It is 1950s San Francisco and detective Evander "Andy" Mills has just been thrown off the police force after being caught in a compromising position in a raid on a gay nightclub. While getting drunk and contemplating suicide, he is approached by a mysterious older woman called Pearl with a proposition for him to investigate the suspicious accidental death of her wife Irene, several weeks ago. Irene was the owner of one of the country's biggest soap companies. Pearl wonders if Irene's death from a fall could have been murder. Andy accepts the job and to investigate, moves into Lavender House, a luxurious Marin County estate inhabited by a found family of queer people: Pearl, Irene's son, his lesbian wife who he married for appearances and her partner; even the staff are queer. They live freely as themselves away from the danger of the 1950s' homophobic society.
Lavender House is essentially a well-written "whodunnit" with social commentary about how scary it was to be queer in the 50s. The book described the discrimination, hate and pain faced by queer people, including violent incidents of gay bashing. The issues explored in this book are unfortunately relevant given the recent assaults on LGBTQ+ rights. Lavender house is a tightly plotted atmospheric mystery with complex characters involved in complicated relationships. I really liked Andy and hope to see him in future books.
Lavender House is essentially a well-written "whodunnit" with social commentary about how scary it was to be queer in the 50s. The book described the discrimination, hate and pain faced by queer people, including violent incidents of gay bashing. The issues explored in this book are unfortunately relevant given the recent assaults on LGBTQ+ rights. Lavender house is a tightly plotted atmospheric mystery with complex characters involved in complicated relationships. I really liked Andy and hope to see him in future books.