I enjoy this author's Candy Coated series but I did not enjoy this one as much. Wren has moved back to her childhood home to open her shop featuring products made of honey. While walking her dog one morning she finds the body of a local crafter clutching a label from her lip balm. The police suspect her so she sets out to solve the crime. I liked the town and I really enjoyed Everett the cat. I found the main character to be annoying. Everyone has to protect her from herself. She is smart enough to hire a lawyer but does not take his advice. The mystery was very easy to solve and it was a mess. There was a lot of repetition. The book was quick to read. I like this author's books so I hope the next book in the series is better edited.

I am becoming a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre due to books like this. You can read this as an escape from the everyday in a weekend. A really good mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during that 2nd attempt, I have only managed to make it halfway through so I'd rather stop here and state that this book just wasn't for me.

Death Bee Comes Her begins the An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series with a cozy mystery that captured my attention from beginning to end… and left me wanting more.

Wren owns a delightful shop that showcases just about anything to do with honey or honeycombs… even to the living hive shown through the glass on the side of the building. While out on a walk with her cat, Everett, one evening the last thing she expected to run into on the beach was the very dead body of a woman by no means popular in this small town. And to make matters even worse for Wren, clutched in the mean dead woman’s hand is the label from one of Wren’s products. Now she’s a suspect who, along with her Aunt Eloise, and even her cat, Everett will be searching out clues to who the real killer is before she ends up behind bars for a murder she did not commit.

Death Bee Comes Her is fast-paced and kept me on my toes throughout. There is world-building, I expect that in the first story in any series, but I wasn’t overwhelmed since most of those details were delivered through dialogue or narrative quite smoothly.

As with any Cozy Mystery, I’m not revealing much in the way of details – you should experience this firsthand. But I can say that I was caught up in Wren’s story, laughed often, puzzled out why some things were done, and while I had my culprit picked out early was engaged in figuring out the why of it all. This story kept my attention and has opened up a new world by this author for us all to enjoy. I had fun in this world, and plan to return with the next installment of the An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. If you love a good Cozy Mystery then you’ll want to pick up Death Bee Comes Her real soon.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Another new to me author that gave me a delightful cozy to curl up with and lose myself in quite easily. Wonderful character development complimented by a well crafted mystery is the winning recipe for a successful cozy.

Death Bee Comes Her is the first book in a new small-town cozy mystery series by Nancy Coco. Released 26th Jan 2021 by Kensington, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is the first of a new series of "small town" shop cozies from a veteran author. For fans of the genre, this one ticks all the boxes including a punny title, recipes, clean language, non-gory murder, a likable female sleuth, a foreshadowed slow-burn romantic interest, and a cat "sidekick" who helps her solve the mystery. If it is, admittedly, trope-y and formulaic, it also has everything that fans of these series (including me) love. The pacing is good and doesn't drag. The dialogue can be a bit over the top and unnaturally stilted occasionally, but all in all, it's a fun and undemanding read with a satisfying denouement (a touch of the melodramatic), and resolution. There are some continuity problems, but nothing that won't likely get ironed out in the next book or two.

Three and a half stars. A promising start for a new series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Death Bee Comes Her: An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery
By Nancy Coco
Kensington
February 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

After the death of her parents Wren Johnson moved to the tourist beach community of Oceanview, Oregon in order to live closer to her beloved Aunt Eloise. The hipster town was also the perfect place for Wren to follow her dreams of opening an environmentally-friendly honey store Let It Bee, where she could advocate for the preservation of endangered honeybees. Flavored honeys, lotions, candles, and even taffy made from her own honeybee hives are but a small sample of what she sells as the town gears up for the annual Halloweentown event. It’s her honey lip balm though that lands her in a sticky mess when Wren and her Havana Brown cat Everett discover the body of Agnes Snow, dead and clutching the label of one of Let It Bee’s lip balms.

Local police officer Jim Hampton quickly lets Wren know that the lip balm was poisoned, then demands her special ingredient list and telling her not to leave town. Wren had no intention of this, especially since Agnes was her aunt’s biggest rival in competitions since grammar school; making her the next probable suspect. As Aunt Eloise continues to ramp up her efforts to compete in the next baking contest, Wren focuses on determining who – other than either herself or her aunt – wanted Agnes dead. While blue-eyed Jim seems intent on arresting her or her aunt, hipster-bearded attorney Matt Hanson will hopefully keep her out of jail and out of trouble. It is her rather lurid status as a murder suspect that puts an early kibosh on a potential romance, but with all that’s going on in Wren’s life that’s probably for the best. As Wren investigates possible blackmail and infidelities, attacks on herself and Everett threaten to put a stinger in her hopes to prove her innocence.

