Lavender House

[cornerofmadness]

Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Some of the hype around this book called it a gay Knives Out which okay maybe but I think is a disservice to the book (as for me that movie was overhyped and dull as dishwater). Let's get some trigger warnings out of the way. This book is ALL about gay pain and there is a brutal on-page gay bashing.

It's 1952 and detective Evander "Andy" Mills was caught in a bathroom stall with his lover in a raid. Outed as queer, his time as a cop is over. Hell, if any of his former coworkers see him again it's likely they'll beat him to death. Andy is contemplating suicide when he's approached by an older woman, Pearl because she believes her wife's death was no accident.

Irene Lamontaine has built a soap empire and was found dead in her 'library.' Pearl explains that she also built an oasis for queer people so everyone who works in the inner circle and lives at the Lavender House are gay including Irene's son who has a public wife (who is a lesbian and her lover is one of the most interesting characters in the story), her son's boyfriend and all the house staff. The only person not gay at the house is the son's wife's controlling mother.

As much as Pearl would like the killer to be someone outside the house, Andy isn't so sure. He wants the home to be a haven for him as well but not everyone is thrilled to see him. Not only does he suspect them, but as a cop he is part of the problem. He might not have bashed anyone but he didn't stop it either (though truthfully it's doubtful he could have done so)

I really liked the characters and while I prefer stories that are not about queer pain (as there are so many of them) it's not like the 1950s are going to offer much that isn't about pain. There is a line in the blurb (and echoed in the book) "When your existence is a crime, everything you do is criminal" and that is so telling and so powerful.

I found the mystery aspect of it to be good and while this is stand alone it is set up that maybe it could continue as a P.I. series (because as it's pointed out, homosexuals aren't likely to ask the police for help). I enjoyed this one very much.



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