A solid murder mystery with lots of twists. I didn't predict the ending which is always a tell for a good story. It's difficult to stand out from others in the genre but this one does. The characters, time period, and soap industry were fun to read about. Some parts of the book felt a little slow but not enough to bore me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars.

Spoilers ahead. I will not reveal anything big - most of the review vaguely alludes to plot, structure, and characters.

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I'm not normally a fan of historical fiction, but the characters in Lavender House kept me hooked. I loved the nuance involved when dealing with the characters' queerness, and the historical aspects of their persecution. I didn't guess the twist, so that is a HUGE plus for me. I wouldn't necessarily compare this to Knives Out - it's got more of a Christie vibe to me - and I consider that a very good thing. I loved the characters, but the story itself dragged at points, which is why it's getting a 4 from me. If you're hesitant to try out Historical fiction and are a mystery fan, I'd say this is a good entry point. Overall, it's a good story with excellent characters, and some buttoning-up of the pacing would make it even better.

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Again, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The cover of this book is beautiful and led me to expect this was a YA fantasy. It is decidedly not a fantasy, but a film noir murder mystery. This isn't a genre a generally pick up, but by the time I realized it, I was too far in and had to get to the conclusion.

The main character, Andy Mills, is hired by an eccentric, wealthy, self-made family to solve the suspected murder of one of the member of their family. Having just been kicked off of the detective squad for being gay, Andy is in need of employment and a path to self-acceptance. He finds both at the Lamontaine estate.

Every time I thought I knew who the murderer was, another suspect was thrown into the mix. I am admittedly not good at solving these ahead of time, but I wasn't sure of the murderer until about 90% in.

This was a fun, fast-paced read for anyone who likes Agatha Christie/Mickey Spillane with a lgbtq+ twist.

This was a fabulous read! I apologize for the late review, somehow I missed sending this one in. I really enjoyed the characters the most in this story and their personalities, what drives them, their motivations, etc. I can't speak on the comparison to "Knives out" as I've never seen it, but regardless this was a fantastic mystery and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

I read along with the audiobook for Lavender House. I really enjoyed the queer element to this murder mystery, I wish it was seen more in this type of genre. The writing was fast-paced and fun to read.

Knives Out meets queer 1950s. Andy has just been fired from the police after being caught in a compromising position at a gay bar. It’s the 1950s and even in California, being gay is looked down on. Wondering what to do with his life, he is approached by the family of a recently deceased soap maker. At Lavender House, almost everyone there is queer. As he investigates, it becomes clear someone at the house is the culprit.

I enjoyed this one! I feel like the wrap up was a bit brief/rushed but I enjoyed the premise and execution! It also seems like there’s a potential for more mysteries, which I’d definitely read!

I really enjoyed Lavender House. I don't read murder mystery's as much as I would like because they tend to be predictable, but I'll honestly say I didn't see the ending coming. I found the book to be fast paced and over all enjoyable.

CW: homophobia

I really enjoyed this book! This is the first that I've read from Lev Rosen (though Camp has been on my TBR for AGES), and it was really good.

The story is about a former police detective who was kicked off the force when it was found out he was gay, during a raid at a gay bar. As much as I love to read books that don't include homophobia, it didn't feel gratuitous and was historically accurate for the time (1950s). This former detective is hired to investigate the murder of a queer, found family's matriarch, and it was great to see how Andy (the detective) came more into himself as he got to know the family more. It was a really interesting premise and one that I think probably happened quite often at the time, queer folks living together and pretending to be a blood family, as a way of protecting each other. Where this was a murder investigation, I was really worried about how it would go, if I would be destroyed by who the killer was, as I came to quite like all of the members of the family. Thankfully, I was very happy with the resolution.

I really loved how the book was written, it felt like a gritty, noir detective novel and I am so here for it.

I was dying for a cozy little mystery, and this hit the spot!! A touch of noir, a dash of romance, and a sprinkling of historical fiction were just what the doctor ordered to bump me out of this reading slump i was having. I savored every word of this old fashioned detective story, and loooooved the forbidden queer romance and found-family bonds. Ugh, deliciousssss!

