This is a story revolving around a group of strong female characters and their quest to save their jobs at Bonjour Paris.
With every chapter ending in a way that pushes the reader to continue, The Honeybee Emeralds was captivating and easy to follow. Historical facts mixed with contemporary ones made it more relatable to the reader too. I found that the investigation was wonderfully planned and that each step was well thought of.
As for the audiobook, the narrator was very good, but Alice's accent could have been practiced a bit more. Overall, it was a very well narrated book though.
I really enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend it.

I loved this charming tale about a famed emerald necklace found in the basement of a Parisian magazine. Soon, the writers from the magazine are trying to track down the origins of the gorgeous necklace.

As we learn about the necklace passing from one owner to the next, the mystery of the jewels unravels along with the lives of the writers looking for its secrets.

Compulsively readable, I adored all the various aspects of this debut novel. I look forward to finding out what else Amy Tector can do!

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3!

This book was just so-so for me. It was cute. I listened to the audiobook and did not find myself dying to listen to it. I didn't find myself thinking about the book when I wasn't listening to it. I didn't find myself trying to avoid reading it or trying to rush through it. Literally, smack in the middle, 2.5. I would say I am ambivalent towards this book.

This book would probably be a good pick for someone who loves Paris, loves history and loves French History. I did enjoy learning about Josephine Baker, of whom I knew little prior to reading this book. That part of the story was interesting.

Alice was an annoying character that I didn't really connect with, and the narrator does a terrible Scottish accent, it was distracting. Daphne is super annoying and self-absorbed. That said, the French parts were really well read and her other accents were done well. I did like Lilly, Luc, Alexander and some of the other characters. Which again, leaves me completely torn on this book. 2.5 it is.

Special thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

my book bestie recommended this one to me and it was on netgalley so I thought why not. I have this weird habit when I listen to the audiobook, I have to have the ebook handy, open while I listen. And I didn't have that with this one, and I'm so used to it that I really struggled retaining information sometimes because of it. I did learn about the 52 Hertz whale which was interesting and heartbreaking. There's a lot going on in this book and I wasn't super dooper into it until the end, which I think was very well done. Overall I liked it though.

The mystery behind the necklace was very interesting and I was pleasantly surprised by how intricate that storyline was. However, the characters in this book are insufferable. Alice reads much younger than she is and her perspective and obsession with the necklace also made me put the book down many times. Daphne was also incredibly annoying. I did not care about her marriage at all and she was so clearly the problem. Almost all of the characters were the "stupid American in Paris" stereotype which was so embarrassing to read about.

So much of the end of the book was revealed in info dumps told through long letters. Meanwhile, it took forever to get any information at the beginning of the book. I found myself just waiting for the story to be over so that I could learn the mystery behind the necklace and never have to hear from these characters again.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting thriller, with some historical fiction mixed in. A diamond and emerald necklace is found, now to figure out who it belongs to.

I really loved this very entertaining book! "The Honeybee Emeralds" tells the fantastic tale of a gorgeous necklace, and its journey from the 1860s to the present day. The contemporary protagonists--six people living in Paris and at least tangentially connected to a cultural magazine--find the necklace and set out to discover its provenance. Along the way they form a fellowship, hit a rough patch, and then find their way, learning much about themselves and their relationships as they solve the mysteries of the necklace and publish a magnificent story. As an art historian I love stories that focus on works of art, and this one involves numerous historical figures of note and significant world events. Yes, the puzzle was solved quite neatly and they unearthed every document one could wish for, but this is fiction, after all. I enjoyed every minute of the pursuit, and I was highly satisfied with how all of the pieces fit together in the end. I listened to the audiobook and never wanted to press pause.

I love Paris, I love a treasure hunt. It seemed like a great premise that just fell flat for me. I enjoyed learning more about Josephine Baker, but the whole thing felt rather forced to me.

I don’t know if the quality of the audio wasn’t good or if it was the narration itself, but I usually prefer an audiobook and this time it just wasn’t good.

Review: First off, thank you to NetGalley and the author for the AudioARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve been really trying to get into audiobooks while I work.I stumbled upon this one on NetGalley, it sounded interesting and the reviews were good, so why not request an AudioARC. I will say this one was a little out of my normal read, but I was still pleasantly surprised with it. I found the storyline to be quite different, a good kind of different.The characters are interesting as well as the twists in the mystery.If you do decide to listen to this one, the narrator does a very good job. She really made the story feel alive. Overall, I am happy with this read. I think if you are looking for something a little out of your norm to add to the TBR, this should be it.
.
Recommend: Yes! I surprised myself in liking this one, you just might too.

A fantastic adventure with satisfying uncomplicated closure, leaving me with the (rare in 2022) feeling that all is right in the world.

I loved and hated all the characters in equal part, but loved that they were written so dynamically that I was even capable of forming such strong opinions about them.

