Mad Honey

by Katie Welch

When Beck Wise vanished, his girlfriend Melissa Makepeace poured herself into caring for the family farm, silently absorbing the fact that another man had disappeared from her life. But when Beck reappears three months later, thin and pale, he has no idea what day it is and is filled with memories of being part of a bee colony. A series of layered mysteries begin to unravel: What happened to Beck? Where did Melissa's father go? How can she keep the farm together? With gorgeous descriptions, deft characterizations, and a page-turning plot, Mad Honey immerses the reader in a search for truth bounded by the everyday magic of beekeeping, of family, and of finding peace, all while asking how much we really understand the natural world.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Canada, Thriller, Contemporary, Book Club

264 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2022

About the author

Katie Welch is a Canadian author. Her latest novel, LADDER TO HEAVEN, will be published in 2025. Her debut MAD HONEY was nominated for the Ontario Library Association's Evergreen Award. A finalist for the 2023 CBC Short Story Prize and a two-time alumnus of the Banff Centre, her short stories have appeared in EVENT Magazine, Prairie Fire, The Antigonish Review, The Temz Review, The Quarantine Review, Split Lip Magazine and elsewhere.

Reviews

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be aware that this is not the eagerly awaited book with the same title by Jodi Picoult due to be published on October 4. This is a debut novel by a new Canadian author, and it was published on May 10.
This book was of vivid imagination, well-researched, gorgeous descriptive prose, and an immersive sense of place. It presents memorable characters, the irritable, quirky, mean, unsociable, and eccentric. Some have been hurt and damaged in the past and are facing present challenges. Is there any hope for them in the future? It is the story of a Canadian farm, humble country cabins, moving to describe life in Cuba, and a side trip to Toronto. It explores the art and science of beekeeping.

Two mysteries are explored. Melissa was shattered when her beloved father abandoned the home when she was a young girl. She developed nervous tics that embarrass her and has always lived in hope that her father will return. She is obsessed with the mystery of where he went and what happened to him. Melissa lives with her adopted sister, Daphne, who has a more cheerful attitude but had a miserable childhood until she was adopted and came to live with Melissa on the farm. Their mother has announced she is going to Guatemala, leaving the two young women to run the farm with the help of Joseph, an irritable, cranky old farmhand who will not be controlled by Melissa's orders. A young man, Beck, is employed as the farm's beekeeper and has become Melissa's lover. He had an unstable upbringing, moving back and forth between Cuba and Canada. His mother is a Cuban priestess of the Santeria faith, and his father is a Canadian photographer.

As summer approaches, Melissa, Daphne, Beck, and Joseph are expecting a successful farm season, despite the Mother's absence and Joseph's reluctance to cooperate. Then calamity strikes. Beck, their expert beekeeper, vanishes. He is needed as one of the farm's main products is honey. Melissa is hurt and abandoned. She is now faced with another mystery; she blames herself for her father's disappearance, and now her lover has deserted her. When he returns after three months, he is pale, thin, and has a dazed expression. Where did he go, and what was he doing? His explanation is weird and unbelievable.

The story is beautifully descriptive, and the characters are mainly sympathetic despite their flaws. It reminds us of our interconnections within the natural world. The plot was very strange! A stellar debut is recommended for those wanting to experience a truly unique and disturbing story written in bright, colourful prose.

[CarolG · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Goodreads friend posted a review of this book in August 2022 and I was quite intrigued, especially when I saw that the author's Canadian. I suggested to the London Public Library that they should order copies and they eventually got one copy.

Unfortunately I was slightly less than thrilled with the book although it's well written, the characters are interesting and the narrative is very descriptive. I just don't think I'm the right reader for this book. By the time I got to the end and found out the real story I was ready to yeet the book at the closest inanimate object! I don't think the preceding is really a spoiler but someone may take umbrage at my remarks. Although the chapters were a good length, I felt like it took me forever to get through the book and I was a little late returning it to the library for which I apologize.

Sometime soon I'll tackle the "other" Mad Honey!

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do yourself a favor and escape for a few hours into this beautifully written story - it does what the best novels do, setting the stage in the first few pages with an intriguing premise and richly-detailed introductions of the main characters to whet the appetite - then goes on to deliver on the promise with an authentic and truly engaging tale. As the story unfolds, the author's artful prose prompts the reader's imagination to conjure up a succession of encounters in locations both familiar and exotic in such a lifelike way, one might be forgiven afterwards for wondering if they'd been there to watch the scenes play out in the flesh. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique and thoughtful book, which has left me reflecting on the notion of being a small part of a much greater, interconnected whole.

[Anne Threinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Mad Honey is a fabulous read, full of fascinating information about bees, and an eclectic cast of characters. I was drawn in immediately by the idea and enchanting description of living as bees of a hive, and my interest was sustained throughout the story. The author’s skillful and evocative writing brought this book to life. I look forward to reading it again with my book club.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable book that packs mystery, suspense, intrigue, literary fiction, and romance all into one book. The ending was a slow start, but once it got going it got GOING! I really enjoyed the character arcs, and the story never got boring, especially with the multiple POVs going on. Katie Welch is definitely a Canadian author to watch!

[Norah Ashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie Welch's Mad Honey had me hooked from the get go...in the prologue of her debut novel.
Who isn't fascinated by the intricate workings of a co-operative society, all pulling together for the common good? Bees. Family. Ecosystems. I woke up in the middle of the night and all I wanted to do was read more.

[Madeline Kruschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

sensational, page-turner first novel from Katie. excited to read more of what’s to come from her. honeybees are heroes <33

[Mom2nine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewing a first book is difficult for me; sometimes the story is amazing, but possibly the author's only story, other times a bomb, this one lands in the middle. The story is unusual and I wanted to know the outcome. The characters are well-fleshed and the ending is satisfying. I felt as though it was sometimes over-written, and in the first half of the book, there were continual references to all of Matthew's erections. Perhaps a bit of editing would have helped. Book received in goodreads contest.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼]

Put this on my TBR but I'm concerned about all the 5-STAR reviews by people who have only reviewed this book. Hmmm.

[Dazzle456 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a struggle to read. It’s clear the author is passionate about prose, but she should’ve spent more time workshopping the story instead of crafting “pretty” sentences. Maybe her style of writing works in a short story format but in a novel it was exhausting to read.

Also the main character was insufferable; selfish and bratty with a major victim mentality. Not only did I find it difficult to root for her, but I was genuinely confused that the author wanted us to root for her? Like she was a toxic person…very frustrating to read and I disagreed with a lot of the resolutions that went in her favour.

Finally there was no “so what?” Like I finished this book and I didn’t get anything from it except bee colonies are dying. Which again, could’ve worked with a short story.

[Tania · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was very different from anything I’ve read so far. The story was creative and well written. It wasn’t a page turner for me but I did find the story interesting and well researched. I didn’t like the last scene with the dog and also the part with the bees.

[J.J. Dupuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A total delight to read! Welch pulls readers into a world that is familiar yet manages to present it in a new way with her brilliant prose style. Definitely a writer whose career you'll want to follow, if this fantastic debut is any indication.

[Ainslie S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Katie’s writing. Her descriptions are entrancing and gave vivid imagery to an intriguing story. I looked forward to my my time immersed in her prose each day.

[Stacey (Bookalorian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Mad Honey By Katie Welch and here is my review.

Melissa runs her family farm and life is pretty great until her boyfriend Beck, disappears one day from the farm, leaving behind his beloved bees. Soon she comes to the realization that he isn’t coming back and throws herself into making the farm better than ever.

Three months later Beck turns up, terribly thin, pale and with no recollection of where he has been. Taking mercy on him, Melissa sets about helping him heal but for some reason he wants nothing to do with the bees he spent months being addicted to. His reasoning, he thinks he had become part of a bee colony.

Did he get a head injury? What happened to Beck? Can Melissa work out what happened while trying to solve the mystery of what happened to her father all those years ago but what will the truth do to her?

The premise of this book was so unique I couldn’t wait to get started on it. I don’t think I have ever read a book with such an interesting concept. I actually really enjoyed the pieces of knowledge the book gives on bees and honestly, it made me want to know more about the furry little pollinators. I definitely fell down a rabbit hole there.
It was interesting watching the dynamics between Melissa shifted with her adoptive sister when Beck returned and then when her mother came back.
I also really enjoyed the fact there were two mysteries to uncover and the plot twist on what happened to Beck!! OMG! I would never have guessed it in a million years! The book was written in such a way you never really know what has happened until they tell you.

I felt the pace was consistent and it never got boring. The storyline was very unique and that was a massive bonus. The farm setting was delightful as well and really added to the magic of this read.

