Jennie Marts’ debut cozy mystery, Take the Honey and Run (book 1 in A Bee Keeping Mystery) was seriously so much fun. I laughed out loud several places including during one particular breaking and entering scene where my guffaws woke up my husband. Whoops.

Like any good cozy mystery there is a required amount of suspension of disbelief and I’m totally fine with it. Main character Bailey is a successful murder mystery author and back in her small hometown Humble Hills to help her grandmother run Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch. She’s happy to be home but certainly not expecting to find a dead body so soon into her stay. Unfortunately, her grandmother is the handsome sheriff’s number one suspect so Bailey and her best friend take on the case. Much to the frustration of that handsome sheriff.

I loved all of this so much. It was just the escape I needed when I was annoyed with all the adulting I had to do. I loved the mystery (and all the red herrings totally got me) and there’s even a little light, second chance romance that worked perfectly into the story. I adored the characters–I always love grandmother/granddaughter relationships in stories and Bailey’s aunts were wonderful too. I loved Bailey’s 12 year old daughter and her love of reading. I can’t wait to go back to Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch.

This publishes on Tuesday July 17th and I highly recommend. Thanks to @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the eARC.

TAKE THE HONEY AND RUN introduces us to the Bee Keeping Mystery series, Humble Hills, and Bailey Briggs. Bailey’s a mystery author returning to her hometown and her Granny’s farm with her daughter after years away.
Bailey’s friends and family (including her Granny Bee and two quirky great-aunts) are a great crowd. I really enjoyed the way Bailey teamed up with her bff, Evie, to get into some real investigative scrapes! TAKE THE HONEY AND RUN has some great comedic moments (some disastrous B&E, awful disguises, and a comedy of errors funeral scene) but Marts managed to balance it out with some really high-stakes and darker elements that kept this cozy from feeling too ridiculously light. I enjoyed the investigation itself, the way that each of the supporting characters played an important part in contributing to Bailey’s plans: from Griffin the PI hacker to preteen Daisy’s social media digging. I particularly liked the surveillance and blackmail plotlines.
One thing I would’ve liked to have seen more of was Humble Hills itself. I thought that the town felt a little flat, and devoid of the usual ‘bustle’ I’d expect from a small-town cozy. I also felt that although the ‘honey’ element factored into the plot, I didn’t feel like we actually saw any bee-keeping, honey-making etc. and I’d have enjoyed that unique aspect to the world-building.
That’s a minor gripe though, and something that could easily develop in future instalments. And I would be happy to pick up the next book in this series, so I’ll be interested to see more of the setting, and more of Bailey’s antics. TAKE THE HONEY AND RUN was a real page-turner: it kept me guessing who the killer was throughout and had a particularly dramatic finale.

This story was a fun and quick read. Characters were fun and free spirited and I love stories that including the characters pets. Look forward to more in the series and what the author has in store for the future

I so enjoyed this first in series based on beekeeping. Thank you to the author and to the publisher for the opportunity. This is a promising cozy series with great charcters, a intriquing setting and fun sleuthing.

Bailey Briggs is a mystery writer from Humble HIlls Collorado who grew up with her eccentric Grandmother Granny Bee on her beekeeping ranch. When her grandmother suffers a fall Bailey rushes home to help her and manage the ranch. When a murder occurs using her grandmothers signature honey Bailey is on the case as her beloved Granny Bee is the primary suspect. Bailey is determined to save her grandmother and her reputation.

I enjoyed al the charcters in this fun series. The sleuth was well crafted from beginning to end. I look forward to the next in series. This is a fun introduciton to beekeeping for readers.

A nice start to a new cozy series (with a bit of second chance romance as well). Bailey, a successful mystery writer and her daughter have come back to Humble Hills to help her Granny Bee after the latter broke her foot. She's full into the Hive, Granny's group of pals, when Werner, who has been a little aggressive toward Granny is found dead-with a jar of honey nearby. This opens a chance for Bailey to reunite with Sawyer, now the Sheriff, who was once her crush. Cozy fans know that Bailey will be the one to solve the murder, along with her friend Evie. No spoilers. My usual quibble is how far Bailey (like other cozy heroines) goes to investigate. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

This is a fun first cozy mystery by romance author Jennie Marts. This is the first book I have read by the author. I picked it up because the bee theme sounded fun.
Bailey comes home to visit her grandmother who raised her. Before she has made it far she encounters her past on a tractor. Sawyer was her bad boy high school love. He also happens to be the town sheriff. I think that must be why he lets her get away with far too much interfering when the town mayor dies by honey.
The town mayor, Werner Humble, was not a nice man. As more and more of his activities are revealed, the reader will entirely understand why he found himself dead.
I must say I knew right away who killed the mayor, however the author did a good job of throwing plenty of red herring suspects into the mix to confuse and embellish the story.
Bailey is an adult with a 12 year old daughter, yet she still gets up to some high jinx that are awfully sophomoric. Those moments were balanced by so many good moments throughout the book that saved the rating on this one.
I would recommend spending some time in the mountains of Colorado with Bailey, Gran and the Hive.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review Take the Honey and Run.

