This anthology of previously released Hannah Swensen Cookie Jar mysteries will be a treat for fans.

Christmas Caramel Murder: Hannah and her friend Lisa find themselves cooking up more than the goodies for the town’s production of A Christmas Carol. When Mrs. Claus ends up dead, there are plenty of suspects. Will Hannah and Lisa crack the case before the holidays roll around?

Christmas Cake Murder: This takes place right after Hannah’s father passes away and she returns to Lake Eden. It takes the reader back to when Hannah opened the Cookie Jar. She, her mother and friends help recreate a Christmas Ball for beloved elderly Essie Granger, now in hospice care, even as they unravel the mystery Essie wrote about in a collection of notebooks. Is it fiction or non-fiction?

These stories are outside the current story line of the Hannah Swensen books, but they’re a great quick read and feature characters fans love, mysteries to solve and plenty of the recipes Ms. Fluke’s books always include.

4 stars