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A review by weaselweader
The Night Bell by Inger Ash Wolfe
4.0
“When human bones turn up in a local field … ”
… the preparatory work for the construction of a golf course attached to a local seniors-focused subdivision, of necessity, grinds to a halt. Forensic anthropology and solid police work link the bones to residents of a now defunct orphanage, the Dublin Home for Boys. As Canadian news headlines currently scream about the remains of no less than 215 indigenous children in an unmarked mass grave associated with Kamloops Residential School in BC, it’s tough to imagine a police procedural/suspense thriller with a more timely topic. Meanwhile (back at the ranch), a police officer has been assaulted and kidnapped AND a murderer seems to have it in for informants and witnesses with the temerity to talk to the police.
DI Hazel Micaleff, formerly the acting commanding officer of the OPP detachment in Port Dundas (presumably modeled on an amalgamation of Orillia, Huntsville, Parry Sound and North Bay), is a 60-something, feisty, crotchety, less than happily divorced, problem drinking, uncertain female in a male world whose modest libido is most definitely under-utilized and under-served. Somewhat relieved and definitely de-stressed for having backed away from the administration of the detachment, she is still very much her own person and is driven to skirt the spirit of the orders she’s been given even if duty binds her to obeying the letter of the same. Results are what will determine whether she gets away with it as these two cases weave around one another.
THE NIGHT BELL is 80% informative, interesting and compelling police procedural that moves for its climax into a higher gear and finishes as 20% fully gripping, page-turner, suspense thriller. The ending is convincing and the identified culprits will put a satisfied smile on the face of any reader. I particularly enjoyed the resolution of the jurisdictional conflict between the RCMP and the OPP.
Definitely recommended. Canadian authors are doing it up big and ought to be proud of themselves.
Paul Weiss
… the preparatory work for the construction of a golf course attached to a local seniors-focused subdivision, of necessity, grinds to a halt. Forensic anthropology and solid police work link the bones to residents of a now defunct orphanage, the Dublin Home for Boys. As Canadian news headlines currently scream about the remains of no less than 215 indigenous children in an unmarked mass grave associated with Kamloops Residential School in BC, it’s tough to imagine a police procedural/suspense thriller with a more timely topic. Meanwhile (back at the ranch), a police officer has been assaulted and kidnapped AND a murderer seems to have it in for informants and witnesses with the temerity to talk to the police.
DI Hazel Micaleff, formerly the acting commanding officer of the OPP detachment in Port Dundas (presumably modeled on an amalgamation of Orillia, Huntsville, Parry Sound and North Bay), is a 60-something, feisty, crotchety, less than happily divorced, problem drinking, uncertain female in a male world whose modest libido is most definitely under-utilized and under-served. Somewhat relieved and definitely de-stressed for having backed away from the administration of the detachment, she is still very much her own person and is driven to skirt the spirit of the orders she’s been given even if duty binds her to obeying the letter of the same. Results are what will determine whether she gets away with it as these two cases weave around one another.
THE NIGHT BELL is 80% informative, interesting and compelling police procedural that moves for its climax into a higher gear and finishes as 20% fully gripping, page-turner, suspense thriller. The ending is convincing and the identified culprits will put a satisfied smile on the face of any reader. I particularly enjoyed the resolution of the jurisdictional conflict between the RCMP and the OPP.
Definitely recommended. Canadian authors are doing it up big and ought to be proud of themselves.
Paul Weiss