Albert A. Bell Jr. is an accomplished American author, known for his works in fiction and non-fiction. He has spent several years teaching at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and has also served as the chair of the History Department from 1994 to 2004. Bell holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as an MA from Duke and an MDiv from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Bell's published works span a wide range of topics and genres. In fiction, he has written contemporary mysteries such as "Death Goes Dutch" and "Kill Her Again," as well as historical mysteries featuring Pliny the Younger, a prominent Roman lawyer and author. The second novel in this series, "The Blood of Caesar," was named one of the 5 Best Mysteries of 2008 by Library Journal. Bell has also written the "Steve and Kendra Mystery" series. In non-fiction, he has written about religious topics, including "Perfect Game: Imperfect Lives" and "Exploring the New Testament World."
In addition to his published works, Bell has also had numerous articles and stories featured in various magazines and newspapers. These include "Jack and Jill," "True Experience," "Detroit Free Press," and "Christian Century." Bell's writing career began in high school, and he sold his first magazine article in 1972. His first novel, "Daughter of Lazarus," was published in 1988. Since then, he has had eight books published.
Bell was born in South Carolina and has lived in Michigan for over thirty years with his wife, a psychologist, and their four adult children and a grandson. He began writing in high school and enjoys reading mysteries, baseball, college basketball, and anything related to ancient Rome.