Murder mystery with a hint of occult! Full of twists and turns, Eye of the Moon has you guessing at everything.

Nothing is as it seems at Rhinebeck. When Percy is approached by his estranged best friend Johnny to join him at the Dodge family estate for a family reunion, he feels obliged to comply. Little does he know that his world is about to be utterly shattered. What starts as an innocent weekend celebration quickly turns into a murder mystery that leads Percy down a rabbit hole with the most unexpected conclusion. The Dodge family is layered with plots and secrets so deep, who can Percy really trust? Other than Johnny and Robert the Bruce, of course.

Rife with red herrings, the truth can only be found by peeling away the layer of intrigue. But with each answer comes more questions.

Ivan Obolensky created a captivating ambiance at Rhinebeck. We're offered a peek into the lavish lives of the "average" old-money American family.

**Minor spoilers ahead**

What I loved:
Plot layers: Percy's connection to Rhinebeck and its guests goes beyond what you'd expect. So much has been kept secret from him and the revelations are jaw-dropping.
Narration: Carter Roy and Vanessa Richardson did a wonderful job of bringing each character to life! I'm obsessed with Elsa, what a cheeky baroness.

What I didn't love:
Dialogue-driven story: When first listening to the audiobook, I struggled to connect to the story as it was both dialogue rich and detail heavy which caught me off-guard. The story was intriguing enough to keep me hooked, and I'm happy I did! In the end, the style worked well in audiobook format.

Overall, a solid story with a strong duo of narrators.

If you're a fan of American Gothic and who-dun-it, Eye of the Moon is right for you! The plot treads beyond the typical murder mystery by spicing it up with additional family drama.

Book details:
Main character: Percy
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Style: First-person, single POV
Format: Audiobook (NetGalley)

Trigger warnings (incomplete):
SA (off-page, historical)

I am a normal romance and fantasy reader, but when I read the description of this I had to read it. It’s definitely a commitment read, but worth the time. Set in 1977 it follows Percy and Johnny as they go back to Johnny’s family estate, Rhinebeck, for a long weekend. Members of the family and some friends also arrive for this weekend. We learn the estate once belonged to Johnny’s aunt Alice who died some 20 yrs prior. She was very into the occult and shrouded in a lot of mystery. Both Percy and Johnny go into the weekend trying to find some answers. Only to uncover more secrets and betrayals they could have dreamed. This book was well written and as far as I know believable to how the upper class would have lived back then. I just don’t understand how one could smoke or drink that much?! Now to clear my schedule for book 2.

Childhood friends, Johnny and Percy reunite after a period of instability in their relationship to return to Johnny's ancestral home and cover up certain youthful indiscretions involving a particularly valued set of vintage wines.

Along with navigating the challenges of the possible pairing that Johnny's parents have in mind for their son involving a young women with an impeccable pedigree, the two also find themselves exploring the mystery of what REALLY happened to Johnny's aunt, Lady Alice, a colourful character known for her very eccentric behaviour and - as it turns out - some dubious dealings.

Whimsical, humorous and generally entertaining, this one gets 3. 5 stars.

I received an audio copy of the book for review.

At no point did I want to continue with this book. The premise of the book sounded amazing, but the storyline just wasn't it. I also didn't like the narration. It was supposed to mimic a play according to the publishers notes. I hated it.

I'm sure others may love this book but this actually put me in a reading slump.

3.5 stars rounded up

Eye of the Moon was a fun, lighthearted read. It had a good mix of humor and intrigue. It reminded me of a more sophisticated pink panther. The characters were funny and fun to unravel. I enjoyed the point of view it was told from.

I listened to the audiobook and narration was really good. 4.5 stars.

It was a bit lengthy/wordy and I wish it had moved a bit quicker. It was entertaining as an audiobook just casually listening in the car but I feel like had I not been listening I probably would have DNF'ed the e-book version just for how slow the beginning was.

Thanks to NetGalley, Smith-Obolensky Media, and Ivan Obolensky for the ALC and chance to give my honest opinion

I'm not sure what this story was supposed to be about i lost interest in it about 40% in the book! I thought sense it was voiced by my favorite podcast person it would be great but no, that didn't help

I received this audiobook from Smith-Obolensky Media on NetGalley - thank you!

Oh, what a ride it was! I could tell the author had great fun while writing this book.

I enjoyed everything about this novel (maybe except for its length… It definitely could have been shorter!). The setting and the mood were captivating. I loved the stories nested within the main story - I think it was done very well. My favorite characters were Stanley, Johnny and - of course - Robert.

I also really liked the voices of narrators - I think they suited the characters perfectly. I wish I had read a physical copy of this book though, because I kept getting lost in the stories within stories, losing track of who is talking and when. It didn’t help that I fell asleep in the middle of a chapter a few times and had to re-listen to several parts.

All in all, it was a delightful read. I just realized that this book is the first one in a series - can’t wait to read the next ones!

3.5 stars

Rhinebeck, in upstate New York, is the opulent country estate of the Dodge family. The manor once belonged to Lady Alice - an Egyptologist with occult beliefs and practices. Lady Alice died in mysterious circumstances two decades ago, and Rhinebeck is rumored to harbor ghosts and spirits. After Lady Alice departed, her half-brother John Dodge Sr. became Rhinebeck's trustee, and he's responsible for overseeing the estate's finances and maintenance.

Rhinebeck has always been an exciting place for John Dodge Jr. (Johnny) and his best friend Percy. Johnny and Percy were raised together in a ritzy Manhattan apartment, and spent their boyhood summers at Rhinebeck, where they perpetrated lots of mischief. It's now 1977, and Johnny and Percy - now 30 years old - are back at Rhinebeck for a weekend gathering.

Johnny and Percy were once in business together, but their investment firm went belly up, and the men went their separate ways. Johnny and Percy recently got re-acquainted, and they're happy to return to Rhinebeck because they have an ulterior motive; they plan to explore the mansion and unearth Lady Alice's mystic secrets.

The Rhinebeck weekend is being hosted by John Dodge Sr. and his wife Anne. Other guests include John's mother Mary Leland (Maw), an unpleasant woman who's IMMENSELY wealthy; Maw's daughter Bonnie Leland (John's half-sister), who's very ambitious; Baron and Baroness von Hofmanstal and their beautiful daughter Brunhilde; and Malcolm Ault, who lives in England and has something to do with films.

Also present at Rhinebeck are long-time butler Stanley - who knows all the mansion's secrets; Stanley's wife Dagmar - a wonderful chef whose cooking is to die for; and Robert the Bruce - a white bull terrier who follows Johnny everywhere.

Rhinebeck is a very formal setting, where the household dresses for dinner, and seating is assigned for both lunch and dinner. After dining, there's coffee in the drawing room; and cognac and cigars in the library. (There's far too much cigar smoking in the mansion, but this was 1977, before smokers were relegated to the outdoors.)

The main reasons for the Rhinebeck gathering are an anniversary party for John Sr. and Anne; and a fund-raiser for the manor, whose finances have waned. Thus there's to be an auction for Lady Alice's occult collection, which is of interest to Baron von Hofmanstal and Malcolm Ault. Aside from this, there's a tense atmosphere at Rhinebeck, because John Sr. and his half-sister Bonnie dislike each other, and are fierce rivals to be Maw's heir. To add to the drama, Percy immediately falls for the gorgeous Brunhilde.

The book's main plotline, however, revolves around two themes:

First, there's Johnny and Percy's investigation into the occult. The men find Lady Alice's secret library and some of her mystic artifacts. They also get Stanley to tell them Lady Alice's life story, and to give them Lady Alice's diary. Afterwards, Johnny and Percy summon a demon, unleash spirits, and so on.

Second, Johnny and Percy learn that the failure of their investment firm was purposely engineered by devious parties. The men are infuriated, and delve into the matter to find out how, who, and why.

Many secrets are revealed amid these developments, and there are some shocking revelations.

The story is engaging, but a bit long and slow-moving. Also, some plot points aren't credible. For instance, I don't believe people get engaged two days after they meet.

The book comes to a satisfactory conclusion (no cliff-hanger) but this is the first volume of a trilogy. I have the rest of the series, so stay-tuned.

As a bonus, Dagmar's scrumptious meals are described in detail. Here's an example of a lunch menu.

Hors d'oeuvres: Caviar on points of white toast
First Course: Smoked salmon from Scotland with small points of white toast paired with cold Sancerre.
Second Course: Scotch Broth
Third Course: Series of pâtés with different sauces
Dessert: Sorbet

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Carter Roy and Vanessa Richardson, who do a fine job. I also had the novel on Kindle.

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

If you like Dark Shadows or Passions, you'll like Eye of the Moon.

Some people would consider comparison to a soap opera to be an insult. I consider those people to be uneducated as to the skill it takes to create a large number of concurrently running storylines that weave in and out of each other. That's exactly what Ivan Obolensky has done in Eye of the Moon. At one point I joked that I needed a flow chart to keep everything straight. (No fooling, the reader may wish to keep some kind of notes.)

What a story it is! It's hard to categorize Eye of the Moon, speculative fiction for sure. There is a strong supernatural element, but one that doesn't overtake the overall drama. The story drew me in from the beginning and kept my attention all the way through to the end. My only quibble is with the descriptions. From the exact wines served with each course of a meal to the designers of particular dresses, it really did become a distraction. I'm not sure why it was all needed-- I understood from the get-go that we were discussing the ultra-wealthy. The most extreme example of this was stating the exact color and clarity of the protagonist's favorite diamonds. (As a side note, duh, who wouldn't prefer a better stone, money being no object?)

I especially enjoyed this audiobook. I love a recording with multiple cast members! Carter Roy did most of the heavy lifting, and wasn't too bad at giving all of the male characters distinct voices. I thought the Baron's was a little on the comical side, but the character kind of was (castle with dungeon and torture chamber, duels), so it played. Vanessa Richardson really shone. It was a shame there wasn't more for her to do, her work with all the distinct personalities was outstanding.

I really, really hope that Ivan Obolensky gives Shadow of the Son and Dark of the Earth the same audio treatment. I not only want to know what happens next, I want to hear it, too.

I would like to thank Smith-Obolensky Media for allowing me to experience this NetGalley audiobook.

I enjoyed the audio book version of this novel. The narrators were well chosen, and they did an excellent job! The book was a little bit of a slow starter. Once I got into it, I loved it. The plot was well planned, characters well written, and the details were great. Overall, this was a good book. The audio was long, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It is a gothic murder mystery with some paranormal elements. I thought it was well planned and executed. I will definitely be recommending this book to others.

Thank you Net Galley ARC!

Goodness gracious me! Do not embark on Eye of the Moon unless you have heaps of time, patience and concentration to spare.

This 17-odd-hour whopping audiobook was a bit on the long side for me, it really could have - and should have - been shorter. Having said that, it was still an enjoyable and intriguing listen. There are plenty of Gothic elements, along with supernatural and paranormal goings on. Throw in a vial or two of hallucinogenic drinks, creepy trunks that may or may not summon spirits, poison dwarves that swear and spit at people, and a rather charming little dog by the name of Robert the Bruce (by far my favourite character.)

This is an odd tale. I love Gothic anything, and there were many parts of this that I really enjoyed. Rhinebeck is amazing, I want one of my very own! But only if Stanley and Dagmaar are part of the deal. Stanley is my 2nd favourite character and a true gem. The narration was marvellous. I recognise Vanessa Richardson from one of the true crime podcasts I listen to, she is very good at what she does, and she brought Brunny to life. And Elsa, who I also rather liked.

I give it a solid 3 and a half stars, rounded up to 4 for Robert the Bruce. It was too long. Way too long. And it was slow in parts, especially in the beginning. But having said that, I will be keeping a lookout for the next one the series, which says something.

I listened to the audio version of this occult murder mystery. The narrators were excellent. The story started off a little slow and it took me a little bit to really get into it, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I'm glad I listened to it though, instead of reading the 500 some pages. It may have been too slow of a start for me to actually get into reading. Most of the story is the characters relating what happened in the past, to bring it to where they are now. The characters are Intriguing, and you are able to get to know them well. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to listen to this audiobook.

Really enjoyed the writing and the characters and the mystery. Didn't enjoy all the unnecessarily explicit sex. Way too much for a procedural novel. Otherwise, this was an excellent book!

I was so invested in the characters in this book. I thought about them when I wasn’t listening to the audiobook. This book had that old academia vibe which I love and the narrators were great. It was The Ninth House , Succession and Clue all wrapped up in one. I can’t wait to read book two!

Two childhood best friends get together at the old home of where they grew up after a few years of seeing each other. They find out that the aunt who looked after them as a child has passed away. Reliving the memories of their youth they decide to go through Aunt Alice’s old books and trinkets to learn more about her. Her Egyptian artifacts along with the book of the dead get them sleuthing to find out who really was this woman who played hide and seek with them. With the help of the butler they unfold so much more than they ever imagined including family secrets that will change their lives forever!

I really struggled with Eye of the Moon. The narrator’s delivery was so flat and unconvincing that it felt like I was listening to Garfield tell a story—no emotion or energy, which made it hard to stay engaged. From the first chapter to the last, the book dragged, and I just couldn’t get into it. Even if this were a physical book, I wouldn’t be tempted to pick it off the shelf. That being said, while it wasn’t my type of story, I can see how it might resonate with others, especially patients in a hospital setting who might appreciate its slower pace and find it non-triggering. So, I’d still consider purchasing it for others, even though it wasn’t for me.

I struggled to get into this story. The narration made it difficult to focus, it was quite whimsical or it wavered in its intonation of each word. Thanks for the advanced readers copy.

Wasn’t a fan of the book. It seemed to go on forever. It was also hard to follow. Not sure if it was due to the length (I listen to all audiobooks at 2x speed or if it was the narrator). I was not a fan of the narration.

It was okay, I didn't get into it. I felt like something was missing the narrator was annoying I wish we could get samples before signing up

A very entertaining and enthralling novel set at the Rheinbeck estate. Once the home of Lady Alice whose death is a mystery to be unravelled. Johnny Dodge and his friend Pe4cy will discover much that will upend the family and those at the estate.

Brilliantly written and expertly narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Varied, strong and entertaining characters. This novel is a page turner to see what happens next. Great start and look forward to the next novel.

I was immersed in a gripping narrative that masterfully blends historical intrigue with elements of fantasy. Obolensky’s writing is rich and evocative, bringing to life a vivid world that captures both the grandeur and the grit of the setting. The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose journey of self-discovery is both compelling and relatable.
However, the pacing does stumble at times, with certain sections feeling overly detailed, which can disrupt the overall flow. While the world-building is impressive, I found some aspects of the plot a bit convoluted, leading to moments of confusion.
Despite these minor issues, the captivating storyline and intricate character dynamics kept me engaged, making it a fulfilling and thought-provoking read.