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Joe Sandilands #5
The Bee's Kiss
It's 1926, and Joe Sandilands is back from Ranipur, enjoying the frantic pleasures of Jazz Age London. Yet there is a darkness behind all the postwar gaiety. A woman has been discovered bludgeoned to death in her suite at the Ritz. A broken window and missing emerald necklace suggest that it is a burglary gone wrong. But the corpse is that of a much respected member of the British establishment, Dame Beatrice Joliffe, one of the founders of the Wrens; so Scotland Yard sends Joe to conduct a swift enquiry. Then, Joliffe's companion, an ex-chorus girl, falls from Waterloo Bridge at twilight, and two of the Dame's clique of eager young Wrens commit suicide. Although these deaths make Joe suspect that Beatrice has been killed by someone close to her, he suddenly finds that the case is closed, and he is asked by his superiors to surrender his files. Against the background of a looming general strike and pressure from unseen governmental presence, Joe struggles on, picking his way through the political panic and rebelling against authority. The fifth title in the Golden Dagger Award-winning series, The Bee's Kiss builds to a shattering solution.
285 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2005
40 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Cleverly
45 books229 followersBarbara Cleverly was born in the north of England and is a graduate of Durham University. A former teacher, she has spent her working life in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk; she now lives in Cambridge. She has one son and five step-children.
Her Joe Sandilands series of books set against the background of the British Raj was inspired by the contents of a battered old tin trunk that she found in her attic. Out of it spilled two centuries of memories of a family – especially a great uncle who spent a lot of time in India – whose exploits and achievements marched in time with the flowering of the British Empire.
Her Joe Sandilands series of books set against the background of the British Raj was inspired by the contents of a battered old tin trunk that she found in her attic. Out of it spilled two centuries of memories of a family – especially a great uncle who spent a lot of time in India – whose exploits and achievements marched in time with the flowering of the British Empire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 20, 2022
The Bee's Kiss by Barbara Cleverly is the 5th book in her historical mystery series featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Joe Sandilands. The series is set after WWI. The first four books found Sandiland assigned as a special investigator in India. In this fifth novel, Joe is back in London, now back with Scotland Yard and called to investigate the murder of Dame Beatrice Jagow-Joliffe who was found murdered in her room at the Ritz hotel. Two police officers, Det Sgt Bill Armitage and a female Constable, Tilly Westthorpe, were both on site when the crime was committed, Tilly as a guest at party and Armitage on security detail, keeping an eye open for a cat burglar who had been making the rounds. Both are assigned to Sandilands team.
The investigation kind of wanders hither and thither. The team travels up to the Dame's home outside of London and finds a place with lots of friction. There is one very lovely character that we meet there, Dorcas, daughter of the Dame's brother, Orlando. There are a number of suspects, including the brother, a boyfriend of Beatrice, her lady's companion as well. It turns out that Beatrice was a leading light in the WREN's during WWI and an excellent cryptographer. She continued to be involved with this organization.
The mystery includes the impending miner's strike, Bolshevists, maybe German spies and other possible intrigues. Sandilands is told to wrap up the investigation from the top but continues on his own, with help from his team and others in Scotland Yard. It took me awhile to get into this story, but I warmed to it. There were many good characters and the little twists and turns in the investigation added to the intrigue. Sandilands is a light-hearted character, a bit of a ladies man and intelligent. I enjoyed the ending and the overall story. Number 6 sits on my bookshelf, awaiting my attention (3.5 stars)
The investigation kind of wanders hither and thither. The team travels up to the Dame's home outside of London and finds a place with lots of friction. There is one very lovely character that we meet there, Dorcas, daughter of the Dame's brother, Orlando. There are a number of suspects, including the brother, a boyfriend of Beatrice, her lady's companion as well. It turns out that Beatrice was a leading light in the WREN's during WWI and an excellent cryptographer. She continued to be involved with this organization.
The mystery includes the impending miner's strike, Bolshevists, maybe German spies and other possible intrigues. Sandilands is told to wrap up the investigation from the top but continues on his own, with help from his team and others in Scotland Yard. It took me awhile to get into this story, but I warmed to it. There were many good characters and the little twists and turns in the investigation added to the intrigue. Sandilands is a light-hearted character, a bit of a ladies man and intelligent. I enjoyed the ending and the overall story. Number 6 sits on my bookshelf, awaiting my attention (3.5 stars)
August 28, 2014
Oh, Joe! Why did you have to leave India? I was disappointed in this, the fifth novel in the Sandilands series. There was hardly a bridge between India and Joe being back in England. India was barely mentioned. I wondered if there was novel #4.5.
I found the plot chaotic, at best. Oh, Cleverly is still a good writer and her character development is wonderful -- there are moments in the book! But, overall I found the second half really confusing with clues and insights scattered here and there. Cleverly likes to wrap up her novels with clever little endings where the perpetrator might go off into the ether without the "bring to justice" of most who-dun-its. The risk, for me the reader, is that her hero always appears to be powerless and ineffective because, although he solves the crime to his own satisfaction, he has no ability to reach closure which diminishes his stature a bit. However, Joe seems to be philosophical about his reduced abilities. After all, he is just a pawn in the power structure.
I miss the colorful world of India which was a great background for this British inspector. I found the background political intrigue in England to be a pale substitute.
I found the plot chaotic, at best. Oh, Cleverly is still a good writer and her character development is wonderful -- there are moments in the book! But, overall I found the second half really confusing with clues and insights scattered here and there. Cleverly likes to wrap up her novels with clever little endings where the perpetrator might go off into the ether without the "bring to justice" of most who-dun-its. The risk, for me the reader, is that her hero always appears to be powerless and ineffective because, although he solves the crime to his own satisfaction, he has no ability to reach closure which diminishes his stature a bit. However, Joe seems to be philosophical about his reduced abilities. After all, he is just a pawn in the power structure.
I miss the colorful world of India which was a great background for this British inspector. I found the background political intrigue in England to be a pale substitute.
July 23, 2019
I really liked this Joe Sandilands story. I wanted to see him on his home turf after reading the first book and I was not disappointed. I thought I had the murder figured out a couple of times, but I was wrong!
I really need to find out who Maisie is now! Back for book #2 now.
I really need to find out who Maisie is now! Back for book #2 now.
May 22, 2010
The Bee’s Kiss is the fifth in a series of mystery novels set in England or in British-ruled Central Asia after World War I and featuring a likeable (and eligible) Scotland Yard detective named Joe Sandilands. The series began with The Last Kashmiri Rose and includes other exotic-sounding titles such as The Damascened Blade. These books are consistently atmospheric and character driven, and The Bee’s Kiss is no exception.
Here, Sandilands is reunited with a former WWI battlefield subordinate and also partners with a pioneering female Scotland Yard constable to investigate the murder of a prominent British woman. The deceased helped found the WRENS, a woman’s auxiliary unit formed to aid the British forces during the war.
While investigating, Sandilands contends with government higher ups’ intrusion into the management of this high profile murder case, with the puzzle of how the assailant made it into the deceased’s hotel room at a time when the building was under police surveillance, and with competition between his two junior colleagues. The questions posed by the story have a contemporary resonance, despite the bygone era in which it takes place--the crime occurred during the very week that Elizabeth, the future Queen, was born.
Here, Sandilands is reunited with a former WWI battlefield subordinate and also partners with a pioneering female Scotland Yard constable to investigate the murder of a prominent British woman. The deceased helped found the WRENS, a woman’s auxiliary unit formed to aid the British forces during the war.
While investigating, Sandilands contends with government higher ups’ intrusion into the management of this high profile murder case, with the puzzle of how the assailant made it into the deceased’s hotel room at a time when the building was under police surveillance, and with competition between his two junior colleagues. The questions posed by the story have a contemporary resonance, despite the bygone era in which it takes place--the crime occurred during the very week that Elizabeth, the future Queen, was born.
June 29, 2016
Slightly disappointed no link between previous book which saw Joe firmly entrenched in India to this one where he has seemingly transitioned straight back into a an active policing role in London - hard to see that this is number 5 in a series....apart from that not a bad stand alone detective novel.
May 31, 2017
Commander Joe Sandilands is developing into a more well-rounded and believable character in this book although my one complaint is that he seems much older than the "early 30's" he is purported to be--he has apparently crammed a whole lot of experience into his young life. The events in this book take place 4 years after events in the previous book; it is now 1926 and Joe is no longer in India, but is back in London, working at Scotland Yard. When a high-society woman is found bludgeoned to death in her room at the Ritz hotel, Sandilands must work with the greatest of discretion and care so as not to create scandal.
I quite enjoyed this story and didn't figure out the bad guy, which is always a bonus. I thought I had it sorted out a couple of times, but new twists to the plot threw me off the scent.
I quite enjoyed this story and didn't figure out the bad guy, which is always a bonus. I thought I had it sorted out a couple of times, but new twists to the plot threw me off the scent.
January 26, 2019
A great read from a favorite author! I have been waiting to get my hands on more of this series from Barbara Cleverly and thanks to NYPL, my wait is over! This series features a great main character in Joe Sandilands, intriguing mysteries and interesting twists.
January 29, 2022
A police mystery set in the 1920s. This is the first I have read but fifth in the series. This was done about a decade before the present glut of mysteries set in the 1920s. This is far superior, I think, than most of those.
There is still plenty of 20s fashions and the glitz of the upper class in England but the mystery is a bit more realistic. The characters are good. What really got me was the twists at the end. Well done indeed. I never guessed at the culprit.
Definitely recommended.
There is still plenty of 20s fashions and the glitz of the upper class in England but the mystery is a bit more realistic. The characters are good. What really got me was the twists at the end. Well done indeed. I never guessed at the culprit.
Definitely recommended.
August 25, 2007
THE BEE'S KISS – (Police Procedural-London-1926) – VG
Cleverly, Barbara – 5th in series
Constable, 2005- Hardcover
Commander Joe Sutherland, back from India, is investigating the murder, and apparent burglary, of Dame Beatrice Joliffee, one of the founders of the Wrens. Joe's investigative staff is D.S. Bill Armitage, who served under him in the war, and Constable "Tilly" Westorphe, also a former Wren. When Joe finds three other Wrens have committed suicide and his superiors order him to stop investigating and turn in his files, it's clear there's more her than a simple murder.
*** I always enjoy Cleverly's writing. Her characters are interesting; she provides an excellent sense of place and very good dialogue. Joe is romantic, confident, and dogged in searching for the answers. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the story moving from a basic crime, to more than that, yet their still being a basic crime at the end. Very well done.
Cleverly, Barbara – 5th in series
Constable, 2005- Hardcover
Commander Joe Sutherland, back from India, is investigating the murder, and apparent burglary, of Dame Beatrice Joliffee, one of the founders of the Wrens. Joe's investigative staff is D.S. Bill Armitage, who served under him in the war, and Constable "Tilly" Westorphe, also a former Wren. When Joe finds three other Wrens have committed suicide and his superiors order him to stop investigating and turn in his files, it's clear there's more her than a simple murder.
*** I always enjoy Cleverly's writing. Her characters are interesting; she provides an excellent sense of place and very good dialogue. Joe is romantic, confident, and dogged in searching for the answers. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the story moving from a basic crime, to more than that, yet their still being a basic crime at the end. Very well done.
February 24, 2010
I like Joe Sandilands and Cleverly is great at creating the time and place (interesting to get a sense of "Red Scare" on the other side of the Atlantic, with the general strike). But in the end, several aspects of the plot made little sense to me, principally the "plot" which led to the victim's death. Might have made sense if the book were set later in time. I would love to hear from other readers their understanding of this plot.
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January 6, 2016Barbara Cleverly had me going! I did not want to put this book down... in spite of entertaining during the Holidays. I could not pull this together; I did not see this ending coming!! There were so many details, so many possibilities. This author tied me up in the plot, the characters and the undercurrents of this moment in time. Well done and certainly recommended to those who love Scotland Yard mysteries and are fans of Barbara Cleverly!!
July 5, 2015
I liked this story and the characters in it. It feels like a blend of Martha Grimes' Inspector Jury mysteries and the place and settings from the Maisie Dobbs mysteries. The story of the murder of the woman who founded the women's branch of military service, the WRENS, was good enough that I'm tempted to read more in the series. Maybe I should start at the beginning.
November 18, 2017
This is, I believe, # 5 or 6 in the Joe Sandilands series of mysteries. However, it is the 2nd one I have read, after the 1st in the series: " The Last Kashmiri Rose." If I didn't know better, I would have thought they were unrelated books by different authors entirely. The Joe Sandiland of "Kashmiri" is nothing like the affable, man-of-the-world, Joe Sandiland of "Bee's Kiss!" I hasten to add that it's not a bad thing to be so versatile! Both books were high quality, I just liked the first one better.
I found the emphasis on sexual perversion and pornography that runs rampant through-out the book to be very off-putting and while some of it might be plot-advancing, I didn't enjoy it and have reduced my rating because of it.
There were clear echoes of the Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes in the character of the 14 year-old girl, Dorcas and her relationship (innocent!) with Joe. And the good news is that I prefer this author's (Barbara Cleverly) treatment of a precocious child to Martha's! I also thought of "I Capture The Castle" in the descriptions of Dorcas's bohemian painter family.
