Mind Your Own Beeswax

Table of Contents

 

 

“If you’re wondering how beekeeping and mysteries go together, then pick up Hannah Reed’s
Buzz Off
and see what all the excitement is about. Reed has come up with 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, award-winning author of
Grace Under Pressure

 

“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, national bestselling author of the Coffeehouse Mysteries

 

“A sparkling debut . . . Delicious.”

—
Genre Go Round Reviews

 

“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. The mystery is well plotted and this series promises to keep readers buzzing.”

—
Romantic Times
(4 stars)

 

“Everyone is simply going to go buzz-erk over the marvelously quirky cast of characters in this fabulously funny new series . . . Hannah Reed has a deliciously spicy, adorable sense of humor that had me howling with unabashed glee. You couldn’t get as many colorful characters if you poured them from a box of Froot Loops.
Buzz Off
has just the right blend of mystery, romance, and humor that will charm anyone’s socks off. If this fantastic whodunnit doesn’t buzz to the top of your list, I’m simply gonna have to sic Grams on you . . . and she doesn’t mess around. Quill says: If you are in need of a quirky, light, incredibly humorous cozy, look no more. Hannah Reed has whopped’n chopped and stirred up a formula for a mystery that will line up an audience who will beg for more!
”

 

“In her debut book,
Buzz Off
, author Hannah Reed combines an intriguing whodunnit with a lively, action-filled story to create one sweet cozy mystery! . . .
Buzz Off
is a charming beginning of what promises to be a fun series! . . . A yummy treat for fans of cozy mysteries.”

 

“Highly entertaining.”

—Associated Content

BUZZ OFF
MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX

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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

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. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

 

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.

 

MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX

 

A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author

 

PRINTING HISTORY

Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / May 2011

Copyright © 2011 by Deb Baker.

 

All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

 

eISBN : 978-1-101-51451-1

 

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PRIME CRIME
Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
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Special thanks to:

I missed the clues leading up to my honeybees’ finely orchestrated plan to abandon me. They took off right before noon on a sunny May day, rising as one large buzzing ball with the queen in the center, where she would be protected by the entire honeybee community—workers, housekeepers, nurses, guards, and drones. Drones, that is, if all those females had even bothered taking any of the boys along.

In honeybee colonies, girls rule.

I took off in hot pursuit. Or as hot as I could wearing a pair of metallic-purple flip-flops. Not the greatest footwear for a chase, but the bees hadn’t bothered to give me any advance warning.

The black circular mass of bees headed for the Oconomowoc River, then veered to the right before reaching its bank. Lucky for me, since I wouldn’t have been able to follow if they’d crossed over to the other side of our small town of Moraine’s spring rain–swollen river. Next they headed down a deer trail, taking the path of least resistance with me flopping along behind, trying to keep up. But it was useless. I couldn’t help noticing that I was losing ground quickly, the distance between me and them widening by leaps and bounds. Or rather by trips and stumbles on my part.

The swarm flew toward a rustic wooden bridge that spanned the river, compliments of the state of Wisconsin’s commitment to increasing and improving its hiking trails.

My escapees didn’t take the bridge, but kept going due north.

Another sharp turn, like they knew exactly where they were going—which they most likely did thanks to bee scouts who would have been out searching for new digs while I was puttering among the hives, thinking everything was just swell, totally oblivious to this particular group’s impending departure.

Honeybees swarm when they outgrow their communal homes, the same way we do when we start our families and realize at some point that we need more space. I was supposed to be able to read the signs of a colony getting ready to swarm, but I’m new at this game and learning everything the hard way. Which according to my mother was my standard mode of operation anyway.

I did know this much for sure: