Honey and Homicide

Chef Jessica Vasquez thought she'd seen every kind of crime Dashwood, Texas had to offer. Murder, yes. Organized crime, unfortunately. But when her roommate Shayla's boss, local beekeeper and bakery owner Honey Jacobson, discovers her entire bee operation destroyed by deliberately introduced Asian Giant Hornets, Jessica knows this is something far more sinister than simple sabotage.

Murder hornets aren't native to Texas. Someone had to acquire them illegally, learn how to handle the deadly insects safely, and execute a calculated attack designed to destroy Honey's livelihood. Or worse, if Honey had been checking her hives during the release, the aggressive hornets could have killed her.

With Shayla's job at Honey's Sweet Treats bakery on the line and eight-year-old twins Ivy and Dove now part of Jessica's household, this case hits close to home. As Jessica investigates between running The Crock Pot and caring for her chosen family, she uncovers a web of suspects with motive and means.

Honey's business partner May is drowning in debt and pushing hard for a land sale. Aggressive developer Clark Marlowe has spent over a year pressuring Honey to sell her farm. The struggling Douglas couple, whose competing bakery is failing, would benefit from eliminating Honey's business entirely. And someone has been watching the bakery, gathering information, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

When Jessica starts asking questions, the threats begin. Dark pickup trucks following her. Warnings to back off. Someone doesn't want the truth exposed, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to protect their secret.

With Officer Kyle Rafferty working the official investigation and her tech-savvy friend Cullen tracking illegal insect trafficking online, Jessica races to identify the killer before they can finish what they started. Because whoever planned this attack understands one crucial detail: sometimes the most effective way to destroy someone isn't to kill them directly. It's to take away everything they've built, everything they love, and watch them crumble.

Can Jessica expose the truth before Honey loses everything? Or will the saboteur strike again, this time targeting the people Jessica loves most?

Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries who crave:

Culinary settings with mouthwatering descriptions

Strong, determined amateur sleuths

Restaurant drama and kitchen culture

Small-town secrets and family bonds

Heart-pounding suspense with emotional depth

Honey and Homicide is the eighth book in the Alphabet Soup Mysteries series. Each book features a delicious new mystery, but the series is best enjoyed in order for character development and ongoing storylines.