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Lavender House

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

"This is a beautiful, satisfying listen."- AudioFile
"Most audiobook readers are familiar with Vikas Adam's work. He's a prolific narrator in the YA and romance space and the perfect choice for Lavender House....The narration kept my attention all the way through!"- Bookcrushin'
A delicious story from a 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.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      August 15, 2022
      Set in 1952, this appealing character-driven mystery from Rosen (Camp) finds 32-year-old Evander “Andy” Mills sitting in a San Francisco bar contemplating suicide. Two days earlier, he lost his job as an inspector for the San Francisco PD when he was picked up in a raid on a gay club. Blacklisted, kicked out of his apartment, and shunned by his former colleagues, Andy realizes he has no real options. That is, until Pearl Velez sits down beside him and offers him a job investigating the death of her wife, Irene Lamontaine, the creator of the distinctive floral scents that have made Lamontaine soap famous. Some believe that Irene’s fall from her balcony was accidental; Pearl believes she was murdered. Pearl brings Andy to the secluded Lamontaine estate, where he meets the collection of friends who have become a tight-knit family. Could one of the “family” be responsible for Irene’s death? Never mind the straightforward plot and the pretty obvious culprit. This book’s real pleasure lies in the richly realized portrayal of its cast and their personal struggles. Rosen puts a welcome gay spin on the traditional country house whodunit.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Vikas Adam shines in this character-driven mystery set in 1950s San Francisco. After he's caught in a raid on a gay bar and fired from the police force, Andy thinks his life is over. Instead, the matriarch of a wealthy queer family hires him to investigate her wife's murder--and introduces him to their house, where queer people love openly. From the flirty joking of the family's son-in-law to the sad, refined tones of the grieving widow, Adam captures the essence of every character. He's at his best when portraying Andy, which he does with compassion. His gruff, deep voice sounds more like a growl when Andy is upset, and softens to a tremble in moments of vulnerability. This is a beautiful, satisfying listen. L.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

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  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

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