In 1952, matriarch Irene Lamontaine passes away. Her recipes for her soap empire are hidden within the Lavender House, an estate where people are free to be who they truly are and not hide it. In order to do so, they've needed to keep others out; this means they may be harboring a killer. Irene’s widow hires Evander Mills to uncover the truth behind her mysterious death. Andy, recently fired for being gay, jumps at the opportunity and safety of this queer family. He is soon a pawn in a family game of old money, subterfuge, and jealousy—and Irene’s death is only the beginning.

Though this family is free to be who they truly are within the house, that also makes it a prison. They can't hold hands with their loved ones, see a movie or go out to eat as a couple, or even do ordinary things like grocery shopping. We take that for granted, though this is still a reality for some queer couples now. It was certainly the way of the world in 1952. Andy is hit hard by the reveal of his sexuality, but that doesn't put a damper on his actual investigative skills. This book is described as similar to "Knives Out," which should tell you a lot about how the book progresses once Andy knows it was indeed murder.

This is a noir style murder mystery, one that drew me in. Andy really is good at what he does, and continually keeps an open mind. The real fear of everyone in the house, the reasons why they might have done it and why they wouldn't have, all increases the tension as the novel progresses. It wraps up neatly and with hope for the future, that ultimately people can and will continue taking care of each other. Legal justice could never be served in this situation, but family endures, and we know the truth.

Real Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

You know, I’ve been seeing reviewers comparing this novel to “Knives Out”, and I honestly can’t see any resemblance between the two besides the two properties both being closed-loop mysteries involving the head of a wealthy family being murdered. Other than that, I can’t think of them being anything alike. So if you want to take this reviewer’s opinion into consideration when looking to read this novel, I can tell you (as a huge “Knives Out” fan who watches it all the time) that if you’re looking for a book that’s similar to that movies, then “Lavender House” is not it.

That’s not to say that “Lavender House” doesn’t have its own charms, though I don’t seem to have fallen in love with the book as many other readers and reviewers have. It’s a closed loop mystery in the style of Agatha Christie and her detective Hercule Poirot, but with some of the pulp charm of hard boiled noir detectives like Raymond Chandler’s Sam Spade. By this, I mean that the mystery and setting themselves are closer to Christie, but the detective himself is like a queer version of Sam Spade… or maybe queer Sam Spade just as he started up his PI business.

I’ve got a great deal of love for old dogs that are taught new tricks in our glittering world of literati: when we take the old tropes, genres, and more and breathe new life into them using the issues, themes, and conflicts we face today. What this book shows us, in a way, is that we faced these issues back when Raymond Chandler was even writing Sam Spade novels, but some of those issues more than often had even more life-threatening consequences back then than they do now. Consequently, it’s only now that authors can write novels using those genres and tropes to showcase those dangers without facing the end of their careers or worse.

“Lavender House” has a great story to tell and great lessons to impart about queer love in mid-century America and a little about queer history in San Francisco, but the mystery itself is where the story fell flat for me. It’s not that I could guess who was the killer; it’s rather that I didn’t much care. I ended up being much more intrigued about the family, the detective, and the other characters than I did about the mystery death at the heart of the book. I’d say you have a huge problem if your reader doesn’t care about the mystery in your mystery novel.

I still recommend it, because the glimpse of what it takes to live a queer life in 1950s San Francisco is really worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forge Books for granting me access to this title.

File Under: Crime Fiction/Historical Fiction/LGBTQ Fiction/Mystery/OwnVoices

This book had the perfect balance of queer and mystery for me. Andy reminds me a bit of the good-looking Nick Nowak only less slutty and maybe a little less cynical and gritty, and this should be taken as a compliment because Boystown is my all-time favorite PI series.

Filled with a queer household of eccentric characters, this 1950s historical mystery is told in first person from Evander Mills who was recently fired from the San Francisco police department after being caught in a raid on a gay bar and feels like this is the end of the road for him. Out of the blue, he is hired to investigate the accident/possible murder of the head of a local, successful soap company. A good mystery with a variety of suspects living in the same household, I’d liken it to a cross between Agatha Christie and a G-rated Boystown rather than the popular movie that’s been previously referenced. Recommended to semi-closed room mystery lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forge Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

Okay, I'm going to state what is probably obvious – if you pitch a book to me as being a queer version of Knives Out, I will read it. And I'm probably going to cherish it will all of my heart. That was certainly the case for Lavender House, written by Lev A.C. Rosen.