I’ve heard this called gothic and I’ve heard it comped to Knives Out, and I’m not sure either is accurate. The feel of the book is closer to a noir detective story, which is fine but a bit disappointing for those who were hoping for a gothic murder mystery set in a creepy mansion, which is how the book was promoted.

I love the idea of bringing more diversity into the genre, and Rosen handles his characters deftly. But a mystery with zero atmosphere just doesn’t do it for me, especially when we’re lead to believe that it’s gothic in nature. And it’s a shame, because the family business in soap and the house itself is theoretically a great setup for a slow burn mystery that oozes atmosphere.

The mystery itself is fine and has a plausible and satisfying ending. Andy’s character arc is well written and he’s a very compelling hero. But the book just lacks the originality and sense of place that I need out of something in this genre. If you care less about that sort of thing than I do, I expect you’ll like this one well enough, because there is no issue with the quality of writing or the story.

4.5 stars

I requested this book because I saw it described somewhere as a queer Knives Out. I stand by not only this decision but this description.

The cast is full of complex, interesting characters who keep the mystery a nail-biter until the end. I loved that while the mystery was never far from the centre of attention, there were a lot of other things going on at the same time. Living a queer life in the 1950s was not easy, even in San Francisco. Lavender House may be a haven for this 'family', but this safety does not extend outside its boundaries.

I won't spoil anything here, but if you've ever pictured a queer cozy mystery set in the '50s, Lavender House is everything you were hoping for. Full of heartbreaking, honest moments, I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

It's 1952 and Evander (Andy) Mills is a disgraced former San Francisco police officer. He was caught in a raid at a gay bar and now he's lost the job that was his whole life. Right when he's thinking of ending his life, he's offered a new job: figure out who murdered Irene Lamontaine, head of the famous Lamontaine soap empire.

Andy is hired by Irene's widow and brought to stay at Lavender House, where both the family and staff have created a queer haven for themselves. Their happiness and safety depend on keeping others out, but now they fear they're keeping a murderer in. Andy is seduced by Lavender House, where a queer family lives openly and honestly behind its walls. But he's also convinced he's staying with a murderer.

This book is brutally honest queer historical fiction. It's not always an easy read because there is plenty of homophobia outside the walls of Lavender House. That being said, I loved getting to know the characters and the premise of a murder involving a soap empire. I love historical stories about queer people creating safe spaces for themselves and Lavender House is all about that! I really hope we get a sequel to this one because the potential set up for a sequel is there at the end and I want to see Andy solve a new queer mystery! I loved this one.

This was an interesting mystery that felt very Noir, but modern because of our gay detective. Andy has been blacklisted and kicked off the police force after being caught in a raid on a club with another man. While still nursing his wounds, he is approached by an older woman to solve the murder of her wife. He is invited into their home to investigate. Due to the sensitive nature of the home, he must proceed carefully without exposing anyone in the family.

It was an interesting environment and way of exploring the lives of these queer individuals and also the struggles they deal with in their daily lives and the lengths they go to to be who they truly are. I was able to predict who did it and why which was kind of a let down. but their unhinged last moments were pretty great.

"The table is quiet, and I can see them all thinking about what they'd said and done in front of me. I take a spoonful of soup."

I enjoyed #LavenderHouse by @levACrosen so very much. The concept of this "family" was brilliant, and yet for all of their safety, it comes at a huge cost of being trapped, literally. Yet I imagine that's nothing new for anyone not heterosexual during the 1950s. The opening, as Andy sits at the bar, contemplating his suicide, is incredible. I felt such compassion for him, and the shame he feels. And it's cathartic and uplifting when he comes into his own. Terrific read, blending social commentary and a cozy mystery. Highly recommend!

