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Buzz Kill: A Toni Carey Mystery
With a bossy mother, a deteriorating Los Angeles apartment, and a love life going nowhere, magazine writer Toni Carey's childhood memories of caring for her uncle's beehives lead her to the bucolic citrus town of Loma Vista. But a bludgeoning, a murder, and a hot Sheriff's detective have more than the bees buzzing.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2021
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4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 23, 2021
Five star gem
Entertaining and spellbinding. Buzz Kill will keep you up all night reading. I loved the wonderful character development as well as the short course in bee keeping 101. It's not often that one finds both in a cozy novel with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end.Can't wait for the sequel!
Entertaining and spellbinding. Buzz Kill will keep you up all night reading. I loved the wonderful character development as well as the short course in bee keeping 101. It's not often that one finds both in a cozy novel with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end.Can't wait for the sequel!
May 22, 2021
Toni is a gal looking to blast her past, and she has the sassy attitude to match. But she loves her Uncle Horace, and the beehives she used to help him tend as a child.
Uncle Horace is old-fashioned; a stickler for politeness and hospitality. So, when Toni arrives for a long- anticipated meeting at his home in Loma Vista and he isn’t there - she knows in her bones that something is wrong.
She is correct about that.
What follows is a whirlwind of suspicion, danger, mystery and downright confusion as Toni (or “Cookie”, as Uncle Horace calls her) follows her hunches – and all leads – to help solve the mystery the bees are hiding.
This book is both exciting and fun. Toni is a great character. I love her “inner thoughts”. Her mother and sisters are HILARIOUS – as long as you are not related to them! The detective on the case is kind of a hunk, too – but Toni is wary. She’s been there/done that. Still, although he may be a bit rumpled, he IS appealing – at least to me!
I hope this becomes a series.
Uncle Horace is old-fashioned; a stickler for politeness and hospitality. So, when Toni arrives for a long- anticipated meeting at his home in Loma Vista and he isn’t there - she knows in her bones that something is wrong.
She is correct about that.
What follows is a whirlwind of suspicion, danger, mystery and downright confusion as Toni (or “Cookie”, as Uncle Horace calls her) follows her hunches – and all leads – to help solve the mystery the bees are hiding.
This book is both exciting and fun. Toni is a great character. I love her “inner thoughts”. Her mother and sisters are HILARIOUS – as long as you are not related to them! The detective on the case is kind of a hunk, too – but Toni is wary. She’s been there/done that. Still, although he may be a bit rumpled, he IS appealing – at least to me!
I hope this becomes a series.
July 21, 2021
Kate Thornton's BUZZ KILL gives insights into the politics and intrigue of academia, shocking that education doesn’t teach them to get along and be kind. It’s hard for Toni to know whom to trust, as she works to avoid the killer on the loose, and her own toxic family.
The bees cooperate better, at least when treated calmly and not subjected to dodgy experiments. I love the idea of a window with an observation hive. The honey merchant at Renaissance Faire used to have one at their booth, and it was pleasant to watch the bees work. I was glad Toni got to revisit that soothing part of her childhood and . . . nope, no spoilers will you get from me. ;-)
The bees cooperate better, at least when treated calmly and not subjected to dodgy experiments. I love the idea of a window with an observation hive. The honey merchant at Renaissance Faire used to have one at their booth, and it was pleasant to watch the bees work. I was glad Toni got to revisit that soothing part of her childhood and . . . nope, no spoilers will you get from me. ;-)
October 6, 2021
Loved the very descript book it was Lu
Like watching a movie in my head and being right next to the main character and loved the story. Great author
Like watching a movie in my head and being right next to the main character and loved the story. Great author
November 12, 2021
Great fun read.
Toni Carey is a compelling narrator. As a native Californian, I enjoyed the locale. As a former single gal, I enjoyed her adventures.
Toni Carey is a compelling narrator. As a native Californian, I enjoyed the locale. As a former single gal, I enjoyed her adventures.
June 14, 2021
Toni Carey is caught in a Bee Hive in LA
A great read. Toni Carey hasn't visited her Uncle Horace for sometime. When he sends her a note to come and visit him, the action begins. Murder, mayhem a handsome Detective and killer bees. A fast paced enjoyable read. Kate Thornton doesn't disappoint.
A great read. Toni Carey hasn't visited her Uncle Horace for sometime. When he sends her a note to come and visit him, the action begins. Murder, mayhem a handsome Detective and killer bees. A fast paced enjoyable read. Kate Thornton doesn't disappoint.
March 4, 2023
Loved it!
Toni Carey is a fun, smart, sassy character. She is very real. The writing is excellent--the story moves at a good pace. My attention was completely captured right away. And the story is unique! How the author decided on bees and their proclivities would be interesting to know! Great job!
Toni Carey is a fun, smart, sassy character. She is very real. The writing is excellent--the story moves at a good pace. My attention was completely captured right away. And the story is unique! How the author decided on bees and their proclivities would be interesting to know! Great job!
June 13, 2021
Honestly, I liked the book - at the start. Then every man Toni met, all of them, were handsome, sexy, delectable, etc. Every single one. Got a little boring after a time and put me off the rest of book.
July 10, 2025
With a dear friend who has a hobby in beekeeping, this was a must-read for me. Still...wow! Families can be difficult, at best, but Thornton put pure evil into the veins of this family. The mistrust had my heart pumping at every turn. As always, I applaud her original voice.
May 18, 2022
Received a copy from the author and I really am enjoying this new series for me!
August 28, 2022
One thing that was highly annoying was that about a quarter of the way into the book, pages started coming unattached -- not all of them, but probably 20 over the course of reading the whole book. And no, I did not break the spine of the book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews