First in a new series! Includes tips and recipes! Welcome to a specialty shop in the Oregon tourist town of Oceanview, where it’s all things honey—from taffy to body scrub. But murder can make things sticky . . . A BALMY WAY TO GO With her Let It Bee honey boutique buzzing along nicely, life is as sweet as nectar for Wren Johnson—until she takes a morning walk along the Pacific beach with her … a morning walk along the Pacific beach with her Havana Brown cat, Everett, and stumbles upon the body of Agnes Snow, the cranky queen of the local craft fairs, stiff as driftwood. More unfortunate? Clutched in the victim’s fist is a label from Wren’s homemade beeswax-and-honey lip balm. Which makes Officer Jim Hampton focus his dreamy-blue Paul Newman eyes on Wren as suspect number one.
With fabulous feline support from Everett, Wren must comb the town for clues and clear her name before someone else gets stung.
Praise for Nancy Coco and Her Candy-Coated Mysteries
“A puzzling series of crimes . . . plenty of suspects and mouthwatering recipes.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Memorable characters, a charming locale, and a satisfying mystery.”
—Barbara Allan
“It’s probably best not to read this while you’re too hungry, as the fudge recipes may send you right to the kitchen.”
—The Oakland Tribune
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A very nice start to a new cozy mystery series by author Nancy Coco, Death Bee Comes Her introduces the reader to Wren Johnson, living in a small coastal Oregon town, and managing her business – Let It Bee. When Wren and her cat, Everett, stumble upon the body of Agnes Snow while on their morning walk, Wren is almost immediately suspected of having something to do with the crime, as the poison was introduced via one her own lip balms! Add in the fact that Agnes was the nemesis of Wren’s beloved Aunt Eloise, and Wren’s got her hands full trying to prove her innocence, prevent her business from going down the tubes, and finding the guilty party! 5 stars!
Excellent Book! Such potential for a new favorite series!
A mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.
Wren owns Let It Bee, a honey store. She just moved back to her hometown a couple of years ago to be closer to her Aunt Eloise. Eloise is the only living relative Wren has, so she wants to be near. Wren is a likable character who is caring and kind, but she can also be a little misguided, mostly from listening to her aunt. Eloise is a kooky character that you can’t help but like too. When the two of them have to try and clear Wren’s name as the top suspect for a murder in town, the book really takes off.
Wren discovers Agnes dead, lying facedown on the beach, and she quickly becomes the prime suspect since the victim is holding one of Wren’s lip balms in her hand at the time of death. When all the evidence points toward Wren, they decide the only way to get her out of this mess is to investigate the murder themselves.
This book has a lot of twists and turns as Wren digs further into the death of Agnes. We also get to meet a couple of different possible love interests for Wren, even though neither of them is fully explored. Wren is more focused on finding the murderer than worrying about dating, although it is obvious she has eyes for the lead detective on the case, even though he seems to be trying to put her in jail.
Overall, if you’re looking for a book with investigations and murders with some humor mixed in, then Death Bee Comes Her will be a good choice for you.
Death Bee Comes Her by Nancy Coco is the debut of An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. I enjoyed this delightful new cozy from beginning to end. Wren Johnson has a unique honey boutique called Let It Bee in Oceanview, Oregon. There is an actual beehive in her store behind glass. Wren has a variety of products in her shop from candy to lip balm to lotions. I loved the description of her shop and could envision it in my mind. I like Wren who owns (well, as much as you can “own” a cat) Everett, a Havana Brown cat. She walks him about town on a leash and harness. Wren talks to Everett and he seems to understand what Wren is saying with appropriate responses (a clever kitty). It is adorable. Oceanview has a weeklong festival called Halloweentown. It is an extravaganza with everyone dressing up and handing out candy to the kids. I enjoyed Wren’s clever costumes. I happen to be a fan of the Halloweentown movies. The author took the time to set the stage for this book and the series with her descriptions of the town and its residents. The mystery was interesting, and I liked following Wren as she combed for clues. There is plenty of action and good clues. I like how the mystery was laid out. While I was able to identify the evil doer easily, it did not take away from my enjoyment of this honey of a whodunit. There is an excerpt for Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas from Nancy Coco’s A Candy Coated Mystery series. Death Bee Comes Her is a charming cozy mystery with a chatty cat, healthy honey, a pestilent poison, scrumptious candy, and creative crafts.
