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Andi Hayes Detective #4
Vespa Crabro
When duty—aka the office—calls, Detectives George Donovan and Andrew ‘Andi’ Hayes follow, albeit reluctantly.
In Spartanburg, people are dying by arthropod, and the office sends Andi and George to investigate. At first, everything looks like a coincidence and well within statistical probability, but the deeper they dig, the blurrier and sinister everything becomes. And as if a chief hell-bent on protecting the reputation of his precinct and an FBI agent on the warpath weren’t enough, George’s mother has announced a family visit for his upcoming birthday.
Andi and George don’t know what’s worse: a string of nonsensical murders with leads sizzling away faster than spittle on the hood of a car on a hot summer day, or a mother in lioness mode determined to protect her “innocent” cub—George—from an “evil” menace—Andi.
Finding their strength in each other might be the key to surviving both.
Vespa Crabro is the fourth book in the Andi Hayes Detective series. It’s M/M, low on the romance (demisexual main character) and high on the murder, with a healthy dash of family drama, ghosts, and—of course—enough creepy crawlers to make the hair on your nape stand up. It does have an HFN, depending on one’s definition of a happy ending for a story with multiple dead people in it. The main characters are reasonably happy, so that counts…right?
In Spartanburg, people are dying by arthropod, and the office sends Andi and George to investigate. At first, everything looks like a coincidence and well within statistical probability, but the deeper they dig, the blurrier and sinister everything becomes. And as if a chief hell-bent on protecting the reputation of his precinct and an FBI agent on the warpath weren’t enough, George’s mother has announced a family visit for his upcoming birthday.
Andi and George don’t know what’s worse: a string of nonsensical murders with leads sizzling away faster than spittle on the hood of a car on a hot summer day, or a mother in lioness mode determined to protect her “innocent” cub—George—from an “evil” menace—Andi.
Finding their strength in each other might be the key to surviving both.
Vespa Crabro is the fourth book in the Andi Hayes Detective series. It’s M/M, low on the romance (demisexual main character) and high on the murder, with a healthy dash of family drama, ghosts, and—of course—enough creepy crawlers to make the hair on your nape stand up. It does have an HFN, depending on one’s definition of a happy ending for a story with multiple dead people in it. The main characters are reasonably happy, so that counts…right?
- GenresFantasy
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2025
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Xenia Melzer
167 books96 followersXENIA MELZER was born and raised in a small village in the south of Bavaria. As one of nature’s true chocoholics, she’s always in search of the perfect chocolate experience. So far, she’s had about a dozen truly remarkable ones. Despite having been in close proximity to the mountains all her life, she has never understood why so many people think snow sports are fun. There are neither chocolate nor horses involved and it’s cold by definition, so where’s the sense? She does not like beer either and has never been to the Oktoberfest—no quality chocolate there.
Even though her mind is preoccupied with various stories most of the time, Xenia has managed to get through school and university with surprisingly good grades. Right after school she met her one true love who showed her that reality is capable of producing some truly amazing love stories itself.
While she was having her two children, she started writing down the most persistent stories in her head as a way of relieving mommy-related stress symptoms. As it turned out, the stress relief has now become a source of the same, albeit a positive one.
When she’s not writing, she translates other authors’ manuscripts to German, enjoys riding and running, spending time with her kids, and dancing with her husband.
Even though her mind is preoccupied with various stories most of the time, Xenia has managed to get through school and university with surprisingly good grades. Right after school she met her one true love who showed her that reality is capable of producing some truly amazing love stories itself.
While she was having her two children, she started writing down the most persistent stories in her head as a way of relieving mommy-related stress symptoms. As it turned out, the stress relief has now become a source of the same, albeit a positive one.
When she’s not writing, she translates other authors’ manuscripts to German, enjoys riding and running, spending time with her kids, and dancing with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 27, 2025
I am a little bit cross with the author here as she decided to change the titles of the series and I nearly missed this book.
George and Andi are called in, in their first case for the new super secret alphabet agency. They have to go to Spartanburg to see if a series of killings by insects as connected or are just accidents.
They encounter a chief of police who wants to protect his station and a FBI agent who seems to think there is a connection.
Nice to be back in the world of George and Andi.
George and Andi are called in, in their first case for the new super secret alphabet agency. They have to go to Spartanburg to see if a series of killings by insects as connected or are just accidents.
They encounter a chief of police who wants to protect his station and a FBI agent who seems to think there is a connection.
Nice to be back in the world of George and Andi.
April 10, 2026
Dissapointment.
Both Andi and George have completely fallen out of character. Can't say I liked these new versions of them.
Andi now feels comfortable to crack jokes about his gift in the presence of Chief Norris and FBI Office agent. He also now winks to the witnesses, cuddles with George at any occasion no matter how busy or serious the situation is, and generally seems to become a resident damsel n distress.
George is apparently not an adult anymore but a small boy who is so scared of his Mother's (capital letter) disapproval that he blabs about: 1) their new secret employment and 2) Andi's gift - just to impress her. He also seems to be very PROUD that his relationship with Andi is APPROVED by their SUPERIORS (he boasts about this to his Mother as well).
Next. Racial/gender cards work only so far. The fact that Chief Norris (black and woman) is completely excused from her wrongdoings in previous book speaks volumes. In this story the FBI female agent's extremely shitty and unprofessional behaviour was also justified - by her period, no less! It's all her hormanal disbalance, you see, but all in all she is "relatable", has ADMIRABLE qualities, and ends up a good friend to our guys. /This admirable agent actually made a conscious attempt of unlawful arrest and tried to force a confession from her victim. Only to say flippantly later: "PMS is a bitch"/.
"Lover" every time, in every paragraph. Sounds vulgar, considering that Andi and George are in platonic relationship, so why hint on them having intense sexual life, why make their ace lifestyle something shameful and cringey?
"My dear" as an endearment was another cringe. Questionable choice of words, to say the least.
Tayler's ghost line - why do we even have it here? Only to get Chief Norris absolved from her misconduct in previous books? Because even the Author who plays racial/gender cards needs a palatable justification for her characters? Suddenly Norris is a worried mother, if you can believe it. /I cannot. She openly hated her son just one book ago/. Anyway, Tayler's line was completely unrelated to Andi and George's case and boring on its own. I ended up skipping the pages just to get rid of it as soon as possible.
Suddenly Andi's mansion that was in perfect condition and gorgeously furnished just a couple of months ago is shabby and in needs of renovation.
Suddenly we are in the midst of discussion of Andi gran's sexual life. /Who was apparently a "wildcat" and married Andi's granddad for money/.
George's birthday. That chapter was extremely unpleasant to read. As I mentioned before, George's shift in personality took an ugly slide into childishness and cowardice in front of a hateful bitch of a Mother. Needless to say that she also was excused at the end, because she was "acting from a point of love".
The mystery felt bland and somehow unimportant, so again, I skiped it almost completely.
I don't think I will read the next book or ever re-read this one.
Both Andi and George have completely fallen out of character. Can't say I liked these new versions of them.
Andi now feels comfortable to crack jokes about his gift in the presence of Chief Norris and FBI Office agent. He also now winks to the witnesses, cuddles with George at any occasion no matter how busy or serious the situation is, and generally seems to become a resident damsel n distress.
George is apparently not an adult anymore but a small boy who is so scared of his Mother's (capital letter) disapproval that he blabs about: 1) their new secret employment and 2) Andi's gift - just to impress her. He also seems to be very PROUD that his relationship with Andi is APPROVED by their SUPERIORS (he boasts about this to his Mother as well).
Next. Racial/gender cards work only so far. The fact that Chief Norris (black and woman) is completely excused from her wrongdoings in previous book speaks volumes. In this story the FBI female agent's extremely shitty and unprofessional behaviour was also justified - by her period, no less! It's all her hormanal disbalance, you see, but all in all she is "relatable", has ADMIRABLE qualities, and ends up a good friend to our guys. /This admirable agent actually made a conscious attempt of unlawful arrest and tried to force a confession from her victim. Only to say flippantly later: "PMS is a bitch"/.
"Lover" every time, in every paragraph. Sounds vulgar, considering that Andi and George are in platonic relationship, so why hint on them having intense sexual life, why make their ace lifestyle something shameful and cringey?
"My dear" as an endearment was another cringe. Questionable choice of words, to say the least.
