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Evander Mills #4
Mirage City
Lev AC Rosen delivers a new and captivating 1950s mystery in this dazzling, award-winning series
Private Investigator Evander “Andy” Mills’ next case takes him out of his comfort zone in San Francisco—and much to his dismay, back home to Los Angeles. After a secretive queer rights organization called the Mattachine Society enlists Andy to find some missing members, he must dodge not only motorcycle gangs and mysterious forces, but his own mother, too.
Avoiding her proves to be a challenge when the case leads Andy to the psychological clinic she works at. Worlds collide, buried secrets are dug up, and Andy realizes he’s going to have to burn it all down this time if he wants to pull off a rescue. With secret societies, drugs, and doctors swirling around him, time is running out for Andy to locate the missing and get them to safety. And for him to make it back to San Francisco in one piece.
9 hrs. 48 mins.
Private Investigator Evander “Andy” Mills’ next case takes him out of his comfort zone in San Francisco—and much to his dismay, back home to Los Angeles. After a secretive queer rights organization called the Mattachine Society enlists Andy to find some missing members, he must dodge not only motorcycle gangs and mysterious forces, but his own mother, too.
Avoiding her proves to be a challenge when the case leads Andy to the psychological clinic she works at. Worlds collide, buried secrets are dug up, and Andy realizes he’s going to have to burn it all down this time if he wants to pull off a rescue. With secret societies, drugs, and doctors swirling around him, time is running out for Andy to locate the missing and get them to safety. And for him to make it back to San Francisco in one piece.
9 hrs. 48 mins.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published October 7, 2025
51 people are currently reading
4888 people want to read
About the author
Lev A.C. Rosen
18 books1,176 followersLEV AC ROSEN sometimes is sometimes known as L.C. ROSEN. He is the author of books for all ages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
October 18, 2025
A splendid continuation in the series about Andy Mills, gay San Francisco detective at the height of the 1950s Red Scare. This adventure takes Andy south to Hollywood where a missing persons case tangles uneasily with unfinished family business. I'm already praying for a book #5!
November 24, 2025
I adore Andy Mills, and this fourth installment only deepened that feeling. It’s a tough story at times, but so worth it.
To unravel the mystery of three missing people, Andy heads to Los Angeles. I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him being away from Gene and the rest of the familiar faces I’ve grown attached to. But Lev A.C. Rosen made such a brilliant call. The shift in setting opens up new layers, and the book absolutely delivers.
This book has everything I’ve come to cherish in the Andy Mills series: a slow-burning mystery, vivid characters (I want a spin-off of Will!), another glimpse into queer life in the 1950s, and a more intimate look at Andy himself. What I love most is how, despite its historical setting, the series feels so present and resonant.
And that ending! How could you leave me like that Lev? I turned the page and then nothing? Really? So, I need that fifth book now!
Actual rating 4.5 stars, rounded up to five.
Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for this amazing ARC!
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To unravel the mystery of three missing people, Andy heads to Los Angeles. I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him being away from Gene and the rest of the familiar faces I’ve grown attached to. But Lev A.C. Rosen made such a brilliant call. The shift in setting opens up new layers, and the book absolutely delivers.
This book has everything I’ve come to cherish in the Andy Mills series: a slow-burning mystery, vivid characters (I want a spin-off of Will!), another glimpse into queer life in the 1950s, and a more intimate look at Andy himself. What I love most is how, despite its historical setting, the series feels so present and resonant.
And that ending! How could you leave me like that Lev? I turned the page and then nothing? Really? So, I need that fifth book now!
Actual rating 4.5 stars, rounded up to five.
Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for this amazing ARC!
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October 29, 2025
Mirage City is the 4th-installment in Lev A.C. Rosen's Evander Mills series. This is a Historical Mystery series set in 1950s-era San Francisco and follow a diverse cast of characters.
I have grown to love this series so much. Andy Mills is such a lovable main character, and I absolutely adore the classic detective/film noir vibes that Rosen brings to these stories.
This mystery kicks off after our MC, Private Investigator, Andy Mills, gets commissioned to find three missing members of the Mattachine Society, a secretive Queer Rights organization. Early leads point him towards L.A., which happens to be Andy's hometown, and where his Mom lives.
Although he is apprehensive about returning to L.A., he needs to go where the clues lead. Worlds collide when further signs point him to a psychological clinic where his Mom works as a nurse.
Again, Rosen weaves together a tense mystery full of danger, long-held secrets and a lot of heart. Though it starts a little slow, the pace steadily increases until the explosive end.
I enjoyed how Rosen continued to build the tension throughout. This one felt like a spiderweb. There were so many different connections, and it ended up being quite the twisted web indeed. The inclusion of the motorcycle gang made it extra-entertaining.
This one did feel a little different because Andy had to travel to L.A., so was separated from his found family that I've come to love through the previous books. I did miss them, but we do get some scenes with them at the open and close.
His time away though, definitely allows Andy to reassess his life and come to a better understanding of what he wants his future to look like. I did enjoy the storyline involving his Mom. I think he needed to have the time with her, no matter what the outcome.
In addition to recommending the series as a whole, I would also highly recommend the audiobooks, splendidly-narrated by Vikas Adam. Vikas is Andy to me. I can't imagine this series without Vikas's voice.
I also appreciate the representation of the Queer community in these books. The way Rosen explores the historical challenges they faced, yet somehow brings an overall feeling of hope to the page via the safe spaces they have carved out for themselves in an otherwise hostile world.
I just feel those aspects are so well done, and certainly not something I've seen a lot of in the Adult Mystery space. I'm not sure what the future plans are for this series, but I'm really hoping it continues on.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copies to read and review. As you can tell, I adore this series. The characters, setting, mysteries and lush noir-style have keep me fully engaged and coming back for more.
I'm really hoping that more people discover these books and that the series continues on for a long time to come. I would pick up each and every one!
I have grown to love this series so much. Andy Mills is such a lovable main character, and I absolutely adore the classic detective/film noir vibes that Rosen brings to these stories.
This mystery kicks off after our MC, Private Investigator, Andy Mills, gets commissioned to find three missing members of the Mattachine Society, a secretive Queer Rights organization. Early leads point him towards L.A., which happens to be Andy's hometown, and where his Mom lives.
Although he is apprehensive about returning to L.A., he needs to go where the clues lead. Worlds collide when further signs point him to a psychological clinic where his Mom works as a nurse.
Again, Rosen weaves together a tense mystery full of danger, long-held secrets and a lot of heart. Though it starts a little slow, the pace steadily increases until the explosive end.