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars

This was awesome! It felt a lot like a cozy mystery, except the main character is not a newbie to solving murders, but he is out of a job when he is outed after getting caught in a police raid at a bar where queer people hang out. The story takes place in 1952 in California when being queer can be a death sentence. When Evander "Andy" Mills loses his job, he is ready to call quits with life when a widow hires him to investigate the death of her wife, Matriarch Irene Lamontaine, head of the Lamontaine soap empire. Naturally, this marriage is kept a secret from the outside world, but she knows the circumstances of his dismissal and feels she can trust him with their family secret--a home that is a safe haven for queers, free to live their true lives behind closed doors. Despite the dark themes of persecution and abuse of queer people, this story managed to keep from being bogged down by them, perhaps because the darkness was balanced by Andy discovering the joy and freedom of being who he was meant to be. I like how even as he works to uncover the murderer, he gets to know members of the family and realizes that family can be found and made and you don't need to stick with those you were born with. Listening to him say that he wishes it was not this person or that person tugged at my heart a bit. Without spoiling anything, I'm hoping that the ending means there will be future books because I want more with Andy and this family.

The mystery was not super complex, but it was still a good yarn. The story felt like a cross between a cozy mystery and a hardboiled detective novel with enough back-story on the characters that I really started to empathize and connect with some of them. I'd say that the mystery was probably 3 stars for me, but the rest of the story was 4 or 5 stars, so I'll give it 4 stars. I have not read anything by this author before, but I enjoyed his writing style and will check out some of his other books.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“People are always trying to claim you, without ever listening to who you are. They want you to be something else, to be the role they have for you in the family. But really, we’re all better off just making our own.”

Lavender House is a historical, queer murder mystery following a recently fired detective looking into the suspicious death of the Lamontaine soap empire’s matriarch. When he reaches Lavender House, he finds an unconventional family full of people who might have had a motive. But the closer he gets to the family, the more he wonders: how can a family who seems to have it all together fall apart? As Andy uncovers the mystery, he also starts to understand how even a place like Lavender House where you are free to be yourself can feel like a prison if you've been there long enough.

I loved this book! It was a quick but often emotional read, which I wasn’t expecting. I loved the found family theme, especially given the time period this book is set in.

thank you netgalley and forge books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Evander “Andy” Mills didn’t assume being a good cop made him immune from being a target. He just never thought he’d actually have the bad luck to get caught literally with his pants down when the San Francisco Police Department raids a gay bar. But that is exactly what happens. Andy is spared the typical bashing, but his career as a cop is done and he finds nothing but loathing from his former colleagues.

For a man whose entire identity was being a cop for the sole purpose of helping people, this harsh new reality saps Andy of his will to live. In fact, he is contemplating ending things when he meets Pearl Valez. Having been recently widowed, Pearl is convinced her significant other didn’t die in an accident, but has actually been murdered. Andy, knowing his policing career is completely kaput, struggles to care, until Pearl mentions she not only knows about his proclivities, but is part of the same family. In fact, she is reaching out to Andy because she needs a detective to investigate and feels only another queer person could take the death of her wife seriously.

Pearl whisks Andy away to Lavender House, her family estate nestled far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown San Francisco. The house is unlike anything Andy has ever seen, let alone experienced. It’s not the profusion of fragrant flowers growing across the grounds or the richly appointed rooms and competent staff. It’s the fact that Lavender House is a haven for Pearl and all her queer family. Henry, her gay son, is in a committed relationship with Cliff; the man is for all intents and purposes Henry’s husband, but officially his business secretary. Margo is his trophy wife, bringing a veneer of social acceptability to Henry, but actually in love with Elsie, who owns a queer night club in the city. The cook and gardener are a matched set and the butler is an older queen who keeps the whole show running. Of course, both family and detective are wary of each other at first. The family is worried about Andy sussing them out and reporting them all for lewd behavior. Andy, on the other hand, is concerned that one of them is a murderer. As his investigation continues, he finds each person in the household has varying degrees of plausible motive…but who would risk ruining this slice of heaven by committing an act as heinous as murder?