I love cozy mysteries and reading more series. So, when I heard about this book, I gave it a try. I'm glad that I did! The honey theme is charming along with the characters and mystery. I recommend giving this book a try!

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book for my review. I'm looking forward to more of this series!

An adequate first book in a new series which establishes the scene and the characters, and gives the reader a taste of what is to come.

Bailey and her daughter, Daisy, return to her old home town to stay with Granny Bee, who is a beekeeper and purveyor of honey and all its by products. When a murder occurs it appears the victim was allergic to bees, and the honey all over his face is the cause of his death. Granny Bee is immediately at the top of the list of suspects.

Bailey discovers the Sheriff is a long lost love from her past, but then proceeds to infuriate him by investigating the murderer herself. I was uncomfortable with this aspect of the story especially since he let her do pretty much as she pleased including interviewing suspects in their own homes. I am pretty sure if a stranger knocked on my door and asked me where I was on the evening of such and such I would tell them to mind their own business. Anyway Bailey solves the murder and the guilty party is quite a surprise.

I would be happy to read the next book in this series. This one was very readable and humorous, and it will be interesting to see whether the Sheriff and Bailey get back together.

Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts is the first in the new Beekeeping Mystery series and I’m already looking forward to the second book. Bailey Briggs returns home to help her injured grandmother. When the town gigolo is murdered and her grandmother becomes the prime suspect, Bailey jumps into action to solve the crime.

There is just so much to like about this book! It is pure delight with its charming setting that draws the reader in. I loved the variety of characters, from the quirky Hive to Bailey’s sultry, got-your-back best friend. And let’s not forget the sexy sheriff, a possible love triangle, and the complex web of secrets, motives, and potential suspects. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). Overall, a very satisfying read.

A new cozy mystery with great characters, mystery,suspense, twists and possible start of a romance.
Bailey and her daughter goes back home to help her grandmother with the Honey Bee ranch .
A murder is discovered and her grandmother may be the murderer
A good read.
Voluntarily reviewed.
.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Bailey is a successful mystery author who returns home with her preteen daughter for the first time in ages to help when Granny Bee, her beekeeping grandmother, suffers a nasty fall. But when Bailey discovers the body of the man Granny Bee threatened just one day before, she must put her detecting skills to use to track down a real-life killer – and keep Granny out of jail.

This is the first book in a new series by an author I’ve never read before, but I couldn’t resist the bookcover or the bee-related storyline. Daughter is all about bees and has converted most of the rest of us too, so I love learning new things about bees and beekeeping. Sadly, there was very little information in that vein included in this book, but I liked the story just the same.

I really like Granny Bee and the other ladies of The Hive – Granny’s book club and friends – and daughter Daisy and best friend Evie, but I adore Cooper. Golden retrievers are such goofy, lovable dogs, who could *not love Cooper? I like Bailey, too, but disliked the way she turned into a babbling idiot every time Sawyer, high school sweetheart and now town sheriff, was around. Yes, there are unresolved issues between them, and I suspect there’s more to the story than we learned in this first book.

The murder victim in this story had a shady not-so-distant past, with more coming to light as the investigation continued. There were plenty of characters with believable motives for the murder, and I suspected each of them at one point along the way. That said, I didn’t put the clues together correctly and was surprised when the killer was revealed.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series and learning more about the characters’ back stories – and maybe more about beekeeping as well.

Title: Take The Honey And Run
Author: Jennie Marts
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publishing Date: July 18, 2023
Genre: Cozy Mystery

First books in a new series can sometimes be hit or miss, but I thought Marts did a good job with this book. The characters are fun and and funny and entertaining, and the mystery kept me guessing. I would consider this a traditional cozy with a bit of romcozy.
I cannot wait to read the next book in this fun new series.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

A cute start to a new cosy mystery series. The setting is sweet and the characters are hysterically outrageous. The murder was intriguing enough to keep me guessing. I'd definitely read more!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I received this book for free from Netgalley for an honest review.

For a brand new author they did a brilliant job! A great cast of characters and amazing mystery. The setting was cozy.

Bailey Briggs, a successful mystery writer becomes an amateur sleuth in Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts. An author who writes romance stories she had done an outstanding job with writing this cozy mystery. There is a hint and only a hint mind you of romance in this story. This mystery is marvelously written with the author’ style and attention to detail, humor and vivid characterization.

The characters are all uniquely their own personalities so it is not difficult to get the hive (book club) and family separated in my mind. Wile Bailey is main, there are quite a few helping her. I especially liked Daisy, her preteen daughter. Even though I am probably closer in age to Granny Bee. She and her sisters certainly spoke their minds, a bit more than I do. Then there is the tackle, a scene you just have to read for yourself concerning Bailey’s aunts.

In fact, you just simply need to read this book yourself. A handsome Sheriff, a dead man that the town is better off without, numerous assisting characters for Bailey, and humor galore. A fun read for all.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

RATING 4.5 STARS

Take the Honey and Run is book one in the brand new series, A Bee Keeping Mystery, by Jennie Marts. This is a cozy mystery and wow what a mystery it was! I had no idea who the culprit was! Jennie kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages as fast as I could read them! And, the cover is absolutely adorable!

Bailey Briggs is a mystery author. She and her twelve year old daughter Daisy, have come home to Humble Hills, Colorado to stay with her beloved grandmother while she recuperates from a broken ankle. Along with their adorable golden retriever, Cooper. Bailey’s childhood home was Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch. It’s where her grandmother still lives and thrives with all of her bee hives and products she makes from the honey!

Unfortunately, not long after Bailey, Daisy and Cooper return home, there is a murder in Humble Hills, and Bailey discovers the body! Now Bailey’s grandmother seems to be the key suspect when her honey is found at the murder scene.

This was so much fun and an amazing who-done-it! Bailey’s grandmother’s sisters and friends are the Bee Hive, posing as a book club! And we won’t even discuss what they really put in their tea cups! And, there is also Bailey’s childhood sweetheart, the swoony Sawyer Dunn, who is now the sheriff of Humble Hills.

This mystery was completely solved but it’s clear there is more mischief for these characters to get in to. I can’t wait to see what Jennie has in store for these wacky women and poor Sheriff Dunn next!

Book#1 in the Beer Keeper’s Mystery

The title and picture on the cover attracted my attention I simply couldn’t resist asking for this novel. This cozy mystery is the perfect read when you want a story that is fun and not too challenging, a perfect book to bring with you on vacation.

The story moves along in a fictional town in Colorado with Bailey Biggs and her young daughter coming to see their grandmother (granny Bee) who runs Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch where she raises bees for their honey and sells it in various forms. Everything goes smoothly till the mayor highly allergic to honey is found dead with his face smeared in Granny Bee’s honey......Granny is the first to be suspected of killing him....and the fun begins.

This story has an interesting premise – the murder weapon honey is quite unique and to top it all we have plenty of suspects to go around. Well written to be engaging without giving us too much to think about. A bit too much by me was that the main character stayed ahead of the sheriff pointing at facts he never saw...was he that bad? For an outsider Bailey was a bit too smart but again her grandmother needed to be vindicated. The style simple and clear is also funny I laugh (smile) at some of the passage so much shenanigans trying to solve the murder. I can’t miss telling you we are lured with mouth-watering menus...tempting sweet goodies throughout.

Cute story I didn’t mind passing time with.

Take the Honey and Run, a new cozy mystery by Jennie Marts, is a great debut with likable, interesting characters and the mystery kept me guessing. Bailey Briggs is a mystery author who brings her 12 year old daughter Daisy back to Humble Hills to help her grandmother, Granny Bee, with her ranch and bees. Bailey's two Great Aunts Aster and Marigold are a fun addition along with The Hive book club members. Granny has a broken foot and needs help with beekeeping and the products she makes with the honey and wax. Bailey runs into her high school boyfriend Sawyer and it is just like they haven't been apart for 13 years (first of several eye-rolls). Granny's honey is used to kill a local man and Granny is a suspect along with ladies he was dating. Bailey, her best friends Evie and Griffin, Daisy, Granny and The Hive all help with looking for clues. There is some child abuse mentioned as part of the story but it is handled with compassion. A few parts of the story are a bit predictable but the ending was good. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery. The characters are what sets it apart. #TakeTheHoneyAndRun #ABeeKeepingMystery #NetGalley. #CrookedLaneBooks.

Hilarity ensues in this cozy mystery/romance. This book had me laughing and shaking my head at the many silly things the characters did and do.

A book about family, second chances, catching murderers, making things right, and of course, honey.

A truly heartwarming story, where you actually feel more sorry for the murderer than you do the murdered. I cannot wait to read the second one.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Jennie Marts for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and completely honest.

I was so delighted by this first in A Bee Keep Mystery series by Jennie Marts. From start to finish I totally enjoyed the characters, the humor, the mystery, the locale and the romance. It just made me happy. The only problem I have with it is waiting for a new installment. It can't come soon enough for me.

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