I enjoyed how Rosen continued to build the tension throughout. This one felt like a spiderweb. There were so many different connections, and it ended up being quite the twisted web indeed. The inclusion of the motorcycle gang made it extra-entertaining.
This one did feel a little different because Andy had to travel to L.A., so was separated from his found family that I've come to love through the previous books. I did miss them, but we do get some scenes with them at the open and close.
His time away though, definitely allows Andy to reassess his life and come to a better understanding of what he wants his future to look like. I did enjoy the storyline involving his Mom. I think he needed to have the time with her, no matter what the outcome.
In addition to recommending the series as a whole, I would also highly recommend the audiobooks, splendidly-narrated by Vikas Adam. Vikas is Andy to me. I can't imagine this series without Vikas's voice.
I also appreciate the representation of the Queer community in these books. The way Rosen explores the historical challenges they faced, yet somehow brings an overall feeling of hope to the page via the safe spaces they have carved out for themselves in an otherwise hostile world.
I just feel those aspects are so well done, and certainly not something I've seen a lot of in the Adult Mystery space. I'm not sure what the future plans are for this series, but I'm really hoping it continues on.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copies to read and review. As you can tell, I adore this series. The characters, setting, mysteries and lush noir-style have keep me fully engaged and coming back for more.
I'm really hoping that more people discover these books and that the series continues on for a long time to come. I would pick up each and every one!
October 9, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, fast paced, historical fiction mystery novel. It has a likable, intelligent male protagonist, a diverse group of appealing secondary characters, wit, a touch of romance, an engaging mystery, unexpected twists, and a satisfying conclusion. This is the fourth entry in Mr. Rosen's Evander Mills series, and it can be read as a stand alone. The references to previous cases have piqued my interest in reading the other novels in this series. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, Mr. Lev AC Rosen, and NetGalley, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this fantastic novel. This is my honest opinion.
March 12, 2025
In the early 1950's, it is risky to be identified as gay, as Andy Mills, a former San Francisco cop who was thrown off the force, knows. He's currently working as a private eye, and a new client wants him to find some members of a gay rights political group that have gone missing. Reluctantly, he heads to LA where two of the missing people were last seen. He meets some interesting people while on the case, including a gay motorcycle gang, and stumbles on a horrifying secret clinic. When I read this author's novels, I feel as if I am in a Noir film, and the feel of the early fifties, where most of the men served in WW2 and Korea and came back to a country where they couldn't be themselves, really comes alive. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the opportunity to review this advance copy.
October 29, 2025
4.5 stars. Containing all of the queer sensibility and crime noir atmosphere I've come to crave from this series, Mirage City is a brilliant entry into the adventures of detective Evander Mills and left me excited for even more mysteries to come.
October 1, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
This series is so good!! Mirage City is the latest installment in this queer historical mystery series and this time gay P.I. Andy Mills in on a missing persons case that will take him to Hollywood and beyond. It's an engaging mystery with more development of Andy's character, but it also deals with gay conversion therapy and explores respectability politics in the queer community in a way that feels incredibly pertinent at a time when the trans community is under attack and some queer folks are trying to distance themselves in order to protect their own rights by blending in. I continue to love what this series is doing and found Mirage City to be an entertaining and thought-provoking read. The audio narration is good for the noir mystery vibes, though the way he voices female characters leaves something to be desired. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
This series is so good!! Mirage City is the latest installment in this queer historical mystery series and this time gay P.I. Andy Mills in on a missing persons case that will take him to Hollywood and beyond. It's an engaging mystery with more development of Andy's character, but it also deals with gay conversion therapy and explores respectability politics in the queer community in a way that feels incredibly pertinent at a time when the trans community is under attack and some queer folks are trying to distance themselves in order to protect their own rights by blending in. I continue to love what this series is doing and found Mirage City to be an entertaining and thought-provoking read. The audio narration is good for the noir mystery vibes, though the way he voices female characters leaves something to be desired. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
August 5, 2025
This is another delightful entry into the Evander Mills series! It is clear that Lev. A. C. Rosen cares about character, as the characters in this novel continued to shine. Our main character, Andy, is continuing to grow and develop and discover new paths in his journey, which is really exciting, and feels authentic. Seeing him continue to develop over these four books has been really wonderful, and a testament to Rosen’s writing and character work. We don’t spend too much time with the main cast of ancillary characters we have built up over the last three books, though what we do see is fun and intimate, letting us recognize how the characters’ relationships have only deepened. In their place we get a bunch of new characters, and I would happily spend many hours with all of them! The characters are wildly diverse, showing off a whole range of what queer life in mid-twentieth century USA looked like, which has always been the case with Rosen’s characters. Sometimes characters do feel like they could be flirting with caricatures or stereotypes, but they also feel like real, lived-in people whose ownership of their voices and stories have been too long denied them or made into caricatures for the sake of others’ amusement and/or derision. That is all to say that, flirting with stereotypes or not, there is still an air of authenticity to the characters that is refreshing.
The writing is playful and propulsive as usual. The writing does complement the noir tone well, fully identifying itself as within the genre but also insisting it is doing things its own way, too, notably emphasizing emotion and interiority in a way that noir isn’t always known for. Some of the writing this time around feels a little tamer than in past entries, a little more tongue-in-cheek and almost bordering on cozy or YA, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. It was appropriate for the story told and continues to make our detective and his exploits appealing, genuine page turners. The actual mystery and plotting here are thoughtful and keep the reader interested. I really appreciated the change of scenery, which gave our main character some much needed breathing room. In all three of the previous novels there is a continued fear that one of his previous co-workers on the police force will recognize him, it serves as an over-arching pressure point for the series, and it was nice to be away from that for a novel as it had begun to feel a little perfunctory. The stakes in this novel don’t feel quite as high as in the previous novels, though situations do… escalate, shall we say. I actually appreciate this, because it feels a realistic expectation of what this character’s life would be like, and even without the high stakes there is solid investigation work and intrigue, and the plot then allows a secondary storyline with higher emotional stakes to share narrative space in a way that feels fulfilling. I wouldn’t have minded if there was a little more grit, especially as a few subplots resolved a little bit too conveniently for my tastes (including one that set up a rather neat bit of action but then just blended into the background). That is to say I wouldn’t have minded an additional twenty pages that added a little more meat to those subplots and added a few bloody knuckles and broken noses, metaphorical or otherwise, in the process. While there is some emotional tension I never felt any physical tension or threat for our main character, and I wouldn’t have minded a bit more of that—again, the feeling that there were a little higher stakes, if not for Andy then at least for his primary client or for some of the friends he met on the way. Maybe that is why this one felt like it was teasing the cozy mystery subgenre, which is well and good but softer than what Rosen has given in the first three novels (which are not particularly dark, gritty, or violent but do all feel like they have weightier consequences at play than we have in this novel).
