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Detective Elizabeth Stratton Mystery #1
The Beekeeper
Miami homicide detective Elizabeth Stratton knows she's lucky to still have a job, but she's tired of only getting the easy cases. She'll never be able to regain the respect of her colleagues without a chance to prove she's no longer an anxious mess who shoots at anything that moves.
Her opportunity comes during a routine check at a near-abandoned hotel. While trying to save the living, she finds the dead. In the midst of a bee infestation is the body of a young woman, her mouth filled with honey.
Elizabeth is grudgingly allowed to keep the case, which rapidly becomes compelling when the honey is found to be poisonous and the bees follow her home.
But just when she's closing in on the killer, he targets her new friend and Elizabeth must brave the high winds of a category four hurricane to save her.
Her opportunity comes during a routine check at a near-abandoned hotel. While trying to save the living, she finds the dead. In the midst of a bee infestation is the body of a young woman, her mouth filled with honey.
Elizabeth is grudgingly allowed to keep the case, which rapidly becomes compelling when the honey is found to be poisonous and the bees follow her home.
But just when she's closing in on the killer, he targets her new friend and Elizabeth must brave the high winds of a category four hurricane to save her.
157 pages, ebook
First published October 11, 2012
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259 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 8, 2015
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A recent Florida hurricane dumps a hodgepodge of people into a local, seedy hotel. Hustlers, whores, and unfortunately for new occupant, police detective Elizabeth Stratton, a killer who feeds his dead victims honey. Or at least that what it looks like to the investigating team.
This is a smart plot with an interesting premise: a bee keeping killer whose taste for honey runs toward dark haired young beauties. And as the body count mounts, the author moves the reader through a list of suspects and their alibies and finally to the exciting conclusion. Great atmosphere and each character lends something to the plot. And as a mystery, even I was surprised at the perp (though the author did give us hints... I was just having too much fun reading!)
This book is on my short list as one of the best police procedurals I've read this year.
note: Although this author has had some success with historical romance, I think it's easy to say that she's found her nitch in police procedurals.
January 10, 2018
I thought this started out well but got boring and predictable from about half way in. You don't find out who the killer is until a little later but by that time I was uninterested in Elizabeth's relationships, her partner, her past or her future. Will not be reading any more of the series. Sad...it started out so well. And why do these main characters always have to be The Only Woman in the department or field or office? C'Mon. Over that story arc .
November 15, 2012
A debut mystery written by a romance writer? Normally I would pass anything remotely related to ‘romance’ (don’t scowl, I don’t read cookbooks or poetry either). But for some odd reason I was drawn to this book. Maybe I was secretly looking for a little schadenfreude: can you really cross literary boundaries like that?
The answer is No, not usually. Not unless you are an extraordinary writer like Juliet Moore. (You think that’s her real name?) Ms. Moore is one of those rare writers who actually studied writing, at UCLA no less, without turning into an unbearable snob or an effete literary professor. And now she brings her skills to bear on the police procedural/mystery genre—with tremendous results.
Her writing is as smooth as James Patterson. Each sentence leads us from one pivotal moment to the next without a single hitch or distraction. She doesn’t bore us with irrelevant but beautiful details. As a matter of fact, I’m not sure I know what the main character looks like.
Read the whole review on my website SeeleyJames
Special NOTE: MY REVIEWS ARE MY REACTIONS TO THE BOOKS I READ and not a response to the voices in my head. I have no relationship, financial or familial, with the authors. I do not expect, but would not refuse, any reciprocal reviews or recommendations. Just sayin.
The answer is No, not usually. Not unless you are an extraordinary writer like Juliet Moore. (You think that’s her real name?) Ms. Moore is one of those rare writers who actually studied writing, at UCLA no less, without turning into an unbearable snob or an effete literary professor. And now she brings her skills to bear on the police procedural/mystery genre—with tremendous results.
Her writing is as smooth as James Patterson. Each sentence leads us from one pivotal moment to the next without a single hitch or distraction. She doesn’t bore us with irrelevant but beautiful details. As a matter of fact, I’m not sure I know what the main character looks like.
