Thank you Minotaur Books @minotaur_books St Martins Press @stmartinspress Netgalley @ netgalley and Lev AC Rosen @levacrosen for this free book!
“Mirage City” (Evander Mills #4) by Lev AC Rosen⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Vintage Crime Noir LGBTQIA+. Location: Los Angeles, California, USA. Time: 1950s.

THE SERIES: WWII Navy veteran Evander (Andy) Mills was a San Francisco police inspector until he was caught in a gay bar raid. Gay bars weren’t exactly illegal in 1950s San Francisco, but “immoral acts” like kissing or touching were. Andy got fired, but reinvented himself as “Amethyst Investigations”, the only openly queer private detective in the City.

THIS BOOK: The Mattachine Society for queer rights hires Andy to find some missing members in Los Angeles. This leads him to a secretive psychiatric clinic where his mom works. When worlds collide, buried secrets are dug up, and Andy makes hard choices. Drugs, motorcycle gangs, and doctors surround him, and time is running out to save the missing-and get back to the City in time for his 37th birthday party.

Author Rosen has written another perfectly balanced tale-this time Los Angeles instead of the City by the Bay. It’s a twisty, noir, character-based mystery, not a history lesson, but you’ll learn some history while reading it. His character development and plots keep me turning pages. It’s such a joy to read Rosen-he’s a “must read” author for me! It’s 5⭐️ from me! 👩🏼‍🦳#LevACRosen #MirageCity

In Mirage City, which is the latest installment of Lev A.C. Rosen’s series, private investigator Evander “Andy” Mills finds himself back in Los Angelos, where he must undertake a challenging case for the Mattachine Society, a secretive organization fighting for the rights of its members. This is a dangerous mission for Andy, including motorcycle gangs, other nefarious characters. This case tests Andy’s investigative skills and forces him to confront his past. This novel was interesting as it is set in historical times, the early 1950’s when being openly gay was a dangerous prospect. As you read, you are thrust into the historical context, which showcases the harsh realities of those times, while Andy seeks to unravel the mystery surrounding the missing individuals. Viewing Andy’s internal struggles/conflicts was engaging, as was his struggle with his identity and relationships (past and present). While I had not read the other novels in this series, it did not keep me from enjoying this one. Rather, it made me want to read the others in the series and future titles by this author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honeat review.

Gosh, I love this series so much. I maintain that the audio is my ideal way to experience it, as they perfectly encapsulate the noir tone, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read an ARC of this. Rosen has been so good about weaving together historical events and topics within the gay community at the time in a way that perfectly spears through the heart of current issues. Mirage City is no different, tackling the Mattachine Society (a gay rights group whose ideology is that they will need to be "normal" and not draw attention to be accepted, cutting off anyone who lives a "flashy" lifestyle), conversion therapy, and gay motorcycle group.

For this, I actually really enjoyed that we take the story out of SF and down to LA. It both gives a chance for the story to expand and show different enclaves in different cities and show how mindsets could differ as well as give Andy a chance to see how much he's changed. We've seen him change and grow after feeling like his life had crumbled down around him, but when faced with the dual presences of the Mattachine society and the pressures of his mother's expectations, it's nice to see him realize that what he's built back up is dear to him in a way he's not willing to compromise on ever again.

As always, Rosen does an excellent job at setting a sense of place and time, and as much as I miss the familiar SF locales, 1950s LA leaps off the page. All in all, this series continues to be an excellent representation of historical fiction, noir mystery, and the queer intersection of them.

I adore Andy Mills, and this fourth installment only deepened that feeling. It’s a tough story at times, but so worth it.

To unravel the mystery of three missing people, Andy heads to Los Angeles. I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him being away from Gene and the rest of the familiar faces I’ve grown attached to. But Lev A.C. Rosen made such a brilliant call. The shift in setting opens up new layers, and the book absolutely delivers.

