I love everything about this story!

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The story follows Andy Mills, a former police officer, who’s trying to grow his PI business, but gaining people's trust proves to be a challenge. The story takes an unexpected turn when James, a close friend, and ex-lover, walks into his office and asks for his help with a blackmail case.

“The recognition hits like an anchor that’s dropped too fast, crashing into the seabed, into both of us, sand flying up, fish fleeing, a heavy thud, and a scar on the ocean floor.”

James' arrival stirs up a whirlwind of emotions in Andy, both good and bad, and it becomes increasingly harder to tell them apart. Even though their past still haunts him, he agrees to take the case. It doesn’t take long before Andy starts losing himself in the depths of James' deep blue eyes once again.

“’I’m sorry.’ He looks back up, and his eyes are large. They’re the color of the ocean at sunset – the parts farther from the sun, where the water isn’t quite as dark as it gets at night. Where it’s still turquoise but also navy. I used to love staring at that part of the ocean when the sun was low on the horizon.”

The initial blackmail case gradually turns into something much more complicated and dangerous, leaving Andy with the almost impossible task of saving everyone, including himself. His only lead is missing, and he’s running out of time. To make things worse, unsettling memories begin to resurface in Andy's mind, prompting him to question how well he truly knows his friends.

I loved everything about this story - it’s a perfect blend of history, social commentary, and noir mystery! The world-building is fantastic, the characters are well-developed and relatable, and the eerie atmosphere that permeates every page adds a whole new dimension to the story! The San Francisco underground queer club scene of the 1950s is vividly described, and it was so inspiring to see that people still found ways to enjoy their life and have fun, even under constant social pressure and repression. There are so many surprising twists and turns, and just when I thought I was close to figuring it all out, something new and unexpected happened. It can definitely be read as a standalone. However, I enjoyed it so much that now I want to read Lavender House too!

The cover looks great – it’s bold, mysterious, eye-catching, and it fits the story perfectly!

Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher Forge Books, and author Lev A.C. Rosen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! My review is based on an uncorrected text. The Bell in the Fog by Lev A.C. Rosen is due to be released on October 10, 2023.