In Murder Stings by Kit Karson, a honeyed lie leads to death by a thousand stings, and a town full of people with motives leaves the police scrambling to differentiate victim from perpetrator. When a resident calls the police to report a body lying suspiciously still in the grass, the last thing they expect is for it to be Emily Sprague. She was seen in town a few hours before her death and seems to have been suffocated by bees. But when the coroner's report rules out the bees and more people suffer similar attacks, Anderson's townsfolk are thrown into a panic. Finally, Sheriff Elliott and his deputies decide to track down Emily's brother, Caleb Sprague, only to realize that he might be in danger too. Caleb is heading toward a wildfire in the woods alone, and he might be the only person to give the police a credible lead. Will Emily's case ever be solved?

Murder Stings by Kit Karson is the sixth entry in the highly entertaining Anderson Chronicles. It is a suspenseful crime and murder mystery with unhurried pacing. Kit Karson does a fantastic job of arousing suspicion in the reader while keeping the truth under wraps until the last moment. I particularly like the book's appearance and mobile-friendly formatting, which contributes to a smooth reading experience. The characters exhibit distinguishing traits and personalities. As a beekeeping enthusiast, I found the author's portrayal of bees educative and satisfying. The story also includes a lot of details that make it feel real. However, the plot twists gave me the highest level of satisfaction, as they explained the characters better than any backstory could. Read Kit Karson's Murder Stings if you enjoy murder mysteries with bees as a side attraction.

In Kit Karson’s Murder Stings, Emily Sprague, a honey shop owner, lives with her brother, Caleb. Emily is in her early forties, while Caleb is in his fifties. Their relationship is not idyllic. Caleb is, in fact, autistic, and Emily blames him for preventing her from finding a husband and having children. A husband and children are a real obsession for Emily. She throws herself at every man she meets because her biological clock is ticking. Her desperate search for a husband is abruptly interrupted by her death caused by hornet stings. Someone placed them on her beehive with the intention of killing her. Simultaneously, Caleb disappears into the forest as the county celebrates the Foundation Day festivities.

Murder Stings is part of The Anderson Chronicles series by Kit Karson. This is a new murder case that Sheriff Peter Elliott must investigate. Emily's corpse is actually found by the sheriff's deputy officers because Peter is committed to putting out a violent fire in the mountains. The subsequent intervention of the sheriff leads, then, to an investigation of private lives and further obsessions that intersect with his own private story: his parents were murdered when he was a child. The narrative technique makes this mystery crime enjoyable as a standalone novel in the series. The emotional strain and suspense are very high and push readers to continue reading until the last page to discover who killed Emily Sprague and why. The plot is twisty and gripping, with interesting and well-depicted characters. Really a great novel to read in one sitting.

Murder Stings by Kit Karson is a murder mystery and the sixth book in The Anderson Chronicles series. As with the others, Sheriff Peter Elliott is the main protagonist, supported by his capable deputies, office staff, and Zach, his canine companion, who can track missing persons. The story begins in Anderson, Montana. A nearby forest fire threatens the town. Meanwhile, Emily Sprague, a local store owner and beekeeper, is found dead beside her beehives, the apparent victim of many stings. Was this a horrible accident? The autopsy says otherwise. The investigation takes Sheriff Elliott and his deputies from Anderson's streets deep into the burning forest. In the process, they discover who Emily Sprague really was and who she may have pushed too far. The clues point to jealousy and deception. Emily had enemies in town, each with motives that could lead to murder. The question becomes: who wanted it badly enough to act? Emily’s eccentric brother Caleb wants to help contain the forest fire by heading toward the smoke-filled area in the Moonlight Mountains. Caleb may be the most important witness to his sister’s death. The sheriff must find Caleb in a race against time to catch a clever, deadly killer.

One of the strengths in Kit Karson’s storytelling is the development of characters in Murder Stings. During the investigation, we learn more through dialogue between the deputies and suspects. Readers benefit from the long game with Sheriff Pete Elliott. Supporting characters all add to the small-town atmosphere. Karson takes us into the mind of Caleb as he ventures out on his own to join the brave firefighters. Sheriff Elliott’s mind is also occupied by the past, specifically the murder of his parents, adding another dimension to the main character. As the story unfolds, suspects are questioned tactfully, leading to the case's conclusion. As we follow the sheriff in solving the mystery of Emily Sprague’s murder, you almost feel like wanting to visit the town of Anderson and meet with some of the characters. In the process, readers also learn how bees make honey. I highly recommend Murder Stings.

It’s almost Founder’s Day Weekend in Anderson, Montana, and a mountain fire is threatening the town. One morning, the owner of the local store, Honey Haven, Emily Sprague, is found dead near her beehives. At first, her death was ruled as anaphylactic shock from bee stings; however, on further inspection, a hornet’s nest was found on top of the hive. Then two other beekeepers are also attacked by hornets at their hives, and Sheriff Peter Elliott thinks it may be connected. Meanwhile, Emily’s brother Caleb, who falls somewhere on the autism spectrum, is missing, suspected to be on his way to help fight a fire, even though he’s not a firefighter. As Peter digs deeper, he finds out that Emily wasn’t very popular around town, and anyone could have killed her. What’s really going on? Find out in Kit Karson’s Murder Stings.

Book six of the Anderson Chronicles introduces the reader to the dark side of beekeeping and honey distribution. Although I have not read any of the previous books, Kit Karson presents this story in such a way that I felt immediately caught up and was easily able to follow the events. Peter Elliott is a typical county sheriff; everyone in town respects him, and plenty of people are willing to help. What I most enjoyed about this novel is that the reader is kept in the dark as much as Peter is, and only discovers what’s going on when he does. The shock reveal will leave plenty of readers gasping. Lovers of small-town mysteries with plenty of secrets, and starring a relatable sheriff who knows how to navigate his way, will especially enjoy Murder Stings.