Cover

CREAM PUFF MURDER

Hannah grabbed her towel and headed to the Jacuzzi to thaw her icy feet. She turned on the jets, flicked on the underwater lights and was about to dip her toes in the tub when she realized that there was something floating in the center of the water. Hannah moved closer and spotted one of the red and black exercise outfits worn by the female instructors. Had one of them dropped her clothes in the Jacuzzi?

That didn’t make much sense. She braced herself and reached out to grab the material, intending to pull it out of the water to examine it more closely. But instead of grasping nothing but spandex, she felt something under the material, something firm, something muscled, something decidedly human.

“Uh-oh,” Hannah breathed.

Taking a deep breath for courage, Hannah tugged until the solid mass turned from back to front. She took one look and swallowed hard as she stared down at blond hair, a perfect figure and lifeless blue eyes.

It was Ronni Ward, and she was quite dead…

Books by Joanne Fluke

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE MURDER

BLUEBERRY MUFFIN MURDER

LEMON MERINGUE PIE MURDER

FUDGE CUPCAKE MURDER

SUGAR COOKIE MURDER

PEACH COBBLER MURDER

CHERRY CHEESECAKE MURDER

KEY LIME PIE MURDER

CANDY CANE MURDER

CARROT CAKE MURDER

CREAM PUFF MURDER

APPLE TURNOVER MURDER

Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

A HANNAH SWENSEN MYSTERY WITH RECIPES

CREAM PUFF MURDER

JOANNE FLUKE

KENSINGTON BOOKS

Dedication

This book is for Cody and Jacob.

In loving memory of Gladys Gladke Oven, my second grade teacher, and Hannah, who passed her love for my Hannah on to her daughter.

Acknowledgments:

A big hug and kiss to Ruel, my inspiration and in-house story editor. And hugs all around to the kids and the grandkids.

Thank you to Mel & Kurt, Lyn & Bill, Gina, Adrienne, Jay, Bob, Amanda, John B., Judy, Dr. Bob & Sue, Laura & Mark, Richard & Krista, Mark B., and my hometown friends in Swanville, Minnesota.

Thank you to my kind and talented Editor-in-Chief, John Scognamiglio, for saving my bacon more times than I can count.

The same goes for Walter, Steve, Laurie, Doug, David, Maureen, Meryl, Colleen, Michaela, Kate, Adam, Jessica, Peter, Robin, Lori, Mike, Tami, Susie, and Barbara.

Thank you to Hiro Kimura for the luscious Cream Puff on the cover. And thanks to Lou Malcangi for designing such a delectable dust jacket.

Thanks also to all the other talented folks at Kensington who keep Hannah sleuthing and baking up a storm.

Thank you to Trudi Nash, a wonderful traveling companion! And thanks to David for getting along without her.

Thank you to Dr. Rahhal, Dr. and Mrs. Line, and Dr. Wallen.

Thanks to Joel at L’Affair Café for his expert advice on cutlery.

Thank you to John at Placed4Success for Hannah’s movie and TV spots. Thanks to Ken Wilson—Let’s have lunch. And a big hug for Lois Brown, food stylist extraordinaire.