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A review by ruthypoo2
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A complicated murder mystery that’s full of eccentric characters. The majority of characters in the story are LGBTQ+ and either have a privileged background or come from a difficult upbringing or challenged life they want to escape in one way or another. There are strong themes of learning to live authentically and finding acceptance that doesn’t come with too high a cost.
The story is set in the 1950’s and I thought the author, Lev AC Rosen, did a fantastic job creating the perfect atmosphere for this tale of murder and suspense. The main character is former San Francisco police officer, Evander Mills, struggling to find a new career after being released from the police force when his homosexuality was discovered. Evander is hired by a wealthy family to investigate privately the suspicious death of their matriarch and his character feels like that smart and reliable gumshoe from the early part of the 20th Century. He’s a very likable guy doing his best to solve the murder mystery regardless of any buried family secrets that may come to light.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator, Vikas Adam, was just perfect as the voice of Evander and they carried the overall tone of the story beautifully.
The story is set in the 1950’s and I thought the author, Lev AC Rosen, did a fantastic job creating the perfect atmosphere for this tale of murder and suspense. The main character is former San Francisco police officer, Evander Mills, struggling to find a new career after being released from the police force when his homosexuality was discovered. Evander is hired by a wealthy family to investigate privately the suspicious death of their matriarch and his character feels like that smart and reliable gumshoe from the early part of the 20th Century. He’s a very likable guy doing his best to solve the murder mystery regardless of any buried family secrets that may come to light.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator, Vikas Adam, was just perfect as the voice of Evander and they carried the overall tone of the story beautifully.