I was disappointed in this book. Unnecessary redundancy, overly descriptive sections, conflicts between chapters, and stilted dialogue made reading this book a chore. There was other ridiculousness-- such as a jacket stopping a bullet leaving a hole in the fabric, and only a bruised which hurt when walking downstairs. Does that make sense to anyone? That escapade left me speaking out loud to the book wondering if someone should have been kind enough to tell Nancy Coco that is not how things work. Also, they don’t give you medication before you go into surgery to help you forget what happened. Once again, that is not how things work. Nor does a bladder infection cause dementia, it might exacerbate the condition, but it does not cause it. I am beginning to wonder how she came up with this stuff. Oh, and how does she make enough product in her tiny apartment kitchen to supply her shop with candles, balms, and creams? Pretty sure the fire and health departments would have a few questions for her.

I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, or the absurdity, which surprises me since I enjoy her Candy Coated Mystery Series. Needless to say, I will not be revising the Oregon Honeycomb series which is disappointing since I did enjoy the science of bees.

A Matter of Hive and Death: An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery
By Nancy Coco
Kensington
April 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

Two years ago Wren Johnson returned to her late mother’s hometown of Oceanview, Oregon, and since then she has successfully built up her specialty boutique Let it Bee into a business of honey-based spa treatments, bakery treats, and home remedies. Wren has also become a budding beekeeper herself, learning the delicate craft of hive and beekeeping from bee wrangler Elias Bentwood. When Wren goes to a planned meet up with him she finds instead his unconscious body surrounded by swarming bees and vandalized hives. As shocking as the news that Elias was murdered by a blow to the head is the news that this was but one of a series of hive vandalisms to have recently occurred, and while the Beekeeping association members are furious, hive attacks rank pretty low on the list of priorities for the police.

Knowing the critical value of these endangered bees to the environment and economy of beekeepers, Wren sets out to discover how Elias’s death must be tied into the destruction of so many hives. Officer Jim Hampton, he of the lethally-blue eyes and stern demeanor, warns Wren from sticking her nose into his investigation but she’s not about to allow a friend’s death go unsolved. Especially not since she so recently solved a murder, and the police now seem focused on Elia’s best friend as his killer. When not attempting to discover whom Elias or his bees may have angered into a lethal swarm, Wren contends with her Aunt Eloise’s attempts to costume them up for the town’s annual UFO festival. Parades, campy souvenirs, and legitimate scientists will be joining the conspiracy theorists for the event, some of whom believe that Bigfoot may have had a hand in stealing honey from hives. Aunt Eloise also finds time between designing alien outfits to lead missions for her Havana Brown rescue group, a shining representative of this being her own impressive feline Everett.

Delicious honey-centric recipes and remedies are sprinkled throughout this second of the series, as are fascinating lore concerning the value and care for the honeybees themselves. The author, who also writes under the names Nancy J. Parra and Nell Hampton, knows how to craft characters with whom readers will quickly grow attached, be it Wren’s Korean/German-American friend Porsche or the adorable cat-rescue advocate Aunt Eloise. The undeniably appealing but frustratingly by-the-book Officer Jim Hampton may find a rival in the arrival of Travis Hutton, another hunk who Wren’s heart in college but who hasn’t lost any of his man-bun-wearing ability to heat up her heart. Wren’s willingness to hurtle herself in the investigation while dodging more than one attempt on her life may exasperate Jim and those wanting her safe, but it also signals her devotion to the cause of bees, her home, and her family. This delightful romp of a mystery is a honeytrap for those looking for a witty cozy filled with fun facts, recipes, and hints of romance.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

his is a honey of a second mystery in Nancy Coco’s new series! I am so ready to visit Wren and Oceanview on the Oregon coast. Living close enough to the ocean to hear the waves as Wren does would be amazing, if one can get around the killers and conspiracy theorists. The characters are very likable even if some are a bit eccentric. To me, it is interesting to learn about bees and honey and their value to the balance of nature. The mystery is intriguing and challenging,

After her college graduation, Wren returned to Oceanview and spent a year apprenticing to Elias as a bee wrangler. She then opened Let It Bee, a popular honey shop where she sells locally sourced honey, beeswax candles, lotions, and various other products. She makes almost all the products she sells from local bee products. Wren is preparing for her second anniversary sale and went to see Elias to get some flower honey, now in season. When she arrives, there is a swarm of angry bees in his backyard, and it looks as though the hives nearest his house were vandalized.