Read the whole review on my website SeeleyJames
Special NOTE: MY REVIEWS ARE MY REACTIONS TO THE BOOKS I READ and not a response to the voices in my head. I have no relationship, financial or familial, with the authors. I do not expect, but would not refuse, any reciprocal reviews or recommendations. Just sayin.
September 26, 2023
Plot good, but facts about Honeybees very incorrect. More research by author should have been done so she wrote things correctly. Such as drones do not sting, no stingers only reproductive organs. Bees don't randomly swarm, it is an overpopulation activity to find a new home, plus they rarely sting during a swarm unless provoked. A bee yard is called an apiary, a bee hive consists of boxes and frames are inside. As a beekeeper, I feel correct information should be written!
July 3, 2013
Too muchbof an "easy ready". Little substance.
November 7, 2014
Didn't finish it -- the writing style just didn't grab me.
September 3, 2020
Aa disgraced female homicide detective gets a new partner and a chance at redemption. women are being brutally raped and murdered. Their mouths are filled with unprocessed honey.
The murder plot is okay but my problems with this book have to do with Elizabeth the detective. It appears her fall from grace was the result of having a sexual relationship with a partner who was besties with the chief. compounding her issues was the fact she was doing it on the job. Obviously not smart enough to learn from her mistakes, i.e., don't mess where you eat, she begins another sexual relationship with yet another officer. Idiot. This is just outrageously idiotic and insulting to women in law enforcement who have enough to contend with. She is not so brilliant or talented nor is she so incompetent that she has to sleep her way to the top. There is a time and a place for everything and sex on the job is only appropriate for hookers. I also didn't like the victim-blaming in this book. One of the characters consoles Elizabeth by telling her the victim murdered by the husband Elizabeth killed brought it on herself by hooking up with a gangster. Another of Elizabeth's suspects deserved to die because he probably killed his wife. Last I saw the standard for conviction was proof beyond a reasonable doubt. You don'
t get to kill people because of what they may have gotten away within the past. People don't deserve to die because they make bad choices, do dumb things, dress provocatively or get inebriated. I would not want Elizabeth as a cop in my neighbourhood. 1.5 stars.
The murder plot is okay but my problems with this book have to do with Elizabeth the detective. It appears her fall from grace was the result of having a sexual relationship with a partner who was besties with the chief. compounding her issues was the fact she was doing it on the job. Obviously not smart enough to learn from her mistakes, i.e., don't mess where you eat, she begins another sexual relationship with yet another officer. Idiot. This is just outrageously idiotic and insulting to women in law enforcement who have enough to contend with. She is not so brilliant or talented nor is she so incompetent that she has to sleep her way to the top. There is a time and a place for everything and sex on the job is only appropriate for hookers. I also didn't like the victim-blaming in this book. One of the characters consoles Elizabeth by telling her the victim murdered by the husband Elizabeth killed brought it on herself by hooking up with a gangster. Another of Elizabeth's suspects deserved to die because he probably killed his wife. Last I saw the standard for conviction was proof beyond a reasonable doubt. You don'
t get to kill people because of what they may have gotten away within the past. People don't deserve to die because they make bad choices, do dumb things, dress provocatively or get inebriated. I would not want Elizabeth as a cop in my neighbourhood. 1.5 stars.
September 14, 2023
This started out with promise when murdered victims are found in places unlikely to be frequentdd by people, and their mouths are filled with unrefined, raw honey. As a bee lover I was eager to learn more about these insects that humankind needs to survive, but the story became about investigating detective, Elizabeth, disgraced because she had a sexual relationship with her former partner, who also happened to be best buddies with the police chief.
Not bright enough to learn from past mistakes Elizabeth climbs into another sexual relationship with her mew partner. At this stage I actually didn't care about Elizabeth or her career and was disappointed in no big reveal when it came to catching the perpetrator. 3 stars
Not bright enough to learn from past mistakes Elizabeth climbs into another sexual relationship with her mew partner. At this stage I actually didn't care about Elizabeth or her career and was disappointed in no big reveal when it came to catching the perpetrator. 3 stars
December 26, 2024
I read a lot of mystery and this was not something I enjoyed.
The plot and the length were the only reason I finished it. The plot itself , with the bees, was an interesting take on a murder mystery.
I despised every single character. They did not come across as real or relatable. And the sex scene was completely unnecessary.
The plot and the length were the only reason I finished it. The plot itself , with the bees, was an interesting take on a murder mystery.
I despised every single character. They did not come across as real or relatable. And the sex scene was completely unnecessary.
January 4, 2020
Great Read
Wonderful series. I hope there's more to come. Interesting characters and I didn't see "who done it" until the main character figured it out and then thought, "of course". That's rare for me so I really enjoyed it. The sequel is just as good.
Wonderful series. I hope there's more to come. Interesting characters and I didn't see "who done it" until the main character figured it out and then thought, "of course". That's rare for me so I really enjoyed it. The sequel is just as good.
September 18, 2020
Interesting
Great story about a female cop trying to prove herself in a department of good ole boys, after them all finding out that her former partner got transferred because they were sleeping together.
Great story about a female cop trying to prove herself in a department of good ole boys, after them all finding out that her former partner got transferred because they were sleeping together.
December 30, 2022
Well written Miami crime story. It was pretty good. The writer took a few liberties about Miami but all in all it was a good story with no lagging periods. There were characters whose stories were not resolved. Is this part of a series?
November 24, 2019
Excellent
Great book with constant tension and action. A new author for me to more up on. I look forward to seeing more.
Great book with constant tension and action. A new author for me to more up on. I look forward to seeing more.
September 5, 2020
The Beekeeper
This was a well written murder mystery with many twists and turns in it. It had me on the edge of my seat several times. I highly recommend it.
Donna P.
This was a well written murder mystery with many twists and turns in it. It had me on the edge of my seat several times. I highly recommend it.
Donna P.
September 5, 2020
Bees
I loved the story. It was a little gruesome. It was great that they were able to save the last woman.
I loved the story. It was a little gruesome. It was great that they were able to save the last woman.
September 20, 2024
Detect this
What an incredible story. Death, fire, murder, and a hurricane life can't be any scarier than this. I hope you enjoy the ride. I did and so will you.
What an incredible story. Death, fire, murder, and a hurricane life can't be any scarier than this. I hope you enjoy the ride. I did and so will you.
January 9, 2026
It's a fun murder mystery that kept me guessing.
January 26, 2013
Blurb: A trigger-happy young detective becomes immersed in a world of bees and mad honey in order to catch a murderer.
Miami homicide detective Elizabeth Stratton knows she's lucky to still have a job, but she's tired of only getting the easy cases. She'll never be able to regain the respect of her colleagues without a chance to prove she's no longer an anxious mess who shoots at anything that moves.
Her opportunity comes during a routine check at a near-abandoned hotel. While trying to save the living, she finds the dead. In the midst of a bee infestation is the body of a young woman, her mouth filled with honey.
Elizabeth is grudgingly allowed to keep the case, which rapidly becomes compelling when the honey is found to be poisonous and the bees follow her home.
But just when she's closing in on the killer, he targets her new friend and Elizabeth must brave the high winds of a category four hurricane to save her. (147 pages)
Review:
The Beekeeper by Juliet Moore is a bestseller quality story with a high quality book cover that catches the eye immediately and leaves an impression. The pace of the story is fast and even, and the reader will want to keep turning pages. The story is also executed with great detail, providing proof that the author did her homework. The plot is unique and interesting. I've read plenty of mysteries and thrillers, and have never come across one quite like this. Moore's writing is sharp and consistent with crime thrillers.
