From the sales pitch of “Queer Knives Out” I expected this to be a fun mystery sprinkled with social commentary- I wasn’t expecting to be hit so hard with emotions. The mystery itself is fairly straightforward, but Andy’s journey to self-acceptance, helped along by being able to see the Lamontaine family as exactly that- a family- is what makes this book shine. Through well crafted prose Rosen depicts the both the homophobia of the 50’s and San Francisco’s thriving queer communities and their hopes for a better future in ways that are still relatable to modern readers.
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen, (List Price: $26.99, Forge Books, 9781250834225, January 2023)
Reviewed by Lauren Kohnle, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina