, our latest bumper crop of whodunits has got you covered.