I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Abigail Mackenzie is happy, running her farmette, providing honey to local businesses, and helping her friend plan her vow renewal. However, after the ceremony, which was interrupted by a jealous woman yelling at the groom, Abby comes across her friend and husband, shot in their car. Suffering from the after effects of seeing this violence and fearing that her friend's husband is going to go to jail for this crime, that he didn't commit, Abby uses her police background to help solve the mystery.

This is actually more of a 3.5 star than a 4 for me. For some reason, I found Abby irritating, and the mystery was convoluted. When it came out to who the killer was, it felt very contrived, just as a way to finish the story.

Abby Mackenzie's her friend Paola renews her vows but at the reception afterward the happy couple are missing. Going out to the parking lot, Abby finds Paola in critical condition and her husband dead.

Abby retired from the police force but feels the need to find out what happened and who harmed her friend who is physically fighting for her life. Trying to keep her friend safe while investigating all the possibilities of who killed the groom, may have Abby is trouble herself.

Love the characters and the setting.

a good read
Not having read any of this series before so I wasn't familiar with Abigail leaving the police force and her relationship with the local police which seams to blow hot and cold .
I enjoyed reading this book it had a lot of twists and turns and didn't expect the connection with the killer.
Many thanks net gally for letting me read and review this book .

Wow, just in the first 10% of the book we go from drama to recipe. It's got it all- mystery, shooting, death, food, party, wedding, and we are just getting started. There were fun farm tips and trivia throughout the book about subjects such as bees, chickens, birds. and wild turkeys. I didn't expect the case to get even more complicated. So many ways to be victimized. I can't say more and give away the ending. We also get a bit of romance too.

Over the course of the last year or so, I’ve seen the Henny Penny Farmette Mystery series by Meera Lester and have been intrigued but just haven’t had the time to pick up a copy. When I finally had the opportunity, I grabbed the chance to sit and read the newest release, A HIVE OF HOMICIDES. With this third book in the series, I found I’ve been missing out on a delight series and now need to go back and read the first two books! A HIVE OF HOMICIDES can be read as a stand-alone and I easily felt like I got to know the characters quickly. The protagonist, Abigail “Abby” MacKenzie runs a farmette and raises bees and even though she’s an expert, she still gets stung once in a while. I love how each chapter includes either fascinating facts about honeybees (I wouldn’t want to be a male bee!), farming tips, or recipes… all which sound incredibly delicious! These “extras” add charm to the book!

When Abby’s good friend’s husband is murdered and her friend seriously injured right after their marriage renewal vows, Abby knows she needs to investigate. But this time PTSD almost gets the best of Abby dragging her down with anxiety, sleeplessness, and loss of appetite. On top of that, her former colleagues at the police department seem to think that she is capable of the murder and the betrayal is deeply felt. The author effectively captures the mood of the dark abyss Abby finds herself in and I found myself cheering her on, hoping that she finds a way to overcome. And of course she does but I admire the author’s sensitivity to the matter and the way she brings it about. Despite the personal issues Abby must face, she still feels a great sense of duty towards bringing the killer to justice. The plot holds several twists and turns with enough action to keep the reader turning pages.

<http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=63933>

A Hive of Homicides by Meera Lester is the third A Henny Penny Farmette Mystery. Abigail “Abby” MacKenzie runs a farmette in Las Flores, California since she left the police force. Abby is attending the vow renewal of her friend and truffle maker, Paola Varela and Jake Winston, owner of Country Schoolhouse Winery (and notorious womanizer). There is a bit of kerfuffle after the ceremony with a blonde, but then everyone is off to the reception. Abby heads off to locate Chef Emilio Varela to deliver the honey she promised as gifts for the guests. The sous chef points Abby in the direction of the alley outside the kitchen. Abby is outside looking for Emilio when she hears gunshots and then sees the shooters car. Abby finds Jake and Paola in their car with Jake dead and Paola severely wounded. A week later, Paola is in a coma and the case is going nowhere. Abby is warned to not investigate, but she can think of little else. She decides to start asking questions to see who would want to harm Jake and Paola. Jake had created a lot of buzz around town with his numerous conquests and the blonde at the renewal seemed to dislike him as well. When a second body turns up at the winery, Abby knows she needs to zero in on the killer before he strikes again.

