The Hive by Gregg Olsen -> Starting June 19th, 2021

[Alaina]

Glamorous messiah or charlatan? A mask of beauty hides deadly secrets in #1 New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author Gregg Olsen’s mesmerizing novel of suspense.

In the Pacific Northwest, police officer Lindsay Jackman is investigating the murder of a young journalist found at the bottom of a ravine. Lindsay soon learns that the victim was writing an exposé. Her subject: a charismatic wellness guru who’s pulled millions into her euphoric orbit…

To hear Marnie Spellman tell it, when she was a child, a swarm of bees lifted her off the ground and toward the sunlight, illuming her spiritual connection with nature—an uncanny event on which Marnie built a cosmetics empire and became a legend, a healer, and the queen of holistic health and eternal beauty. In her inner circle is an intimate band of devotees called the Hive. They share Marnie’s secrets of success—including one cloaked in darkness for twenty years.

Determined to uncover the possibly deadly mysteries of the group, Lindsay focuses her investigation on Marnie and the former members of the Hive, who are just as determined to keep Lindsay from their secrets as they are to maintain their status.

[Trisha]

Through 16 chapters

this one is odd so far(view spoiler)[ I'm not sure what I think of the jumping around and the disjointed POV.

so the one partner killed himself (maybe)
one girl was at the bottom of a waterfall

One guy thinks it's another guy because his wife was murdered 10 years ago

The wife and. . .the girl maybe knew the cult leader? huh, it's quite a string of confusion lol (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through chapter 34

I feel like(view spoiler)[ we've gotten some foreshadowing but still not a lot of answers
I wish everyone was being more honest and up front with what they knew

and I wonder how this is all connected (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through 60 chapters

(view spoiler)[ I like the story being told from articles and new stories but I'm still not liking the 1000 POV. Ugh
so it all goes back to money. I like the references to the hive and the swarm and all that - love that someone said "those bee keepers are crazy" or something like that. It's just a reference to a cult that I've never heard, makes it unique
otherwise, I'm not digging this story much and am bored (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

I'm done
this was an interesting conclusion
(view spoiler)[ and although I never felt really interested in the story, I did like how the ending wrapped up
(even if I thought the girls would know SO MUCH BETTER than to actually talk to each other about their crimes while sitting anywhere in the police department. Patty/Trish for sure knew better!) (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "Through 16 chapters

this one is odd so far I'm not sure what I think of the jumping around and the disjointed POV.

so the one partner killed himself (maybe)
one girl was at the bottom of a water..."

This one is good but strange. Why did you question whether or not Alan Sharpe committed suicide? Did you think possibly he was murdered?

I have a feeling that the (view spoiler)[murders might be related as well and have something to do with Marnie and her followers. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "through chapter 34

I feel like we've gotten some foreshadowing but still not a lot of answers
I wish everyone was being more honest and up front with what they knew

and I wonder how this is all c..."

You're right. Lindsay is (view spoiler)[asking a lot of questions but no one seems to have any answers or isn't willing to share what they know. (hide spoiler)]

The Hive (view spoiler)[What a strange name and situation with the literal hive of bees talking to Marnie. lol A bit too odd! So why did she call the Inner Circle "the hive"? Just weird. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "through 60 chapters

I like the story being told from articles and new stories but I'm still not liking the 1000 POV. Ugh
so it all goes back to money. I like the references to the hive and the sw..."

I have to agree! Although the first 15-20 chapters I was interested, I lost interest as well. And doesn't everything almost end up being about money! lol

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "I'm done
this was an interesting conclusion
and although I never felt really interested in the story, I did like how the ending wrapped up
(even if I thought the girls would know SO MUCH BETTER th..."

Obviously since I was reading this while on vacay and in the car with several others, I finished this book prior to being able to post any comments since we got back SO LATE every night. Sorry about that!

(view spoiler)[I thought the way the girls handled Calista's death was awful. I can't stand people like Marnie who are so manipulative and can somehow control people. I thought this book had more potential than it ended up being for me. (hide spoiler)]