Andy's back, and I couldn't be more thrilled!

Evander "Andy" Mills. There's just something his character evokes in me. I feel for him, the difficulties he faces being queer in 1950s San Francisco; in many ways, he's quite the sad sack. He carries a lot of shame and fear, and some, deservedly so. Still, despite his proclivities towards angst, he wants to help people, either those like him who have to hide their sexuality, or anyone, really - anything to feel better about himself. The book opens as brilliantly as Lavender House did, Mr. Rosen truly knows how to draw the reader in. Andy is finding his way to the bar in The Ruby, with a bucket full of red water swinging in his hand. While we find out later what's in the bucket, the first pages are full of tension - what happened? is Andy okay? To me, he's the kind of character you root for, you fear for, you don't want any trouble for. AND, he's a detective! (Not that being one makes it any easier - even the queers don't trust the cops.) I love a good detective story. The mystery is an added bonus in this series - I love Rosen's gift of insight into people, and I appreciate his ability to open new worlds for me to consider and appreciate. But back to Andy - he's approached by an old flame who is being blackmailed - their relationship never had any closure, and in fact, Andy remains quite traumatized by its "ending", which caused him to make some big life choices. Andy takes the case, albeit reluctantly ('I’m fifty bucks a day, plus expenses.” It’s higher than I usually charge. I’m entitled to some pettiness.') I suspect he's going to learn more than he bargained for, encounter some danger and some truths along the way. I really want to take the journey with him. I'm guessing the "Bell" in the title is his former ship, the Bellweather, on which he met his old flame, James. I wonder if the Fog is how shrouded Andy feels he must keep himself?