This book is full of twists that I did not see coming! It’s fast-paced, thought provoking, heartbreaking and an all around fantastic true crime/thriller! Gregg Olsen has quickly become one of my favorite authors!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my free copy in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I decided to dnf this mainly because it combines two things I don't like to intersect. Real events and fantasy. I don't like fantastical elements added to something that can actually happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was craving a mystery and this one hit the spot. I was hooked by the description of a detective unraveling the mysteries surrounding a cult and the bodies that seem to be appearing around it. Lindsay Jackman is called to the scene when a young woman’s body is found and discovers a connection to the cosmetics celebrity, Marnie Spellman of Spellman Farms. The closer she looks the more the bright, happy, female-empowerment cosmetic starts to look like something very sinister. Olsen weaves a lot of different threads together here, taking disparate storylines and pulling it all together in a satisfying mystery that will keep you hooked till the end.

What if MLM actually stood for mysteriously linked murders? The Hive follows a homicide investigation that develops into an exposé of the insidious workings of a cult-like group of women selling beauty products.

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. The story flowed with an easy pace, and had constant twists and turns that pulled me into the next chapter seeking out the next set of answers.
The masterful layering of POVs introduced me to pieces of the puzzle at a pace that allowed me to guess the ending and spend the latter part of the book excited to see how it would all connect. Little by little, you are shown that there is more to this investigation that meets the eye. I found it a real joy to read, and would certainly recommend it to anyone looking to get out of a reading slump.

I did find myself a little discouraged by the climax of the story, however. While I won't spoil anything, I will say the moment of truth fell a little flat as there seemed to be no genuine outrage on anyone's part. The story made me gasp out loud multiple times at the Absolute Scandal of what was revealed, and it sucked to not see that reflected in anyone's reaction. I also found the epilogue, while realistic...stung...a little.

Ending aside, I enjoyed the unravelling of the mystery throughout. I'd recommend this positively, and think that a discussion of the story as a whole would be an absolute hit in a book club. I am looking forward to seeing what other people thought of it, and will definitely recommend this as a group read!

Olsen is a prolific and talented writer who is generally a solid bet. This one may not be his best work, but not all of his books will be great. This is good, just not as good as some of his others. Regardless, this sell well on his name and reputation, and many will enjoy it!

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

The premise of this book was so interesting (murder? cults? YES), and I just felt let down the whole time. The ending was tipped SO EARLY and it was SO OBVIOUS that I spent the rest of the book being super mad at the detective for being an idiot. Like, how have you not put this together yet??? I know I read a lot of detective novels and figure things out real early, but this was just... bad. The whole business with the "hive" felt like something I've read before. The book also flipped back and forth between timelines and perspectives, which is fine, but it ping ponged so much that it made my head spin. I thought this could have been organized MUCH better. The epilogue was unnecessary and didn't bring anything to the story. I would not recommend this to others.

The Hive by Gregg Olsen. A convoluted tale of treachery, lies, murder populated with uncaring and indifferent characters. The only one likeable character is Detective Lindsey Jackson. Somewhat confusing with the jumps between characters and timelines but ultimately comes to a surprising and unexpected conclusion.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I've read and enjoyed Gregg Olsen before and this book lived up to his previous work. Very well done by Gregg.

This book is not something I would have typically picked up to read but was so glad I came across it on NetGalley! It was fast-paced and hard to put down. Will definitely be checking out more by this author!

This was the first book I've read by Gregg Olsen. I loved it. This book is full of different characters and it is amazing how he ties them all together at the end. I was shocked by the ending and it's not easy to surprise me. Highly recommend this book. It's very fast paced and combines the story from the past to the present. Thank you so much for giving me a sneak peek of this book!

Have to start with thanking NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity of reading this ARC.
I think one word can describe this book: addictive.
Detective Lindsey gets pulled into the world of Marnie, a cult-like figure in the world of natural beauty products, when she starts investigating a link between the murder of a young girl and a murder that took place 20 years ago.
From the start I was hooked to see how the investigation played out. It kept me guessing throughout the whole story and even when I thought I had solved it, another twist popped up!
One big selling point I need to say, these twists can be predicted by the reader so you KNOW it's a good twist.
I loved how Marnie and the Hive were promoting this "everyone's perfect, beauty on the outside will lead to beauty on the outside" when all of these women were horrible people.
It was slightly confusing with the timeliness switching, but overall Gregg Olsen did a fantastic job writing a very addictive and compelling story.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early. This is one of my favorite authors and I always look for his new releases.
This book had a lot going on. The jump back into time for the backstory was sometimes confusing, as there are a lot of characters involved. I had no inkling of how the story was going to play out and that part kept me reading. The initial murder that gets the detective involved is shoved to the back and doesn’t play a role in the story until later in the book. Kind of confusing. I hate to be negative about this author, but this wasn’t one of my favorites that he has written.
I’m glad I had the chance to read it though.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Police officer Lindsay Jackman is trying to find out who killed a college student. Her search leads her to Marnie Spelling who is a guru. This book kept me guessing from start to finish.

5 stars

Detective Alan Sharpe, Detective Lindsay Jackman's partner has very recently committed suicide. Shocked and bereft, Lindsay must continue with her job. Her latest case is a young woman who was found dead at the foot of a ravine. The young woman's name is Sarah Baker and was strangled before she was thrown off the cliff.

Lindsay and her boss Lieutenant Madison begin an investigation into Sarah's death. Sarah was relatively shy and mostly preferred to be left alone to pursue her interests. She is attending college and rooms with a childhood friend. Sarah loved plants and animals and also works on the college newspaper.

When Lindsay gets a phone call from Reed about his wife who was murdered some twenty years earlier, she goes to see him. He has a devastating story to tell about his wife and someone called Marnie Spellman.

The almost mesmerizing and magnetic Marnie Spellman, cosmetic queen. She says she had an experience with a swarm of bees as a child and has used that encounter to become a self-styled guru of both cosmetics and a self-help/actualization process. It is really a cult of personality.

Lindsay finds herself with countless “witnesses.” All of them have their own stories and are very reluctant to talk and very good at lying. Her search for the truth leads her into a twisted path of betrayal, lies, shocks and murder.

This book is Gregg Olsen at his best. It is a very involved and twisty story. It is very well written and plotted. We are treated to the actual situation in 1999 and the manner in which the participants have whitewashed the truth in the present. He presents this story so well, I was awed. I have read his books for years and truly enjoyed this one. Great going, Mr. Olsen.

I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed her are my own.

The Hive is enjoyable throughout the first half, but at midpoint I thought it was starting to sputter. It didn't seem like we were going anywhere, just around in circles, back in time, forth in time, then back, then one character, then other, and it just continued that way. Yet I stuck with it and we finally moved forward. There was not a likable character to be found in the novel, excepting the police officer Lindsay Jackman. She's in the dark for most of it as was the reader. She served as our rock.
The author has set up various scenarios and degrees of involvement for the characters. He releases driblets of information at a time, but, when all is said and done, the novel is interesting.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc. What a compelling story and great characters! Who hasn't known a Queen Bee or a mean girl? Gregg Olsen does a great job of bringing this Queen Bee to life with gripping writing that will make it hard for you to put this book down! The only reason this is not a 5 star read is near the end the book felt too long, and the timeline was sometimes confusing. Maybe instead of having specific dates there is a way to just show just years or month and years? I will admit that my concentration is not as good as it used to be. so this could just be my failing.
If you want an intriguing story with great characters, this book is for you.

I loved this book! It was such a strong well written story. It was exactly what I needed with everything going on in the world! A mind bending escape!

I started reading The Hive by Gregg Olsen yesterday evening and had to force myself to stop reading at midnight so I could get some sleep. As soon as I woke up this morning I was grabbing for my e-reader so I could finish it. I guess you could say I really enjoyed it!

Not only was the book perfectly paced and kept me riveted, it also avoided some very annoying clichés that often pop up in the murder mystery/detective genres. Also most of the characters are women but they feel authentic and well written which can be unfortunately rare. There was no unnecessary romantic side plot or sexually charged descriptions of what the female character looks like. The main character, detective Lindsay Jackman, is written with depth and nuance which was refreshing to read.

This is the first book I've read by Gregg Olsen, but I will absolutely be reading more!

police officer Lindsay Jackman is investigating the murder of a young journalist found at the bottom of a ravine. Lindsay soon learns that the victim was writing an exposé. Her subject: a charismatic wellness guru who’s pulled millions into her euphoric orbit!

I was sucked into this story and I loved every bit of it!
What a wonderful book!

If you haven't ever read Gregg Olsen before you need to start with this suspenseful novel starring Detective Lindsey Jackman.

When Lindsey investigates the murder of a young woman found naked at the bottom of a ravine she is soon thrust into investigating health guru Marnie Spellman and another murder from years before. Lindsey is also reeling from the apparent suicide of her work partner Allan .

As Lindsey begins to investigate Marnie's farm and her "hive" a small group of women who left their families to work with Marnie and make natural products she is led every which way as one lie after another are uncovered.

A twisting thrilling novel about people and the lies they tell to protect themselves and the lengths they will go to get to where they want to be.