Wonderful sequel to Lavender House
“The Bell in the Fog” (Andy Biggs #2) by Lev A.C. Rosen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Vintage Crime Noir LGBTQ+. Location: San Francisco, California, USA. Time: Autumn 1952.
THE SERIES: WWII Navy veteran Evander (Andy) Mills was a San Francisco police inspector until he was caught in a raid of a gay bar. Now gay bars weren’t exactly illegal in 1950s San Francisco. But “immoral acts” like kissing or touching were…Andy was of course fired, and now he needs to reinvent himself as the only openly queer private detective in the City.
THIS BOOK: Andy’s “Amethyst Investigations” is now located above the Ruby, the City’s most welcoming queer bar, (owned by Elsie from Lavender House). Business is slow-the queer community doesn’t yet trust hiring an ex-cop, even when he sincerely wants to help. And as Andy starts to live a more authentic life, he tries to get up the nerve to ask bartender Gene Manalo out.
Andy’s lover James mysteriously disappeared from Treasure Island naval housing 7 years ago. When James shows up at Amethyst Investigations because he’s being blackmailed, Andy wants to kick him out. But he needs money so agrees to investigate, despite their past on the WWII Navy minesweeper “Bell”. He heads out to investigate with his “Girl Friday” Lee, a performer at the Ruby. There are missing persons, former friends resurfacing, shocking betrayals, and violent, corrupt cops. Even worse, Andy’s past turns out to be “a ball of string, tangled and knotted”.
Author Rosen may be from modern New York City, but his writing definitely invokes that 1950s San Francisco Bay Area atmosphere: Neon fog, Singapore Slings and Pink Squirrels, “My Buddy”, fedoras. He has written another perfectly balanced tale. It’s a twisty noir mystery, not a history lesson, but you’ll learn some history while reading it. His writing keeps you turning pages to find out the next delicious part of the mystery. And it’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️ Thank you BookishFirst, Tor/Forge Books, and Lev AC Rosen for this early copy. Publishes 10/10/2023.
THE SERIES: WWII Navy veteran Evander (Andy) Mills was a San Francisco police inspector until he was caught in a raid of a gay bar. Now gay bars weren’t exactly illegal in 1950s San Francisco. But “immoral acts” like kissing or touching were…Andy was of course fired, and now he needs to reinvent himself as the only openly queer private detective in the City.
THIS BOOK: Andy’s “Amethyst Investigations” is now located above the Ruby, the City’s most welcoming queer bar, (owned by Elsie from Lavender House). Business is slow-the queer community doesn’t yet trust hiring an ex-cop, even when he sincerely wants to help. And as Andy starts to live a more authentic life, he tries to get up the nerve to ask bartender Gene Manalo out.
Andy’s lover James mysteriously disappeared from Treasure Island naval housing 7 years ago. When James shows up at Amethyst Investigations because he’s being blackmailed, Andy wants to kick him out. But he needs money so agrees to investigate, despite their past on the WWII Navy minesweeper “Bell”. He heads out to investigate with his “Girl Friday” Lee, a performer at the Ruby. There are missing persons, former friends resurfacing, shocking betrayals, and violent, corrupt cops. Even worse, Andy’s past turns out to be “a ball of string, tangled and knotted”.
Author Rosen may be from modern New York City, but his writing definitely invokes that 1950s San Francisco Bay Area atmosphere: Neon fog, Singapore Slings and Pink Squirrels, “My Buddy”, fedoras. He has written another perfectly balanced tale. It’s a twisty noir mystery, not a history lesson, but you’ll learn some history while reading it. His writing keeps you turning pages to find out the next delicious part of the mystery. And it’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️ Thank you BookishFirst, Tor/Forge Books, and Lev AC Rosen for this early copy. Publishes 10/10/2023.