A review by jitterbun
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed everything about this book. The thing that makes this mystery work really well is the colorful characters. It's easy to believe any of the characters could be the murderer, but at the same time, like the protagonist Andy, you like them and want there to be another answer. This was somehow both uncomfortable and heartwarming at the same time. Heartwarming because Andy has finally found people who accept him as a gay man, and has many positive interactions with those in the household, but also uncomfortable because anyone in the household could be a murderer, and nobody wants to break up the safety of the house.

The book also does explore the benefits and hardships of living a secret double life. Lavender House serves as both a sanctuary and a prison to its residents, and best intentions often wind up manifesting into hurtful actions. 

Many people call this book a 'queer Knives Out" and would agree with that assessment. The characters' flaws make them fun to watch and there are a lot of fun elements in their interactions.
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