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Posie Parker Mystery #2
The Tomb of the Honey Bee
Like your murder mysteries as sweet as honey but with a real sting in the tail?
˃˃˃ Other books by L.B. Hathaway:
From acclaimed British author L.B. Hathaway comes this exciting new cozy murder mystery featuring the redoubtable Private Detective, Posie Parker.
This is the second book in the Posie Parker Mystery Series, although it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story. Set across a number of exotic locations during the summer of 1921, 'The Tomb of the Honey Bee' is a classic murder mystery set during the Golden Age of Crime which will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey.
When Posie is asked to find a world-famous explorer who has gone missing, she finds herself in murky waters yet again: an aristocratic family torn apart by hatred, a bizarre murder at an English country house, and a cryptic clue left behind by the explorer which is sweet as honey, but deadlier than poison.
In a case where simply everyone has a motive for wanting the explorer dead, Posie’s investigation starts off in the English Cotswolds, takes her through the glamorous South of France, on to the mysterious island of Ortigia in Italy, and then into the Tombs of the Pharaohs in Egypt. But is she being followed by a cold-blooded killer? And where has Len, her almost-boyfriend, disappeared to?
If you love an action-packed historical cozy crime with a feisty protagonist, download a sample or buy 'The Tomb of the Honey Bee' now.˃˃˃ Other books by L.B. Hathaway:
'Murder Offstage' (A Posie Parker Mystery #1) is also available on Amazon.
'Murder at Maypole Manor' (A Posie Parker Mystery #3) and 'The Vanishing of Dr Winter' (A Posie Parker Mystery #4) are available late 2015.
To be the first to hear about L.B. Hathaway's new releases sign up for the newsletter at: lbhathaway.com
Follow L.B. Hathaway on:
Twitter: @LbHathaway
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2014
About the author
L.B. Hathaway
23 books350 followersCambridge-educated, British-born L.B. Hathaway writes historical fiction. She worked as a lawyer at Lincoln’s Inn in London for almost a decade before becoming a full-time writer. She brings her love of detective novels set in the Golden Age of Crime and an obsession with English history to her own writing.
The Posie Parker series of cosy crime novels span the 1920s. They each combine a core central mystery, an exploration of the reckless glamour of the age and a feisty protagonist who you would love to have as your best friend.
Her other interests, in no particular order, are: very fast downhill skiing, theatre-going, drinking strong tea, Tudor history, exploring castles and generally trying to cram as much into life as possible.
The Posie Parker series of cosy crime novels span the 1920s. They each combine a core central mystery, an exploration of the reckless glamour of the age and a feisty protagonist who you would love to have as your best friend.
Her other interests, in no particular order, are: very fast downhill skiing, theatre-going, drinking strong tea, Tudor history, exploring castles and generally trying to cram as much into life as possible.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
July 18, 2023
I read this a while ago. I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.
This is set in the 1920's.
Rosie is back with another mystery in which she is traveling to other countries.
In this story there are more murders, a long-lost lover, a pre-Roman coin, a Bee God and a hidden tomb!
And...
Jealous lovers, grasping relatives, gamblers, and the men of Scotland Yard!
More cozy fun!
This is set in the 1920's.
Rosie is back with another mystery in which she is traveling to other countries.
In this story there are more murders, a long-lost lover, a pre-Roman coin, a Bee God and a hidden tomb!
And...
Jealous lovers, grasping relatives, gamblers, and the men of Scotland Yard!
More cozy fun!
March 14, 2017
If you want a taste of life in England in the 1920s do not read this book. It is so full of anachronisms, inaccuracies, and lack of research that I gave up about a third of the way through, having decided that when I can recognise so much as wrong, the rest could not be taken seriously, and there was no way of identifying a clue from a stupid error
Examples:
“Posie remembered how, years before, at the age of twenty-one, Alaric had decided he would become a politician, and had caused a huge scandal by giving up his aristocratic title in order to do so.”
Anyone who knows anything about British politcs knows that renouncing a peerage was not possible in the 1920s, which is why an Act of Parliament (The Peerage Act 1963) was necessary to allow Viscount Stansgate to revert to being simple Tony Wedgwood Benn. Moreover, there is nothing to stop a peer being a politician, even a Minister of the Crown. And it was not until 1923 – two years after this book is allegedly set – that the principle that the PM should be in the Commons was firmly set. So he neither needed to ronounce his peerage, nor could he have done so.
“And when she tasted it, she realised just why Alaric Boynton-Dale’s honey had won all those awards, why it was famed as the best in the land, why one jar alone was worth paying eighty-four pence for.”
In what currency? What on earth is this about? We have already been told that the honey cost 10/6 (ten shillings and six pence) which isn't 84 pence, and wouldn't be in New Money either. The 'historical note' shows that Ms Hathaway does not know much about money either ... "In England in 1921 there was decimalisation in place; a system involving the use of shillings, pence and pounds." Pounds, shillings and pence are about as far from 'decimalisation' as you can get. And still doesn't explain why suddenly honey is priced in pence.
Hathaway, L.B.. The Tomb of the Honey Bee: A Posie Parker Mystery (The Posie Parker Mystery Series Book 2) (p. 258). Whitehaven Man Press London. Kindle Edition.
“She pushed across some money for the first-class stamp to the British Museum and also to pay for the black wax.”
Is the Post Mistress running some sort of scam, taking in more money than the value of the stamp, and pretending they are 'first-class'? In 1921 you could expect next day delivery (same day, in some cases) without paying extra. First class and second class stamps weren't introduced until 1968. Within living memory.
“Posie turned and addressed the room:
‘I think there may well be something in what Mr Sharp says. It’s just as well that I have called in one of the best Inspectors from Scotland Yard. He’s on his way here now, together with his team.’”
Posie seems to have been appointed as Chief Constable of Oxfordshire, since she has it in her power to 'call in' Scotland Yard. I did not wait to learn if the real Chief Constable would take the matter up with the Metropolitan Police, and send Lovelace packing, as he has every right to do. Indeed, I would be amazed if a Scotland Yard detective would be so foolish as to poke his nose in uninvited. Scotland Yard aren't a private investigation firm, brought in by anyone who feels like it!
Anachronistic language includes “wingman” (1943 in aviation), 'moonlighting' (1957).
Also, why can't writers who want to use members of the aristocracy in their fiction do the little bit of research needed to find out the correct forms of address. Lord Roderick would be the younger son of a Marquess or Duke and Lady Eve, his wife, is not the daughter of rough rich Texan millionaire Mr Burns: unless he is the Duke of Dallas or the Earl of Austin.
