Mind Your Own Beeswax

Queen Bee Mystery #2

by Hannah Reed

Things are going well for beekeeper Story Fischer, whose hands are full with a successful local market, her Queen Bee Honey business, and a new boyfriend. But when she finds the dead body of local woman with a checkered past right near her hive, she's in a sticky situation indeed.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Romance, Adult

292 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 23, 2011

About the author

Bestselling, award-winning author Deb Baker writes the hilarious Gertie Johnson mystery series set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A native Yooper herself, Deb brings her blend of humor and sass to everything she writes, including mysteries written under her pen name Hannah Reed.

In addition to the Yooper mysteries, Deb/Hannah also penned a doll collecting series, beekeeping mysteries, and a Scottish Highland trilogy.

Reviews

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lost one comes home

A great plot - okay I guessed about halfway through but still a good read. Love the way the characters are evolving.
She's now taken over all the hives and has started to think about classes. Like the beeswax candle making she was running later. When two latecomers arrive she doesn't recognise one until later. She had been a member of her little group but had ended up in prison for the murder of the last police chief. Now however she looked old and ill. When she goes missing a full blown search is carried out but the body they find is another local resident. When they find her, she too is dead and the residents are split on who is responsible - her cousin or the current police chief! Will they find the killer and does it have anything to do with the old murder?

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this author has the potential for a very good series, there are two major things that get in the way and make this series unpleasant. The Bullet Points and her sister's intolerable "text talk". Teenagers don't even talk like that and it's supremely annoying. The protagonists mother needs to be shoved in a home and forgotten, but I can live with that angle if it's the only horrible thing.

It's a shame too, because the story and plot are excellent and the main character is very likeable. I doubt I'll make this mistake a third time, unless I can verify the bullet points are gone and her sister has stopped sounding like an idiot.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good (and sad) mystery but it did need editing here and there.

[Jennifer Oberth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series! I love Story, our main character. She's so self-aware and knows her limits. Doesn't let them stop her but blames herself when things go wrong that she could have (even should have-LOL!) avoided.
I even like characters I swore I would not like. That's pretty awesome of a writer to be able to do that!

I also love the information about bees seamlessly woven into the narrative.

I actually figured out whodunit very, very early on but it didn't detract from the enjoyment of the story unfolding naturally. There are some clues the character misses that were so obvious to me but instead of annoyance or chalking it up to the writing, it clearly was the character missing things and putting them together incorrectly - or not seeing it at all. It flowed naturally and realistically.

I can't wait to get my hands on the third book!!

[Penny Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite things is "light" mysteries...no blood and gore, just a cute storyline, and if there are recipes at the end of the book, I rejoice. So, I was pretty stoked to discover a new-to-me mystery series called "A Queen Bee Mystery" by Hannah Reed. It has a spunky and determined heroine who is becoming a beekeeper, an adorable small town setting, and some quirky characteristics that I really loved.

*One: There are bullets in here! (No, not those kind of bullets! These kind of bullets...The big black dots at the beginning of the sentence.) I am a compulsive list-maker. I have daily to-do lists, goals for life to-do lists, writing to-do lists, and camps-for-my-kids to-do lists. I am a big supporter of lists! In every mystery series, there are sections of the book where the characters sort of hash out the clues, and reorganize their thoughts. You could do this using dialogue. Internal deep POV. Whatever. Hannah Reed just skips all that rigmarole and uses bullets. Love it! I think this is hilarious! She also uses bullets to give us information about beekeeping, facts about morel mushrooms, and pros and cons of Story getting more involved with her boyfriend, for a few examples.

*I love small town settings and quirky characters. Story has a cute honey shop, filled with gossipy neighbors, young and old. Her boyfriend is a sexy cop. The villain is an old nemesis from high school. This is the perfect setting for a mystery!

*I am way into learning stuff when I read. (I mean, when I read non-educational books that aren't about turfgrass or something like that.) Since I am an avid gardener, I found the whole beekeeping theme fascinating. One of the plot points is about Story's bees "escaping" their hives to look for larger accommodations. She has to follow the colony and coax them back to her house. It's very cool!