The story continues to explore what it means to know and be yourself. Ideas of representation and authenticity, culpability, and compliancy are all up for grabs, as Andy continues to discover how his values translate into the life he is desperately trying to build for himself. There are important questions about family and relationships (platonic and romantic), and what you would do, or sacrifice, to support those you care for. This series has always explored the fear of recognizing and being fully yourself, valid fears born from an unjust and harmful society, and those continue in very explicit ways here, showing some of the potential outcomes of social pressure and internalized homophobia. These ideas are all expertly woven into the fabric of the story and the characters, and the novel is able to be expressive and exploratory in ways that feel germane to the story.
With all of that said: the central mystery was fun, the resolution felt justified and was rewarding, and it was a joy to spend more time with this character and his growing coterie. I really appreciate the historical setting and while it did feel like some liberties were taken here and there the overall representation feels genuine, honoring the very real lives of our queer forebears. If you enjoyed the previous novels in the series then you will find this to be a fun addition, with meaningful character growth wrapped in an entertaining mystery. You can jump into the series here and Rosen gives enough information, without ever feeling like an exposition dump, to make sure you are up to speed, you will still have a fun time, though you will miss out on my favorite part of this series, which is the continued inner journey of the main character. Overall, I am really glad I found this series, it is consistently fun and full of heart, and this latest entry is no exception to that rule.
I want to thank the author, the publisher St, Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing is playful and propulsive as usual. The writing does complement the noir tone well, fully identifying itself as within the genre but also insisting it is doing things its own way, too, notably emphasizing emotion and interiority in a way that noir isn’t always known for. Some of the writing this time around feels a little tamer than in past entries, a little more tongue-in-cheek and almost bordering on cozy or YA, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. It was appropriate for the story told and continues to make our detective and his exploits appealing, genuine page turners. The actual mystery and plotting here are thoughtful and keep the reader interested. I really appreciated the change of scenery, which gave our main character some much needed breathing room. In all three of the previous novels there is a continued fear that one of his previous co-workers on the police force will recognize him, it serves as an over-arching pressure point for the series, and it was nice to be away from that for a novel as it had begun to feel a little perfunctory. The stakes in this novel don’t feel quite as high as in the previous novels, though situations do… escalate, shall we say. I actually appreciate this, because it feels a realistic expectation of what this character’s life would be like, and even without the high stakes there is solid investigation work and intrigue, and the plot then allows a secondary storyline with higher emotional stakes to share narrative space in a way that feels fulfilling. I wouldn’t have minded if there was a little more grit, especially as a few subplots resolved a little bit too conveniently for my tastes (including one that set up a rather neat bit of action but then just blended into the background). That is to say I wouldn’t have minded an additional twenty pages that added a little more meat to those subplots and added a few bloody knuckles and broken noses, metaphorical or otherwise, in the process. While there is some emotional tension I never felt any physical tension or threat for our main character, and I wouldn’t have minded a bit more of that—again, the feeling that there were a little higher stakes, if not for Andy then at least for his primary client or for some of the friends he met on the way. Maybe that is why this one felt like it was teasing the cozy mystery subgenre, which is well and good but softer than what Rosen has given in the first three novels (which are not particularly dark, gritty, or violent but do all feel like they have weightier consequences at play than we have in this novel).
The story continues to explore what it means to know and be yourself. Ideas of representation and authenticity, culpability, and compliancy are all up for grabs, as Andy continues to discover how his values translate into the life he is desperately trying to build for himself. There are important questions about family and relationships (platonic and romantic), and what you would do, or sacrifice, to support those you care for. This series has always explored the fear of recognizing and being fully yourself, valid fears born from an unjust and harmful society, and those continue in very explicit ways here, showing some of the potential outcomes of social pressure and internalized homophobia. These ideas are all expertly woven into the fabric of the story and the characters, and the novel is able to be expressive and exploratory in ways that feel germane to the story.
With all of that said: the central mystery was fun, the resolution felt justified and was rewarding, and it was a joy to spend more time with this character and his growing coterie. I really appreciate the historical setting and while it did feel like some liberties were taken here and there the overall representation feels genuine, honoring the very real lives of our queer forebears. If you enjoyed the previous novels in the series then you will find this to be a fun addition, with meaningful character growth wrapped in an entertaining mystery. You can jump into the series here and Rosen gives enough information, without ever feeling like an exposition dump, to make sure you are up to speed, you will still have a fun time, though you will miss out on my favorite part of this series, which is the continued inner journey of the main character. Overall, I am really glad I found this series, it is consistently fun and full of heart, and this latest entry is no exception to that rule.
I want to thank the author, the publisher St, Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 10, 2025
This is book four in the Evander Mills series and it is best to read the earlier books first. There are a lot of supporting characters (although they had smaller roles in this one) and it helps enrich the story to know them. Andy is a gay private detective in a time when being gay is still forbidden. He is hired to find some members of a private group gathering to support gay rights (in their own way). This case takes him to LA where he grew up. He isn’t sure if he will but he ends up seeing his mother which brings up a lot of feelings since she doesn’t know. I will admit this one was hard to read, especially this year as gay rights are being attacked constantly. The narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. The dark undertones of this one were tempered slightly with humor and some new and colorful supporting characters.
September 22, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: October 7, 2025
“Mirage City” is the fourth in Lev A.C. Rosen’s Evander Mills mystery novels set in the 1950s. A tumultuous time for the queer protagonist, and his counterparts, “City” is an emotional and thought-provoking mystery.
Evander (Andy) Mills is now a private investigator, after reluctantly leaving the police force after the secrets of his sexuality were revealed. Living above the bar his boyfriend owns in San Francisco, Andy has finally found a community where he belongs and has found a profession where he can help others. When a woman comes to him, employing his help to find three missing members of her queer support group, Andy knows better than anyone that he has to be discreet, ensuring no one finds out the sexuality of those he is searching for- or his own. But the investigation takes him back to Los Angeles, the city he was raised in, and reunites him with his mother, who doesn’t know about Andy’s life, or boyfriend, in San Francisco. How far will Andy go to find these missing people? Will he put his own life on the line, risking secrets that he wants to keep hidden?