.
I am happy that some people enjoyed it, but do not take it seriously, or believe that it is in any way a realistic picture of 1921's England.
Examples:
“Posie remembered how, years before, at the age of twenty-one, Alaric had decided he would become a politician, and had caused a huge scandal by giving up his aristocratic title in order to do so.”
Anyone who knows anything about British politcs knows that renouncing a peerage was not possible in the 1920s, which is why an Act of Parliament (The Peerage Act 1963) was necessary to allow Viscount Stansgate to revert to being simple Tony Wedgwood Benn. Moreover, there is nothing to stop a peer being a politician, even a Minister of the Crown. And it was not until 1923 – two years after this book is allegedly set – that the principle that the PM should be in the Commons was firmly set. So he neither needed to ronounce his peerage, nor could he have done so.
“And when she tasted it, she realised just why Alaric Boynton-Dale’s honey had won all those awards, why it was famed as the best in the land, why one jar alone was worth paying eighty-four pence for.”
In what currency? What on earth is this about? We have already been told that the honey cost 10/6 (ten shillings and six pence) which isn't 84 pence, and wouldn't be in New Money either. The 'historical note' shows that Ms Hathaway does not know much about money either ... "In England in 1921 there was decimalisation in place; a system involving the use of shillings, pence and pounds." Pounds, shillings and pence are about as far from 'decimalisation' as you can get. And still doesn't explain why suddenly honey is priced in pence.
Hathaway, L.B.. The Tomb of the Honey Bee: A Posie Parker Mystery (The Posie Parker Mystery Series Book 2) (p. 258). Whitehaven Man Press London. Kindle Edition.
“She pushed across some money for the first-class stamp to the British Museum and also to pay for the black wax.”
Is the Post Mistress running some sort of scam, taking in more money than the value of the stamp, and pretending they are 'first-class'? In 1921 you could expect next day delivery (same day, in some cases) without paying extra. First class and second class stamps weren't introduced until 1968. Within living memory.
“Posie turned and addressed the room:
‘I think there may well be something in what Mr Sharp says. It’s just as well that I have called in one of the best Inspectors from Scotland Yard. He’s on his way here now, together with his team.’”
Posie seems to have been appointed as Chief Constable of Oxfordshire, since she has it in her power to 'call in' Scotland Yard. I did not wait to learn if the real Chief Constable would take the matter up with the Metropolitan Police, and send Lovelace packing, as he has every right to do. Indeed, I would be amazed if a Scotland Yard detective would be so foolish as to poke his nose in uninvited. Scotland Yard aren't a private investigation firm, brought in by anyone who feels like it!
Anachronistic language includes “wingman” (1943 in aviation), 'moonlighting' (1957).
Also, why can't writers who want to use members of the aristocracy in their fiction do the little bit of research needed to find out the correct forms of address. Lord Roderick would be the younger son of a Marquess or Duke and Lady Eve, his wife, is not the daughter of rough rich Texan millionaire Mr Burns: unless he is the Duke of Dallas or the Earl of Austin.
.
I am happy that some people enjoyed it, but do not take it seriously, or believe that it is in any way a realistic picture of 1921's England.
November 22, 2020
In the second installment of the Posie Parker Mystery Series, author L.B. Hathaway takes our plucky private detective of the Grape Street Bureau on quite an adventure. Posie Parker gets hired by Lady Violet Boynton-Dale to find her brother, the famous explorer Alaric Boynton-Dale. Alaric has gone missing and Violet fears he might have been murdered.
In The Tomb of the Honey Bee, Posie travels to some pretty exotic locations. From a murder in the English Cotswolds, to heartbreak in the South of France. Then following the trail to Ortigia in Sicily and lastly to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. As usual the bodies keep piling up and it is for Posie to make sense of it all.
Clare Wille was a feast for the ear. Her many voices and accents are a delight and she is the main reason I started this series. And the series is good! I praise L.B. Hathaway for the solid plot and the most fantastic (and highly original) names I’ve come across in a long time (Lady Cosima Catchpole winning the prize here).
It was by pure luck I guessed who the murderer was, it certainly wasn’t given away. I loved the Agatha Christie style reveal at the end, where Posie gathers all the suspects in one room to explain how she got to the killer. Onwards to book 3!
Audiobooks are available on Scribd.
Themes: summer 1921, an altered will, Boynton Hall in the English Cotswolds, a gold honey bee coin, Dame Ianthe Flowers writes a tell-all book, we find out where Len has gone off to, it’s all about the honey.
4.4 Stars
In The Tomb of the Honey Bee, Posie travels to some pretty exotic locations. From a murder in the English Cotswolds, to heartbreak in the South of France. Then following the trail to Ortigia in Sicily and lastly to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. As usual the bodies keep piling up and it is for Posie to make sense of it all.
Clare Wille was a feast for the ear. Her many voices and accents are a delight and she is the main reason I started this series. And the series is good! I praise L.B. Hathaway for the solid plot and the most fantastic (and highly original) names I’ve come across in a long time (Lady Cosima Catchpole winning the prize here).
It was by pure luck I guessed who the murderer was, it certainly wasn’t given away. I loved the Agatha Christie style reveal at the end, where Posie gathers all the suspects in one room to explain how she got to the killer. Onwards to book 3!
Audiobooks are available on Scribd.
Themes: summer 1921, an altered will, Boynton Hall in the English Cotswolds, a gold honey bee coin, Dame Ianthe Flowers writes a tell-all book, we find out where Len has gone off to, it’s all about the honey.
4.4 Stars
August 6, 2020
Historically inaccurate bit clichéd
If you choose to write in an era you really ought to make sure that you don't change the dates of significant events. All it does is suspend belief and cast doubt on your capacity to research accurately.. padding out the back with excuses doesn't make it ok.. move the story date by a year instead.. that would be much more believable.
Declaring the price of a jar of honey at 84p when it would have been stated in shillings and pence.. decimalisation happened in 1971 not 1921.. some 50 years away and when you remove these basic staples of life in the 1920's it removes the period feel.. by switching them for your own convenience you are removing the very things that provide the reality, the authenticity and the character to your story.
On the one hand you state that a flat in Bloomsbury would have cost a few hundred pounds.. on the other you state she sank her entire capital (£10,000) into the flat.. it would have been a few hundred pounds.. this really needs fixing.. there's no way she went through all of that on the flat.. it was enough as you stated for her to be set for life based on the era.
