I listened to this as an audiobook--unfortunately the narrator's Southern accent was not my favorite choice.

Amy starts selling honey from the local beekeeper on consignment (hence the honey part of the title). Though Amy does lots of baking, I don't recall any specific baking with honey mentioned in the book. The homicide part comes when Amy finds the local beekeeper in the cafe parking lot--dead.

I like the relationship between Amy and Ryan (local police deputy). I also like the friendship between Amy and Jackie.

Partway through the book, I had a fleeting thought that the author might throw us a curveball and make Homer the killer. I don't know why I thought that--perhaps just because it's usually the person I suspect least who ends up being the killer in these. (Thankfully, Home was not the killer, so hopefully we will get to hear about his daily heroes for many books to come!) ( )

Things are buzzing at the Down South Cafe, especially after a homicide victim is found in the parking lot with his throat slit. Amy is more than a little curious, and her inquiries are likely to get her into more than a little trouble. The third in this delightful series, this cozy has it all: an intriguing mystery, likable returning characters, (including the eccentric Aunt Bess and the charming Homer), and a dashing and handsome cop who is always ready to hold hands with Amy or slap handcuffs on the bad guys. Entertaining and exciting, this cozy is a sweet read. ( )

Honey-Baked Homicide is the third book in the A Down South Cafe Mystery series.

It’s always a joy to stop by the Down South Cafe and check in with Amy Flower, her waitresses, and her loyal customers.

Amy has agreed to display beekeeper, Stu Landon’s delicious honey on consignment. It is an immediate hit and a couple days later heads out to his farm to replenish the stock. Landon is one who keeps to himself but does share with Amy that his neighbor has been spraying pesticides during the day and is sure that is why his bees are dying off and says that he will have to confront his neighbor, Chad Thomas. The next morning as Amy is arriving to open the cafe she see Landon’s pickup truck in her parking lot. When she goes to help him she finds he is past help, he is dead.

Amy wants to know who killed him, why and why he was left in her parking lot. It soon comes to light that he was the “whistleblower” at the pesticide company he was working for and had moved to Winter Garden to start a new life. Amy soon learns that a gentleman, Walter Jackson, who had asked Amy where Landon lived was the man Landon had blown the whistle on. Talking with Jackson later, Amy wants to believe his story that he just wants to make amends with Landon. She also needs to learn more about Chad Thomas, who is known to be a bit of a hothead and also wanted to buy Landon’s farm. She wonders how far he would go to buy the farm. When his children come to make funeral arrangements and having conversed with them, she wonders if his estrangement from them could lead them to take his life.

With the help of her cousin Jackie and her boyfriend, Deputy Ryan Hall and the internet, she sets off to uncover the murderer.

This series has a wonderful cast of characters and the story is well-plotted and told at an even pace. Amy’s Aunt Bessie and Dolly didn’t play a big role but did make appearances. My favorite character, Homer Pickens stops in every for his sausage biscuit and mention his hero of the day and provide a few quotes from the hero.

Delicious recipes are also included with the book.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. ( )