On Bee's Bookshelf

The world knows her as the girl in Cell A. Convicted of murder at seventeen, infamous killer and true crime celebrity Orianna Negi has always maintained her innocence.  But if she didn't kill Gideon, then who did? Orianna has a blind spot over that fateful day: she can't remember what happened. Forensic psychologist Annie Ledet is tasked with unlocking the truth. Review:  A small town conspiracy with world shattering consequences that will make you feel like one of the suspects yourself, meet the girl in cell A. This atmospheric, beautifully written story holds a layered, complex mystery full of betrayal, corruption and murder - one that delves into the sins of powerful people and shows how far their darkness can spread. There was an almost haunted feel to Eden Falls, as though the town was a supporting character itself.  We straddle the before and after, hearing from the psychotherapist and the accused as they try to assess if Orianna is really ready for release or if sh...

Her job is to die for. Literally.  Most people think that when they meet Death, it’ll be a skeleton in a black potato sack. Maybe with a scythe. Truth is, she’s just a woman doing a job, and she’s  very  good at it. But when Death takes a much-needed break to live on earth, things start to go terribly wrong.  Someone’s killing people not on her list (well, not yet anyway) and it's down to her to find the culprit before it’s too late. To make matters worse, her sanctimonious sister, Life – whom Death hasn’t got on with in millennia – won’t stop blaming her . . . And then there’s the slight problem of the charming (sexy) parasitologist she’s suspicious of.  But she’ll be fine, right? Who better to solve a murder than Death herself? "Have you ever felt like, despite your best efforts to be considerate and helpful, no one appreciates you? Well assume you've felt like that for three and a half billion years." Review:  Afterlife bureaucracy as you’ve never r...

At the Edinburgh Fringe, vicious theatre critic Alex Lyons is dashing off his latest hatchet job. When Alex meets the show’s performer, Hayley, in a bar afterwards, she has no idea who he is. It’s only after they’ve spent the night together that Alex’s well-meaning flatmate, Sophie, accidentally shows Hayley the one-star review. Humiliated and furious, Hayley revamps her show into a one-star review of Alex’s entire life. Starring every bad thing he’s ever done to anyone. Sparing absolutely no details. Hayley’s show is an instant hit, setting off a cultural earthquake. With Alex’s life in ruins, Sophie has a front-row seat to the carnage. Which is how she discovers that, sometimes, the audience is the most dangerous place to be. "Looking back now, this was the first moment I knew Alex Lyons was living a marked life. Like the subject of a stock obituary lying on file, he was dead already, and he didn't know it." Review:  A fantastic, funny, fierce debut with an electrifying...

  When Kansas sweetheart Maggie Lathrop is crowned the winner of America’s most popular dating show, her life is transformed overnight. Suddenly, Maggie has it all: a gorgeous husband, an immaculate Los Angeles mansion, and an entourage of glamorous friends. Despite picture-perfect appearances, the world Maggie has created is shattered after she’s found murdered in a desolate warehouse. As her sister, Emma, attempts to uncover the truth about Maggie’s life, a deadlier side to Hollywood is revealed. Review: What a way to enter the literary world kicking and screaming. Stewart’s Debut novels offers a defiant, dark thriller with wickedly clever undertones and sharp social commentary about power, fame, the court of public opinion and influencer culture. And damn, talk about an opening line. Maggie was an intriguing character - there’s something deeply unsettling about knowing one of your main narrators is setting the stage for our death, showing us the past, behind the scenes in ‘reali...

"I didn't know it then, but these women I would one day share all my secrets with."   When Jess Pendle agrees to attend a support group to meet other women who have lived similar experiences, she doesn’t expect much. She's trying to survive the aftermath of an abusive partner and figure out to heal along with the other survivors in her support group.  And then, something happens. Something awful, and wonderful. Whether it's justice, retribution or revenge, someone out there is getting payback on the men who have been abusing and hurting these women. Jess is desperate to find out who their murderous guardian angel is, preferable before the police do. Review:  I came for the title, I stayed for the revenge fantasy, retribution and morally questionable characters. Our main narrator, Jess, has watched cycles of domestic abuse happen and is determined to break it. Then she finds herself like a frog boiling in a pot, repeating the story— finding herself being abused, hu...

Julie Chan didn’t mean to steal her identical twin’s life. She meant to call the police when she found the body. She meant to dial 911.  Except when she unlocked Chloe’s phone to make that call, she also gained access to her estranged sister’s sponsorship deals, her followers, her wealth, her whole life. And Julie’s not prepared to give it back. Not yet. So it's goodbye Julie, love Chloe x Now all Julie has to do is keep her head down and blend in with the beautiful Belladonnas, the tribe of influencers who had welcomed Chloe in to their inner circle before she died.  Julie's going to breathe, detox, workout. Curate each post. Filter each picture. Spend whole days filming unboxing videos.  But someone out there knows that even identical twins have their differences... Review:  A sharp cocktail of danger, power and excitement, Julie Chan is Dead is a compulsive journey into the dizzying, addictive allure of fame, power and status. Before she “dies” Julie Chan is stres...