Coconut Layer Cake Murde- Joanne Fluke

Books by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen Mysteries

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

PLUM PUDDING MURDER

APPLE TURNOVER MURDER

DEVIL’S FOOD CAKE MURDER

GINGERBREAD COOKIE MURDER

CINNAMON ROLL MURDER

RED VELVET CUPCAKE MURDER

BLACKBERRY PIE MURDER

DOUBLE FUDGE BROWNIE MURDER

WEDDING CAKE MURDER

CHRISTMAS CARAMEL MURDER

BANANA CREAM PIE MURDER

RASPBERRY DANISH MURDER

CHRISTMAS CAKE MURDER

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE MURDER

JOANNE FLUKE’S LAKE EDEN COOKBOOK

Suspense Novels

VIDEO KILL

WINTER CHILL

DEAD GIVEAWAY

THE OTHER CHILD

COLD JUDGMENT

FATAL IDENTITY

FINAL APPEAL

VENGEANCE IS MINE

EYES

WICKED

DEADLY MEMORIES

THE STEPCHILD

Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

COCONUT LAYER CAKE MURDER

JOANNE FLUKE

KENSINGTON BOOKS

kensingtonbooks

All ed material within is Attributor Protected.

Table of Contents

Also by

Title Page

Page

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-seven

Baking Conversion Chart

Teaser chapter

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

119 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

© 2020 by H.L. Swensen, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

Library of Congress Card Catalogue Number: 2019951384

: 978-1-4967-1889-1

First Kensington Hardcover Edition: March 2020

-13: 978-1-4967-3237-8 (signed edition)

-13: 1-4967-3237-5 (signed edition)

-13: 978-1-4967-1891-4 (e-book)

-10: 1-4967-1891-7 (e-book)

This book is for Megatronic.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to my extended family for encouraging me to get back to writing when I bogged down. I wish I had enough ovens to bake each of you a Coconut Layer Cake.

Hugs to Trudi Nash for recipe suggestions and for always being willing to talk about cooking and baking. And thanks to Trudi’s husband, David, who encourages her to attend book events with me despite the fact that he has to cook for himself while she’s gone.

Thank you to my friends and neighbors: Mel & Kurt, Lyn & Bill, Gina, Dee Appleton, Jay, Richard Jordan, Laura Levine, the real Nancy and Heiti, Dan, Mark & Mandy at Faux Library, Daryl and her staff at Groves Accountancy, Gene and Ron at SDSA, the crew at the Safari Room, and everyone at Homestreet Bank.

Hugs to my Minnesota friends: Lois & Neal, Bev & Jim, Val, Ruthann, Lowell, Dorothy & Sister Sue, and Mary & Jim.

A big hug for John Scognamiglio, the best editor I could possibly have. There are times when you have the patience of a saint!

Hugs for Meg Ruley and the staff at the Jane Rotrosen Agency for their constant support and sage advice.

Thanks to all the wonderful folks at Kensington Books who keep Hannah sleuthing and baking yummy goodies.

Thanks to Robin in production, who catches my goofs and corrects them.

And thank you to Larissa for working on my behalf in publicity.

Thanks to Hiro Kimura for his incredibly delicious artwork. I get hungry every time I glance at the cover of a Hannah book!

Thank you to Lou Malcangi at Kensington for designing all of Hannah’s gorgeous book covers. They’re simply delightful.

Thanks to John at Placed4Success for Hannah’s movie and TV placements, his presence on Hannah’s social media platforms, the countless hours he spends helping me, and for believing that it’s what a son should do. (If you meet John, please don’t tell him that not all sons work as hard as he does for their mothers.)

Thanks to Rudy for managing my website at JoanneFluke and for giving support to Hannah’s social media. And thanks to Tami for assisting with social media and helping to update the website.

Hugs to Kathy Allen for testing and tasting Hannah’s recipes, and for never even mentioning that she wasn’t fond of coconut!

And thanks to Kathy’s friends and family for helping with events and for taste testing.

A big hug to JQ for helping Hannah and me for so many years.

Kudos to Beth and her phalanx of sewing machines for her gorgeous embroidery on our hats, visors, aprons, and tote bags.

Thank you to food stylist, friend, and media guide Lois Brown for her expertise with the launch parties at Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, AZ, and baking for the TV food segments I do at KPNX in Phoenix.

Thanks also to Destry, the lovely, totally unflappable producer and host of Arizona Midday.

Hugs to Debbie Risinger and everyone else on Team Swensen.

Thank you to Dr. Rahhal, Dr. Josephson, Dr. and Cathy Line, Dr. Levy, Dr. Koslowski, and Drs. Ashley and Lee for answering my book-related medical and dental questions.

Hugs to all the Hannah fans who read the books, share their family recipes, post on my Facebook page, Joanne Fluke Author, and enjoy the