Kiss of the Bees

By: J. A. Jance

Narrated by: Gene Engene

Length: 16 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

When Diana Ladd's daughter is kidnapped, all evidence points to a diabolical killer imprisoned years ago for terrorizing the Ladd family. A sequel to Hour of the Hunter.

©1999 Books in Motion (P)1999 Books in Motion

Critic reviews

"Gene Engene uses vocal intonations and accents to distinguish each character in a nearly flawless performance of this complex and suspenseful tale of murder, revenge and just a hint of the supernatural." ( AudioFile)

A learning experience and entertaining

I enjoy this narrator as much as the story itself. I could relate so thoroughly to this story. My favorite aunt was an adopted Native American. The way the story was woven with the present and history of I'itoi and Mualig Siakam was masterfully done.

Different from usual Jance

Would you try another book from J. A. Jance and/or Gene Engene?

We have listened to several Jance series - and liked every book in each series. We also like Engene - he does a great job.

Would you ever listen to anything by J. A. Jance again?

Yes, the Walker series isn't our favorite. We love Beaumont, Brady and Reynolds series.

What about Gene Engene’s performance did you like?

He has a good voice and a great pace.

Did Kiss of the Bees inspire you to do anything?

1st reaction - Delete the book.

Any additional comments?

We just aren't used to such graphic violence from Jance. The jumping from Indian lore to current story is a bit distracting to us.

Truly Amazing Story

I love every book and every character from J.A. Jance. Listening to the audio form was even better than the original reading.

Walker Family #2 - Indian legends and mysticism

Loved it! The supporting frame of story contains alot of Indian lore, legends and mysticism

Loved it!!!!!

I found the first two books of this series very interesting. The characters are all well developed and after a while you feel you know them personally. I cannot agree with the previous reviewer. I would recommend this series to anyone. It is just as good as her Joanna Brady series but with a different type of story line. The characters are unforgetable and I hated to see each book end. I will be listening to book 3 in the series and hope it is just as well written. The reader was excellent.

Another great JA Jance book!

Gene Engene is wonderful with his portrayal of so many different characters, His pronunciation of the Native American language is really phenomenal. JA Jance has written another Wow book. She can keep her readers interested entertained and waiting to come back to read more. The combination of her writings and Gene’s narratives makes a riveting combination. I can’t imagine the research that has occurred in the writings of the Walker series.

Great listen

Loved this sequel, totally engrossing. I look forward to reading the rest of the Walker Family series by J.A. Jance

messy and dark but not gruesome

When scanning the ratings for this book I saw a lot of two stars, and I am not really certain why. I really like what Jance does in her books. You cannot read any of them without being transported to Arizona. She creates heat that you can see radiating off the pavement, dust in the wind that you can taste. Her descriptions of place -- the landscape, history and culture -- is so vivid and real that you can't help but believe that you have been there with her.

Kiss of the Bees is the second in the Walker Family series. These books are a bit gritter than the Joana Brady series. Messier. Darker. But still not gruesome or too scary. Her stories are less roller-coaster thriller and more real. The story in this one occurs 20 years after the time described in the first book, Hour of the Hunter. That part disappointed me. I would have liked more time with the young family in those interim years. Once again each chapter is introduced with Papago mythology and folklore. I love this as it solidifies the Arizona world in which the story takes place. I hope this continues in book three.

Complex!

I am a real fan of J. J. Jance and have read or are reading my way through all her 4 series. My favorite series is the Ali Reynolds series, and I’m sorry to say my least favorite is the Walker series. There is so much brutality to the villains in each of this series. Although, to balance that out, the books use the merging of the Indian legends to show corresponding positive and eternal aspects of nature.

Kiss of the Bees

I loved this story. I enjoyed the Indian heritage and stories of how animal and human life come together. The mystery was a combination of suspense and Indian lore