A comic spy novel set in Sandbach, Cheshire
Nobody's Told the Bees
A secret intelligence unit operates from a bee rescue van in Sandbach. Nobody suspects a thing. Not even the bees.
Genre Comic spy fictionSet in Sandbach and the Trent and Mersey CanalPaperback coming soon, £12.99Podcast from early 2027
Hear it first
The opening of Chapter One
Nobody's Told the Bees, read aloud, with the words on screen for anyone who likes to follow along, or is watching in a library. About 2 minutes, which is roughly one kettle.
About the book
Every nation needs spies. Most keep them in tall buildings with tinted windows. This one keeps a few of them in a van with a picture of a bee on the side, parked beside the Trent and Mersey Canal.
Desmond Comb has done things for his country that he will never be allowed to mention, which is a shame, because some of them were quite funny.
A comic spy novel about secrets, loyalty and the correct way to hold a swarm.
Where it is set. Sandbach and the Trent and Mersey Canal, Cheshire. The places are real, so you can go and stand in them. The people are made up, so please don't go looking for them.
Also by Simon Donnelly
Free on Patreon
Read the first chapter tonight
Join free on Patreon and you get the first chapters, every public podcast episode and the occasional bulletin from Cheshire. It costs nothing, takes about a minute, and is considerably less effort than finding a decent pie south of Crewe.
FreeFirst chapters, public episodes, news
PaidEvery chapter early, whole-book PDFs, member audio
Patreon looks after the sign-up and your details, so nobody here has to. Everyone is happier this way, especially the paperwork.