Tayler's ghost line - why do we even have it here? Only to get Chief Norris absolved from her misconduct in previous books? Because even the Author who plays racial/gender cards needs a palatable justification for her characters? Suddenly Norris is a worried mother, if you can believe it. /I cannot. She openly hated her son just one book ago/. Anyway, Tayler's line was completely unrelated to Andi and George's case and boring on its own. I ended up skipping the pages just to get rid of it as soon as possible.
Suddenly Andi's mansion that was in perfect condition and gorgeously furnished just a couple of months ago is shabby and in needs of renovation.
Suddenly we are in the midst of discussion of Andi gran's sexual life. /Who was apparently a "wildcat" and married Andi's granddad for money/.
George's birthday. That chapter was extremely unpleasant to read. As I mentioned before, George's shift in personality took an ugly slide into childishness and cowardice in front of a hateful bitch of a Mother. Needless to say that she also was excused at the end, because she was "acting from a point of love".
The mystery felt bland and somehow unimportant, so again, I skiped it almost completely.
I don't think I will read the next book or ever re-read this one.
Read
April 30, 2026This is a hard one for me. As a book by itself it was very good but had problems with the timeline which was in no way accurate. It would have been better not to name how long until a certain event was to happen because the rest of the book did not take up the appropriate amount of time before that even happened. This was frustrating for me but I admit I'm pretty weird about stuff like that, so I doubt most people will care.
I love Andi and George, and want more of them and Daniel. The part with Tyler were a fun side bit that I also really enjoy. This mystery was interesting, and similar to book 2 is one that can be solved alongside the characters.
As part of a series, similar to the previous book, there were changes and differences in Andi's gift and how it presented. This time I was a little more believable as it growing and changing. Less believable were the changes in the characters. Some were fairly dramatic.
I do also have to echo what another reviewer said about blaming PMS for a large part of a characters personality, it was poorly done.
There were a few other nit-picky things I could go into but those didn't bother me overly much. Overall, I enjoyed this book but feel its best to not read immediately after the rest of the series. Also I still want more books in this series so bad because this world is interesting.
I love Andi and George, and want more of them and Daniel. The part with Tyler were a fun side bit that I also really enjoy. This mystery was interesting, and similar to book 2 is one that can be solved alongside the characters.
As part of a series, similar to the previous book, there were changes and differences in Andi's gift and how it presented. This time I was a little more believable as it growing and changing. Less believable were the changes in the characters. Some were fairly dramatic.
I do also have to echo what another reviewer said about blaming PMS for a large part of a characters personality, it was poorly done.
There were a few other nit-picky things I could go into but those didn't bother me overly much. Overall, I enjoyed this book but feel its best to not read immediately after the rest of the series. Also I still want more books in this series so bad because this world is interesting.
April 24, 2026
Fantastic read
Another amazing read I love the whole series each book is so compelling and makes me not want to stop reading. I love the relationship development Andi and George have and how well they fit together and work past the fear they both share of the other one leaving. The case was nice and twisty as well which made it fun.
Another amazing read I love the whole series each book is so compelling and makes me not want to stop reading. I love the relationship development Andi and George have and how well they fit together and work past the fear they both share of the other one leaving. The case was nice and twisty as well which made it fun.
January 13, 2026
🌟 Absolutely worth a read 🌟
I adore both Andi and George and their relationship flourished in this book.
It was very interesting to see the author using another person who relied on something paraphysical to commit their murders. Up until now all the murderers had been absolutely normal - well, as normal as murderers can be.
Not much spice in the book or in any of the previous ones, this series is not about smut. Just a good plot, thought through mysteries and all the arthropoda and their input providing with detailed scenery and a very different version of reality.
Unique and extremely interesting, in my opinion. Definitely recommend.
I adore both Andi and George and their relationship flourished in this book.
It was very interesting to see the author using another person who relied on something paraphysical to commit their murders. Up until now all the murderers had been absolutely normal - well, as normal as murderers can be.
Not much spice in the book or in any of the previous ones, this series is not about smut. Just a good plot, thought through mysteries and all the arthropoda and their input providing with detailed scenery and a very different version of reality.
Unique and extremely interesting, in my opinion. Definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews