Eye of the Moon
by Ivan Obolensky
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Pub Date Feb 06 2018 | Archive Date Oct 31 2024
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Description
What if your family was cursed or murdered? What would you pay to find out?
In this award-winning multigenre novel set in 1977 New York, Percy is brought back into the world of his childhood when his best friend and brother figure, Johnny, shows up at his doorstep with an unexpected request Percy cannot refuse. They return to the mysterious family estate of Rhinebeck for a five-day house party for Johnny’s parents, celebrating their 25th anniversary. What they discover in the wine cellar changes the course of the weekend and their lives.
Johnny’s aunt, the legendary socialite Lady Alice, was presumed to have died in her sleep twenty years earlier, but Percy and Johnny discover the truth is very different. Nothing is what it seems, and many at the estate have a secret.
About the Author
Ivan Obolensky was born into the world embodied by “Rhinebeck” in the Eye of the Moon series. Rhinebeck is both alive with influences from real experiences, and entirely fictional.
He became a professional writer in his late 50s in 2011, first in nonfiction articles about the social sciences, then in fiction with his debut novel, "Eye of the Moon", launched in 2018.
The author’s aim is to delight his readers in the same spirit he himself was delighted by the stories told to him by his father and grandfather about his ancestors, and the novels of Jane Austen, Raymond Chandler, Edith Wharton, O. Henry, Len Deighton, and P. G. Wodehouse. He welcomes all reviews and appreciates the time spent on each. He reads every one of them.
A Note From the Publisher
Due to its time period, set in 1977 New York, there are no cell phones, computers, or any electronic distractions, which can result in a slower-paced story than some modern readers may expect.
This is Book 1 of the Eye of the Moon series, blending American Gothic mystery, psychological thriller, family drama, up lit, and slice-of-life. The story continues in Book 2 ("Shadow of the Son") as Lord Bromley descends upon Rhinebeck and Alice returns in an unexpected way to collect on a broken promise. In Book 3 ("Dark of the Earth"), Johnny is caught in a perilous situation, and Percy must confront a different kind of evil to discover the truth of what happened, traversing dangerous territory to try to save him.
The books have mostly standalone endings, however, it is recommended they be read in sequence for the maximum experience (like "The Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter" versus "Nancy Drew" or Agatha Christie).
Advance Praise
Reviews
“ 'Eye of the Moon' is a haunting tale of family secrets and gothic dread. The author paints a story of an aristocratic house party in which not all of the guests are of this world. Filled with hidden motives, mysterious relics, and sinister unknowns, 'Eye of the Moon' evokes the drama of 'Dynasty' with the atmosphere of Manderley.”
-Professional Bookseller, Barnes & Noble
“… A deftly crafted and simply riveting gothic mystery by a master of the genre, Ivan Obolensky’s 'Eye of the Moon' is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections...”
-Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch
" 'Eye of the Moon' is an absolutely amazing novel set in 1977 in a small town in New York State. This first book by author Ivan Obolensky is full of wonderful and quirky characters, very descriptive writing, and lots of twists and turns. Given that there is so much going on at every moment, it is very impressive that the novel is so perfectly woven together. This is a must-read for anyone out there who loves a great mystery with an exciting and complex plot....”
-Feathered Quill
“ 'Eye of the Moon' is a rare and authentic glimpse inside the hidden world of America’s upper class—that small and exclusive society of the super-rich and powerful…. What starts out as a genteel and elegant celebration of an anniversary mysteriously degenerates into a series of cutthroat battles, pitting family members and friends against one another as hidden betrayals and long-suppressed secrets surrounding the death of a family member, come to light. … Plan to stay up late. Once you get caught up in this extraordinary drama you’ll find it hard to put it down. In ambiance it rivals 'Downton Abbey', but the plot tells a far more intense and shocking story.”
-Tom Hyman, author of "Seven Days to Petrograd"
“Obolensky conjures a remarkably imaginative tale, seamlessly juxtaposing the quotidian and the magical in a way that renders the latter mesmerizingly plausible. Johnny and Percy’s headlong march into the occult world that may have destroyed Alice is shockingly inadvisable and yet seems to make sense all the same…. Alice’s complex character powerfully emerges as the plot’s tonal center, a bewitching amalgam of moral strength, intellectual vitality, and a lust for life. Likewise, Stanley is far more than meets the eye, and Obolensky skillfully portrays him with literary restraint, leaving the reader to deliciously wonder if he’s truly a friend or a secret foe…. The story as a whole remains a transfixing one, ingeniously constructed. Despite its length, an engrossing tale of mystery and magic.”
-Kirkus Reviews
“ 'Eye of the Moon' by Ivan Obolensky is a thrillingly eerie mystery novel with a Gothic ambiance and supernatural elements seeping through the storyline. The intriguing tale is told from the main character Percy's point of view, engaging the reader with his articulate and conscientious personality. From the beginning, Percy relates his history and that of each person in the narrative, melding their past with the present. Despite the chronology of the many events the characters had experienced before the story began, they are combined to create a fabulously spine-chilling plot. This is an amazing novel, and I recommend it to those who love a spooky mystery with a supernatural flavor.”
-Readers’ Favorite 5-star review
" 'Eye of the Moon' by Ivan Obolensky is a classic Victorian mystery, set in modern times. It's an absorbing, multilayered tale of family secrets, intrigue, ghosts, rivalries, and mysterious treasure. Through letters, diaries and narratives, 'Eye of the Moon' weaves a richly layered, spellbinding story.”
-Jefferson Hawkins, author of "Counterfeit Dreams"
“ 'Eye of the Moon' throws you into the middle of the story, in a perfect way. It’s gripping, intense, thorough. Everything I wanted in a thriller, and then some. For a first novel, Obolensky’s work is brilliant, and I’m on the edge of my seat awaiting his next!”
-Nick Thacker, USA Today bestselling author
“A gothic mystery set in 1977—involving the occult, stolen treasure, family secrets, and financial sabotage—'Eye of the Moon' is sumptuous in its description of white-tie dinner parties and sexual tensions with baronesses, and sharp in its maneuvering of several secret puzzles at once…. A gothic mystery of the finest order….”
-IndieReader, 4.7 stars review, IR Approved
Awards/Recognitions
Winner of “Best First Book (Fiction)” in the 2018 IndieReader Discovery Awards
Gold Medalist for "Fiction: Intrigue" in the 2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards
Finalist "Best Cover Design Fiction" and "Paranormal" in the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Silver/2nd Place in the "Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror" in the 2019 Feathered Quill Book Awards
Grand Prize Short-List in the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awards
Finalist "First Horizon" in the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awards
Recipient of indieBRAG B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2023
Finalist "Legacy: Fiction" in the 2023 International Book Awards, American Book Fest
Marketing Plan
We have "Eye of the Moon" available in English and Latin American Spanish ("El ojo de la luna").
We promote across social media in English and Spanish with @ivanobolenskyofficial on Instagram and Twitter, and in English with @smithobolenskymedia Instagram and Facebook accounts, and Ivan’s X (@ivanobolensky).
"Eye of the Moon" is distributed across multiple independent and international channels and in many formats (ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook).
The ebook (in English and Spanish) is available to online book clubs via Fable, and to libraries via Hoopla, OverDrive, and Ingram.
We are focused on developing relationships with librarians, independent bookstore owners, college educators, media, and book club groups.
We are preparing a virtual book blog tour featuring the three books in the series, leading up to the launch of Book 3: "Dark of the Earth".
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781947780279 |
| PRICE | $9.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 596 |
