The Bell in the Fog is the second book in a mystery series staring Andy Mills,a gay ex-cop in 1950s San Francisco who is trying to establish himself as a private detective. However, it’s hard to get other queer people to accept him after his life as a police officer. So when Andy gets a big blackmail case from a person he thought was out of his life forever, he has to take it on despite his misgivings. As the case spirals into something more than blackmail, Andy will have to decide how he can keep going and if he can solve the case at all.
I enjoyed this sequel just as much as the first in the series, which is a hard thing to accomplish! Andy is looking for redemption in this arch, but finds that forgiving himself and letting go of the past may be harder than convincing everyone else he’s trustworthy and one of them. I liked the in-depth character analysis and how it built out Andy as a person, especially in relation to his past life and his current potential love life. I appreciated that most of the main characters act like adults and eventually confront hard truths. It’s good to see resolutions handled in a healthy manner and show an understanding that it’s okay to settle the past without forgetting it. And it’s okay to not be as close to former friends.
For anyone how like a character driven mystery with a touch of history, this one’s for you!
I enjoyed this sequel just as much as the first in the series, which is a hard thing to accomplish! Andy is looking for redemption in this arch, but finds that forgiving himself and letting go of the past may be harder than convincing everyone else he’s trustworthy and one of them. I liked the in-depth character analysis and how it built out Andy as a person, especially in relation to his past life and his current potential love life. I appreciated that most of the main characters act like adults and eventually confront hard truths. It’s good to see resolutions handled in a healthy manner and show an understanding that it’s okay to settle the past without forgetting it. And it’s okay to not be as close to former friends.
For anyone how like a character driven mystery with a touch of history, this one’s for you!