This read more like a standard "whodunit" mystery than "The Last Kashmiri Rose." The basic plot is that a racy woman, Dame Beatrice, who has ties to the military branch of "WRENS," is murdered in her hotel room at the Ritz. From that seemingly straightforward beginning, there are many plot twists and turns and red herrings galore! It must be said that this author, Barbara Cleverly is way ahead of me when it comes to complex plotting. She fooled me entirely, although I did get some elements right, such as gender and proclivities. I found almost all the characters to be likeable, even the "bad guys!"
I found the emphasis on sexual perversion and pornography that runs rampant through-out the book to be very off-putting and while some of it might be plot-advancing, I didn't enjoy it and have reduced my rating because of it.
There were clear echoes of the Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes in the character of the 14 year-old girl, Dorcas and her relationship (innocent!) with Joe. And the good news is that I prefer this author's (Barbara Cleverly) treatment of a precocious child to Martha's! I also thought of "I Capture The Castle" in the descriptions of Dorcas's bohemian painter family.
This read more like a standard "whodunit" mystery than "The Last Kashmiri Rose." The basic plot is that a racy woman, Dame Beatrice, who has ties to the military branch of "WRENS," is murdered in her hotel room at the Ritz. From that seemingly straightforward beginning, there are many plot twists and turns and red herrings galore! It must be said that this author, Barbara Cleverly is way ahead of me when it comes to complex plotting. She fooled me entirely, although I did get some elements right, such as gender and proclivities. I found almost all the characters to be likeable, even the "bad guys!"
May 5, 2020
The Bee's Kiss by Barbara Cleverly is the 5th book of the Joe Sandilands mystery series set in 1926 London. The setting is my only disappointment - I loved the earlier books set in India. But plenty of intrigue challenges Joe in this case, even though he's in his native country. A woman is bludgeoned to death in her hotel room, on the night she attended a big banquet. Dame Beatrice founded the Wrens, and lived the high life - sexy clothes, multiple lovers. Scotland Yard (Joe) is called in to discreetly investigate. Joe is surprised and pleased to find Detective Sergeant Bill Armitage was at the hotel, scouting for cat burglars during the event. Joe and Bill shared war experiences. Joe is dismayed that his brilliant sidekick Constable Tilly Westthorpe does not get along with Bill, at all. Tilly had also attended the banquet. Joe is forced by his superiors to trim his team to 2. He picks Bill; of course that irritates Tilly.
Soon after Joe and Bill begin investigating, orders come from higher-ups to drop the case. Joe does not like it one bit. He very carefully continues investigating. Many possible suspects emerge as he learns more about Beatrice's life. Understanding how subplots relate to the murder, and why authorities close the case, requires lessons in British history and politics (helpfully supplied as Joe's musings on the case). Plot twists provide interesting surprises.
Soon after Joe and Bill begin investigating, orders come from higher-ups to drop the case. Joe does not like it one bit. He very carefully continues investigating. Many possible suspects emerge as he learns more about Beatrice's life. Understanding how subplots relate to the murder, and why authorities close the case, requires lessons in British history and politics (helpfully supplied as Joe's musings on the case). Plot twists provide interesting surprises.
November 4, 2020
1926 ~ This one, for me, was this author's best so far. Four years had passed after a very impactful and variegated secondment to the Empire's Raj... Sandilands' 6 months having been extended to a year in India, and had apparently smoothly made his transition in his career at the Met. A Dame and a much admired personage was bludgeoned to death at the Ritz and Sandilands was distracted by too much scheming from all sides that he was sidetracked from investigating the victim. First, he was commanded to do his best to get the killer than he was ordered to stop his probings mid~way into his job. Frustrated and yet tenacious, though on leave... he soldiered on. So there was apparently a theft of the victim's emerald necklace... the fact that the victim had AC/DC sexual relationships... aside from her famed credentials, she helped translate German radio messages during the Great War given that her mother was German... she did something so despicable that resulted in 2 tragic deaths. One death in particular was her undoing... for when a Queen Bee stings, she would also die. The reader would also meet the young and uncannily perceptive and mature Dorcas, she is thirteen, the eldest niece of the deceased... and her siblings... all with different mothers... and Orlando, their bohemian artist lackadaisical and easy~going father. I thought this prose would tax the reader's moral compass... it certainly made me think about war. For the murderer as well as for the Crown and we know the over worn yet apt cliche ~ 'All is fair in love and war'.
August 15, 2020
This is the 5th in the series and I've enjoyed them all. They're set in the 1920s (this one is 1926) and the first 4 had Joe Sandilands seconded to India from Scotland Yard. In this one, he's back home and put in charge of the case of a Dame of the Empire who's found bludgeoned to death in her room at the Ritz, a valuable piece of family jewelry missing. She's a prominent citizen with contacts high up in the Admiralty and the government want a quick closure.