Christie wrote in the now, which made this much simpler, to achieve even a modicum of her success you need to immerse yourself in the period and write it as if you are living it. Until you can get the full flavour of the era accurately and naturally into the background the full impact of the surface story will be lost and they will continue to disappoint those of us who seek truly compelling reads set in specific eras such as Christie's and Marsh's.
If you choose to write in an era you really ought to make sure that you don't change the dates of significant events. All it does is suspend belief and cast doubt on your capacity to research accurately.. padding out the back with excuses doesn't make it ok.. move the story date by a year instead.. that would be much more believable.
Declaring the price of a jar of honey at 84p when it would have been stated in shillings and pence.. decimalisation happened in 1971 not 1921.. some 50 years away and when you remove these basic staples of life in the 1920's it removes the period feel.. by switching them for your own convenience you are removing the very things that provide the reality, the authenticity and the character to your story.
On the one hand you state that a flat in Bloomsbury would have cost a few hundred pounds.. on the other you state she sank her entire capital (£10,000) into the flat.. it would have been a few hundred pounds.. this really needs fixing.. there's no way she went through all of that on the flat.. it was enough as you stated for her to be set for life based on the era.
Christie wrote in the now, which made this much simpler, to achieve even a modicum of her success you need to immerse yourself in the period and write it as if you are living it. Until you can get the full flavour of the era accurately and naturally into the background the full impact of the surface story will be lost and they will continue to disappoint those of us who seek truly compelling reads set in specific eras such as Christie's and Marsh's.
March 9, 2017
uh I have so many feeling right now.First,I did really like the story,Posie is one of the most real book main leads I have ever read about,I just love her.But...I did figure out who is the killer in the beginning of the book,that was a disappointment(I do like to be surprised at the end).Overall really interesting book,if you like detective stories and mystery this is for you .
4/5
4/5
December 5, 2024
un livre qui nous apprend qu'il est bien avisé d'avoir toujours à sa dispo du miel pour draguer
August 26, 2021
In this second settlement, Posie takes us to some amazingly exotic places.. Italy for example.
It's true, I was able to point out who did it in the very first beggining of the book, but still, I enjoyed following her every move throughout the chapters, but, if you read it for more than its "mystery" part, you might find some innacurecies, so proceed cautiously.
The one thing I don't really like in this series so far is the way it revolves around Posie's love life, I mean, it doesn't value the fact that she is one of the most renowned "female" detectives but only that she's always and desperately chasing love, it's nice a to have a great partner, but, the world won't come to an end if you spend some time by yourself right?
It's true, I was able to point out who did it in the very first beggining of the book, but still, I enjoyed following her every move throughout the chapters, but, if you read it for more than its "mystery" part, you might find some innacurecies, so proceed cautiously.
The one thing I don't really like in this series so far is the way it revolves around Posie's love life, I mean, it doesn't value the fact that she is one of the most renowned "female" detectives but only that she's always and desperately chasing love, it's nice a to have a great partner, but, the world won't come to an end if you spend some time by yourself right?
June 19, 2017
I loved the setting in 1921!
It is so refreshing to read a mystery that is powered by the players and not what they figured out from using tech. It is evocative of Christie and Allingham. Looking forward to the next book!
It is so refreshing to read a mystery that is powered by the players and not what they figured out from using tech. It is evocative of Christie and Allingham. Looking forward to the next book!
July 25, 2023
On a roll with this series! So many of the reviews say they guessed the murderer early on. I did not at all and was as shocked as the other characters. This had a very Poirot-like denouement where Posie goes through each of the suspects and explains their potential motives and also why they couldn’t have done it. I enjoyed that. The three star rating is because I found the murderer’s story tragic and a bit gruesome and I hate when there are multiple deaths, some of which are of innocents because the killer was desperate and “unlucky”.
Otherwise, I continue to enjoy Posie and her various friends very much. I enjoyed Alaric’s character as well. The travel bits in the story were delightful, including the story about the world famous, rare honey from bees raised by monks. I love honey myself so those details were fun. Other reviews also mentioned historical inaccuracies but I didn’t notice any. It could be because I’m listening to the audio. But I don’t get too fussed about historical inaccuracies unless they’re really blatant. I’m reading this for fun! There are lots of other things I can get worked up about.
Onto book 3!
Otherwise, I continue to enjoy Posie and her various friends very much. I enjoyed Alaric’s character as well. The travel bits in the story were delightful, including the story about the world famous, rare honey from bees raised by monks. I love honey myself so those details were fun. Other reviews also mentioned historical inaccuracies but I didn’t notice any. It could be because I’m listening to the audio. But I don’t get too fussed about historical inaccuracies unless they’re really blatant. I’m reading this for fun! There are lots of other things I can get worked up about.
Onto book 3!
September 12, 2020
I’m sorry but this felt sloppy.
Obvious clues that were ignored by the detective and police - the manuscript. And why an author of murder mysteries would write a whole book about a murder, announce she has something important to tell you tomorrow in a crowded room when she knows who did it (and they are in the room) and not expect to get killed or not have a back up planned is just silly. And then no one bothers to read it???? And someone who has had 3 attempts on his life keeps running away but not very carefully? And an ineffective killer who is apparently ruthless and terribly clever but only poisons one glass? And a detective who ignores clues and doesn’t press people further on what they know? Because he seems a bit sad? Where is her gumption? Where are her great detective skills when it comes to Len or the flowers? I tried to give Posey another go but she doesn’t give you much to connect with or cheer for. It sort of gets resolved despite her rather than because of her actions or cleverness. Disappointing.
Obvious clues that were ignored by the detective and police - the manuscript. And why an author of murder mysteries would write a whole book about a murder, announce she has something important to tell you tomorrow in a crowded room when she knows who did it (and they are in the room) and not expect to get killed or not have a back up planned is just silly. And then no one bothers to read it???? And someone who has had 3 attempts on his life keeps running away but not very carefully? And an ineffective killer who is apparently ruthless and terribly clever but only poisons one glass? And a detective who ignores clues and doesn’t press people further on what they know? Because he seems a bit sad? Where is her gumption? Where are her great detective skills when it comes to Len or the flowers? I tried to give Posey another go but she doesn’t give you much to connect with or cheer for. It sort of gets resolved despite her rather than because of her actions or cleverness. Disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2021
Did nobody proof read this story?
