mrlzbth's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
h0llyr00th's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is the 2nd ARC from Subtext that I've read by Rosen. Both were great. Fun, quick, queer cozy murder mystery.
carireadsbooksandtarot's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
PI Andy Mills is back in this sequel to Lavender House. Living above the Ruby, he hasn’t yet earned the trust of the queer community and business is slow. Then a ghost from his past walks into his office. James and Andy were inseparable during their Navy days while WW2 raged on, taking risks to be together whenever they could. But then he took a promotion and left without a word. Now he’s being blackmailed and wants Andy’s help. The case will lead Andy through the other queer bars of 1950s San Francisco and may threaten the entire community that is starting to embrace him.
This was a quick, easy read with a great, and growing, cast of characters. I loved the 1950s San Francisco setting and the film noir feel of this book. Rosen did a great job creating a second book that didn’t require readers to remember much, if anything, about the first, which I find really helpful! The story is well-paced and kept me interested throughout. The mystery is satisfying and not overly complicated.
I listened to Lavender House on audio and I think the writing style really lends itself to a great listening experience. I didn’t have quite as good of a time with this book, which I read in print. I definitely recommend the series and I think it offers something new and unique in the genre.
autumn_riley05's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
This was such a delight! I loved Lavender House, and am so happy to see the story continued. I love the cast of characters old and new, such an intriguing story and immersive setting.
raavenreads's review against another edition
5.0
Lev A.C Rosen does it again with this second installment in the Andy Mills series. I was so excited to see this added to Bookish First. Andy is on another adventure and we see a few faces from the last story as well.
Andy is back and isn’t getting many jobs in his new life as a queer detective. Word is out that he used to be a cop and people are terrified to speak to him. When an old flame ends up begging for his help, the past comes back to haunt him and buried secrets are brought back to light. Andy’s time in the Navy is explored and past, present, and future collide.
I really just love Andy. He’s such a good guy, especially in this book. I could literally read a million books about him and his friends. I love his character development from the last book. Lev has an amazing writing style and I’m always left guessing more and more with the mystery. There were so many plot twists and sad endings here, just like in Lavender House.
The cover in Lavender House had a very warm and pastel feel to it, while this book felt more gritty and noir, like the cover. I appreciate how the front of the books matched the feel before your begin reading.
I fully expect to become obsessed even more as this series continues, so I’m counting down the days till there’s another book! Thanks again Bookish First for the opportunity to read this early!
Andy is back and isn’t getting many jobs in his new life as a queer detective. Word is out that he used to be a cop and people are terrified to speak to him. When an old flame ends up begging for his help, the past comes back to haunt him and buried secrets are brought back to light. Andy’s time in the Navy is explored and past, present, and future collide.
I really just love Andy. He’s such a good guy, especially in this book. I could literally read a million books about him and his friends. I love his character development from the last book. Lev has an amazing writing style and I’m always left guessing more and more with the mystery. There were so many plot twists and sad endings here, just like in Lavender House.
The cover in Lavender House had a very warm and pastel feel to it, while this book felt more gritty and noir, like the cover. I appreciate how the front of the books matched the feel before your begin reading.
I fully expect to become obsessed even more as this series continues, so I’m counting down the days till there’s another book! Thanks again Bookish First for the opportunity to read this early!
shybookstagramer's review against another edition
4.0
This is a continuation of Andy Mills' story from Lavender House and I thought it was well done. We got to see some old characters and relationships show up and grow, but we also got a few new characters from Andy Mills' past. I liked learning a little more about his past prior to him being a cop then PI. This one followed a mystery inside a mystery. When you think the one is wrapped up, it opened up a whole new slew of questions that needed to be answered. I actually liked how that was done.
Definitely recommend it for those that like a little bit of mystery and/or noir-type books.
These are very different from LC Rosen's YA novels. So be aware of that if you love those. Still good but different vibes completely.
Thank you to bookishfirst, forgebooks, and the author for an arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Violence
Moderate: Murder
grace_astudentreading's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
haylethal's review
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.0
The Bell in the Fog is the follow-up to Lavender House.
In this book, Andy Mills has his own private investigation business above Elsie’s club, the Ruby. He’s struggling along and one day he gets a client from his past. An old flame and friend, James, needs Andy’s help in a blackmail scheme.
This book was slower than the first and it felt like it took me forever to read, but I was only 5 days. I think I also liked that Lavender House centered around the family and this one was more of Andy’s backstory and current career.
The Bell in the Fog is also pretty short and I thought the mystery was wrapped up about halfway through, but another mystery was layered within it. Because of this, the other mystery had to be wrapped up in quick order and felt rushed.
Overall, I liked the book and I am interested to see where this series takes us. I do hope the series brings back some of the other characters from the original!
In this book, Andy Mills has his own private investigation business above Elsie’s club, the Ruby. He’s struggling along and one day he gets a client from his past. An old flame and friend, James, needs Andy’s help in a blackmail scheme.
This book was slower than the first and it felt like it took me forever to read, but I was only 5 days. I think I also liked that Lavender House centered around the family and this one was more of Andy’s backstory and current career.
The Bell in the Fog is also pretty short and I thought the mystery was wrapped up about halfway through, but another mystery was layered within it. Because of this, the other mystery had to be wrapped up in quick order and felt rushed.
Overall, I liked the book and I am interested to see where this series takes us. I do hope the series brings back some of the other characters from the original!
silence's review
3.75
oh my god this was so much better than the first one. if you pay attention to my ratings, you'll know I gave Lavender House a 2 stars because while it did read like a gayer Knives Out, I got bored with the formulaic style the chapters followed. Andy would interview someone, think about it, then interview someone else, then think about, then intervi- you get the gist.
Bell in the Fog (shout out to BookishFirst for the very early copy), picks up after the events of Lavender House and puts Andy face to face with a former army fling who's being blackmailed. already, this was a far more interesting premise to me. instead of sequestering Andy to the house, as per Lavender House, he moves throughout the city, hopping from bar to bar where he interacts with a vast array of interesting characters. while a few of them were only there for a scene or two, they were all somehow distinct and real, proving to me, despite my overall neutrality for Lavender House, that Lev AC Rosen is skilled at crafting singular characters who have their own voices and dynamics with the rest of the cast and the world.
Despite this, I've settled on a 3.5-3.75 rating because the mystery did drag a little for me. I was far more invested in Gene and Andy's budding relationship. I'd read another five books centered on them, mystery or no mystery. Rosen has somehow managed to find the exact type of gay flirting that will always get me so like good for him.
Bell in the Fog (shout out to BookishFirst for the very early copy), picks up after the events of Lavender House and puts Andy face to face with a former army fling who's being blackmailed. already, this was a far more interesting premise to me. instead of sequestering Andy to the house, as per Lavender House, he moves throughout the city, hopping from bar to bar where he interacts with a vast array of interesting characters. while a few of them were only there for a scene or two, they were all somehow distinct and real, proving to me, despite my overall neutrality for Lavender House, that Lev AC Rosen is skilled at crafting singular characters who have their own voices and dynamics with the rest of the cast and the world.
Despite this, I've settled on a 3.5-3.75 rating because the mystery did drag a little for me. I was far more invested in Gene and Andy's budding relationship. I'd read another five books centered on them, mystery or no mystery. Rosen has somehow managed to find the exact type of gay flirting that will always get me so like good for him.
stitchnlich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Just as with Lavender House, this book was everything I love about detective fiction, and queer to boot. Again, as with its predecessor, this book did not shy away from period accurate depictions of queerness and the context in which queer people survived together but to do anything else would have been a disservice to the characters. While there's definitely a place in some historical genres (such as historical romance) for escapist revisionism (although blatant anachronism, such as Alexis Hall's Something Fabulous, grates on my nerves) this book does not flinch. It adds to the book in my opinion - a lot of detective fiction is gritty and dark for its own sake, dimly lit streets and fog and shady alleys an aesthetic choice, but because of Andy's gayness, and the queerness of his case, and the real threat of what might happen if even the perpetrators are discovered by the police, it takes these hallmark atmospheric elements and makes them integral. The consequences for leaving the shadows are real. Andy's grit is real trauma, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way that past was busted wide open in The Bell in the Fog. I loved Lavender House infinitely, but I actually think this story is a better crafted mystery. I knew who the murderer was in Lavender House about a third of the way through the book, but the twist in this book blindsided me. Pepper in mysterious figures from Andy's past, a tentatively burgeoning romance, and dazzling but down-to-earth drag performers to make this book is a perfect continuation of Andy Mills' story, and I can't wait to hear about more of his cases.
I received an ARC of this book but my opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book but my opinions are my own.
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