Wren went inside and called Elias. She finally looked out a window where she could see he was lying still on the ground. She called 9-1-1 and a local bee wrangler who was a close friend of Elias; Klaus assisted the EMT’s in getting through the swarms of angry bees to get Elias to the ambulance. Elias, however, was dead, murdered, according to the information the police received while Officer Jim was getting information from Wren.

Millie, one of the beekeepers who came to help Klaus and Wren get the hives right and the bees calmed and captured, was engaged to Elias. Wren learns that several beekeepers in the area have had hives damaged, but here it looks more like the hives were damaged to try to hide the murder.

Devastated, Millie brought an envelope to Wren the next day. Elias had recently asked that she give it to Wren at the right time, if warranted. Inside was a letter he had written, stating that he was getting close to whoever was vandalizing the beehives in the area and if anything happened to him, he wanted Wren to try to resolve it. Not long ago, she had solved a murder that she was falsely arrested for, so many people want to do the same again.

Wren does not want to get involved with another case. Not only is it not safe, but she has the store’s second anniversary sale. Immediately after that, Aunt Eloise wants her to attend some of the UFO festival events with her. She realizes that it is important to the beekeepers in the area to find out who the vandals are, and Elias had been a good friend to her and deserves justice.

Even though this is the second in the series, it could be read as a standalone as the character background and development include all that is necessary to know. I enjoyed Wren and her aunt, and even the trio of conspiracy theorists at the UFO festival were delightful. Eloise, Wren, and the store manager, Porsche, are great working together to do whatever is needed not only for the shop, but for each other. Wren is very likable, as evidenced by how she could talk with Elias’s grumpy old neighbor, and he wouldn’t even talk with the police!

Eloise and Wren are treasures. They could be a real crime-solving duo if they planned their adventures a little more carefully, such as planning to have backup. Wren took some chances with clues that she found! I enjoyed learning of the Havana Brown cat breed and how well harnessed and leash-trained he was. There were surprises in store regarding who the bad guy was with regard to murder, injuries, and vandalism, and the depth of the deception to the situation. I highly recommend this cozy mystery and am looking forward to reading more in the series!

I am such a sucker for any books that are bee related, maybe because it helps me appreciate them more and be less afraid when I see them buzzing around. I love how we learned more about the beekeeping process as it was integrated into the story. I am happy to say that Wren is more careful in this book; she still investigates, but she takes more precautions and tells people / police where she is going and mostly what she is doing. I also appreciate that Jim seems to be more respectful and not treat Wren like a child, but listening to her and helping keep her safe as opposed to just yelling at her. Wren has a big heart for both humans, cats, and the bees and it really shines in this story. The mystery had a unique twist, more complicated than some typical cozy mystery motives, which I really appreciated. I enjoyed the small recipes and other uses for honey at the start of each chapter. I really enjoyed it, even more than the first, and can't wait for more.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book: beekeepers and beehives are targeted and the sleuth (a beekeeper herself, which is very different) sets about to solve the mystery. The information about bees is great; I love that the author promotes the environment without politics.
This is the second installment of the series, and after reading both, I can say the plot and characters are well developed, but conversation among the characters is often stilted. To be fair, it gets better in this book, so hopefully it’s an issue the author is addressing as she brings the characters into their own.
Overall I would recommend this book and series. I adore the bee store Wren runs, and can’t wait for her new relationship to develop. I look forward to the next installment.

A Matter of Hive and Death by Nancy Coco is the second An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I enjoyed my visit to Oceanview, Oregon where it is time for the annual UFO Festival. Wren Johnson is gearing up for the second anniversary of her shop Let It Bee. Wren is off to meet Elias Brentwood, a bee wrangler. She arrives to find Elias dead with bee’s swarming around him because someone destroyed his hives. It is not a cut and dried case. Someone bludgeoned Elias and then tossed his house. When Officer Jim Hampton zeroes in on Klaus, another bee wrangler, as the prime suspect, Wren digs out the murder board. She knows that Klaus did not harm Elias and she intends to prove it. Someone, though, is not happy with her snooping and attempts to warn her off. Wren sets up a sting to catch the killer. She needs to be careful, or she could end up the one being stung. Nancy Coco has an engaging writing style. It makes for an entertaining and enjoyable book. I like Wren, Aunt Eloise, Porsche, Jim Hampton, and the sweet Everett. I even like the grumpy Mr. McGregor. There are great characters in this series. The author made them friendly, realistic, and relatable. I like the descriptions of Let It Bee with its various honey related products and an active beehive. It was interesting learning about bees and their habits. I was unaware of the various products that can be made from honey and the wax. The dialogue is realistic and engaging. The mystery was a fun one to solve. There are different layers to the whodunit. It is a well-plotted mystery. There are good clues to help readers solve the mystery before the reveal. I enjoyed the reveal and the wrap up. I was, though, left with a couple of unanswered questions at the end (I would say what they are, but they are spoilers). There is humor sprinkled throughout the book. We also get to learn about Havana Brown cats, and I loved Everett, Wren’s cat (I love how he answers her when she talks to him). There is some romance in the story. I like that it is not at the forefront of the story and that it is progressing slowly. There is information on honey as well as honey related recipes before or after different chapters. I can tell the author has done her research on bees and related products. A Matter of Hive and Death had me longing for the Oregon coast. I wanted to stop by and visit Let It Bee where I could have tea with Wren. I am looking forward to the next An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery. A Matter of Hive and Death is the bee’s knees with a bludgeoned bee wrangler, a swarm of suspects, shattered hives, buzzing bees, a special sale, a perplexing puzzle, a concerned officer, and a nosy store owner.

A Matter Of Hive And Death is the second book of the An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series by Nancy Coco.

Wren Johnson owns Let It Bee, a shop that carries fruit-flavored honey and bee-related products, such as lip balms and hand creams. Let It Bee’s second anniversary is a few days away. She plans to have a big sale; there’s a UFO festival in a nearby community, so she needs plenty of inventory. Wren needs to visit her mentor Elias. Elias also designed the beehive on her store wall with a glass window so everyone could watch the activity in the hive. Wren arrives at Elias’s home to pick up more of his honey, and she gets no response when she knocks on the door. Wren heads for the back yard figuring he is caring for his hives. Instead, she finds Elias’ prostate body and thousands of bees swarming around it. Wren notices that the majority of Elias’ hives have been damaged. Wren first calls a bee wrangler, Klaus, and asks if he can come and try to contain the swarming bees, knowing that recovering his body can’t be done until the bees calm down. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Elias passes away, having been severely beaten about the head.

Wren feels the need to investigate Elias’ murder and begins asking questions. She soon learns that several beekeepers in the area have experienced having had their hive sabotaged. Shortly after, Wren questions a neighbor of Elias if he had seen anything the day Elias was killed, and the next day the neighbor is assaulted, requiring hospitalization. As Wren visits Paul, another beekeeper she gets beeswax from, shots ring out, and a bullet hits Paul, and another grazes Wren. Wren now knows that she is getting close to learning the killer's identity and hopes that she will learn the identity before anyone else is injured or killed.

Wren is also surprised when her ex-boyfriend arrives in town and seems to want to rekindle their relationship. He looks mysterious about why he wants to pick up where their relationship ended suddenly.

This book is a wonderful addition to this fascinating new series. The book is well-written, plotted, and flows at a good pace. I found the characters to be well-developed and very believable. The book had enough red herrings and twists and turns that I was kept guessing until the end as to who the killer was. The book also contains delicious-sounding recipes, interesting facts, and beneficial uses of honey.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this exciting series.

A Matter of Hive and Death by Nancy Coco is another Oregon Honeycomb Mystery featuring Wren, the proprietress of the bee-oriented store, her aunt Eloise who was her mentor and friend, and her one employee, Porsche. Of course, there were their cats as well. Wren had driven out to pick up some beeswax and supplies from Elias' house. She discovered the front door open and so looked for him around back, where she discovered him on the ground with the bees swarming. She called their friend, Klaus to come and help with the bees. By the time Klaus had the bees under control and the EMTs could take over, Elias was dead. her friend, Jim Hampton, who was the police in this town, implored her to stay out of it and let him investigate. She didn't answer. Things went downhill over the next several days.

This is a good series. First off, its premise: honey and bee-related products is a nice change from running a restaurant or bakery as so many amateur sleuths seems to. The inclusion of a honey-related recipe, for any number of things, at the beginning of each chapter is nice. They are typically pretty short. Secondly, is her age: not young, not old. Thirdly: her relationship with her aunt and her friends. Even the motive for the murders is interesting. Wren is really a very pleasant person who fits well into the community, both the bee community and he larger one. They are always doing something interesting: in this case, the UFO celebration in the next town. It's a joy to read this series. Despite the murders the reader always walks away feeling good.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Matter of Hive and Death by Kensington, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #kensington #nancycoco #amatterof hiveanddeath

A Matter of Hive and Death by Nancy CoCo is the second book in the cozy An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series the An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series will feature a new mystery to be solved in each new installment so they can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. There will be of course character development carrying over from book to book for those who follow the series from the beginning.

Wren Johnson lives in Oceanview, Oregon near the beach in the Pacific Northwest with her Havana Brown cat, Everett. Wren owns the Let It Bee boutique that specializes in all things honey and even has a glass wall with an actual bee hive inside for customers to view. Wren would prefer spending her time running her shop instead of chasing down murderers but got the hang of it after she was accused herself.

Now Wren is busy preparing for the annual UFO festival in Oceanview with a big sale day coming up in her shop when she goes to visit Elias Brentwood. Elias is a bee keeper himself and helped train Wren before she got her hive located in her shop and now he’s Wren’s supplier of local fruit tree honey. When Wren arrives though she finds Elias on the ground and injured with his bees angry and swarming. When Elias doesn’t make it Wren is determined to find out who is behind the attack.

I really enjoyed returning to the An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series in this second book of the series. The author has done a great job with this charming town and bringing Wren and her shop right to life where I’d love to visit, if the murder rate goes down of course! Another fun mystery with some laughs and a few twists along the way had the pages turning once again too. Looking forward to more of this series in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the second in the Oregon Honeycomb Mystery and this promises to become an excellent series.
A fast paced plot full of twists and action that kept me turning pages and entertained.
Wren is an interesting character: she's clever, doesn't suffer from a death wish, and she work hard even if she's investigating.
I loved the feline sidekick and the cast of characters as they are relatable and fleshed out.
A cozy mystery can be a bit formulaic at time but the author avoided the traps and wrote a fresh and compelling story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Matter of Hive and Death is the second book in the Oregon Honeycomb small-town cozy mystery series by Nancy Coco. Due out 29th March 2021 from Kensington, it's 320 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is the follow-up "small town" shop cozy mystery by a very well-loved veteran author. For fans of the genre, this one ticks all the boxes including a punny title, recipes included, clean language, not-terribly-gory murder, a likable female amateur sleuth, a foreshadowed slow-burn romantic interest, and a cat "sidekick" & adorable elderly aunt who help her solve the mystery. If it is, admittedly, trope-y and formulaic, it also has everything that fans of these series (including me) love. The pacing is good and doesn't drag. The dialogue can be a bit over the top and unnaturally stilted occasionally, but all in all, it's a fun and undemanding read with a satisfying denouement and resolution. I also found it a little odd that the recipes were scattered throughout between chapters instead of being gathered into an appendix at the back. It affected the continuity of reading for me more than I would have expected. (Not a huge deal, but noticeable). I tried the honey-blueberry muffins and the recipe works quite well as written and the addition of honey makes the muffins very moist (and even better the next day!).

Four stars. A strong follow-up to a promising cozy series with a likeable protagonist and the expected small-town eccentric characters and vibe. Real-life beekeepers might notice a questionable factoid or two in the story, but overall, I was impressed with the level of background research on beekeeping on the part of the author. I also really liked it that the main character's shop "Let it Bee" also incorporates a glass walled observation hive. Bees are fascinating and deserve all the good PR they can get.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Wren owns a bee themed shop on the Oregon coast where she sells homemade products made from local honey and beeswax. Adding to her sales she educates her customers about bees. She even has a living bee hive in the wall of her store with one side glass for observation. Things turn dark when local bee wrangler is found dead surrounded by angry bees. It turns out the bees are innocent of the crime as he has been bludgeoned to death. With damaged hives and a murder, what could be the motive? Things get even more complicated when a second murder occurs and Wren, Aunt Eloise and friend, Porsche step up their investigating. If they aren't careful one of them could be next.
With the added event of the McMinnville UFO Festival and the family's Havana Brown cats - Everett, Elton, Emma and Evangeline, all dressed in UFO themed costumes and the return of Travis, things get interesting there, too. What is Travis up to regarding the cats?
The mystery, the location and the characters all kept me engaged from the first chapter to the last and the addition of recipes was the perfect extra touch. This series is one that I hope will have a long run.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Matter of Hive and Death is the second in Nancy Coco's Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series following Wren Johnson and her Havana Brown cat, Everett. Wren is the proud owner of Let It Bee honey boutique a speciality shop in the tourist town of Oceanview, selling items such as candles, body scrubs and lotions, all made with fresh honey. It's May and the annual UFO festival is looming. While Aunt Eloise busies herself with alien outfits, Wren has a meeting with Elias Brentwood, her local fruit tree honey supplier, but when she arrives she finds him dead.

I jumped into A Matter of Hive and Death unrestrainedly; this thrilling series has a wonderful, engaging main character in Wren who is smart and determined and her Aunt Eloise is also entertaining. All of the characters have something to offer, be it wit, charisma or intelligence and most are well-rounded. I was right there alongside Wren and her helpers as they deciphered the clues and the blend of suspense, humour and romance is spot on. The murderer's motive was a surprise to me and of course, I enjoyed Everett's part in the proceedings. I'm already looking forward to the next instalment!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I don't read a lot of cosy mysteries but I enjoyed it. I had not read the first book in the series but this one can be easily read as a standalone.

Wren runs a gift shop based around honey. She also has a bee hive in the window, where people can watch her bees at work (so cool!). What she doesn't expect is for her friend Elias to be killed and to get involved in trying to solve his murder - nor to have someone take potshots at her either!!

This was a more complex book than I expected and it definitely had a dark underbelly. There are genuinely bad people in this book but there are also some lovely ones. I loved the interactions that Wren and her aunty Eloise had with their kitties, sounds like me and mine! I had to look up Havana Browns - what beautiful cats :) I liked the touch of romance with a certain Paul Newman lookalike too. I also learned a fair bit more about bee keeping and enjoyed the recipes and tips very much.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable read.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington.

I really enjoyed this visit with Wren, Aunt Eloise and Porsche, not to mention Jim who Wren might be letting get a bit closer. She kind of annoyed at me times when she'd get mad at Jim just for doing his job and not being able to share info with her. But I loved her passion for the bees and the cats her aunt loves so much. Wren, Eloise and Porsche make good sleuth buddies, and I did have to hand it to Wren for asking Jim to come along on trips that otherwise could have been dangerous.

I had no idea whodunit and was totally surprised at the reveal. There was a side mystery as well, and that perp didn't surprise me much at all, lol. I got the biggest kick out of Aunt Eloise holding her rifle over a perp and not budging until Jim got his gun drawn and held on the person. She cracks me up, and I just love her character!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from Kensington Publishing, and my opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of Nancy Coco's A Candy coated mystery series so I decided to try this series. I thoroughly enjoyed to tips for ways to use honey. This was an interesting series, and I look forward to the next one.

This is the second in this fun new cozy series and a intriguing mystery with great characters. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

I love the author's description of fictional picturesque Oceanview on the Oregon coast in spring. The author draws the reader in to the atmosphere . Wren is the owner of a shop called "Let It Bee: that carries all things bees. It's a popular shop with the locals and Wren loves interacting with local farmers. She is visiting a fellow bee keeper friend when she finds him murdered. She decides to help solve this murder to find out what happened to her friend. This mystery did keep me guessing to conclusion. I enjoyed the red herrings and the multiple layers to conclusion. The supporting charcters are all fun and add to the series. Learning about beekeeping is a fun part of this series and always adds to the story. A well crafted fun mystery. I look forward to the next in series.

Wren Johnson discovers the body of her friend and bee wrangler Elias among his damaged beehives when she visits to stock up on supplies for her upcoming second anniversary for Let It Bee.

Naturally, Wren begins her investigation even though officer Jim Hampton warns her off. Nancy Coco writes a nicely plotted mystery with red herrings, appropriate twists, and a comfortable pace. Wren’s cat Everett and her Aunt Eloise provide engaging distractions along the way. Ms. Coco’s second Oregon Honeycomb Mystery is a delightful read, filled with fascinating information about bees and beekeeping.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Matter of Hive and Death' in Nancy Coco's Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. It surprising to me that such a delightful cozy is also so educational. I loved learning about bees. The mystery in this story is very intriguing and there is the exact right touch of humor, suspense and romance. I am looking forward to enjoying many more in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Each layer of the mystery drew me in further until I couldn't put the story down. All sorts of bad things are happening in the Oceanview, Oregon area and Let It Bee shop owner, Wren Johnson, ends up in the thick of it. For the sake of her friends and associates Wren gets involved in trying to figure out what is going on and soon finds herself in trouble too.

An interesting multilayer mystery that kept me guessing on who to trust until near the end. There is a great cast of characters that I look forward to getting to know better in future books in the Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.