Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery

This first Murder She Baked mystery finds Alison Sweeney delivering baked goods and solving her first mystery. Her fictional town of Eden Lake, Minnesota is on its way to being the Cabot Cove of the old Northwest Territory.

This murder literally arrives at her bakery, it's her delivery truck driver who parks in the rear of her shop and then doesn't come in. Sweeney goes out and finds him in the driver's seat with a bullet in him quite dead.

Her brother-in-law Toby Levins is one of the officers of the local police department, but they get a homicide cop played by Cameron Mattison from Minneapolis. He and the newly arrived dentist in town Gabriel Hogan kind of square off for Sweeney.

The way it always develops whoever is the law enforcement figure is resentful of the amateur horning in. But after awhile they kind of go with the flow, especially if a romantic situation might be developing. No different in Eden Lake.

When a second murder occurs that of the local dairy owner you always assume a connection. There's no shortage of suspects for this guy who doubled in loan sharking.

All I'll say is the connection is tenuous and coincidental. The murderer turns out to be one ruthless individual.

The Chocolate Chip Mystery is nicely baked, right out of the oven.

I like the series very much. Each episode reminds me a little of Jane Austen's novels in terms of the some of the characters and plots. For example, Hannah's mother conjures up Emma and her over-the-top neurotic Romanticism. There is a Pride and Prejudice sexual tension thing going on between Mike and Hannah. Mike is also haunted somewhat by a previous relationship, just as is Edward Ferrer in Sense and Sensibility. And Hannah's mother reminds me of the ditzy Mrs. Bennett in P&P and her inability to completely accept her daughter as-is. I also like the way Hannah and Andrea are close, as are Elizabeth and Jane in P&P. It's a kind of survival mechanism against their mother's pushiness. And Hannah's involvement in murder and mystery tracks with the morbid curiosity of Catherine, the heroine in Northanger Abbey. Just some thoughts for any JA fans out there...!

A baker (Alison Sweeney) in small-town Minnesota turns amateur sleuth after finding her friend and delivery driver shot to death behind her shop. Shaken by the murder, she decides to do some of her own investigating but is continuously challenged by the new detective in town, Detective Mike Kingston (Mathison). Meanwhile, her mother tries to set her up with the friendly local dentist, Norman (Hogan), who is comfortable helping Hannah in her dangerous ideas to catch the killer. Hannah discovers Ron witnessed his miserly loan shark boss, Max, having an argument with someone, a day before he was killed. But when Hannah's sleuthing leads her to find Max murdered, she lands in trouble for her interference and must make up with her brother-in-law Todd and Mike as the plot thickens.

A solid debut episode of Murder, she baked which introduces the character well as well as setting the scene. The mystery is quite good as the victim is a delivery driver - who would want to kill him? It's puzzling enough to keep one watching, though the detective character can be a bit annoying with his reprimanding of Hannah for meddling. Then he's meant to be annoying.

I love the casting for this series - why is it only one season - It is great. Great storylines, chemistry between actors. I want this to come back. I dropped Netflix for Hallmark. This series, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and the Garage sales one - are my favorites. I tried to watch the other one with Alison Sweeney - (who I like) - but I like Cameron and the actor who plays Norman. This was really good. Maybe they can do some movie specials I don't know - but hope to see it come back. Don't know how long I'll subscribe to Hallmark - depends if there are shows like the ones I've mentioned that I would enjoy. I do like Alison Sweeney and Candace and Lori L.

I absolutely love Hannah Swensen and the Murder She Baked Mystery Series. The curious and observant single baker Hannah is endearing and her chemistry with both Mike and Norman is spot on. Her mom is fabulous as the meddling mother...along with her serious Eden Lake police officer brother-in-law and co-conspirator sister.

I'd love to try some of her baked goods and I was inspired to read the books this series was based on.

My three favorite Hallmark Mystery Series remain: Hannah Swensen's Murder she Baked, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, and Mystery 101.