The Bell House

by Ruth Hamilton

Madeleine Horrocks often alarmed her best friend Amy by expressing doubts – about parents, teachers and, most of all, religion. Amy had a secret which causes her to visit the Bell House, an ancient charnel house outside the village. As they grow up, this place of death becomes a meeting place for the friends, who learn that differences in religion can cause unexpected heartache.

549 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Ruth Hamilton was one of North West England's most popular writers. She was the bestselling author of twenty-five novels, including Spinning Jenny, The Bells of Scotland Road, Mulligan's Yard, Mersey View and That Liverpool Girl. She was born in Bolton, which is the setting for many of her novels, and spent most of her life in Lancashire.

(source: http://www.panmacmillan.com/author/ru...)

Reviews

[paul c hitches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced

This book started at a fast pace and never slowed many tangents to the story along unexpected twists and turns.To date none KeIth Hamiltons books have disappointed would recommend anyone to read as many as possible

[Christine Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monty the protector

As always an impeccable story by Ruth, sadness, happiness and in between hilarious wit. A must read book which you will be loathe to put down.

[Sarah Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Interesting characters

[Anne Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It centers on a group of six children who meet in the eponymous Bell House, where they form a secret society. But this is not a children's book - there is more than one darker side when they discover a body in the local reservoir. The story that follows is one of discovery about themselves and the adults in their lives. And a wonderful group of people they are too well, apart from a couple of villains who, quite satisfactorily, reap an unholy reward. As the children are all of different religious denominations, the theme is one of ecumenism. For me, this is a book to treasure and re-read.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The children in this story were interesting, some times funny, really the main characters. The adults true to form (1951). This book had fear, death, murder, religion, also very funny, emotional , clever, all interesting characters combined. Good read.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is gruesome in spots, it was a really good read. I like this author very much and will look for more of her books.

[Shweta B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantabulous. You can't put the book down withtout reaching the end.