This first of a new series by the prolific author of cozies who also writes under the names Nancy J. Parra and Nell Hampton, Nancy Coco quickly sets up the start of very warm-hearted, environmental-and-animal-friendly future adventures. Recipes are included not just for Honey Yogurt Mousse and Honey Facials, but for lickable Winter Pet Paw Wax that protects sensitive paws from ice and antifreeze. Possible romances and rivalries are introduced that portend further complications in Wren’s life, although the very talkative Everett will undoubtedly provide calming support on their daily walks. The impetuous, honeybee-loving, young business woman is a worthy representative of her beloved healing, helpful, and always busy honeybees.

This was a charming winning start to a wonderful new cozy series by popular cozy author Nancy Coco. I loved the setting of a shop of unique honey products, the wonderful charcters and the adorable cat that walks on a leash with our protagnist. ( my cats all walk on a leash so this was fun to read about another smart cat).

The mystery was well crafted and surprising to the end. I love the atmospheric setting of Death Bee Comes Her set in fictional Oceanview Oregon. The description of the shop is somewhere we wish we all could visit with the descriptions of every possible honey flavored item for sale. Wren is our protagnist who loves her Havana Brown cat and walk him with her around town on a leash. As she investigates a murder she is smart and savvy about gathering clues and finding suspects. I look forward to the next in series of this adorable fun series.

Death Bee Comes Her by Nancy Coco is the debut of An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series. I enjoyed this delightful new cozy from beginning to end. Wren Johnson has a unique honey boutique called Let It Bee in Oceanview, Oregon. There is an actual beehive in her store behind glass. Wren has a variety of products in her shop from candy to lip balm to lotions. I loved the description of her shop and could envision it in my mind. I like Wren who owns (well, as much as you can “own” a cat) Everett, a Havana Brown cat. She walks him about town on a leash and harness. Wren talks to Everett and he seems to understand what Wren is saying with appropriate responses (a clever kitty). It is adorable. Oceanview has a weeklong festival called Halloweentown. It is an extravaganza with everyone dressing up and handing out candy to the kids. I enjoyed Wren’s clever costumes. I happen to be a fan of the Halloweentown movies. The author took the time to set the stage for this book and the series with her descriptions of the town and its residents. The mystery was interesting, and I liked following Wren as she combed for clues. There is plenty of action and good clues. I like how the mystery was laid out. While I was able to identify the evil doer easily, it did not take away from my enjoyment of this honey of a whodunit. There is an excerpt for Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas from Nancy Coco’s A Candy Coated Mystery series. Death Bee Comes Her is a charming cozy mystery with a chatty cat, healthy honey, a pestilent poison, scrumptious candy, and creative crafts.

A very nice start to a new cozy mystery series by author Nancy Coco, Death Bee Comes Her introduces the reader to Wren Johnson, living in a small coastal Oregon town, and managing her business - Let It Bee. When Wren and her cat, Everett, stumble upon the body of Agnes Snow while on their morning walk, Wren is almost immediately suspected of having something to do with the crime, as the poison was introduced via one her own lip balms! Add in the fact that Agnes was the nemesis of Wren's beloved Aunt Eloise, and Wren's got her hands full trying to prove her innocence, prevent her business from going down the tubes, and finding the guilty party! 5 stars!

I know that PNW lovers will adore the atmosphere written within this story. You can feel that rain and the fog. You can smell that air. The vibe is real.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable first book in a new series from Nancy Coco. The mystery was great and I loved the characters a lot.

The plot was equal parts fun and stressful. The story carries that cozy mystery feel that you’d expect, but there were some scenes that were pretty intense and unexpected! It was easy to get lost in the story.

There were a few “loose ends” but knowing this will be a series, it’s obvious those will come up in later books. It more feels like “to be continued”.

Side note: the book includes recipes and fun facts about honey!

Death Bee Comes Her is the first in Nancy Coco's new Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series following Wren Johnson and her Havana Brown cat, Everett.

Wren is the proud owner of Let It Bee honey boutique a speciality shop in the tourist town of Oceanview, selling items such as candles, body scrub and lotions, all made with fresh honey. Out on the beach, one day Wren and Everett happen across the body of Agnes Snow, queen of the local craft fairs, who somewhat unfortunately for Wren, is clutching the label from one of the lip balms - the homemade honey and beeswax variety. This gives the local police, in particular, hunky Officer Jim Hampton cause to put Wren at the top of the suspect list.

It is wonderful to start a cozy mystery series from the very beginning and I jumped into Death Bee Comes Her unrestrainedly. This thrilling new series has a wonderful, engaging main character. Nancy Coco's new sleuth Wren is smart and determined and her Aunt Eloise kept me fully entertained. All of the characters had something to offer, be it wit, charisma or intelligence and most were well-rounded. I was right there alongside Wren and her helpers as they deciphered the clues and it was interesting to learn a little about crafting. The murderer's motive was a surprise to me and of course, I enjoyed Everett's part in the proceedings. I'm already looking forward to the next instalment!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Seen Johnson is the owner of Let it Bee a shop of all things bees. She suddenly finds herself being framed for the murder of Agnes Snow. But why?? Who hates her enough to frame her ? Is someone jealous of her sudden success? And who wanted Agnes dead? Can Week snuff out the killer before the killer shifts het out? Great book and another great series by Nancy Coco.

I really enjoy Nancy Coco's Fudge series so I was excited for a new series on the Oregon coast involving Bees. This was a little awkward for me. Wren quickly becomes a suspect in the death of her aunt's 'craft rival'. The local Detective is socially difficult when we can obviously see he is the potential romantic interest for Wren. There are vicious, mistaken motives that result in death and paint an unpleasant environment. I think there needs to be a lot of work to elevate this to a more cheerful place to visit.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is a fun debut cozy! I loved the honey theme, and I enjoyed Nancy Coco's writing style! The mystery and characters were a lot of fun.

I'm a fan of Nancy CoCo's fudge series and had no doubt that her new series would be another winner. Add to that the small town on the Oregon Coast setting and bees - well I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy.
Wren has moved to Oceanview to be close to her only remaining relative, her late mother's sister, Eloise. Now she has opened her own business, Let It Bee, a store that sells all things relating to bees and honey - lip balms, lotions, creams, scrubs, candy, etc. She even has a glass wall that showcases a bee hive. She and her Havana Brown kitty, Everett, live upstairs. Life is good as she and the rest of the town get ready to the week of Halloween festivities. Vampires and zombies are to be expected but. not the corpse on the beach that Wren and Everett discover during their daily walk on the beach. At that point Wren's life takes a turn and jumps off a cliff. She finds herself the number one suspect and the police detective is laser focused on her, hauling her in for questioning more than once - including a line up. Lucky for Wren her connections include the son of a local lawyer who takes on her case pro bono. As the bodies pile up she needs him on speed dial. Both she and her aunt are in big trouble and the killer might just come after them.
Overall I really enjoyed this first book of the series with just one exception - the way the detective treated Wren made me uncomfortable. Beyond that personal quibble I liked the main characters of Wren, Aunt Eloise and Per friend/employee, Porsche and I love Everett, the cat who loves to walk on a leash and has lots to say. The mystery was engaging and complex with an easy flow from one clue to the next. There were a few hanging threads that I'm hoping will be clearer in the next book but it wasn't a big deal.I already have saved a space on my TBR list for the next in the series "A Matter of Hive and Death"
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really great start to a new cozy mystery series. I loved the setting, being from the Pacific Northwest I have been to the Oregon Coast a few times and I thought it was well described. I loved all of the details about the shop and bees and the products made from them. That was a really unique touch and I really appreciated it. The mystery was well done and other than a couple little points I enjoyed the plot. I also really liked the characters. Overall I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to book two!

This first book in a new series from Nancy Coco is centered on, Wren Johnson, the owner of a honey boutique called Let It Bee in Oceanview, Oregon. The characters are fun, the setting and story are great. I was really pleased and look forward to reading more.

Death Bee Comes Her by Nancy Coco is the first in a fun new series, called Oregon Honey mysteries. Wren was walking her cat, a Havana Brown, named Everett, on the beach one day: pretty much her daily habit. Everyone spoke to her, not all kindly. Before too long they were away from people so Wren could take Everett off his leash. Before long he was running into the tall grass and behaving oddly. Wren rushed over to see what he had found and discovered a woman's body. Things got worse quickly as the paper the woman was holding was a label off her homemade lip balm and they police suspected the poison that had killed her was in the lip balm. That was not good for her business, especially when the police came and confiscated all the rest she had in stock. Lots of fun in this novel, though: it was Halloween week and a special celebration, lots of dressing up; honey recipes before every chapter.

This is a new and wonderful locale for a cozy mystery: a store that sells only natural honey products, locally sourced, both edible and cosmetics. One of the many entertaining characters is Wren's aunt Eloise, who also is a Havana Browns aficionado and a lady extremely supportive of her niece. Her employee and friend, Porsche is cute and helpful, always there for Wren. There's another murder and Wren is nearly hysterical with worry, despite the fact that she's innocent. This is a face-paced story with a good plot, lots of great characters, and a bright future. I like it a lot. Good luck, Nancy Coco, with your new venture!

I was invited to read a free ARC of Death Bee Comes Her by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #deathbeecomesher

Interesting first book in a new cozy mystery series by Nancy Coco (author of A Candy Coated Myster series). First books can be a little slow because of all the information needed when creating a new series - the characters/backstories, the setting, etc., but this book wasn't like that in the least.
I enjoyed meeting the main character, Wren, and learning about her honey-related boutique. The town she lives in sounds liked it would be a fun and interesting place to visit. And the mystery was intriguing, well-written, and kept me guessing. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.