If you’ve ever seen a Hallmark “Murder, She Baked” movie, you already know Hannah Swensen — the cookie-shop owner turned amateur sleuth in the small town of Lake Eden, Minnesota. Her books are some of the most popular cozy mysteries ever published, with a full recipe tucked into nearly every chapter. Here’s the complete reading order.
The premise
Hannah Swensen moved back to her hometown of Lake Eden after her father’s death and opened The Cookie Jar, a bakery and coffee shop on the town square. She lives with Moishe, a half-blind orange tomcat, and gets pulled into local murder investigations almost every time she delivers an order — usually with help from her sister Andrea (married to police detective Bill) and her youngest sister Michelle. Her interfering mother, Delores, is a constant presence, as are the two men competing for Hannah’s attention across the series: detective Mike Kingston and dentist Norman Rhodes.
Every book is titled after a dessert, and every book includes the actual recipe for it — this is one of the few series where you can bake along as you read.
Hannah Swensen Mysteries in order
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (2000)
- Strawberry Shortcake Murder (2001)
- Blueberry Muffin Murder (2001)
- Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (2001)
- Fudge Cupcake Murder (2004)
- Sugar Cookie Murder (2004)
- Peach Cobbler Murder (2005)
- Cherry Cheesecake Murder (2006)
- Key Lime Pie Murder (2007)
- Carrot Cake Murder (2008)
- Cream Puff Murder (2009)
- Plum Pudding Murder (2009)
- Apple Turnover Murder (2010)
- Devil’s Food Cake Murder (2011)
- Cinnamon Roll Murder (2012)
- Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (2013)
- Blackberry Pie Murder (2014)
- Double Fudge Brownie Murder (2015)
- Wedding Cake Murder (2016)
- Christmas Caramel Murder (2016)
- Banana Cream Pie Murder (2017)
- Raspberry Danish Murder (2018)
- Christmas Cake Murder (2018)
- Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (2019)
- Coconut Layer Cake Murder (2020)
- Christmas Cupcake Murder (2020)
- Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder (2021)
- Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (2022)
- Pink Lemonade Cake Murder (2023)
- Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Murder (2025)
A few short novellas — including Candy Cane Murder and Gingerbread Cookie Murder — were also published between full-length entries, usually inside holiday anthologies alongside stories from other authors. They’re optional, and skipping them won’t cost you any of the main plot.
Do you need to read these in order?
Each book’s murder case is self-contained, so you technically can start anywhere. That said, this series leans heavily on Hannah’s ongoing love-triangle storyline and her sisters’ evolving lives, and those threads build book to book. If you care about that side of the story — and most readers who stick with this series do — it’s worth starting at book one, or at least fairly early.
Where should I start?
Start with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. It introduces The Cookie Jar, Hannah’s sisters, and Lake Eden itself, and it’s the natural jumping-on point for the whole series. If you only want a taste before committing, Sugar Cookie Murder or Christmas Caramel Murder make good standalone holiday reads.
Frequently asked questions
Are the recipes actually usable?
Yes — the recipes in each book are real, tested recipes for the dessert in the title, written in full with ingredients and instructions. Many readers bake along as they read.
Is this the same series as the Hallmark movies?
Yes. Hallmark’s “Murder, She Baked” movies are based on this series, starting with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and Strawberry Shortcake Murder. We’ll cover how the movies match up to the books in a separate guide.
Is there a new Hannah Swensen book coming?
The most recent entry is Pumpkin Chiffon Pie Murder (2025). We’ll update this guide whenever a new book is announced.
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Your turn
Which Hannah Swensen book is your favorite — and have you tried any of the recipes? Let us know in the comments.