At a remote mountain temple, an inquisitor arrives to question a priestess about a pair of murders. The keeper of the sacred garden, its bees, and its ever-changing hedge maze does have her secrets. But what will protecting them cost her as she uncovers layers of conspiracy on both sides?
Heather Fawcett’s A Labyrinth of Honeybees is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.
Kindle Edition, 44 pages
Published July 28, 2026
by Amazon Original Stories
3.5/5 stars
Book 4 in the Magic & Mystery series brings me to an author I already enjoy. I've just recently reviewed Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, so I was curious to see what she'd do with a story this short, I'm happy to say she didn't disappoint.
Coming in at 44 pages this story takes place in a temple high in the mountains. A pair of deaths brings an inquisitor knocking. The priestess he's come to question tends a garden full of bees and a maze that seems to have a mind of its own, it quickly becomes clear she's protecting more than just her hives.
What I love about Fawcett is how naturally she builds a world. Just like in Emily Wilde, the setting feels old and a little bit enchanted, she draws on myth and folklore in a way that makes it all feel believable. Even in just 44 pages, the temple, the garden and that shifting maze came to life. The bees added a wonderful touch I haven't come across before.
The mystery itself has a few turns I didn't see coming, and I appreciated that the story was as much about loyalty and the price of keeping secrets as it was about solving a crime.
So far this is my favourite of the collection, a great introduction to Fawcett's writing if you haven't tried her yet.
This book was part of Amazon Prime Reads in exchange for a honest review
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