Joanne Fluke - Carrot Cake Murder

T he Amen couldnt come fast enough to suit Hannah Swensen. She was sitting in the third pew from the front of Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and her ears were still ringing from the fifth and final chorus of Jesu Priceless Treasure . She thought she might have suffered a slight hearing loss from Marge Beesemans attempt at a high G, but that wasnt her primary concern. Her eyes were trained on Reverend Knudson as he emerged from the small dressing room adjacent to the pulpit. He was wearing an ordinary suit, the type Doug Greerson, president of the Lake Eden First Mercantile Bank, wore every day to work. The ministers vestments had gone the way of his solemn manner, and he was smiling as he walked forward to informally address his flock.

An ecumenical fly droned its way from the open doors at the back of the church, alighting momentarily on Lutherans, Catholics, and Bible Church members alike. The church was packed this last Sunday in August, and much of that was Hannahs mothers doing. Delores Swensen had spent the previous evening on the phone, convincing scores of Lake Eden residents to attend Reverend Knudsons ten oclock service.

Hannah turned to look at her mother. Delores was watching the reverend with the same intent gaze that Hannahs cat, Moishe, employed to run surveillance on the chipmunk that frequented the flowerbeds beneath Hannahs living room window. The other occupants of the pew had also drawn a bead on their minister in mufti. Hannahs two younger sisters, Andrea and Michelle, appeared mesmerized by his every move. And their mothers business partner, Carrie Rhodes, was clutching her hymnal so hard Hannah was afraid shed crack the spine. Even Carries son, Norman, looked nervous. This was the showdown, the eleventh hour, the pivotal moment theyd all come to witness.

Reverend Knudson made his way to the head of the center aisle with all eyes upon him. He was still smiling and he didnt look as if he had an important announcement to make, but almost everyone in the congregation, members and visitors alike, knew that he did. The reverend was about to tell them that he planned to marry Claire Rodgers, owner of Beau Monde Fashions, Lake Edens only designer dress shop.