This story works well enough as a light-hearted romp, but having set it in the 1920s why does the author riddle it with anachronistic language and details? Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in November 1922, so would hardly be commonplace knowledge a year earlier. Radar - discovered in the 1940s, so what are the chances anyone would be advised to stay under the radar in 1921? Stepping out of turn instead of speaking out of turn, twitching on your heels for nipping at your heels. I may be pedantic but why would I read anything else by this author when Christie, Allingham, Sayers et al are still in print? Not even Posie is interesting enough to be memorable, so this will my last Posie Parker mystery
This story works well enough as a light-hearted romp, but having set it in the 1920s why does the author riddle it with anachronistic language and details? Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in November 1922, so would hardly be commonplace knowledge a year earlier. Radar - discovered in the 1940s, so what are the chances anyone would be advised to stay under the radar in 1921? Stepping out of turn instead of speaking out of turn, twitching on your heels for nipping at your heels. I may be pedantic but why would I read anything else by this author when Christie, Allingham, Sayers et al are still in print? Not even Posie is interesting enough to be memorable, so this will my last Posie Parker mystery
December 27, 2015
Lots of fun as Posie travels to exotic Sicily and Egypt, following the mystery of Alaric's disappearance. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The style is light and charming. Read the last third of the book in one sitting, and couldn't put it down. The climax was also amusingly melodramatic.
June 1, 2021
The plot pushes you through the book because it is interesting enough. The setting and atmosphere are nice though not historically accurate. But Posie feels like an undeveloped character, people around her call her intuitive even though she is clueless half of the book. She can’t even figure out her love interest has moved on. The most frustrating bit of the story to me was the “Serafina” inscription on the bee coin. She goes asking people (about a really ancient, hundreds of years ancient coin) “Who is Serafina? Where can I find her? Is she protecting Alaric?”... why would a person dedicated to investigation assume that Serafina was a living person... what is wrong with her common sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2019
(Grr the internet ate my review)
This is a version of a classic British mystery that sets off at a Country House Murder, moves to a Blue Train adventure, before high tailing it off to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings before making its way back to the Country House. It also makes a quick side trip to Sicily that makes Michael Corleone's look peaceful. We have a bunch of murders, a long lost lover, a pre-Roman coin, a Bee God and hidden tomb. And we can't forget jealous lovers, grasping relatives, degenerate gamblers, and the intrepid men of Scotland Yard.
I couldn't stop reading.
This is a version of a classic British mystery that sets off at a Country House Murder, moves to a Blue Train adventure, before high tailing it off to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings before making its way back to the Country House. It also makes a quick side trip to Sicily that makes Michael Corleone's look peaceful. We have a bunch of murders, a long lost lover, a pre-Roman coin, a Bee God and hidden tomb. And we can't forget jealous lovers, grasping relatives, degenerate gamblers, and the intrepid men of Scotland Yard.
I couldn't stop reading.
April 1, 2019
This was fun, and I enjoyed it, even though I figured out the villain by half way through the book.
My major gripe is that everything is clearly labelled with months in 1921 and yet the wonders discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamen is referenced - the discovery was made in November 1922, and the burial chamber not opened until February 1923.... And it would have been so easy to check the date and just not mention it, as it wasn't a major plot point.
My major gripe is that everything is clearly labelled with months in 1921 and yet the wonders discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamen is referenced - the discovery was made in November 1922, and the burial chamber not opened until February 1923.... And it would have been so easy to check the date and just not mention it, as it wasn't a major plot point.
October 8, 2023
Everyone in the comments is saying they knew who it was asap rocky but I didn’t I don’t even believe it now I’m like nah they were nice. Also why did she start the book dating down and getting cheated on and finish the book dating up go girl I guess. also everyone cared about the museum dudes dying but not the Egyptian guard I call that good old fashioned British racism.
June 3, 2026
Set in England, Sicily, and Egypt post WWI. Clean read mystery with some twists in the plot. Second in a series but I hadn’t read the first one (received this one as a free ebook) and had no difficulty following the characters. Would love to read another one as this series has at least 18 titles but none are available at the library. 🙁
September 16, 2026
For sure interesting - but how does she travel to Sicily and Alexandria in JULY for over a MONTH with ONE SINGLE pantsuit which is WHITE??? Also don’t love the genetic determinism of the killer; and Len sucks and better get some comeuppance in the future.
June 5, 2024
It was a fun quick read with easy to love characters. Unfortunately I did guess the murderer but there was still a good twist to the end as to why. Would recommend
September 4, 2026
The Tomb of the Honey Bee — Christian Reader Review
Author: L.B. Hathaway
Series: Posie Parker Mystery #2
⭐ Overall Book Rating: 4/5
🟢 Christian Reader Rating: Generally Safe
🌶️ Spice: 0/5
Spoiler-Free Review
The Tomb of the Honey Bee takes Posie Parker out of London and turns her second investigation into much more of an international adventure.
When famous explorer Alaric Boynton-Dale disappears after a series of suspicious incidents, Posie is hired to find him. What begins at an English country estate soon leads to murder, family secrets, jealous spouses, mysterious clues, and a trail that takes Posie through France and Italy before eventually reaching Egypt.
This one keeps the charming Golden Age mystery feeling of Murder Offstage, but expands the scope quite a bit. Instead of spending most of the book in London theatres and nightclubs, Posie gets to travel, investigate archaeological sites, deal with an extremely dysfunctional aristocratic family, and unravel a mystery with plenty of possible motives.
For anyone who enjoys an Agatha Christie-style mystery without graphic content, this remains a very comfortable series.
Content to Know Before Reading
Sexual content: None on page.
Romance: Mild. Posie has some romantic complications of her own, while another character’s affair becomes relevant to the mystery.
Adultery: Present. Alaric has been involved with a married woman, creating one of several possible motives for someone wanting him dead.
Violence: Multiple murders occur, including poisoning and other deaths connected to the investigation. The violence is not graphic.
Language: Clean.
Alcohol: Some social drinking consistent with the setting, but it isn’t a major focus.
Occult / supernatural: No meaningful concern. Egyptian tombs, archaeology, ancient objects, and mysterious clues are part of the adventure, but the story is not centered around occult practice.
Family dysfunction: Significant. Greed, jealousy, resentment, infidelity, gambling, inheritance disputes, and secrecy create much of the mystery.
Christian Perspective
Like the first Posie Parker mystery, there really isn’t much here that requires heavy Christian discernment.
There are plenty of sinful behaviors in the story—murder, adultery, greed, lying, jealousy, and manipulation—but they’re functioning as motives and wrongdoing within a murder mystery rather than being presented as virtues.
