Evander Mills series by Lev A.C. Rosen -> Restarting September 27th, 2025

[Saige]

Private Detective Evander "Andy" Mills has been drawn back to the Lavender House estate for a missing person case. Pat, the family butler, has been volunteering for a book service, one that specializes in mailing queer books to a carefully guarded list of subscribers. With bookseller Howard Salzberger gone suspiciously missing along with his address book, everyone on that list, including some of Andy's closest friends, is now in danger.

A search of Howard's bookstore reveals that someone wanted to stop him and his co-owner, Dorothea Lamb, from sending out their next book. The evidence points not just to the Feds, but to the Mafia, who would be happy to use the subscriber list for blackmail.

Andy has to maneuver through both the government and the criminal world, all while dealing with a nosy reporter who remembers him from his days as a police detective and wants to know why he's no longer a cop. With his own secrets closing in on him, can Andy find the list before all the lives on it are at risk?

Set in atmospheric 1950s San Francisco, Rough Pages asks who is allowed to tell their own stories, and how far would you go to seek out the truth.

[Trisha]

5 chapters / 18%

(view spoiler)[ I love this dating service - what a great idea. but I hate that they have to hide this way. it's scary, how dangerous it is!

and wow! this book service sounded like a good idea but it's really put them in danger! yikes!

I'm so glad Andy and Gene get to be together. and I still really love Lee! Such a good investigator! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

10 chapters / 45%

(view spoiler)[ ugh, Rose is making me nervous
but I wonder if he can work out getting his P.I. license - if his previous chief is willing

and wow, the mystery of the book stores only gets deeper! Was there competition?

blackmail? there is an awful lot of blackmail during these times! lol (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

14%: I just started tonight, immediately after finishing the 2nd-book, which I loved. I can't read your comments yet, Trisha, but hope to catch up tomorrow when I have some more time to dedicate. I love Andy so much. He's such a compelling MC and I'm excited to see him sort of go back to (view spoiler)[his origins at Lavender House with this mystery. There's extra high stakes here because of the baby, and I'm definitely intrigued. Also, of course, excited to see where things go with Gene (I am listening to the audiobook, so unsure of the spelling of Gene, just guessing it is the masculine version of the name, if not, please correct me if you've seen it visually!) (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Yes! I rushed through book 2 yesterday! lol
I think you’ll love this one too!! A great mystery and I agree, just love Andy!

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "Yes! I rushed through book 2 yesterday! lol
I think you’ll love this one too!! A great mystery and I agree, just love Andy!"I'm so excited to get further in. I seriously hope this series never ends. I love the film noir feel, like the classic detective fiction vibes. It's seriously so well done.

[Trisha]

15 chapters

Updating from phone so hoping it will work correctly

(view spoiler)[ ugh. Andy’s terror at the police coming broke my heart
But I do love that Gene is sticking up for himself. Andy would sacrifice himself to save everyone so I’m glad Gene isn’t letting him

The fish and skipping memories are worrisome. Is he working with incorrect info?? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Yes! I rushed through book 2 yesterday! lol
I think you’ll love this one too!! A great mystery and I agree, just love Andy!"I'm so excited to get further in. I seriously hope this s..."

OH and Yes!! I'm doing audio too!! LOL We can both guess on spellings!! 🤣😂🤣🤣😂

[Trisha]

and I'm done

oooh so good. I definitely hope we get more in this series
(view spoiler)[ wow, I never even imagined the reporter and the friend were both involved!

I was shocked when the reporter had killed someone. Rose was brutal, the way she had little regard for what her stories caused and how it might hurt people

but the Friend (Deidi?) - so sad. I don't blame her for being upset - but to kill him?!?!?

and I'm glad Andy and Gene worked things out. And I love Elsie working out the letters and stories! it was such a nice night for Howard.

and I still love that Andy is helping people hide better - to be able to be in a fake relationship so they are safe. It's heartbreaking they have to do it but I still love that Andy is helping!

I was a little surprised we didn't get much time with the Lavender House. We even got less Elsie - who I love. Hopefully the next one will give us a bigger update from Lavender House (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

78%, or Ch 16: I have been so horrible at posting today -- work has been so busy. I am really trying to concentrate on this one as I love this series so much. (view spoiler)[I am finding this mystery just as compelling as the others. I like how we have now incorporated the mob, and the Merle (not sure on spelling) and his connection to them is so fascinating. You can tell his Uncle loves him so much, but it is concerning the type of people he's around, do they know his secret? And if they don't what would happen if they found out? We just had the scene where Andy brought him to the Ruby the first time and Merle's awe at people like him being there and playing music openly, that was so heartwarming. I really hope they take him in. Also, of course loving all the development with Andy and Gene. The conversations they've had -- they just fill my heart and they're saying I LOVE YOU!! I'm excited to finish this one up tomorrow! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "5 chapters / 18%."

I agree! (view spoiler)[The details on the dating service are so fun and I love how creative that is. I mean it's sad to think people had to resort to that, but a great way to get around the optics. I wonder if when the author was researching the historical aspects, if he came across that actual type of service in San Francisco at the time? If so, I would love to learn more about that! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "10 chapters / 45%"

Yeah, there really did seem to be a lot of (view spoiler)[blackmail at this time. Another part of the dangers they faced, I guess. Total ruination over who you love or are attracted to. I really do appreciate all the historical context this author is including. I think it is a great way to pay homage to the previous generations of Queer people and what they went through and fought for. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

Finished! I loved this so much! (view spoiler)[The part at the end when Andy gets his PI license in the mail. OMG, I gasped, so happy for him. I hope that means we get more cases! I feel like the stand out for me in this was Merle. I had such sympathy for him, but I liked how his character grew and I respected his decisions at the end. Even the DeeDee one. LOL -- Sorry, DeeDee. (hide spoiler)]

If this series continues, we'll have to buddy read them, Trisha!

