Cherry Pies & Deadly Lies: A Very Cherry Mystery

Chicago baker Whitney Bloom, the narrator of Hannah’s diverting if flawed first novel and series launch, rushes back to her hometown of Cherry Cove, Wis., after receiving a phone call from her distraught mother. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival, held at the Bloom family’s Cherry Orchard Inn, is in jeopardy because the orchard manager, Jeb Carlson, has been murdered—and the chief suspect is Whitney’s father. Unfortunately, Whitney’s high school nemesis, Jack McLaren, who’s grown into quite the male specimen, is now the police detective handling the investigation, and he isn’t going to make proving her dad’s innocence any easier for Whitney. The book has a good basic story, but too many actions border on the ridiculous; for example, when Whitney grabs a hunting dog she’s never seen before and tries to pry open its jaws, fearing the animal just ate some poisoned pie, the dog doesn’t bark or bite her. Hannah displays enough talent to suggest she’ll do better next time. (June)