Book Description

Lavender House, 1952: the family seat of recently deceased matriarch Irene Lamontaine, head of the famous Lamontaine soap empire. Irene’s recipes for her signature scents are a well guarded secret—but it’s not the only one behind these gates. This estate offers a unique freedom, where none of the residents or staff hide who they are. But to keep their secret, they’ve needed to keep others out. And now they’re worried they’re keeping a murderer in.

Irene’s widow hires Evander Mills to uncover the truth behind her mysterious death. Andy, recently fired from the San Francisco police after being caught in a raid on a gay bar, is happy to accept—his calendar is wide open. And his secret is the kind of secret the Lamontaines understand.

Andy had never imagined a world like Lavender House. He’s seduced by the safety and freedom found behind its gates, where a queer family lives honestly and openly. But that honesty doesn’t extend to everything, and he quickly finds himself a pawn in a family game of old money, subterfuge, and jealousy—and Irene’s death is only the beginning.

When your existence is a crime, everything you do is criminal, and the gates of Lavender House can’t lock out the real world forever. Running a soap empire can be a dirty business.

My Review

I’ve read several of Rosen’s YA novels, so I was excited about the opportunity to read his foray into historical mysteries.

This is a delightfully twisty story hearkening back to the pulp detective era. The Lamontaine family hires Andy because he’s the only one who won’t look too closely at their living arrangements. But as Andy begins unwinding the tangled relationships of the household, more and more secrets come to light. Nobody is telling the truth and everyone has something to hide.

This is a fascinating glimpse into the queer communities of 1950s San Francisco. It’s clear that Rosen put a lot of work into researching authentic details, and it shows. The characters are well-developed and nuanced with unique personalities and foibles. The mystery is satisfying—I often can see twists coming, but the identity of the perpetrator managed to elude me until the big reveal.

I would absolutely recommend Lavender House, and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out later this year.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Forge/NetGalley.