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Vera Kelly #3
Lost and Found
It’s spring 1971 and Vera Kelly and her girlfriend, Max, leave their cozy Brooklyn apartment for an emergency visit to Max's estranged family in Los Angeles. Max’s parents are divorcing—her father is already engaged to a much younger woman and under the sway of an occultist charlatan; her mother has left their estate in a hurry with no indication of return. Max, who hasn’t seen her family since they threw her out at the age of twenty-one, prepares for the trip with equal parts dread and anger.
Upon arriving, Vera is shocked by the size and extravagance of the Comstock estate—the sprawling, manicured landscape; expansive and ornate buildings; and garages full of luxury cars reveal a privileged upbringing that, up until this point, Max had only hinted at—while Max attempts to navigate her father, who is hostile and controlling, and the occultist, St. James, who is charming but appears to be siphoning family money. Tensions boil over at dinner when Max threatens to alert her mother—and her mother’s lawyers—to St. James and her father’s plans using marital assets. The next morning, when Vera wakes up, Max is gone.
In Vera Kelly Lost and Found, Rosalie Knecht gives Vera her highest-stake case yet, as Vera quickly puts her private detective skills to good use and tracks a trail of breadcrumbs across southern California to find her missing girlfriend. She travels first to a film set in Santa Ynez and, ultimately, to a most unlikely destination where Vera has to decide how much she is willing to commit to save the woman she loves.
Upon arriving, Vera is shocked by the size and extravagance of the Comstock estate—the sprawling, manicured landscape; expansive and ornate buildings; and garages full of luxury cars reveal a privileged upbringing that, up until this point, Max had only hinted at—while Max attempts to navigate her father, who is hostile and controlling, and the occultist, St. James, who is charming but appears to be siphoning family money. Tensions boil over at dinner when Max threatens to alert her mother—and her mother’s lawyers—to St. James and her father’s plans using marital assets. The next morning, when Vera wakes up, Max is gone.
In Vera Kelly Lost and Found, Rosalie Knecht gives Vera her highest-stake case yet, as Vera quickly puts her private detective skills to good use and tracks a trail of breadcrumbs across southern California to find her missing girlfriend. She travels first to a film set in Santa Ynez and, ultimately, to a most unlikely destination where Vera has to decide how much she is willing to commit to save the woman she loves.
228 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2022
72 people are currently reading
3937 people want to read
About the author
Rosalie Knecht
7 books300 followersRosalie Knecht is the author of Vera Kelly is not a Mystery (2020), Who is Vera Kelly? (2018) and Relief Map (2016). She is also the translator of César Aira's The Seamstress and the Wind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
August 2, 2022
Book Three Rating 4 Stars. Series Rating 4 Stars. Suggested Reading Advice: Skip Book 1. Who Is Vera Kelly and instead read Book 2. Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery and Book 3. Vera Kelly Lost and Found.
That might seem like some odd advice but I have been doing a lot off thinking on this series that I just recently finished. I’m not sure if the whole series is over, but it has ended on a place that feels like a good and satisfying ending, but I would read more if there was. I was getting messages asking about this series and I found that I kept recommending that people start with book 2 and I realized the reason isn’t just because it’s the better book I think people will enjoy more, it’s because of the way book 1 actually fits into the series and I’ll explain that more.
In this past week, when I have read book 2 and 3, I noticed they are very connected and they complement each other well in the areas of Vera’s life that are changing. Book two is about Vera starting her life as a private investigator and it has some good excitement in her work life. While that part of her life is exciting, it shows that her personal life was a mess being in a relationship with a woman that she’s not happy with but was it better just to not be alone? Whereas In book three, while there is a bit of a mystery, this time this book is much more about Vera’s real chance at love being in jeopardy, and also the people she loves having to deal with major family drama that could put people in danger.
I just wrote very quick summaries but what those books were about was Vera trying to find love, it was about family and acceptance, and some mystery, missing people, and some excitement, plus I really enjoyed getting to know Vera and going along on her life journey. What makes things a little odd is book one is nothing like the rest of the series.
I think the issue is that book one is actually a prequel but it’s not marked as one. I’m not giving any spoilers because the blurb talks about Vera being a spy for the CIA. She was a spy in book 1, so when she becomes a private investigator in book 2 and 3, you as a reader knows exactly why she has mad skills. I understand why the spy book is important, I totally do, I just wish it was labeled as a prequel and made clear that it could be read at any time, since it can, because book one has such a different feel than book 2 and 3, I’m worried it will put people off from continuing on with the series if they start with it. I personally did like book 1, but I have to be honest, the writing was stiff at times and I think Knecht, was trying too hard and pushing too hard at times. Book 2 and 3, she is in her writing groove and it feels like a different series. I don’t know if she was trying to write a more cerebral and serious spy story (book 1), when she just needed to write an exciting and emotional sapphic historic-fiction story (book 2&3) instead.
In conclusion, I would say yes to recommending book two Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery and this book three. If you and up enjoying them as much as I did, then I would say it is worth it to go back and read the prequel (book 1) and find out how Vera became a spy.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
That might seem like some odd advice but I have been doing a lot off thinking on this series that I just recently finished. I’m not sure if the whole series is over, but it has ended on a place that feels like a good and satisfying ending, but I would read more if there was. I was getting messages asking about this series and I found that I kept recommending that people start with book 2 and I realized the reason isn’t just because it’s the better book I think people will enjoy more, it’s because of the way book 1 actually fits into the series and I’ll explain that more.