Rosen has crossed genre boundaries, writing novels for both YA and adults, and “City” is the fourth in the adult series of mystery novels. Not only was the Evander Mills series completely new to me, but Rosen is a new author for me as well, and jumping into a series in the middle can either be hit or miss, depending on the author’s skills. However, Rosen created a beautiful novel where I was easily pulled into Evander’s life and, although I am sure the previous novels provided some important background information, I did not feel lost or stranded when reading “City”, which speaks to Rosen’s talent to formulate a well-crafted storyline with continuous transitions.
Andy is a queer protagonist, but his friends and most of the supplemental characters are queer as well, in the tumultuous fifties when people were shunned, arrested, beaten and often forced into “conversion therapy” (which plays a role in this novel as well). Whether you belong to the community or not, “City” will generate a lot of powerful emotions, and touch on some pretty serious societal issues, all happening while Andy tries to solve the missing person’s case.
“Mirage City” is charming, influential and completely enjoyable. Rosen has created an admirable protagonist who shines in this modern P.I mystery series, and I hope readers will continue to see more from Evander.
Expected publication date: October 7, 2025
“Mirage City” is the fourth in Lev A.C. Rosen’s Evander Mills mystery novels set in the 1950s. A tumultuous time for the queer protagonist, and his counterparts, “City” is an emotional and thought-provoking mystery.
Evander (Andy) Mills is now a private investigator, after reluctantly leaving the police force after the secrets of his sexuality were revealed. Living above the bar his boyfriend owns in San Francisco, Andy has finally found a community where he belongs and has found a profession where he can help others. When a woman comes to him, employing his help to find three missing members of her queer support group, Andy knows better than anyone that he has to be discreet, ensuring no one finds out the sexuality of those he is searching for- or his own. But the investigation takes him back to Los Angeles, the city he was raised in, and reunites him with his mother, who doesn’t know about Andy’s life, or boyfriend, in San Francisco. How far will Andy go to find these missing people? Will he put his own life on the line, risking secrets that he wants to keep hidden?
Rosen has crossed genre boundaries, writing novels for both YA and adults, and “City” is the fourth in the adult series of mystery novels. Not only was the Evander Mills series completely new to me, but Rosen is a new author for me as well, and jumping into a series in the middle can either be hit or miss, depending on the author’s skills. However, Rosen created a beautiful novel where I was easily pulled into Evander’s life and, although I am sure the previous novels provided some important background information, I did not feel lost or stranded when reading “City”, which speaks to Rosen’s talent to formulate a well-crafted storyline with continuous transitions.
Andy is a queer protagonist, but his friends and most of the supplemental characters are queer as well, in the tumultuous fifties when people were shunned, arrested, beaten and often forced into “conversion therapy” (which plays a role in this novel as well). Whether you belong to the community or not, “City” will generate a lot of powerful emotions, and touch on some pretty serious societal issues, all happening while Andy tries to solve the missing person’s case.
“Mirage City” is charming, influential and completely enjoyable. Rosen has created an admirable protagonist who shines in this modern P.I mystery series, and I hope readers will continue to see more from Evander.
May 19, 2025
it's just me and my Mirage City ARC against the world
November 3, 2025
As a long time fan of the Evander Mills series, I've felt strongly that the queer book scene needs more of these novels. Meaningfully rooted in LGBTQ+ history, crafted with so much heart, and thoughtfully depicting different sub-cultures of the queer space in a time when we can learn both from the victories of the past and errors of our ways as a community, I will continue to root for these books and Lev A.C. Rosen's success. I was deeply saddened to hear that his publisher doesn't want to take this series further, and tremendously hope that this will be reconsidered given the gift that these novels are to their readers. I'll continue to read whatever Rosen writes, because I think he has a real talent for shaping stories driven and inspired by the past that have real impact on our future.
In this installment, our favorite detective Andy is called away from his home and found family and must travel to Los Angeles to help solve the disappearance of two members of the queer community. Also in LA? His mother, of course, who still doesn't know the truth about her gay son. Once again, Andy is coming face-to-face with his past and how it has shaped who he has become. He continues to be confronted with difficult decisions that could endanger his safety (and that of his newfound family) while trying to be authentic to who he is. Like the previous books in the series, Mirage City doesn't shy away from the difficulties of balancing these two competing priorities, nor does it sugarcoat the queer experience of the mid 20th century. The trauma and feelings throughout are raw and exist barely beneath the surface, threatening to break through at any moment.
The clear theme of this book is examining the lengths that LGBTQ+ people were forced to go to in order to survive and the different tactics that communities used to resist the homophobia and hatred they were subject to in America in the 1950's. Andy spends time with the Mattachine Society, inspired by the the real life organization of the same name that advocated for queer individuals to make themselves as appealing to the straight community as possible, encouraging them to assimilate and integrate to the fullest extent possible. While the Mattachines preached being "respectable" members of society, there were others who embraced a more rebellious tactic and recognized that no matter how virtuous they tried to be, they would always be alienated until they demanded equal treatment. Andy is pushed and pulled between these communities, grappling with the repercussions of both strategies and wondering where exactly he fits in this spectrum as a queer detective fighting for his loved ones while still being unable to be his true self around his biological family.
It is in this context that Andy personally encounters some of the worst violence being perpetrated against other LGBTQ+ people in the form of devastating "conversion therapy" hospitals. While, as noted above, Rosen has never shied away from the horrific treatment of queer people by society, these depictions were difficult to read and readers should know this going in. The scenes are graphic and may be traumatizing for some to sit through.
This back half of the book is where I struggled more with this novel than I have with previous ones: the set up felt forced, the graphic depictions of these barbaric "treatments" pulled me out of the story that I was supposed to be following, and the ending felt deeply out of character for Andy. Maybe this was the point Rosen was trying to make - that Andy still isn't sure of who he is and how he fits in with these broader movements for equality, but I was left scratching my head a bit. Welcome to the revolution, Andy? Regardless, I'm going to keep reading these books and finding as many excuses as I can to recommend this series to people because I think it is so effective at teaching queer history while also crafting intriguing and easy to follow twisty mysteries rooted in the realities of the time where they are set. Minotaur Books, if you're reading this - please give us more Evander Mills!
In this installment, our favorite detective Andy is called away from his home and found family and must travel to Los Angeles to help solve the disappearance of two members of the queer community. Also in LA? His mother, of course, who still doesn't know the truth about her gay son. Once again, Andy is coming face-to-face with his past and how it has shaped who he has become. He continues to be confronted with difficult decisions that could endanger his safety (and that of his newfound family) while trying to be authentic to who he is. Like the previous books in the series, Mirage City doesn't shy away from the difficulties of balancing these two competing priorities, nor does it sugarcoat the queer experience of the mid 20th century. The trauma and feelings throughout are raw and exist barely beneath the surface, threatening to break through at any moment.
