5 Beewitched
Authors: Hannah Reed
PRAISE FOR THE QUEEN BEE MYSTERIES
Beeline to Trouble
“Secrets in the pasts of characters [that] longtime readers have come to know play a large part in the well-crafted mystery. As usual, Reed weaves the difficult yet amusing dysfunctions of Story’s family into her just-intricate-enough plot, keeping her readers well entertained and satisfied.”
—
Fresh Fiction
“Story is a strong character, and her antagonism with the police chief provides a convincing motive for why the man would so quickly suspect her of murder.”
—
RT Book Reviews
Plan Bee
“An entertaining amateur-sleuth mystery starring a fascinating protagonist whose amusing asides about family and friends make for a jocular small-town tale. Fans will enjoy the dynamic duo [as they] work Plan Bee in the case of the murdered sibling.”
—
Genre Go Round Reviews
“You will not want to put [
Plan Bee
] down until you find out whodunit. I love, love, love this series. The characters grab you immediately, and Story follows a wonderful, winding cozy path. Run, don’t walk, to your favorite bookstore and get your hands on this new title—and if you haven’t read the first two, pick those up as well. Then sit down in a comfy chair with a warm blanket and cup of tea (with honey) and enjoy.”
—
Cozy Corner
“Story and her comedic sidekick, ‘Pity Party’ Patti, know how to delve into clues and uncover the most unlikely suspects using unconventional methods and flying by the seat of their pants. This is a very funny and entertaining mystery that will have readers laughing until the very end.”
—
RT Book Reviews
(4 stars)
Mind Your Own Beeswax
“Reed pollinates this novel, like its predecessor, with a smart story, characters who leap off the page, and, of course, interesting material about beekeeping. It will keep you busy.”
—
Richmond Times-Dispatch
“The characters are as colorful as the rainbow . . . With the perfect blend of humor and drama and a gutsy heroine . . . Readers will be thoroughly entertained by this madcap mystery.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“Story Fischer is one of the spunkiest heroines of a cozy mystery that I have had the pleasure of reading! I love the character’s strength, her fearlessness, and her smarts . . . A delicious series that is a sweet treat for cozy mystery fans!”
—
Fresh Fiction
“The prose is witty, charming, and peppered with beautiful imagery, the plot is rich and complex, and the mystery is cleverly constructed and skillfully written, tying past events to the present in a way that adds import and intrigue to both. Story makes for a fabulous heroine and an engaging narrator. Strong, smart, snarky, and positively bullheaded in her independence, she’s a character for whom readers can’t help but root . . . Run out and buy yourself a copy.”
—
The Season
“The second in Hannah Reed’s terrific Queen Bee Mysteries that serves up all kinds of interesting beekeeping information and honey recipes, a wacky and totally likable cast of characters, and a frenzied hive of story activity . . . I loved
Buzz Off
, the first in the series, and this one is even better.”
—
Cozy Corner
Buzz Off
“A great setting, rich characters, and such a genuine protagonist in Story Fischer that you’ll be sorry the book is over when you turn the last page. Start reading and you won’t want to put it down. Trust me, you’ll be saying ‘buzz off’ to anybody who dares interrupt!”
—Julie Hyzy,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Fonduing Fathers
“Action, adventure, a touch of romance, and a cast of delightful characters fill Hannah Reed’s debut novel.
Buzz Off
is one honey of a tale.”
—Lorna Barrett,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Booktown Mysteries
“The death of a beekeeper makes for an absolute honey of a read in this engaging and well-written mystery. Story Fischer is a sharp and resilient amateur sleuth, and Hannah Reed sweeps us into her world with skillful and loving detail.”
—Cleo Coyle,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Coffeehouse Mysteries
“Reed’s story is first-rate, her characters appealing—Story’s imperfections make her particularly authentic—and the beekeeping and small-town angles are refreshingly different.”
—
Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Will appeal to readers who like Joanne Fluke and other cozy writers for recipes, the small-town setting, and a sense of community.”
—
Library Journal
“A rollicking good time. The colorful family members and townspeople provide plenty of relationship drama and entertainment . . . This series promises to keep readers buzzing.”
—
RT Book Reviews
(4 stars)
“A charming beginning to what promises to be a fun series! . . . A yummy treat for fans of cozy mysteries.”
—
Fresh Fiction
“[A] honey of a book.”
—
Cozy Corner
“A sparkling debut . . . Delicious.”
—
Genre Go Round Reviews
“You’ll get a buzz from this one, guaranteed.”
—
Mystery Scene
Berkley Prime Crime titles by Hannah Reed
BUZZ OFF
MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX
PLAN BEE
BEELINE TO TROUBLE
BEEWITCHED
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) LLC
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
USA • Canada • UK • Ireland • Australia • New Zealand • India • South Africa • China
A Penguin Random House Company
BEEWITCHED
A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author
Copyright © 2014 by Deb Baker.
Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.
Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.
BERKLEY
®
PRIME CRIME and the PRIME CRIME logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-60598-1
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / February 2014
Cover illustration by Trish Cramblet; Honeycomb1 © Ihnaxovich Maryia/Shutterstock; Honeycomb2 © William Park/Shutterstock; Bee © vdLee/Shutterstock.
Cover design by Judith Lagerman.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.
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And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.
—FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
Contents
Praise for the Queen Bee Mysteries
