Queen Bee A Novel
Queen Bee A Novel by Dorothea Benton Frank invites readers into the captivating world of Sullivan’s Island, a setting familiar to fans of the author. Published by HarperCollins on May 28, 2019, this first edition spans 384 pages and is presented in English. The narrative centers on beekeeper Holly McNee Kensen, who navigates her complex family dynamics, particularly with her demanding mother, referred to as The Queen Bee. As Holly tends to her hives and works at the local library, she finds solace in the lives of her neighbors, especially a widowed father and his two young boys.
In this evocative tale, the return of Holly’s sister Leslie adds layers of tension and humor as both sisters become entangled in the drama surrounding their neighbor, Archie. The story explores themes of family life and the challenges of small-town existence, all while maintaining a lighthearted tone. As Holly grapples with her mother’s antics and her sister’s quest for validation, the narrative unfolds with a blend of warmth and wit. Queen Bee captures the essence of the Lowcountry, intertwining the magic of nature with the complexities of human relationships, making it a noteworthy addition to Frank’s body of work.
Official synopsis Publisher
“If I could only read one writer from now until the end of my life, it would be Dorothea Benton Frank.” —Elin Hildebrand, the New York Times bestselling author of Summer of ’69, The Perfect Couple, and The Identicals
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of New York Times bestselling author Dorothea 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 that 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, it roars with humanity and a dropperful of whodunit added for good measure by an unseen hand. In her twentieth 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.
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