The Bell in the Fog (Evander Mills, #2)
Lev A.C. Rosen
The Bell in the Fog , a dazzling historical mystery by Lev AC Rosen, asks―once you have finally found a family, how far would you go to prove yourself to them? San Francisco, 1952. Detective Evander “Andy” Mills has started a new life for himself as a private detective―but his business hasn’t exactly taken off. It turns out that word spreads fast when you have a bad reputation, and no one in the queer community trusts him enough to ask an ex-cop for help. When James, an old flame from the war who had mysteriously disappeared, arrives in his offices above the Ruby, Andy wants to kick him out. But the job seems to be a simple case of blackmail, and Andy’s debts are piling up. He agrees to investigate, despite everything it stirs up. The case will take him back to the shadowy, closeted world of the Navy, and then out into the gay bars of the city, where the past rises up to meet him, like the swell of the ocean under a warship. Missing people, violent strangers, and scandalous photos that could destroy lives are a whirlpool around him, and Andy better make sense of it all before someone pulls him under for good.
No posts yet
Kick off the convo with a theory, question, musing, or update
Your rating:
0Even better than the first. With The Bell in the Fog, Lev AC Rosen's queer historical noir mystery series has cemented its place in my heart. Both books have been full of wholly human, deliciously flawed characters with detective Andy Mills at the messy, moving heart of it all. This sequel expands on the tight knit community of Lavender House, proving that worldbuilding doesn't just apply to high fantasy - 1950s San Francisco and its queer community, absolutely lush with smoke and fog and the grit of historical detail, shines as the background for a mystery plot that clips along at a fine pace, with a satisfying (and emotional) resolution. I genuinely loved this story with my whole heart, and I hope Rosen writes several more in the series!
Thanks to Forge Books for the advance review copy!
0The Bell in the Fog is a fantastic follow up to the first in this excellent historical mystery series. This latest installment gives us more of Andy’s personal history, wrapped up in a tricky, and at times tragic, mystery. Andy is impossible not to root for, and he is surrounded by a cast of characters who all sparkle on the page. This book is cinematic to its core, and I simply cannot wait for the next installment.
Thank you to Forge Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
0
© 2024 Pagebound