Hannah Swensen Book Series: In Order Plus Who Does She End Up With??

Last Updated on April 22, 2026

I am utterly convinced that if Hannah Swensen was a real person we would totally be friends. I’d call to the cafe for coffee and cookies, we’d chat about Norman and of course I’d be her first call for help whenever a body turned up.

We would be the dream team. But sadly, Hannah is not real and I am left imagining the what ifs about a completely fictitious person – which says more about me than I would like!

Instead, I have to settle for immersing myself in Joanne Fluke’s world of Lake Eden and it’s various murderous inhabitants all while I try out a new recipe.

Bake some lemon bars, solve a few crimes and have every eligible bachelor in Minnesota find me irresistible. Not a bad life!

Though I also reckon that it’s tiring work, after all Hannah has solved 30 murders and still she manages to run a successful business, be a devoted sister and aunt, supply an entire town with freshly baked goods and have time left over to date.

I’m exhausted just thinking about it!

So, if you too want to join me in my love for all things culinary and crime, here’s everything you need to know about the Hannah Swensen book series, in order…

Who Is Hannah Swensen?

If you didn’t already know, Hannah Swensen is the owner of The Cookie Jar, a bakery and café in Lake Eden.

Known for her talent in baking and her knack for solving crimes, she’s a relatable protagonist—independent, witty, and unafraid to stand up for herself.

While her desserts are a hit with the locals, her personal life is often complicated by murders in her quaint town and a long-standing love triangle.

Where It All Began

Here’s a complete list of the Hannah Swensen book series in order:

1. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2000)

When Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with her famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, Hannah sets out to track down the killer.

As she investigates, she navigates her mother’s matchmaking attempts and the small-town dynamics, all while trying to clear her name and protect her bakery’s reputation.

2. Strawberry Shortcake Murder (2001)

Hannah Swensen, cookie baker extraordinaire, is once again on the snoop.

This time, she’s after the murderer of the husband of a friend, struck down right after his judging duty at a dessert bake-off — and he’s literally facedown in Hannah’s own strawberry shortcake.

Only Hannah and a few others know just how nasty-tempered this man was and she’s determined to track down the killer before the police decide the wife is the culprit.

In the meantime, a most annoying reporter is behaving strangely and the list of suspects is growing.

3. Blueberry Muffin Murder (2001)

In Blueberry Muffin Murder, preparations are underway for Lake Eden, Minnesota’s annual Winter Carnival, and bakery owner Hannah Swensen is set to bake the official cake.

However, the honor goes to celebrity chef Connie Mac, whose overbearing personality creates tension.

When Connie is found dead in Hannah’s bakery, Hannah must investigate to clear her friend, who becomes a prime suspect, while also trying to save her business and provide for the carnival.

4. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (2003)

Hannah discovers a dead body in the basement of a house that her friend Norman is about to tear down. The body belongs to Rhonda Scharf, who had just sold the house to Norman.

As Hannah tries to stay out of the investigation, her mother Delores encourages her to help solve the murder.

The story unfolds with various clues, including a dinner involving osso buco and Hannah’s famous lemon meringue pie…

5. Fudge Cupcake Murder (2004)

Hannah once again finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation when she discovers the body of Sheriff Grant in a dumpster, smeared with frosting from her fudge cupcakes.

As her brother-in-law Bill runs for sheriff against the incumbent Grant, Hannah must clear his name.

But, uncovering the truth behind the murder, all while managing her bakery and dealing with the local political tensions, is harder than it looks.

6. Sugar Cookie Murder (2004)

Hannah is preparing for the annual Christmas Buffet when a murder occurs.

The recently divorced Martin Dubinski arrives with his new wife, and when an antique Christmas cake knife goes missing, its discovery in the new Mrs. Dubinski’s décolletage leads to chaos.

With a blizzard trapping everyone at the community center, Hannah must use her investigative skills to solve the mystery before more deadly tidings occur.

7. Peach Cobbler Murder (2005)

When her rival, Shawna Lee Quinn, is found dead, Hannah finds herself embroiled in another murder mystery.

Shawna has opened a bakery across the street, threatening Hannah’s business.

As Hannah navigates her feelings for her boyfriend Mike and the challenges posed by Shawna’s presence, she becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation.

8. Cherry Cheesecake Murder (2006)

When a director is killed during the filming of a movie in her hometown of Lake Eden, Hannah must figure out whodunit!

She must sift through clues to uncover the truth behind the director’s death, which occurs when a prop gun is switched for a real one.

Plus juggle her baking business and personal dilemmas, including two marriage proposals.

9. Key Lime Pie Murder (2007)

The carnival blows into Lake Eden full of quirky new folks, interesting little dramas for the townspeople and strange connections to the past.

Hannah’s asked to be 1 of 3 judges in the baking contest and consumes tons of different breads, cakes, pies and desserts.

When she finds one of her co-judges clobbered to death, Hannah knows she’s stumbled upon trouble once again.