The affair involving Alaric and a married woman is worth mentioning because it plays an important role in establishing possible motives, but there is no explicit sexual content surrounding it.
There isn’t significant Christian teaching in the book, either. It’s primarily a clean historical mystery rather than faith-based fiction.
Positive Themes
There are some naturally positive themes throughout:
* Truth eventually exposes hidden wrongdoing.
* Greed and jealousy can become destructive.
* Courage sometimes means continuing despite real danger.
* Loyalty and friendship matter.
* Appearances can hide significant wrongdoing.
* Posie is willing to put herself in uncomfortable and dangerous situations to protect others and uncover the truth.
* Actions have consequences, even when someone believes their secrets are safely buried.
Can the Problematic Parts Be Skipped?
There really isn’t anything that needs to be skipped for sexual content.
The morally questionable relationships, murders, and family dysfunction are part of the mystery itself, but they aren’t graphically depicted or presented in a way that makes the book difficult for most Christian adult readers.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
🟢 Generally safe for Christian readers.
If Murder Offstage felt comfortable to you, The Tomb of the Honey Bee should fall into almost exactly the same category.
There is murder, adultery, greed, deception, and danger, but all within the context of a clean historical mystery. There isn’t explicit sexual content, graphic violence, or a major worldview message that needs to be filtered through.
It’s another good example of mainstream fiction that Christians can simply enjoy as a mystery.
⸻
Full Review — Spoilers Below
⚠️ Major spoilers from this point forward.
Posie is hired by Lady Violet Boynton-Dale to find her missing brother, Alaric, a famous explorer who has apparently disappeared after several suspicious events around the family estate.
There are immediately plenty of possible suspects.
Alaric intends to change his will, potentially cutting other family members out of his fortune. His brother Roderick has gambling problems. His sister-in-law enjoys the wealthy lifestyle she could lose. Alaric has also left behind jilted women and angry husbands—including a secret affair with the married Lady Cosima Catchpole.
Almost everyone has some reason to resent him.
The Affair:
Alaric’s relationship with the married Lady Cosima creates one of the book’s clearest moral issues.
The affair itself isn’t depicted sexually, so there is nothing explicit for a reader to skip. Instead, it exists as a secret with consequences.
Her husband knows about it, creating another potential motive for murder.
From a Christian-reader perspective, it’s straightforward: adultery occurs, and the resulting betrayal contributes to the jealousy and suspicion surrounding the case. The book doesn’t require the reader to approve of the relationship in order to enjoy the mystery.
Ianthe Flowers:
The novelist Ianthe Flowers becomes another important part of the investigation.
She knows more about the Boynton-Dale family than she initially reveals and appears to be incorporating dangerous family secrets into the book she is writing.
She is eventually murdered, and her missing manuscript becomes part of Posie’s attempt to understand what someone is so desperate to keep hidden.
Her book, The Tomb of the Honey Bee, also provides one of the major clues behind the mystery.
Posie’s Travels:
One of the biggest differences between this book and Murder Offstage is the scale of Posie’s investigation.
Her search for Alaric takes her from England to France, then Sicily, and eventually Egypt.
She discovers that Alaric is alive, but the danger isn’t over simply because she has found him.
Someone is still trying to kill him.
The Egyptian portion gives the story more of an adventure-mystery feeling as archaeology and the Valley of the Kings become part of the case.
There isn’t really a spiritual concern attached to the Egyptian setting. Ancient tombs and artifacts are treated primarily as historical and archaeological discoveries rather than gateways into occult practices.
Multiple Murders:
The body count becomes higher than in many cozy mysteries.
Ianthe is murdered, and additional people die as the killer becomes increasingly desperate to reach Alaric and conceal the truth.
One death in Egypt occurs because of mistaken identity—the murderer kills the wrong person while trying to reach the intended target.
Despite the number of deaths, the descriptions remain relatively restrained. This still feels like a cozy historical mystery rather than a graphic crime novel.
Lady Violet:
The eventual murderer is Lady Violet herself—the same woman who originally brings Posie into the case.
The final reveal also uncovers that Violet was adopted and that her biological mother had been a murderer.
One element of the explanation suggests that Violet may somehow have inherited a natural capacity for murder.
That is probably the one part of the book that gives me a little more pause from a worldview standpoint.
The idea that someone’s murderous behavior is essentially explained by their biological parentage reduces personal responsibility in a way that doesn’t sit especially comfortably with a Christian understanding of human nature and moral choice.
It isn’t a major theme running throughout the book, though. It’s mostly part of the melodramatic murder reveal.
I wouldn’t consider it enough to change the book’s overall Christian-reader rating, but it is worth noticing rather than treating the ending as saying something profound about morality or heredity.
Greed, Jealousy, and Family Secrets:
Almost the entire mystery is built around people wanting things they shouldn’t have or being willing to hurt others to protect what they already possess.
Money, inheritance, affairs, jealousy, reputation, resentment, and long-held secrets make nearly everyone look suspicious at some point.
That actually works nicely for this kind of mystery because wrongdoing isn’t glamorized. These behaviors steadily destroy trust and relationships and eventually create circumstances where murder becomes possible.
Posie:
Posie continues to be a very likable detective.
She’s curious, determined, brave, and willing to travel halfway across the world because she believes someone is in genuine danger.
She isn’t portrayed as morally perfect, but she is consistently working toward uncovering truth rather than manipulating it for her own benefit.
The mystery also continues her personal storyline involving Len, while introducing some emotional complications surrounding Alaric.
Romance never overwhelms the investigation, which keeps this firmly in mystery territory rather than turning it into a romance with a murder attached.
Final Christian Reader Verdict:
🟢 Generally Safe
The Tomb of the Honey Bee remains a very comfortable historical mystery for Christian readers.
It contains murder, adultery, greed, gambling, deception, jealousy, and dysfunctional relationships, but these elements exist as wrongdoing and motives within the mystery. There is no explicit sex, graphic violence, significant profanity, or occult focus.
There isn’t much direct Christian teaching either, and there doesn’t need to be.
The only worldview element I would specifically note is the ending’s suggestion that a tendency toward murder might somehow be inherited through blood. It’s an odd bit of moral determinism, but it’s brief and doesn’t define the rest of the book.
Overall, this continues to be exactly the kind of series I would recommend to Christians who enjoy cozy mysteries and want something entertaining without constantly having to navigate explicit content.