As Sandilands investigates, with the help of an old Seargent of his (now with CID), and a young woman constable, he begins to see that it's probably more than just a burglary gone wrong. But as he starts making connections, the very Powers That Be who set him on the hunt, call him off. Of course, he continues to investigate, but quietly as he has no official standing.
The plot is nicely twisty and motives run from family issues, to national interests, to personal indiscretions. All in all, it was very satisfying -- and I'm off to put the next one on hold at the library.
As Sandilands investigates, with the help of an old Seargent of his (now with CID), and a young woman constable, he begins to see that it's probably more than just a burglary gone wrong. But as he starts making connections, the very Powers That Be who set him on the hunt, call him off. Of course, he continues to investigate, but quietly as he has no official standing.
The plot is nicely twisty and motives run from family issues, to national interests, to personal indiscretions. All in all, it was very satisfying -- and I'm off to put the next one on hold at the library.
May 10, 2019
Although I'm a bit disappointed for the lack of link between the previous books with Joe in India to this one, in which he's set in his Scotland Yard role in Londonthis is not a bad mystery. Cleverly's characters are always interesting, and she has a very keen sense of dialogue, which is not a small feat. And this book give us an interesting historical look at the Roaring Twenties in post-war London, which is also nice. But somehow, this book didn't catch my attention as strongly as the previous ones. Maybe is the change on the setting, or maybe is just me :P
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.
December 1, 2020
At the Ritz, a family party is in full swing. There have been several reports of a cat burglar targeting the rich. To ensure it doesn't happen at the party, one of the security guards is an undercover policeman. One of the guests, Dame Beatrice, leaves the party to turn in for the night, but she never wakes up. It looks like a break in as the window is broken and her emeralds are gone. Sandilands is sent urgently to see what's gone on, the undercover policeman will assist him, as will one of the guests who is also a WPC.
Great fun, lots of atmosphere, surprises and questions.
Great fun, lots of atmosphere, surprises and questions.
July 30, 2021
Previous, I have read the Sandilands book that occurred in India and really liked them. I wasn't that fond of this one. I felt the ending was like from an Agatha Christie novel where you were like how would anyone figure this out (very confusing) and it doesn't even seem plausible? Even that psychic person couldn't figure it out.
April 15, 2022
More than the mysteries (which are well done), I enjoy the historical information, the details, and sense of the times Cleverly creates within a mystery. The series started with Sandilands in the India in the British Raj and he is now back in London post WWI. The writing puts you right there in post war era. The Bee's knees....or Kiss!
November 22, 2024
i really enjoyed this time capsule of a murder mystery. it takes place in london after WW1 & the foreshadowing of events to come, was fascinating. was disappointed when the mystery was solved & the bk came to an end. joe sandilands was a great character & though this is the 1st novel i've read of the series, i'm looking forward to more.
March 12, 2025
This was recommended by my Book A Day calendar years ago, and has been sitting on my shelf.
My first read by this author. I noted that some devotees of the series are disappointed in this book, but since I knew nothing about Joe's history, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Set in one of my favorite cities--London--and it is a historical, which I also love.
My first read by this author. I noted that some devotees of the series are disappointed in this book, but since I knew nothing about Joe's history, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Set in one of my favorite cities--London--and it is a historical, which I also love.
June 13, 2022
Hmmm
The India setting was so much better than London! Joe needs to go back to India right! Not as interesting as previous books which were well researched and fascinating. But still a somewhat decent mystery.
The India setting was so much better than London! Joe needs to go back to India right! Not as interesting as previous books which were well researched and fascinating. But still a somewhat decent mystery.
July 13, 2017
Well constructed plot with convincing end and believable characters. What spoiled it for me was the constant talk of the military/navy and its glorification.
September 9, 2017
As always, Cleverly draws you into the story and then leads you down a twisting road and sometimes a not-so-tidy solution. This 5th book in the Joe Sandilands series will not disappoint in any way!
March 25, 2018
Unforgetable characters
February 21, 2019
Story was enjoyable so will give the series another try. However, the solution relies on incredible coincidences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2019
Not the usual ending of books in this series but still quite readable and interesting. Cleverly weaves many threads into a series of twists and turns in plot keeping the read always interesting.
July 20, 2020
Excellent novel of the Joe Sandilands' series. A real page turner set in the politically boiling London of 1926. The best of the first five of the series. If you like Barabara Cleverly a MUST READ.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews