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The Honeybee Emeralds
Alice Ahmadi has never been certain of where she belongs. When she discovers a famed emerald necklace while interning at a struggling Parisian magazine, she is plunged into a glittering world of diamonds and emeralds, courtesans and spies, and the long-buried secrets surrounding the necklace and its glamorous former owners.
When Alice realizes the mysterious Honeybee Emeralds could be her chance to save the magazine, she recruits her friends Lily and Daphne to form the “Fellowship of the Necklace.” Together, they set out to uncover the romantic history of the gems. Through diaries, letters, and investigations through the winding streets and iconic historic landmarks of Paris, the trio begins to unravel more than just the secrets of the necklace’s obsolete past. Along the way, Lily and Daphne’s relationships are challenged, tempered, and changed. Lily faces her long-standing attraction to a friend, who has achieved the writing success that eluded her. Daphne confronts her failing relationship with her husband, while also facing simmering problems in her friendship with Lily. And, at last, Alice finds her place in the world—although one mystery still remains: how did the Honeybee Emeralds go from the neck of American singer Josephine Baker during the Roaring Twenties to the basement of a Parisian magazine?
When Alice realizes the mysterious Honeybee Emeralds could be her chance to save the magazine, she recruits her friends Lily and Daphne to form the “Fellowship of the Necklace.” Together, they set out to uncover the romantic history of the gems. Through diaries, letters, and investigations through the winding streets and iconic historic landmarks of Paris, the trio begins to unravel more than just the secrets of the necklace’s obsolete past. Along the way, Lily and Daphne’s relationships are challenged, tempered, and changed. Lily faces her long-standing attraction to a friend, who has achieved the writing success that eluded her. Daphne confronts her failing relationship with her husband, while also facing simmering problems in her friendship with Lily. And, at last, Alice finds her place in the world—although one mystery still remains: how did the Honeybee Emeralds go from the neck of American singer Josephine Baker during the Roaring Twenties to the basement of a Parisian magazine?
338 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
16 people are currently reading
4635 people want to read
About the author
Amy Tector
6 books108 followersAmy Tector has spent more than 20 years plumbing the secrets squirrelled away in archives - whether it's uncovering a whale's ear (true story) in a box of old photographs, or working for the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, she has been privy to hidden records and extraordinary secrets.
She now works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada and is adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a sessional instructor at Carleton University.
Amy has a PhD in English literature from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and now lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil.
She now works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada and is adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a sessional instructor at Carleton University.
Amy has a PhD in English literature from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles and now lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
March 29, 2022
The Honeybee Emeralds by Amy Tector
Narrated by Lameece Issaq
In present day Paris, shy, naïve Alice stumbles upon a famed diamond and emerald necklace. The magazine she works for, Bonjour Paris, is about to fold but the discovery of this necklace could be the big break they need by featuring this necklace as the cover story an upcoming issue. On the heels of finding the necklace, a rival magazine appears to be doing a story on it, also. Turns out there must be a leak among those connected to Bonjour Paris so the “Fellowship of the Necklace” must work fast to dig up everything they can about the origins of the necklace, where it's been since it's creation, and how it wound up in the basement of the magazine's building.
We go back in time to a mistress of one of the Napoleons, then to a famous spy, then to Josephine Baker. All those people and timelines are intertwined with the present day search and struggles of those who are trying to put together the story for Bonjour Paris. Making up the fellowship with Alice, is Luc, the owner of the magazine, Lily, the editor, wealthy Daphne, Lily's friend, Alexander, the man who was there when Alice discovered the necklace, and Jacob, a successful writer and college friend of Lily's. But there is distrust among them as they each wonder who could have told the competing magazine about the necklace.
The story is interesting but it does get bogged down with too many characters and too many transitions to different times and people. Alice is twenty three but her voice is so young, like a child's voice. Daphne is so selfish and immature its hard to see why anyone could stand to be around her. It was nice to know that the other characters agree with me about Daphne and some of them let her know their thoughts. A few characters seemed to whisper when they talk so I had to raise the volume for their dialogue. Plus there is a lot of "telling" in the story, especially when one character is reading a letter for us, at the end of the book.
Do read other reviews since so many people loved the story and got more from it than I did. I do think I'd have enjoyed spending more time in the past with the former owners of the necklace than in the present time, with all the childish squabbles among the fellowship and those associated with them. In the afterword, it's very interesting to learn what parts of the story are factual and what parts of the story are fictional.
Published March 29th 2022
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
Narrated by Lameece Issaq
In present day Paris, shy, naïve Alice stumbles upon a famed diamond and emerald necklace. The magazine she works for, Bonjour Paris, is about to fold but the discovery of this necklace could be the big break they need by featuring this necklace as the cover story an upcoming issue. On the heels of finding the necklace, a rival magazine appears to be doing a story on it, also. Turns out there must be a leak among those connected to Bonjour Paris so the “Fellowship of the Necklace” must work fast to dig up everything they can about the origins of the necklace, where it's been since it's creation, and how it wound up in the basement of the magazine's building.
We go back in time to a mistress of one of the Napoleons, then to a famous spy, then to Josephine Baker. All those people and timelines are intertwined with the present day search and struggles of those who are trying to put together the story for Bonjour Paris. Making up the fellowship with Alice, is Luc, the owner of the magazine, Lily, the editor, wealthy Daphne, Lily's friend, Alexander, the man who was there when Alice discovered the necklace, and Jacob, a successful writer and college friend of Lily's. But there is distrust among them as they each wonder who could have told the competing magazine about the necklace.
The story is interesting but it does get bogged down with too many characters and too many transitions to different times and people. Alice is twenty three but her voice is so young, like a child's voice. Daphne is so selfish and immature its hard to see why anyone could stand to be around her. It was nice to know that the other characters agree with me about Daphne and some of them let her know their thoughts. A few characters seemed to whisper when they talk so I had to raise the volume for their dialogue. Plus there is a lot of "telling" in the story, especially when one character is reading a letter for us, at the end of the book.
Do read other reviews since so many people loved the story and got more from it than I did. I do think I'd have enjoyed spending more time in the past with the former owners of the necklace than in the present time, with all the childish squabbles among the fellowship and those associated with them. In the afterword, it's very interesting to learn what parts of the story are factual and what parts of the story are fictional.
Published March 29th 2022
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
May 17, 2022
I must give out a salute to a Canadian author on her debut novel 🇨🇦
Off the bat I was intrigued by the premise. Alice works for a magazine in Paris (loved the setting and descriptions!) "Bonjour Paris" is a magazine that is in trouble of folding. One day Alice finds herself in the basement of the building looking through old trunks while a neighbour in the building, Alexander is also down there with her trying to find a fuse to turn on the heat in the building. They stumble upon a stunning emerald necklace with a honeybee motif in one of the trunks. An idea is formed to find out more about the necklace and feature it in a cover story to save the magazine.
Alice forms a team for this and affectionately names them, "The Fellowship of the Necklace."
We are introduced to the other characters. Lily, the editor, Luc, the owner and Lily's friends Daphne and Jacob. While on the hunt for information about the necklace we are also introduced to the many things going on in the characters personal lives.
It's a well researched and written book but I feel it got bogged down with too many characters and I was too distracted with the on-goings of their personal lives to focus on the necklace. Perhaps this is because I listened to the book. I think I would have enjoyed reading this one more.