Final Scorecard
⭐ Overall Book Rating: 4/5
🟢 Christian Reader Rating: Generally Safe
🌶️ Spice: 0/5
Can the spice be skipped? There isn’t any
Major worldview concerns? Very minor
Language: Clean
Violence: Mild to moderate cozy-mystery violence; multiple murders but not graphic
Romantic content: Mild
Adultery: Present as part of the mystery
Occult content: None significant
Christian teaching: None significant
Christian recommendation: Recommended
Author: L.B. Hathaway
Series: Posie Parker Mystery #2
⭐ Overall Book Rating: 4/5
🟢 Christian Reader Rating: Generally Safe
🌶️ Spice: 0/5
Spoiler-Free Review
The Tomb of the Honey Bee takes Posie Parker out of London and turns her second investigation into much more of an international adventure.
When famous explorer Alaric Boynton-Dale disappears after a series of suspicious incidents, Posie is hired to find him. What begins at an English country estate soon leads to murder, family secrets, jealous spouses, mysterious clues, and a trail that takes Posie through France and Italy before eventually reaching Egypt.
This one keeps the charming Golden Age mystery feeling of Murder Offstage, but expands the scope quite a bit. Instead of spending most of the book in London theatres and nightclubs, Posie gets to travel, investigate archaeological sites, deal with an extremely dysfunctional aristocratic family, and unravel a mystery with plenty of possible motives.
For anyone who enjoys an Agatha Christie-style mystery without graphic content, this remains a very comfortable series.
Content to Know Before Reading
Sexual content: None on page.
Romance: Mild. Posie has some romantic complications of her own, while another character’s affair becomes relevant to the mystery.
Adultery: Present. Alaric has been involved with a married woman, creating one of several possible motives for someone wanting him dead.
Violence: Multiple murders occur, including poisoning and other deaths connected to the investigation. The violence is not graphic.
Language: Clean.
Alcohol: Some social drinking consistent with the setting, but it isn’t a major focus.
Occult / supernatural: No meaningful concern. Egyptian tombs, archaeology, ancient objects, and mysterious clues are part of the adventure, but the story is not centered around occult practice.
Family dysfunction: Significant. Greed, jealousy, resentment, infidelity, gambling, inheritance disputes, and secrecy create much of the mystery.
Christian Perspective
Like the first Posie Parker mystery, there really isn’t much here that requires heavy Christian discernment.
There are plenty of sinful behaviors in the story—murder, adultery, greed, lying, jealousy, and manipulation—but they’re functioning as motives and wrongdoing within a murder mystery rather than being presented as virtues.
The affair involving Alaric and a married woman is worth mentioning because it plays an important role in establishing possible motives, but there is no explicit sexual content surrounding it.
There isn’t significant Christian teaching in the book, either. It’s primarily a clean historical mystery rather than faith-based fiction.
Positive Themes
There are some naturally positive themes throughout:
* Truth eventually exposes hidden wrongdoing.
* Greed and jealousy can become destructive.
* Courage sometimes means continuing despite real danger.
* Loyalty and friendship matter.
* Appearances can hide significant wrongdoing.
* Posie is willing to put herself in uncomfortable and dangerous situations to protect others and uncover the truth.
* Actions have consequences, even when someone believes their secrets are safely buried.
Can the Problematic Parts Be Skipped?
There really isn’t anything that needs to be skipped for sexual content.
The morally questionable relationships, murders, and family dysfunction are part of the mystery itself, but they aren’t graphically depicted or presented in a way that makes the book difficult for most Christian adult readers.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
🟢 Generally safe for Christian readers.
If Murder Offstage felt comfortable to you, The Tomb of the Honey Bee should fall into almost exactly the same category.
There is murder, adultery, greed, deception, and danger, but all within the context of a clean historical mystery. There isn’t explicit sexual content, graphic violence, or a major worldview message that needs to be filtered through.
It’s another good example of mainstream fiction that Christians can simply enjoy as a mystery.
⸻
Full Review — Spoilers Below
⚠️ Major spoilers from this point forward.
Posie is hired by Lady Violet Boynton-Dale to find her missing brother, Alaric, a famous explorer who has apparently disappeared after several suspicious events around the family estate.
There are immediately plenty of possible suspects.
Alaric intends to change his will, potentially cutting other family members out of his fortune. His brother Roderick has gambling problems. His sister-in-law enjoys the wealthy lifestyle she could lose. Alaric has also left behind jilted women and angry husbands—including a secret affair with the married Lady Cosima Catchpole.
Almost everyone has some reason to resent him.
The Affair:
Alaric’s relationship with the married Lady Cosima creates one of the book’s clearest moral issues.
The affair itself isn’t depicted sexually, so there is nothing explicit for a reader to skip. Instead, it exists as a secret with consequences.
Her husband knows about it, creating another potential motive for murder.
From a Christian-reader perspective, it’s straightforward: adultery occurs, and the resulting betrayal contributes to the jealousy and suspicion surrounding the case. The book doesn’t require the reader to approve of the relationship in order to enjoy the mystery.
Ianthe Flowers:
The novelist Ianthe Flowers becomes another important part of the investigation.
She knows more about the Boynton-Dale family than she initially reveals and appears to be incorporating dangerous family secrets into the book she is writing.
She is eventually murdered, and her missing manuscript becomes part of Posie’s attempt to understand what someone is so desperate to keep hidden.
Her book, The Tomb of the Honey Bee, also provides one of the major clues behind the mystery.
Posie’s Travels:
One of the biggest differences between this book and Murder Offstage is the scale of Posie’s investigation.
Her search for Alaric takes her from England to France, then Sicily, and eventually Egypt.
She discovers that Alaric is alive, but the danger isn’t over simply because she has found him.
Someone is still trying to kill him.
The Egyptian portion gives the story more of an adventure-mystery feeling as archaeology and the Valley of the Kings become part of the case.
There isn’t really a spiritual concern attached to the Egyptian setting. Ancient tombs and artifacts are treated primarily as historical and archaeological discoveries rather than gateways into occult practices.
Multiple Murders:
The body count becomes higher than in many cozy mysteries.
Ianthe is murdered, and additional people die as the killer becomes increasingly desperate to reach Alaric and conceal the truth.
One death in Egypt occurs because of mistaken identity—the murderer kills the wrong person while trying to reach the intended target.
Despite the number of deaths, the descriptions remain relatively restrained. This still feels like a cozy historical mystery rather than a graphic crime novel.
Lady Violet:
The eventual murderer is Lady Violet herself—the same woman who originally brings Posie into the case.
