All the Bees in the Hollows

This murder mystery of a novel does not follow the usual rules of the genre. The stage is set in the 16th century and follows two women set upon proving themselves for varied reasons. Maryte, a bereaved widow, is a beekeeper and follows the traditional means of sourcing honey, meaning she adheres to the rules of nature. As her husband died recently, she must prove to the authorities that she can keep the business alive. Her eldest daughter, Austeja, has little interest in the old ways; she dreams of escaping the ancient ways and, as we all do, of making her own mark on the world. However, their world changes when they find the body of the Hollow Watcher in one of their trees. Everything they know and dream of is instantly under threat.

In approaching this novel as a folklore of sorts, Lauren Keegan’s writing reminds me of the experience of reading Hannah Kent’s Devotion. There is a mystical element to the story that anyone who has read a Grimms’ fairytale will understand. The relationship between the mother and daughter is as angst-ridden as possible, but their understanding and compassion for the forest and its creatures brings them together. The bees, it seems, know the answer. (Don’t they always?)

Lauren Keegan’s debut novel is beautifully constructed and within the opening lines you will be transported back in time to a place where the rules of living are clear yet brutal, where religious mania dominates and where women’s lives are always under threat. This is a perfect read for those who need to escape completely into another time of fantastical beliefs, and yet also be comforted by the rule of nature. And who would also quite fancy solving a murder.