Lavender House

A Novel

By: Lev AC Rosen

Narrated by: Vikas Adam

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A delicious story from an new voice in suspense, Lev AC Rosen's Lavender House is Knives Out with a queer historical twist.

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Forge Books.

©2022 Lev AC Rosen (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

2022, Library Journal Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2022, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

"This is a beautiful, satisfying listen." –AudioFile

"Lev AC Rosen’s lushly rendered mystery, Lavender House, sets the detective novel on its head. There's the dishonored policeman sitting on a barstool in 1950's San Francisco and the elegant woman who slides in next to him with a job. But this femme's wife has been murdered, and the day-drinking cop has been brutally ousted from his job for being gay. Rosen’s smart, bittersweet tale plays with the oldest truth of all: the price we pay for our identity in America." –Walter Mosley

"Rosen’s deftly clued, noir-tinged plot successfully walks the line between hope and heartbreak, all while thoughtfully exploring the role of family in our lives. This fresh take on the classic private investigator begs to be brought to the big screen." –Library Journal, starred review

Great Book, Will Read Author Again

I love this narrator! Have listened to him before, and will definitely listen to him again. The story was captivating. I really loved it! I thought the characters were well developed. I will definitely be checking out more work from this author.

Queer Perfection

Not only was the narrator delightful but the story itself was gripping. I was incredibly moved by Evander (Andy) and his life as a gay detective. Lavender House provided an escape to a queer family that could not live openly. I found their stories as well as their love incredibly touching! I bawled at the ending and the genuine care I felt between the newly created family. I could not recommend this book enough 10000/10

modern day clue

The story felt like a modern day clue detective story. The backdrop of the house and the verbatious words intertwining the visuals of this content kept you lingering and hanging on.

OMG so amazing

I've been saying this a lot lately, but this is a first for me by this author and narrator.

And I was blown away on how amazing this was.
I had seen this cover a few times and loved it, yes, I'm one of those people! That judge and buy a book by its cover.
I finally saw the audio and listen to the sample and hit the credit buy button before the sample was done.

This story is a mystery, yes. But so much more. It's set in the early 1950's and it took me a minute to get myself in that mindset of how the was story told. The wording, the thoughts, actions. But once I fell into it I was taken away into that house, that life.
I do have to add, I did FF during the beating I just couldn't handle it.

The twist of the who done it was very well done, and even though I kinda gues about half way through, I was still hooked until the end.

The narration... was probably the best I've every heard. I do not know anything about the narrator, but will look them up. The way they which voices. (Well, I'm assuming it was one person, not a dual narration)
Based on one, the way they changed from male to female, tipsy drunk to sad crying was phenomenal. I hope I can find more by this person.

I will also be looking up the rest of the authors work. I am officially hooked!.

Enjoyable

Liked the story although it did get a bit repetitive and was a bit predictable. My biggest complaint was with the narrator…he tried too hard to sound like a noir-style detective. - it was distracting. But, if you like mysteries and anything related to the queer experience, this isn’t a bad waste of your time.

Great Who Dun It

I enjoyed the narrator and the writing a lot. It moved along quickly but read like a film noir movie especially with the narrators style and deep voice. I could really picture it well in my head and it played like a movie as I listened! Def recommend if you like a good mystery

4

4 and growing. If the 2nd book were
ready, I would buy it right now.
it's a little rough as first novels often
can be, but as I listened to it, I caught the author's rhythm.
So many characters that I kinda started
sliding by the few I
did not see as anything but window dressing.

Noir take with a twist

I loved this book as did my book club. I look forward to continuing the series!

Good, but missing something

I didn’t dislike it, but I also dying to find out the mystery. I also feel like I would have like it better if I had read it instead. The male reader does not have a great “female” voice.

I love everything about this book

I just finished the book so I’m still absolutely reeling from the end but I love it so much 10/10 recommend