This book has everything I’ve come to cherish in the Andy Mills series: a slow-burning mystery, vivid characters (I want a spin-off of Will!), another glimpse into queer life in the 1950s, and a more intimate look at Andy himself. What I love most is how, despite its historical setting, the series feels so present and resonant.

And that ending! How could you leave me like that Lev? I turned the page and then nothing? Really? So, I need that fifth book now!

Actual rating 4.5 stars, rounded up to five.

As long as Lev AC Rosen wants to write about Evander Mills, I will continue reading! I loved the change of setting in this one and getting to explore more about Andy's past. Another hit!

This is the first I've read in this queer mystery novel series set in 1950s LA and San Francisco. While the story itself is fiction, the abuses and torture of homosexual men in the guise of making them "normal" is documented fact as is the Mattachine Society which was designed as a safety net. The story of the former police detective from LA who became a private detective who worked for the good of men like him is very moving and well written. Now I want to read the earlier books in series.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Oct 07, 2025 *****review #bookbub #goodreads #thestorygraph
#MirageCity by @levacrosen #EvanderMillsBk4 @stmartinspress @minotaur_books #librarything
#Mysterythriller #missingpersons #Historicalfiction #1950s #privatedetective #lgbtq #excop #noerotica #mattachinesociety #conversiontherapy #torture #coersion #rescue #fiction

MIRAGE CITY by Lev AC Rosen
A complex and somewhat troubling case takes Evander Mills to L.A., city of dreams and mirages, in search of missing persons. He is hired on behalf of the Mattachine Society, which is working for homosexual rights, with leadership favoring fitting in, acting normal (whatever that means) in order to earn those rights. (Real group, relevant history)
Can he solve the case and return to San Francisco in time for the birthday celebration his friends insist on having at the Ruby? He’d better!
The case involves Andy with a gay motorcycle club, the Bacchanals, and author’s historical notes say that motorcycle clubs were earliest advocates of gay rights. Another impressive bit of history, delivered in this most compelling mystery/adventure.
There’s a disturbing subplot, details of which might be a spoiler so I won’t say, but it’s important to know about, another reason to read this compelling book. We’ve come far since the ‘50s, not far enough, but things do get better if we work for change.
Final thought: If the inclusion of “Am I Blue?” (as an important childhood memory) is not a deliberate reference to the story of that title by Bruce Coville in the anthology AM I BLUE? . . . well, it ought to be. ;-)
Coming Oct. 7, so there is time to read earlier books in the series if you wish, but you wouldn’t have to.

Another triumph from Lev AC Rosen and what could be the most moving book of the series. I don’t hide the fact that these books have become all time faves for me. What I love about the Evander Mills books is not just that they are fantastic mystery storytelling, but they speak to the issues that we faced and are still facing now. He handles all of these difficult issues with care and compassion and nuance, all things that are lacking so often today. Again he shows us his beautiful and concise writing and his masterful work with character. Everyone and everything jumps off the page in his books. From San Fran to LA, every person and local feels so authentic, honest, well researched and real. I wish more people would get out and support these brilliant books. Rosen has given me one of my all time favorite gay characters in books with Evander Mills and I pray this won’t be his last outing. We deserve more wonderful gay stories like this one told by gay authors. This book is brilliant and will leave you with a tear in your eye. Read it! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Minotaur books for this ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This is my first time reading Rosen and I enjoyed it. Although part of a series, the book stands alone well. Rosen's protagonist, Andy, is a gay man living in San Francisco in the 1950's. He's a former policeman turned private investigator. He has found a love and a life in San Francisco but remains closeted with his mother in LA. He's hired by a group of gay people who meet with the goal of "normalizing" themselves to be active in society. In essence, passing. Andy is tasked with finding some members who have gone missing. The case brings him back to LA where he confronts his past, meets a gay motorcycle group, another gay cop and finds the missing people all of whom have gone missing for various reasons. Rosen portrays the social barriers faced by gay people in the 1950's vividly. A bit slow to start, it became compelling after the midway point.

Sorry but I did not care for this book. Too much about alternative life styles so I could not sympathize with the characters

Andy Mills is building a life for himself in San Francisco. He was drummed out of the LA police force when caught in a raid of a gay club. Now, he's a private investigator who often helps other gays build shadow identities. It's 1952 and being gay is not only against the law but downright un-American.

When Andy is hired by the Mattachine Society to track down two missing members, he's compelled to travel back to LA to look for them. There he discovers a web of secrets, Hollywood coverups, and a doctor intent on curing homosexuality. He also runs into his mother who works at the doctor's clinic. His mother doesn't know that he is gay. Andy fears her reaction when she finds out since so many of his friends have been disowned by their families.

The story was engaging. I loved the way people formed their own tribes of like-minded people. From the gay motorcycle club to the reserved Mattachine Society to those agitating for gay rights, there were lots of ways of dealing. And then there were the gays who decided to assimilate and hide their real selves.

Andy did find the three people he was hired to find, and he solved a murder too. This is the fourth book in a series and stands alone well.

I have never read any of this author’s other books. But, I will now. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is heartbreaking, painful, and cruel. It is also surprising uplifting and hopeful. The characters are realistically portrayed as they navigate between the family they were born into and the family that they have chosen. I am very much looking forward to catching up with previous books as I wait for the next. In the series.

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. All of the above opinions are my own

Thank you to Minotaur and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

California, 1952. Evander “Andy” Mills is 37 years old, a disgraced former policeman and now a gay private investigator.

From his new home in San Francisco, above a (gay)bar called “Ruby’s,” he is hired to find three missing members of the Mattachine Society, a group of homosexuals and lesbians who believe in assimilation as a way to earn equality in mid-century America. They recently have split from their original group, now known as “One,” who believe in Queer Rights – the ability to live openly as the people they really are. It is possible that the missing people have been caught in some way in this schism.

Andy’s assignment takes him back to Los Angeles, where he was born, and into a gripping case concerning efforts to change “male sexual deviancy,” i.e., homosexuality. He meets a variety of strong gay characters, including a motorcycle gang called the “Bacchanals.”

The book is rich with descriptions and sympathy of varied life styles, especially trying to balance the benefits of being seen as “normal” versus embracing the authenticity of being gay. As part of his self-redemption for his actions (or non-actions) as a closeted police office, Andy is a sympathetic character trying to help the gay community. He does this as a private eye, finding and unmasking blackmailers and threats, and in unusual ways as well: he and a partner invent cover stories for homosexuals whose families or jobs are threatened.

The book is well-written, in a style that lightly echoes noir novels of the period, and the issues and personalities make for a thought-provoking and absorbing read. This is the fourth novel in the series, and I was glad to make Andy’s acquaintance, and look forward to learning more about him from the earlier books.

This is Book #4 in the series that began with Lavender House, and each book continues to get more powerful, as well as to develop both the character of Evander Mills and all the supporting cast. This time, Andy heads to Los Angeles, where his mother becomes a part of the plot, as well as a motorcycle gang, conversion therapy, and the continued issues around being gay during the 1950’s. Powerful reminder, that NO, we do not want to go back - the prejudice, the illegal treatment of the LGBTQ community, all of it was horrific. Thankful for this author who reminds us of a time where hate ruled so that we do not forget, and also gives us an entertaining detective story. Well done!

"Lev A.C. Rosen delivers a new and captivating 1950s mystery in this dazzling, award-winning series.

Private Investigator Evander "Andy" Mills' next case takes him out of his comfort zone in San Francisco - and much to his dismay, back home to Los Angeles. After a secretive queer rights organization called the Mattachine Society enlists Andy to find some missing members, he must dodge not only motorcycle gangs and mysterious forces, but his own mother, too.