*As is typical for this type of mystery, there are "romantic elements" but no real romance. Big bummer! Story's boyfriend is a sexy cop, and I wish there had been more romance in the story. But this wasn't a romance, so I can't complain. (Much).

All in all, this was a fun, light read. The mystery was nice and compact. The setting was sweet, the quirky characters were plentiful, the boyfriend was hot, the story was informative, and there is even a foot fetish thrown in for good measure. (hee hee....seriously!). There's also a recipe for Honey Trail Mix Cookies at the end of the book, and they look yummy. I will definitely be reading more of these cute mysteries by Hannah Reed.

Grade: B+

Jonesing for a honey bun!
Penelope

[Alyssa White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute read, no disappointment at all. Dinky had me laughing through the whole story. I enjoy trying to figure things out but this one had so many things going I did figure it out until the end. I cannot wait to read the next one. I have to buy the next one!

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series - Story is a hoot! Johnny Jay annoys me, her mother needs a boot up her butt and Hunter is swoon worthy! The mysteries are great and I love the characters! On to book 3!!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to mark for spoilers (even though I hate to do that!) because I have to rant about Johnny Jay, and of course he was a suspect. Although, did anyone really believe he did it? Seemed too good to be true. Yes, I wished he were the killer so he could be out of the books! Of all the annoying aspects to the series (which there are many, including Holly’s text speak and Story’s overbearing, passive aggressive mom), I think Johnny Jay is by far the worst. And he was horrible in this book. First of all, why is he so mean to Story? Are we really supposed to believe it’s because she turned him down for Prom more than 15 years ago??? Secondly, why is he so mean in general, yet still in charge? No one seems to like him, and for everything else the citizens seem to have lots of control, but not for their police chief?? Thirdly, why is he extra mad at Story at the end of the book? Seems like he should be thanking her! She just single handedly got a confession from the TRUE killer of Johnny’s dad, and the killer for the deaths Johnny himself was being blamed. Seems like Johnny should be kissing her feet! I’ll be anxious to see if he gets any better in the next books.

Because, yes, I like the books well enough to continue the series, regardless of the annoying aspects. I like Story and Hunter and the bees and Morain and all that. I love cozy mysteries, and this series fits the bill nicely.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2nd in the series. In this one, Story is running the store and managing her bees, and teaching classes. Normal, right? Then not one but two women are murdered. One has a link to the past, a past where an accident killed the police chief. Is the murder today and the death in the past linked? And is the current police chief (the son of the dead police chief) to blame? Story is going to find out.

I tend not to read in order, and while this was more or less a stand-alone, it might have been helpful from a character development perspective to have read the first in series. The story was interesting, but what put me off from 3 stars to 2 is that the author tends to write in bullet points. At first I thought it was a one-off, but it continued through the book. There was a bit about beekeeping, which was nice. And a few recipes at the end.

Will I continue the series....probably not.

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hannah Reed is a capable writer with a quirky series concept. However, I grew very tired of hearing how Story slipped and tripped because she wore flip flips everywhere (including while tending to bees) and how she reached into her lives without proper protective equipment.

I was also unimpressed with how the author handled phobia. In this novel Story’s cousin Carrie-Anne offers to look after a dog then dumps it on Story with no regard for Story’s fear of dogs. The author then makes it seem like Story looking after this dog cures her fear. Talk about unlikely. Story also behaves with similar disregard to her sister’s fear of bees.

I think the first book in the series was much better but I will read the next one because I see a huge potential for improvement.

[Valorie Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rogue, mean-tempered Chief of Police in a small town!!!!!

15 stars!!!!!
Story Fischer can't stay away from trouble with a capital "T". She and her mis-fit crew have really drive the chief of police crazy in this book.
With breaking and entering, burglary, attempted murder, spying, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, 2 murders.
Story and her almost boyfriend Hunter and his dog Ben were in the middle of everything.
Story's sister Holly and her cousin Carrie Ann trying to help.
You got to read this, it's amazing how you get caught up with the characters in this book you feel like you are there.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent Queen Bee mystery. I really like the MC, Story, even if she likes bullet points a little too much. ;) :) The mystery was well done, too. I had no clue who the murderer was until the reveal. I did know it wasn't the person Story wanted it to be. I'm so happy that the ongoing relationship between Story and Hunter is starting to heat up. I can't wait to read the next book, which, thankfully I have! :)

[Kathleen M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book, bee information and of course what every mystery needs a good murder. Well, as good as murder can get. We are once again introduced to the family and the mercantile. New characters arrive including the mysterious Lantern Man. This character has been terrorizing a certain plot of land with and interesting story associated with how the Latern Man arrived to the area. Fast read, but several twists and typical small town dynamics.