10. Carrot Cake Murder (2008)

It is summer in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and everyone is excited about the family reunion that Hannah’s partner Lisa has prepared.

Lisa’s Uncle Gus becomes the center of attention at the reunion, and Hannah bakes her famous carrot cake for the event.

However, the next day, during the family photo, Uncle Gus is found dead with an ice pick in his chest and two slices of carrot cake beside him…

11. Cream Puff Murder (2009)

Hannah’s mother is throwing a book launch party for her new Regency novel, and Hannah needs to fit into a dress despite having put on a few pounds.

Even though she despises exercising, she agrees to spend an hour every morning before work at the gym.

Shortly afterwards, Ronni Ward, fitness instructor extraordinaire, is found murdered in the jacuzzi.

12. Plum Pudding Murder (2009)

In Plum Pudding Murder, Hannah finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation when Larry Jaeger, the owner of the Crazy Elf Christmas Tree Lot, is found shot dead.

As Christmas approaches and cookie orders pile up, Hannah must navigate her bustling bakery while uncovering the mystery behind Larry’s murder, which reveals a long list of suspects and hidden motives.

13. Apple Turnover Murder (2010)

Hannah is struggling to prepare enough apple turnovers to cater a three-day charity event while also juggling her two lovers, one of whom has been acting very strangely.

In the middle of all this, Hannah is roped into helping a friend at the event’s talent show.

Unfortunately, Bradford Ramsey, whom Hannah had a disastrous romantic relationship many years ago, is emceeing the show.

When Bradford turns up dead just before the talent show curtain is set to rise, it’s a given among her friends and family that Hannah will be on the case.

14. Devil’s Food Cake Murder (2011)

In Devil’s Food Cake Murder, Hannah is busy with her bakery and personal life when a murder occurs at the local church.

The victim is Matthew Walters, a visiting pastor who is found dead with his head in a plate of devil’s food cake.

As Hannah investigates, she navigates her relationships and the complexities of small-town life while trying to uncover the truth behind the murder.

15. Cinnamon Roll Murder (2012)

The 15th in the Hannah Swensen book series, Hannah gets involved in a murder investigation after a bus crash kills the driver and injures members of the ‘Cinnamon Roll Six’ band.

One of the band members, keyboardist Buddy Neiman, is later found murdered in the hospital.

Now Hannah must uncover the truth behind the murders while dealing with her own romantic troubles.

16. Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (2013)

When one of her famous Red Velvet cupcakes is thought to have caused the death of her rival, a scandalous Lake Eden legend who was trying to steal her boyfriend, Hannah becomes the unlikely suspect in a murder investigation and must whip up the real killer before someone else gets iced.

17. Blackberry Pie Murder (2014)

Hannah accidentally hits a man with her cookie truck during a storm, leading to her being charged with murder.

However, an autopsy reveals that the man was already dead before the accident. To clear her name, Hannah must uncover the truth behind the man’s identity and the circumstances of his death.

18. Double Fudge Brownie Murder (2015)

The story continues as worries about her upcoming trial for vehicular homicide, stemming from a tragic accident.

While preparing for her mother’s wedding in Las Vegas, she returns to find the judge presiding over her trial bludgeoned to death with his own gavel, making her the prime suspect.

As she investigates to clear her name, she uncovers various enemies the judge had made during his career, all while managing her complicated love life and culinary endeavors.

19. Wedding Cake Murder (2016)

Hannah is preparing for her wedding to Ross Barton while also competing in a Food Network dessert competition.

Amidst the wedding plans, she discovers a murder involving a celebrity chef, which she must solve.

20. Christmas Caramel Murder (2016)

Hannah’s friend Lisa is worried that her husband Herb is cheating with his high school girlfriend Phyllis, who’s playing Mrs. Claus to Herb’s Santa in the community play.

When Phyllis is found dead in a snowdrift with Lisa’s Christmas caramels nearby, Hannah investigates to clear her friends’ names.

21. Banana Cream Pie Murder (2017)

After a romantic seven-day cruise, Hannah returns home to Lake Eden, only to find that her mother’s neighbor has been murdered.

The neighbor, Victoria Bascomb, was found dead in her condo, and a banana cream pie left at the scene suggests she knew her killer.

As Hannah navigates her new life as a newlywed, she must also solve the murder mystery that disrupts her homecoming.

22. Raspberry Danish Murder (2018)

Hannah has felt as bitter as November in Minnesota since Ross vanished without a trace and left their marriage in limbo.

Still, she throws herself into a baking frenzy for the sake of pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving-themed treats while endless holiday orders pour into The Cookie Jar.

Hannah even introduces a raspberry Danish pastry to the menu, and P.K., her husband’s assistant at KCOW-TV, will be one of the first to sample it.

But instead of taking a bite, P.K., who is driving Ross’s car and using his desk at work, is murdered.

