Death Bee Comes Her

When Wren Johnson decided to open a oceanside honey-themed boutique, she had no idea that her mission to draw attention to the plight of the honeybee would lead to being accused of murder in Death Bee Comes Her, An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series.

While taking a stroll on the beach with her cat, Everett, Wren Johnson discovers local arts and crafts maven, Agnes Snow, dead, face down in the sand. In her hand, the label from the lip balm Wren hand makes and sells in her honey-themed boutique, Let It Bee.

Soon the police name her the lead murder suspect, despite the growing list of viable individuals with real motive. Wren, along with her Aunt Eloise, must use all of their resources and connections to clear her name and keep Let It Bee open.

Death Bee Comes Her launches a new cozy mystery series, set in the small-town of Oceanview, Oregon, by veteran author Nancy Coco.

This warm-hearted book is fast-paced, with realistic dialogue and a captivating plot. Wren is a very likable protagonist. She is intelligent and incredibly determined. The interaction she has with other characters is genuine. The playful slow-burn romance developing between Wren and Officer Jim Hampton is very cute and exciting. Everett, Wren’s Havana Brown cat, is walked on a leash, like a dog. This is new for me, but there may be some cat savvy people who can relate to this trend.

In this first book, readers are introduced to several characters, like Porsche, a vibrant employee of Let It Bee, and the aforementioned Aunt Eloise, Agnes Snow, Officer Jim Hampton, and many others. Coco takes time to thoroughly introduce characters – some readers may find the detail at these points somewhat cumbersome. I did not. I found the detail very helpful in laying the foundation for who all these wonderful characters are. Since many of them will likely become recurring, future books will have less introductory details.

The location of Oceanview, Oregon is a delightful change from the norm and an unknown real life destination to me. I enjoyed reading the description and learning the backstory of this seaside small-town, from the view of Coco.

If you are a fan of Coco, give this book a chance. If you are like me and are unfamiliar with her and her other work, this book is a great place to start. Either way, you will not be disappointed. The resolution is quite an unexpected surprise.