Kissing the Beehive

The famous novelist Samuel Bayer is stuck in the middle of the first writer's block he has ever known. Hoping to be inspired, he returns to his hometown for the first time in years to investigate the mystery of a seemingly unsolved murder of a young woman, Pauline Ostrova, whose boyfriend was convicted of the crime and later died in prison. But the further he looks into the crime, Bayer begins to question the validity of the conviction. As he navigates his childhood memories and the eerie atmosphere of his hometown, he becomes increasingly involved in unraveling the truth behind Pauline's death. Digging deeper into the past, he encounters various characters that shape his understanding of the events surrounding the murder, ultimately leading to a reflection on the nature of truth and the impact of unresolved histories on personal identity. Praise for Kissing the Beehive: "Carroll's book is strung like a piano wire whose surprising final note only sounds on the last page. Stephen King has aptly compared Carroll to Alfred Hitchcock. This novel is sure to find a wide audience and will be in demand by Carroll's rabid fans. Recommended." — Library Journal "Carroll blends all these elements beautifully, and brings the novel to a smashing and surprising climax. If this be Carroll's attempt to enter the commercial mainstream, more power to him. With this terrifically entertaining tale, he has improved the quality of the water." — Kirkus