I actually had my doubts that this book would be a binge read but I had to…. I finished it in a day. I couldn’t put it down. I think I even convinced my husband to read it too!

Definitely a 4.5 out of 5 read for me. Not your normal run of the mill thriller but man did it thrill me in all the right places.

Thank you to Katie Welch and Wolsak and Wynn for my review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Mae Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was a really good book. It has a very slow speed to it, but it’s vivid and tangible at times. The character development is amazing, and the shroud of mystery throughout it all makes the ending exhilarating. I feel very satisfied after reading this :)

[Laurie Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy and layered, you don't know what you are into until the end.

[Blaga Ivanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful, spooky, well-narrated. I was worried the end would leave me hanging but it did a good job of tying together loose ends.

[Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wtf wow

[Paulina Przyborowska · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was great. The writing was not. Felt like the author took a cool short story and dragged it out.

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would probably give this 2.5 stars if I could. There are some interesting elements to the story but overall the plot feels disjointed, and while the passage of time was maybe included for the sake of believability is does little to help with the narrative. I appreciate a Canadian author telling stories based in Canada. The book also seems to include many homages signaling its modern credentials with how it addresses mental health and sexuality but they seem more slotted in rather than a natural aspect of the story.

[Abby Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won an advance copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I struggled to get into it at first and realized this is an uncorrected copy, so I think the wordiness will be cleared up when it’s in its final form. But after a few chapters, I got HOOKED on this book. I love a twist at the end and this had one of the best kinds. The uniqueness of the topic and obvious research the author put into writing this also make it a worthwhile read!

I will say, there were a few weird moments where bees were sexualized that could have been taken out for me. Also, a dog was severely, randomly, and nonchalantly injured on the last page, which was highly disturbing to me. The book would pass with flying colors without those inclusions.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in the book. It was promising to begin with: quirky, with interesting characters and some magic realism thrown into the mix. I also really like her writing style and the fact it was set in Ontario, where I live.

Unfortunately, it became somewhat repetitive and morphed into a run of the mill mystery/suspense novel. I found some of the flashbacks, clunky and intrusive and only used to fill in information that might have been more subtly introduced.

I liked her writing enough that I would read her next novel.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't recommend this book; 2.5. It is too plodding and returns repeatedly, maddeningly to the main character's stress, which is apparent through certain harmless tics. The novel is well researched about bee keeping and rural Ontario life, there is an evocative flashback to Cuba and it contains two mysteries, but it takes too long to get to its conclusion and I wasn't able to get invested in the characters.

[Helena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn’t grab me. The characters didn’t feel real, the writing felt over-written.

[Anne Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to define Mad Honey by Katie Welch in terms of genre; we begin with a literary novel steeped in family history and resentment, slowly move into the territory of a mystery, and end up in the world of a thriller. Despite these leaps, the plotting is well done and I couldn’t read this one fast enough. It will surprise you, that I can guarantee.

Plot Summary

Melissa Makepeace has lived on her family’s farm all her life. She is now in her twenties, running the farm herself while her mother is away on an extended ‘soul-searching’ trip down south. The farm is home to a few people; Melissa’s foster sister Daphne, the grouchy farmhand Joseph, and Beck, the neighbor who helps keep the bees and has begun a romantic relationship with Melissa. The book opens with Beck returning to the farm; he disappeared without a trace for three months, and upon his return tells Melissa he’s been in a bee hive. He truly believes this, with vivid memories of helping the Queen Bee. Physically he is emaciated, and addicted to honey – it’s one of the only foods he can keep in his stomach. Melissa is upset with Beck’s strange absence, but more worried about his health and desperate for help with harvest season so she invites him back to stay at the farm and they resume their relationship. Melissa also struggles with another mystery in her life; when she was young, her father Charlie also disappeared without a trace, her mother convinced he simply abandoned his family, but Melissa won’t give up hope he will return someday.

My Thoughts

Even though this a plot-driven novel, the writing is that of a work of literary fiction that has no where to go quickly. The descriptions of life on the farm are abundant, the natural world steering the characters around as they do on a regular farm. Weather, the shifting of the seasons, and the development of the crops push the story along, and the characters are helpless to resist. Even the metaphors and descriptions are influenced by the farming environment:

“It bothered Melissa that memories of her father were fading, colour draining from them like newspaper mulch between rows of onion spikes.”

-p.14 of Mad Honey by Katie Welch, Advanced Reading Copy
These two mysterious disappearances; Beck’s and Charlie’s, weighs heavily over the book, suggesting a supernatural influence may be at work. Although Beck returns, it’s hard not to draw parallels between the two men. The women in this book are the reliable ones; they stick around, run the farm, do the dirty and heavy lifting, and generally get things done. The men are temperamental, subject to silly whims, obsessed with their own hobbies and unreliable. In fact, it’s the male characters, even Beck’s father and a random doctor figure that comes into their lives, that pursues their own passions; photography, biking, cross country skiing. It’s almost like men are given the space to become fully-rounded people, while women are left picking up the pieces after them.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the dissection of our relationships with one another; our relationship to the land, to our siblings, to our parents, and to those we fall in love with. At what point do we let go? How far does one need to be pushed before they throw up their hands and abandon the other? Do our obligations to our parents and children change as we grow older? The simplicity of the relationships in a bee hive are a stark contrast to the swirling activity outside the hive on this farm, which makes for great writing, and an even better story.

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[Lucy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mad Honey by Katie Welch is a fascinating and instructive read. The novel begins with a rather mysterious prologue describing farm worker Beck’s experience from the point of view of a bee. It’s not clear if Beck is having a psychotic episode, a drug-induced trip of some sort, or is involved in a form of mystical ceremony. As the novel unspools, we learn that Beck has been missing for three months, and that during that time, he believes that he was living in a beehive. He rejoins the farming community where he has been employed as a casual laborer and attempts to reconcile his memories of the past three months with the day-to-day reality of life. His parents and friends endeavor to be supportive but all of them are concerned about his mental and physical well-being. This is only one of two mysteries woven throughout the text and both are spell-binding, with surprising and unexpected endings. The tale also includes detailed expositions on the life of bees, their methods of communication, their mating practices and specified roles, as well as the diseases that affect hives and basic beekeeping and apiary management. The importance of these small pollinators is writ large in the text adding yet another layer of richness and sophistication to the plot. Highly recommended.

[Enid Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is literary fiction that is accessible to all.

There is nothing ordinary about this… A mystery wrapped up in magical mystical wonderment - a celebration of the natural world we live in… and a clarion call to warn us of the devastation to come should we lose our pollinators.

A masterful melding-merging-blending of the ‘unknown’ quantum relationships between the human mind, spirituality (including Santeria practices) and the natural. Written in prose so beautiful - so evocative - that you will find yourself re-reading passages simply to luxuriate in the word-craft… rolling sentences - and imagery - around on your tongue and in your brain. And the characters - some very deeply flawed - are lovingly rendered as complete and complex individuals.

There are a few plot points that bothered me - one matter of fact which is clearly not realistic, and two (related) failures of discovery that I struggle to buy into. But, while they really do bother me, they are minor quibbles relative to the whole.

This is an elegant little book that deserves - demands - to be read by one and all.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this beautiful book at Word on the Street this Fall from the Wolsak & Wynn publisher tent. The story is an interesting blend of mystery and literary fiction, about some young, hippie farmers in B.C. getting by running a farm-to-store operation in a remote, rural community. There are several mysteries to unravel, such as what happened to Melissa's father who disappeared over 10 years ago and why Melissa's boyfriend/farm-hand/beekeeper Beck disappeared the whole summer without a word. The narrative takes a lot of time to reveal these two mysteries in fullness, and I found the unravelling of each story a bit choppy and needed a better anchor in present day showing the passage of time. However, overall, this is a quirky story that embraces the world of bees as an interesting undercurrent to messy human life.

[Nicole Jubran · Rating 2 out of 5]

First let me start by saying when I found and bought this book on Facebook marketplace I had thought I found mad honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. It wasn’t until I went to start reading this book and mark it on here that I realized this is a different book with the same title. Silly mistake but a bad start to the book reading experience.
I really did not enjoy this book. It was SO SLOW. I felt like a lot of parts were pointless and didn’t lead to anything and while the last 30 pages were decent in terms of story and how it was wrapped up I found myself just skimming to finish it because I was DONE with it. It’s a descriptive and beautifully written book I guess if you like it slower paced? Just definitely not for me.

[Nathalie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It had an engrossing story, interesting and well-developed characters and was beautifully written. I particularly liked the bee angle. It took a bit of time for the story to get going, but the characters and the mystery of what happened with Beck and the bees kept me interested as the plot unfolded. I look forward to reading what the author comes up with next!