Rough Pages - The Library of the Uncommons

English language

Published 2024 by Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom.

ISBN:: 978-1-250-32245-6

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.

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 …

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.

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?

2 editions

Alex Cabe reviewed Rough Pages by Lev AC Rosen

Writing Challenge

3 stars

I appreciate the writing challenge Rosen sets for himself here because the detective operates underground/outside the law and can't just go to the police at the end.

This was suitably twisty and turny for a mystery novel, and I enjoy how Rosen writes all different kinds of queer characters.

It kind of tried to make a statement about freedom of information and reading, but didn't really have anything new to say.

I appreciate the writing challenge Rosen sets for himself here because the detective operates underground/outside the law and can't just go to the police at the end.

This was suitably twisty and turny for a mystery novel, and I enjoy how Rosen writes all different kinds of queer characters.

It kind of tried to make a statement about freedom of information and reading, but didn't really have anything new to say.