A Beeline to Murder

Former police officer Abby MacKenzie has become a farmer and beekeeper, selling her honey locally in the town of Las Flores. She is delivering some jars of honey to the local patisserie when she discovers the dead body of the pastry chef, Jean-Louis. The police chief calls it suicide but Abby and her friend Kat, still a police officer, are not so sure. When Phillipe, Jean Louis' good looking brother, offers Abby enough money to fix up her farmette if she investigates the crime, Abby agrees. This is an interesting story with a strong female character. I especially enjoyed the tips about bees, beekeeping and honey at the end of each chapter. I recommend this book.

Abby MacKenzie is a former police officer who is new a farmer harvesting honey, growing vegetables, and raising chickens in quiet Las Flores, CA. She supplies the local pastry chef Jean-Louis Bonheur with honey but when she tries to deliver product, she finds him dead on the floor of his shop. After his death is ruled a suicide by the police, Abby and Jean-Louis' brother begin investigating. Great new mystery, wonderful characters and recipes. I can't wait for the next one!

This was an excellent start to a series. It was a very good story! Abby has been forced to retire from the police dept. due to an injury to her thumb, but she has started her own farmette. When she's making honey deliveries to a chef in town she finds him dead. Of course she can't stop herself from doing a little investigation of the scene and goes even further when the chef's brother comes to town and is convinced the chef didn't commit suicide. This book offers recipes, tips and little tidbits along with the story. Very good read!

I received an advanced ecopy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Because of a hand injury, Abigale had to retire from the local police department and take up farming and beekeeping. While delivering honey to a local chef, she discovers his body and the coroner decides it's suicide. Convinced it's murder she helps her friends on the force investigate and knows she's on the right track when people start dying. A great cozy mystery that is sure to be a hit as the Henny Penny Farmette mystery series continues. I've never read Meera Lester before but I'll put her on my list of authors to look for.

When I started this book the story and imagery immediately sucked me in and grabbed hold. While the storyline moved along at a slower speed in the beginning, once I hit the middle of the book I was immersed and by the last four chapters I could not put it down for even a minute as I awaited to see how it was going to turn out.

The characters are instantly lovable, especially Abby and Sugar! The supporting characters truly helped build this story to its wonderfulness. In fact, all of the characters are well developed! Truly this book has all the great aspects; a great story, an interesting and enduring lead character, a fun and spunky pet, a beautiful backdrop for the story, a little bit of sweet romance, and recipes, oh the recipes! I love cozy mysteries that have recipes included in them. I also love the little tidbits of beekeeping information thrown in, it made me want to become a beekeeper because it sounded so interesting! I was surprised that I didn't nail down the who done it faster, as I can usually pinpoint it from the start. This also made this read very enjoyable for me, as I was constantly guessing at character's motives!

Overall, A Beeline to Murder was a fun read with good writing enhanced by an enjoyable storyline and characters! This is the first book in a new series, but I can't wait for more

I received an ARC of this book, from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.