A Hive of Homicides is nicely written and has a good pace. I appreciated the bee and honey information the author included in the book (it was very interesting and informative). The mystery is complex (I liked this part) and I think many readers will be surprised by the killer’s identity. My rating for A Hive of Homicides is 4 out of 5 stars. Abby was different in this book (and not in a good way). Abby’s reaction to finding Jake and Paola was very unlike her. For an ex-cop, you would expect her to be used to find dead bodies, seeing injured people, and finding herself in dangerous situations. Instead, we are subject to nausea, shaking, and she is afraid of her own shadow (not our usual strong, feisty Abby). The author did a good job at portraying PTSD as well as techniques to help Abby cope (she visits a counselor). I did not the like the direction the author took Abby’s character in A Hive of Homicides. It overshadowed the mystery. There are many delightful cozy moments in the book and a sweet, hopeful ending.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I am all abuzz about this series. Former police officer Abigail Mackenzie just keeps finding dead bodies. This time she finds her friend Paola’s husband, Jake dead and Paola has been wounded too, right outside the party celebrating their marriage renewal. Jake was not her favorite person but she would never wish him dead. Was he the real target or was Paola? Was it business or personal? Abigail is having a honey of a time trying to figure everything out. When another person is killed she bee-lieves she is close to solving the case. She just needs to keep herself safe while she gathers enough evidence for her friends at the PD.

The story is well paced with real life and murder investigations in a nice balance. The suspense really builds as Abigail becomes more of a target and everything and everyone she loves falls into the killer’s sights. There are some nice twists and some really scary moments to keep readers on this toes. Again, the descriptions gave me more of watching a movie feel. The author makes visualizing everything so easy.

Ms. Lester has really taken us on a journey with Abigail over the course of the first three books in this series. We know she is a top notch investigator but she has some serious issues she is dealing with. She has been through so much and is fighting PTSD. The author handles this so well in a very true, real, and believable way. Abby still drops herself right into the middle of an investigation, because that is just who she is, but friends on the force are getting pretty used to that by now. The good thing is she reports what she finds to them and even shares her theories no matter how far-fetched. Her personal life is blooming just a bit too. I have really become invested in this character and am excited to see what happens next in her life.

The farms tips were very interesting and the recipes sound delicious.

This is a great addition to the Henny Penny Farmette Mystery series. I recommend all three books! I can’t wait to return to Las Flores, California to visit Abby and her friends!

A Hive of Homicides: A Henny Penny Farmette Mystery
By Meera Lester
Kensington
October 2017


Review by Cynthia Chow

Getting stung on the face by one of her bees was the first sign for Abby Mackenzie that Paola Varela and Jake Winston’s vow-renewal ceremony wouldn’t end well. The second sign was actually being leered at and hit upon by the groom. Abby had kept her mouth shut about her reservations concerning her friend’s marriage, but Paola was adamant that Jake had mended his ways and the ceremony was testament to his commitment. Sadly, Jake soon has the opportunity to prove that he will indeed love, honor, and cherish Paola until death. During the vow-renewal party at Jake’s Country Schoolhouse Winery, Abby discovers the couple in their car, where one bullet has gone through to make two victims

As Paola remains in a coma and Jake goes to the morgue, Abby copes with the guilt over not stepping in to stop the wedding in the first place. When added to her previous tragedies, even her experience as a former police officer doesn’t make Abby immune to the trauma culminating into overwhelming bouts of depression and anxiety. Police Chief Bob Allen has made it aggressively clear that he doesn’t appreciate Abby’s input in his cases, and the new Lieutenant Sinclair welcomes her even less. When Abby’s best friend and former police partner lets her know that they are circling in on Paola’s brother as a suspect, Abby breaks out her own incident board to investigate who was the intended victim, who was the woman who interrupted the church, and what exactly was going on in the winery kitchen.

Even as Abby expands her Henny Penny Farmette and its production of organic honeys, jams, and jellies, she delves into the unexpected fallout of being involved in murder investigations. The uncooperative investigating officers taunt and provoke her, while Abby experiences paralyzing flashbacks from past losses. The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday brings together Paola’s family, only increasing the pressure on Abby to find some resolution for them and herself. This third in the series never shies away from exploring darker issues, yet still entertains with its witty characters and engaging dialogue. Bee and farmette facts continue to be sprinkled throughout, as are critical details of an investigation. A genuinely terrifying and explosive finale surpasses that seen in cozier novels, with the threats feeling all too real. Readers who enjoy the small-town mysteries with a darker edge will be thoroughly entertained by the complex layers of this delightful novel.

A Hive Of Homicides is the third book in The Henny Penny Farmette Mystery series. This is a wonderful series and I do highly recommend each book in the series.
In this next in series Abby Mackenzie, a former police officer turned farmer, is attending a vow renewal ceremony of a good friend, Paola, followed by a celebration dinner at a Winery. Abby is shattered when she goes outside the restaurant and witnesses Paola's husband, Jake, shot point blank, and Paola clinging to life. Abby begins questioning people who knew the victim. Soon Abby realizes there have been illegal activities going on behind the scenes of the Winery. She is devastated to find out what she does and continues onward with her investigation to find the suspect.
This is an absorbing mystery with a focus on dug addiction and harm that comes to those involved with addiction. The characters through the story provide evidence and are interesting.
The author, Ms. Lester, does a great job walking the protagonist, Abby, through seeking professional help for her anxiety after she finds her friend near death and her husband murdered. The story tension heats up near the end as a maniac threatens what Abby holds dear, including her dog, Sugar, and her own life. Lucas, Abby's romantic interest is also in the story with just the right aspect of background romance. . There are interesting farming tips and fun recipes to enjoy! This story is a great addition to the Henny Penny Farmette series. I look forward to the next installment. This was a very exciting read and a excellent sleuth. This series is very well crafted and very enjoyable. Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Former Police Officer Abigail Mackenzie loves her new life. She happily runs her farmette, raising crops and keeping bees. She's a bit concerned about other things though. Her friend, Paola, is renewing her wedding vows, but her husband Jake is a womanizing cad. Abigail is torn between wanting her friend's day to be a joyful one, but also wondering if she should tell her that her husband is a total jerk. In the end, the day is ruined anyway when someone shoots Jake and Paola soon after their vow renewal. Jake is dead. Paola is seriously injured. Was it revenge from one of his many girlfriends on the side? Or something more sinister? As Paola clings to life in the hospital, Abigail is on the case to discover who hurt her friend. Was the philandering husband the target? Or did someone mean to kill Paola? When a second body turns up, Abigail realizes she needs to work fast to solve the case.

A Hive of Homicides is the third book the the Henny Penny Farmette series. I enjoy this series. Abigail is a strong, intelligent main character. She uses her former police experience to really dig into the grit of things and come up with clues, facts and leads, despite local law enforcement really wanting her to stay out of things. I like the side theme of the farmette and bee keeping. Each chapter has little facts about bees, honey or farming. It just adds to the cozy side of these mystery stories.

In this latest addition to this series, the mystery is well paced. The story is a nice mix of the background theme and the murder investigation. There is some character development to further the series. And, it had a nice build to the end (no spoilers from me!) All in all, this was a fun read and I like this series! Each book has been great! I can't wait to read Abagail's next adventure!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Meera Lester's A Hive of Homicides is the third book in the Henny Penny Farmette Mystery series. I had read a previous book in the series, but this one easily stands on its own. Abby, a former cop, is happy on her farm with her dog and chickens. She attends a her friend Paola's vow renewal at a local winery and is shocked to witness a shooting. Paola is seriously injured, and her husband is killed. Abby cannot completely escape her former profession and begins her own investigation. In the previous book I had some concerns about this series going forward. I was completely happy with this book. The characters and story line flowed well. I am excited about Abby's character development from this point onward.

A Hive Of Homicides is the third book in The Henny Penny Farmette Mystery series.

I always enjoy stopping in at the Henny Penny Farmette and she what exciting times Abigail and her friends are up to.

Abigail is waiting at the Country Schoolhouse Winery for Jake Winston, owner of the winery, and Paola to show up after renewing their wedding vows. Abigail sees their car enter the parking lot and moments later hears a gunshot. As she heading to for where they parked, she catches the briefest glimpse of a car accelerating away. When she arrives at their car she finds Jake dead and Paola suffering a serious head injury. With no witnesses and Paola in a coma, Abigail sets out to do a little investigation of her own. She needs to look at Gina, whose sister died in an auto accident a few hours after Jake broke up with her, Dori Lanston, a sous chef at the winery, seems to be keeping something a secret, and Scott Thompson who manages the barrel room and has been suspended for possible drug use. When another related killing occurs, Abigail knows she needs to zero in on the killer and quit before someone else loses their life.

Another well told story with a cast of believable and enjoyable characters. As with the previous books, each chapter has a little bit of information about farming, bees or delicious recipes.

This is a cozy with a bit more depth to it. Instead of the amateur female sleuth adding her two cents to the professionals, Abby is a former cop who now raises bees and farms in a small California town. She does her own investigating but trying not to get in the way of the official one. Here, in the third book of the series, she is attending the ceremony of her friend Paola and her skirt chasing husband, Jake, to renew their wedding vows. Just before the ceremony, Jake can't help himself - he hits on Abby and Paola is a witness. Abby has no fondness for Jake but is horrified when shots are fired, killing him and gravely wounding Paola.
There are some serious subjects touched upon like Abby's PTSD. Full of twists and turns as every satisfying mystery should have plus, on a lighter note, tips on beekeeping and some recipes. I hope there will be a fourth entry in this series.

This is a charming series. A farmette is hard work, but satisfying. Our protagonist has interesting friends and former co-workers. Sometimes our former police officer behaves as one and at other times not so much. I suppose that is normal human behavior, but it had me scratching my head at times. I do look forward to reading the next one.

I know this is being sold as a cozy- and it's got a number of aspects of the genre such as recipes, a small town, an intrepid female amateur- but it's actually more than that. I hadn't read the first two books so I wasn't familiar with the back stories but I really engaged with these characters quickly because Lester has done such a nice job with them. Abby is a former police officer, which totally ups the ante for the investigation of the murder of Jake and attempted murder of her friend Paola. Abby's PTSD is well described and makes Abby more sympathetic and complete. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. This is a clever, well done mystery which resonated with me more than I expected. You'll like it if you like cozies that go a tad deeper. Thumbs up!

This series keeps getting better and better. (Henny Penny Farmette Mystery series) This is book three and Abby is trying to deal with some post traumatic stress from the previous stories. She is attending a party to celebrate Paola's renewing her wedding vows when she discovers Paola and her husband shot in their car. Jake is dead and Paola is hurt very badly. The mystery is a good one and the characters keep growing. The small town atmosphere is congenial and inviting. Can't wait to visit again.

Not having read the others in the series, I wasn't sure what to expect with this one and bees. Really enjoyed the character of Abigail and her journey through dealing with her anxiety/PTSD and solving the mystery, great balance in the story lines and interesting tidbits about farming.

This was the first book I'd read in the Henny Penny Farmette Mystery series, and I enjoyed it very much! The small town setting is great and the characters are quirky and fun.

Abby McKenzie is an ex-policewoman who now runs her own farmette, where she raises bees and farms. Her closest friend, Paola, is renewing her vows with her husband Jake, who is the owner of a winery. As they arrive at the reception, someone shoots at their car, killing Jake and severely wounding Paola. Jake has had a string of affairs and his winery might be in trouble, so was it someone from his past or from the winery after him? Or was Paola actually the intended victim?
Abby uses all her skills and contacts as a former cop to solve Jake's murder and keep her friend Paola safe.

This was a great read. The plot was well executed and the identity of the murderer was well hidden until the end. The relationships between the characters were well-drawn, and I was impressed with the way Meera Lester wrote about Abby's PTSD and her therapy. The recipes sounded great too!

I definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.