‘The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall’ Book Review
The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall was my first murder mystery read in several years, and I was not disappointed! With haunting deaths, paranoid uncles, and a mansion sealed up for 100 years, this novel kept me on the edge of my seat until the final chapter. The novel switches perspectives between Waverley, who lived during the time of the original mystery, and Jennie, who unwillingly inherited the mystery 100 years later.
Main Themes
A classic murder mystery, most of the themes centered around the mystery and suspense of uncovering secrets and de-tangling lies. Secrets come with consequences, as Waverly and Jennie know all too well. Although both main characters try their best, burying uncomfortable secrets and truths doesn’t make them go away. They each have to realize that it’s better to face the monsters lurking in the dark shadows and refuse to let fear win, come what may.
Good family support systems are so important, even when it is hard to trust other people. But friends are going to be needed to solve the mystery…and avoid becoming the next victim. Waverly and Jennie both wrestle with this, but come out stronger when they let others into their lives.
Faith Elements
God is briefly mentioned, with part of Jennie’s backstory being how she struggles with the question of why God allows bad things to happen, but overall, faith is not an integral part of the story.
Family Friendly Considerations
While this is a great novel for Christians who are looking for an Edgar Allen Poe-style murder mystery, we can’t give The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall our family friendly seal of approval for younger or more sensitive readers. There are repeated references to severe childhood abuse and people are rather brutally murdered; these references and descriptions could be potentially triggering or upsetting for certain audiences. For those aware and unbothered by the above cautions, however, this is an excellent suspense novel for readers looking for their next murder mystery.
Interested in Similar Reads?
If you loved The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall, you might want to check out these books as well!
- Girl Lost by Kate Angelo
- Double Take by Lynette Eason