23. Christmas Cake Murder (2018)

Set in Hannah’s past, this prequel shows how The Cookie Jar bakery got started.

To cheer up Hannah’s mother Delores after her husband’s death, friends suggest recreating a Christmas Ball for elderly Essie Granger.

While preparing, Hannah discovers Essie’s mysterious notebooks containing a crime story that may be more fact than fiction.

As Hannah plans her bakery, she becomes entangled in solving the mystery from Essie’s past.

24. Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (2019)

Hannah is dealing with the aftermath of her failed marriage to Ross, who has disappeared. Ross begins calling Hannah, demanding money and a mysterious key he left behind.

As Hannah tries to move on, creating new recipes for Valentine’s Day, a murder occurs.

Hannah must solve the crime while dealing with threats from Ross and being protected by her friends.

25. Coconut Layer Cake Murder (2020)

Hannah is called back to Minnesota when her sister Michelle’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, becomes the prime suspect in a murder case.

After a night out, Lonnie wakes up next to a dead woman he had been with, with no memory of the events leading up to her death.

Hannah must navigate the investigation and prove his innocence.

26. Christmas Cupcake Murder (2020)

In Christmas Cupcake Murder, she discovers an injured man in a vacant building. He has memory loss and identifies himself as ‘Joe’.

As Hannah helps him, she learns about his past and uncovers a mystery involving an attempted murder.

27. Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder (2021)

Hannah is busy with Easter orders at her bakery when she receives a call from her sister Andrea, who is in a panic because Mayor Richard Bascomb has been murdered and she is the prime suspect.

Hannah uncovers various motives among the townspeople, including political rivals and personal enemies of the mayor.

Can she clear her sister’s name?

28. Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (2022)

Hannah is asked to help bake pastries at a local inn for a fishing competition. The fun stops when she discovers the lifeless body of the event’s celebrity spokesperson, Sonny Bowman, on a boat.

She teams up with her sister Andrea to solve the murder before another victim falls prey. But with various suspects, including Sonny’s overworked sidekick and jealous contestants, Hannah must use all her sleuthing skills to uncover the truth.

29. Pink Lemonade Cake Murder (2023)

Lake Eden buzzes with excitement as the Tri-County Summer Solstice Celebration takes place.

Hannah is involved in the festivities when a body is discovered, leading to a murder investigation.

The victim is a retired MLB player, and this time Hannah must clear her mother’s name, who becomes a suspect due to past grievances with the victim.

30. Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Murder – Coming in August 2025

As Lake Eden’s Harvest Festival sends The Cookie Jar into pumpkin spice mania.

But when a celebration leads to the discovery of another murdered graduate, Hannah realizes someone might be seeking violent revenge against former classmates.

Now, with the help of her family, it’s on Hannah to tempt a vicious killer out of hiding.

Hannah Swensen’s Love Life

Hannah’s romantic journey has been central to the series, often revolving around a love triangle involving Norman Rhodes and Mike Kingston.

Norman is the kind-hearted town dentist who adores Hannah and shares her love for Lake Eden.

Mike is a charming but sometimes unreliable detective who brings excitement into Hannah’s life.

Over time, both men propose to Hannah (Peach Cobbler Murder), but she declines, stating she isn’t ready to choose.

As the books go on, another suitor named Ross Barton enters the picture (Wedding Cake Murder), and he eventually marries Hannah in Banana Cream Pie Murder.

However, their marriage ends tragically when Ross disappears under suspicious circumstances (Chocolate Cream Pie Murder).

Ultimately, Hannah remains single but continues to be close friends with Norman and Mike. She even ends up living with Norman for a while in the upcoming book (2025) when his dream farmhouse burns down over the summer.

So for now, she hasn’t chosen Mike or Norman and she hasn’t married either of them.

Hallmark Movie Adaptations

The books were adapted into Hallmark movies under two titles: Murder, She Baked and A Hannah Swensen Mystery.

So far there have been 10 movies with Alison Sweeney starring as Hannah alongside Cameron Mathison as Mike Kingston.

The movies loosely follow Joanne Fluke’s book plots but often simplify or change details for brevity and accessibility.

For example, the love triangle between Norman and Mike is less prominent and some character arcs are altered or omitted entirely.

While Ross Barton appears in later books as a significant character for Hannah, he does not feature prominently in the movies.

Movies in Order

• Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery (May 2, 2015)
• Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery (November 23, 2015)
• Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery (January 10, 2016)
• Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe (June 19, 2016)
• Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts (March 26, 2017)
• Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (August 8, 2021)
• Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (May 19, 2023)
• A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (October 6, 2023)
• One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2024)
• A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2024)
• Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (Premiering February 6, 2025)

It’s Not Over Yet

The Hannah Swensen book series offer readers an irresistible blend of suspense and sweetness through their cozy settings and delicious recipes.

Whether you’re diving into the books or enjoying Hallmark’s adaptations, there’s plenty to savor about this delightful amateur sleuth from Lake Eden!