Stein, Stung: A Harry Stein Soft-Boiled Murder Mystery

Sly humor abounds in Ackerman’s second mystery featuring aging L.A. hippie Harry Stein (after 2010’s Stein, Stoned). Harry’s imperious sometime employer, Millicent Pope-Lassiter, wants Harry to look into the disappearance of some bee boxes and their inhabitants that belonged to an old hippie, Karma Moonblossom, living in the hills outside Ojai, even though Harry is deathly allergic to bee stings. Meanwhile, Harry’s 16-year-old daughter, Angie, and her friend, Matthew, have begun to pull body parts from the tar pit emerging in Harry’s girlfriend’s Beverly Hills pool—but are these human or mammoth remains? Harry’s missing-bees case evolves into something much more deadly than he expects, and the discoveries in the tar pit lead to a 75th wedding anniversary party that just happens to be connected to those bees. Mystery purists will notice some important plot holes. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Agency. (Mar.)