Lavender House is a whodunit mystery set in mid-century San Francisco. In the spirit of a police procedural, Andy methodically examines the scene of the crime, interviews the suspects (all conveniently living at Lavender House), and checks his hypotheses as he tries to piece together the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting each member of the family and household. The supporting characters work as a marvelous ensemble; each relationship has clear facets that cleaved them together…or apart. Henry, for example, seems like a hard-ass business man, but he’s an utter simp for Cliff. Cliff likewise dotes on Henry, but is a terrible flirt and harbors a secret or two that could cause trouble for the family.

Until a few days before the story begins, Andy was content as a police detective. He managed to avoid raids mostly by hearing through the grapevine where his fellow officers would strike next. Andy never thought to share this information with others in his community. In hindsight, and juxtaposed with Lavender House’s small community fiercely protected by a pair of matriarchs, Andy realizes how selfishly he acted — and that he has a chance to try to remedy that. Andy’s very recent past as a police officer also adds extra layers of interest in the interpersonal relationships. Most people living at Lavender House view Andy with a high degree of skepticism. First, the sheer fact that he is a detective sets many characters on edge. Second, nearly everyone is convinced Pearl is grasping at straws by hiring someone on the suspicion that Irene died not by accident, but by murderous intent. But then, Pearl sees him as her champion and Andy finds an ally in Pat, the butler.

The best part of the engrossing cast is that they’re all likable or relatable in their own way. And that makes it all the more tantalizing to know that one of them is the murderer. There are a few times where Andy grows a bit wary of being at Lavender House. He stays as a guest and the further his investigation goes, the more convinced he is that Irene was, in fact, murdered. However, the only real tension between Andy and the others comes in the form of a dead rat being hidden in Andy’s bar of bath soap. It’s clearly a sign he’s not wanted, but it felt like the only one. I’m not sure if the suspense intentionally took a backseat to the interplay between Andy and the others, but I would have liked a bit more of it in the story.

Overall, Lavender House is an engrossing mystery. I loved the vivid depiction of life in the 1950s and Rosen incorporates working class and upper class queer characters. Andy made for a great narrator and, while all the clues point in the direction of the killer, it was his ability to interpret a situation to arrive at the right answer when the real suspects get narrowed down. If you like this time period or detective stories, or books about queer characters that include romance but don’t focus on it, then I think you’ll really like this book.

After Andy is fired from the San Francisco Police for being caught in flagrante delicto in the bathroom of a gay club, he is recruited to solve a possible murder. It's early 1950's, and homosexuality is a crime and universally despised, which means that Andy has been hiding his true self his whole life. The woman who hires him has created a safe haven and home for her gay friends who have become like a family to each other., but she suspects that her wife's death was malicious. In Agatha Christie fashion, there is a limited number of suspects, who all seem implausible at times, and very likely perpetrators at others. The action progresses at a good pace, and the historical context of gay prejudice is informative and heartbreaking.

4.5 STARS! This book was beautifully and thoughtfully written. There is a lot of queer representation in this which is so important for the time period in which it is being told (1950s). On top of that, the mystery is also quite fun, although not as shocking an ending as I expected. Still, excellent read.

4.5*

Lavender House was an entertaining whodonit! I really enjoyed this book, particularly the setting and the time period. There was a great cast of characters, and it really did remind me of the movie Knives Out, which I thought was great.
Andy was a very likeable character, very endearing. He had me worried there at the beginning, but I think, after this case, he's got a second chance at a wonderful life.

This wasn't a fast paced story, it was more of a slow burn, and not in the romantic sense, and I think it worked well. There were a lot of characters in play, which could have been overwhelming to keep track of, but we got a good feel for them through Andy's eyes, as he spent time with them, interviewing and getting to know them. I kind of had an idea of who the murderer was, but as the story progressed I was second guessing myself- it could have been any number of the habitants of Lavender House! And even though it ended up being that person, I was surprised with the way things played out.

Books like Lavender House make me realize I need to, on occassion, step away from the romance genre and mix up my reading a bit more!