Less creepy than her other books (3.5 stars)
I've read two other books by Charlotte Mills, both of which had creepy villains and unnerving happenings in the storyline. So before reading Sub-Rosa I prepared myself, assuming it would be in the same vein as the others; turns out that wasn't necessary. It has some horrible and unlikable (on purpose) secondary characters and when the tension ramps up your reading speed may increase proportionally to see what happens next, but there's plenty of humor to go with the romance blooming amidst intrigue, mystery and suspense. Main characters Mac and Ash have an original first meeting that complicates things when they cross paths later on thanks to the circumstances of that first encounter and Ash's unique and rare 'superpower' (for lack of a better word); the push pull in their relationship kept me wondering how they'd sort things out with as little angst as possible. I was rooting for them early on despite everything being thrown their way and got attached to them, wanting no harm to come to them.
There were twists in the storyline I saw coming and at least one that felt like a curveball I didn't see coming although the clues may have been there and I missed them while reading. My focus was more on the romance developing than the mystery aspect of the story until the suspense kicked up several notches. In addition to the unlikable secondary characters, some of whom I'd mix up in my mind when they weren't mentioned for a while, there were some more appealing ones including an adorable dog who needed more time on the page. A note for non UK readers: some acronyms used in the story are UK specific but there aren't many of them.
If you're in the mood for a low key mystery intrigue suspense story with lots of humor, despite the darker elements in it, and a romance that is both sweet and heat, give this one a go. And check out the author's other books if you like being weirded out by twisted baddies. I look forward to reading whatever she publishes next.

Sub-Rosa is a gripping whodunnit mystery that follows two women: one going rogue to clear her old mentor’s name and find his murderer, the other trying to survive in her new toxic work environment.

While the story can be predictable at times, Sub-Rosa can't be accused of taking itself too seriously. It embraces a campy approach to crime-solving by, for example, having a main character drop a pen at just the right moment to be out of sight, conveniently overhearing the villains being villainous without being noticed. The book is a treat right from the opening chapters, even before the major events teased in the marketing/synopsis of the book take place.

My only real complaint, if you can call it that, is that the POV changes can be a bit jarring. It’s written in third-person limited (thankfully!), but sometimes the only indication of a switch in perspective is a small decorative break between paragraphs.

Overall, I found the book charming and unpretentious. It’s fun, a bit cheeky, and features strong characters with a solid mystery at its core. The balance between romance and crime-solving shenanigans is just right, and the chemistry between the leads feels both tangible and believable. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone looking for a classic procedural cop novel with an amazing lesbian relationship at its heart!