In this past week, when I have read book 2 and 3, I noticed they are very connected and they complement each other well in the areas of Vera’s life that are changing. Book two is about Vera starting her life as a private investigator and it has some good excitement in her work life. While that part of her life is exciting, it shows that her personal life was a mess being in a relationship with a woman that she’s not happy with but was it better just to not be alone? Whereas In book three, while there is a bit of a mystery, this time this book is much more about Vera’s real chance at love being in jeopardy, and also the people she loves having to deal with major family drama that could put people in danger.
I just wrote very quick summaries but what those books were about was Vera trying to find love, it was about family and acceptance, and some mystery, missing people, and some excitement, plus I really enjoyed getting to know Vera and going along on her life journey. What makes things a little odd is book one is nothing like the rest of the series.
I think the issue is that book one is actually a prequel but it’s not marked as one. I’m not giving any spoilers because the blurb talks about Vera being a spy for the CIA. She was a spy in book 1, so when she becomes a private investigator in book 2 and 3, you as a reader knows exactly why she has mad skills. I understand why the spy book is important, I totally do, I just wish it was labeled as a prequel and made clear that it could be read at any time, since it can, because book one has such a different feel than book 2 and 3, I’m worried it will put people off from continuing on with the series if they start with it. I personally did like book 1, but I have to be honest, the writing was stiff at times and I think Knecht, was trying too hard and pushing too hard at times. Book 2 and 3, she is in her writing groove and it feels like a different series. I don’t know if she was trying to write a more cerebral and serious spy story (book 1), when she just needed to write an exciting and emotional sapphic historic-fiction story (book 2&3) instead.
In conclusion, I would say yes to recommending book two Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery and this book three. If you and up enjoying them as much as I did, then I would say it is worth it to go back and read the prequel (book 1) and find out how Vera became a spy.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
October 22, 2022
"My idea of California had been planted by Busby Berkeley and tended by advertisements for cars and cigarettes, so I felt both a deep estrangement and a giddy sense of recognition as the plane banked over arid mountains and began its descent into LAX." -- contemplation by Vera Kelly, page 19
Say it ain't so, Ms. Kelly! Scanning GR's Vera Kelly: Lost and Found page I just noticed that other reviewers have mentioned that this book is the finale in an historical fiction / investigatory trilogy by author Rosalie Knecht. I hope not, as I sincerely wish to read about the eponymous private eye tackling more assignments in the Watergate / wakka-chikka / disco era of the mid- to late-70's. However, this book does have a 'case closed' or elegiac feeling to it by the conclusion, so possibly it's better that the series conclude before the rot could set in. Set in April 1971, Vera accompanies her domestic partner Max to sunny So-Cal (where Washington D.C.-suburb native and now New York City resident Vera promptly feels like the proverbial fish out of water) when household drama - as Max is the black sheep daughter of an old-moneyed, oil-rich family - rears its ugly head in the forms of both a parental divorce and several sketchy money-hungry characters (think con men crossed with the Manson Family and strained through the then-burgeoning pornographic film industry) hanging on the periphery. Things quickly spiral out of control when Max mysteriously disappears from the family's gigantic rural estate during the night, which causes Vera to take to the Pacific Coast Highway in a purloined Studebaker Avanti - a nice stylistic touch by author Knecht, and I appreciate that she appeared to do quality research on the briefly-produced early 60's sporty coupe - on an unsanctioned search & rescue mission. It may be an eye-rolling cliche, "but this time it's personal" and Vera - fueled by her love for Max - performs admirably in this dramatic suspense yarn.
Say it ain't so, Ms. Kelly! Scanning GR's Vera Kelly: Lost and Found page I just noticed that other reviewers have mentioned that this book is the finale in an historical fiction / investigatory trilogy by author Rosalie Knecht. I hope not, as I sincerely wish to read about the eponymous private eye tackling more assignments in the Watergate / wakka-chikka / disco era of the mid- to late-70's. However, this book does have a 'case closed' or elegiac feeling to it by the conclusion, so possibly it's better that the series conclude before the rot could set in. Set in April 1971, Vera accompanies her domestic partner Max to sunny So-Cal (where Washington D.C.-suburb native and now New York City resident Vera promptly feels like the proverbial fish out of water) when household drama - as Max is the black sheep daughter of an old-moneyed, oil-rich family - rears its ugly head in the forms of both a parental divorce and several sketchy money-hungry characters (think con men crossed with the Manson Family and strained through the then-burgeoning pornographic film industry) hanging on the periphery. Things quickly spiral out of control when Max mysteriously disappears from the family's gigantic rural estate during the night, which causes Vera to take to the Pacific Coast Highway in a purloined Studebaker Avanti - a nice stylistic touch by author Knecht, and I appreciate that she appeared to do quality research on the briefly-produced early 60's sporty coupe - on an unsanctioned search & rescue mission. It may be an eye-rolling cliche, "but this time it's personal" and Vera - fueled by her love for Max - performs admirably in this dramatic suspense yarn.
March 24, 2023
This is the last of a three book series featuring Vera Kelly, a sometimes spy, sometimes detective, and full time lesbian. When she is not on the road in the service of the CIA or to solve a case she's investigating, she lives in Brooklyn and partakes in the nightlife in Greenwich Village.
