THE NIGHT BELL is book four in the Hazel Micallef Mystery series, but I didn't have any problems reading the book, despite not having read the previous three books. However, since I have seen the movie do I have some previous knowledge of the characters in the book. But, I don't think you have to read the previous books to enjoy this one.

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An unsettling but well-written mystery. Kept me intrigued from beginning to end, and although the subject-matter is distressing, it was not too graphic to read about. I was a bit confused about the motivations of one of the characters but it did all come out pretty clear in the end. A deft handling of a difficult subject. ( )

Another very good mystery in the Hazel Micauliff series, albeit a little confusing as there are both current and historical forces at work, and different people working from different angles. We learn more about Hazel's childhood in the process.

Not having read the first 3 novels in this series, I felt I was a bit behind as I didn't know the backstory of several of the characters. I think the book would have been much more enjoyable had I known more about the characters. Otherwise, the book was an enjoyable read, and the mysteries solved with a satisfactory conclusion.
This story moves between the time that Hazel Micallef was 14 and present day, when she is about 64. Hazel is brought back to the time when a neighborhood girl, Carol Lim, has disappeared. The story is personal as she knew Carol, and Hazel's adopted brother, Alan, was considered a suspect in the disappearance.
Additionally, Hazel and her team are investigating the discovery of bones on a building site in present times. These bones are connected to a boys' home that is no longer in operation. Oddly, people associated with the building site and the development of the site are murdered.
#TheNightBell #IngerAshWolfe
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This was a good book; hard to put down. I'll look for more by this author ( )