Busy Bees (The Morelville Mysteries, #2) by Anne Hagan

Busy Bees (The Morelville Mysteries, #2) Reviews

• 
  Tony Hisgett

  The previous book was divided fairly equally between Mel and Dana, but this one is very much centred on Mel.
  I enjoyed the first book, but I felt there was an ‘awkwardness’ to the story, this book is much better. I quickly fell into the plot and even though Dana had a much smaller role I felt the relationship between her and Mel was more natural.
  
  As Sheriff Mel gets involved in two murder investigations, she is also being pressed into campaigning into becoming the elected sheriff. This reminded me a little of JA Jance’s - Joanna Brady books.
  
  My only criticism was the big ending to the book, because it was written purely from Mel’s point of view, I felt I was missing so much of the action.
  
• 
  J H

  Predominantly about Mel and her latest investigation
  
  SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: established couple, butch character, not a romance, out of your comfort zone, full-time writer, character with a disability; UNICORN: twin (possibly other categories)
  
  Book two started off at almost exactly where book one ended, and since I read them back-to-back, it was awesome continuity. Dana was still recovering from her gunshot wound, but was able to leave the hospital for a few hours with Mel to go to the morel mushroom festival. Not long after their arrival, a man die, and that was the beginning of the sheriff's newest investigation.
  
  Dana ended up staying with Mel, her sister, and sister's kids in their house to continue her recovery after being released from the hospital. Nearly all of their interactions in this book were at the house due to Dana's being on crutches, so anytime that Mel was able to come home, they got to see each other.
  
  The first death was thought to be a heart attack, but as time went on, it became much more than that. Like the last time, it had a good and complex plot, but there was much less danger involved in this story. An outsider wants to run for the open sheriff seat, and Mel was convinced to submit her candidacy for the position that she never wanted in the first place. The county preferred her over the other guy, and it would have automatically given him the seat if she didn't compete against him.
  
  The author wrote the ending in the same manner as the first novel, and I needed to know what followed in the next book.
• 
  A.R. Fiano

  An Enjoyable Second Case, and Characters to Root for
  
  Another great trip to Morelville with Mel & Dana. Part of the enjoyment of these stories is seeing what the characters are up to, and part is visiting the rural areas of Ohio Anne Hagan writes about so vividly. At its best, the Morelville Mysteries series remind me of the pleasant visits to Sue Grafton's fictional Santa Teresa. The Morelville area has become a character as well, and that adds in getting into the stories.
  
  With Busy Bees, you have double main characters to get interested in. While the first book focused more on Dana, this one is Mel's for the taking--as she handles a complex new case and some challenging personal and professional decisions. Anne Hagan strikes a good balance of the building of the relationship against the other changes with the characters, having nuance in the inevitable how-other-people-deal-with same-sex relationships. The first book had high tension between Dana and Mel; this one has a sweeter aspect as they find their place with each other.
  
  The drug case Mel is working on has high tension as well, with building suspense--and some characters who are foils for Mel (and whose antics had me gritting my teeth) but I eagerly read on to see what the outcome would be. Anne is a friend, and I am glad to recommend this worthy addition to the LGBT mystery genre. It's all about the characters for me, and Mel & Dana (and the other story residents) are characters to root for.
• 
  Darlene

  I hate when I finish a book too early to go to sleep yet too late to write a review. But I'll do the best I can nearly 24 hours and two books finished later.
  
  Isn't Kindle Unlimited the bomb? Do they still say that? What I mean to say is I am happy I am able to pick and and read some books even when I haven't the money to buy them at the moment. Having read Morelville's first book, Relic, I was curious as to what would happen to the new lovers. The last book didn't end with a cliffhanger but the author, Anne Hagan, included the first chapter in book two at the end of book one. I like that. It did make me want to read more.
  
  As the sheriff, Mel Crane, discovers yet another murder her lover, Special Agent Dana Rossi, is recovering from being shot in the leg in the last book. Sheriff agrees to let Dana move into her home to recuperate. Jumping the quick lesbian relationship to skip some levels, straight to the moving in. "Dating" will have to wait until later.
  
  Except for a few editing errors, this book read quite well and kept me engaged, wondering how in the world they will catch the bad guys. Within the mysteries, are realistic characters who seem to have realistic relationships. And I hate to see my new friends go away. Luckily, I have book three ready for when I can get to it. I look forward to more!
• 
  Inked Reads

  FourStars
  A really well constructed mystery. Reading this novel was like riding a roller coaster. The plot would slow down, clues given with nothing connecting them. Suddenly things would fall into place, the chase would soar, then more clues would be discovered, again the pace would slow only to be followed by an almost breathless chase for the truth.
  
  The strength of this novel was not just its interesting and believable characters but the way the plot kept on getting more compelling with seemingly random incidents the connection only being unveiled at the crucial moment.
  
  This novel keeps the reader intrigued from the outset, satisfying the most avid of amateur detective readers. An ending that leaves the reader still asking questions and even more intrigue not yet explored, only adds to the enjoyment of this novel.The relationship between the Sheriff and her girlfriend also takes a back burner to the main plot leaving the reader hoping for further enlightenment that only a sequel could provide.
  
  Having only read Book 2 of this series I am now searching for book 1 and eager to discover when book 3 will be published!!
  
  I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
  
  Chris
• 
  Ameliah Faith

  This is the second book in the series. I have not read the first and do not feel like I have missed anything so it is just fine as a stand alone.
  
  Mel is the acting sheriff in a smaller Ohio county. She finds herself investigating two murders while forging a new relationship with the injured US Customs and Border Protection Services agent Donna at the same time reluctantly running for sheriff. Talk about busy!!
  
  I really, really enjoyed this book. The technical stuff was fine, the flow good, nothing to complain about. The story was solid. It is a mystery who done it but not too intense that it was stressful and not too light that you could figure it out three steeps ahead. I thought the storyline was great.
  
  I liked how the characters interacted with each other and how it was told from first person POV that switched from time to time. The changing POV was always given as a heads up in the time line at the start of a new paragraph or chapter. This really gave me incite on what the character was thinking and feeling, it made the story more fun and interesting.
  
  I will definitely go back to read the first book and eagerly await a third!
• 
  Melissa Hensley

  Second book
  
  Character's relationship still moving rather slow. Happy to see Mel stepping up in her position. Will be reading the third book and any more that should become available.
• 
  Woody

  I love this series by Anne Hagan
  The second book of the Morelville Mysteries we see Dana recuperating from being shot in Book 1. And Mel being acting Sherriff. Dana goes to stay with Mel and her sister until she is recovered. I love seeing the characters of Dana and Mel grow and was happy to see them start to live together. It starts with the murder of a cooking contest judge Ben Tracy. Great murder mystery which kept going at the right pace. I love the rural setting and the descriptions when Mel is traveling round the various places. Wonderful murder mystery.
  
• 
  Celina

  It is a good book but I feel like something is missing. Even if the books are centred on the story (which is what it feels like), the characters need to have development too. And I am not talking about just their relationship. But their past and whatever happens inbetween towards their future.
• 
  Phoebe

  Be careful what you eat or who you date because you might end up meeting the caretaker instead.
  
  Anne Hagan continues Sheriff Mel Crane and Special Agent Dana Rossi's love story in Busy Bees in "The Moreville Mysteries" series. The emphasis on this book is on the mystery of murder and moonshine and not romance. Rossi sits on the back burner as she heals up from the shooting from the first book (oops hopefully you read the first one (laugh)). Crane is on her own with her staff working two cases of murder: one a food-poisoning at the local Mushroom Festival and another that happens within moments of her appearance. Are they connected or is she just chasing down wild moonshiners? Then a surprise contestant for Sheriff appears on the horizon making Crane have to think about whether she really wants the job as Sheriff or whether she wants back out on the streets working cases full-time.
  
  Busy Bees is a fitting title as everyone is running around, but not really getting a lot done. Mel and Dana's romance never really gets off the ground. Dana does not find out what is in her future with her job, or with the outcome of the cases from Book 1. The kids are still running around the backyard looking to get into trouble. Holly, one of the deputies, has to be put on a figurative leash because she is all excited about the upcoming Sheriff's election. Other deputies have no clue what they are doing and neither do the suspects. New characters are introduced and with so much information tied to to them, you do not know whether to remember them or hope to be reminded later. I cannot really make up my mind about this book as nothing is really solved nor does anything really go anywhere - but it could be the lead in for what is coming?! Guess we will find out...on to book Three.
  
  #FridayReads #BookReview #AnneHagan #BusyBees #PhoebesRainbowWorld #TheMorelMysteries #MysteryFiction #MysteryRomance #LesbianMystery #Lesbian #PGSex #RossiCrane #3Stars #FlippingRainbows
• 
  moxieBK

  Busy Bees (The Morelville Mysteries, #2) — Anne Hagan (34 chapters) July 9-10, 2018
  
  Having read the first book in this series over a year ago (March 6, 2017,) I was interested to see how fast I could pick up the story. Honestly, I really could remember anything about it. At all. Still, this was a nice read.
  
  Be forewarned that this was written by a self-published independent writer, so there are a lot of editing errors, but looking past those, this was a very good plot with well-fleshed out characters.
  
  I’m not sure where exactly this picks up from the last book, but probably shortly after Dana’s accident. I don’t remember how that happened, or how the women met and grew close, but this book centers almost entirely on Mel, until the very end.
  
  A killer is on the loose and Mel is having a heard time tracking the person down. She also is considering running for mayor after she finds out who applied at the very last moment. To complicate matters, Mel has a detective that doesn’t appear to be working very hard, but is keeping clippings about Mel in a folder. Near the end, an issue with Dana makes things complicated when Mel is close to apprehending the criminals.
  
  There is romance in this story but there is no explicit sex. This makes for good reading for all ages. Any persuasion can read this nice little mystery. Which I enjoyed very much.
  
  Three stars.