I was pleasantly surprised when my assumption that the first book fell into the chick lit genre based on the cover art proved to be wrong. It did not, nor did the second.
I'm not sure how I would classify this third book. It definitely lacked the edge that made the earlier books so entertaining.
By the end of the second book Vera had found love with Max, who had been disowned by her obscenely wealthy California family when they learned she was a lesbian and now tends bar in the Village. At the beginning of this one Max learns that her father is divorcing her mother in favor of a woman younger than Max, and that a motley assortment of hangers-on have taken up residence in the palatial family home. She and Vera travel to L.A. so that she can see for herself what is going on, and Max ends up disappearing. Vera then applies her detective skills to finding, and rescuing, her.
Along the way we see something of how the other half (or should I say 1%?) live, the wacko countercultures thriving in Southern California in the early 70's, and how easy it is, if you have money, to have an inconvenient relative committed to a rehab hospital. But then Knecht seems to become solely interested in wrapping up the plot of this book, and the series. The change in tone is remarkable.
Suddenly, everything around Vera becomes sunshine and roses. She and Max renew their pledges of love to each other, strangers help the two of them make their way back to NYC, Vera and her mother resolve their long-standing grievances, and the two women become possessed of a vision of a world where life for the LBGTQ community will no longer be challenging. Sigh. The series thus ends where I feared it would begin.
My recommendation: For a good time, stop at books one and two.
I was pleasantly surprised when my assumption that the first book fell into the chick lit genre based on the cover art proved to be wrong. It did not, nor did the second.
I'm not sure how I would classify this third book. It definitely lacked the edge that made the earlier books so entertaining.
By the end of the second book Vera had found love with Max, who had been disowned by her obscenely wealthy California family when they learned she was a lesbian and now tends bar in the Village. At the beginning of this one Max learns that her father is divorcing her mother in favor of a woman younger than Max, and that a motley assortment of hangers-on have taken up residence in the palatial family home. She and Vera travel to L.A. so that she can see for herself what is going on, and Max ends up disappearing. Vera then applies her detective skills to finding, and rescuing, her.
Along the way we see something of how the other half (or should I say 1%?) live, the wacko countercultures thriving in Southern California in the early 70's, and how easy it is, if you have money, to have an inconvenient relative committed to a rehab hospital. But then Knecht seems to become solely interested in wrapping up the plot of this book, and the series. The change in tone is remarkable.
Suddenly, everything around Vera becomes sunshine and roses. She and Max renew their pledges of love to each other, strangers help the two of them make their way back to NYC, Vera and her mother resolve their long-standing grievances, and the two women become possessed of a vision of a world where life for the LBGTQ community will no longer be challenging. Sigh. The series thus ends where I feared it would begin.
My recommendation: For a good time, stop at books one and two.
April 23, 2022
In my review for Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery, I wrote that the author's focus on a "triad of troubles (international politics/LBGT themes/investigative PI case) provide[s] a solid foundation for an intriguing story & I think that continuing to follow this pattern will make for a successful series from Knecht."
This time, though, Knecht keeps it local (mostly California) & while it does have an investigative aspect, this is a much quieter, more nuanced story that really delves into Vera & Max's relationship, navigating life as lesbians in 1970s US society & within their own families. This feels like Vera's bildungsroman.
Knecht reminds us of the age-old "solution" of institutionalizing women who don't comply -- a way to minimize them, remove them from society, & put them out of sight & out of mind. That, in addition to greed, hypocrisy, & cult-like thinking make this period piece feel achingly relevant.
I am glad to see Nick (from the previous book) make an appearance as a supporting character.
Vera Kelly: Lost and Found is a slightly subdued, touching detour from the previous books that continues to lay the groundwork for what will (hopefully) be future books in this series. I really do hope to see Vera, Max, & Nick again.
(And I do love the eye-catching cover art.)
Thanks to publisher Tin House Books for sending me an ARC to read & review.
This time, though, Knecht keeps it local (mostly California) & while it does have an investigative aspect, this is a much quieter, more nuanced story that really delves into Vera & Max's relationship, navigating life as lesbians in 1970s US society & within their own families. This feels like Vera's bildungsroman.
Knecht reminds us of the age-old "solution" of institutionalizing women who don't comply -- a way to minimize them, remove them from society, & put them out of sight & out of mind. That, in addition to greed, hypocrisy, & cult-like thinking make this period piece feel achingly relevant.
I am glad to see Nick (from the previous book) make an appearance as a supporting character.
Vera Kelly: Lost and Found is a slightly subdued, touching detour from the previous books that continues to lay the groundwork for what will (hopefully) be future books in this series. I really do hope to see Vera, Max, & Nick again.
(And I do love the eye-catching cover art.)
Thanks to publisher Tin House Books for sending me an ARC to read & review.
June 16, 2022
Thank you Tin House for sending me an advanced readers copy of this title!
This little book packed a LOT into under 250 pages! It was an easy to read, heart gripping novel that showed the dark side and struggles of life in the LGBTQ community in America in the 1970's.
The novel opens up with Vera and her girlfriend Max living in New York. While Vera is the main provider in their relationship (she owns their house and pays most of the bills), she has never resented Max or felt like Max doesn't contribute enough. They both work hard and live a happy, quiet life together. When Max gets some news about her family that calls her to travel home, they decide to trek back to her home in Los Angeles, where Max has not visited since coming out to her family.
As we uncover details of Max's past, we learn that she grew up in an affluent area with wealthy parents who were not accepting of her sexuality. Written from Vera's perspective, we experience the heartache of watching her partner shamed and rejected by members of her family.
Raw, heavy, and infuriating, this story takes a twist when Max disappears overnight, and Vera is alone in a city unfamiliar to her, not knowing the first place to look for the love of her life.
What follows is a gutting, clever saga of Vera finding Max and escaping a situation that nobody should ever be put in. A fitting release for Pride Month, Vera and Max's story will rip your heart out and make you reflect on the pain and suffering that so many went (and are still going) through.
Other quick notes on this read:
- This book is third in a series, but I think you can read it as a standalone and still enjoy/understand it (I did)!
- Major, MAJOR TW for homophobia
- The biggest drawback of this book for me was the length of the chapters and even of the paragraphs. Sometimes paragraphs lasted a page or more, and that made it hard to follow at points.
This little book packed a LOT into under 250 pages! It was an easy to read, heart gripping novel that showed the dark side and struggles of life in the LGBTQ community in America in the 1970's.
The novel opens up with Vera and her girlfriend Max living in New York. While Vera is the main provider in their relationship (she owns their house and pays most of the bills), she has never resented Max or felt like Max doesn't contribute enough. They both work hard and live a happy, quiet life together. When Max gets some news about her family that calls her to travel home, they decide to trek back to her home in Los Angeles, where Max has not visited since coming out to her family.
As we uncover details of Max's past, we learn that she grew up in an affluent area with wealthy parents who were not accepting of her sexuality. Written from Vera's perspective, we experience the heartache of watching her partner shamed and rejected by members of her family.
Raw, heavy, and infuriating, this story takes a twist when Max disappears overnight, and Vera is alone in a city unfamiliar to her, not knowing the first place to look for the love of her life.
What follows is a gutting, clever saga of Vera finding Max and escaping a situation that nobody should ever be put in. A fitting release for Pride Month, Vera and Max's story will rip your heart out and make you reflect on the pain and suffering that so many went (and are still going) through.
Other quick notes on this read:
- This book is third in a series, but I think you can read it as a standalone and still enjoy/understand it (I did)!
- Major, MAJOR TW for homophobia
- The biggest drawback of this book for me was the length of the chapters and even of the paragraphs. Sometimes paragraphs lasted a page or more, and that made it hard to follow at points.
May 15, 2022
Vera Kelly is such a wonderful character, and Rosalie Knecht is a great writer. I love the noirish feel to the books, and I'd follow Vera anywhere. This was a great read, and Knecht deserves all the good publicity she's been getting for this series.
August 25, 2024
Short and poignant. Vera and Maxine are in love and living happily together in Brooklyn, surrounded by the underground Gay culture of 1971. Max has been disowned by her wealthy family, but now her parents are divorcing and Max decides to go to Los Angeles. Her parents reject Max for her identity and she never wanted to speak to them again. Vera, of course, goes along for support. What could go wrong?
There's a mystery element to this story, but really it's a love story to GLBT culture, an insider's view of a vibrant, engaged society prospering in invisible plain sight.
What really makes the book worth reading is the author's skill. Knecht is fabulous at building the nuances of Vera and Max's relationship, the details and contradictions of their characters as well as the secondary characters. (Although the bad guys seemed a bit predictable: Max's father is the same LA-rich-bastard as every other domineering rich patriarch since Phillip Marlowe.) The author is superb at observing life. Vera, a supposed detective, reads peoples tones, expressions, choices, and every other sign to predict how they'll react. We all do this to a certain extent, but to do it well in fiction is rare and makes the book so much richer. Finally, the author uses language well. Nothing makes the reader feel the characters and experience the scene like useful similes and smart verbs. It's technical, but the result is poetry.
There's a mystery element to this story, but really it's a love story to GLBT culture, an insider's view of a vibrant, engaged society prospering in invisible plain sight.
What really makes the book worth reading is the author's skill. Knecht is fabulous at building the nuances of Vera and Max's relationship, the details and contradictions of their characters as well as the secondary characters. (Although the bad guys seemed a bit predictable: Max's father is the same LA-rich-bastard as every other domineering rich patriarch since Phillip Marlowe.) The author is superb at observing life. Vera, a supposed detective, reads peoples tones, expressions, choices, and every other sign to predict how they'll react. We all do this to a certain extent, but to do it well in fiction is rare and makes the book so much richer. Finally, the author uses language well. Nothing makes the reader feel the characters and experience the scene like useful similes and smart verbs. It's technical, but the result is poetry.
March 29, 2022
Vera Kelly: Lost and Found hit in completely unexpected ways for me.
I definitely wouldn't classify it as a mystery or thriller. Yes, there were elements that were intriguing. But I figured out immediately what was occurring with Max (one of two main characters) as the story unfolded. I didn't feel the rush of a thriller so much as outright panic (I'll drop some hints on that toward the end of the review).
I would definitely say that it was a nifty little period piece about queerness in the early 1970s. For me (a queer woman) being thrust back into the time before folx could safely be out (both literally out at bars and out of the closet) is an excellent reminder of what is at stake in the current culture wars. Its bittersweet to see lesbians hell-bent on carving out a happy existence for themselves, despite the world around them.
But this book touched on some of my deepest fears, ones that I hadn't revisited since I was in college and freshly out to my conservative, evangelical family. I felt them viscerally while reading this book. And it unnerved me. Deeply. I found myself teary & fraught several times. And it all just felt so vulnerable.
It's worth a read. Especially if you aren't super familiar with queer history. And there are parts that are incredibly charming. Just don't go looking to this one for a mystery--or a super light read.
I definitely wouldn't classify it as a mystery or thriller. Yes, there were elements that were intriguing. But I figured out immediately what was occurring with Max (one of two main characters) as the story unfolded. I didn't feel the rush of a thriller so much as outright panic (I'll drop some hints on that toward the end of the review).
I would definitely say that it was a nifty little period piece about queerness in the early 1970s. For me (a queer woman) being thrust back into the time before folx could safely be out (both literally out at bars and out of the closet) is an excellent reminder of what is at stake in the current culture wars. Its bittersweet to see lesbians hell-bent on carving out a happy existence for themselves, despite the world around them.
But this book touched on some of my deepest fears, ones that I hadn't revisited since I was in college and freshly out to my conservative, evangelical family. I felt them viscerally while reading this book. And it unnerved me. Deeply. I found myself teary & fraught several times. And it all just felt so vulnerable.
It's worth a read. Especially if you aren't super familiar with queer history. And there are parts that are incredibly charming. Just don't go looking to this one for a mystery--or a super light read.
September 6, 2022
I can’t think of a book character I relate to more than Vera Kelly.
In a sense this book is about Vera, our resident ex-spook/current PI, tracking down her bartender girlfriend Max, who’s gone missing during a trip to visit her wealthy family.
But it’s also about what I guess is the uniquely queer experience of living in the present - not because you chose to, exactly, but just because there is nothing you have to do for the rest of your life. In a sense I guess you do choose it, and in a sense society, or at least your family, definitely chooses it for you… but either way, the end result is that you can find yourself planning for the day, or for the month, but no further. Because there are no milestones to reach, no life events to check off a list. It can feel both beautifully freeing and terrifyingly lonely. (Can you tell I’m in the middle of job/moving stuff where people are constantly asking me “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” The answer is “I have literally no idea,” people, stop asking!)
In the midst of all that wide-open possibility, what I love and respect and hope to emulate about Vera Kelly is that she reflects on what - or who - she wants, she considers her options, and then she acts. To be the person on a direct path in the midst of people who just keep circling around and around the same old tracks - you can’t overestimate the power of that. At the same time, Vera now has Max, and Nick, and their other friends - these specific, important relationships she’s build from nothing (remember Vera of the first book!), which is so heartwarming and meaningful to see.
I’m tempted to say each book in this series is getting better - but I wonder, if I went back and reread the first two, if it wasn’t just that I related so deeply to where Vera was in those books too.
In a sense this book is about Vera, our resident ex-spook/current PI, tracking down her bartender girlfriend Max, who’s gone missing during a trip to visit her wealthy family.
But it’s also about what I guess is the uniquely queer experience of living in the present - not because you chose to, exactly, but just because there is nothing you have to do for the rest of your life. In a sense I guess you do choose it, and in a sense society, or at least your family, definitely chooses it for you… but either way, the end result is that you can find yourself planning for the day, or for the month, but no further. Because there are no milestones to reach, no life events to check off a list. It can feel both beautifully freeing and terrifyingly lonely. (Can you tell I’m in the middle of job/moving stuff where people are constantly asking me “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” The answer is “I have literally no idea,” people, stop asking!)
In the midst of all that wide-open possibility, what I love and respect and hope to emulate about Vera Kelly is that she reflects on what - or who - she wants, she considers her options, and then she acts. To be the person on a direct path in the midst of people who just keep circling around and around the same old tracks - you can’t overestimate the power of that. At the same time, Vera now has Max, and Nick, and their other friends - these specific, important relationships she’s build from nothing (remember Vera of the first book!), which is so heartwarming and meaningful to see.
I’m tempted to say each book in this series is getting better - but I wonder, if I went back and reread the first two, if it wasn’t just that I related so deeply to where Vera was in those books too.
March 10, 2023
This series was such a fun one to stumble upon last year! I always enjoy returning to Vera (and to Elisabeth Rodgers’ narration) to see what will happen next! Somehow both a slower paced but compelling spy story, this one had me sweating as Vera’s girlfriend goes missing during a reunion with her estranged family.
This book looks closer than the first two at what it meant to be queer in the 1960s & 1970s in ways that felt realistic, heartbreaking, and empowering.
This is the last published in the series so far, but I hope there will be more!
This book looks closer than the first two at what it meant to be queer in the 1960s & 1970s in ways that felt realistic, heartbreaking, and empowering.
This is the last published in the series so far, but I hope there will be more!
July 16, 2023
Third instalment of my favourite awkward queer detective.
Vera Kelly: Lost and Found was another great adventure and it’s made even more special because it’s with her love interest. The discoveries Vera faced in this book was a different kind of excitement compared to the first two books. It’s also nice to see Vera’s transformation as a person from book 1 to book 3. Her evolution was so gradual and felt intimate, I felt like a proud parent watching my child grow into herself and feel comfortable in her own skin. You cannot read one without reading the whole series.
Vera Kelly: Lost and Found was another great adventure and it’s made even more special because it’s with her love interest. The discoveries Vera faced in this book was a different kind of excitement compared to the first two books. It’s also nice to see Vera’s transformation as a person from book 1 to book 3. Her evolution was so gradual and felt intimate, I felt like a proud parent watching my child grow into herself and feel comfortable in her own skin. You cannot read one without reading the whole series.
November 21, 2023
Basically entertaining fluff of the mystery/sleuth variety but with queer characters and none of the icky vibes of hard boiled noir of the 60s/70s. Recommend if that sounds interesting.
September 17, 2022
Have you ever encountered a series, fallen in love with the characters, and were truly sad to see them go?
That's how I feel about Rosalie Knecht's Vera triology -- Who is Vera Kelly? Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery, and Vera Kelly Lost and Found.
In the first book, Vera has a brief stint working undercover for the CIA in Argentina. In the next, she is a private eye trying to find an endangered boy from the Dominican Republic. But in the third novel, Vera is in some ways trying to find herself -- or rather, to find her future as the lasting partner of Maxine, her lover and the person she is finally ready to commit herself to.
It turns out that Maxine, whom Vera met as a graceful but feisty bartender in a gay bar, was raised in California in unimaginable wealth as a Comstock, whose family made millions from the oil business. Max goes to California to confront her father over his separation from her mother, even though he was the person who had condemned her lifestyle and kicked out of her house and her inheritance. Vera goes along, and together, they encounter a truly bizarre world -- a mansion filled with strangely decorated houses, outbuildings and cabins, and her father living with a mysterious aging hippie named St. James and his followers.
The visit is not going well, and then suddenly, Vera awakens one morning to find that Max has disappeared.
One thing I love about this series, set in the 50s and 60s, is that it demonstrates how sleuthing was so much harder then than now. No internet, no cell phones, no Google Maps. When Max disappears, Vera hijacks a car from the estate and goes hunting for her, having to use the vaguest of clues to travel around the rural stretches beyond Santa Barbara, using a road atlas, directions from strangers, whatever cash she has on hand, and help from her friend Nick back in New York. They even have to communicate partly by leaving messages at Vera's service -- the precursor of voicemail, in which you would pay a company to take messages for you and relay them to someone else.
Through intuition and no small amount of luck, Vera discovers what has happened to Max, and the rest of the book involves her attempt to rescue her.
By the end, after more than one white-knuckle moment, Vera and Max are reunited (I know it's a spoiler alert, but this isn't one of those series whose author has to prove how serious they are by killing off a major character.) Their reunion gave me a feeling of true delight and peace. I am not normally a reader of gay fiction and I am boringly old and heterosexual, but I loved these two fictional people enough that I wish they could come over for dinner, and I was ecstatic when they were back together in Brooklyn.
Kudos galore.
June 20, 2022
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaway. To start off I want to thank the author, publisher, and Goodreads for blessing me with this amazing book!
This book had me sitting on the edge of my seat from the start! It was a quick and easy read under 250 pages. But in those 250 pages the book showed many real life issues. I think the author did an amazing job at the LGBTQ+ representation.
This is a great book to read for pride month! I found myself relating to the characters. (as I am a bisexual woman) This book shows struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in a raw form that you will not find in very many books. It pulled on my heartstrings and I admit I did cry once or twice!
I absolutely loved all of the twist and turns in this wonderful story. The mysterious aspect had me loving the book even more.
A couple quick notes I want to share:
-Before reading this book please make sure to know there is major homophobia.
-This book is the third in a series however, I read it as a standalone and found it easy to follow.
-Also, this book contains pretty lengthy chapters which is the only reason why I rated this book 4 stars instead of 5. (i love short chapters)
This book had me sitting on the edge of my seat from the start! It was a quick and easy read under 250 pages. But in those 250 pages the book showed many real life issues. I think the author did an amazing job at the LGBTQ+ representation.
This is a great book to read for pride month! I found myself relating to the characters. (as I am a bisexual woman) This book shows struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in a raw form that you will not find in very many books. It pulled on my heartstrings and I admit I did cry once or twice!
I absolutely loved all of the twist and turns in this wonderful story. The mysterious aspect had me loving the book even more.
A couple quick notes I want to share:
-Before reading this book please make sure to know there is major homophobia.
-This book is the third in a series however, I read it as a standalone and found it easy to follow.
-Also, this book contains pretty lengthy chapters which is the only reason why I rated this book 4 stars instead of 5. (i love short chapters)
July 9, 2022
This wasn't quite what I expected, and it wasn't as much about a murder mystery with Vera doing amateur sleuthing or the like as it was about her being a gay woman in the 70s and navigating her life as a gay woman with a relationship with another woman who had a harder time with her family and them accepting her and her way of life.
This was about Vera and Max going to visit Max's parents, where there was chaos with her parents and their marriage ending. It was about whether and how Vera and Max were going to reveal themselves and their relationship to her parents, etc. This was also about how it was easier for them to just say they were friends and hide their relationship and true nature around certain people and in certain situations. It was also interesting yet strange to see the similarities and differences in how women and gays/homosexuality was viewed back then versus how it is now.
And once again, this story led to a woman being taken against her will and admitted into a hospital or mental institution of some sort for 'sick people. I've now read 3 or 4 books this year relating to history and women being put in mental institutions because of reasons that are not related to them being sick and needing to be in a hospital the way the hospitals described it back then.
I was a bit disappointed in this story as I was expecting something fun and great, like other amateur sleuth stories I've read. It was a decent read with some interesting things and a good storyline, but I feel like it should have been identified differently, perhaps as a light mystery with more historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for letting me read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was about Vera and Max going to visit Max's parents, where there was chaos with her parents and their marriage ending. It was about whether and how Vera and Max were going to reveal themselves and their relationship to her parents, etc. This was also about how it was easier for them to just say they were friends and hide their relationship and true nature around certain people and in certain situations. It was also interesting yet strange to see the similarities and differences in how women and gays/homosexuality was viewed back then versus how it is now.
And once again, this story led to a woman being taken against her will and admitted into a hospital or mental institution of some sort for 'sick people. I've now read 3 or 4 books this year relating to history and women being put in mental institutions because of reasons that are not related to them being sick and needing to be in a hospital the way the hospitals described it back then.
I was a bit disappointed in this story as I was expecting something fun and great, like other amateur sleuth stories I've read. It was a decent read with some interesting things and a good storyline, but I feel like it should have been identified differently, perhaps as a light mystery with more historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for letting me read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 21, 2022
3.75 🌟 read my first Rosalie Knecht and I'll definitely be checking out more from this author.
[AD: Thanks to Verve Books who sent me a copy of this book in return for an honest review]
SYNOPSIS:
"It’s spring 1971 and Vera Kelly and her girlfriend, Max, leave their cozy Brooklyn apartment for an emergency visit to Max's estranged family in Los Angeles. Max’s parents are divorcing—her father is already engaged to a much younger woman and under the sway of an occultist charlatan; her mother has left their estate in a hurry with no indication of return. Max, who hasn’t seen her family since they threw her out at the age of twenty-one, prepares for the trip with equal parts dread and anger..."
WHAT I ENJOYED:
📘 This is my first read in this series (this is book 3) but it didn't matter this can be read as a standalone easily. But it's good to know there's more to read about this character.
📘 Vera and Max and their relationship, are beautifully complex and heartwarming and the challenges of being in a gay relationship in the 1970s - trigger warnings for significant homophobia. It starts with their lovely quiet life in New York... then it all unfolds as Max gets news from her estranged family.
📘 The uncovering of Max's family secrets and horrific treatment of her because of sexuality, was hard to read at times but necessary.
📘 The journey Vera goes on (her PI skills in full force) to find Max when she goes "missing" and the aftermath - trying not to say too much here to avoid spoilers.
📘 As a short book, about 230 pages, this is jam-packed and through fabulous characters tells the story of homophobia in the 70s.
This isn't so much a mystery/thriller but a hard-hitting story about being gay in 1970s America.
[AD: Thanks to Verve Books who sent me a copy of this book in return for an honest review]
SYNOPSIS:
"It’s spring 1971 and Vera Kelly and her girlfriend, Max, leave their cozy Brooklyn apartment for an emergency visit to Max's estranged family in Los Angeles. Max’s parents are divorcing—her father is already engaged to a much younger woman and under the sway of an occultist charlatan; her mother has left their estate in a hurry with no indication of return. Max, who hasn’t seen her family since they threw her out at the age of twenty-one, prepares for the trip with equal parts dread and anger..."
WHAT I ENJOYED:
📘 This is my first read in this series (this is book 3) but it didn't matter this can be read as a standalone easily. But it's good to know there's more to read about this character.
📘 Vera and Max and their relationship, are beautifully complex and heartwarming and the challenges of being in a gay relationship in the 1970s - trigger warnings for significant homophobia. It starts with their lovely quiet life in New York... then it all unfolds as Max gets news from her estranged family.
📘 The uncovering of Max's family secrets and horrific treatment of her because of sexuality, was hard to read at times but necessary.
📘 The journey Vera goes on (her PI skills in full force) to find Max when she goes "missing" and the aftermath - trying not to say too much here to avoid spoilers.
📘 As a short book, about 230 pages, this is jam-packed and through fabulous characters tells the story of homophobia in the 70s.
This isn't so much a mystery/thriller but a hard-hitting story about being gay in 1970s America.
June 22, 2022
This time it’s personal in Vera Kelly: Lost and Found.
Vera’s girlfriend Max is summoned back to her California family home. Max’s parents are divorcing, and a shady occultist may be stealing some of their ample funds. It’s 1971 and even in California being in love with another woman makes Max unpopular with her family. Then, Max disappears leaving Vera with the difficult job of finding her in the strange California environment.
Vera Kelly: Lost and Found is less a thriller or a mystery but rather a LGBT historical fiction tale. It is an interesting slice of life. However, I didn’t like it as much as the last book in the series, Vera Kelly is Not a Mystery. 3 stars.
Thanks to Tin House and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
Vera’s girlfriend Max is summoned back to her California family home. Max’s parents are divorcing, and a shady occultist may be stealing some of their ample funds. It’s 1971 and even in California being in love with another woman makes Max unpopular with her family. Then, Max disappears leaving Vera with the difficult job of finding her in the strange California environment.
Vera Kelly: Lost and Found is less a thriller or a mystery but rather a LGBT historical fiction tale. It is an interesting slice of life. However, I didn’t like it as much as the last book in the series, Vera Kelly is Not a Mystery. 3 stars.
Thanks to Tin House and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
July 13, 2022
I continue to adore Vera Kelly. <3
I didn’t love this as much as the previous installment, but I couldn’t put it down once the big plot point happened. I literally was chewing on my nails.
I appreciate how much this series is about the continuing emotional growth of Vera Kelly, as well as having tense plots and great (as far as I can tell) historical detail. I appreciate the development of her and Max’s relationship. I do like Max, but I don’t yet have a strong emotional attachment to her. But then again, maybe I’m just jealous of her. :P
I didn’t love this as much as the previous installment, but I couldn’t put it down once the big plot point happened. I literally was chewing on my nails.
I appreciate how much this series is about the continuing emotional growth of Vera Kelly, as well as having tense plots and great (as far as I can tell) historical detail. I appreciate the development of her and Max’s relationship. I do like Max, but I don’t yet have a strong emotional attachment to her. But then again, maybe I’m just jealous of her. :P
dnf
July 19, 2022Something about the writing in this series just doesn't do it for me. I tried the first book too and felt bored? I feel like I'm being told about the characters and story instead of being in it. It feels emotionally removed, journalistic almost? Not for me, but definitely for other people.
July 29, 2022
These Vera Kelly books are consistently good. A smart, savvy lesbian PI in the late 1960s/early 70s? Yes please.
November 15, 2023
So good 😊
Read
January 19, 2024There’s something really special about these books. I’ll be thinking about them a lot.
September 3, 2024
Read for book club. Was a quick read. Very beach ready. You also have to suspend a lot of disbelief.
October 11, 2024
I was expecting more from the ending, but it’s still as great as the previous books.
July 10, 2022
I absolutely love this series. This is by far Vera's most personal case yet, and that allows for Knecht to explore her character in a much more immediate way.
My favorite thing about this one was the way it recasts scenes from this era that we've all seen before. All of the tones and aesthetics of the '70s are there, but this time there are women occupying center stage. Max and Vera save each other; they are their own heroes. It was fascinating to see parts of their lives and personalities that we haven't known about before be revealed, and it was amazing to watch them grow. This exploration of their relationship was subtly and beautifully done.
Although this was a quieter and more subdued story than earlier installments have been, the level of nuance was really just amazing. Also, I was happy to see Nick back again. If there are going to be future books in the series, then I'm already looking forward to them!
My favorite thing about this one was the way it recasts scenes from this era that we've all seen before. All of the tones and aesthetics of the '70s are there, but this time there are women occupying center stage. Max and Vera save each other; they are their own heroes. It was fascinating to see parts of their lives and personalities that we haven't known about before be revealed, and it was amazing to watch them grow. This exploration of their relationship was subtly and beautifully done.
Although this was a quieter and more subdued story than earlier installments have been, the level of nuance was really just amazing. Also, I was happy to see Nick back again. If there are going to be future books in the series, then I'm already looking forward to them!
October 1, 2022
On a visit to Vera’s girlfriend Max’s family home, she discovers that Max’s father is really not happy with the direction that his daughter’s life has taken. When Vera wakes up the next day she finds that Max has disappeared. With no help from the family and just a confusing telephone message to go on, Vera sets out to track down Max in her own inimitable way
This is book 3 in the Vera Kelly series but is the first one that I’ve read. It works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel as anything you need to know from the previous tales is slipped in whenever it is needed.
The main characters are well defined and ably supported by a small collection of quirky secondary ones that keep it all interesting.
The plot starts slowly but picks up speed following Max’s disappearance and then races to its frantic conclusion as Max’s investigations lead her to a family conspiracy designed to keep her apart from her true love.
This is book 3 in the Vera Kelly series but is the first one that I’ve read. It works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel as anything you need to know from the previous tales is slipped in whenever it is needed.
The main characters are well defined and ably supported by a small collection of quirky secondary ones that keep it all interesting.
The plot starts slowly but picks up speed following Max’s disappearance and then races to its frantic conclusion as Max’s investigations lead her to a family conspiracy designed to keep her apart from her true love.
January 7, 2023
Not a very exciting book to bring the year. I skimmed a great deal of this one.
December 30, 2022
I loved this trilogy — a highlight of my 2022 reading life. And this final installment had me riveted. You could read it without the others, but having spent two other books with Vera, I came in invested in this character. And — trusting Knecht’s skill in creating immersive atmosphere and compelling characters. Incredible deftness with detail — and masterful pacing. I cannot recommend these books highly enough and I hope they take off the way they deserve. If you need a comparison — the literary quality is on par with Tana French. But Knecht is a writer all her own. She’s created a special body of work with these books. Elisabeth Rodgers is a glorious narrator — cannot imagine a more perfect Vera. Rodgers is integral to my experience of these books.
October 2, 2025
This time Vera is headed to California with her girlfriend Max. Max's family is super wealthy and there is some interesting stuff about Max's luxury upbringing compared to Vera's, but overall it felt a little flat. I kind of wish Vera would reup with the CIA.
December 22, 2023
I loved this whole series. I am unsure if this is it, or if there will be more.
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