The Keeper of Bees

Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords, Book 5

By: Gregory Ashe

Narrated by: Tristan James

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Emery Hazard has pretty much everything under control. He and his fiancé, John-Henry Somerset, are more in love than ever, despite the stress of wedding preparations hanging over them. His business as a private investigator is growing. He’s even enjoying time with his growing circle of friends. The only major problem on the horizon is whether or not he and Somers will be dancing at the wedding reception.

When Mitchell Martin shows up in his office, though, everything changes. The year before, Mitchell was abducted and tortured by a sadistic killer known only as the Keeper of Bees. Now Mitchell is convinced that the Keeper has come back, and he wants to hire Hazard to protect him.

While Hazard works to keep Mitchell safe, Somers must adjust to changes at work. A spate of new hires has disrupted the Wahredua Police Department, and Somers finds himself locked in a struggle to determine how the department will grow and evolve, with long-term consequences that will affect the town for years to come.

Then a woman is found murdered, and she has been staged and posed in a way that is eerily similar to the Keeper of Bee’s former victims. As Hazard and Somers race to prevent more deaths, Hazard fears they are already too late; the Keeper of Bees has been ahead of them the whole time.

©2020 Gregory Ashe (P)2020 Gregory Ashe

Perfect

There is nothing about this book, this series, the writing, characters and narration that isn’t perfect. Hazard and Somerset will be sorely missed.

WHAAAAAT

Ugh I loved this edge of my seat ride. Seriously. Saw level crazy. I did not see that coming, and GA just looooves to keep you guessing.

The End of This Adventure

The relationship consolidated, Hazard and Somers move to build themselves a community of friends, while planning their wedding. But Hazard’s Nemesis, the Keeper of Bees, is back and with him, trouble. A closer look is needed at everybody in the small familiar circle, because it becomes obvious quickly that the enemy is posing as friend.
In the background the reader finds the details that make an Ashe book a rewarding read: Midwest American small town, the challenges brought by a change in leadership, what it means to be on the run, and finally finding a good therapist. As all books in the series, the reader has ahead of him/her a world of adventure. And quirks. Enjoy.
A word must be said about the narrator’s splendid interpretation.

Great conclusion!

There is so much I want to talk about because this is the last book of this series. Over the first Hazard and Somerset series and this second series, Union of Swords, there has been much turmoil between these characters. Their past was rocky with Somerset playing the part of high school bully to Hazard. When Hazard came back to town many years later, he partners with Somerset, Somers for short, on the police force. The two experience many things together on the force, corrupt politicians and sheriffs, a politically divided environment, family issues, troublesome exes, and a growing attraction to each other.

In the Union of Swords series, their coupling is official, but it is far from an easy road for them. Hazard leaves the force after a traumatic incident and to avoid the eventual ending of their partnership at work because of their relationship. His new, idler life is hard for him and Somers’ isn’t always the most sensitive to his feelings. And then there is Hazard’s PTSD that causes him to lash out. Their relationship has been a rollercoaster throughout this series. Even in the previous book, I was still thinking there was a chance that they weren’t strong enough to get through this series and the lurking threat of a serial killer and remain a couple. However, the work that they have put into fixing things seems to have paid off in this book. Yes, they still snipe at each other at times, but they have both become self-aware enough to stop their anger in their tracks and confront their real problems.

I love the romance between the two characters and am captivated by their ups and downs, but I am definitely interested in the mysteries that they solve in the books as well. Sometimes it is together, when Hazard agreed to consult for the police. Often they are working apart, Somers on the force, and Hazard as a private investigator. There are smaller mysteries in each book, but their is a mystery that arcs throughout the series, and it comes to a head in this book. It is clear to see just by the title of the book. The Keeper of Bees killed two gay men in the first book and has since taunted Hazard in small ways.

This mystery had me making so many guesses throughout the series. When a friend of Hazard and Somers’ is killed it looks likely to be someone they know well. And I had my suspicions. Could it be Hazard’s jealous ex? Was it the pastor that had a rocky relationship with Hazard? Somers’ new partner who has acted extremely suspicious to me throughout the series? And I even considered it might be the guy who first hired Hazard as a P.I. and also was a victim of the serial killer who managed to get away. There were arrows pointing to all of them, and I have to give the author credit for really fooling me in this book into thinking it was one of my guesses when it was a different one. Who? I can’t tell you, of course. But it is definitely worth the reveal. Even though, Hazard would have liked to kill the Killer of Bees for all the torture he had put him and his victims through, justice is seen in a completely legal way, which is very good for Hazard’s somewhat murky reputation with the town and the police.

With the killer caught, and the relationship between Hazard and Somerset seeming to be on real solid ground, I was thinking that things were pretty finished but hoped that there might be a future book that sees the engaged pair married. But the author managed to round things out for them completely (which I loved) meaning that there might not be a future book to revisit this couple, (which made me sad). I won’t give up hope that there might be a visit from them in another series, because I really love these complex and imperfect characters who truly love each other.

I’m not sure it can be said enough, how much I recommend these books, especially the audiobooks. I happened to listen to the whole series and I loved them. Tristan James does a fantastic job narrating them. So if you haven’t read or listened to any of these books yet, I recommend reading them in order including the first series. They will be among my repeat listens.

Just about everything I could ask for in a finale

I'm hesitant to give five-star reviews, because almost any book could be better. But this book gave me pretty much exactly what I wanted to wrap up this series. I don't want to spoil any plot points, so I'll just say I was on the edge of my seat much of the time, and the resolution was satisfying and made me want to go back and listen again from the beginning. Highly recommended.

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy.

Loved the Series !

Such a good Series, loved Tristan, such a bang up narration he did! Read/Listen!

So happy to get here

You know, it's crazy but 11 books and quite a few novellas later and I'm still not ready to let Hazard and Somers go. But at least I can be happy with where they are now, with each other. I honestly can't think of any other book people that put me through the kind of suffering that these guys did through this series but I also have loved very few like I do these two. They're absolutely maddening, hilarious, snarky and sarcastic, damn brilliant, fiercely loyal, brave and sometimes, very, very sweet. ❤️

And I did tell myself I was not going to be all gushy fangirl here. Ooops?

The Keeper of Bees is active again, and this time he makes it his business to go after both Emery and John in a way that makes it clear it's personal. Complicating this is the obnoxious new chief of police 🤬, all the little thugs he hires to help "clean up the police force" and the FBI agent who seems convinced that the Keeper is a lot closer at hand than is comfortable. What makes everything worse is that the evidence is pointing to the Keeper being one of John & Ree's friends. John is unwilling to believe it's one of those closest to them and Emery is shut out of the investigation due to the changes at the station. Then their friends *and Ree's suspects* start disappearing.

Despite all the bad things happening here, the best thing is where Emery and John have come to in their relationship. They have grown so much. They argue, they make up, they talk to each other when things are wrong. *though Hazard still has to work at it, bless him* And they always support each other, always believe in the other, always love each other. After all they have been through, it feels incredibly sweet to see them finally at this point. 😍

And the ending? *swoon* Let me tell you, as a reader, as someone who loves Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset more than is reasonable, I completely EARNED that ending! And it was almost enough to make me forgive Ashe for all the pain and suffering he made us all endure to get there. I cried, I swooned my ass off, and then I cried some more and it was beautiful. *sigh* And then I laughed, because Emery Hazard cannot help being Emery, and John will forever be perplexed. I love them so damn much! 🥰🥰

Also worth mentioning, thank you Lord, is that Ree finally saw a therapist. Refusing to face that PTSD almost cost him everything.

As always, Ashe's writing and plot were outstanding. From the minute you start reading/listening, you are pulled into the story. That's one of the things that makes his books so addictive, you don't just read them, you live them. There were moments here that my heart was literally in my throat, no lie. It goes without saying that as long as Gregory Ashe will write, I'll be reading it. I'll undoubtedly continue to berate him for making me cry, dammit. Though this time the tears were the best kind!

As a note for the audiobook, I have to admit, Tristan James had to grow on me for this series. Over the course of these books, as a narrator, I would forget that he was reading and it was just me with Hazard and Somers, which is the nicest thing I can say about any narrator. But as I was listening to the end of this, I realized I'm actually going to miss his delivery on John and Emery, because he had their personalities down perfectly, particularly Ree's dry, sarcastic snark.

Thank you Ashe, for these wonderful, lovely guys! I'll treasure them always. ❤

Disclaimer: A copy of the Audio book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome

What a wonderful conclusion! It was very satisfying and a darn good mystery. Loved it!

OMG the Finale!

Couldn't get through this series fast enough! LOVE IT. Kept me up thru the night~!

Mind Games

So much more 🤗 than I ANTICIPATED!!!! Wow, I can't even tell you how many times I went back and forth between characters 🤨 trying to figure out who the keeper was! Exhausting, but oh so worth it. Sorry I just finished this book and I am lost for words with how much I enjoyed it!! 🥰👏🏻