A delightful new series from author Nancy Coco! I loved this book from the very beginning! The setting of the Oregon coast and Wren’s shop that sold bee-themed items and items created with beeswax and honey was interesting. It definitely sounds like someplace I’d enjoy visiting. After Wren and her Havana Brown cat, Everett, find the dead body of Agnes Snow, rival of Wren’s Aunt Eloise, on the beach, she becomes the prime suspect. Agnes was clutching one of Wren’s labels in her hand and had been poisoned by a lip balm. Wren, her sales associate and friend, Porsche, and Aunt Eloise set out to investigate and clear Wren’s name. This was a fun book with a lot of the evidence pointing to Wren to make it look like she was the killer. I enjoyed the relationship between Wren and her aunt and Wren and Porsche. Trying to figure out the real killer was interesting and it turned out to be someone I wouldn’t have guessed. I highly recommend this fun new series! I look forward to seeing what’s next for Wren and hopefully seeing a relationship develop between Wren and Detective Jim Hampton!
Wren Johnson has returned to Oceanview, Oregon to open her Let It Bee boutique and live near her aunt, Eloise. While on a walk along the beach with her cat, a Havana Brown named Everett, Wren makes the unwanted discovery of the body of a woman. The victim turns out to be Agnes Snow and she is holding a label from Wren’s lip balm which makes her the prime suspect. Determined to clear her name as well as save her reputation and her store, Wren decides to look into things herself with a little bit of help from Eloise and some feline support from Everett.
This book is the first in a new series and it was a delightful read which I enjoyed. The book had wonderful characters, some of whom were great to get to know while others turned out to be less than likable. The interactions between the characters was well-done and the behavior was believable. I did have some issues with the way the police department and the main police officer was represented. There was also an error at the end of the book where the body count was wrong. To be fair, I did read the paperback version from the library so it’s possible that the Kindle version was corrected. All in all, despite the issues I had, I did read the book in one sitting as it drew me in and kept me hooked. I am looking forward to the next book and recommend this one.
A wonderful start to a new series!
What an un-bee-lievable start to a new series from Nancy CoCo!
The first few words of the first chapter immediately draws the reader in to want to know more about the quirky inhabitants of a town in Oregon. The protagonist, Wren Johnson, finds herself drawn into a murder mystery after simply trying to take her cat for a walk on the beach. Throughout the book, Wren has to prove that she wasn’t the one that committed the murder, and the reader gets introduced to many charming characters along the way. I loved the dynamic between Wren, her Aunt Eloise, and her friend/employee, Porsche. Porsche just seemed like a really fun person to work with and be friends with — definitely a couple laughable moments with her.
The story itself drew me in so much that I finished the book in a matter of hours. I wanted to keep reading and to know more about this town and the people that live there. The setting of Let It Bee was really fun and different to read in a cozy mystery, and I enjoyed that a lot. I’ve always enjoyed bees and bee products but I think I gained even more respect after reading this book. I appreciated the recipes and tips spread out throughout the chapters. I just wish that Let It Bee was a real store I could visit — I’d be sure to buy up all the lip balm.
I also liked that the Halloweentown festivities were brought up because it really is a real event that happens every year in St. Helens, OR and I’ve always wanted to go to it. Loved this book, loved the characters and the setting, and I can’t wait to read more!
Nancy CoCo is one of my favorite authors so when I saw this book I had to give it a try. I had the killer figured out pretty quickly but I was wrong about the motive. O well, you win some, you lose some. I enjoyed the story and most of the characters and I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series.
I’m really enjoyed reading the debut book of a new series by Nancy Coco. The main character Wren Johnson is likable, intelligent, relatable, and well-developed. The storyline is well-crafted moving at a smooth steady pace. There are only a few suspects but this doesn’t mean you know whodunit, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The setting of the Halloweentown Festival added a lot of fun to the story. This was one of my daughter’s favorite movies as a kid, we watched it together every year. The is an entertaining cozy for any time of the year but a great one for the Halloween season. I am looking forward to more of this series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
I enjoy this author’s Candy Coated series but I did not enjoy this one as much. Wren has moved back to her childhood home to open her shop featuring products made of honey. While walking her dog one morning she finds the body of a local crafter clutching a label from her lip balm. The police suspect her so she sets out to solve the crime. I liked the town and I really enjoyed Everett the cat. I found the main character to be annoying. Everyone has to protect her from herself. She is smart enough to hire a lawyer but does not take his advice. The mystery was very easy to solve and it was a mess. There was a lot of repetition. The book was quick to read. I like this author’s books so I hope the next book in the series is better edited.
Death Bee Comes Her begins the An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series with a cozy mystery that captured my attention from beginning to end… and left me wanting more.
Wren owns a delightful shop that showcases just about anything to do with honey or honeycombs… even to the living hive shown through the glass on the side of the building. While out on a walk with her cat, Everett, one evening the last thing she expected to run into on the beach was the very dead body of a woman by no means popular in this small town. And to make matters even worse for Wren, clutched in the mean dead woman’s hand is the label from one of Wren’s products. Now she’s a suspect who, along with her Aunt Eloise, and even her cat, Everett will be searching out clues to who the real killer is before she ends up behind bars for a murder she did not commit.
Death Bee Comes Her is fast-paced and kept me on my toes throughout. There is world-building, I expect that in the first story in any series, but I wasn’t overwhelmed since most of those details were delivered through dialogue or narrative quite smoothly.
As with any Cozy Mystery, I’m not revealing much in the way of details – you should experience this firsthand. But I can say that I was caught up in Wren’s story, laughed often, puzzled out why some things were done, and while I had my culprit picked out early was engaged in figuring out the why of it all. This story kept my attention and has opened up a new world by this author for us all to enjoy. I had fun in this world, and plan to return with the next installment of the An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. If you love a good Cozy Mystery then you’ll want to pick up Death Bee Comes Her real soon.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
I know that PNW lovers will adore the atmosphere written within this story. You can feel that rain and the fog. You can smell that air. The vibe is real.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable first book in a new series from Nancy Coco. The mystery was great and I loved the characters a lot.
The plot was equal parts fun and stressful. The story carries that cozy mystery feel that you’d expect, but there were some scenes that were pretty intense and unexpected! It was easy to get lost in the story.
There were a few “loose ends” but knowing this will be a series, it’s obvious those will come up in later books. It more feels like “to be continued”.
Side note: the book includes recipes and fun facts about honey!
“Death Bee Comes Her” the 1st instalment in the “Oregon Honeycomb” Mystery series by Nancy Coco. What can I say other than I think Nancy has another hit series on her hands! I will definitely be preordering book 2 ~ A MATTER OF HIVE AND DEATH.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest in Vancouver, the Oregon Coast is a favourite place for me to visit so was nice to be able to picture the setting. I really enjoyed this story, and loved that it features a cat named Everett. Plus the bonus of honey recipes at the end of each chapter was a nice addition. I can see this becoming a new favourite just like her Fudge series.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Wren, Porsche, and Aunt Eloise .
I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I think there could be a possible romance blooming too.
I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m a fan of Nancy CoCo’s fudge series and had no doubt that her new series would be another winner. Add to that the small town on the Oregon Coast setting and bees – well I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
Wren has moved to Oceanview to be close to her only remaining relative, her late mother’s sister, Eloise. Now she has opened her own business, Let It Bee, a store that sells all things relating to bees and honey – lip balms, lotions, creams, scrubs, candy, etc. She even has a glass wall that showcases a bee hive. She and her Havana Brown kitty, Everett, live upstairs. Life is good as she and the rest of the town get ready to the week of Halloween festivities. Vampires and zombies are to be expected but. not the corpse on the beach that Wren and Everett discover during their daily walk on the beach. At that point Wren’s life takes a turn and jumps off a cliff. She finds herself the number one suspect and the police detective is laser focused on her, hauling her in for questioning more than once – including a line up. Lucky for Wren her connections include the son of a local lawyer who takes on her case pro bono. As the bodies pile up she needs him on speed dial. Both she and her aunt are in big trouble and the killer might just come after them.
Overall I really enjoyed this first book of the series with just one exception – the way the detective treated Wren made me uncomfortable. Beyond that personal quibble I liked the main characters of Wren, Aunt Eloise and Per friend/employee, Porsche and I love Everett, the cat who loves to walk on a leash and has lots to say. The mystery was engaging and complex with an easy flow from one clue to the next. There were a few hanging threads that I’m hoping will be clearer in the next book but it wasn’t a big deal.I already have saved a space on my TBR list for the next in the series “A Matter of Hive and Death”
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Interesting first book in a new cozy mystery series by Nancy Coco (author of A Candy-Coated Myster series). First books can be a little slow because of all the information needed when creating a new series – the characters/backstories, the setting, etc., but this book wasn’t like that in the least.
I enjoyed meeting the main character, Wren, and learning about her honey-related boutique. The town she lives in sounds liked it would be a fun and interesting place to visit. And the mystery was intriguing, well-written, and kept me guessing. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Death Bee Comes Her by Nancy Coco is the first in a fun new series, called Oregon Honey mysteries. Wren was walking her cat, a Havana Brown, named Everett, on the beach one day: pretty much her daily habit. Everyone spoke to her, not all kindly. Before too long they were away from people so Wren could take Everett off his leash. Before long he was running into the tall grass and behaving oddly. Wren rushed over to see what he had found and discovered a woman’s body. Things got worse quickly as the paper the woman was holding was a label off her homemade lip balm and they police suspected the poison that had killed her was in the lip balm. That was not good for her business, especially when the police came and confiscated all the rest she had in stock. Lots of fun in this novel, though: it was Halloween week and a special celebration, lots of dressing up; honey recipes before every chapter.
This is a new and wonderful locale for a cozy mystery: a store that sells only natural honey products, locally sourced, both edible and cosmetics. One of the many entertaining characters is Wren’s aunt Eloise, who also is a Havana Browns aficionado and a lady extremely supportive of her niece. Her employee and friend, Porsche is cute and helpful, always there for Wren. There’s another murder and Wren is nearly hysterical with worry, despite the fact that she’s innocent. This is a face-paced story with a good plot, lots of great characters, and a bright future. I like it a lot. Good luck, Nancy Coco, with your new venture!
I was invited to read a free ARC of Death Bee Comes Her by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #deathbeecomesher
Death Bee Comes Her is the first book in the An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series by Nancy Coco.
Wren owns Let It Bee in Oceanview, Oregon. Let It Bee is a charming boutique selling items that are honey related, lotions, lip balm, beeswax candles, and honey flavored candies. The shop has glass in one of the walls that behind it has a beehive so customers can watch the working of a hive.
Oceanview is gearing up for its annual Halloweentown extravaganza, and Wren is anxious to get everything in her shop ready, but first, she needs to take her cat, Everett, for his morning walk, and they head for the beach. Wren soon finds Anges Snow’s dead body on the beach. Clutched in Snow’s hand is the label off of one of Wren’s lip balm. When an autopsy shows that Snow died from poisoning, Wren will become the primary suspect. In addition to the label, it is a well-known fact that Agnes and Wren’s Aunt Eloise were fierce competitors in various crafting projects, and Snow always seemed to win. Wren, with the help of her assistant, Porsche, her aunt, and of course, Everett, set to find the killer of Snow.
Death Bee Comes Her is an enjoyable beginning to a new series. The book has interesting characters that are both believable and well-developed. The story is well-written and plotted.
I’m looking forward to seeing more police officer Hampton and Conrad’s development to see if one will become a possible romantic interest for Wren. Plenty of red herrings that I was kept guessing until the end of the book.
Also included in the book are delicious sounding recipes and interesting facts about honey.
I’m looking forward to the next book, A Matter Of Hive And Death.
Death Bee Comes Her by Nancy Coco is book one in this new Cozy series. An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. Being a fan of Coco’s A Candy-coated Mystery series, I was excited for this new series and I was not disappointed.
Wren owns a specialty shop featuring items made featuring honey. While walking her cat, Everett, on the beach early in the morning she finds a body on the beach with one of Wren’s lip balm in her hand. When it’s discovered Agnes was poisoned, all fingers point to Wren. Wren sets out to find out who is framing her for the murder. Then when Everett turns up missing, she knows she is on the right trail but has to get the answers fast or she will get stung.
There are plenty of plot twists and suspects. The main characters are likeable and relatable. There is humor, a hint of a possible romance in this easy to read Cozy.and a lovable cat. There are tips and recipes included.
I was given an ARC from Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.
An engaging cozy mystery with an original twist at the end. I am hooked on the new Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. The recipes and helpful hints in each chapter are nice too. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.