The clear theme of this book is examining the lengths that LGBTQ+ people were forced to go to in order to survive and the different tactics that communities used to resist the homophobia and hatred they were subject to in America in the 1950's. Andy spends time with the Mattachine Society, inspired by the the real life organization of the same name that advocated for queer individuals to make themselves as appealing to the straight community as possible, encouraging them to assimilate and integrate to the fullest extent possible. While the Mattachines preached being "respectable" members of society, there were others who embraced a more rebellious tactic and recognized that no matter how virtuous they tried to be, they would always be alienated until they demanded equal treatment. Andy is pushed and pulled between these communities, grappling with the repercussions of both strategies and wondering where exactly he fits in this spectrum as a queer detective fighting for his loved ones while still being unable to be his true self around his biological family.
It is in this context that Andy personally encounters some of the worst violence being perpetrated against other LGBTQ+ people in the form of devastating "conversion therapy" hospitals. While, as noted above, Rosen has never shied away from the horrific treatment of queer people by society, these depictions were difficult to read and readers should know this going in. The scenes are graphic and may be traumatizing for some to sit through.
This back half of the book is where I struggled more with this novel than I have with previous ones: the set up felt forced, the graphic depictions of these barbaric "treatments" pulled me out of the story that I was supposed to be following, and the ending felt deeply out of character for Andy. Maybe this was the point Rosen was trying to make - that Andy still isn't sure of who he is and how he fits in with these broader movements for equality, but I was left scratching my head a bit. Welcome to the revolution, Andy? Regardless, I'm going to keep reading these books and finding as many excuses as I can to recommend this series to people because I think it is so effective at teaching queer history while also crafting intriguing and easy to follow twisty mysteries rooted in the realities of the time where they are set. Minotaur Books, if you're reading this - please give us more Evander Mills!
October 26, 2025
Lev has said on his insta that at this time this will be the last Evander Mills book, not because he doesn't have more to write but because the publisher has not picked up the series for more instalments. Every year I look forward to getting the next installment in Andy's story and I'm bummed at the prospect of not having more. However, if this ends up being the final instalment in the series, then it's a really good one. We've got a Hollywood connection, the Mattachines, and gay biker gangs; what more could you want? Andy has grown so much since book one and you can really see it in this story. He has a community, he loves his queerness, and he's not afraid to do hard things if it means protecting other LGBTQ folks. I also appreciate the way in which Lev is able to make this historical mystery series relevant to current issues facing the community. The Mattachines do valuable things but at their core they are assimilationists and are happy to turn on more marginalized members of the community. It all felt very reminiscent of the recent LGB without the T movement that I despise. I really hope we get to see more of Andy, but if not I can't wait to check out Lev's next venture.
CW: conversion therapy depicted on page, torture, drug overdose, substance abuse disorder, homophobia
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: conversion therapy depicted on page, torture, drug overdose, substance abuse disorder, homophobia
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 11, 2025
Another very solid mystery about Andy, a gay private eye in 1950s San Francisco, this time set primarily in LA. These are too dark to be cozies, but there's something very warm about the tight-knit queer community that Andy lives in and works for. I always have a great time with this series.
October 18, 2025
Another wonderful installment Evander Mills series!
This one finds Andy much more settled in his life as a PI nestled in the Ruby. But a case comes knocking on his door and leads him down to LA - and to his childhood home.
The mystery was phenomenal. There were layers to it and they were heartbreaking and eye-opening to the time and the beliefs people had. I always love the found family feel of these stories and this one helped point out why found family is sometimes better than blood - because they love you for who you are, not who they think you should be.
Lots of mystery, soul searching and discovery - we really do see Andy make some big decisions and try to decide who he wants to be versus who he always thought he'd be. I really liked how the author took us through this and let us see Andy and all his vulnerabilities but then to see him really start to come into himself. I really hope this isn't the conclusion to this series! I've loved every one and would happily jump on another case with him!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This one finds Andy much more settled in his life as a PI nestled in the Ruby. But a case comes knocking on his door and leads him down to LA - and to his childhood home.
The mystery was phenomenal. There were layers to it and they were heartbreaking and eye-opening to the time and the beliefs people had. I always love the found family feel of these stories and this one helped point out why found family is sometimes better than blood - because they love you for who you are, not who they think you should be.
Lots of mystery, soul searching and discovery - we really do see Andy make some big decisions and try to decide who he wants to be versus who he always thought he'd be. I really liked how the author took us through this and let us see Andy and all his vulnerabilities but then to see him really start to come into himself. I really hope this isn't the conclusion to this series! I've loved every one and would happily jump on another case with him!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 22, 2025
I absolutely love this series!
Andy Mills is a great main character to follow because he’s competent but full of self-doubt. This one takes him back to his old stomping grounds in Los Angeles and I really enjoyed the mix of his personal and professional life. This book shows how much progress Andy has made over the course of four books and I feel… proud of him, if that makes sense.
I am already eagerly awaiting the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lev AC Rosen, and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Andy Mills is a great main character to follow because he’s competent but full of self-doubt. This one takes him back to his old stomping grounds in Los Angeles and I really enjoyed the mix of his personal and professional life. This book shows how much progress Andy has made over the course of four books and I feel… proud of him, if that makes sense.
I am already eagerly awaiting the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lev AC Rosen, and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2025
Another triumph from Lev AC Rosen and what could be the most moving book of the series. I don’t hide the fact that these books have become all time faves for me. What I love about the Evander Mills books is not just that they are fantastic mystery storytelling, but they speak to the issues that we faced and are still facing now. He handles all of these difficult issues with care and compassion and nuance, all things that are lacking so often today. Again he shows us his beautiful and concise writing and his masterful work with character. Everyone and everything jumps off the page in his books. From San Fran to LA, every person and local feels so authentic, honest, well researched and real. I wish more people would get out and support these brilliant books. Rosen has given me one of my all time favorite gay characters in books with Evander Mills and I pray this won’t be his last outing. We deserve more wonderful gay stories like this one told by gay authors. This book is brilliant and will leave you with a tear in your eye. Read it! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Minotaur books for this ARC.
July 22, 2025
Thank you Minotaur and Edelweiss for the advanced reader copy of Lev AC Rosen’s new Evander “Andy” Mills Mystery. These books keep getting tighter and better. Love Andy. Love Lee, Elsie, and perfect boyfriend Gene.
Andy’s cases keep getting better and this one in particular really puts the historical in Historical Mystery with the inclusion of Mattachine and the barbaric medical conversion practices of the 1950’s. Andy and his friends are the heroes we all need then and now! Such a terrific book!
Andy’s cases keep getting better and this one in particular really puts the historical in Historical Mystery with the inclusion of Mattachine and the barbaric medical conversion practices of the 1950’s. Andy and his friends are the heroes we all need then and now! Such a terrific book!
October 13, 2025
I love Andy Mills. I hope there are dozens more Evander Mills mysteries, because I will read them all.
In Mirage City, Andy travels to Los Angeles to help find missing members of the Mattachine Society. I love how Rosen integrates real queer history into these books. The story in L.A. takes a dark and emotional turn, though, and I found this one had the biggest impact on me of all four books. We learn even more about Andy’s past and family life, and it shows important growth in his character. I really wanted to give him a hug after everything.
You would think getting to the fourth book, moving the main character to a new setting and separating him from the found family he had connected with would seem like a stunt or ruin the series. But this was my favorite of the four.
Also, major credit to Vikas Adam for the continued and wonderful narration. It wouldn’t be the same without him.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review.
In Mirage City, Andy travels to Los Angeles to help find missing members of the Mattachine Society. I love how Rosen integrates real queer history into these books. The story in L.A. takes a dark and emotional turn, though, and I found this one had the biggest impact on me of all four books. We learn even more about Andy’s past and family life, and it shows important growth in his character. I really wanted to give him a hug after everything.
You would think getting to the fourth book, moving the main character to a new setting and separating him from the found family he had connected with would seem like a stunt or ruin the series. But this was my favorite of the four.
Also, major credit to Vikas Adam for the continued and wonderful narration. It wouldn’t be the same without him.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2025
My review: if you are at all interested in queer mysteries, mid-20th Century queer history, or just rooting for marginalized people fighting to reclaim (or claim for the first time) their power you WILL want to read this book. WILL.
I don't want to say a single thing about the plot, because you should enter this novel in a tabula rasa-state. Just let the story happen and ride with it. (OK, so there is a small hint in that last sentence.)
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
I don't want to say a single thing about the plot, because you should enter this novel in a tabula rasa-state. Just let the story happen and ride with it. (OK, so there is a small hint in that last sentence.)
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
October 6, 2025
4.5 stars
Mirage City is the fourth in the Evander Mills mystery series, taking place in the 1950s. Evander "Andy" Mills is a gay PI who is hired by a gay rights organization to find three of their missing members. He travels from San Francisco to Los Angeles to investigate the case. Andy has limited information about the missing men and woman. Things get complicated (and dangerous) when he learns his mother has an unexpected tie to the case, especially because Andy's mom doesn't know he's gay.
I've read all three of the prior books, but I think this would work as a standalone. The case Andy investigates in this book is complicated and parts are hard to read because of the way many of the gay characters are treated. Knowing it's based on facts from the era and that some people are still afraid to be themselves today is heartbreaking. This is my second favorite in the series (after Lavender House), and I really like the way Andy's life has changed. It still isn't easy, but it's great to see him starting to believe he deserves a happy life filled with friends and love.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending an advance copy of the book for review purposes. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
Mirage City is the fourth in the Evander Mills mystery series, taking place in the 1950s. Evander "Andy" Mills is a gay PI who is hired by a gay rights organization to find three of their missing members. He travels from San Francisco to Los Angeles to investigate the case. Andy has limited information about the missing men and woman. Things get complicated (and dangerous) when he learns his mother has an unexpected tie to the case, especially because Andy's mom doesn't know he's gay.
I've read all three of the prior books, but I think this would work as a standalone. The case Andy investigates in this book is complicated and parts are hard to read because of the way many of the gay characters are treated. Knowing it's based on facts from the era and that some people are still afraid to be themselves today is heartbreaking. This is my second favorite in the series (after Lavender House), and I really like the way Andy's life has changed. It still isn't easy, but it's great to see him starting to believe he deserves a happy life filled with friends and love.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending an advance copy of the book for review purposes. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
December 21, 2025
4 1/2 stars. The mystery & plot were a bit more complex and the characters continue to grow on me.
October 12, 2025
I am high-key obsessed with the Evander Mills series and this book was another absolute belter! An 1950s American queer crime noir, this book centres around three missing LGBTQ+ campaigners who Andy Mills is hired to find.
It takes him back to Los Angeles where his mother still lives, but away from his beloved Ruby Club and his boyfriend, Gene. There are crossed threads and moving parts as Andy struggles to find any trace of the missing people. The only solid lead in the case seems to be a gay motorcycle club and along with their help, Andy realises that a much darker organisation might be at the heart of the disappearances.
I love how Rosen mixes real life organisations and events into his books (ie the founding of the One Institute and the Mattachine Society - fascinating history in the acknowledgments section of the book). There are some incredibly difficult themes in this book, all of which were commonplace for the time period. There were sections where I genuinely shed a tear at the unfairness that queer people face (and in some cases, still face today…) and the fraught relationship that Andy has with his mother.
This was a powerful book and one I thoroughly enjoyed and absolutely recommend! It’s the fourth in the series, so definitely recommend reading in order ✨
Read Mirage City for:
✨ 1950s American Crime Noir
✨ Missing LGBTQ+ activists
✨ San Francisco & Los Angeles
✨ PI solving the mystery
✨ Gay motorcycle club
✨ Difficult themes, period accurate
✨ Romantic side-plot, established couple
✨ Diverse representation
Thank you to the wonderful folks at The Mysterious Bookshop NYC for reserving me a signed copy!
It takes him back to Los Angeles where his mother still lives, but away from his beloved Ruby Club and his boyfriend, Gene. There are crossed threads and moving parts as Andy struggles to find any trace of the missing people. The only solid lead in the case seems to be a gay motorcycle club and along with their help, Andy realises that a much darker organisation might be at the heart of the disappearances.
I love how Rosen mixes real life organisations and events into his books (ie the founding of the One Institute and the Mattachine Society - fascinating history in the acknowledgments section of the book). There are some incredibly difficult themes in this book, all of which were commonplace for the time period. There were sections where I genuinely shed a tear at the unfairness that queer people face (and in some cases, still face today…) and the fraught relationship that Andy has with his mother.
This was a powerful book and one I thoroughly enjoyed and absolutely recommend! It’s the fourth in the series, so definitely recommend reading in order ✨
Read Mirage City for:
✨ 1950s American Crime Noir
✨ Missing LGBTQ+ activists
✨ San Francisco & Los Angeles
✨ PI solving the mystery
✨ Gay motorcycle club
✨ Difficult themes, period accurate
✨ Romantic side-plot, established couple
✨ Diverse representation
Thank you to the wonderful folks at The Mysterious Bookshop NYC for reserving me a signed copy!
October 14, 2025
Everything I've read by Rosen has been wonderful, and this is no exception! Maybe because this is the first one I've gotten a physical copy of, but I think the cover is amazing. David and Colin did a great job on it. One thing I appreciate about the Evander Mills books is that the content/mysteries are all so different. This time he is in LA! The content got pretty rough in this one, I wish conversion therapy was banned outright. And its scary to think clinics like the one in the book might come back, but I think thats all the more reason it was important Rosen wrote about it. I appreciate that he talks about where he got the history bits from since queer history is a special interest of mine, so I'm going to put some of those on my TBR. I'll have to buy the next book too, no way will I be able to wait for a library copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2025
Received from Edelweiss, thanks!
CW: graphic depictions of conversion therapy
Ugh!!! How is this series so good?!?!?
A lot happens in this relatively short book, and I won't get into it too much, because it is quite a quick read.
The majority of the storyline revolves around the Mattachine Society, which I hadn't heard of prior to this book. They were basically a society of queer folks who were just trying to fit into a world that was hostile to them. I really appreciated such a deep dive into this; the way it shows how far Andy has come that he couldn't fit in with the Mattachines because he values his queer community too much.
Parts of this book were quite difficult to read, because it does deal with conversion therapy. Reading this made me sad and also really thankful that Canada has banned conversion therapy, as it is absolutely vile.
Despite the difficult topics, it was still a fantastic read. I also loved the punny name of the motorcycle gang!
I hope that Lev Rosen just keeps writing these books, because I adore Andy and everyone else in these books.
CW: graphic depictions of conversion therapy
Ugh!!! How is this series so good?!?!?
A lot happens in this relatively short book, and I won't get into it too much, because it is quite a quick read.
The majority of the storyline revolves around the Mattachine Society, which I hadn't heard of prior to this book. They were basically a society of queer folks who were just trying to fit into a world that was hostile to them. I really appreciated such a deep dive into this; the way it shows how far Andy has come that he couldn't fit in with the Mattachines because he values his queer community too much.
Parts of this book were quite difficult to read, because it does deal with conversion therapy. Reading this made me sad and also really thankful that Canada has banned conversion therapy, as it is absolutely vile.
Despite the difficult topics, it was still a fantastic read. I also loved the punny name of the motorcycle gang!
I hope that Lev Rosen just keeps writing these books, because I adore Andy and everyone else in these books.
October 5, 2025
I absolutely love this highly overlooked series. There is so much to love in these books - the character development within and across the books (with very realistic characters with very realistic struggles), the historical backdrop with a focus on LGBTQ lives during a time when these characters could not live openly, and well developed plots with interesting cases that Andy has to solve. If you are not reading this series, then I strongly encourage you to pick it up. It really is so good!!! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
September 21, 2025
Mr Rosen you son of a bitch, you have done it once again.
I love my yearly visits into the world of Evander Mills and co, the setting and mystery has never felt fresher. I mourn the day these stories inevitable end because i could honestly read 100 more of these.
Evander Mills is as always, a captivating protagonist, the world he navigates is fast paced and never easy. He operated in a world that somethings has no easy solutions just sometimes settling for good enough. I loved the emphasis on community in this book, how important finding your people is and why having them is so important in the first place.
Lev (if i can be so familiar) if you have number 5 written already i promise I’m a very discreet person!
I love my yearly visits into the world of Evander Mills and co, the setting and mystery has never felt fresher. I mourn the day these stories inevitable end because i could honestly read 100 more of these.
Evander Mills is as always, a captivating protagonist, the world he navigates is fast paced and never easy. He operated in a world that somethings has no easy solutions just sometimes settling for good enough. I loved the emphasis on community in this book, how important finding your people is and why having them is so important in the first place.
Lev (if i can be so familiar) if you have number 5 written already i promise I’m a very discreet person!
October 14, 2025
Content warning for forced institutionalization. Graphic scene.
3.75 rating
I enjoyed this one better than the last. The mystery was more interesting and intense. Andy gets to go on the road, and we get more of his back story.
But I think the cast of characters was too big, too many names. I was confused at times. Simpler would have kept the story tighter.
I liked the expanding of the ideal that queer people aren't a monolith. Some want a quiet life. Some are on the front lines for civil rights. Some like to party. Some are grifters.
3.75 rating
I enjoyed this one better than the last. The mystery was more interesting and intense. Andy gets to go on the road, and we get more of his back story.
But I think the cast of characters was too big, too many names. I was confused at times. Simpler would have kept the story tighter.
I liked the expanding of the ideal that queer people aren't a monolith. Some want a quiet life. Some are on the front lines for civil rights. Some like to party. Some are grifters.
October 27, 2025
This series keeps getting better by the book. I loved the first 3 but adored this one even more. It was as close to perfection as it gets.
In no particular order, a few things I particularly enjoyed in Mirage City:
- the music. I'm not sure if I wasn't paying as much attention before but to me, it felt much more present than in the previous books. I created a little playlist with all those 50s hits and listened to it while reading, that was perfect.
- the series takes place in San Francisco but this book is set in Los Angeles, which made for a nice change and also I appreciated all the little nods to Old Hollywood. It made me rage against the studios system once more though.
- I liked how the lingo reflected the period Mirage City is set in. For example, Myrtle would always use "homophile" instead of gay, homosexual or whatever. That made the whole thing more authentic.
- the way Andy and Gene relationship keeps evolving. They feel so comfortable together by now. Their relationship feels probably a bit too ideal for the 1950s but I don't care because it gives me hope when I read about them, and we sure need positive queer stories.
- the apparition of Andy's mom. Her complicated and nuanced relationship with her son. That was so well done, I can only congratulate Lev Rosen for his talent!
I really hope Mary will appear in book 5 (we NEED a book 5, right?) because I want to know how she'll react to what she's just learned .
- and last but certainly not least, the very smart and sensitive way Rosen deals with a "conversion therapy" clinic. I knew everything about those hellholes and how they treated their "patients" but reading about one in a story I was very invested in was totally different.
I can only applaud the author once more, those pages are very hard to stomach (they nearly made me sick myself) but it's so well described and vividly written, nobody will be able to deny how monstrous those places are. I was particularly shocked by how many times the doctors and nurses would tell us it was a "human" place because hey, they didn't use electrodes.
The book ending on a positive note with Andy's birthday party organized by his found queer family was very much needed after that and I loved it.
To summarize, book 5 just cannot come soon enough!
In no particular order, a few things I particularly enjoyed in Mirage City:
- the music. I'm not sure if I wasn't paying as much attention before but to me, it felt much more present than in the previous books. I created a little playlist with all those 50s hits and listened to it while reading, that was perfect.
- the series takes place in San Francisco but this book is set in Los Angeles, which made for a nice change and also I appreciated all the little nods to Old Hollywood. It made me rage against the studios system once more though.
- I liked how the lingo reflected the period Mirage City is set in. For example, Myrtle would always use "homophile" instead of gay, homosexual or whatever. That made the whole thing more authentic.
- the way Andy and Gene relationship keeps evolving. They feel so comfortable together by now. Their relationship feels probably a bit too ideal for the 1950s but I don't care because it gives me hope when I read about them, and we sure need positive queer stories.
- the apparition of Andy's mom. Her complicated and nuanced relationship with her son. That was so well done, I can only congratulate Lev Rosen for his talent!
I really hope Mary will appear in book 5 (we NEED a book 5, right?) because I want to know how she'll react to what she's just learned .
- and last but certainly not least, the very smart and sensitive way Rosen deals with a "conversion therapy" clinic. I knew everything about those hellholes and how they treated their "patients" but reading about one in a story I was very invested in was totally different.
I can only applaud the author once more, those pages are very hard to stomach (they nearly made me sick myself) but it's so well described and vividly written, nobody will be able to deny how monstrous those places are. I was particularly shocked by how many times the doctors and nurses would tell us it was a "human" place because hey, they didn't use electrodes.
The book ending on a positive note with Andy's birthday party organized by his found queer family was very much needed after that and I loved it.
To summarize, book 5 just cannot come soon enough!
November 24, 2025
Originally reviewed at Books Etc.
It shouldn’t be a shock to any regular reader (hi, thank you for being here!), that I’ve really been in my historical mystery era. So when I got an email asking if I’d want to review Mirage City by Lev A.C. Rosen, I was intrigued. Since it’s book four in the Evander Mills series, I went back to the first, Lavender House, before I committed to the review copy. I was hooked. I quickly read the first three books on audio and eagerly awaited diving into Mirage City, which was released in early October. It was such a great addition to the series and I continue to be a huge fan of this series.
I’ve been loving this series for a lot of reasons and a lot of it has to do with the historical part of the story. I’ve said before that I’ve wanted to read more stories that take place outside of the war periods and this one fits that. It’s set in 1950s San Francisco, though in this story Andy travels back to his hometown of Los Angeles. Rosen sets the scene so well - I really feel like I’m back in time with Andy and the whole gang. He drops little tidbits here and there that show he’s done his research but it’s never overwhelming or an info dump.
The mystery in this one was, I think, a bit lacking for me. It didn’t quite grab me as the others have but it was by no means bad. I liked the big finale and the plans that needed to be put into place. But the original ask to find the missing persons was just a little odd, which Andy clocked as well. Even if it wasn’t such an in your face kind of mystery, I was still engaged and wanted to keep reading. The plot was moving and I was so happy to move with it.
In this fourth book in the series, we got to meet Andy’s mom and have him come to terms with some of the things he’d been keeping from her. It was more backstory that, at this point in the series, we needed and I’m glad Rosen gave it to us. Andy is keeping such a huge part of himself from his mom and the reasons are heartbreaking. I hope we get a little more of their relationship in the next book.
In addition to getting to see Andy’s personal life a little more, the other part of this book that was important, was the deeper dive into what it was like to be queer in 1950s California. The clinic was…disturbing. Hard to read but important to sit with and think about all the people, men especially, who were assaulted, tortured, killed, because who they were was somehow offensive to the people in charge.
I’m so glad Lev A.C. Rosen has given us the Evander Mills series and Mirage City was a great addition. If you’re a mystery reader, especially one who likes historical mysteries, you really need to check this one out. I think you’ll love it as much as I do.
*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Minotaur Books, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*
It shouldn’t be a shock to any regular reader (hi, thank you for being here!), that I’ve really been in my historical mystery era. So when I got an email asking if I’d want to review Mirage City by Lev A.C. Rosen, I was intrigued. Since it’s book four in the Evander Mills series, I went back to the first, Lavender House, before I committed to the review copy. I was hooked. I quickly read the first three books on audio and eagerly awaited diving into Mirage City, which was released in early October. It was such a great addition to the series and I continue to be a huge fan of this series.
I’ve been loving this series for a lot of reasons and a lot of it has to do with the historical part of the story. I’ve said before that I’ve wanted to read more stories that take place outside of the war periods and this one fits that. It’s set in 1950s San Francisco, though in this story Andy travels back to his hometown of Los Angeles. Rosen sets the scene so well - I really feel like I’m back in time with Andy and the whole gang. He drops little tidbits here and there that show he’s done his research but it’s never overwhelming or an info dump.
The mystery in this one was, I think, a bit lacking for me. It didn’t quite grab me as the others have but it was by no means bad. I liked the big finale and the plans that needed to be put into place. But the original ask to find the missing persons was just a little odd, which Andy clocked as well. Even if it wasn’t such an in your face kind of mystery, I was still engaged and wanted to keep reading. The plot was moving and I was so happy to move with it.
In this fourth book in the series, we got to meet Andy’s mom and have him come to terms with some of the things he’d been keeping from her. It was more backstory that, at this point in the series, we needed and I’m glad Rosen gave it to us. Andy is keeping such a huge part of himself from his mom and the reasons are heartbreaking. I hope we get a little more of their relationship in the next book.
In addition to getting to see Andy’s personal life a little more, the other part of this book that was important, was the deeper dive into what it was like to be queer in 1950s California. The clinic was…disturbing. Hard to read but important to sit with and think about all the people, men especially, who were assaulted, tortured, killed, because who they were was somehow offensive to the people in charge.
I’m so glad Lev A.C. Rosen has given us the Evander Mills series and Mirage City was a great addition. If you’re a mystery reader, especially one who likes historical mysteries, you really need to check this one out. I think you’ll love it as much as I do.
*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Minotaur Books, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*
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