Norman Rhodes/Chronology

## Relations

**Mother**: Carrie Rhodes*Father*: *deceased*

## Books

*First appearance*:Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

## Chronology by Novel

### Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

Hannah had been tricked into a "surprise date" with him through both of their mothers, the night prior to Ron LaSalle's murder. Hannah wasn't interested in him in the least bit, but as she got to know him throughout the book she found herself growing fond of him.

But their mothers Carrie Rhodes and Delores Swensen continue to arrange for them to meet.

### Strawberry Shortcake Murder

Norman asks Hannah to help him design “their” dream house, for a contest in the Minneapolis paper, first price is $5000 which they would split.

When Hannah starts to investigate Lucy Richards murder, she talks with Norman because she knew that Lucy had been coming in for dental work earlier then when they opened. Hannah finally got out of Norman that Lucy was blackmailing him for free dental work. That Lucy had a letter that contained some information from his past that he didn't want to get out for his mother, Carrie Rhodes sake as it would mortify her to the point where she would want to move away.

Hannah retrieves the letter and doesn't look at it before returning it to Norman, leaving it up to him to tell her if and when he wanted to.

### Blueberry Muffin Murder

Norman is roped in to helping Delores and his mother Carrie, with the Ezekiel Jordan House, by taking pictures of tourist dressed in old-time clothing. The Jordan house is right next door to The Cookie Jar. At the time of Connie Mac’s murder he was adjusting the flash on his camera, without any films, but the murder saw the flash going off and doesn’t realize that there wasn’t any film in the camera.

Late one night the murderer goes after Norman with a baseball bat, but since Norman just start to bend over at the same time the impact was defused. Hannah arrives immediately after and found Norman, unconscious. She immediately calls the ambulance. Norman is kept unconscious for awhile but makes a complete recovery.

Unbeknownst to Hannah she told the murderer that there wasn’t any film in Norman's camera, so he ends up by being safe.

### Lemon Meringue Pie Murder

Norman and Hannah won first place in the Dream House contest.

Norman buys Rhonda’s house that she had inherited from her Great-Aunt. He is planning on tearing it down and building the “Dream” house that Hannah and he designed for a contest.

After the signing, Rhonda was planning on take the vacation of lifetime so left everything in the house except a few keepsakes.

Norman offers Delores the chance to go through the house and take anything she wants for her and Carries antique store, Granny's Attic. Hannah, Delores, and Norman arrive at the house and Hannah discovers left over food laying out in the kitchen. After going through the house, Delores goes to the basement and discovers Rhonda, dead and partially buried.

### Sugar Cookie Murder

Norman is drafted to take pictures, first of the buffet displays for the publication of the Lake Eden cookbook, then as the crime scene photographer. Some of the pictures caught enough details that when Hannah reviewed them, she found some clues that led her to the thief and murder.

### Peach Cobbler Murder

When the rest of Lake Eden residents are deserting The Cookie Jar for the new bakery, Norman is loyal to Hannah.

At the end of the book, when the story skips ahead to after the Elections and the celebration, Mike admits to Hannah that he was ready for marriage again and proposes. But before she can give him an answer, Norman manages to have Mike paged and while he is gone proposes to Hannah, too. She tells them both that she has to think about it.

### Cherry Cheesecake Murder

All of Lake Eden is after Hannah to make up her mind as it is causing both Norman and Mike a lot of anxiety. After 6 phone calls from various people, including Bill, the new Sherieff, and the Mayor, Hannah is steaming. Hannah discovers that both Norman and Mike are at Hal & Rose's Cafe downing cups of coffee, she storms in and discovers that Hal is running a betting pool on her decision. She tells both of them “No” and that when she is ready to get married she will do the asking. The both ask her if she will still go out with them and she tells them yes.

Then a movie company comes to Lake Eden and Norman discovers that the producer-writer, Ross Barton is an old college chum of Hannah’s . When Ross starts taking Hannah out on dates and spending time with her, both Mike Norman attempt to ensure that she isn’t alone with him.

### Key Lime Pie Murder

Norman has moved into his partially furnished new home and has invited Hannah and Moishe out for dinner. He had included features that were especially for the cat, even though Norman doesn’t have any pets. Hannah realizes a few things when she sees the care that Norman has gone to with their dream home.

His photograph of Hannah wins first place in the photo contest at the Tri-County Fair, Mike bought it for the price the judges set for it so he wouldn’t risk losing it in the silent action.

Norman is concerned about Moishe’s preoccupation with the neighbor’s window and not eating, so he continues to try and feed him or bring him toys. He also bought Hannah her first cell phone and set it up for her.

Norman helps Hannah investigate the murder of student teacher Willa Sunquist. After breaking into the school to search Willa’s desk, they are followed home and Norman discloses his racing skills and how he came by them.

When the Hollenbeck sisters must give up their new kitten, Cuddles, because of Clara’s allergies, Norman steps in and adopts her.

### Carrot Cake Murder

While Norman is helping Hannah solve the murder mystery, he flies to Atlantic City to investigate the victim’s life. What he finds there parallels something that happened in his past, the reason for the blackmail by Lucy Richards. He tells Hannah the whole story about when he was a practicing dentist working out of a clinic in Seattle, he was arrested at a strip joint. He admits that he would have been let go since he didn’t know or wasn’t involved with the backroom activities, but he became belligerent with the police and was also arrest for drunk, disorderly and resisting arrest. It was that incident that made him give up drinking hard liquor. Hannah didn’t consider that incident to be worthy of blackmail, but the problem is his mother.

*It makes you seem less perfect and more of a normal person with foibles. And I feel as if I know you better, and I like you even more for telling me about it*.

He mentions to Hannah that Carrie would be horribly ashamed and embarrassed and as a result she would sell her house and move away. Which if she did that Delores would lose her business partner and friend.

### Cream Puff Murder

Norman is very supportive of Hannah while she is trying to lose weight. He has even discovered that he loves to cook as he creates some special low calory dishes for her. When they are out to dinner at Lake Eden Inn he contacted Sally ahead of time and between the two of them they created Guilt-Free Parfait desserts for Hannah. Sally is considering adding them to her menu.

### Plum Pudding Murder

Norman and Hannah are trying to figure out what his mother, Carrie is up to when she keeps cancelling out of commitments, especially the weekly dinner with Norman. He is getting worried, so when Hannah tells him that she is cancelling out on Delores too he wants to help her figure out what is going on with her.

While they are investigating Larry Jaeger’s murder they have reason to question Earl about his visit with Larry. While at Earls house, Hannah finds the suede boots that they saw at the Lake Eden Inn with Carrie’s strappy red heals.

Hannah confronts Earl with the boots and ask him about him and Carrie, he tells Norman that he wants to marry her, with or without his permission. Norman has no problem with Earl he had only been worried that it was someone after her money.

### Apple Turnover Murder

Right after his mother Carrie and Earl get married Norman is driving them to Minneapolis where they can catch an international flight to Rome for their honeymoon. Norman is planning on staying over in Minneapolis for 3 days to meet up with some of his friends from Seattle that are opening a dental clinic there.

He starts to act very strange around Hannah but never explains to her why.

At the end of the book, he asks if he can bring a guest to Delores’s dinner party at the Lake Eden Inn and of course it is approved.

“*I’d like you all to meet my new partner at Rhodes Dental Clinic, Doctor Beverly Thorndike.*”

### Devil's Food Cake Murder

Norman is almost back to normal with Hannah, he is especially excited to help her with a murder investigation and tells Dr. Bev that he is taking the week off, but she calls him with a dental emergency which curtails his involvement with Hannah’s investigation.

While Michelle and Hannah are at the Corner Tavern having dinner in a back secluded corner, Michelle sees Norman and Bev having dinner and Norman looks upset then very angry.

At the end of the book at Delores’s launch party, he finally tells Hannah a little bit about what has been going on with him when he asks her if she could take Cuddles until he can find a loving home for her. Hannah agrees to take and keep Cuddles since she is such a good friend of Moishe and they will be good company for each other. When Hannah asks Norman why, he tells her it is because Bev is allergic. Hannah still doesn’t understand until Norman tells her that he has to marry Bev or she won’t let him be involved in his daughter, Diana’s life.

### Cinnamon Roll Murder

Norman is getting married and he is miserable over about. He hardly gets to visit Cuddles and barely talks to Hannah.

Just hours before the wedding, Hannah is planning on confess to Norman about getting the DNA and having it tested. Normal speaks up first and tells her that he had his and Diana’s DNA tested and he couldn’t possibly be the her father.
The wedding is off and Beverly Thorndike has left Lake Eden. Norman activates the Lake Eden Gossip Hotline to spread the word that the wedding is cancelled.

## References

1. ↑ Fluke, Joanne. Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 10) (p. 283). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ Apple Turnover Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 13) (pp. 290-291). Kensington Books. Kindle Edition.