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HoneyBun Shop Mysteries #2

Barbecue, Bourbon and Bullets

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Revenge is a dish best served...smoking hot with a side of spicy fries.

HoneyBun shop owner, Ali Daniels, is in the middle of a date with a deliciously handsome police detective at the hottest NYC barbecue restaurant — when the owner is shot in the middle of a busy kitchen.

There's no gun. There are no witnesses.

Ali can't resist a good mystery to solve and decides to help the investigation along. But as she attempts to smoke out the culprit, it's Ali who risks being scorched by a red, hot killer.

This cozy-mystery is a fun read for readers who love an amateur woman sleuth.

Other Books in the HoneyBun Mystery Series:
Copy and paste the link below to view the book on Amazon

Book 1: Sweet and Salty Treachery - http://amzn.to/1ZgEJ2Q
Book 2: Barbecue, Bourbon and Bullets - http://amzn.to/1mdtklU
Book 3: Candy Canes and Criminals - http://amzn.to/1mdtgCt

60 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2015

774 people are currently reading
1023 people want to read

About the author

M.E. Harmon

27 books56 followers
Hi. I'm Michelle. Born and raised in Queens, NY.

I'm an avid reader. If I'm finishing up a book and don't have another lined up and ready to go - I get really nervous. Yes, I know that's very geek like.

Speaking of geek - I'm a fan of anything action adventure, urban fantasy, paranormal (paranormal romance - not so much), and supernatural. If I ever go to Comic Con, I'll dress up as Lt. Uhura (except I might add some garters to be naughty). Walking Dead and Supernatural are two of my 'can't miss' shows on tv right now.

I started writing fanfic based on my favorite movie at age 12. Since then I've taken many creative writing classes. Several of my short stories have been published online and in print.

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5 stars
656 (35%)
4 stars
565 (30%)
3 stars
445 (23%)
2 stars
159 (8%)
1 star
44 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
Profile Image for Mimi.
1,022 reviews52 followers
June 27, 2017
Probably the best cozy mystery I've read to date.
Well-written, believable storyline (well, more probable than usual in this genre).
Profile Image for Stephen.
510 reviews3 followers
September 8, 2024
Murder?

A shorter story than I expected but well laid out and developed. I don't usually read too many stories like this but I enjoyed this one. You never know where you might find a worthwhile read, so keep an open mind when looking.
332 reviews
March 10, 2017
Fun story, different way to kill someone.
Profile Image for Madhulika Liddle.
Author 22 books545 followers
February 12, 2021
Ali Daniels is a baker cum amateur detective who has a crush on an NYPD cop, Detective Hamilton. When Hamilton invites her out to a hot new barbecue restaurant, Ali is quick to accept. But Grover's, though its food is superb, has problems amongst its staff, and before the night is over, Ali will find herself investigating a murder in the kitchen.

This was strictly so-so. It's a short story, and though Harmon has tried to fit in red herrings etc, the mystery is somewhat tepid and the explanation came as a bit of a letdown. Ali's humour, her crush on Hamilton, the (too occasional) descriptions of desserts were the highlights, but on the whole, this wasn't a story I'd go back to. If it had been longer and Harmon had focussed more on the mystery itself, it may have been much better.
Profile Image for Corlinda Stafford.
18 reviews3 followers
March 22, 2020
My first murder mystery type book

This was my first time reading a book like this. I must say I enjoyed it. I love the two main characters. Can’t wait to read more of her books.
Profile Image for Jerri Cachero.
653 reviews48 followers
March 19, 2016
I love this series! I have read all three and if you had told me a cozy could take place inNew York, I would have been skeptical and wrong! It's a great setting for the Ali Daniels mysteries!

While having barbecue at a new "hotspot" , Ali and,Detective Hamilton are shocked to find a murder has occurred. The owner was shot in the kitchen as they dined. It's up to Ali to find the killer among the interesting characters at the restaurant without being the next victim.

This is a short novella but it is a great read! I enjoy the diversity of characters in each book - they are relatable and make the book come alive. Ali is smart, funny with a thriving business to run. She's someone you would want for a friend. Also, the setting is wonderful - New York has never been so cozy! Looking forward to the 4th book!!
486 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2018
Barbecue

Ali Daniels and Avery Hamilton take in a barbecue meal at new restaurant, Grover's. After completing their meal, they find that one of the owners of the restaurant has been murdered in the kitchen. Since the police are bombarded with calls with people protesting,, Detective Hamilton takes over, unofficially, until the other detectives show up. With Ali's help, they figure out who committed murder.
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,397 reviews80 followers
June 3, 2017
A delightfully fun cosy mystery read by a newly discovered author. I love the main character in this .... and a bit of intelligent eye candy helps too. Interesting way of killing someone, with giggles throughout. Recommended.
Profile Image for Diana.
468 reviews7 followers
February 2, 2021
I picked this one up because I thought the cover was super cute and I love a good simple "cozy" mystery. So, I decided to pick it up and try it.

The Length: Yes, it is extremely short. As a general rule, I don't read anything that isn't a minimum of 200 pages. But, the cover was cute and I was in the mood for a simple mystery. I was definitely surprised at how much they managed to fit in. Although the ending was a bit rushed in how we discover the whodunit, but it was still enjoyable.

The Characters: While they are definitely not the most complex characters, I did like them. They were cute, tackling the mystery together, and the growing romance. Plus, I liked that she wasn't this stereotypical bombshell detective who seems to be perfect. She was real, relatable, and adorable.

The Mystery: It definitely wasn't the most complicated mystery that I've read. I wish there had been a little more to it because I do love a complicated mystery with that shocking ending. But, for the sweet simple mystery that it was, it was pretty good.
Profile Image for S.A. Krishnan.
Author 31 books231 followers
July 4, 2020
Lovely cosy mystery.
Ali and Avery have a barbecue in a new restaurant and find the owner shot in the kitchen. With the polcie completely busy, Ali takes over the investigation and finds the culprit.
The story was a short delightful read and thoroughly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Ted Tayler.
Author 79 books299 followers
April 11, 2017
"A lighter bite"

Short and sugary sweet. It's a cozy mystery, so I guess it does exactly what it says on the label.
Profile Image for Samantha Osborne.
492 reviews47 followers
November 12, 2019
it was a good quick cozy mystery i will definitely be getting the other's in this series
Profile Image for Kim.
791 reviews48 followers
February 25, 2016
Originally posted at http://kimheniadis.com

I really don’t like giving books bad reviews. I know how difficult it is to write, and stressful it is to release your words out into the world for others to criticize. Unfortunately this short novel was just not that good. On a positive note, I did think the cover was cute, and perfect for a cozy mystery.

My two biggest problems were the editing and the dull conversation. I found myself having to reread sections because I was confused by the jumps and added/missing words. I would have given this book three stars if it had been edited better. I would have jumped to four stars if the dialogue had been more flowing, with some funny comments thrown in.

The story itself was fine. It read like a lot of other cozy mysteries, and the murder weapon was unique. It was pretty easy to guess the killer, but I’ve had that happen in many other mysteries I’ve read. But in those books, the characters were developed, so I wanted to continue to read the story to see what happened to them.

I can’t even recommend this one if it’s a free read, since there are many other free reads out there that are better edited, and have more engaging characters.
Profile Image for Lisa Denn.
510 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2016
A quick whodunnit easily read in one sitting.
This 52 page cute short story is perfectly suited for reading during your lunch break in the park, afternoon at the beach or while waiting your turn to see the doctor or dentist.
Profile Image for Jean.
63 reviews2 followers
January 17, 2025
Sweet treats, barbeque and murder. What more could a girl ask for?

This book was another quirky read. I loved getting to know Ali more. I really enjoyed reading about her "boyfriend" Detective Hamilton. Who is very easy on the eyes. And apparently has a very nice butt. While closing up her shop for the night, Ali gets a visit from the handsome detective. He helps her close up and then invites her out for supper at the new Barbecue place in town. After waiting in line for hours they finally get to try the most amazing food ever. But its very obvious that tension is high behind closed doors of the kitchen. Things take a wrong turn at the dishwasher when one of the owners is found dead on the floor by a GSW (gunshot wound). Everything is chaos, people don't want to cooperate. There's already Rioting going on in NY and while waiting for cops to show up to relieve the detective, tempers fly and the truth gets found. But, will the detective and Ali be able to handle this situation and come out unharmed? You definitely need to read and find out. This is a follow up to Sweet and Salty Treachery, it reads just fine as a stand-alone and I highly recommend giving it a shot.
Profile Image for Hana.
Author 34 books19 followers
Read
February 18, 2025
I don't know what magic M.E. Harmon has woven into Barbecue, Bourbon and Bullets, her 2nd book in HoneyBun Shop Mysteries series, but it's working on me well! I love my cozies and though I'm normally used to seeing a longer word count, I was once again pleasantly surprised by how perfectly this short, scrumptious bite of a mystery turned out to be! I'm reading the series chronologically so I'm well-acquainted with our amateur sleuth MC, Ali Daniels and her penchant to snoop where snooping needs to be done. So naturally after a dinner "date" with (maybe future hubby material?) a local detective who has helped her before, Ali finds herself stuck in the restaurant when one of its co-owners drops dead. The bad news, the killer is among them. While restaurant staff, Ali and her hunky detective await for official police back-up to arrive, Ali decides that she'll take the sleuthing into her own hands and cross off the killer before they decide to strike again.

I thought it was particularly clever of the author to trap Ali in with the mystery. Adding an extra layer of tension, it also helped with the fast pacing in a book that's only really 50ish pages. It was truly masterful plotting! Bonus points because this was a Black-led cozy from a Black author.🫶🏽
Profile Image for Cheryl.
1,159 reviews12 followers
May 7, 2018
This is the 2nd in the series but the first time reading this author for me. This was a fast paced page turner. The main character is Ali and she goes to dinner with Detective Avery Hamilton and just as they are finishing dinner there are screams from the kitchen. Being a cop, Detective Hamilton jumps up and runs to the kitchen. There on the floor is one of the owners dead. What happening and how did it happen are good questions and with a protest march keeping most of the cops busy he takes control until help can get there. With a little help from Ali they figure it out but almost too late. Loved this story and look forward to more.
1,769 reviews23 followers
November 14, 2022
M.E.Harmon is a fabulous story teller as well as a wonderful writer. This cozey can give testimont to it. The array of characters are vibrant, colorful and let's not forget the deadly schemer for there wouldn't be a mystery without them and they all have a way of drawing you in the story wanting to know them better while the mystery entices you further along with its intriguing puzzle of who done it,how and why. The plot carries you throughout with a whimsical comradery making you smile even when you reach the unexpected and climatic conclusion . Acquire "Barbecue, Bourbon and Bullets " a(Honey Bun Shop Mystery #2)so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. Kat
Profile Image for Barb.
1,203 reviews
May 7, 2017
HoneyBun shop owner, Ali Daniels, is in the middle of a date with a deliciously handsome police detective at the hottest NYC barbecue restaurant — when the owner is shot in the middle of a busy kitchen. There's no gun. There are no witnesses.
Ali can't resist a good mystery to solve and decides to help the investigation along. But as she attempts to smoke out the culprit, it's Ali who risks being scorched by a red, hot killer.
This cozy-mystery is a fun read for readers who love an amateur woman sleuth.
Pretty cool read. Short and sweet and to the point. 4 stars.
Profile Image for Dallass.
2,233 reviews
August 17, 2018
This was my first foray into the world of Ali Reynolds and I have to say that I will definitely be going back for more. I had no idea that this wasn’t the first book in the series until the characters referred to something that obviously happened in a previous book, but that still did not hinder my ability to follow the story, or did it throw any kinks in the relationship between the two main characters.

The mystery itself was well executed and was not the usual murder mystery that one expects from a cosy mystery. I will be hunting up more books in this series.

4.5 stars!
Profile Image for Sharon Hammonds.
130 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2023
Cute mysteries and mayhem oh my.

I am loving this series. I happen to come come across this lil nugget of goodness while taking a break from rom coms. They can be redundant those rom coms. And I gotta say I love it. Ali is extremely likeable. She's a baker and partner at HoneyBun a cute drive in type dessert and sandwich eatery. Just a cute setting. But she is also an amateur sleuth who can solve the case. I just finished mystery number two. This stories are clean fun, quick and simply entertaining. Perfect. So on to the third installment. Thank you M.E Harmon.







1,470 reviews18 followers
December 27, 2024
This is the second book in the HoneyBun Shop Mysteries by M.E. Harmon. Ali Daniels is the owner of the bakery the HoneyBun Shop. Ali goes on a date with police Detective Hamilton when one of the owners of the restaurant they are dining at is shot in the kitchen. Detective Hamilton immediately investigates the crime scene and finds there are no witnesses and no weapon is found. Ali helps Detective Hamilton investigate the murder. I really enjoyed this amazing short-story mystery thriller read.
Profile Image for Jocelyn Jenee.
29 reviews
June 2, 2018
Perfect

If you are looking for a great story without all the beating around the bush, drawn out details this is the story for you. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was a page turner and I kept trying to figure out the whodunit. Perfect book when you are short on time, bit need a reading fix. I loved it.
683 reviews10 followers
May 4, 2020
Fun short book!! Ali and Detective Hamilton grab dinner together at a popular new restaurant. While there, one of the restaurant owners is killed. Because of protesters, police are backed up and Detective Hamilton, with some help from Ali, sets out to catch a killer. Interesting book that made me want to read more of this series. Definitely recommend!
32 reviews
December 10, 2020
Catchy Title

The catchy title caught my attention. I liked the easy, comfortable flow of the story. I made myself a sandwich and settled on the couch to enjoy both. The story had just enough mystery and intrigue to keep you guessing but still had a surprise ending! I will look for more books by ME Harmon and recommend them to family and friends.
44 reviews
June 23, 2021
Groupon and cancellations prove to be an exciting hangout.

Ali is asked to go to a ribs place that uses air to power the appliances. Things go sideways when a murder happens in the kitchen. Ali can't help herself when it comes to trying to figure out who the murderer is and finds herself in a sticky situation.
67 reviews
March 5, 2022
Refreshing!!

I love this series! The author gets to the meat of the matter (pun intended) without drawn out love scenes that border on porn. I love the developing romance, eclectic characters, and tight plot. There are a few typos that are easily overlooked, but this is an enjoyable and entertaining read.
Profile Image for Vondetta Carter.
830 reviews8 followers
November 25, 2023
Great read

Ali was a entrepreneur with a bakery who was in a dating slump. However a handsome detective stops in an invites her to dinner. As they head to dinner Ali discovers she is definitely attracted. However after dinning sufficiently someone is murdered. Ali's detective goes to work and Ali begins to piece the clues together. Loved the read and the suspense..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews

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