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38 Phonebox Magazine | September 2025It begins with Olivia%u2019s story and beekeeping, which had been in her family for generations. We learn of her marriage and the birth of her only son Asher, but then fast-forward to the time when the two of them are living alone on the farm which had belonged to her family, Olivia divorced from the abusive husband.The next chapter is Lily%u2019s story, the teenager who has fallen in love with Asher. She and her mother have also moved away from their former life and husband. Lily has a passion for music, for fencing %u2013 and for Asher. However, the scars on her wrist indicate something complex and difficult. Lily has a past and everything is not what it seems.That past comes to light during the trial, for the rest of the book centres around the fact that Lily is dead and Asher is accused of her murder. Told from the viewpoints of Olivia and Reviewed by Thelma ShackladyMad Honey by Jodi Picoult - Jennifer Finney BoylanCo-authored, it might be thought that this book might refl ect diff ering styles and be less cohesive, but that is not the case. It is impossible to see where one writer begins and the other continues. It reads as smoothly and compulsively as all Picoult%u2019s well-known novels.Lily, and moving back and forth in time, the complex story gradually develops and the details about the two families are revealed. Always in the background are the bees and, as in some of her other novels, Picoult feeds her reader with details about nature, in this case, bees.The character I found most interesting is Jordan, Olivia%u2019s older brother, a defence lawyer whom she calls on to act for Asher. His sound common sense, objective approach and thought-provoking comments make him the perfect foil to the rather emotional attitude of those involved in Asher%u2019s trial. He is depicted as the one to be trusted to support and encourage %u2013 and to win.It is in one of the fi nal chapters of the book that the reader is told about %u2018mad honey%u2019. Apparently it comes from bees which forage on BookshopTel: 01234 714592 | Stanley Court, OlneyBOOK REVIEWrhododendrons and mountain laurel and is full of poisonous grayanotoxins. Its secret weapon is that you expect it to be sweet, not deadly. This is a metaphor for Olivia%u2019s experience with her former husband and for Lily%u2019s with her father. It also suggests that appearance can be false, reality can be dangerous.Thelma ShackladyClub of the Month: Sherington Historical SocietyGroup tracing their own past is celebrating 25 years this month %u2013 and you%u2019re welcome to fi nd out more.For a group whose interest is looking back in time, they have a bit of history of their own now.The Sherington Historical Society was established in February 2000, w h e n a l o o s e collective of %u2018locals and lodgers%u2019 set out to record and document the history of the village, along with the living heritage from the village elders.The early years involved a lot of effort gathering the materials, transcribing and archiving. Today, one archive room has been set aside and is stuff ed with donations of photos and artefacts, as well as detailed fi les on a number of topics studied by the members, including WW1, WW2, art, crafts, personal memories and mapsA website was built early on, and this has grown to over 700 published web pages covering a huge trove of village history, heritage and lore. Recent additions include the 1921 Census, a record of the cremation plaques in the graveyard, and the life of Doctor Cheyne.%u00a0%u201cOver the years the society has held village Open Days (on historical themes), run scarecrow competitions and photographic contests, organised pamphlets for%u00a0 Guided Village Walks, and published notelets and cards with local scenes and a number of small books of village lore,%u201d said Stephen Kennedy, SHS treasurer.%u00a0%u201cOur next public event is from 12th to 21st September as part of Heritage Week. There will be a display in St Lauds Church. Society Members will attend on the 14th and 20th from 11am to 4pm, and refreshments will be available. Everyone is welcome.%u201dSherington Historical Society holds monthly activities on every third Tuesday of the month, and they are a mix of public talks and members%u2019 social events. These are advertised in the SCAN village magazine, on the society%u2019s Facebook page, the Sherington Noticeboard Facebook page and posted around the village.More details about the society here: www.mkheritage.org.uk/sherington.