An annual bee festival is all a buzz, pun intended, when a celebrity host is killed. Rival contestants and long held secrets blur the investigation with multiple suspects. Bailey is at the center of a murder investigation and Granny Bee with her misfit group of amateur sleuths are on the job to clear a dear friend. Touch of romance makes for a sweet cozy. Grab a tea and scone and settle in for a cozy read. Has recipes in the back.

This is book 2 in the Bee Keeping Mystery series and it is an enjoyable addition to the cozy mystery genre! I like the characters, the setting and the mysteries. I like that Bailey is a little older with a tween daughter. It is definitely a series I will continue to follow.

This is such great sequel to Take the Honey and Run! I love our protagonist and her friends and family. This book had me laughing out loud at some of their antics. They mystery was so fun. I cannot wait for the next one!

I love cozy mystery novels set in the bee keeping world and this is a good one.
Entertaining, well researched, and with the right level of twists and humour
Had fan and it kept me hook.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A great addition to an incredible series! Wonderful characters in an incredible setting. This book will keep you guessing until the end.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series. The mystery was engaging and kept me guessing until the end.

While I didn't love this one as much as I did the first one in the series. But I still did enjoy the book, though I like the characters more than I did the mystery. But I will still pick up the next one in the series.

What a fun book to listen to. The narrator was great, very easy to listen to. Had me laughing out loud from the very beginning, loved the bee puns. Bailey is once again trying to write her own mystery, when she has to put her amateur skills to help solve a murder in this quaint little town. Love the elderly sisters, they are such a hoot. I'm hoping there is more to come.

Just buzzed through "Kill or Bee Killed" by Jennie Marts, and it’s a delightful addition to the Humble Hills series!

The annual Bee Festival in Humble Hills, Colorado, turns deadly when a celebrity host winds up dead, and Bailey’s best friend Evie becomes the prime suspect. With the help of her Granny Bee and some quirky friends, Bailey is on the case to clear Evie’s name. 🐝🕵️‍♀️

This book is packed with charm, humor, and a thrilling mystery that kept me hooked. I can’t wait to read more in this series!

I thought I'd enjoy this mystery that takes place at a honey festival in Colorado, one of my favorite places. But I didn't really enjoy it all that much. At first I thought it was going to be one of those mystery-in-name-only books that is really a romance, because the first few chapters were all about Bailey stumbling and bumbling and being embarrassed, rescued, and aroused at the same time by Sawyer, who is, of course, the sheriff. I think Bailey does the exact same pratfall that lands her in Sawyer's arms at least 4 times. It was funny the first time, but not the second and definitely not the third. The author has surrounded her main character with a quirky family and friends. I think I liked her grandmother and aunts more than Bailey. The town name--Humble Hills; dreadful. The murder takes place backstage at a cooking competition, because those are all the rage now. The hook is that all of the dishes must use honey as an ingredient. The cast is cliched--there's the smarmy emcee, the best friend who's competing, the good 'ole boy, the uptight snob who slowly unravels under the heat of the competition, the production crew members who are hiding secrets. I hate to be a snob, and I am as much a fan of salami and cheese on a cracker as the next person, but it is not a "gorgeous charcuterie board" when you're serving Ritz crackers. If Sawyer "scrubbed" his hand through his hair once, he did it 5 times. Scrubbed is not the right verb here. And after coming up with some ridiculous phrases for the characters to use so they don't curse (e.g., jagoff instead of jerk), the author has a main character call someone a "douche canoe" and a "douche wad." That ain't gentlewomanly in my book at all; I find that way more offensive that a four-letter word. But Ms. Marts needed to introduce a wild side to someone, somehow to move her story along, so she has Bailey and Evie break into a motorhome to look for clues. Evie later makes a crude allusion to sex, and so does 12-year-old Daisy, so those expecting a squeaky clean book will be surprised. I sure was--that was totally out of character for Evie and if that was my 12-year-old, I'd be terrified. I was floored when Daisy knowingly repeated some racy dialogue she overheard. There are more instances of out-of-character or just weird behavior (Evie reaches over and starts helping herself to the funnel cake eaten by someone she's met maybe two or three times, professionally, and has only known for two days; how rude) that almost made me think a second author was writing these scenes. The book has one good thing going for it--a golden retriever. There, I thought of two nice things to say: I like the dog and I like the great aunts. Otherwise, I disliked this book a lot. It read like an unedited draft (there were many typos in the Kindle ARC) written by an immature teenager trying to act grown up and cosmopolitan and failing miserably. It's hard to write this, but avoid this book.

