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Vespling #1
The Last Beekeeper
Sometimes your safe place... is not.
When murder strikes a remote community, a reclusive beekeeper uncovers a horrifying secret that could destroy humanity.
Jim Parker, a honeybee expert, has retreated to a quaint island in Lake Michigan with his teenage daughter after a terrible family tragedy. He longs to hide from an increasingly dangerous world.
In the midst of a Global Bee Crisis, bees everywhere are dying and the food supply teeters on the brink of collapse. Pollination now relies on powerful mega-corporations known as Beelords.
But this island is not the haven Jim once thought.
Someone is torching his traditional beehives, people are disappearing, and an unknown threat is lurking in the woods behind his house. When he finds something very peculiar in his remaining hives, he begins to unravel a mystery that is deeper, darker and more complex than he ever imagined.
Now he’s not only fighting for the survival of his family, but for the very future of humankind.
When murder strikes a remote community, a reclusive beekeeper uncovers a horrifying secret that could destroy humanity.
Jim Parker, a honeybee expert, has retreated to a quaint island in Lake Michigan with his teenage daughter after a terrible family tragedy. He longs to hide from an increasingly dangerous world.
In the midst of a Global Bee Crisis, bees everywhere are dying and the food supply teeters on the brink of collapse. Pollination now relies on powerful mega-corporations known as Beelords.
But this island is not the haven Jim once thought.
Someone is torching his traditional beehives, people are disappearing, and an unknown threat is lurking in the woods behind his house. When he finds something very peculiar in his remaining hives, he begins to unravel a mystery that is deeper, darker and more complex than he ever imagined.
Now he’s not only fighting for the survival of his family, but for the very future of humankind.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2021
53 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
About the author
Jared Gulian
5 books78 followersI write heartwarming memoir and suspenseful sci-fi. Two-time NZ bestseller. 🇺🇸🇳🇿🏳️🌈
I grew up in suburban Detroit and currently live on a small hobby farm in rural New Zealand. In my spare time, I enjoy what some call 'granny hobbies' — knitting, baking, reading, and limited gardening. (I broke my back in 2022, and I've been living with chronic pain ever since.)
Join my mailing list at JaredGulian.com to receive exclusive content and updates on new writing.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok.
I grew up in suburban Detroit and currently live on a small hobby farm in rural New Zealand. In my spare time, I enjoy what some call 'granny hobbies' — knitting, baking, reading, and limited gardening. (I broke my back in 2022, and I've been living with chronic pain ever since.)
Join my mailing list at JaredGulian.com to receive exclusive content and updates on new writing.
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 26, 2023
Thrilling!
A wonderful blend of suspense, mystery and science fiction.
This book is well-researched and educates the reader throughout about bees and genetic modification. There is enough of a connection to reality that the premise is not far off from something that could really happen.
Excellent storytelling!
A wonderful blend of suspense, mystery and science fiction.
This book is well-researched and educates the reader throughout about bees and genetic modification. There is enough of a connection to reality that the premise is not far off from something that could really happen.
Excellent storytelling!
July 13, 2021
Jared Gulian spins a compelling yarn with enjoyably good (and evil) characters whose futures i want to follow. I'm eager for the next installment.
Think Globally: It's our near(ish) future and pollinators have become almost extinct. The entire world can no longer ignore how terrible that would be.
Even worse, nothing and nowhere are as safe as they seem, for anybody, and the reasons for the newest horrors are simultaneously as you would expect and unexpected.
Act Locally: An old man and his dog enjoy a walk in the woods. The world isn't so bad! There's sunlight and greenery and the only "disturbance" is a slightly louder than normal animal(?) sound.
A traditional beekeeper has moved with his teenage daughter to a sparsely populated island in the middle of Lake Michigan to do something meaningful. And more importantly to be safe.
Jim's bees are threatened but the police officer distrusts him so he must investigate to prove his innocence.
Every answer leads to more, bigger questions, greater ramifications. It's no longer about mere safety here and now for Jim and his daughter. Nobody will ever be safe again if they can't stop this.
Note: I was a beta reader so i got to read an earlier draft as well as the finished product, which makes me appreciate published novels more than ever. The Kindle edition is nice but i'm definitely buying the paperback, too.
Think Globally: It's our near(ish) future and pollinators have become almost extinct. The entire world can no longer ignore how terrible that would be.
Even worse, nothing and nowhere are as safe as they seem, for anybody, and the reasons for the newest horrors are simultaneously as you would expect and unexpected.
Act Locally: An old man and his dog enjoy a walk in the woods. The world isn't so bad! There's sunlight and greenery and the only "disturbance" is a slightly louder than normal animal(?) sound.
