Lavender & Lies: A Trans Historical Ghost Mystery (The Pinehaven Chronicles, Book 2)

By H.J. Stellason

Some ghosts aren't haunting. They're fighting to be seen.

Casey Winters has finally found their place in Pinehaven-the hidden supernatural town where they've built a life mediating conflicts between werewolves, witches, and centuries-old vampires. They've learned to trust their intuition, ask the questions no one else thinks to ask, and help voices be heard when they've been silenced for too long.

But nothing prepared them for the ghost in the wedding dress.

When Iris Thorngate-a trans architect-buys her family's abandoned Victorian manor to restore it, she awakens something that's been trapped for over a century. A desperate spirit appears in mirrors, tears at the elaborate bridal gown, and writes one word over and over: WRONG.

Everyone assumes it's a classic tragedy: a bride who died before her wedding, forever mourning what she lost.

Casey knows better.

Because the ghost isn't grieving a lost marriage. The ghost is raging against a lie carved in stone-a deadname on a gravestone, a life erased, an identity buried under a wedding dress that was never meant to be worn.

The ghost is Robert Thorngate. A trans man who died in 1894. And he's been waiting 130 years for someone to finally see the truth.

To free Robert, Casey must investigate a century-old death, uncover evidence of medical abuse that powerful families want to keep buried, and convince the town council to correct the historical record. But some lies have deep roots. Some families have spent generations protecting their reputations. And some truths are dangerous enough that people will go to extraordinary lengths to silence them.

Even if it means everything Casey has built in Pinehaven.

PERFECT FOR READERS WHO LOVE:
- Trans and non-binary protagonists
- Historical mysteries with heart
- Gothic Victorian atmosphere
- Found family fighting for justice
- Ghosts with stories that matter
- Cozy mysteries with serious themes
- Lavender tea, vintage mirrors, and truth-telling
- Stories about being seen for who you really are

THIS IS A STANDALONE MYSTERY-you can start here or with Book 1.

Lavender & Lies is the second book in The Pinehaven Chronicles-a cozy queer paranormal mystery series that proves the most powerful magic is recognizing someone's truth, even when the world tried to bury it. Each book features a complete mystery, while Casey's journey of belonging continues throughout the series.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GMQFJMZ3
• ISBN13: 9798247626695
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"