A great read, will definitely recommend to friends.

The Honeybee Emeralds was fascinating! The story of the lost honeybee emeralds was captivating and the cast of characters was even more compelling. A major bonus was the way French art and history was so beautifully weaved into the story. Loved this and absolutely recommend it!! Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this book when I started it, but I loved this story! A group of expats discover a beautiful antique necklace in a basement storeroom, leading them on a thrilling adventure of discovering its secret history of ownership.

The story begins in present-day Paris. It shifts back in time for a few short chapters throughout the novel, introducing us to the former owners of the illustrious necklace. The present-day women (with the exception of Elise Boucher) are all part of the “Fellowship of the Necklace” — dedicated to rooting out its mysterious past and writing an article to preserve the future of their magazine. The story is told from multiple POVs, all of them female, and each of them powerful in their own right.

The characters in this narrative are fantastic. I laughed aloud so many times; I will never again be able to hear the phrase “wild goose chase” without thinking of this book! Daphne’s insta-mom persona is a riot because is it so true to life. And of course, the three (real) historic ladies that we get to meet each have an incredible tale to tell. I really love the blending of cultures that takes place throughout this story — French, American, Icelandic, British, and Iranian. Such an eclectic group, and I think that the audiobook narrator does an excellent job of making each voice/accent distinct.

Aside from the mysteries of the necklace’s past, there is a present day mystery to solve, and even a chic Parisian villain. As an American who one day dreams of being an expat in Paris, I truly loved this group of characters. I also never thought a whale could make me cry, but well, here we are.

A dual timeline mystery takes three Parisian women on an adventure as they team up to discover how the famous Honeybee emeralds came to be in the basement of a Magazine office building when they were last seen on the neck of Josephine Baker, a famous American singer from the Twenties.

I enjoyed all the historical details, the way they used letters and diaries from the past to figure out the clues and the rich characterizations. For me there was almost too much going on in this story though. Each of the women have things to deal with in their personal lives plus the plot in the past. It was an entertaining read though, perfect for fans of books like Possession by A.S. Byatt. Good on audio narrated by Lameece Issaq, a new to me narrator. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!

This book was just ok but I got confused and found there were too many characters in this book.
I didn't really care for the narrator because for some parts I had to fix the volume.

I have to give a huge shoutout to my friend Heather from The Maritime Reader for putting The Honeybee Emeralds on my radar. I had been struggling with picking a new audiobook and she let me know that an advanced listening copy of Amy Tector’s novel was available to request on NetGalley. I am so, so, so glad she did because I loved this book. It had everything I like all rolled into one amazing package. Gah, so good!

Here’s the book’s description:
Alice Ahmadi has never been certain of where she belongs. When she discovers a famed emerald necklace while interning at a struggling Parisian magazine, she is plunged into a glittering world of diamonds and emeralds, courtesans and spies, and the long-buried secrets surrounding the necklace and its glamorous former owners.
When Alice realizes the mysterious Honeybee Emeralds could be her chance to save the magazine, she recruits her friends Lily and Daphne to form the “Fellowship of the Necklace.” Together, they set out to uncover the romantic history of the gems. Through diaries, letters, and investigations through the winding streets and iconic historic landmarks of Paris, the trio begins to unravel more than just the secrets of the necklace’s obsolete past. Along the way, Lily and Daphne’s relationships are challenged, tempered, and changed. Lily faces her long-standing attraction to a friend, who has achieved the writing success that eluded her. Daphne confronts her failing relationship with her husband, while also facing simmering problems in her friendship with Lily. And, at last, Alice finds her place in the world—although one mystery still remains: how did the Honeybee Emeralds go from the neck of American singer Josephine Baker during the Roaring Twenties to the basement of a Parisian magazine?
I mentioned at the top that this story had everything I like. There was a mystery, a historical element, and a hint of romance. And the fact that the mystery surrounded a piece of artwork (because, yes, the craftsmanship of the necklace made it a work of art)? Oh, yes. I was into it. And even with all of that going on, the story worked! I felt that Tector handled each thread masterfully and I never felt like there was too much stuffed into one story.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, which I loved. Alice, Lily, and Daphne all have chapters of their own. There are a few historical sections as well that help explain the necklace’s background without giving too much away too soon. And sometimes the reader gets in the head of the magazine’s long time office manager, too. (I can’t, for the life of me, remember her name and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to spell it properly anyway. *face palm*) Each woman is so very different but they manage to connect with each other and learn from one another.




The narrator, Lameece Issaq, was great. I was a bit put off by some of her accents but eventually I got over it (and it’s possible that some of the issues were because I was listening to this audiobook at 2x speed which can distort things a little). There was the odd time I felt like she hadn’t quite come out of one accent before going into another when characters were speaking to each other. But there were a lot of accents to master – Alice was from Yorkshire, Daphne, Lily, and Jacob were American (thankfully without strong accents), Luc and the office manager were French, and Alexander was Icelandic. But Issaq’s voice while reading the rest of the story, dialogue aside, was a delight and I probably could have listened to her all day.

Both Heather and I love reading Canadian authors so that’s part of what drew us to this book. The story may not be set in our fine country but I’m here for supporting Canadian authors, especially ones I may not have heard of before. And now that I have read Tector’s work? I cannot wait for her next book.

I wouldn’t really know where to begin if asked to describe The Honeybee Emeralds. But I would say that I highly recommend Amy Tector’s novel. I enjoyed every second of it and it is, so far, on my list of top three favourite books of 2022!




*An advanced audio listening copy was provided by the publisher, Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I absolutely loved this book! It combines the mystery of a necklace found in a store room with history (including Napoleon III and Josephine Baker!) and a little romance. The characters are realistic and diverse. And the setting in Paris is a great backdrop. I didn't want it to end! It would be a great book to be made into a movie.

3/5 Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

A cute and endearing tale about a found necklace and the research into its history by a diverse group of people in Paris. --Loved the author’s chapter titles which were descriptive of the chapter to come.

It all starts when Alice leaves the magazine office where she works to go next door to see if the neighbouring office is also having troubles with their heating. A trip with the neighbour into the cavernous basement causes Alice to find a real artifact: an emerald and diamond necklace in the shape of a honeybee. The story of the history of the necklace could just be the thing to save their ailing expat Parisian magazine. A small group is formed to do the research and they end up calling themselves the fellowship of the necklace. Their research turns up all kinds of wonderful historical background and the various characters grow along the way. Their relationships are delved into and they are all challenged and change as a result.

The narrator made an effort to make the story come alive with different accents and tones of her voice. Alice sounded a bit too much like a little girl, but generally everything worked.

Sometimes I think if I went back and chose a different career, I would like to have been an archeologist or anthropologist and solve history's mysteries. Since I can't go back and choose a different path I content myself with books that allow me to vicariously satisfy that desire. The Honeybee Emeralds by Amy Tector allowed me to track down the origin of a beautiful, and very valuable, necklace.

In the basement of a Parisian magazine, in a seemingly forgotten room filled with fancy clothes from the early 20th century, a beautiful diamond and emerald necklace is discovered. This isn't an ordinary necklace. The emeralds from a honeybee. The magazine is struggling to stay afloat and intern Alice wonders if this necklace can save it. She and her boss Lily take the necklace to their friend Daphne who is an art expert. Once she authenticates the necklace, the ladies are joined by the magazine's owner Luc, Alexander who is sort of a handyman and the only one who knows the way around the basement, and Jacob who is another friend of Lily's and a writer. This cast of characters form the "Fellowship of the Necklace" and set out to uncover the origins and hopefully present-day owner of the necklace.

For the most part, I enjoyed the mystery. The history of the necklace dates back to Napoleon and was connected to 3 historical females.

I didn't like the characters though. I didn't care for their interpersonal drama, though it did allow the characters to show growth by the end of the story. I just didn't feel drawn to them and the female characters seemed to be a bit too whiny for me.

I would have also liked a bit more tension or intrigue in the mystery. I felt the start of the story was pretty slow and I didn't really start to get interested until I was more than 40% through the book. I'm sure the possibility of being scooped by a rival magazine was supposed to infuse some tension but as I wasn't connected to the characters I didn't care if they got scooped - I just wanted to know about the necklace.

A lot of the story about the necklace focused on Josephine Baker who was an American-born French entertainer. She work with the French Resistance during WWII and was a Civil Rights activist. She sounds like a fascinating woman - she adopted 12 children, was married 3 times, and was horrible at managing her money. I would like to read another book about her.

The audiobook was well done. All the characters have distinct voices so it made it easy to follow the story. It took me a minute to realize that text messages were being read, but otherwise, it is a great story to listen to.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Friday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/04/the-honeybee-emeralds-by-amy-tector.html

I just finished listening to The Honeybee Emeralds that was just released on March 29. A Parisian magazine that’s struggling to stay afloat discovers a beautiful necklace in their basement. To save the magazine, the team works together to solve the mystery of where this antique piece of jewelry came from and who it belonged to. If you’re in the mood for a fun mystery set in Paris, I recommend it. And just look at that stunning cover!

Thank you to the author, Net Galley, and publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed the Honeybee Emeralds. The characters are interesting as well as the twists and turns in the mystery. I love the characters. I think they were all interesting. I love the little group the characters formed, all because of the Honeybee Emeralds. I was so interested in the story that it led me to look up Josephine Baker and read about her life. I thought the mystery about the necklace was fascinating.
I don't think high school students would be interested in this book, however I would recommend it to my friends.