Another great installment in Evander Mills series. I've really enjoyed more backstory on Andy and how he's starting his business. I liked learning more about the clubs and most of the characters. Lee was such a fun addition to the solving team. I also really loved Gene and Elsie.

It's painful to know just how dangerous is was to just. . .live, and these books are just a bit sad, always, because of it. But I love the hope and joy that shines through in the times that it does. I can't wait to read the next one! ( )

What an absolutely delightful sequel. I loved getting more backstory and depth to Andy while meeting an almost entirely new cast of characters. Delightful twists and turns with so much heart, like all of Rosen’s books I’ve read so far. ( )

Most of the book focuses on Andy dealing with his new life as a private investigator specializing in queer clients and his complicated romantic interests but it's a solid plot, too, with a believable twist. ( )

The Bell in the Fog is the sequel to Lavender House and follows detective Evander "Andy" Mills. The series is set in early 1950s San Francisco among the LGBTQ+ community. I loved Lavender House, so was excited to read The Bell in the Fog.
Andy, no longer with the police force, is working as a PI out of an office above The Ruby, Elsie's queer club. He is approached by James, an old boyfriend from his days in the navy, who is being blackmailed. Andy embarks on a hunt for the compromising photographs of James and, in doing so, must face the uncomfortable truths and secrets from his days in the navy. Andy, previously lonely and isolated as a closeted gay cop, starts to make connections within the queer community, with the help of his new friend Lee, a female impersonator from the Ruby, who loves the idea of being a PI's "Girl Friday". Rosen paints a vivid picture of the times and the constant threats to queer people whether they be from a hostile government and military, a homophobic police force and hateful members of the general public.
The Bell in the Fog is a well written, immersive, unpredictable, historical mystery with an atmospheric setting and well developed morally grey characters. It was even better than Lavender House and I could not put it down. Thank you to BookishFirst for a copy to review. ( )

I loved the first book, "Lavender House," so much, and was so excited when I realized it was becoming a series. I'm happy to say that I loved the sequel as well. Andy is an excellent main character, and while I think he carries this book a bit (the first book as well), I also liked the cast of minor characters. Lee is a wonderful edition, and I particularly like the inclusion of one of Andy's past lovers, especially when the story delved into their past. I only wish there'd been more to it. But I love that there's more romance in this one! I'm really looking forward to seeing where that goes. As with Rosen's other books, I like his writing as well, and the historical queer setting will likely keep bringing me back for more.

One thing about this sequel is that it didn't feel like much of a mystery story this time around. Hopefully the next book has a tightly written mystery like the first book again.

I enjoyed Lavender House, the first Andy Mills mystery, but was still holding out a bit wanting to see where the story would go next (assuming there was a next). The Bell in the Fog more than met my hopes.

This series is very noir. It really couldn't be anything else, set as it is the the post-WWII red scare/lavender menace panics. A book set during this time with primarily queer characters that ignored the threats and abuses would be unacceptably light, a willful covering of the eyes. But those times also saw an emerging queer community that was increasingly asserting its right to exist and refusing to settle for pariah status, and Lev A.C. Rosen shows us both sides of the coin.

Andy Mills, the P.I. in these books, is gay and was a sonar operator during WWII. When he left the Navy at the war's end, he joined the San Francisco Police Force—thinking the best place to hide himself would be the spot no one would ever expect him. When he was brutally ejected from the force, he began his P.I. work, setting up shop in an office/apartment above one of the city's gay bars. He's not warmly embraced by the community, though he does have friends. With regular raids of gay gathering spots and police brutality, any former cop is going to be looked upon askance.

The plotting in The Bell in the Fog is tight, with enough information doled out to make the question of whodunnit at the fore, but not obvious. Andy's surprised when a former lover with whom he sailed in the navy (the promotional materials aptly describe him as "an old flame from the war who had mysteriously disappeared") shows up seeking help to identify a blackmailer and to get back photos being used to blackmail him. This ex didn't leave the military, climbed through the ranks, and is now being considered for a promotion that would be scuttled if word got out about his identity.

In this volume, Rosen displays a particular skill for providing endings that turn out not to be endings, but rather transitions into deeper layers of threat. I don't want to say more than that because of spoilers, but, if you like books that pull the rug out from under you a few times over the course of the action, you'll be delighted by this title.

You don't need to have read Lavender House in order to enjoy The Bell in the Fog. Rosen deftly provides contextual information where it's needed without being at all heavy-handed. In fact, I would suggest starting with this volume as its definitely the stronger of the two.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed Lavender House so was greatly anticipating The Bell in the Fog. Overall it was lackluster in comparison, which is probably on me for thinking the sequel can stand up to the original. I liked how we saw Mills’ progression as a PI with new offices above the Ruby, as well as the will-they-won’t-they flirtation with Gene. I also liked how we got a taste of what life was actually like during that time period, especially seeing the transition of ex-sailors into domestic life and the never ending police raids of the time. This was helpful for placing the reader in Mills’ world.

However, the overall plot was bland at best. I couldn’t care less about James, Danny, Donna, or even Helen. It felt like these characters were pulled out of a hat to push the plot device of diving into Evander’s past. I found that I didn’t quite care for his past because it was equally bland. All plot twists were predictable and I found myself not caring because I didn’t already care for the characters they involved. Where Lavender House shined was an intricate locked room mystery centered around a family where emotions ran wild. This helped build up the suspense and keep the reader on their toes.

The second book didn’t really read like a mystery but rather a repetitive series of events more akin with police work. While I like our main character, his inability to make smart choices or really have any personality in this one made it a solid 3/5. I’ll keep an eye out for the next in the series but I’ll keep my expectations lower than I had for this one.

The simple yet catchy book cover with a couple of matchboxes doesn’t tell me much about THE BELL IN THE FOG but has intrigued me, nonetheless. I didn’t realize that it is the sequel to Lavender House which is highly praised by readers and critics, until now.

Evander “Andy” Mills, who is interesting and likeable, has just started his own Private Investigator office, which is located on the top floor of Ruby, a queer bar in San Francisco. Everything seems normal until James comes to seek his PI service in a case of blackmailing.

As Andy starts to investigate the case, all the ugly and the worst from the past come back to haunt him, and he is dumbfounded by the truth!

I truly enjoyed THE BELL IN THE FOG. I admire Lev Ac Rosen who writes about the dread and frustration of the queer community who is being belittled, shunned and threatened by society, and they always try to fight back to keep their dignity and their rights. ( )

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. ( )

5 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ

“The Bell in the Fog” By Lev A.C. Rosen



Merged review:

5 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ

“The Bell in the Fog” By Lev A.C. Rosen ( )