Review of "Dark of the Earth: Eye of the Moon Series #3" by Ivan Obolensky

This is the third book in 'The Eye of the Moon' series, set in the late 1970s. The previous books in the series are Eye of the Moon and Shadow of the Son.

The setting for the books is a weekend party at Rhinebeck, an opulent country estate with a VERY elegant lifestyle, in upstate New York. Rhinebeck has strong associations with the occult, and spirits and demons sometimes make their presence known.

To get the reader up to speed, the author provides synopses of the first two books as well as a list of characters.

*****

Percy and Johnny Dodge are lifelong friends and are now business partners as well.



As the story opens, Johnny - whose family has close connections with Rhinebeck - is hospitalized and in a coma. Johnny was in a limousine that crashed in NYC, killing the chauffeur and injuring Johnny. Johnny's parents and his friend Percy are terribly concerned, fearing for Johnny's recovery.....if not his life.



A Dodge family friend, Dr. Angus Maxwell-Hughes, suggests that Percy sit by Johnny's hospital bed and tell him stories. This could stimulate Johnny's long-term memory and lead to a more rapid recovery.

Percy visits Johnny on a daily basis, and relates tales of his and Johnny's childhood naughtiness and adolescent escapades.



One story involves a pretty girl called Casey Duke, whom Johnny dated when he was a teenager.



Another tale involves Johnny's high school rival James Cushman, with whom Johnny has a hate/hate relationship.



This is important because Casey is now married to James Cushman;



and before Johnny's accident, he and Casey had been having an adulterous affair.



In addition, the Cushman family and the Dodge family are business rivals, and there's ongoing animosity between the patriarchs of the families, James Cushman Sr. and John Dodge Sr.

All this leads to the conclusion that the Cushman family engineered Johnny's accident in an attempt to kill him!!

To expose the truth, Percy, who now owns Rhinebeck, organizes a weekend house party, and invites the Cushman clan: James Cushman Sr. and his wife Peggy;



and James Cushman Jr. and his wife Casey. The plan is to confront the Cushmans and learn the truth about Johnny's 'accident.'



Other invitees are the usual guests:

⚫ John Sr. and Anne Dodge (Johnny's parents): John and Anne have a permanent suite at Rhinebeck and are free to visit the estate whenever they wish, to enjoy the Cristal champagne; fine wines; gourmet food; tennis courts; expansive grounds; etc.



⚫ Bruni von Hofmanstal: Bruni is a crafty business lawyer who's engaged to Percy. Bruni is pregnant and the couple are being urged to choose a wedding date. They're procrastinating, though, because they want Johnny to be there.



⚫ Baron and Baroness von Hofmanstal: Bruni's parents, and Percy's future in-laws. The von Hofmanstals plan to have Bruni and Percy's nuptials at their castle in Austria.



⚫ Mary Leland (aka Maw): Maw is John Sr.'s mother (Johnny's grandmother); she's VERY wealthy, and she always speaks her mind.



⚫ Bonnie - Maw's daughter. Bonnie is a shrewd businesswoman who likes to have a good time. She's currently in a romance with Dr. Angus Maxwell-Hughes.



⚫ Dr. Angus Maxwell-Huges Angus is a fine physician and a wise and worldly man. He provides good advice to Percy and the Dodges.



⚫ Malcolm Ault: a business facilitator who's always a welcome guest at Rhinebeck.



⚫ Raymond - John Dodge Sr.'s driver. Raymond is a tough guy who makes a fine bodyguard when necessary.



⚫ Robert the Bruce: Maw's white bull terrier, who occasionally strays into the spirit world.



⚫ Also present at Rhinebeck are Stanley - the caretaker/butler/houseman; and Stanley's wife Dagmar - a 5-star chef who prepares scrumptious food AND supernatural potions.





Percy''s plan is for himself and the Dodges to confront the Cushmans and get them to reveal their evil deeds. This requires careful planning, and there are numerous conferences among 'the good guys.'

As for the Cushman clan, they have schemes of their own. The Cushmans don't seem to realize they're suspects, and hope to make a lucrative (and shady) business deal with John Dodge Sr. On top of that, Casey has a not-so-secret agenda. She's looking for a new husband and admits to coveting Rhinebeck and everything that comes with it.

All this results in devilishness on both sides, including trips into the spirit world by Percy, in an attempt to 'find Johnny' and bring him out of his coma.

These shenanigans play out amidst very elegant meals, where the men wear tuxes and the ladies wear gowns and fabulous jewels.

For fun, here's an example of a typical dinner menu.

First course: duck pâté with baby pears and compote.
Second course: lobster bisque.
Third course: green salad sprinkled with lemon croutons, drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette.
Fourth course: grilled salmon drenched in lemon butter with watercress sauce.
Dessert course: homemade cake with vanilla ice cream

These courses are (naturally) served with delicious wines.


Duck pâté with baby pears and compote


Lobster bisque


Green salad with lemon croutons, drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette


Salmon with watercress sauce


Homemade cake with vanilla ice cream

At the book's finale, Bruni and Percy's nuptials are finally being planned, and I imagine this will be the centerpiece of Obolensky's planned fourth book in the series.

Much of the novel feels like a period drama, with behavior that would be shocking these days, like everyone (even pregnant women) smoking constantly, and drinking champagne, wine, and stronger spirits all day long. That said, the novel provides a pleasurable peek at the lives of the rich and scandalous, reminiscent (as I've said before) of television shows like Downton Abbey.

Recommended to fans of the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ivan Obolensky, and Smith-Obolensky Media for a copy of the book.

 Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "Murder by Candlelight: A Val and Arbie Mystery" by Faith Martin

This debut book in the 'Val & Arbie mystery series' introduces us to the English amateur sleuths.

*****

It's summer 1924, and a young bon vivant called Arbuthnot Lancelot Smith (Arbie) - who lives in the Cotswold village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh - is planning a stroll to the village shop for newspapers and tobacco, followed by a spot of fishing on his grounds.



It's not to be, however, because Arbie is accosted by Miss Amy Phelps, one of the oldest and richest residents of Maybury-in-the-Marsh. Miss Phelps explains that her home, the Old Forge manor house, has a ghost that's frightening her. Though most villagers think Arbie is an airhead, Miss Phelps wants him to look into the matter. This is less surprising than it might seem.



As a kind of lark, Arbie had written a book called 'The Gentleman's Guide to Ghost-Hunting', which was an unexpected smash hit with the British public.



Arbie is trying to squirm out of assisting Miss Phelps when his longtime friend, Valentina Coulton-James (Val), the vicar's daughter, comes whizzing along on her bicycle. Val is a tall strapping athletic girl who, hearing about the ghost, immediately says she and Arbie will look into it.



Arbie and Val are invited to a luxurious tea at the Old Forge to discuss the matter.



At the manor house, Arbie and Val are greeted by the housekeeper Mrs. Jane Brockhurst.



The ghosthunters also meet the houseguests. These are: Cora Delaney - Miss Phelps' oldest friend;



Reggie Bicklesworth - an artist who rescues and rehomes needy animals;



Phyllis Thomas -Miss Phelps' niece;



and Murray Phelps - Miss Phelps' nephew.



A few days later, Arbie and Val set themselves up at the Old Forge for the night, to look and listen for ghostly emanations. The twosome don't see spirits, but the next morning, Miss Amy Phelps is found dead in her locked bedroom, poisoned with cyanide.



Police Inspector Gorringe arrives to investigate the homicide.....



.....and Arbie and Val, who both think of themselves as Sherlock Holmes, look into the murder as well. The main thrust of everyone's inquiries is 'cui bono' (who benefits). Typical cozy mystery tropes abound, such as old grudges; a spot of larceny; strange accidents; people changing their wills; etc.



Things move pretty quickly and Arbie helps expose the culprit at the book's climax.



This is a rather slight story, but the historical setting is interesting, the characters are fun, and I got quite a few laughs. Recommended to fans of the genre.

 Rating: 3.5 stars