We're back @ the honeybuzz ranch for a visit w/ Granny Bee, Bailey, Daisy, Sawyer in the aunties! It's time for the beeee festival and along w/ a bear run and a pageant is a bake off being hosted by celebrity judge Rex Rafferty. Things start buzzing when the celebrity host is found dead.
I really am loving this series! All the females are written as smart, independent women and it's so refreshing! The mystery kept me engaged and (of course) I was guessing the killing right up until the reveal! The ending does feel like a little bit of a cliffhanger....so be warned!
For more cozy content subscribe to my cozy mystery YouTube channel the beachbum bookworm!
Truth beee told I would recommend this book to any cozy mystery lover! I would like to thank netgalley, the author Jennie Marts, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

"Kill or Bee Killed" by Jennie Marts is a delightful and entertaining cozy mystery set in the charming small town of Humble Hills, Colorado. With its quirky characters, humorous dialogue, and a murder mystery that keeps readers guessing, this book is a perfect blend of suspense and lightheartedness.
The murder mystery is intriguing, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the end. Kill or Bee Killed" is an enjoyable and engaging cozy mystery that will appeal to everyone. If you are looking for a light-hearted mystery with a touch of romance and plenty of laughs.

This series is so much fun! I love Marts’s liberal use of bee puns throughout and how fun the characters are; though really, that’s where it ended???? Come for the small town vibe, stay for the mystery writer solving mysteries.
4.5 stars

Kill or Bee Killed by Jennie Marts
A Bee Keeping Mystery series #2. Can be read as a stand-alone but better in series order.
The small town of Humble Hills, Colorado, is abuzz with excitement over the annual Bee Festival. Activities include a beauty pageant, a “bear” run, and a bake-off that brings a television crew from California. Unfortunately, the celebrity host is found dead and Bailey, Granny, and their bookclub friends play amateur sleuths to try to clear Evie, one of Bailey’s friends.

Once again, Sheriff Sawyer Dunn seems to be late to the investigation as the amateurs run circles around him. Bailey and the Bee senior crew create more havoc than imaginable.
“ They say you get more flies with honey, but in this case, more honey may mean you end up dead. And a little competition never hurt anyone—unless it ends up killing you.”

Plenty of Bee puns as group combs through the clues at the Bee Festival. Ha! We see and hear a little bit more of the sheriff now that Bailey and her daughter are staying but it’s definitely the females in charge.
Cute and unlikely, but fun all the same.
Honey infused Recipes included at the end of the ebook.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Bailey’s Granny Bee and the Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch are gearing up for the weeklong annual Bee Festival. The highlight of the event is the local restaurant bake-off, but there are beekeeping demonstrations, a beauty pageant, and a 3K Bear Run too. Several vendor booths are set up on the grounds as well, selling everything from food to hot tubs.

The bake-off has drawn interest all the way from California with Rex Rafferty of the Wake Up With Rex and Rachel show agreeing to be the celebrity host for the event. He has brought a film crew to Humble Hills to film content to use on his show. But the California star is a real creep and isn't long before the man is found dead. Sadly Bailey's best friend Evie, a contestant in the bake-off, has a very public squabble with Rex and that lands her on the list of suspects.

Soon Bailey, Granny Bee, and her Hive are working together to save the festival and Evie by catching the real killer and Sheriff Sawyer Dunn is pretty buzzed off about them messing with his case. It would be a honey of a deal if they can pull it off but they may just end up getting stung.

____

Mystery author Bailey Briggs is back and busy as a bee. Her Granny Bee has her and her 12-year-old daughter, Daisy helping out all over the festival. Granny Bee's sisters, Aster and Marigold are involved too but they have the most fun being contestants in the beauty pageant. They really impressed me the way they went all in on the experience. Evie is one of 3 final contestants from local restaurants chosen to compete in the 3-day bakeoff event and is working on creating just the right recipes. Romantic tension blooms whenever Bailey gets close to Sheriff Sawyer Dunn and he knows it and doesn't shy aaway. All the women in this story have a real sassiness about them, including the women of The Hive, Granny Bee's book club where not much time is focused on books especially when there is a murder afoot. All of Ms. Mart's core characters feel genuine and their banter is fantastic. It is very easy to feel you are visiting old friends when you open the book.

Humor blooms throughout this story starting from page one as Bailey and Evie, find themselves in a zany situation. And it doesn't stop there, Bailey sometimes assisted by Evie get into all kinds of hilarious trouble. Granny Bee, Aster, and Marigold bring the funny too.

Amongst all the humor is a very plotted mystery. Bailey worked hard to follow clues while helping out at the festival. I loved the way she said she was "researching for her next book" when she was trying to get the information she needed to try to solve the case. Getting some key info from a surprising source started making the clues start to fall into place. This set up a terrifying showdown that truly had me on the edge of my seat.

The final chapter wrapped everything up nicely and the last few paragraphs were pure honey!

Everyone is going to be buzzing about Kill or Bee Killed! A complicated mystery, delightful characters, a touch of romance, and heaps of humor come together in this captivating cozy mystery. I promise you will be entertained from the first word until the last. I can't wait for the next Bee Keeping Mystery. Buzz! Buzz!

Recipes are included at the end of the book too!

Kill Or Bee Killed is the second book in the A Bee Keeping Mystery series by Jennie Marts.

Bailey Briggs, her grandmother, and Bailey’s daughter Daisy are busy preparing for Humble Hills, Colorado's annual Bee Festival. This year, they have gone all out and are bringing in Rex Rafferty, a famous TV personality. It doesn’t take long for people to realize that Rex isn’t the charming person he appears to be on TV. A festival highlight is a cook-off featuring three Humble Hills eateries. Evie, Bailey’s best friend, is a contestant in the cook-off, has a heated argument with Rex, and threatens his life. Before that day’s competition is over, Rex Rafferty is found dead in a closet. With Evie having issued a threat to Rex that was heard by many of the attendees, she will become the main suspect in the murder of Rex. Much to the chagrin of Bailey’s high school boyfriend and current Sheriff Sawyer Dunn, Bailey will begin her investigation to clear Evie.

This book and series are well-written, plotted, and realistic. The characters are well-developed, enjoyable, and believable. I love all the main characters, especially the great aunts; they bring the reader many smiles and laughs. The best example is when the beauty contest needs more contestants, they enter the competition. And, of course, Daisy continues to be her adorable self. There were plenty of twists and turns that I kept guessing until the end about the killer's identity.

Delicious-sounding recipes are also included in the book.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this excellent series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ NetGalley ARC

<b>Description:</b>
The small town of Humble Hills, Colorado, is abuzz with excitement over the upcoming annual Bee Festival, sponsored by Bailey’s Granny Bee and the Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch. The long weekend of festivities includes a beauty pageant, beekeeping demonstrations, a local restaurant bake-off, and a 3K Bear Run where all the participants are dressed as bears. The bake-off brings in a television crew from California to film, so it’s the most drama-filled part of the weekend, especially when the famous celebrity host winds up dead.☠️

<b>Review:</b>

This is book #2 in the A Bee Keeping Mystery series. I don’t usually read books over, but I would definitely read this again. It had an interesting mystery, some romance, character development, and ended in a cliffhanger. This small town story was big on everything you’d expect from a good mystery. Highly recommended!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the chance to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

It's rare that I like book 2 more than the first. Kill or Bee Killed was one of those rare books. I absolutely loved it! It has a contemporary feel. I love the romance aspects of the book and the growing relationships. I think this series would be great for a romance reader looking to branch out to cozy mysteries. Definitely recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me a review copy.

Kill or Bee Killed is the second book in Jennie Marts’ Bee Keeping Cozy Mystery series featuring mystery author Bailey Briggs, her daughter Daisy, and her grandmother Granny Bee, owner of Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch in Humble Hills, Colorado. This story is set around the annual Bee Festival that celebrates everything bees and honey including a bake off, pageant, numerous demonstrations, and an area for local vendors.

In an effort to bring in tourism and boost their small town’s economy the committee has gone all out this year and is bringing in celebrity morning host from LA Rex Rafferty. Although he has fame and is quite handsome, Rex is an ugly person in the way he treats others, especially women. Bailey’s best friend Evie Espinoza has been selected as one of the bake off finalists, as have roadhouse owner Spike Larsen and cafe owner Charlotte Shine. Of the three, it is young and pretty Evie who garners Rex’s unwanted attention. And when Rex is found murdered, Evie becomes the primary suspect. With her best friend in peril, there is no way that amateur detective Bailey, along with Evie, will not be investigating. However, the turns the investigation takes are unexpected.

While this is a fun story with an intricate plot, the thing that really came forefront for me is the message around bullying, cruelty, and the actuality that hurt people hurt people. The characters are endearing, the setting lovely to imagine, and the story surprising. I very much enjoyed this book and do recommend it.

Kill or Bee Killed is the second bee keeping cozy by Jennie Marts. Released 4th June 2024 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

It's always fun to watch a new series develop. This is the second installment of this small town cozy featuring a family friendly cast of characters and an appealing, honest, and engaging young female amateur sleuth whose day job is writing cozy mysteries. It also includes an eccentric collection of small town characters, a handsome sheriff with whom the MC has some history, some snark, and the requisite honey themed recipes at the back of the book as a bonus.

Although it's not at all derivative, fans of Nancy Coco and Amanda Flower will likely find a lot to like here. There's a lot of humor, small town atmosphere, a well constructed mystery (featuring a repulsive unlamented murder victim), and sympathetic characters. The bonus recipes at the back of the book are offered as written by characters appearing in the book. They're not overly fussy or complicated, and all seem appetizing. They include recipes for French toast, baked vanilla pears, honey latte, pecan praline honey butter, and a couple more.

Four stars. The denouement and resolution were a trifle outlandish, but not overly so for the subgenre. It's a simple clean read without bad language or on page violence. It would make a lovely summer beach or mini binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.