The story does have some short chapters that delve into the past owners of the necklace and I really enjoyed those tidbits. I only wish there was more of that backstory. They were some interesting people!
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for granting me access to this Advance Listeners Copy.
Off the bat I was intrigued by the premise. Alice works for a magazine in Paris (loved the setting and descriptions!) "Bonjour Paris" is a magazine that is in trouble of folding. One day Alice finds herself in the basement of the building looking through old trunks while a neighbour in the building, Alexander is also down there with her trying to find a fuse to turn on the heat in the building. They stumble upon a stunning emerald necklace with a honeybee motif in one of the trunks. An idea is formed to find out more about the necklace and feature it in a cover story to save the magazine.
Alice forms a team for this and affectionately names them, "The Fellowship of the Necklace."
We are introduced to the other characters. Lily, the editor, Luc, the owner and Lily's friends Daphne and Jacob. While on the hunt for information about the necklace we are also introduced to the many things going on in the characters personal lives.
It's a well researched and written book but I feel it got bogged down with too many characters and I was too distracted with the on-goings of their personal lives to focus on the necklace. Perhaps this is because I listened to the book. I think I would have enjoyed reading this one more.
The story does have some short chapters that delve into the past owners of the necklace and I really enjoyed those tidbits. I only wish there was more of that backstory. They were some interesting people!
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for granting me access to this Advance Listeners Copy.
March 26, 2022
This has to be one of the most stunning covers I’ve ever seen. This is the ARC, so imagine the finished cover. Gorgeous! Inside I found the most unique story.
About the book: “Alice Ahmadi has never been certain of where she belongs. When she discovers a famed emerald necklace while interning at a struggling Parisian magazine, she is plunged into a glittering world of diamonds and emeralds, courtesans and spies, and the long-buried secrets surrounding the necklace and its glamorous former owners.”
I love it when a story is built around an intriguing artifact of some sort, especially jewelry that can withstand the test of time. The Honeybee Emeralds is set in modern Paris, but it’s full of history. Alice discovers a diamond and emerald necklace with a honeybee pendant featured. There’s a story behind this necklace; Alice is certain of that. The magazine editor she works for thinks this will be just the story to save their magazine. A small team is formed to do the research.
This necklace has strong historical connections, but no spoilers here. The characters are well-drawn and likable. I couldn’t help but root for them all. Love love loved the chapter titles. They connected me to the story all the more. The Honeybee Emeralds is a clever treasure hunt with the perfect mix of plot and characters. Historical fans should love this endearing story. I certainly did.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
About the book: “Alice Ahmadi has never been certain of where she belongs. When she discovers a famed emerald necklace while interning at a struggling Parisian magazine, she is plunged into a glittering world of diamonds and emeralds, courtesans and spies, and the long-buried secrets surrounding the necklace and its glamorous former owners.”
I love it when a story is built around an intriguing artifact of some sort, especially jewelry that can withstand the test of time. The Honeybee Emeralds is set in modern Paris, but it’s full of history. Alice discovers a diamond and emerald necklace with a honeybee pendant featured. There’s a story behind this necklace; Alice is certain of that. The magazine editor she works for thinks this will be just the story to save their magazine. A small team is formed to do the research.
This necklace has strong historical connections, but no spoilers here. The characters are well-drawn and likable. I couldn’t help but root for them all. Love love loved the chapter titles. They connected me to the story all the more. The Honeybee Emeralds is a clever treasure hunt with the perfect mix of plot and characters. Historical fans should love this endearing story. I certainly did.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
January 23, 2023
This would make a fab book club selection! 📖
March 12, 2022
Name of Book: The Honeybee Emeralds
Author: Amy Tector
Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: March 29, 2022
My Rating: 4 +Stars
Story starts with Alice Ahmadi, an intern with the “Bonjour Paris’ magazine and is in the basement as the heat is out and she is trying to locate why. The magazine is financial not doing well~ is the lack of heat a sign of worst things ahead? However when she and neighbor Alexander are busy hunting for the fuse box, they find an old storeroom full of costumes and also find a necklace with what looks like a diamond and emerald with a honeybee pendant. They tell Lily the “Bonjour Paris’, editor; she gets excited that perhaps the necklace is a famous lost necklace. A story about such a find just might be what can save the magazine.
Lily, Alice and Lily’s friend Daphne plus Alexander, Luc the Magazine owner and Jacob the “hot” writer, form the “Fellowship of the Necklace” and are off to investigate. Their research takes them to 1860 France where they discover that the necklace was owned by three Historical characters.
This story was so much fun. I am not a big fan of Historical Fiction especially WWII sad stories and usually am cautious when selecting a Historical Fiction story but this was a GREAT choice as it was sooo enjoyable! It kept me interested ~ loved the ending!
Personal Note: True I could have done without the unnecessary nasty language but that’s me!
I did enjoy the story ~ So many pluses ~
• Amy Tector’s chapter titles are great!!
• Audio narrator Lameece Issaq did a great job performing the characters and, of course, did a
beautiful job with their accents.
• Awww the life lesson with the medicine ball analogy and
• “People who are hurting ~ usually hurt other people”.
• Plus I need to remember to start an “Appreciation Journal”.
I always enjoyed reading the ‘Author’s Notes’. In this case Ms. Tector tells us what parts of the story is true and what is her imagination!
Looking forward to the next Amy Tector adventure!
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 29, 2022.
Author: Amy Tector
Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: March 29, 2022
My Rating: 4 +Stars
Story starts with Alice Ahmadi, an intern with the “Bonjour Paris’ magazine and is in the basement as the heat is out and she is trying to locate why. The magazine is financial not doing well~ is the lack of heat a sign of worst things ahead? However when she and neighbor Alexander are busy hunting for the fuse box, they find an old storeroom full of costumes and also find a necklace with what looks like a diamond and emerald with a honeybee pendant. They tell Lily the “Bonjour Paris’, editor; she gets excited that perhaps the necklace is a famous lost necklace. A story about such a find just might be what can save the magazine.
Lily, Alice and Lily’s friend Daphne plus Alexander, Luc the Magazine owner and Jacob the “hot” writer, form the “Fellowship of the Necklace” and are off to investigate. Their research takes them to 1860 France where they discover that the necklace was owned by three Historical characters.
This story was so much fun. I am not a big fan of Historical Fiction especially WWII sad stories and usually am cautious when selecting a Historical Fiction story but this was a GREAT choice as it was sooo enjoyable! It kept me interested ~ loved the ending!
Personal Note: True I could have done without the unnecessary nasty language but that’s me!
I did enjoy the story ~ So many pluses ~
• Amy Tector’s chapter titles are great!!
• Audio narrator Lameece Issaq did a great job performing the characters and, of course, did a
beautiful job with their accents.
• Awww the life lesson with the medicine ball analogy and
• “People who are hurting ~ usually hurt other people”.
• Plus I need to remember to start an “Appreciation Journal”.
I always enjoyed reading the ‘Author’s Notes’. In this case Ms. Tector tells us what parts of the story is true and what is her imagination!
Looking forward to the next Amy Tector adventure!
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 29, 2022.
April 25, 2022
3⭐️
The Honeybee Emeralds was for me a mystery trip that went around and round. Lots of characters and lots of back stories. I’m going to be honest here and say that I didn’t think this was a great one for audio listening.
I had trouble keeping things straight and I felt like the story was only on the surface of each character.
And at one point I felt like everything might come together and just fell flat.
The narrator was Lameece Issaq and she did a great job.
Will I read another by this author? Probably.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.
The Honeybee Emeralds was for me a mystery trip that went around and round. Lots of characters and lots of back stories. I’m going to be honest here and say that I didn’t think this was a great one for audio listening.
I had trouble keeping things straight and I felt like the story was only on the surface of each character.
And at one point I felt like everything might come together and just fell flat.
The narrator was Lameece Issaq and she did a great job.
Will I read another by this author? Probably.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.
April 11, 2022
The story of the necklace was interesting enough to just hold my attention but the characters were insufferable and made it very hard for me to like this book
This is kind of a spoiler but not really that specific and honestly I don't recommend the book but I'm hiding it anyways
This is kind of a spoiler but not really that specific and honestly I don't recommend the book but I'm hiding it anyways
April 17, 2022
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
I absolutely loved this novel! THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS is a fun adventure filled with friendship, jewelry and historical secrets.
It takes place in modern-day Paris, and focuses on three intelligent women with a connection to an expat magazine, BONJOUR PARIS. When one of them finds a beautiful diamond and emerald necklace in the magazine's basement, the three women, along with quiet Icelandic neighbour Alexander, Handsome writer Jacob and snarky magazine-owner Luc band together to find the jewell's provenance.
They soon discover that the necklace was once owned by a trio of fabulous real-life historical divas. I loved the glimpse of Parisian life, the historical elements and the hints of romance. This is a great friendship novel with some laugh out loud moments.
I absolutely loved this novel! THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS is a fun adventure filled with friendship, jewelry and historical secrets.
It takes place in modern-day Paris, and focuses on three intelligent women with a connection to an expat magazine, BONJOUR PARIS. When one of them finds a beautiful diamond and emerald necklace in the magazine's basement, the three women, along with quiet Icelandic neighbour Alexander, Handsome writer Jacob and snarky magazine-owner Luc band together to find the jewell's provenance.
They soon discover that the necklace was once owned by a trio of fabulous real-life historical divas. I loved the glimpse of Parisian life, the historical elements and the hints of romance. This is a great friendship novel with some laugh out loud moments.
May 11, 2022
This is so much fun! Very unique characters and storyline. Give it a shot!
April 5, 2022
Mysterious, engaging, and absorbing!
The Honeybee Emeralds is an alluring tale that sweeps you away to Paris and into the offices of the failing ex-pat magazine, Bonjour Paris, as after finding a priceless emerald necklace in the basement of the building, a varied group of employees and personalities endeavour to discover the history and provenance of this beautiful piece, that may have ties to Napoleon III and famed singer Josephine Baker, in order to return it to its true owner and potentially save their careers.
The writing is smooth and descriptive. The characters are multilayered, inquisitive, and resourceful. And the plot is a compelling tale filled with familial drama, mystique, relationship dynamics, secrets, expectations, friendship, history, self-discovery, and a little romance.
Overall, The Honeybee Emeralds is a heartwarming, intriguing, romantic tale by Tector that was a pleasure to read and ultimately left me captivated, entertained, and highly satisfied.
Thank you to Turner Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Honeybee Emeralds is an alluring tale that sweeps you away to Paris and into the offices of the failing ex-pat magazine, Bonjour Paris, as after finding a priceless emerald necklace in the basement of the building, a varied group of employees and personalities endeavour to discover the history and provenance of this beautiful piece, that may have ties to Napoleon III and famed singer Josephine Baker, in order to return it to its true owner and potentially save their careers.
The writing is smooth and descriptive. The characters are multilayered, inquisitive, and resourceful. And the plot is a compelling tale filled with familial drama, mystique, relationship dynamics, secrets, expectations, friendship, history, self-discovery, and a little romance.
Overall, The Honeybee Emeralds is a heartwarming, intriguing, romantic tale by Tector that was a pleasure to read and ultimately left me captivated, entertained, and highly satisfied.
Thank you to Turner Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2022
The Honeybee Emeralds by Amy Tector is an engaging and intriguing tale that held my imagination captive throughout. At its heart is a mystery that will whisk you away to both modern Paris and the Roaring Twenties of Josephine Baker.
When a famous emerald necklace is found in the basement of the offices of a Parisian magazine, Alice Ahmadi finds herself at the centre of a mystery that has been decades in the making. Setting out to uncover the question of how the legendary Honeybee Emeralds ended up in the bowels of the French office, Alice will discover long hidden secrets and the glamour of days past, while also finding, at last, a place for herself.
This is a wonderfully crafted and richly descriptive mystery that might have passed me by had I not won an ARC to read and review. Thanks to Goodreads, Amy Tector, and the publishers for the gift of this novel.
When a famous emerald necklace is found in the basement of the offices of a Parisian magazine, Alice Ahmadi finds herself at the centre of a mystery that has been decades in the making. Setting out to uncover the question of how the legendary Honeybee Emeralds ended up in the bowels of the French office, Alice will discover long hidden secrets and the glamour of days past, while also finding, at last, a place for herself.
This is a wonderfully crafted and richly descriptive mystery that might have passed me by had I not won an ARC to read and review. Thanks to Goodreads, Amy Tector, and the publishers for the gift of this novel.
March 18, 2022
I believe I’m in the minority on this one, but I didn’t love this book. The premise is actually great. A young intern at a boutique magazine, Bonjour Paris, accidentally discovers a very ornate necklace in the basement of her office building. It is the Honeybee necklace—gold filigree with diamonds and two large perfect emeralds. It is when the story leaves Alice and adds a cast of other characters fondly known as the “The Fellowship of the Necklace” that it loses me. All the added personalities detract from the story of the necklace. Lily, Daphne, Jacob, Luc, and Alexander were all interesting, but I feel like on the whole their personal baggage wasn’t essential to the story.
The flashbacks to the necklace’s origins were fascinating. Starting with it’s first owner, Napoleon’s mistress, then to Mata Hari, and even later to Josephine Baker, we see a pattern of strong dare I say diva women who have the panache to wear such an ostentatious necklace. I would have loved more of the provenance stories and less of the modern timeline that felt like a slow race to me.
Overall, this was generally an entertaining read, I just didn’t care for the current timeline’s cast of characters and their “perfect happy endings” rang a little false to me. I will say the audiobook narrator did an amazing job with all the different accents and kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Audio and of course Amy Tector for the advanced copy. The Honeybee Emeralds comes out on March 29th. All opinions are my own.
Http://www.Instagram.com/passionforprose
The flashbacks to the necklace’s origins were fascinating. Starting with it’s first owner, Napoleon’s mistress, then to Mata Hari, and even later to Josephine Baker, we see a pattern of strong dare I say diva women who have the panache to wear such an ostentatious necklace. I would have loved more of the provenance stories and less of the modern timeline that felt like a slow race to me.
Overall, this was generally an entertaining read, I just didn’t care for the current timeline’s cast of characters and their “perfect happy endings” rang a little false to me. I will say the audiobook narrator did an amazing job with all the different accents and kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Audio and of course Amy Tector for the advanced copy. The Honeybee Emeralds comes out on March 29th. All opinions are my own.
Http://www.Instagram.com/passionforprose
March 28, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed The Honeybee Emeralds! It has a little bit of everything: history, mystery, family drama and romance.
Alice, a summer intern at Bonjour Paris, an English-language periodical aimed at ex-pats, discovers a gorgeous necklace in a jacket pocket in a storeroom full of costumes, while in the building’s basement with Alexander, who is trying to get the heat in the old building back on. This necklace is the Honeybee Emeralds of the title, a diamond and emerald necklace with a honeybee motif. A research team forms (“The Fellowship of the Necklace, is Alice’s term), with Alice, Alex (a neighbor of the magazine’s), Lily, the editor, Luc, the owner, plus Daphne, Lily’s friend and art expert, and Jacob, another of Lily’s friends, a well-known journalist/author. An information hunt ensues, gradually turning up evidence of the necklace’s storied history (no spoilers!). There’s also a rivalry with another ex-pat magazine, to spice things up. There’s a bit too much “telling” near the end, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment.
The chapter titles are amusing and add a nice flavor. I wasn’t fond of Daphne, such a whiner! But the other characters were all interesting in their own ways, including the long-time office manager of the magazine, Elise. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Lameece Issaq, did an excellent job with the many voices and accents.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
Alice, a summer intern at Bonjour Paris, an English-language periodical aimed at ex-pats, discovers a gorgeous necklace in a jacket pocket in a storeroom full of costumes, while in the building’s basement with Alexander, who is trying to get the heat in the old building back on. This necklace is the Honeybee Emeralds of the title, a diamond and emerald necklace with a honeybee motif. A research team forms (“The Fellowship of the Necklace, is Alice’s term), with Alice, Alex (a neighbor of the magazine’s), Lily, the editor, Luc, the owner, plus Daphne, Lily’s friend and art expert, and Jacob, another of Lily’s friends, a well-known journalist/author. An information hunt ensues, gradually turning up evidence of the necklace’s storied history (no spoilers!). There’s also a rivalry with another ex-pat magazine, to spice things up. There’s a bit too much “telling” near the end, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment.
The chapter titles are amusing and add a nice flavor. I wasn’t fond of Daphne, such a whiner! But the other characters were all interesting in their own ways, including the long-time office manager of the magazine, Elise. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Lameece Issaq, did an excellent job with the many voices and accents.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
November 4, 2021
I received an advance copy of this debut novel and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in modern-day Paris, this mystery starts in a dark basement as Bonjour Paris magazine intern Alice fumbles with neighbor Alexander to find a fuse box in their cold office building. In a frightened rush she finds an apparently forgotten storeroom full of beautiful costumes which lead to another discovery: a vibrant diamond and emerald necklace with golden honeybee pendant. Could it be real? They share the find with Lily, the magazine’s editor, who decides this might be the big story they need to keep the magazine from folding. Together they recruit a small team (calling themselves the Fellowship of the Necklace) to learn the history of the honeybee emeralds before anyone else does.
The story moves quickly as the team makes connections between the necklace and the likes of a French emperor’s mistress, Mata Hari, and Josephine Baker. I liked the interaction among all the characters (even minor players) the Parisian ex-pat world, and the hints of romance, as well as the inclusion of historical figures. Looking forward to seeing more from Tector.
Highly recommended
The story moves quickly as the team makes connections between the necklace and the likes of a French emperor’s mistress, Mata Hari, and Josephine Baker. I liked the interaction among all the characters (even minor players) the Parisian ex-pat world, and the hints of romance, as well as the inclusion of historical figures. Looking forward to seeing more from Tector.
Highly recommended
January 25, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this novel, the thoughts and opinions that follow are my own.
This novel is such an enthralling and atmospheric ride. The story follows a motley crew as they solve the mystery of the Honeybee Emeralds while navigating life, love and friendship. The author writes distinctly voiced, strong females with such clarity, you feel as though you’ve met each of the characters. She makes them real, develops them so fully that you find yourself identifying with them all. The pace of the story keeps you hooked while also revealing poetic and immersive setting description. You are instantly transported between times and places. You can smell the fresh air and taste the flaky pastry.
The twists and turns of this plot are just as labyrinthine as the basement tunnels below the Bonjour Paris offices.
I highly recommend this novel.
This novel is such an enthralling and atmospheric ride. The story follows a motley crew as they solve the mystery of the Honeybee Emeralds while navigating life, love and friendship. The author writes distinctly voiced, strong females with such clarity, you feel as though you’ve met each of the characters. She makes them real, develops them so fully that you find yourself identifying with them all. The pace of the story keeps you hooked while also revealing poetic and immersive setting description. You are instantly transported between times and places. You can smell the fresh air and taste the flaky pastry.
The twists and turns of this plot are just as labyrinthine as the basement tunnels below the Bonjour Paris offices.
I highly recommend this novel.
March 11, 2022
Where to begin? I devoured this book and was sad when it ended.
The Honeybee Emeralds is an intellectual treasure hunt reminiscent of Byatt's Possession and Kadish's The Weight of Ink, only get this -- it's set in Paris and features a mysterious diamond and emerald necklace found in an extensive complex of rooms and tunnels in the dark basement under a struggling expat magazine, Bonjour Paris.
The finder of the necklace is Alice, the most immediately lovable of all of the characters. She is a highly intelligent but equally insecure young immigrant who is interning at the magazine. When she shares the find with American editor Lily, they hatch a plan to discover the history of the exquisite and distinctive piece of jewelry and create a story big enough to save the magazine. Joining in the plot are Daphne, an expert in old art, working with the United Nations International Art Registry, Luc, the owner of the magazine, Jacob, a well-known writer, and Alexander (we cannot forget the awesome Alexander) a large, seemingly surly perfumer who happened to be with Alice when she discovered the necklace.
This cast of characters is fully human -- all have insecurities and flaws and some come across as not particularly likeable in the beginning, but they all grew on me as the story progressed. As they explore the mystery they grow as human beings -- and yes, there are some delicious romantic moments as well.
The unravelling mystery takes us into the reading rooms of Parisian libraries where we get to explore not only books but collections of old letters, as well as parts of Paris that more "touristy" books don't take us. The uncovered history winds through the WWII resistance, historical courtesans and royalty, divas of the stage, and more.
Finally, the writing is elegant and adept, full of psychological insights and references to delightful bits of culture and books and history.
One of my favorite books in a good long while.
The Honeybee Emeralds is an intellectual treasure hunt reminiscent of Byatt's Possession and Kadish's The Weight of Ink, only get this -- it's set in Paris and features a mysterious diamond and emerald necklace found in an extensive complex of rooms and tunnels in the dark basement under a struggling expat magazine, Bonjour Paris.
The finder of the necklace is Alice, the most immediately lovable of all of the characters. She is a highly intelligent but equally insecure young immigrant who is interning at the magazine. When she shares the find with American editor Lily, they hatch a plan to discover the history of the exquisite and distinctive piece of jewelry and create a story big enough to save the magazine. Joining in the plot are Daphne, an expert in old art, working with the United Nations International Art Registry, Luc, the owner of the magazine, Jacob, a well-known writer, and Alexander (we cannot forget the awesome Alexander) a large, seemingly surly perfumer who happened to be with Alice when she discovered the necklace.
This cast of characters is fully human -- all have insecurities and flaws and some come across as not particularly likeable in the beginning, but they all grew on me as the story progressed. As they explore the mystery they grow as human beings -- and yes, there are some delicious romantic moments as well.
The unravelling mystery takes us into the reading rooms of Parisian libraries where we get to explore not only books but collections of old letters, as well as parts of Paris that more "touristy" books don't take us. The uncovered history winds through the WWII resistance, historical courtesans and royalty, divas of the stage, and more.
Finally, the writing is elegant and adept, full of psychological insights and references to delightful bits of culture and books and history.
One of my favorite books in a good long while.
March 28, 2022
Imagine you stumble upon a priceless, unique heirloom necklace in an old costume jacket in the basement of your office. What would you do? Well, when Alice finds this necklace she pulls together a team of friends within the magazine she works in to discover its origins. The magazine is struggling to remain afloat after the death of its illustrious owner and her son is thinking of closing up shop. This "Fellowship of the Necklace" is formed, each member of the group is motivated differently. They are amazed by the glamour, intrigued by the history and driven with a hope to tell the true story and save the magazine in the process.
The amount of famous hands who touched this necklace throughout history is amazing. I liked the story was told mostly in the present with small chapters that gave us a window back to history. I was really intrigued by the different decades of history presented to us throughout France and how the necklace was used at different times by different women to get themselves out of scrapes. We see glitz and glam, beautiful love stories, scenes of war and intrigue.
Alice was my favorite character, a middle Eastern woman who immigrated to the EU serving as an intern to the magazine, she has nothing to claim as her own. She is sweet and innocent and so in awe of everything going on around her. Most of the rest of the "Fellowship of the Necklace" I could have taken or left. The women who held the necklace over the years though were all quite fascinating (I won't spoil them but they are all well known and full of intrigue). I did this one on audio and the narrator was great.
Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this audiobook. All opinions above are my own.
The amount of famous hands who touched this necklace throughout history is amazing. I liked the story was told mostly in the present with small chapters that gave us a window back to history. I was really intrigued by the different decades of history presented to us throughout France and how the necklace was used at different times by different women to get themselves out of scrapes. We see glitz and glam, beautiful love stories, scenes of war and intrigue.
Alice was my favorite character, a middle Eastern woman who immigrated to the EU serving as an intern to the magazine, she has nothing to claim as her own. She is sweet and innocent and so in awe of everything going on around her. Most of the rest of the "Fellowship of the Necklace" I could have taken or left. The women who held the necklace over the years though were all quite fascinating (I won't spoil them but they are all well known and full of intrigue). I did this one on audio and the narrator was great.
Thanks to Netgalley for advanced access to this audiobook. All opinions above are my own.
March 30, 2022
I loved this historical fiction. Listening to this drew me in right away, kept me engaged and hooked throughout the whole story. Listening to this story gave me an itch that made me want to go dig up an unsolved historical mystery and try to solve it, which is easier said than done.
This was so engrossing with each of the characters and their individual stories as well as the story of their group together investigating the mystery of the honeybee emerald necklace. Alice, who works at a magazine in Paris, goes to the neighbors to ask for help and while in the basement finds an old lot of costumes and in a coat pocket, she finds the honeybee emerald necklace, which she presents to her boss and then her boss tells the owner of the magazine about it and how they can use it to save the magazine. This group of friends becomes known as "the fellowship of the necklace" and they each have a part to play as they research and investigate this mystery.
Along the way, they unravel much more than just the secret of the necklace. Lily, Alice's boss, faces unresolved feelings with a long-time friend and the fact that she hasn't been writing like she wanted to years ago. Daphne, Lily's friend, and the Art specialist, who verifies the authenticity of the necklace, faces the issues with her struggling marriage and Alice finds her place where she belongs. There are a couple of lovely and heartfelt moments with romance and finding yourself and realizing/following your dream throughout. The mystery of the necklace is what drives and keeps everything tied together and going until the end when we find out the final key to the mystery of how the necklace ended up in the basement of their Parisian magazine building.
I couldn't listen to this fast enough to find out what the final key was and what happened with everyone.
Part of what kept me going and interested in this so much was the effect of listening to it on audio because I don't know that I would have been as engaged if I had been reading it. The narration on this one was lovely and well-done in my opinion. I was impressed by the fact that the narrator, Lameece Issaq, did all the voices so she sounded like multiple people speaking each part and not the same person. She did great in doing each character so you could tell which person was speaking and in building the world and drawing you into the story. If you haven't listened to or read this yet, then go check it out. It's very intriguing and wonderfully done.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for letting me listen to and review this 5-star story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was so engrossing with each of the characters and their individual stories as well as the story of their group together investigating the mystery of the honeybee emerald necklace. Alice, who works at a magazine in Paris, goes to the neighbors to ask for help and while in the basement finds an old lot of costumes and in a coat pocket, she finds the honeybee emerald necklace, which she presents to her boss and then her boss tells the owner of the magazine about it and how they can use it to save the magazine. This group of friends becomes known as "the fellowship of the necklace" and they each have a part to play as they research and investigate this mystery.
Along the way, they unravel much more than just the secret of the necklace. Lily, Alice's boss, faces unresolved feelings with a long-time friend and the fact that she hasn't been writing like she wanted to years ago. Daphne, Lily's friend, and the Art specialist, who verifies the authenticity of the necklace, faces the issues with her struggling marriage and Alice finds her place where she belongs. There are a couple of lovely and heartfelt moments with romance and finding yourself and realizing/following your dream throughout. The mystery of the necklace is what drives and keeps everything tied together and going until the end when we find out the final key to the mystery of how the necklace ended up in the basement of their Parisian magazine building.
I couldn't listen to this fast enough to find out what the final key was and what happened with everyone.
Part of what kept me going and interested in this so much was the effect of listening to it on audio because I don't know that I would have been as engaged if I had been reading it. The narration on this one was lovely and well-done in my opinion. I was impressed by the fact that the narrator, Lameece Issaq, did all the voices so she sounded like multiple people speaking each part and not the same person. She did great in doing each character so you could tell which person was speaking and in building the world and drawing you into the story. If you haven't listened to or read this yet, then go check it out. It's very intriguing and wonderfully done.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for letting me listen to and review this 5-star story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 19, 2022
The Honeybee Emeralds
by Amy Tector
Alice Ahmadi is in Paris interning for a magazine. Dream job right? Well maybe not since the magazine might soon go under. During a typical day at the office, the heat goes out and Alice finds herself in the basement with her hunky office neighbor Alex. Then the lights go out. As she stumbles about the labyrinthine basement, she discovers a room full of exquisite vintage chiffon, silk and velvet evening gowns, feathered hats and an assortment of wigs. But the biggest surprise of her subterranean adventure, is the bejeweled necklace found in a jacket pocket. How did the necklace end up in a musty old basement? And who does it belong to? The game is on. Publishing a story about the mysterious Honeybee Emeralds could be the break they need to save the magazine. Alice and a select group of office mates, whom she dubs “The Fellowship of the Necklace,” must uncover the mystery of the wardrobe and the provenance of the Honeybee Emeralds. Will they succeed in uncovering the secrets of the Honeybee Emeralds before being scooped by their arch rival magazine?
This delightfully well narrated cozy mystery strings together the legendary lives of some unforgettable historical women, including the indomitable Josephine Baker, in the quest to uncover the mystery of the Honeybee Emeralds. Be sure not to miss this splendid debut.
Coming soon - Pub Date 29 March 2022 . I extend my thanks to @netgally and Dreamscape Media for this advanced audio recording.
April 25, 2024
A mystery of a different sort and family-friendly - no violence, no cursing, no graphic sex.
Two magazines in Paris are rivals and operated by mostly 30-somethings.
People from the struggling company discover a centuries-old necklace comprised of dozens of diamonds and two large, gorgeous emeralds which becomes the subject of the next huge magazine "cover story" - it could save them from oblivion. It seems to have roots in the days of Napoleon but how has it turned up in the 21st century? The research begins and big names are involved.
The "Honeybee Emeralds" piece, as it is called, is a beautiful item, is missing a few of its 40 diamonds, and the main question is - who is now its legal owner? How did it end up where it was found? How are all of these things connected?
Good research is the key to a good story, which this book emphasizes. There are a lot of characters that somewhat confused this reader, but it was a fun read from a different POV than what I'm used to.
I picked this book just because of its title, but am glad I did.
Two magazines in Paris are rivals and operated by mostly 30-somethings.
People from the struggling company discover a centuries-old necklace comprised of dozens of diamonds and two large, gorgeous emeralds which becomes the subject of the next huge magazine "cover story" - it could save them from oblivion. It seems to have roots in the days of Napoleon but how has it turned up in the 21st century? The research begins and big names are involved.
The "Honeybee Emeralds" piece, as it is called, is a beautiful item, is missing a few of its 40 diamonds, and the main question is - who is now its legal owner? How did it end up where it was found? How are all of these things connected?
Good research is the key to a good story, which this book emphasizes. There are a lot of characters that somewhat confused this reader, but it was a fun read from a different POV than what I'm used to.
I picked this book just because of its title, but am glad I did.
March 17, 2022
I was a recipient of an advanced copy of this book and really had no expectations. At first I was unsure I would get into it as the story is told through from the perspective of several voices and I do not always find novels that do this gel given they sometimes are very superficial in their character development. This author however does a good job balancing the various characters with sufficient depth that you quickly get engrossed in the tale and invested in their respective stories and the end result isn’t entirely predictable. A worthwhile read overall. I look forward to reading more from this author.
March 17, 2022
For me this novel started a bit slow but as I continued to read I became more and more invested in the mystery of the Honeybee Emerald. The lengths this Fellowship (their name) team went to unravel this mystery was mesmerizing for me. A look into the French Emperor, Mata Hari and Josephine Baker. How did this beautiful piece end up forgotten in a cote pocket in the basement of a Paris magazine building? 4 stars and would recommend.
April 16, 2024
The Honeybee Emeralds is rich with not only history from three prominent women, but also a cast of characters that are all captivating in their own ways. The sleuthing and discovery of each secret tucked away in libraries or store rooms or journals kept me flipping the pages. There were some moments I could’ve done without, namely the history of the theatre performances mentioned in the book, but overall I very much enjoyed the Honeybee Emeralds.
March 31, 2022
The book was a slow burn and hit all the right notes for a cozy mystery. At first, it was the perfect way to wind down before bed, but as I neared the end, it kept me up wanting to see what happened. It had intrigue, history and thoughtful insights into the complicated nature of our relationships with friends, lovers and the past.
April 22, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it’s a good story. Right off the bat we’re presented with a fun mystery involving a very expensive and large necklace. This story proves to be interesting throughout, involving many famous and interesting characters, and that makes for an entertaining journey with the characters. I really liked the back story of these historical characters, and I think that Tector did a good job making an intriguing story about them and the honeybee emeralds.
In support of these historical characters and their part in the story, there were varying styles in the book such as letters, journals, texts between current characters, etc. I feel like sometimes these can be distracting or even unnecessary, but Tector did a good job of making them relevant and part of the story. I dislike it when I find that these “supplemental materials” don’t add anything. I don’t like cryptic relevancy or confusion. But I‘m happy to report that these supplemental materials added to the story, felt relevant, and furthered Tector’s storyline.
My mixed feelings come in with the writing. First off, I think that Alice was intended to be the main character (as the finder of the Honeybee Emeralds), but she really wasn’t. She was definitely part of the story and intricately involved, but so were many others. However, whenever her point of view came up or the story focused more on her, the author treated her like a main character, and the resolution of the story makes clear Alice was supposed to be the main character, but she just wasn’t. There were others with much more airtime and focus than she received, and her treatment seemed more suited to a satellite character. I was confused about this and was even more confused when I realized that the summary on the back was written about her. I had similar feelings about some of the relationships between the characters, and the character development. I just felt like it was lacking. Don’t be worried, though. The story still carries through, and the characters are developed enough that I knew who was who and was able to keep track of everyone, which is what is actually really important.
If you like jewelry mysteries, stories about journalism, or even time hop books with a good story, you should check this out! It was a quick and easy read, and I thought the story was a lot of fun.
Read my full review here: https://www.readingforsanity.com/2022...
In support of these historical characters and their part in the story, there were varying styles in the book such as letters, journals, texts between current characters, etc. I feel like sometimes these can be distracting or even unnecessary, but Tector did a good job of making them relevant and part of the story. I dislike it when I find that these “supplemental materials” don’t add anything. I don’t like cryptic relevancy or confusion. But I‘m happy to report that these supplemental materials added to the story, felt relevant, and furthered Tector’s storyline.
My mixed feelings come in with the writing. First off, I think that Alice was intended to be the main character (as the finder of the Honeybee Emeralds), but she really wasn’t. She was definitely part of the story and intricately involved, but so were many others. However, whenever her point of view came up or the story focused more on her, the author treated her like a main character, and the resolution of the story makes clear Alice was supposed to be the main character, but she just wasn’t. There were others with much more airtime and focus than she received, and her treatment seemed more suited to a satellite character. I was confused about this and was even more confused when I realized that the summary on the back was written about her. I had similar feelings about some of the relationships between the characters, and the character development. I just felt like it was lacking. Don’t be worried, though. The story still carries through, and the characters are developed enough that I knew who was who and was able to keep track of everyone, which is what is actually really important.
If you like jewelry mysteries, stories about journalism, or even time hop books with a good story, you should check this out! It was a quick and easy read, and I thought the story was a lot of fun.
Read my full review here: https://www.readingforsanity.com/2022...
May 7, 2022
Boy do I have some feelings about this book, so buckle up.
It was really hard for me to decide whether to give this book a 3- or 4-star rating. I may have decided on 3, but that doesn't mean I'm really satisfied with my answer. My conundrum is this: I really enjoyed the plot and premise and even the characters, but there were so many little things that bothered me that I just had a hard time fully enjoying it like I wanted to.
The best thing about the book is easily the ending. Things come together, it's super satisfying to read - I won't spoil it by going further but it really made me almost bump up that rating to 4. The reason I didn't is just that I feel like that wouldn't be representative of my experience as a whole.
While reading this book, a lot of things stuck out to me (beware minor spoilers below):
- The female characters who narrate are all casually self-depricating. They make comments like "oh god that was such a bitchy thing to say" or something and it just feels... Weird. Out of place. Pretty jarring. Like... From a different era of feminism.