The year is 1952 – a time when it wasn't safe (or legal) to be openly gay. This is the world that Evander Mills lives in. Until recently, he was a police officer. Until the force learned the truth about him, they quickly turned their backs on Mills.

However, Mills might just have a chance to find a new career that will let him help even more people. His people. The famous Lamontaine owner, Irene, has suddenly died, and her widow believes foul play. She wants somebody safe and trustworthy to look into the situation because she knows her family can't risk having the police.

Wow! I can see why people are going wild for this book. Not only is Lavender House amazing, but it perfectly delivers on its promise. This novel very much feels like a different version of Knives Out, only it's set in 1952 and has way more political commentary and representation. In other words, it's pretty perfect.

You need to look no further if you're looking for a complex murder mystery full of unique and compelling characters. Lavender House is the book for you. There are so many layers to this investigation. In fact, there are enough where it's probably worth a second read-through. And maybe a third (or fourth). And don't even get me started on the potential for an adaptation!

In truth, Lavender House was a delight to read. Some books just have this air of magic about them, and Lavender House is one such book. Everything about it worked to catch and hold my attention, including the setting, characters, mystery, and even the subtext. It's an absolute must-read.

Very much enjoyed this cozy mystery, especially considering the focus on queer history and lavender marriages. Lev AC Rosen does a fantastic job creating intrigue and mystique, and I believe this book does a lot in terms of paving the way for new and more diverse cozy mysteries.

Lavender House is a captivating new mystery by Lev AC Rosen set in 1952. Andy Mills was recently fired from the police force for being caught at a gay bar. He is contemplating ending it all when he gets a proposal he can’t refuse. Irene Lamontaine the matriarch of the famous Lamontaine Soap Company passed away under suspicious circumstances, her personal assistant, who is secretly her widow, wants Andy to prove whether Irene’s death was a tragic accident or murder. Andy feels a sense of safety at Lavender House, where almost everyone is gay including Irene’s son and the staff, and is able to be his true self, but he becomes increasingly suspicious about what happened to Irene. The ending though the one I was hoping for, felt a bit simplistic for what was otherwise a fairly gritty story. I would recommend the book for its interesting fictionalization of a tumultuous time in LGBTQ history and engaging characters.

🏠Book Review🏠
*
Summary: Lavender House, 1952: the family seat of recently deceased matriarch Irene Lamontaine, head of the famous Lamontaine soap empire. Irene’s recipes for her signature scents are a well guarded secret—but it's not the only one behind these gates. This estate offers a unique freedom, where none of the residents or staff hide who they are. But to keep their secret, they've needed to keep others out. And now they're worried they're keeping a murderer in.

Irene’s widow hires Evander Mills to uncover the truth behind her mysterious death. Andy, recently fired from the San Francisco police after being caught in a raid on a gay bar, is happy to accept—his calendar is wide open. And his secret is the kind of secret the Lamontaines understand.

Andy had never imagined a world like Lavender House. He's seduced by the safety and freedom found behind its gates, where a queer family lives honestly and openly. But that honesty doesn't extend to everything, and he quickly finds himself a pawn in a family game of old money, subterfuge, and jealousy—and Irene’s death is only the beginning.

When your existence is a crime, everything you do is criminal, and the gates of Lavender House can’t lock out the real world forever. Running a soap empire can be a dirty business.
*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
*
My thoughts: happy belayed publishing day to this fabulous story! Thank you so much @bookishfirst @macmillanusa and @levacrosen for the advanced copy! I love this one so much. It was described as a take on knives out and clue and the description couldn’t have been more accurate. A beautiful LGBTQ mystery with characters that you just can’t trust and a lovable lonely protagonist. And it takes place in San Francisco could it get any better 🥰seriously run out and buy it if you’re a fan of old school whodunnit mysteries!
*
QOTD: do you enjoy whodunnit mysteries ?!
*
#lavenderhouse #levacrosen #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bibliophile #booknerd #bookobsessed #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #bookreader #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #readersgonnaread #booklover #mysterybooks #mysteryreads #mysteryreader

Man, I enjoyed this. Mystery is not my go-to genre, but if this is what they're like then I need to explore more of them. I expected to be motivated primarily by the plot and the whodunnit, but it was the character interplay and development that drove me to the finish line. The inner conflict between Andy's obligation to solve the case and his desire not to upset the sanctity of Lavender House was at least as compelling — if not more so — than the mystery itself. For me the most memorable aspect was seeing the complexities of being closeted in the 1950s and how each character copes with the restrictions and freedoms that are available to them.