The final reveal also uncovers that Violet was adopted and that her biological mother had been a murderer.
One element of the explanation suggests that Violet may somehow have inherited a natural capacity for murder.
That is probably the one part of the book that gives me a little more pause from a worldview standpoint.
The idea that someone’s murderous behavior is essentially explained by their biological parentage reduces personal responsibility in a way that doesn’t sit especially comfortably with a Christian understanding of human nature and moral choice.
It isn’t a major theme running throughout the book, though. It’s mostly part of the melodramatic murder reveal.
I wouldn’t consider it enough to change the book’s overall Christian-reader rating, but it is worth noticing rather than treating the ending as saying something profound about morality or heredity.
Greed, Jealousy, and Family Secrets:
Almost the entire mystery is built around people wanting things they shouldn’t have or being willing to hurt others to protect what they already possess.
Money, inheritance, affairs, jealousy, reputation, resentment, and long-held secrets make nearly everyone look suspicious at some point.
That actually works nicely for this kind of mystery because wrongdoing isn’t glamorized. These behaviors steadily destroy trust and relationships and eventually create circumstances where murder becomes possible.
Posie:
Posie continues to be a very likable detective.
She’s curious, determined, brave, and willing to travel halfway across the world because she believes someone is in genuine danger.
She isn’t portrayed as morally perfect, but she is consistently working toward uncovering truth rather than manipulating it for her own benefit.
The mystery also continues her personal storyline involving Len, while introducing some emotional complications surrounding Alaric.
Romance never overwhelms the investigation, which keeps this firmly in mystery territory rather than turning it into a romance with a murder attached.
Final Christian Reader Verdict:
🟢 Generally Safe
The Tomb of the Honey Bee remains a very comfortable historical mystery for Christian readers.
It contains murder, adultery, greed, gambling, deception, jealousy, and dysfunctional relationships, but these elements exist as wrongdoing and motives within the mystery. There is no explicit sex, graphic violence, significant profanity, or occult focus.
There isn’t much direct Christian teaching either, and there doesn’t need to be.
The only worldview element I would specifically note is the ending’s suggestion that a tendency toward murder might somehow be inherited through blood. It’s an odd bit of moral determinism, but it’s brief and doesn’t define the rest of the book.
Overall, this continues to be exactly the kind of series I would recommend to Christians who enjoy cozy mysteries and want something entertaining without constantly having to navigate explicit content.
Final Scorecard
⭐ Overall Book Rating: 4/5
🟢 Christian Reader Rating: Generally Safe
🌶️ Spice: 0/5
Can the spice be skipped? There isn’t any
Major worldview concerns? Very minor
Language: Clean
Violence: Mild to moderate cozy-mystery violence; multiple murders but not graphic
Romantic content: Mild
Adultery: Present as part of the mystery
Occult content: None significant
Christian teaching: None significant
Christian recommendation: Recommended
May 6, 2020
3.5 rounded up
June 27, 2020
This book was kind of a charmer! It was well paced and engrossing. Posie grows up a bit. I missed her gaggle of London pals and colleagues in this one, though. A few times the writing felt immature or repetitive, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the plot. I did have the mystery solved by the end, which always bums me out a bit. But still a solid and enjoyable read!
December 30, 2021
(audiobook with a fairly good reader)
This reads like it started as an atrocious rambling mess that got turned into something approaching mediocrity by a good editor. What's left still rambles, but some of the excesses have been sewed up into dead ends and silly coincidences.
What kept me going to the end was the comical entertainment of the anachronisms - both factual and linguistic. They reached a pinnacle when the action (pointlessly) moved to a Egypt (an Egypt in which commoner tombs are found in the Valley of the Kings, and in which the Nile longer forms a barrier to road transport between the tombs and the town of Luxor), with one character borrowing a jet aircraft, and another speaking of the treasures of Tutankhamun - in 1921.
This reads like it started as an atrocious rambling mess that got turned into something approaching mediocrity by a good editor. What's left still rambles, but some of the excesses have been sewed up into dead ends and silly coincidences.
What kept me going to the end was the comical entertainment of the anachronisms - both factual and linguistic. They reached a pinnacle when the action (pointlessly) moved to a Egypt (an Egypt in which commoner tombs are found in the Valley of the Kings, and in which the Nile longer forms a barrier to road transport between the tombs and the town of Luxor), with one character borrowing a jet aircraft, and another speaking of the treasures of Tutankhamun - in 1921.
April 28, 2024
Après la découverte du premier tome et la bonne surprise réservée par ce cosy mystery, j’étais impatiente de lire la suite. J’ai adoré ce second tome, que j’ai trouvé très addictif !
Ce sera un été mouvementé pour Posie Parker ! Ses compétences sont connues de tous et, forcément, la jeune femme est sollicitée pour résoudre des mystères. Sa prochaine enquête l’attend et ne sera pas de tout repos : elle doit retrouver la trace d’un célèbre explorateur qui a mystérieusement disparu en laissant derrière lui un mot. Les suspects se bousculent : famille aristocratique qui se déteste, rivalité amoureuse, autrice de polar qui semble s’inspirer de ce qu’elle observe au quotidien…
Posie va devoir faire le tri, surtout que chaque personne semble avoir une bonne raison de vouloir la mort d’Alaric, explorateur chevronné.
La détective va entreprendre un long périple pour mener à bien son enquête : de la campagne anglaise jusqu’au Sud de la France, en passant par l’Italie pour aller jusqu’aux tombeaux des Pharaons.
Comme je le disais plus haut, j’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ce deuxième tome. J’ai trouvé l’histoire bien menée et intéressante. Un jeu de piste à travers le monde, on émet des hypothèses et on tente de découvrir qui est derrière tout ça. L’autrice nous emmène sur des fausses pistes et j’ai pris plaisir à me faire surprendre par quelques révélations ! J’ai également aimé retrouver Posie, que l’on accompagne dans son enquête et dans sa vie personnelle (enfin, surtout dans son enquête!).
Ce sera un été mouvementé pour Posie Parker ! Ses compétences sont connues de tous et, forcément, la jeune femme est sollicitée pour résoudre des mystères. Sa prochaine enquête l’attend et ne sera pas de tout repos : elle doit retrouver la trace d’un célèbre explorateur qui a mystérieusement disparu en laissant derrière lui un mot. Les suspects se bousculent : famille aristocratique qui se déteste, rivalité amoureuse, autrice de polar qui semble s’inspirer de ce qu’elle observe au quotidien…
Posie va devoir faire le tri, surtout que chaque personne semble avoir une bonne raison de vouloir la mort d’Alaric, explorateur chevronné.
