Miranda is queen bee in her village. A newcomer herself, but she has fitted in quickly with the other women in the community, in particular with her best friend Evie. But Miranda is keeping secrets and a new arrival makes her feel threatened…
Queen Bee is a psychological suspense and domestic thriller set in an English village.
Miranda is quick to jealousy and suspicion and it is clear that her past makes her feel vulnerable. Her behaviour is a little extreme but this is tempered by the obvious insecurities due to her history. She is not a particularly easy character to like but readers will understand her fears. There are hints and clues about things that have happened connected with social media but the truth is not revealed until later in the book.
New arrival Verity acts suspiciously and the two women have very awkward exchanges. Both women are desperate to belong but find their position in the village is threatened by the other. Evie finds herself stuck in the middle but is also keeping things hidden… Friendships and the juxtaposition of real life versus the image we project are key themes for the book.
The majority of the book is written in the present day but this is interspersed with police interviews with a variety of characters (which creates suspense as we await what has led to the police involvement) as well as a plotline of a little girl in a difficult family situation. This creates tension and anticipation of the big reveal about the truth.
Queen Bee is full of suspense and twists, and is an enjoyable book overall.
Queen Bee book blurb
In the quiet village of Helesbury, Miranda Wallace prides herself on being the most popular member of her small social circle; the perfect friend, the best mum – the queen bee.
Until one day, Verity arrives. Cool and indifferent, Verity is everything Miranda isn’t, but she threatens to shatter Miranda’s picture-perfect life.
Suddenly plagued with insecurities, Miranda is certain Verity is hiding something. And Miranda knows all about secrets and the damage they can cause, because she’s hiding some of her own.
So when Verity threatens to reveal the truth about Miranda and destroy the perfect life she’s built, Miranda knows she has to act to protect the people she loves – even if the results are deadly.
Nina Manning studied psychology and was a restaurant-owner and private chef (including to members of the royal family). She is the founder and co-host of Sniffing The Pages, a book review podcast. Her debut psychological thriller, The Daughter in Law, was a bestseller in the UK, US, Australia and Canada. She lives in Dorset.
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