[Mary Lou Eberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another I couldn't put down!!

I have quickly claimed the interesting stories by Hannah Reed as beginning wi her Highland Mysteries totally caught my attention! Now the new series has
proved to be as fascinating as well!

[Nese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the first book in this series, Buzz Off, so much, I plan reading as many books I can from this series. Again, the murder mystery is complex, the quirky family members are hilarious, and writing is so descriptive that one feels like watching the events.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book 2

Well written with a good flow and plenty of action. Good strong characters and a well developed plot. I am loving this series.

[Liisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful, light-hearted, and somewhat humorous main character! I love it!

[Mary Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book.

[Khanson919 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice cozy mystery with a twist.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cute book. I did not cheat and read the ending! But I did not guess the real murderer till I read it. It was a cute story, and I look forward to the next book, #3 in the series.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique concept to have a beekeeper mystery. Parts were not actually believable, but then it could just be the differences in our lives and professions. I think the author is good.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

[Janine Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome!

Loved this book and will be purchasing the next in the series :) exciting, funny, and I almost didn’t figure out who did it until the very end!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title fits the story line.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series!

[Cindy Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just too annoying/stressful to be cozy.

[Arow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique story, I enjoyed the joining or past and present in this small town.

Note, I read the e-book which definitely had some editing issues. The poor dogs name changed from Bob in Chapter 7 to the proper Ben in Chapter 8.

Even with that though, I loved it and the characters involved.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

If it was not for the art of beekeeping, I am sure that would not continue with this series. There is something about bees that have always fascinated me and the apiary science within this book is interesting.

Once you get past that, you realize how ridiculous the rest of the writing is. Hannah Reed is obsessed with bullet points, really, who puts bullet points into fiction writing. Granted, there are not as many of those little bullets as in the first book, so to temper it, she has resorted to “point one” and “point two”. I do not know who would notice a difference, but to me, they are the same thing.

Then we have the sister of the main who speaks in text talk. Ms Reed calls them acronyms, but she needs to look up the definition of that word. Very few are actually acronyms, most are initialisms.

Then we have two modern day murders. Once again, the author has either has taken leave of her senses or forgot how she had dressed her main character. Who wears flip-flops through a wooded area at night? Not to mentions the same type of foot ware to climb up a ladder and onto a branch of a tree the next morning. However, my all time favorite - checking for fingerprints in woodland around a murder scene. Really, is that even possible? What would they check – bark on a tree, an errant leaf? Checking for footprints would have been better and a bit more realistic.

All this and we have not reached page 100 yet. Gee, this is going to be a long day.

Story Fischer owns a small market in Moraine, Wisconsin; known as “a hotbed of rumor and innuendo and a den of dubious drama” has hosted a candle making session. A woman in the back of the room appears familiar to Story but she cannot put a name to the face.

Later that day, upon learning of the disappearance of Lauren Kerrigan, a past resident of the town, old feelings and resentments come to the surface. Now the town is buzzing (like the bee reference) over the investigation and who is responsible for the two murders now and a vehicular homicide that had sent Lauren to prison 16’ish years before.

Shoot, did not even make it to page 200 before other glaring errors appear. First, you have to believe that a trained police dog will follow the commands of someone other than his handler, but if Story and the dog track through the wooded area on foot, how did they get in a truck to leave? Second, “AND” is not an acronym for 'Any Day Now' (pg 191) – if you noticed, the letters were transposed. Makes one ponder if proofreading was a requirement before publication of this book.

The ludicrousness of this book is overwhelming. Just because a book is within the cozy mystery category does not mean that the readers are brain dead. Respect your readers and give them a book that does not insult their intelligence.

By the end, I think I just gave up. I am sure there were more errors, but I stopped paying attention. Enough already. Time to move on.