The story suffers from inconsistent editing. The first half of the book is a little difficult to follow, and seems to be in need of more editing. The editing improves for the second half of the book, but seems overzealous. There is an amazing amount of detail for the crime scenes and side character descriptions. However, too much was cut from the main characters' development in order to fit into a shortened format. Cuts also rough up some transitions between scenes. This book could easily be a 200+ page book without detracting from the story.
With the strength of the plot, the quality of the writing as a whole, and some added main character development, The Beekeeper could be high up on a bestseller list. If the reader will forgive some editing issues, the story is a rewarding read, and will leave the reader wanting to know much more about Detective Elizabeth Stratton. I look forward to further installments by Juliet Moore.
A good read with your eggs and coffee. 3.5 stars
Miami homicide detective Elizabeth Stratton knows she's lucky to still have a job, but she's tired of only getting the easy cases. She'll never be able to regain the respect of her colleagues without a chance to prove she's no longer an anxious mess who shoots at anything that moves.
Her opportunity comes during a routine check at a near-abandoned hotel. While trying to save the living, she finds the dead. In the midst of a bee infestation is the body of a young woman, her mouth filled with honey.
Elizabeth is grudgingly allowed to keep the case, which rapidly becomes compelling when the honey is found to be poisonous and the bees follow her home.
But just when she's closing in on the killer, he targets her new friend and Elizabeth must brave the high winds of a category four hurricane to save her. (147 pages)
Review:
The Beekeeper by Juliet Moore is a bestseller quality story with a high quality book cover that catches the eye immediately and leaves an impression. The pace of the story is fast and even, and the reader will want to keep turning pages. The story is also executed with great detail, providing proof that the author did her homework. The plot is unique and interesting. I've read plenty of mysteries and thrillers, and have never come across one quite like this. Moore's writing is sharp and consistent with crime thrillers.
The story suffers from inconsistent editing. The first half of the book is a little difficult to follow, and seems to be in need of more editing. The editing improves for the second half of the book, but seems overzealous. There is an amazing amount of detail for the crime scenes and side character descriptions. However, too much was cut from the main characters' development in order to fit into a shortened format. Cuts also rough up some transitions between scenes. This book could easily be a 200+ page book without detracting from the story.
With the strength of the plot, the quality of the writing as a whole, and some added main character development, The Beekeeper could be high up on a bestseller list. If the reader will forgive some editing issues, the story is a rewarding read, and will leave the reader wanting to know much more about Detective Elizabeth Stratton. I look forward to further installments by Juliet Moore.
A good read with your eggs and coffee. 3.5 stars
August 22, 2016
Before finishing this one, I read some of the low-star ratings for it on Amazon. I quit doing it beforehand because one "reviewer" destroyed a wonderful mystery by just stating whodunnit. No review, just who the killer was and that they didn't like the book. So ruin it for everyone else.
Most of the low ratings were due to the fact there was sex in this book. Yes, there was. It was not a book about sex, but if you want to focus on that as a reason to not read it, that's your business.
I got this book in December 2012 for $0.99. Then forgot about it in my archives til a challenge here called it to mind.
This is a short novel (another reason people rated it low). However, it didn't need to be any longer. It reads like a good episode of CSI Miami. The parts about the bees was fascinating. Others complained about the characters not being likeable (probably because they were having sex). I actually found them to be fairly realistic.
Parts of the story were a little bare and the whole thing could have been cleaned up a little. However, I definitely think I received a buck's worth of entertainment out of it. Not sure I'd pay almost $3.50 (current price) for anything under 200 pages, but then again, I might, depending.
To summarize: if sex, and bees in particular, creep you out, don't read. If you know next to nothing about bees, don't mind learning and you've had basic human intercourse and been a person who makes mistakes, you might like it. I did.
True rating, 3.5 rounded up.
Most of the low ratings were due to the fact there was sex in this book. Yes, there was. It was not a book about sex, but if you want to focus on that as a reason to not read it, that's your business.
I got this book in December 2012 for $0.99. Then forgot about it in my archives til a challenge here called it to mind.
