This is an unpopular opinion, but I didn't enjoy The Bell in the Fog nearly as much as Lavender House. The plot is interesting, and I have to hand it to an author who solves one mystery only to reveal another one with higher stakes. However, overall, this feels rushed, flimsy, and frustratingly repetitive.

It might sound odd to complain that this book is too queer, but when I read a queer book (which, as a lesbian bookworm, I do, and frequently!), I don't need to be reminded that the characters are queer every other page. I know. I want to get a sense that they are fully developed beyond their sexuality, that it's an important facet of their lives, but still just one facet. Ideally, I want my queer books to be more than just queer; I want them to be well-crafted, with rich characterization and fully-fledged settings that feel authentic.

And I didn't get that from The Bell in the Fog.

I know that the third in the series has already been announced, and I'll probably give it a try, despite my misgivings that it, too, will feel rushed and flimsy. I remain open to abandoning series, but also to pleasant surprises.

P. S. Lee was my favorite character. He should just take over Andy's business.