Séance on a Summer's Night

Theater critic Artemus Bancroft is abruptly and mysteriously summoned home to California with a vague but urgent plea for help. He arrives to discover the apparent haunting of Green Lanterns Inn, his aunt's home (and his until he left to make his way in NYC). I was attracted to the premise of this story and had no idea that Artemis was gay, and that a relationship would begin and develop, but it was tastefully done and certainly didn't detract from the mystery. I'm now a new fan and will be looking for more from this author.

I had so much fun! A perfect book for hot summer days!

What Josh Lanyon could do really good- to write a good story. There is indeed a STORY in her every novel, we can argue about anything else, but never about THIS fact. And this one has not just summer in its title but also somehow a summer SPIRIT, and other spirits also...

I have to be honest with you, I don't like paranormal genre, but if it is told with a profound sense of humor, irony, sarcasm, and, with the icing on the cake with a lovely romance and VERY CHARMING characters, I do not want to complain!

Spoilers: The key with LGBTQIA fiction these days is that they don't always have to do with being LGBTQIA. What I mean is that, while there are romances about boy meets boy or girl meets girl and dramatic coming out stories in less enlightened times or in modern day in front of a disapproving family and society, that isn't all there is to Queer Literature.

To be truly equal means to cover all barriers. One of the ways to do that is to put LGBTQIA characters in genres where their sexuality isn't the most important part of the book. It is essential to their character, but no more so than it would be for a straight protagonist obtaining a heterosexual love interest. The sexuality and gender roles become a subplot in that book.

Josh Lanyon's novel, Seance on a Summer's Night is that type of book. Yes the protagonist, Artemus “Artie” Bancroft is gay. Yes, he spends multiple parts of the book discussing his love life and yes, he obtains a male love interest in the book. However, Artie's sexuality takes a back seat in what is a memorable Gothic Novel and Ghost Story with a witty protagonist who happens to be gay.

Artie is a New York theater critic who is summoned back to Green Lanterns, his childhood home in Russian Bay, California, by his Aunt Halcyone. Halcyone raised Artie ever since his parents died and the two have been close until Halcyone’s marriage to Ogden Hyde, a domineering philandering tyrant. Artie moved to New York to pursue his career and a romance with Greg, a married man. Now, one year after Ogden's death, Halcyone summons Artie back saying that she “can't handle the situation” and that she needs Artie's “cool head and strong shoulders” to help with said situation.

The situation is that Green Lanterns appears to be haunted. Halcyone wants to turn the ornate many-roomed mansion into an inn. However, people report missing items, mysterious footsteps when no one is there, and transparent figures seen out of the corner of one's eye. Staff keep quitting and no guests check in because of fear of ghosts. Ogden's bed ridden sister, Lianna is consulting with mediums. Above all, rumors are spread that Ogden's death was no accident and that he was murdered something that Ogden's ghost has confirmed.

Seance on a Summer's Night is the perfect read if someone is looking for a good Gothic ghost story to curl up with. All the tropes are there. There is the creepy house with dark rooms, secret passages, and dim lighting just waiting for someone to see something spooky pop out of the shadows. (It makes one wonder why anyone would want to visit there but many people like to visit haunted places like Winchester Mystery House. Plus I live near St. Louis where one of the favorite tourist destinations is the Lemp Mansion and Brewery, so who am I to judge?)

If the setting didn't give off a spooky enough atmosphere, then the people who dwell within Green Lanterns certainly will. Everyone appears to be hiding something and has their own private agenda.

Lianna was once a social butterfly but now spends her days lying in bed, reading Tarot cards, and talking to her only friend, medium Roma Loveridge. She also goes on nightly walks looking for Ogden and in one creepy chapter almost falls to her death. Roma herself produces some spooky moments with her séances that may or may not be on the level. She also has a strange psychological hold on Lianna and sometimes Halcyone which makes Artie extremely suspicious.

The remaining servants, Tarrant and his daughter, Ulyanna appear to resent the increased workload and Artie's presence. Seamus Cassidy, a handsome gardener, captures Artie's eye but maybe hiding his true intentions and connection to the goings-on at Green Lantern. Then there's Halcyone who Artie wants to believe is innocent of Ogden's murder but is acting more and more mysterious and keeps dropping hints about how she can't be forgiven for something.

Poor Artie doesn't know who to trust when everyone in Green Lanterns is acting suspiciously, even family members and people he had known for years.

Characterization is Lanyon's strong suit and he gives us a brilliant protagonist in Artie. Artie is very witty and prone to providing sarcastic one-liners. When Halcyone quotes the “more things in heaven and earth” line from Hamlet, Artie replies “That's right, Hamlet. There's fire and water.”

Artie is a fervent skeptic which is why Halcyone contacted him to see if there are any human agencies behind the hauntings. Artie is the type of person who attends a seance and looks underneath the table for strings and flashlights. He proves to be helpful by observing clues for a rational explanation. However, he is so convinced by his skepticism that he refuses the possibility of thw supernatural even when it's right in front of him and all scientific reasoning has disappeared.

Besides being a skeptical cynic, Artie exhibits a softer side. He cares deeply for Halcyone and is protective of her because of the scares and the earlier abuse she received at the hands of Ogden. Even though he doesn't get along with Lianna, he expresses concern for her when she appears to be on the edge of a breakdown.

Artie shows vulnerability when thinking about his love life. He is haunted by the death of one former boyfriend and is still hurting over his breakup with Greg. His moments with Cassidy are sweet but tinged with sadness as Artie finds it difficult to fall in love again and also is suspicious of Cassidy’s true nature.

When Artie encounters the ghosts, he realizes that his one liners, skepticism, and vulnerable nature can't protect him from the secrets and fear that surrounds him.


Seance on a Summer’s Night has a descriptive spooky Gothic setting and a clever well-rounded protagonist. It is a great read for those hot July and August nights when you need a chill down your spine and a good scare.

I finished this on a hot Summer night, outside, and couldn’t have been more pleased with all of it. I ended it with a huge smile on my face.

Oh, I needed this.

Really.

This one got me right from the start. The mystery held my attention, the romance, that as a Fanyon I know will never be enough and always leave me wanting in the best way, was just that, the best. The secondary characters were all interesting even if they weren’t all that likeable. I loved that the house, the gardens and the cars were all a huge part of the story. The house though, because that is just how I am, stole the show. I hope, hope, hope that Artemus and Seamus find their way back to Green Lanterns to stay someday.

I loved the mix of Ghost story and murder mystery and I love how I was guessing until the very end.

I know, I’m such a huge fan, so maybe I am not trustworthy, but I’ll tell you, this was super enjoyable and just what I expect from Josh Lanyon, trust me!

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Theater critic Artemus Bancroft isn’t sure what to expect when his aunt summons him home to California with vague but urgent pleas about being unable to cope with “the situation.”

The situation turns out to be the apparent haunting of Green Lanterns Inn—along with alarming rumors that long-suffering Auntie Halcyone may have murdered her philandering husband.

In fact, the rumors seem to have been started by the late Mr. Hyde himself—from beyond the grave.

Séance on a Summer's Night by Josh Lanyon is another one of those complicated paranormal romances that Josh Lanyon does so well.  A terrific mixture of mystery, romance,.. and relationships of all sorts that border on the psychologically insane to the secretive to the familial and everything in between and all with a touch of the paranormal.  How I do love how Lanyon throws in those spooky elements!

In this story it's Artemus Bancroft called back to his childhood home, er mansion, by the aunt who helped raise him.    Auntie Haycyone is clearly in desperate need but why?  Turns out her disposable  and quite dead second  of a philander husband has chosen to haunt said mansion, driving away servants and paying guests.

Not that Artemus is buying into any of this and wonders why his Auntie is and why the estate is in such disrepairs.  And who is that gardener wandering around?

Love the character of Artemus.  Cynical just where he should be, especially of all those crazy guests in residence at the mansion.  Even of his Aunt when her actions start to make no sense.  His is often the only level head of the bunch.  And his investigations proceed accordingly.

This is not a review where you can go into the various characters or much of the plot because other than to say there's a medium involved that says she talks to the dead, hold seances that make for some dramatic and very entertaining scenes, and that, yes, Auntie Halcyone does seem to firmly believe in her,. Everything and everybody else contains potential spoilers.

I will say while all the main characters don't carry the usual Lanyon depth, it's not needed here.  This is a fun, slightly chilling mystery romance romp!  The two men who fall into a romance, one they that establish is HFN and is just realistically getting started, are made for each other.   I would love to know where their romance goes from here. But what I did see of the developing relationship was one that I liked (ok. Their romance moves pretty fast given the circumstances but Lanyon made a good case for that)/

The mystery and several accompanying murders was, as I said entertaining and completely held my interest.  If it still left me with questions at the end after everything had supposedly been resolved....well that accounts for the 4 instead of the 5 rating.  I guess I wanted everything wrapped up a little more neatly, all loose ends gone, which is not exactly the Lanyon way.

Perhaps this isn't the end of this duo and we will be seeing more of everyone, including Green Mansions and Aunt Halcyone too.  She still has those pesky neighbors to content with.

If you enjoy a fun and entertaining mystery romance, then pick up Séance on a Summer's Night by Josh Lanyon.  I definitely recommend it to while away those hote summer nights or any night at all.

Cover art for me isn't a favorite.  Lighted keyhole or crystal ball.  Just blurry enough not to be dramatic

4.5 stars round up.
An excellent creepy 'haunted house' mystery, complete with an engaging lead and love interest. All the secondary characters are either batty or suspicious which plays well with the genre and there are enough clues scattered around that the resolution doesn't come completely out of the blue.
The romance is low key as normal with a Lanyon book, but believable enough for me. I would say that the setting and some of the characters did feel more suited to a period piece.
Recommended.

Well, that was fun… in a totally scary, crazy, unpredictable way. Kinda what I’ve come to expect from this author.

Artemus had no problem dropping everything and coming to his aunt’s side when she needed him. He grew up with her at Green Lanterns so his devotion to her was understandable. That didn’t mean that he supported her theory about a ghost haunting and scaring away any potential guests as well as her staff. It also didn’t mean that he supported every decision that she made.

Then there was Seamus. It was obvious from the beginning (at least for me) that there was much more to the gardener than appeared at first glance. I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I wasn’t disappointed by much in Seance on a Summer’s Night. There were enough twists, turns, danger and just enough romance to keep the pages turning.