A traditional beekeeper has moved with his teenage daughter to a sparsely populated island in the middle of Lake Michigan to do something meaningful. And more importantly to be safe.
Jim's bees are threatened but the police officer distrusts him so he must investigate to prove his innocence.
Every answer leads to more, bigger questions, greater ramifications. It's no longer about mere safety here and now for Jim and his daughter. Nobody will ever be safe again if they can't stop this.
Note: I was a beta reader so i got to read an earlier draft as well as the finished product, which makes me appreciate published novels more than ever. The Kindle edition is nice but i'm definitely buying the paperback, too.
July 8, 2021
Fast paced and well written
The storyline in this book was new for me, one that is based on a worrying possibility that bees are an endangered species and the ramifications of genetic modification and good intent.
Our hero is unlikely, a husband impacted by the early and violent death of his wife, a daughter he is determined to protect in a way he couldn’t his wife, the daughters resentment of his oppressive rules and behaviours. The father is not perfect and has many moments where his interactions with his daughter fail. But the pair come across as real, his desire to connect and understand his daughter heartfelt, and her resentment of being smothered so typical of a growing teenager as she lashes out.
Their move to a remote location to get away from civilisation and return to some semblance of a simple life is soon destroyed as danger lurks in the woods and people start disappearing.
If you are looking for a book that you don’t want to put down, this is it. It has mystery, suspense, an interesting and engaging storyline and characters that come to life on the page. There is also the fear that this scenario could be happening somewhere in the world right now.
One reason I enjoy reading new authors is when you find one who can write coherently, builds the characters in a way you can imagine them as real people - flaws and all, with a storyline that is interesting and challenging you know you’ve struck gold. Jared Gulian has a writing gift and is to be encouraged to continue this series.
The storyline in this book was new for me, one that is based on a worrying possibility that bees are an endangered species and the ramifications of genetic modification and good intent.
Our hero is unlikely, a husband impacted by the early and violent death of his wife, a daughter he is determined to protect in a way he couldn’t his wife, the daughters resentment of his oppressive rules and behaviours. The father is not perfect and has many moments where his interactions with his daughter fail. But the pair come across as real, his desire to connect and understand his daughter heartfelt, and her resentment of being smothered so typical of a growing teenager as she lashes out.
Their move to a remote location to get away from civilisation and return to some semblance of a simple life is soon destroyed as danger lurks in the woods and people start disappearing.
If you are looking for a book that you don’t want to put down, this is it. It has mystery, suspense, an interesting and engaging storyline and characters that come to life on the page. There is also the fear that this scenario could be happening somewhere in the world right now.
One reason I enjoy reading new authors is when you find one who can write coherently, builds the characters in a way you can imagine them as real people - flaws and all, with a storyline that is interesting and challenging you know you’ve struck gold. Jared Gulian has a writing gift and is to be encouraged to continue this series.
August 17, 2021
The Last Beekeeper is set on a small island in Lake Michigan and follows Jim Parker, a beekeeper in a Global Bee Crisis who rents out his bees for pollination to local producers. When someone starts to burn his beehives and the precious creatures and commodity they house, Jim begins a search for their destroyer and this inadvertently takes him into a whole different world of danger and deception.
Horror is a genre into which I sometimes delve though not often as I don't always find it scary and it can sometimes be laughable. In my view, to be good, it has to tread a line between credibility and monstrosity and Jared Gulian has got it just right.
The setting of the book on an island suggests that it is a haven away from more worldly troubles but it also provides an environment that is insular and therefore, one where it is difficult to escape. The fact that Gulian's main character, Jim, has relocated to this island to rebuild his life and protect his remaining family creates the urgency and desperation of a man keen to preserve all he cares about.
Add to this the modern fear of genetic modification in a world that is fighting to have fresh vegetables and fruit, some of the things that we take for granted and we are just this side of apocalyptic, with a view to seeing it heading towards us from the horizon.
I loved this book. Gulian's characters are believable and well-drawn and the small island atmosphere is comfortable and claustrophobic at the same time. The sense of Jim desperately trying to protect what he loves but veering towards the obsessive is also excellent; he is a good guy and his fear threatens to overtake him but is he necessarily wrong to be overprotective?
Also, the creatures that Gulian describes are monstrous but this is not overstated. His narrative style is descriptive but not wordy and so, you are not swamped with unnecessary detail; I feel that the best storytellers give you just enough for you to visualise the scene yourself and then their writing will propel you onwards through the action so that the experience of reading their book is completely immersive, and that is what I got from this. I was absorbed.
An excellent read. I eagerly await the release of the second Vespling book.
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC.
Horror is a genre into which I sometimes delve though not often as I don't always find it scary and it can sometimes be laughable. In my view, to be good, it has to tread a line between credibility and monstrosity and Jared Gulian has got it just right.
The setting of the book on an island suggests that it is a haven away from more worldly troubles but it also provides an environment that is insular and therefore, one where it is difficult to escape. The fact that Gulian's main character, Jim, has relocated to this island to rebuild his life and protect his remaining family creates the urgency and desperation of a man keen to preserve all he cares about.
Add to this the modern fear of genetic modification in a world that is fighting to have fresh vegetables and fruit, some of the things that we take for granted and we are just this side of apocalyptic, with a view to seeing it heading towards us from the horizon.
I loved this book. Gulian's characters are believable and well-drawn and the small island atmosphere is comfortable and claustrophobic at the same time. The sense of Jim desperately trying to protect what he loves but veering towards the obsessive is also excellent; he is a good guy and his fear threatens to overtake him but is he necessarily wrong to be overprotective?
Also, the creatures that Gulian describes are monstrous but this is not overstated. His narrative style is descriptive but not wordy and so, you are not swamped with unnecessary detail; I feel that the best storytellers give you just enough for you to visualise the scene yourself and then their writing will propel you onwards through the action so that the experience of reading their book is completely immersive, and that is what I got from this. I was absorbed.
An excellent read. I eagerly await the release of the second Vespling book.
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC.
August 11, 2021
Oh please let there be another book to your The Last Beekeeper ..it was absolutely scary,moving and so beautiful and emotional. It just blew me away .
February 24, 2023
A science fiction book set in Michigan? I haven't said that sentence before!
This book was a great time all the way through - set in gull island with mentions of other cities like Ann Arbor, etc. I thought the premise of bees going extinct, the food population being under attack, and suspicious corporation was really well thought out and I even caught a lot of metaphors to our current food supply + how we treat our world!
I think this is a great read for anyone that enjoys sci-fi and thrillers + mysteries and wants to be kept on their toes for the whole book.
I look forward to seeing what comes next!
This book was a great time all the way through - set in gull island with mentions of other cities like Ann Arbor, etc. I thought the premise of bees going extinct, the food population being under attack, and suspicious corporation was really well thought out and I even caught a lot of metaphors to our current food supply + how we treat our world!
I think this is a great read for anyone that enjoys sci-fi and thrillers + mysteries and wants to be kept on their toes for the whole book.
I look forward to seeing what comes next!
October 25, 2021
I never imagined honey bees could be so interesting, or that subject to genetic modification, could be so terrifying. This book tells a truly terrifying, yet entirely plausible, story of the consequences of meddling with Mother Nature in the attempt to "fix" damage that we humans have caused to the environment and the life that has evolved on this planet. The protagonist is a traditional beekeeper, a man who respects his bees and works tirelessly to care for and protect them to pollinate crops on a remote island in Michigan. In opposition to his efforts is a agricultural company using genetic modification to improve plants and insects in response to the very real world-wide bee crisis. This novel has a fresh approach to combining science and horror that is entertaining and realistic. The characters are resourceful and believable, and show courage in the face of some really unfavorable odds. Once the story kicks in, there is really no relief from escalating tension, and this book is hard to put down. First of a series, I look forward to the next book.!
December 10, 2021
The story was ok, the characters and dialog were poorly done. They were all flat and unbelievable. Monsters attacking and killing people left and right and the teenage daughter continues to be moody and whiny. And her father is upset because she swore in front of him. Then she is missing in the woods where people are being attacked and dismembered and eaten. Dad is searching for her and starts flirting with the local cop, laughing and smiling and thinking how pretty she is. Daughter's boyfriend is missing after going hunting in the woods a week ago. Also there is a humanoid monster roaming the neighborhood at night. Obvious very early on that the monster is the boyfriend, but the author tries to make it a big shocking reveal in the last couple of chapters.
And of course, there's always some non-technical person on hand to ask the layman's questions so that one of the other expert characters can dive into an explanation which is really for the reader. Tired old technique.
And of course, there's always some non-technical person on hand to ask the layman's questions so that one of the other expert characters can dive into an explanation which is really for the reader. Tired old technique.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2022
Character development and dialogue fell flat to me. Really there were no shocking twists or anything. Very repetitive and drawn out in my opinion. I like the idea and general story line, it’s surely creative, but I probably won’t be reading the second book. Honestly it wrapped up nice enough that I don’t even see a need for second book so I don’t have high hopes. Good, not great. Sorry.
September 30, 2024
This was so good! I listened to the audio book narrated by the talented Edoardo Ballerini (not listed here on goodreads). It's creepy, gripping and surprising. It does end on a cliffhanger note and I am bummed the next isn't available yet. I'll be scooping it up when it does become available.
January 1, 2025
I read this book since it was on the recommended list, and I was bored of my usual reading selections. This book turned out to be a surprising treat. I believe it is or has been turned into a movie, and I see franchise potential all over it.
I was not happy with the narrator, Edoardo Ballerini (9780473570972). He has a good voice and acts out the various characters well, but his delivery is like listening to automatic machine gun fire - he speaks in rapid bursts and starts. I hope he gets some guidance or feedback on this, as his potential as a good narrator is high. Eduardo, slow down! Allow listeners to enjoy your voice and the story! I finished the book despite his frequent lapses into rapid-fire/pause delivery.
The book itself is well-written and could be prophetic. It is a science fiction book set in the near future, a world in which the bees are dying out and the food supply has already been seriously impacted. Pollinated fruits and vegetables are rare and expensive. Pesticide- and herbicide-makers who have developed crops genetically designed to resist these chemical poisons have developed a choke-hold on the food supply.
The bees are dying out. Beekeeper is no longer a title. Bee Lord is the new title. This new title lends its own level of creepiness to the plot. Taking care of bees is no longer done out of love for the bees, but purely to capture the greatest possible market share at any cost.
A series of crimes involving arson of local bee hives under the care of Jim Parker, the last Beekeeper, and involving mysterious violent and gruesome deaths of his neighbors, is described in detail but without descending into gory exploitation. A local branch of a genetic research lab is implicated. Jim`s attempt to shield his daughter from dangers that originally took his wife`s life only succeeds in estranging him from his daughter. The ending is...well, foreseeable, but the reader is dragged unwillingly to the conclusion believing all the time that, "it ain`t so." There is plenty of room to develop these characters in upcoming books - as is suggested by the subtitle: The Last Beekeeper (Vespling #1).
Along with the natural impulse to read the book because it is well-written, with fast pacing, characters with some levels of moral greyness to lend credibility, and interesting plot twists, is the unholy feeling that events described in this book might actually someday come true. Soon - within our lifetimes.
I was not happy with the narrator, Edoardo Ballerini (9780473570972). He has a good voice and acts out the various characters well, but his delivery is like listening to automatic machine gun fire - he speaks in rapid bursts and starts. I hope he gets some guidance or feedback on this, as his potential as a good narrator is high. Eduardo, slow down! Allow listeners to enjoy your voice and the story! I finished the book despite his frequent lapses into rapid-fire/pause delivery.
The book itself is well-written and could be prophetic. It is a science fiction book set in the near future, a world in which the bees are dying out and the food supply has already been seriously impacted. Pollinated fruits and vegetables are rare and expensive. Pesticide- and herbicide-makers who have developed crops genetically designed to resist these chemical poisons have developed a choke-hold on the food supply.
The bees are dying out. Beekeeper is no longer a title. Bee Lord is the new title. This new title lends its own level of creepiness to the plot. Taking care of bees is no longer done out of love for the bees, but purely to capture the greatest possible market share at any cost.
A series of crimes involving arson of local bee hives under the care of Jim Parker, the last Beekeeper, and involving mysterious violent and gruesome deaths of his neighbors, is described in detail but without descending into gory exploitation. A local branch of a genetic research lab is implicated. Jim`s attempt to shield his daughter from dangers that originally took his wife`s life only succeeds in estranging him from his daughter. The ending is...well, foreseeable, but the reader is dragged unwillingly to the conclusion believing all the time that, "it ain`t so." There is plenty of room to develop these characters in upcoming books - as is suggested by the subtitle: The Last Beekeeper (Vespling #1).
Along with the natural impulse to read the book because it is well-written, with fast pacing, characters with some levels of moral greyness to lend credibility, and interesting plot twists, is the unholy feeling that events described in this book might actually someday come true. Soon - within our lifetimes.
August 1, 2023
If reading slumps are beehives, The Last Beekeeper is one hardcore murder hornet.
This thing hooked me from the jump--I'm a sucker for a monster in the woods--but what really kept me engaged was the strained relationship between our protagonist, Jim Parker, and the moody 17-year-old daughter he smothers, Ava.
Jim is the "last beekeeper" in a near-future America struggling to combat the Global Bee Crisis, which is primarily overseen by mega corporations and their "Beelord" underlings who do relatively good things with ultimately shady intentions. Jim, however, likes to do things "the old way," believing the crisis can be solved by listening to nature's desperate, fleeting cry for our help. Unfortunately for Jim (but fortunately for readers), someone decides to torch his hives and thereby his livelihood; thus begins a spellbinding, labyrinthine mystery that, at its darkest core, leaves human existence at stake.
Jim also hasn't processed the abrupt loss of his wife, which informs his core internal flaw: he smothers his daughter out of a self-righteous, self-justified attempt to cocoon her from a world that has so cruelly taken his wife's life. Think Marlin from Finding Nemo. That said, don't necessarily bank on a similarly satisfying character arc. This is Book One of a series, after all--the ending leaves Jim with plenty to learn and even more room to grow.
The author's pacing here is phenomenal, the clipped, no-BS chapters deathly addicting. Gulian's research on all things bees and insects is applied in relevant, compelling ways. Lastly, the core mystery's revelations are perfectly timed so that the reader gains the necessary knowledge at more or less the same time as the characters--in other words, you will not wait around for characters to "get with it," which is an underrated skill for authors to pull off, in my opinion. The glorious body horror is surpassed only by expertly rendered scenes of spooky, agonizing tension: hmmmm, click-click.
I gobbled this book in three sittings over three days.
When Book Two comes out, I will attack the story like one hardcore murder hornet.
This thing hooked me from the jump--I'm a sucker for a monster in the woods--but what really kept me engaged was the strained relationship between our protagonist, Jim Parker, and the moody 17-year-old daughter he smothers, Ava.
Jim is the "last beekeeper" in a near-future America struggling to combat the Global Bee Crisis, which is primarily overseen by mega corporations and their "Beelord" underlings who do relatively good things with ultimately shady intentions. Jim, however, likes to do things "the old way," believing the crisis can be solved by listening to nature's desperate, fleeting cry for our help. Unfortunately for Jim (but fortunately for readers), someone decides to torch his hives and thereby his livelihood; thus begins a spellbinding, labyrinthine mystery that, at its darkest core, leaves human existence at stake.
Jim also hasn't processed the abrupt loss of his wife, which informs his core internal flaw: he smothers his daughter out of a self-righteous, self-justified attempt to cocoon her from a world that has so cruelly taken his wife's life. Think Marlin from Finding Nemo. That said, don't necessarily bank on a similarly satisfying character arc. This is Book One of a series, after all--the ending leaves Jim with plenty to learn and even more room to grow.
The author's pacing here is phenomenal, the clipped, no-BS chapters deathly addicting. Gulian's research on all things bees and insects is applied in relevant, compelling ways. Lastly, the core mystery's revelations are perfectly timed so that the reader gains the necessary knowledge at more or less the same time as the characters--in other words, you will not wait around for characters to "get with it," which is an underrated skill for authors to pull off, in my opinion. The glorious body horror is surpassed only by expertly rendered scenes of spooky, agonizing tension: hmmmm, click-click.
I gobbled this book in three sittings over three days.
When Book Two comes out, I will attack the story like one hardcore murder hornet.
August 17, 2023
It's like the Upper Peninsula's The Road Warrior with pollen as opposed to petrol.
There's not enough soft collapse fiction, tales of dystopia or post-apocalypse where the end is not dramatic, and what's often the worst part in reading is the Black Mirror feeling of everyone accepting things as commonplace and regular. There are examples like Parable of the Sower, but I feel the sub-genre lacks the psychic real estate that it should hold.
The Last Beekeeper is a good example of it, and frequently does excellent work by how downplayed it keeps the end of the world - the casualness of one character's mentioning that the 4th Amendment has been revoked as part of a side plot nails the vibe of a destroyed world and is as chilling as any of the spookums. The downside is that the there's a lot of needless exposition that doesn't serve the world building, and overall, I'd rate the prose style is poor, but the latter I'd rate as common for thrillers and not something I mind. The science is okay, again sort of par for the course in the genre.
The plot is solid, though, and the characterization excellent. Or maybe not excellent, but the author takes pains to show empathy for everyone in the story, including villains (with one exception, which feels cut for time as much as anything) and minor characters, so even if not realistic, all feel realized. That last point lets it stand above a lot of other thrillers.
Sadly, though, the ending is stupid, breaking the novel's own logic to set up a sequel. I mean, I like that but could we not do this through the protagonist dealing with some other character's problems, rather than an entirely open "to be continued?"
There's not enough soft collapse fiction, tales of dystopia or post-apocalypse where the end is not dramatic, and what's often the worst part in reading is the Black Mirror feeling of everyone accepting things as commonplace and regular. There are examples like Parable of the Sower, but I feel the sub-genre lacks the psychic real estate that it should hold.
The Last Beekeeper is a good example of it, and frequently does excellent work by how downplayed it keeps the end of the world - the casualness of one character's mentioning that the 4th Amendment has been revoked as part of a side plot nails the vibe of a destroyed world and is as chilling as any of the spookums. The downside is that the there's a lot of needless exposition that doesn't serve the world building, and overall, I'd rate the prose style is poor, but the latter I'd rate as common for thrillers and not something I mind. The science is okay, again sort of par for the course in the genre.
The plot is solid, though, and the characterization excellent. Or maybe not excellent, but the author takes pains to show empathy for everyone in the story, including villains (with one exception, which feels cut for time as much as anything) and minor characters, so even if not realistic, all feel realized. That last point lets it stand above a lot of other thrillers.
Sadly, though, the ending is stupid, breaking the novel's own logic to set up a sequel. I mean, I like that but could we not do this through the protagonist dealing with some other character's problems, rather than an entirely open "to be continued?"
March 26, 2025
Let me start with stating SciFi has not been my favourite genre since I was a young adult and I'm well past that now! That said, I found this author's first title an absolute delight, exploring his New Zealand farming adventures.
He definitely can turn a colourful phrase and paint a gripping picture, which he undoubtedly did with this effort -- some passages approach Stephen King fear factor quality! Being an American reader and forest dweller, his Michigan setting definitely added to that.
Kudos for fine character development and
suspense! I look forward to more from Jared Gulian.
As an aside: I didn't have much time to become acquainted with my own bee-man
grandfather, but I'd particularly enjoy chapters
describing this writer's personal perspectives and adventures with beekeeping in New Zealand. I treated myself to Manuka during winter 2024 for its healing properties; a sweet cup by fireside with this chilling story kept me anticipating enjoyable evenings. He also writes a short monthly blog which is informative and insightful and invites interaction with readers there -- good stuff!
He definitely can turn a colourful phrase and paint a gripping picture, which he undoubtedly did with this effort -- some passages approach Stephen King fear factor quality! Being an American reader and forest dweller, his Michigan setting definitely added to that.
Kudos for fine character development and
suspense! I look forward to more from Jared Gulian.
As an aside: I didn't have much time to become acquainted with my own bee-man
grandfather, but I'd particularly enjoy chapters
describing this writer's personal perspectives and adventures with beekeeping in New Zealand. I treated myself to Manuka during winter 2024 for its healing properties; a sweet cup by fireside with this chilling story kept me anticipating enjoyable evenings. He also writes a short monthly blog which is informative and insightful and invites interaction with readers there -- good stuff!
September 18, 2021
I took my time starting this book. I had two book club books to read ahead of it, and I didn’t know what to expect. I was going off a rave review from a friend, but since I didn’t really know her reading choices and if they lined up with mine, I wasn’t sure that was enough to go on. But, she said it was really good. I took the plunge and purchased it.
When I did start, I thought - okay, so this guy can write, so even if the story isn’t great at least reading it won’t be a slog. As it turned out, not only was the writing compelling, but the storyline pulled me in. I found myself devoting a significant chunk of my Saturday morning finishing it. Not because I didn’t have things more productive to do, but because I really needed to know how it finished. I didn’t dare stop reading.
I can’t say as that was completely answered since this is the first book in what appears to be a series, but the cliffhanger ending was satisfying and left me wanting to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to see what wild ride awaits in Vespling Book 2.
When I did start, I thought - okay, so this guy can write, so even if the story isn’t great at least reading it won’t be a slog. As it turned out, not only was the writing compelling, but the storyline pulled me in. I found myself devoting a significant chunk of my Saturday morning finishing it. Not because I didn’t have things more productive to do, but because I really needed to know how it finished. I didn’t dare stop reading.
I can’t say as that was completely answered since this is the first book in what appears to be a series, but the cliffhanger ending was satisfying and left me wanting to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to see what wild ride awaits in Vespling Book 2.
October 8, 2021
Reading The Last Beekeeper was a step out of my comfort zone, and while I am not normally a sci-fi/thriller kind of girl, I liked the cover, the blurb and premise, so as a break from my usual romance and women's fiction novels, I decided to give it a shot. I’m so please I did.
This book grips you right from the start, albeit gently at first, but as you travel through the pages, that grip strengthens to the point where you are almost too scared to keep reading...but you know you must.
I loved the author's style. Even the technical information about bees was easy to read and relatable. The narrative moved along effortlessly, to the point where I found myself reading well into the night without realizing it.
The author has done a great job here, with richly drawn characters, believable dialogue, and a story line that keeps you invested until the last page. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
This book grips you right from the start, albeit gently at first, but as you travel through the pages, that grip strengthens to the point where you are almost too scared to keep reading...but you know you must.
I loved the author's style. Even the technical information about bees was easy to read and relatable. The narrative moved along effortlessly, to the point where I found myself reading well into the night without realizing it.
The author has done a great job here, with richly drawn characters, believable dialogue, and a story line that keeps you invested until the last page. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
June 26, 2023
I'm a big baby. Thrillers, horrors, and the paranormal are not my forte... I'm the kind of person that jumps at Disney movie jumpscares.
This was a riveting book. It led my heart rate into a gallop more than once. My wild imagination did me no favours with what was happening in this novel AND I LOVE and hate, the fact that it isn't all butterflies and rainbows! It's a difficult relationship I have with happy endings - I like the giddy feeling of relief... But in my heart I know things hardly end such ways. Endings like the one in 'The Last Beekeeper' are far more realistic.
I can confidently say, this was one hell of a page turner for me. I was engrossed and emerged only when I had finished the novel. Everything felt important in the book and I loved that. The tragic end - with a slim slim chance of damage control in the sequel was so refreshing. Lastly, instilling a sense of unease and anticipation, super uncomfortable but a sign of a dang good novel!
This was a riveting book. It led my heart rate into a gallop more than once. My wild imagination did me no favours with what was happening in this novel AND I LOVE and hate, the fact that it isn't all butterflies and rainbows! It's a difficult relationship I have with happy endings - I like the giddy feeling of relief... But in my heart I know things hardly end such ways. Endings like the one in 'The Last Beekeeper' are far more realistic.
I can confidently say, this was one hell of a page turner for me. I was engrossed and emerged only when I had finished the novel. Everything felt important in the book and I loved that. The tragic end - with a slim slim chance of damage control in the sequel was so refreshing. Lastly, instilling a sense of unease and anticipation, super uncomfortable but a sign of a dang good novel!
January 6, 2022
I did not see that coming!
What a thrill ride this book was. As a horticulturist, I was intrigued by the premise of this book. As our honeybees are in trouble, wouldn't it be great if science and genetics could find us a solution?! Well after reading this book, I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Man does have a tendency to want to play God and that usually doesn't end well. This story sucked me in right from the get go and never slowed down. And that ending!! Jared Gulian did an amazing job with this book, especially with having a lot of scientific jargon (don't worry, it is written in a way that everyone will understand...don't want to scare anyone off!) I cannot wait for the next one! Highly recommend!
What a thrill ride this book was. As a horticulturist, I was intrigued by the premise of this book. As our honeybees are in trouble, wouldn't it be great if science and genetics could find us a solution?! Well after reading this book, I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Man does have a tendency to want to play God and that usually doesn't end well. This story sucked me in right from the get go and never slowed down. And that ending!! Jared Gulian did an amazing job with this book, especially with having a lot of scientific jargon (don't worry, it is written in a way that everyone will understand...don't want to scare anyone off!) I cannot wait for the next one! Highly recommend!
September 1, 2022
Nothing could have prepared me for the events that happened here.
Finally a book where the characters are actually believable people with real character, and where not everyone is on their prime years.
Jim really thought nothing could happen if he moved his family to a remote and small island, little did he know he put himself and his daugther in the middle of danger, who could have predicted what the bee's shortage might trigger? Certainly not this small town. The ending was amazing. I definitely book the second book to come along because I just need to know what happens.
The only reason is not a 5 stars read is because sometimes Jim would bore me with his bees talk, he could have keep it shorter, but regardless, stay until the end, because it will be worth it.
Finally a book where the characters are actually believable people with real character, and where not everyone is on their prime years.
Jim really thought nothing could happen if he moved his family to a remote and small island, little did he know he put himself and his daugther in the middle of danger, who could have predicted what the bee's shortage might trigger? Certainly not this small town. The ending was amazing. I definitely book the second book to come along because I just need to know what happens.
The only reason is not a 5 stars read is because sometimes Jim would bore me with his bees talk, he could have keep it shorter, but regardless, stay until the end, because it will be worth it.
December 22, 2023
A fast-paced, entertaining read. I was able to dedicate my full attention to this book and forget about the world for a few hours. All in all, it’s a page turner. However, the characters are not to my liking. They are all stubborn and lack much depth other than the archetypes they are trying to fill. No way in hell would a father tell his daughter 10 times to stay in her room. And no way in hell would a daughter act so insubordinate to her father during such a moment of crisis. Also the potential romance in the book is quite weird. I cannot imagine a romance taking a place within the time span of the story, especially with what’s at stake. I will still read this next instalment since I can feel potential and generally enjoyed the read.
November 15, 2021
Compelling story, very gripping, I couldn't let my Kindle down!
The suspense builds up until you're biting your fingers wondering what will jump at you in the dark (I read at night, so that didn't help!) and it gets legitimately scary at times, not only because of the creatures we encounter (that intro played with my head!), but because the fiction is way too close to reality for comfort.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and recommend it to anyone who likes a good thriller in an alternate reality that could all too well become our own soon enough.
I'll never see bees the same way again!
The suspense builds up until you're biting your fingers wondering what will jump at you in the dark (I read at night, so that didn't help!) and it gets legitimately scary at times, not only because of the creatures we encounter (that intro played with my head!), but because the fiction is way too close to reality for comfort.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and recommend it to anyone who likes a good thriller in an alternate reality that could all too well become our own soon enough.
I'll never see bees the same way again!
July 19, 2022
What a fantastic sci-fi, Thriller, murder mystery with a dash of horror novel!
I can’t believe a story about the extinction of 🐝 could have me on the edge of my seat. I throughly enjoyed Jared Gulian “The last beekeeper”
The Last Beekeeper is set on an island in Lake Michigan, an incredibly intoxicating- thought provoking novel about the endangered life of 🐝 and what would happen to humanity if they cease to exist.
A page turner filled with scientific/ nerdy topics about the manipulation of genetics of bees and animals and how dangerous it could be to be playing with it.
This is a MUST read!
I’m looking forward to book 2!
I can’t believe a story about the extinction of 🐝 could have me on the edge of my seat. I throughly enjoyed Jared Gulian “The last beekeeper”
The Last Beekeeper is set on an island in Lake Michigan, an incredibly intoxicating- thought provoking novel about the endangered life of 🐝 and what would happen to humanity if they cease to exist.
A page turner filled with scientific/ nerdy topics about the manipulation of genetics of bees and animals and how dangerous it could be to be playing with it.
This is a MUST read!
I’m looking forward to book 2!
July 13, 2021
Suspenseful and intriguing
I felt like I was on the island and part of the community. This novel made me appreciate bees and nature. The characters were real and I felt concerned for their welfare as I was drawn into what was happening. Suspenseful and intriguing. I appreciated the skillful descriptions. Thank you.
I felt like I was on the island and part of the community. This novel made me appreciate bees and nature. The characters were real and I felt concerned for their welfare as I was drawn into what was happening. Suspenseful and intriguing. I appreciated the skillful descriptions. Thank you.
June 4, 2022
Loved it and will read the sequel. Set slightly in the future when the varroa mite has wiped out large portions of the honeybee population, big business is trying the genetically engineer a bee that will survive. But, of course, they do not foresee all the ramifications of their meddling nor take enough care so that the things they could control are not controlled. All too possible!
August 19, 2023
Having recently delved into the pages of "The Last Beekeeper" by Jared Gulian, I was swept away by the gripping narrative and immersive storytelling. The sense of unease and anticipation only grew stronger as the story progressed. "The Last Beekeeper" is a remarkable blend of suspense, mystery, and science fiction. I can't wait to read more from this series!
May 28, 2024
There were twists I did not expect. There were times when I couldn't guess what was going to happen next. This book was chilling and had me shaking in my boots!
Fantastic Story telling. You could feel the hard mahi (work) that went into this book.
This book deserves big buzz ! Cannot wait to see what's in store for the following books in the Vespling series.
Fantastic Story telling. You could feel the hard mahi (work) that went into this book.
This book deserves big buzz ! Cannot wait to see what's in store for the following books in the Vespling series.
July 15, 2021
Not too far into the future of bee collapse...
I like a good series to get hooked into and this fitted the bill: Set just a few steps into a very probable future, and a fun, fast paced story to keep you going. I'm looking forward to the next installment..
I like a good series to get hooked into and this fitted the bill: Set just a few steps into a very probable future, and a fun, fast paced story to keep you going. I'm looking forward to the next installment..
December 14, 2021
A great read
This an extremely well written sci-fi book. The story is fast paced, believable,well researched and leaves you wanting to read the whole series as it comes out. I highly recommend it.
This an extremely well written sci-fi book. The story is fast paced, believable,well researched and leaves you wanting to read the whole series as it comes out. I highly recommend it.
August 8, 2022
Fast-moving plot, some I saw coming, some I did not. I would like to have seen the characters in more depth, maybe in Book 2! Lots of dangling plot lines in this one but I will definitely continue the series.
Audio book for this one.
Audio book for this one.
September 9, 2022
A thriller of a science fiction book that I couldn’t put down. The characters and setting, of Gull Island, are clearly formed in the eye of the reader as the story takes one dramatic turn to the next.
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