-Alice is a weird character. She's the girl you read about in the description, but the book focuses way more (and does a much better job imho) on Lily and Daphne. Alice has a thing where she blushes? At everything? What? She's so bizarrely naive in a way that just doesn't make sense for a girl her age, not even a slightly sheltered one. I think the most problems I had in the writing were in her chapters. It's like reading about a freaky-Friday-child-in-an-adult-body situation.
-Also, regarding Alice, she doesn't even feel consistent. She's shy when it serves the narrative and talkative when it serves the narrative. I just didn't buy into the repeated explanation the author would give, which was basically that she "forgot to be anxious because she was so excited"? Which, speaking as someone with anxiety, is not how that works.
-Alexander, as a character, is just there for two reasons. First, for other characters to have someone to talk to (even tho he doesn't reply) and second, to be Alice's love interest. Even though I have to admit it's kinda cute, I feel like the author relies way too much on the reader grasping the archetype of 'big strong silent viking type' to get them invested in the relationship. I just don't feel like Alice and Alexander spend enough time together doing anything meaningful to justify their romance at the end. Fun fact, the problem with silent characters is that they. Don't say anything.
-Plus, the author is also trying to balance so many other relationships: Daphne and Philip, Lily and Luc, Lily and Jacob, Daphne and Lily, Alice and Elise, Elise and Henri... It's a short book. The hit has to be taken somewhere. Weird choice to make it the character you're marketing the book with. The frustrating thing is that all the stories told through all of these relationships have potential to be really incredible! But I feel like because there's so many of them we never get much beyond surface level archetypes with any of them.
-The writing can be really on the nose. There were lots of places I marked in my book where the narrator felt a little bit over the top, or the dialogue just felt too cliche, too unnatural, totally unlike something someone would say in real life.
-In addition, the author doesn't really seem to trust the reader to catch on to subtext - which, I think, ultimately leads to those really cliche lines and stuff.
-I didn't feel like the book has a proper 3/4 climax. Like, it had a great ending, but the windup to the ending lasts a while and almost feels like the author is using that to substitute a climax. Or maybe I'm just reading it wrong? Either way, I coulda gone for something a little more gripping closer to the middle.
-The author uses some technological language that I really don't think serves her purpose. It hits okay occasionally, but a lot of the time it really comes off as an older person who's trying to relate to the new young hires in their office by saying 'YOLO' and 'IRL." Just a tad out of touch. Plus, I just don't feel like it was necessary for her to date the story by including them. They don't add enough.
I have so many thoughts but I won't burden you with them all here. My copy of this book is full of notes.
Ultimately, I have to say, I did still enjoy this book. It's an easy light read that I ate up in just a few sessions of reading - a lovely change of pace from the Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings that I've been working through. And the story, while a bit flawed, is really interesting. I love the idea of investigating old history as a concept for a novel and the author puts her experience in the field to good use here.
This is the first book by this author and I feel like some of the problems would just be ironed out with more experience (and more time dedicated to fewer characters). I'll definitely be reading upcoming books from this author still.
It was really hard for me to decide whether to give this book a 3- or 4-star rating. I may have decided on 3, but that doesn't mean I'm really satisfied with my answer. My conundrum is this: I really enjoyed the plot and premise and even the characters, but there were so many little things that bothered me that I just had a hard time fully enjoying it like I wanted to.
The best thing about the book is easily the ending. Things come together, it's super satisfying to read - I won't spoil it by going further but it really made me almost bump up that rating to 4. The reason I didn't is just that I feel like that wouldn't be representative of my experience as a whole.
While reading this book, a lot of things stuck out to me (beware minor spoilers below):
- The female characters who narrate are all casually self-depricating. They make comments like "oh god that was such a bitchy thing to say" or something and it just feels... Weird. Out of place. Pretty jarring. Like... From a different era of feminism.
-Alice is a weird character. She's the girl you read about in the description, but the book focuses way more (and does a much better job imho) on Lily and Daphne. Alice has a thing where she blushes? At everything? What? She's so bizarrely naive in a way that just doesn't make sense for a girl her age, not even a slightly sheltered one. I think the most problems I had in the writing were in her chapters. It's like reading about a freaky-Friday-child-in-an-adult-body situation.
-Also, regarding Alice, she doesn't even feel consistent. She's shy when it serves the narrative and talkative when it serves the narrative. I just didn't buy into the repeated explanation the author would give, which was basically that she "forgot to be anxious because she was so excited"? Which, speaking as someone with anxiety, is not how that works.
-Alexander, as a character, is just there for two reasons. First, for other characters to have someone to talk to (even tho he doesn't reply) and second, to be Alice's love interest. Even though I have to admit it's kinda cute, I feel like the author relies way too much on the reader grasping the archetype of 'big strong silent viking type' to get them invested in the relationship. I just don't feel like Alice and Alexander spend enough time together doing anything meaningful to justify their romance at the end. Fun fact, the problem with silent characters is that they. Don't say anything.
-Plus, the author is also trying to balance so many other relationships: Daphne and Philip, Lily and Luc, Lily and Jacob, Daphne and Lily, Alice and Elise, Elise and Henri... It's a short book. The hit has to be taken somewhere. Weird choice to make it the character you're marketing the book with. The frustrating thing is that all the stories told through all of these relationships have potential to be really incredible! But I feel like because there's so many of them we never get much beyond surface level archetypes with any of them.
-The writing can be really on the nose. There were lots of places I marked in my book where the narrator felt a little bit over the top, or the dialogue just felt too cliche, too unnatural, totally unlike something someone would say in real life.
-In addition, the author doesn't really seem to trust the reader to catch on to subtext - which, I think, ultimately leads to those really cliche lines and stuff.
-I didn't feel like the book has a proper 3/4 climax. Like, it had a great ending, but the windup to the ending lasts a while and almost feels like the author is using that to substitute a climax. Or maybe I'm just reading it wrong? Either way, I coulda gone for something a little more gripping closer to the middle.
-The author uses some technological language that I really don't think serves her purpose. It hits okay occasionally, but a lot of the time it really comes off as an older person who's trying to relate to the new young hires in their office by saying 'YOLO' and 'IRL." Just a tad out of touch. Plus, I just don't feel like it was necessary for her to date the story by including them. They don't add enough.
I have so many thoughts but I won't burden you with them all here. My copy of this book is full of notes.
Ultimately, I have to say, I did still enjoy this book. It's an easy light read that I ate up in just a few sessions of reading - a lovely change of pace from the Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings that I've been working through. And the story, while a bit flawed, is really interesting. I love the idea of investigating old history as a concept for a novel and the author puts her experience in the field to good use here.
This is the first book by this author and I feel like some of the problems would just be ironed out with more experience (and more time dedicated to fewer characters). I'll definitely be reading upcoming books from this author still.
December 16, 2022
A story about the women at a Parisien magazine who discover a historical artefact, and decide to write a story about it.
The book is part mystery, with some love, friendship, travel, and drama thrown in. The author also did a lot of historical research, and I think that part really shines through.
The author is from Ottawa - which I love. Always happy to support local writers, and excited to read the next book. I'd recommend this one :)
The book is part mystery, with some love, friendship, travel, and drama thrown in. The author also did a lot of historical research, and I think that part really shines through.
The author is from Ottawa - which I love. Always happy to support local writers, and excited to read the next book. I'd recommend this one :)
March 29, 2022
Thanks Turner Publishing Company @TurnerPub for a complimentary e ARC of #TheHoneybeeEmeralds upon my request. All opinions are my own.