This was a really unique mystery with an inclusive cast of characters. Set in 1952, Lavender House experiences the loss of the family’s matriarch, Irene Lamontsine, the founder of the Lamontaine soap empire. But her widow, Pearl, is convinced that Irene’s death occurred under suspicious circumstances. So she hires Evander “Andy” Mills, an ex-cop who was fired for being caught at a gay bar, to investigate what really happened. Upon visiting Lavender House, he discovers that most of the residents are also gay and finally finds a bit of freedom to be himself during a time when the world was seriously lacking in acceptance.

As you get to know the individual characters, the author does a wonderful job of misdirecting the reader when it comes to the true identity of the culprit; for much of the story, I honestly felt that it could’ve been anyone. So I was happily surprised that I hadn’t guessed the outcome of the story when the truth was revealed. This was an unconventional mystery with a dynamic character line-up, and I really appreciated the story’s inclusivity but also the fact that it touched on the hate and discrimination they had to endure along the way.

Definitely recommend this one!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for providing a copy of this book to review.*

This was a lot of fun. I highly recommend this one if you enjoy mysteries with a twist. A fantastic new voice in fiction and I am looking forward to more from this author. I really did like this one.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Sinfully wonderful and simple mystery that's perfect for a book club read.

Set in 1952-San Francisco, Lavender House follows disgraced former-police officer, Evander 'Andy' Mills. Andy was recently fired from the SFPD after being caught in a compromising position during a raid on a gay bar. Without steady work and shamed by former acquaintances, Andy is floundering, so when he is approached by an older woman named Pearl with a proposition, he readily accepts.

Pearl needs an experienced investigator to look into the death of her wife, soap magnate, Irene Lamontaine. Even though Irene's death appears to be an accident, Pearl has her doubts. She needs the truth. Thus, she invites Andy to their estate, Lavender House, to look into the incident. It seems like a simple, yet interesting assignment, and may be exactly what Andy needs to get his life back on track.

Arriving at Lavender House, Andy discovers something he has never experienced before. A safe haven filled with a found-family of Queer people. Andy is astounded by how comfortable everyone is with just being themselves. There is no need to hide, no risk of hateful repercussions. How could any violence come to this place?

Before long, as Andy gets to know the individuals living within the gated estate, he begins to think that maybe Pearl is onto something after all. Perhaps Irene did fall at the hands of another, but was it a stranger, or someone the women consider family?

Lavender House was such a delightful change of pace for me. I'm not quite sure I have ever read a Queer Historical Murder Mystery before, but I sure would like more!!

I absolutely adored the setting and tone of this novel. Rosen brought a real film noir quality to it, which fit so perfectly with a 1950s-detective story, enhanced even more by the wonderful narration from Vikas Adam.

The themes and topics explored within were handled so tactfully and blended perfectly with the overall mystery. I liked how neither aspect was heavy-handed; they each contributed evenly to the overall course of the story. I enjoyed all of the characters and loved the idea of this safe space set amidst a very unsafe world.

My one slight critique would be that the mystery felt almost too simple. The linear narrative and minimalist investigation left me wanting more. I do understand that there is something to be said for sticking to the basics and nailing what you do. I do get that. I just feel like Rosen definitely has the talent to push this even further.

It sort of felt like driving a performance car on the highway. It's comfortable and enjoyable, but you definitely miss the exciting twists and turns of a back-country road. I just wish this could have been built out a little more. However, with this being said, can we talk about this ending!? This has to be the start of a series, right?

I mean, there could not have been a more perfect set-up for the continuation of this story. I really hope it happens, because I feel like there is a big need in the market for this type of story. I would absolutely, 100%, no doubt in my mind, pick up the next book if there ever is one. I feel like I have so much to learn about Andy and I would love to tag along with him as he solves more mysteries!!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Forge Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that I get to see more of Andy Mills!

Lavender House is a cozy, queer mystery that takes place in the 1950's.

Evander is an inspector, or at least he was an inspector until he was arrested during a raid at a club and found out to be gay. Once this was discovered he was let go from his job on the police force and forced into hiding essentially while he worried who would find out his secret.

It was during this time that he met up with Pearl, a woman who lives at the Lavender House, a queer safe haven where the "family" that lives there all get to be unapologetically themselves. She approaches Evander because he is "one of them" and hopes that he will use his inspector skills to find out who killed her beloved wife and owner of the Irene Lamontaigne soap company. What ensures is a fun mystery where everyone is a suspect.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved reading about the family in Lavender House and learning about their secrets and backgrounds. While not an edge of your seat thriller, it was still fun and I wasn't able to figure out the ending until, well, the end! This is a book I will definitely be recommending to customers!

📚Happy pub day to this cozy, queer mystery novel: The Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen

🙏🏻big thank you to @netgalley and @forgereads for the advanced reader copy!

💬Lavender House takes place In the fifties, a time in history that was infamously unkind to the lgbtqia community.

Because of this, the wealthy family of the heiress of a successful soap empire chooses to create their own secret living arrangement where they can feel safe to be themselves without the scrutiny of the public.

However, soon that safety is shattered when someone in the house murders, Irene, the matriarch of this seemingly loving family.

Who did it and why? Suspicion lurks around every corner as the widow of Irene hires queer private investigator, Evander Mills, to dig deeper into the long buried secrets of this family to find the truth.

🏃🏻‍♀️This is a perfect, cozy read for spooky season. Just when you think you know who did it..think again. Make sure you pick this one up today!
…
…

As someone who loves a cozy mystery, a queer cozy historical mystery was the perfect thing to read while watching the leaves fall off the trees outside. Perfect fall book.

(4.5 stars rounded up to a 5)

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen is a queer historic gumshoe mystery. The ebook version is 256 pages. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at a little under ten hours and is narrated by Vikas Adam.

In 1952, Irene Lamontaine, the head of the eponymous soap empire, recently passed away under slightly mysterious circumstances. Her estate offers a unique freedom; all of the residents there can live exactly as who they are as queer individuals. In order to keep their secrets, they keep everyone else out. Though now they're worried they're keeping a murderer in. Irene's widow hires the recently sacked San Francisco police officer Evander "Andy" Mills to uncover the truth behind Irene's death. After all, they'll understand his secret.

I really enjoyed this and basically read it in one sitting. I love mysteries and this one was so full of queer people it made my heart sing.

Since this is a queer historical there are some heavy parts, since many people queer people of the time were looked down on as deviants. So do keep this in mind and check the CWs.

The narrator does an amazing job here, and now I'm going to look up other books that they read.

I'm excited to read more in this series (hopefully!) as the ending sets up a potential continuation. I loved Andy and would really love to read more of his story, helping queer people in San Francisco solve mysteries.

CW: murder, violence, homophobia, homophobic slurs

The publisher provided an audio ARC of this book for me to review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

This one was billed as a Queer Knives out and that is a totally accurate description! The year was 1952 and Irene Lamontaine is dead. She was head of a soap empire. The gates of their estate kept the secrets of their soap recipe and it’s inhabitants. There are many secrets kept behind these gates, including who killed Irene. I don’t want to say too much but I pointed my finger at literally everyone and was totally wrong! This was a wild whodunnit that kept me guessing!
.
Thank you #forge and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lavendar house was a delightful, cozy mystery! The modern day Agatha Christie but wonderfully queer. Set in the 1950s, this atmospheric murder mystery is not one to miss!

This was kind of a cozy murder mystery. I loved the setting of Lavender House and got the feeling of safety while reading, even though there’s a murderer living there! I will say it was obvious who the murderer was the whole time. I was hoping for a curveball, but it was who I thought it was. Regardless, it was a great story. It made me sad, however, that queer people couldn’t live and be happy and a lot of times still can’t. As a straight cis person it’s important to remember that.

Soapy goodness

How could a book about a murder and a soap business possibly be interesting? Well, not sure, but Lev AC Rosen has done it. Even though it's somewhere in the middle of the cozy and hard-boiled mystery continuum, Lavender House isn't a light book. It deals with the realities of being queer in 1950s San Francisco. Being queer in 1950s San Francisco bore no resemblance to being queer there today. (But, as I've said before, books set in the Bay Area are my jam.)

Plus, Lavender House is a fun read. There's an inherent sweetness to it. In investigating and solving the central mystery, Evander finds life. By the same token, Andy's slow realization that a queer, full life is possible takes Lavender House from a simple whodunit to something more meaningful. That still resonates today. 

That sounds cheesy, but it doesn't read that way. Part of what saves the book from going into saccharine territory is the flawed and campy-kooky characters. But no one is bitter just to be a jerk; these people develop tough outer shells for a reason.

Should you read it?

If you like found family, you'll love Lavender House. If you love imperfect characters, you'll love this book. Further, as far as mysteries go, it's one you can solve along with the narrator, and the pacing is just right. Unlike so many queer mysteries these days, there's nothing supernatural in this whodunit, but in this case, that makes it all the more effective. 

Lavender House is out on October 18, 2022. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library. 📚🐀