🏠Book Review🏠
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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.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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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!
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QOTD: do you enjoy whodunnit mysteries ?!
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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!
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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!
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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. 📚🐀

Lavender House is a historical fiction novel following the murder of the rich owner of a soap company. With an entirely queer cast and a twisty, creepy mystery, this is one not to be missed!

Lavender House first attracted me with the beautiful cover, but it kept me hooked with vivid characters, an immersive setting, and a mystery that just keeps you guessing. Overall, I gave it four stars: Very good, but not quite perfect.
In Lavender House, we follow Andy, who has just been fired from his police job after being caught at a raid on a gay bar. In 1950s San Francisco, this has the potential to be not only career threatening, but life threatening. While dealing with the aftermath of this, he is approached by a woman who wants him to investigate what she believes to be a murder. She knows why he's been fired, but doesn't mind: the deceased was her wife. Andy takes the job and is instantly swept into a family full of flawed, sometimes volatile people who love each other very much. I saw bits of my own faults-and strengths- in many of the characters and found them to be realistic and believable.
The themes that reoccurred throughout the story were impactful. I found Andy's musings on the concept of family, pretend happiness, secrets, and taking risks to be relatable. The messaging was just a smidge heavy-handed at times, but managed to stay endearing for me. The story as a whole is quite cozy. It isn't full of shocking twists or particularly intense action; the focus is on the residents of the house. Each of them have their secrets and Andy is tasked with discerning which of these secrets are relevant to the murder at hand.
I am not a person who usually has a vivid mental image as I'm reading a book, but something about Rosen's descriptions enabled me to visualize much better than usual. I really enjoyed the details of character's outfits and mannerisms, but I could see how it would seem to slow the story down for some.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this--as well as listen to it! The audiobook narrator did a lovely job as well.

- LAVENDER HOUSE is a wholly unique book: murder mystery, gothic tale, queer historical fiction, and explorations of how much you're willing to give up for safety, along with what you owe others vs looking out for only yourself.
- Every time I opened this book the world around me completely disappeared and I sank fully into Lavender House and the people in it. Each character was fighting their own internal battles and I felt for them all.
- I think avid mystery readers will probably figure out whodunnit, but even once I got it, I was still on the edge of my seat watching it all play out.

While historical fiction is not my usual genre, I grabbed this one as it was a queer historical fiction of which we never have enough. Coming out and living freely is never really easy, especially in the 1950’s when there were no rights, Where gossip was enough to ruin a teachers career or fell a politician. Andy knows this only too well - as a police officer he was recently caught in a regular pre-Stonewall bar raid, lost his job and is now emotionally and physically adrift. Approached by an eccentric widowed woman looking into the death of her partner, a matriarch of a beauty product company he discovers Lavender House, a freewheeling and heartwarming community where people lived openly living authentic lives. It’s being described as a gay Knives Out, which is fine, if it garners more interest and more readers. Heartbreaking at times, I immersed myself into a time period when I was a young child, and was grateful I now live openly but now in an era when I could easily become hounded again.

Lavender House is a bingeable read that I couldn’t put down.

Rosen’s characters are complex, compelling, and offer readers a plain and devastating look at what it was like to be queer in 1950’s America. There was a strong theme of accountability throughout the story, with the message never feeling heavy-handed. Going hand in hand with that are explorations into the mentality that blending in with your persecutors will provide the ultimate protection, and the idea that freedom can sometimes end up as yet another kind of cage.

Readers who enjoy the found family trope will get great satisfaction out of this story, which proves that blood isn’t always everything. Sometimes- a lot of times- family is something that you have to make for yourself. The mystery aspect of the story played out well, and Rosen did a fair job of keeping me second-guessing my suspicions until they were ready to make the answer too obvious to ignore.

If you enjoy historical novels or whodunits (or both), and are always on the lookout for more LGBTQ+ representation, then you really can’t go wrong with Lavender House.

3.5. I enjoyed Lavendar House. At the start, the author bangs us over the head with the fact that gay people had to remain hidden in the 1950s. But, point taken. As the mystery moves along, relationships are built, found family is explored, and I really grew to love each character. The end was satisfying and the door seems to be left open for more books with Andy. Definitely recommend for fans of noir and locked room mysteries.