Avoiding her proves to be a challenge when the case leads Andy to the psychiatric clinic she works at. Worlds collide, buried secrets are dug up, and Andy realizes he's going to have to make some hard choices. With secrets, drugs, and doctors swirling around him, time is running out for Andy to locate the missing and get them to safety. And for him to make it back to San Francisco in one piece."

Oh please, I hope he does get those people to safety because I can guess what the doctors are up to...

Mirage City is the 4th novel in the Evander Mills series, which takes place in 1950s San Francisco. I have not read any of the previous Lev AC Rosen's novels, but although Mirage City is part off a series, it also works well as a stand alone mystery. I had not previously heard of the Mattachine Society, which was an advocacy group created to help change society's attitude toward Homosexuality. Mirage City is the first time I had heard of this organization, which plays a large role in Rosen's novel. Andy is a gay P.I., whose circle of friends has become quite narrow. Unfortunately, Andy is estranged from his family, and must engage in deception to have a relationship with his mother. This problem is not easily solved.

In Mirage City, Andy is asked to solve a case involving multiple missing persons, who are members of the Mattachine Society. Rosen does provide a lot of history about gay life in San Francisco and Los Angles in the 1950s. This background history is very helpful in understanding Andy's actions. In the end, Andy is able to solve the case, although not necessarily as the Mattachine group would have wanted. I found the forces that required people to live apart and hide who they are to be quite heartbreaking. Rosen does a good job exploring this time and the issues involved.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. The above comments are accurate.
4 Stars

The cover of Mirage City is absolutely gorgeous and was what first drew me in. I also found the main character engaging and well-drawn, which made me want to keep going. Unfortunately, the setting and plot just didn’t pull me in the way I’d hoped, and I decided to set it aside. I think readers who connect more with the atmosphere and storyline will enjoy this one much more than I did.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Lev AC Rosen shows us a part of American history that is often left out of history books. Not only was the mystery interesting, but so was the story around it. Unfortunately, the treatment of the queer community was heartbreaking, and Rosen does not shy away from describing some of the 'medical' procedures used to 'cure' them.

I also thought the Mattachine society, based on an actual group who existed at the time, was interesting, since I had never heard of them. Of course, nothing beats a queer biker gang, who was also based on a real biker community.

Another aspect of the book is the continued development of Andy's character. In this book, we're introduced to his mother, and we further explore his relationship with her. I really enjoy seeing Andy grow and become more comfortable with each installment in the series.

I am looking forward to the next book and for whatever else Rosen introduces me to.

I'm jumping into this series at book 4, and that was not an issue. I'm sure I missed some details but the story was easy enough to follow for a new reader. Evander (Andy) Mills is a private investigator who lives in San Francisco. He is hired by a secretive queer rights organization called the Mattachine Society to find three missing persons and that job takes him to Los Angeles. Andy ends up running into his estranged mother at a shady mental health clinic which complicates everything. There is a motorcycle gang that he enlists to help find two of the missing men and help break out some patients who were in the clinic against their will. Andy eventually finds all three missing people and each one has a story behind their disappearance. He gets back to San Francisco just in time for his birthday bash his friends plan for him, but he is not sure if he will hear from his mom again.
Book 4 makes me want to go back and read the previous books in the series to find out more about Andy and his journey to becoming a PI. Andy's friends in San Francisco were entertaining to read about from bartender/boyfriend Gene to Lee who performs at The Ruby bar. I enjoyed learning about how these friends were really each other's families and how they really cared about each other. Being set in the 1950s is fun because a PI has to rely on personal connections, intuition, and smarts since there is no internet or cell phones.
If you are looking for a good historical mystery series, I definitely recommend this book.
#MirageCity #NetGalley
Thank you Minotaur Books and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have discovered a series I want to go back and read from the beginning. The mystery was good and the setting something that attracted me. It shared hope at a time when there was not much - being queer in the 40’s and 50’s. The partnership shared by some of the characters was heartwarming. It showed hope and power in being true to oneself. I smiled much of the time reading it. Keep it up Rosen.