The Honeybee Emeralds

January 17, 2022
Tector imagines a necklace with connections to two notable women in her nuanced if contrived debut. After Alice, a young Iranian British woman interning in Paris at a floundering expat magazine, discovers a stunning necklace in the office’s basement, American editor Lily sees a chance to save the magazine with a splashy cover story. Lily recruits a motley group to research the jewelry’s history, among them Luc Seguin, who inherited the magazine from his mother; wunderkind writer Jacob, Lily’s college friend; Lily’s best friend, Daphne, director of the International Art Registry; and next-door neighbor Alexander, a laconic Icelandic perfumer. They find ties to Louis Napoleon III’s mistress and American singer Josephine Baker. The team takes to calling themselves the “Fellowship of the Necklace,” and after they learn the editor of their swankier rival magazine is onto the story, they rush to put the pieces together. Conveniently, they tend to find more clues at just the right time. Though the intrigue feels manufactured, Tector adds some texture by delving into personal issues among the “Fellowship,” including Alice’s lack of confidence, Daphne’s faltering marriage, and Lily’s unresolved feelings for Jacob. There’s also a surprisingly tender portrayal of the magazine’s stern business manager, who endures a life of quiet disappointment. The story doesn’t impress, but the author does a great job developing her characters.

June 1, 2022

Tector's enchanting debut transports listeners to glittering Paris, where the discovery of a magnificent diamond-and-emerald necklace reveals long-buried secrets and sets off an epic adventure through France's iconic past. Iranian British Alice Ahmadi, an intern at the struggling expat magazine Bonjour Paris, uncovers the necklace in the magazine's basement storeroom. Hoping that a high-profile article about the necklace's provenance could save the magazine, editor Lily enlists the support of art expert Daphne, magazine owner, Luc, fellow writer Jacob, and next-door neighbor Alexander. Narrator Lameece Issaq ably brings out the excitement as this group, affectionately dubbed the "Fellowship of the Necklace," makes one amazing discovery after another, connecting the necklace to Louis Napol�on III's mistress, American singer Josephine Baker, and even the dancer and spy, Mata Hari. In the process of their investigation, the group learns as much about themselves as they do the necklace. Issaq's skillful characterizations and accent work round out this audio, imbuing each character with depth and breadth. VERDICT While the story's plotline occasionally strains credulity, this charming listen will have wide appeal. Recommend for fans of Phaedra Patrick and Nina George, or any listener who appreciates character-driven relationship fiction.--Sarah Hashimoto

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