Born 1943 in Swanville, Minnesota, Joanne Fischmann, who writes under the pen name Joanne Fluke, is a renowned American author. She gained fame for her cozy mystery series featuring Hannah Swensen, a small-town baker. Her work has inspired six films on the Hallmark Channel centered around the Hannah Swensen character.
In addition to her writing, Fluke is celebrated for baking chocolate chip cookies for her fanbase. She has also published works under various pseudonyms including John Fischer, R.J. Fischer, Jo Gibson, Chris Hunter, Gina Jackson, and Kathryn Kirkwood.
Joanne Fluke completed her high school education at Swanville High School in 1960. She went on to attend St. Cloud State University and ultimately received a B.A. in psychology from California State University, San Bernardino, in 1973.
Fluke has had a lifelong passion for baking, a skill passed down through generations in her family.
According to her official website, over the years Joanne Fluke has worn many hats. Her career has encompassed roles such as a public school teacher, psychologist, musician, private detective’s assistant, and various secretarial positions in corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical fields.
She has also worked as a short-order cook, assisted in a florist’s shop, planned parties and catering, served as a computer consultant for an obsolete operating system, and been a production assistant on a TV quiz show. Alongside her husband, she has even co-written screenplays. Throughout it all, she has also been a dedicated mother, wife, and homemaker.
Joanne Fluke is married to TV writer Ruel E. Fischmann and resides in Southern California with her husband, children, and stepchildren.
In the 1980s, Joanne Fluke delved into the young adult horror genre, writing stories under the pseudonym Jo Gibson.
She embarked on her popular cozy mystery series featuring Hannah Swensen, a small-town baker and amateur detective, in 2000. The concept for this series emerged from Fluke’s initial ambition to compile a cookbook and her editor’s suggestion to try her hand at cozy mysteries. Ingeniously, Fluke fused the two ideas by incorporating recipes into the storylines. Set in a quaint Minnesota town, the Hannah Swensen tales offer readers an appealing respite from the real world, according to Fluke.
Critical response has been favorable, with Library Journal noting that the portrayal in Cinnamon Roll Murder feels so authentic that readers might forget the characters are fictional. Booklist commended the plot twists in Devil’s Food Cake Murder, while Wedding Cake Murder combined nuptial celebrations with crime-solving, showcasing Swensen’s multifaceted life.
Hannah Swensen Series
The Hannah Swensen series features Hannah, a small-town baker and amateur sleuth in Minnesota. Each cozy mystery blends whodunit intrigue with recipes, as Hannah investigates murders. Known for their charm and relatable characters, these books offer a comforting yet suspenseful escape, ideal for fans of culinary mysteries.
The Order of Hannah Swensen Books
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder -2000 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 436 Pages - 12/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Kensington Pub Corp (Publisher)
Strawberry Shortcake Murder -2001 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 02/01/2001 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Blueberry Muffin Murder -2001 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 02/01/2001 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder -2003 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 02/01/2004 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Fudge Cupcake Murder -2004 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 313 Pages - 12/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Kensington Pub Corp (Publisher)
Sugar Cookie Murder -2004 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 10/01/2010 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Peach Cobbler Murder -2005 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 384 Pages - 10/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Cherry Cheesecake Murder -2006 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 12/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Kensington Pub Corp (Publisher)
Key Lime Pie Murder -2007 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 379 Pages - 02/01/2008 (Publication Date) - Kensington Pub Corp (Publisher)
Candy Cane Murder (With: Laura Levine) -2007 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 390 Pages - 12/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Kensington Pub Corp (Publisher)
Carrot Cake Murder -2008 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 343 Pages - 12/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Kensington Pub Corp (Publisher)
Cream Puff Murder -2008 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 310 Pages - 12/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Kensington Pub Corp (Publisher)
Plum Pudding Murder -2009 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 303 Pages - 12/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Kensington Pub Corp (Publisher)
Apple Turnover Murder -2010 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 02/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Gingerbread Cookie Murder (With: Laura Levine) -2010 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 10/31/2017 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Devil’s Food Cake Murder -2011 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 10/31/2017 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Cinnamon Roll Murder -2012 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 03/01/2012 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder -2013 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 02/26/2013 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Blackberry Pie Murder -2014 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 02/25/2014 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Double Fudge Brownie Murder -2015 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 02/24/2015 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Wedding Cake Murder -2016 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 02/23/2016 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Christmas Caramel Murder -2016 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 204 Pages - 09/27/2016 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Banana Cream Pie Murder -2017 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 204 Pages - 09/27/2016 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Raspberry Danish Murder -2019 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 432 Pages - 01/29/2019 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Christmas Cake Murder -2019 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 09/25/2018 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Chocolate Cream Pie Murder -2019 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 402 Pages - 02/26/2019 (Publication Date) - Kensington Cozies (Publisher)
Coconut Layer Cake Murder -2020 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 416 Pages - 01/26/2021 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Christmas Cupcake Murder -2020 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 09/29/2020 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder -2021 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 02/23/2021 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Christmas Dessert Murder -2021 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 416 Pages - 10/26/2021 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Caramel Pecan Roll Murder -2022 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 02/22/2022 (Publication Date) - Kensington (Publisher)
Pink Lemonade Cake Murder -2023 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Fluke, Joanne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 07/25/2023 (Publication Date) - Kensington Cozies (Publisher)
The Order of Standalone Novels
The Stepchild -1980 —– Buy Now From Amazon
The Other Child -1983 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Winter Chill -1984 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Cold Judgment -1985 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Vengeance is Mine -1986 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Video Kill -1989 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Final Appeal -1989 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Dead Giveaway -1990 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Fatal Identity -1993 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Deadly Memories -1995 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Eyes -1996 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Wicked (By: ) -1996 —– Buy Now From Amazon
A Match For Melissa -1998 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Caitlyn’s Cowboy -1999 —– Buy Now From Amazon
A Season For Samantha -1999 —– Buy Now From Amazon
A Husband For Holly -1999 —– Buy Now From Amazon
A Valentine For Vanessa -2000 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Cookies and Kisses -2000 —– Buy Now From Amazon
A Townhouse for Tessa -2001 —– Buy Now From Amazon
The Order of Non-Fiction Books
Joanne Fluke’s Lake Eden Cookbook -2011 —– Buy Now From Amazon
The Order of Other Books
Sugar and Spice-2006 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Candy Cane Murder-2007 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Gingerbread Cookie Murder-2010 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Christmas Sweets-2019 —– Buy Now From Amazon
Joanne Fluke, an American writer, is best known for her Hannah Swensen Mystery Series, which debuted with the first book featuring bakery owner Hannah Swensen discovering a dead body. This series of mystery novels has captivated audiences by merging crime scene investigations with delicious recipes from Hannah’s bakery, The Cookie Jar, located on Main Street in a sleepy summer town.
Throughout the series, characters like Shawna Lee, R.J. Fischer, Ron LaSalle, and Connie Mac intersect with the life of the main character, offering complexities in both her personal and detective endeavors. Readers have been privy to marriage proposals, family reunions, and even an early summer romantic seven-day cruise that Hannah embarks upon.
Among the best Joanne Fluke books, the stakes escalate as Hannah becomes both a head judge in baking contests and even a prime suspect in investigations. Published in outlets like the New York Times, the series has a chronological order but also includes short stories that offer a deeper glimpse into Hannah Swenson’s world.