La détective va entreprendre un long périple pour mener à bien son enquête : de la campagne anglaise jusqu’au Sud de la France, en passant par l’Italie pour aller jusqu’aux tombeaux des Pharaons.
Comme je le disais plus haut, j’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ce deuxième tome. J’ai trouvé l’histoire bien menée et intéressante. Un jeu de piste à travers le monde, on émet des hypothèses et on tente de découvrir qui est derrière tout ça. L’autrice nous emmène sur des fausses pistes et j’ai pris plaisir à me faire surprendre par quelques révélations ! J’ai également aimé retrouver Posie, que l’on accompagne dans son enquête et dans sa vie personnelle (enfin, surtout dans son enquête!).
February 25, 2020
Good who dunnit but irritating anachronistisms
This is second book in the series I have read. Enjoyed the first but had to try and forget the contemporary phrases that jarred in a 1921 setting. I cannot believe that any working class woman at that time would refer to her "CV". Similarly in this book I've faltered at a valet however unconventional calling himself his employer's "wingman". But I assumed this was a conscious choice by the author. However having an archaeologist in June 1921 linking the discovery of Tutankhamun's grave with increased tourist interest in his own work when Carter didn't discover the Tut site until November 1922 is just carelessness.
This is second book in the series I have read. Enjoyed the first but had to try and forget the contemporary phrases that jarred in a 1921 setting. I cannot believe that any working class woman at that time would refer to her "CV". Similarly in this book I've faltered at a valet however unconventional calling himself his employer's "wingman". But I assumed this was a conscious choice by the author. However having an archaeologist in June 1921 linking the discovery of Tutankhamun's grave with increased tourist interest in his own work when Carter didn't discover the Tut site until November 1922 is just carelessness.
January 1, 2015
Another enjoyable mystery featuring the unpredictable Posie Parker. The exotic locations and varied new characters made for a fun read. The storytelling techniques -- like allowing the detective to discover something that is not shared with the reader -- are appropriate to the genre, even if the plot sometimes leaps oddly as a result. I continue to love how Posie seems stronger than a heroine written in the Twenties would have been, without acting totally inappropriately to her time (as, say, Lindsay Davis' delightful characters sometimes do).
June 26, 2016
Excellent 1920's mystery!
This second entry of the Posie Parker series is a thrilling throwback mystery in the classic Agatha Christie tradition - a stately manor home, aristocratic suspects, and plenty of dead bodies cleverly murdered. Add to the mix, exotic locations (Sicily, Egypt), archeology, a touch of delicious honey, and the finesse of 1920 details, and we have a winning potion! Truly engrossing read. More of Miss Posie Parker, please!
This second entry of the Posie Parker series is a thrilling throwback mystery in the classic Agatha Christie tradition - a stately manor home, aristocratic suspects, and plenty of dead bodies cleverly murdered. Add to the mix, exotic locations (Sicily, Egypt), archeology, a touch of delicious honey, and the finesse of 1920 details, and we have a winning potion! Truly engrossing read. More of Miss Posie Parker, please!
March 12, 2015
Highly recommended
I've read both of the Posey Parker mysteries, and loved them. They're well-written with plots twisting enough I couldn't put either book down. The characters are engaging and well-drawn, and the settings are intelligent. Whopping good stories.
I've read both of the Posey Parker mysteries, and loved them. They're well-written with plots twisting enough I couldn't put either book down. The characters are engaging and well-drawn, and the settings are intelligent. Whopping good stories.
September 11, 2021
Too many plotholes to overlook. Skimmed through the book to make sure my guess was right from the beginning. It was too obvious.
July 8, 2024
I had high hopes for this book, especially as it is part of such a huge series, but it's just as disappointing in a different way as the LJ Ross one was.
I love the 1920s as an era, and I think it works well as a time period for detective fiction. Unfortunately, Hathaway's novel is so stuffed with anachronisms that one keeps being jerked out of the story by one of them. She also repeats herself a LOT. And there are numerous inconsistencies such as Posie's new flat costing either £200 or £10,000, depending on which bit of the book you read! We also have some frankly unbelievable behaviour from both the police and Posie herself - for example, everyone knows that there is a clue to the murderer in a specific unpublished novel, yet they spend weeks trying to 'get round' to reading it until the killer is able to track down and destroy all the copies. Of course, if anyone had bothered to read the novel, the killer would have been instantly revealed, so one understands why Hathaway needed to create a delay in reading it, but why not have the manuscript go missing instead? This would have given a feasible reason for the delay, instead of having everyone going "oh yes, this novel will probably reveal the killer's identity - I must read it at some point" like it's totally optional!
I was trying to ignore these various issues and still hoping to be able to give this book three stars when we reached the Poirot-style big reveal. To be honest, I'm wondering why I didn't downgrade it to 1 star after that. The killer was pretty obvious from the early stages, but even so, if Hathaway hadn't chosen to put one extra piece of drama in, the ending might have worked.
After two dud crime novels in a row, I'm making a mental note to avoid self-published whodunnits by former lawyers whose first names begin with 'L'. Enough said!
I love the 1920s as an era, and I think it works well as a time period for detective fiction. Unfortunately, Hathaway's novel is so stuffed with anachronisms that one keeps being jerked out of the story by one of them. She also repeats herself a LOT. And there are numerous inconsistencies such as Posie's new flat costing either £200 or £10,000, depending on which bit of the book you read! We also have some frankly unbelievable behaviour from both the police and Posie herself - for example, everyone knows that there is a clue to the murderer in a specific unpublished novel, yet they spend weeks trying to 'get round' to reading it until the killer is able to track down and destroy all the copies. Of course, if anyone had bothered to read the novel, the killer would have been instantly revealed, so one understands why Hathaway needed to create a delay in reading it, but why not have the manuscript go missing instead? This would have given a feasible reason for the delay, instead of having everyone going "oh yes, this novel will probably reveal the killer's identity - I must read it at some point" like it's totally optional!
I was trying to ignore these various issues and still hoping to be able to give this book three stars when we reached the Poirot-style big reveal. To be honest, I'm wondering why I didn't downgrade it to 1 star after that. The killer was pretty obvious from the early stages, but even so, if Hathaway hadn't chosen to put one extra piece of drama in, the ending might have worked.
After two dud crime novels in a row, I'm making a mental note to avoid self-published whodunnits by former lawyers whose first names begin with 'L'. Enough said!
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