Amy Tector

Diamonds and emeralds; courtesans and spies; baguette and brie - plunge into the romantic and fast-moving world of The Honeybee Emeralds. Aspirational and adventurous, The Honeybee Emeralds is set in expat Paris, a place of tiresome traffic, tucked-away cafes, exclusive boutiques and delicious desserts. Iranian refugee Alice Ahmadi grew up in Northern England, never certain of where she belonged. Interning at a struggling expat magazine, Bonjour Paris, she discovers a priceless diamond and emerald necklace with a golden honeybee pendant. Alice shares the discovery with the magazine's American editor, Lily Wilkins, who sees it as a lifeline to save the magazine: they will put the necklace, and its history, on next month's cover. Lily's best friend and fellow American, Daphne Smythe-Baird joins them in their quest. Forming the "Fellowship of the Necklace'' with a trio of unlikely men, the women dive into research. From the stunning and historic Richelieu Library, to a creepy disused theatre in a bad part of town; from high-end jewellers near Place Vendome to the idyllic home of a Loire Valley winemaker; the Fellowship encounters fascinating characters in their search for the truth. At the edges of all this excitement, Élise Boucher, Bonjour Paris's cranky long-time office manager, worries about her future. Through diaries, letters and reminiscences, the romantic story of the necklace is unravelled. Commissioned by the lusty Napoléon III for his favourite mistress, The Honeybee Emeralds was next owned by ill-fated First World War spy, Mata Hari. During the Roaring Twenties the necklace found its way onto the elegant neck of Josephine Baker, the American singer, dancer and sex symbol who took Paris by a storm. As the Fellowship unravels the twists and turns of the necklace's life, one secret remains: how did it end up in a Parisian basement?

The Honeybee Emeralds

Speak for the Dead

"Honor the Dead picks up a few months after Speak for the Dead (book 2 of the Dominion Archives Mystery series). Dr. Cate Spencer has come to terms with her brother's death and is seeking a fresh start in the bucolic Eastern Townships of Quebec while awaiting a decision on her future. Cate is using the time to build new relationships and find peace. When a man is shot through the eye at her neighbor's farm, Cate investigates. Her inquiries uncover the lies, drugs, and violence hidden beneath the picturesque town, exposing long buried secrets and rocking the tenuous peace Cate has built for herself"--

Honor the Dead

A 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist for Best First Novel “Debut novelist Tector captures European life and her characters beautifully as she interweaves the perspectives of four women seeking fulfillment and success in this satisfying adventure. Keep an eye on this author.” —Booklist Alice Ahmadi has never been certain of where she belongs. When she discovers a famed emerald necklace while interning at a struggling Parisian magazine, she is plunged into a glittering world of diamonds and emeralds, courtesans and spies, and the long-buried secrets surrounding the necklace and its glamorous former owners. When Alice realizes the mysterious Honeybee Emeralds could be her chance to save the magazine, she recruits her friends Lily and Daphne to form the “Fellowship of the Necklace.” Together, they set out to uncover the romantic history of the gems. Through diaries, letters, and investigations through the winding streets and iconic historic landmarks of Paris, the trio begins to unravel more than just the secrets of the necklace’s obsolete past. Along the way, Lily and Daphne’s relationships are challenged, tempered, and changed. Lily faces her long-standing attraction to a friend, who has achieved the writing success that eluded her. Daphne confronts her failing relationship with her husband, while also facing simmering problems in her friendship with Lily. And, at last, Alice finds her place in the world―although one mystery still remains: how did the Honeybee Emeralds go from the neck of American singer Josephine Baker during the Roaring Twenties to the basement of a Parisian magazine?

Amy Tector

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