An historical fiction/mystery mashup, The Honeybee Emeralds is the compelling and well-written story of a mysterious and valuable emerald necklace. Alice Ahmadi, an intelligent and shy intern at a struggling Parisian magazine, discovers the necklace in the pocket of an elegant, green coat in the building’s musty and dark basement the day the heat goes out and she enlists the help of the kind (and hunky) perfumer next door to find the fuse box. Alice ( the intern), Lily (the magazine editor), Daphne (a friend of Lily’s), Alexander (the guy next door), Luc (the magazine owner), and Jacob (a writer) join forces to solve the mystery of the beautiful necklace in hopes that the discovery and the story will help solve the magazine’s financial shortfall. The group calls themselves “The Fellowship of the Necklace” (a nod to another group of disparate adventurers trying to complete a mission in The Fellowship of the Ring).
Although The Honeybee Emeralds is a dual timeline story, most of the story takes place in the present from three main perspectives with some flashbacks and background stories as the mystery is unraveled. Even though numerous characters and time jumps to the past can be confusing, I didn’t find it especially difficult to keep track of everyone once I was fully involved with the story. However, you might want to take notes in the beginning. For a debut novel, Tector attempted a lot (bordering on too much?). As a side note, you’ll love the chapter titles and the hints of romance!
I appreciate the diverse set of characters and perspectives. Alice and Lily are likable (we learn to like Daphne) and I enjoyed the camaraderie…..that is until the discovery of the necklace is leaked to their competitor who threatens to scoop the story. Can the group trust each other? I think the character development for the three main characters is satisfactory and enjoyable, their voices are distinctive, and their storylines tie up neatly in the end.
All in all, it’s a well-told and unique story of an esquite necklace once owned by Mata Hari and Josephine Baker with an atmospheric setting, diverse characters, unique perspectives (French, English, and American), and a few poignant themes including trust, rivalry and competition, and friendship (with a hint of romance).
Enthusiastically recommended for fans of Parisian histfic who enjoy heirloom jewelry, interesting characters, a generous side of mystery, and hints of romance.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
An historical fiction/mystery mashup, The Honeybee Emeralds is the compelling and well-written story of a mysterious and valuable emerald necklace. Alice Ahmadi, an intelligent and shy intern at a struggling Parisian magazine, discovers the necklace in the pocket of an elegant, green coat in the building’s musty and dark basement the day the heat goes out and she enlists the help of the kind (and hunky) perfumer next door to find the fuse box. Alice ( the intern), Lily (the magazine editor), Daphne (a friend of Lily’s), Alexander (the guy next door), Luc (the magazine owner), and Jacob (a writer) join forces to solve the mystery of the beautiful necklace in hopes that the discovery and the story will help solve the magazine’s financial shortfall. The group calls themselves “The Fellowship of the Necklace” (a nod to another group of disparate adventurers trying to complete a mission in The Fellowship of the Ring).
Although The Honeybee Emeralds is a dual timeline story, most of the story takes place in the present from three main perspectives with some flashbacks and background stories as the mystery is unraveled. Even though numerous characters and time jumps to the past can be confusing, I didn’t find it especially difficult to keep track of everyone once I was fully involved with the story. However, you might want to take notes in the beginning. For a debut novel, Tector attempted a lot (bordering on too much?). As a side note, you’ll love the chapter titles and the hints of romance!
I appreciate the diverse set of characters and perspectives. Alice and Lily are likable (we learn to like Daphne) and I enjoyed the camaraderie…..that is until the discovery of the necklace is leaked to their competitor who threatens to scoop the story. Can the group trust each other? I think the character development for the three main characters is satisfactory and enjoyable, their voices are distinctive, and their storylines tie up neatly in the end.
All in all, it’s a well-told and unique story of an esquite necklace once owned by Mata Hari and Josephine Baker with an atmospheric setting, diverse characters, unique perspectives (French, English, and American), and a few poignant themes including trust, rivalry and competition, and friendship (with a hint of romance).
Enthusiastically recommended for fans of Parisian histfic who enjoy heirloom jewelry, interesting characters, a generous side of mystery, and hints of romance.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
June 20, 2023
Alice Ahmadis is anxious to impress her American boss, Lily, as an intern at Bonjour Paris magazine. When the lights go out, she goes to the basement of the building accompanied by Alexander, a perfumer from Iceland. While trying to locate boiler room Alice wanders into areas of the Parisian catacombs of the old building. Once she is drawn into the room filled with beautiful gowns and jewels, she imagines the glamorous lives of the previous owners. Alice discovers a green jacket that has an emerald necklace in the pocket which was missing 36 diamonds. She enlists the help of Alice to uncover the history of the found jewels.
Lily turns to her friend Daphne Smythe Baird and her husband Philip to authentic the gems before deciding what to do with them. Alice is optimistic that her “find” could possibly help the struggling magazine. Alice seeks assistance from her college friend, Jacob Myers, who is presently an influential writer. Eventually, they form “the fellowship of the necklace” as they investigate the necklace including the new owner, Luc Seguin, who took over for his mother Olivia, former chief editor. The officer manager, Madame Élise Boucher, has worked for Bonjour Paris for more than 50 years and provides some historical context to life in 1865 France.
Fellowship of the Necklace
“ easy to identify who Louis Napoleon’s mistress was in 1864. Apparently, all of Paris talked about his passionate love affair with the scandalous, low-class, inappropriate, and ill-suited Marguerite Bellanger. Gorgeous and with a pleasingly merry disposition, Marguerite was born Justine Leboeuf in 1838, dirt poor in a backwater village near Saumur.”
The history of the Honeybee Emeralds is one filled with mystery and adventure as it seemed to travel from Madi Hari to famed American singer Josephine Baker during the Roaring Twenties.
There’s still one mystery that remains, how did this prized possession end up in the basement of a Parisian magazine company?
I received a complimentary digital copy of this this from Library Thing Early Readers and Book Funnel.This is my honest and unbiased review.
Lily turns to her friend Daphne Smythe Baird and her husband Philip to authentic the gems before deciding what to do with them. Alice is optimistic that her “find” could possibly help the struggling magazine. Alice seeks assistance from her college friend, Jacob Myers, who is presently an influential writer. Eventually, they form “the fellowship of the necklace” as they investigate the necklace including the new owner, Luc Seguin, who took over for his mother Olivia, former chief editor. The officer manager, Madame Élise Boucher, has worked for Bonjour Paris for more than 50 years and provides some historical context to life in 1865 France.
Fellowship of the Necklace
“ easy to identify who Louis Napoleon’s mistress was in 1864. Apparently, all of Paris talked about his passionate love affair with the scandalous, low-class, inappropriate, and ill-suited Marguerite Bellanger. Gorgeous and with a pleasingly merry disposition, Marguerite was born Justine Leboeuf in 1838, dirt poor in a backwater village near Saumur.”
The history of the Honeybee Emeralds is one filled with mystery and adventure as it seemed to travel from Madi Hari to famed American singer Josephine Baker during the Roaring Twenties.
There’s still one mystery that remains, how did this prized possession end up in the basement of a Parisian magazine company?
I received a complimentary digital copy of this this from Library Thing Early Readers and Book Funnel.This is my honest and unbiased review.
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