This is a short novel (another reason people rated it low). However, it didn't need to be any longer. It reads like a good episode of CSI Miami. The parts about the bees was fascinating. Others complained about the characters not being likeable (probably because they were having sex). I actually found them to be fairly realistic.
Parts of the story were a little bare and the whole thing could have been cleaned up a little. However, I definitely think I received a buck's worth of entertainment out of it. Not sure I'd pay almost $3.50 (current price) for anything under 200 pages, but then again, I might, depending.
To summarize: if sex, and bees in particular, creep you out, don't read. If you know next to nothing about bees, don't mind learning and you've had basic human intercourse and been a person who makes mistakes, you might like it. I did.
True rating, 3.5 rounded up.
October 29, 2013
This was a fairly good book. The woman police officer, Elizabeth, has two male partners, James and Patrick, which whom she ends up having sex. They search for the killer of three women in Florida. Each corpse has honey present on the body--non commercial type. One can learn about bees from this book, to some extent. There are some fairly exciting scenes, but I really wouldn't recommend this book, and am unsure why I chose it in the first place.
November 25, 2014
'The Beekeeper' was full of action, suspense and mystery. The storyline was great. I was hooked from the beginning. The twists were surprising. The characters were great. Elizabeth made a great lead. I liked the authors attention to detail, which didn't include overly descriptive characters. The way the storyline played out kept me on edge until the end. A great read. I look forward to reading more in this series.
September 11, 2015
Detective Elizabeth Stratton tries to solve a series of murders marked with honey and to redeem her reputation among her coworkers from prior indiscretions. This rates a 3.5 as the storyline and the unusual facts associated to bees and beekeeping add interest to the strange murders. I would like to see more character development of this detective in future books, particularly in the area of self confidence and independence. A good afternoon read.
October 20, 2012
This is a well written and thought out book. Fast paced, always some thing going on .... From affairs to hurricanes!
Then there's the murders and the chase... The twist in the end will probably surprise some, I guessed what was comming, but this book is written well enough that most won't.
Looking forward to more books from this author... Worth the read!
Then there's the murders and the chase... The twist in the end will probably surprise some, I guessed what was comming, but this book is written well enough that most won't.
Looking forward to more books from this author... Worth the read!
April 15, 2013
I would give it 3-1/2 if there was such a thing. The story premise is worth more than a 3 -- the mystery is good -- the prose is a little choppy and some of the dialog feels like an afterthought. The interaction between three detectives is under-developed and left me feeling like I missed whole chapters somewhere.
June 5, 2013
Not a bad book for a Kindle cheapie. It could have used an editor to catch a couple of weird inconsistencies in the story, but the plot was engaging and the main character was enjoyable enough. It was entertaining and I hope Juliet Moore writes more about Detective Elizabeth Stratton, and gets herself a good editor.
August 24, 2013
I dont know. I was expecting more. I had it figured out long before I should have, but it felt like the author was trying to drag things along with an odd love story. It was enjoyable, I don't even finish otherwise, but for a book this short it should have been non-stop action, but, alas, it wasn't.
May 16, 2015
A pretty fair plot for a murder mystery. As a beekeeper, though, I can tell you bees would not allow death to remain in their hive. I won't be more specific, because I don't place spoilers in my reviews. Other bee info included here was correct. The main character was likable, but a lot of work needs to be done for Elizabeth to become someone the reader can truley be attached to.
March 21, 2013
A good police procedural mystery. There were lots of twists in the plot and enough unresolved issues to prepare you for book2 in the series. Note to the author: please look up the correct usage of who and whom. I don't think you have it right.
October 15, 2014
My favorite kind of easy reading, murder mystery mixed with a bit of suspense and some interesting characters.
A serial killer is targeting a specific type of women and leaving their mouths full of honey. The police have to figure out who and why.
Quick read.
A serial killer is targeting a specific type of women and leaving their mouths full of honey. The police have to figure out who and why.
Quick read.
March 22, 2013
A tasty morsel that will keep you guessing to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews