Queen Bee

A Novel

By: Dorothea Benton Frank

Narrated by: Shannon McManus

“If I could only read one writer from now until the end of my life, it would be Dorothea Benton Frank." (Elin Hilderbrand, the New York Times best-selling author)

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of New York Times best-selling author Dorthea Benton Frank’s Carolina Lowcountry in this evocative tale that returns at long last to her beloved Sullivan’s Island.

Beekeeper Holly McNee Kensen quietly lives in a world of her own on Sullivan’s Island, tending her hives and working at the local island library. Holly calls her mother "The Queen Bee" because she’s a demanding hulk of a woman. Her mother, a devoted hypochondriac, might be unaware she’s quite ill, but that doesn’t stop her from tormenting Holly. To escape the drama, Holly’s sister, Leslie, married and moved away, wanting little to do with island life. Holly’s escape is to submerge herself in the lives of the two young boys next door and their widowed father, Archie.

Her world is upended when the more flamboyant Leslie returns and both sisters, polar opposites, fixate on what’s happening in their neighbor’s home. Is Archie really in love with that awful ice queen of a woman? If Archie marries her, what will become of his little boys? Restless Leslie is desperate for validation after her imploded marriage, squandering her favors on any and all takers. Their mother ups her game in an uproarious and theatrical downward spiral. Scandalized Holly is talking to her honey bees a mile a minute, as though they’ll give her a solution to all the chaos. Maybe they will.

Queen Bee is a classic Lowcountry Tale, warm, wise, and hilarious, roaring with humanity and a dropperful of whodunit added for good measure by an unseen hand. In her 20th novel, Dorothea Benton Frank brings us back to her beloved island with an unforgettable story where the Lowcountry magic of the natural world collides with the beat of the human heart.

©2019 Dorothea Benton Frank (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

low country

Loved this book, made you fell as tho you were there! Would recommend reading you will enjoy!!!!

What I’d call non-threatening easy listening

This is the first book I have read/listened to by this author. She is far from vapid, but also far from revolutionary. It’s an interesting paradigm, the south, because there are things that many other places in this country don’t consider to be terribly controversial that count as edgy when placed in a southern milieu. And I guess that’s what makes them entertaining, and this book is entertaining, no mistake about that. The characters are a little predictable, and sometimes you just want to slap one or the other of them, but it’s perfectly fine escape entertainment. The one place it rises above is in the connection with beekeeping. Informative, entertaining, and verging on insightful. Overall, quite enjoyable, if not terribly compelling.

Great summer read!

I loved this book. Such an easy listen. I finished this in 5 days. Would highly recommend.

Loved The Book!

Always a DBF fan but this was different. I love the characters, their development and interactions. It was funny and heart warming. Hope there is a sequel.

Feel good

So nice to have a book that’s light and fun And a page turner. The voices are great too!

Unlikable protagonists

I didn't like the protagonists. She hammered about how fat her mom was (which was gross). They were rude and close minded about someone struggling with their gender identity (which was gross). The main character was weak and whiney and jealous. There was some redemption story arc but overall they weren't likable people. They were gloating and crowing about someone's death cause they didn't like her.

love, love, love

I really needed this lovely story and all the laughs! After the recent events, this was just "the ticket" to start the Summer!!!

loved it!

I had a few moments of doubt about it, but kept listening and loved it overall.

Fun read.

I love this author and totally enjoyed listening to Queen Bee. The storyline was entertaining and the narrator seemed to sound as I imagined that the character would sound.

slow to capture your attention

The beginning of the story was slow to capture. but once the bees started you knew it was going somewhere.