The Memory Bell follows a woman who is gifted an old family heirloom. But when a dead body is found outside of town and the heirloom is broken, things start going awry very quickly. In attempting to piece together the broken family heirloom Grace realizes that some pieces are missing. The hunt for those missing pieces will lead Grace down a dark road filled with shocking family secrets.

I was all set for a cozy mystery set in a small town. A simple mystery, a quirky character, a quick wrap up. But I was pleasantly surprised to find a deeply emotional and complex family drama at the heart of this crime fiction novel. This is a thrilling murder mystery that is effortlessly combined with a compelling family saga.

Author Kat Flannery provides readers with a fast paced story with a well defined mystery at the heart of the novel that slowly unravels as the story progresses, ensuring readers are constantly engaged with this spellbinding book. I’m from a big city, so the small town setting felt exotic to me (odd to say I know), but Author Kat Flannery is able to imbue the town with a mix of beauty and intrigue that serves as a fantastic backdrop to this intriguing whodunit story.

Grace and detective Bennet are well defined characters. Grace is a bit naïve at first, but this, to me, is what makes her character charming and what makes her easily endearing. This sets her up to be a character that is fun to follow because you always want to see how she’s going to react to the dramatic events and revelations.

The Memory Bell is a suspenseful murder mystery that will appeal to readers looking for a dramatic crime novel that plumbs the depths of a family with dark secrets.

Pages: 251 | ASIN: B094S7DJH3