[Trisha]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Trisha wrote: "5 chapters / 18%."

I agree! [spoilers removed]"

OMG I didn't even think (view spoiler)[ of there actually having been a service like this? I would love to read about that too! I love this idea, that they were able to "fool" police and others and remain safe.
I agree, it's just horrible they had to do it but I love that they were able to! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Finished! I loved this so much! [spoilers removed]

If this series continues, we'll have to buddy read them, Trisha!"

YES!!! I Hope we get more!!

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: "Finished! I loved this so much! [spoilers removed]

If this series continues, we'll have to buddy read them, Trisha!"

YES!!! I Hope we get more!!"On to our next! LOL

[Jamie]

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RESTARTING SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2025


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[Trisha]

- is the next installment. OMG I'm so excited to read this one!! I love this series!

[Trisha]

shuffling around, I'm planning to start this one 10/9

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "shuffling around, I'm planning to start this one 10/9"I am starting this one today. No pressure, just letting you know. I'm sneaking it in. I have the audio, so I know it'll go really quickly!

[megs_bookrack]

To Ch 4: Great set-up! I was immediately pulled right back into this world and had no issues remembering who was who, etc. Andy is just (view spoiler)[setting off to L.A. to search for these missing people. Did that guy really join this biker gang willingly? I guess we'll find out! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

I'm planning to start tomorrow!! ooh I'm so excited to read this one!

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "I'm planning to start tomorrow!! ooh I'm so excited to read this one!"
Yayeeeeee! It's so easy to get into!

[megs_bookrack]

To Ch 11: It's so funny, but I care so much about Andy at this point, it's like the mystery takes a backseat to everything else going on in his life. I'l glad (view spoiler)[he's staying with his Mom, but I wish he'd tell her the truth. Sure, she assumed Gene was a Jean, but I think she'd surprise him...maybe. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

To Ch 16: Wow, that was crazy with the (view spoiler)[raid on the institution that Andy's Mom works at. I think that went farther than he planned. So much happened with that. I was actually shocked when it was revealed what exactly was happening there, when Andy took that tour. I wasn't expecting that. All this stuff seems so dangerous. I just want Andy to go back to San Francisco. I might listen to Chapter 15 again, because my brain was all over the place with everything happening. Also, crazy that Edward did that to Hank and then went to live with Edward's family because they were rich basically. That's despicable. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

through 4 chapters / 26%

it was really easy to start again. I love that it jumped right in, too - first chapter started the next case!

(view spoiler)[ hmmm. . .there is a lot of undercurrent here that Andy isn't getting. the lady he went out with tonight - was she really an actress? or somehow tied to. . .money?

and the gang angle - with the martini glasses? that's wild right? what gang would that be and how would they hide themselves and yet they were so open when they picked up these missing friends

and are the three of them really missing together? or something else going on? hmmm (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

Done! Ughhh, the ends of these (view spoiler)[books always get me. I just adore the found family aspect. This felt like a real conclusion. I am not sure we're gonna get more. I feel like Andy has found some real peace. I enjoyed the mystery and again loved the history and noir feel the author brought to it. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "through 4 chapters / 26%

it was really easy to start again. I love that it jumped right l'..."
Right!? So intriguing right from the start, and I had many of the same questions as you!

[Trisha]

through 10 chapters (stopped at 11)

I agree, I love Andy so much! I hate that he's struggling

(view spoiler)[ I agree - now that we've met the mom and she's not just a voice, I wonder if Andy could start laying the groundwork for it being Gene - but now that he's lied. . .yikes, I'm not sure

I do wonder if the other missing guy is IN the facility. that's why the other guy is staying with family and going their.

but where is daphne

and it still sucks he got forced into another investigation. . .I'm not sure there is a win in this one

OOOOH and the guy scared about him - from the pharmacy. Is vera dealing drugs? is she forcing others to? is THAT what's going on?? Is she a part of the problem of all these men and maybe even Daphne? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

12 chapters (view spoiler)[ OMG that hospital sounds terrible
I guess I gave the mom way too much credit. I guess she wouldn't accept Andy - not at all (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

15 chapters (stopped at 16)

YES (view spoiler)[ I'm so sad that Andy had to resort to that but he really couldn't leave Hank in there. How could you do that to someone you love?!?! I'm glad the bikers help

and I really do hope his mom figures it out and finds a way to accept him anyway

and wow - yep, I thought Vera might be dealing.
but what happened then? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

wow, what a great conclusion!

Ugh (view spoiler)[ that phone ring at the end. I really really hope that's his mom accepting him!!

and wow, that Edward was going to marry Ginny! such a surprise!

i was so glad they got Hank out and that everyone else they managed to save was doing better!

Interesting that Daphne also was just deciding the hiding was too much.

I was also glad that Vera stepped up and took care of the men they got out!

and I really thought the party would be over the top and Andy would hate it so I was glad when it was low-key and so cute! I loved his birthday party! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "12 chapters OMG that..."

I know, right!? I thought the same exact thing about (view spoiler)[the Mom after I read about Andy's tour of the hospital. Like okay, I read her wrong 😝 I guess Andy does know his Mom better than I do! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack]

Trisha wrote: "wow, what a great conclusion!

Ugh that phone..."

Yesssss, this read like a full stop conclusion, didn't it? Not sure we'll get another book 🤔 😭