Against a Brightening Sky

August 3, 2015
Murder, ghosts, magical mayhem, and Bolshevik-era Russia combine in the impressive and entertaining conclusion of Moyer's supernatural mystery series (after A Barricade in Hell). Series star Delia and her husband, police captain Gabe Ryan, attend a St. Patrick's Day parade in 1919 San Francisco, where all hell breaks loose as snipers begin shooting into the crowd. Gabe and Delia aren't seriously injured, but they end up helping a young woman, Alina, who has little memory of her past. A series of murders has Gabe looking to labor union leader Dominic Mullaney and his lieutenant, Aleksei Nureyev, for answers. Delia, always attuned to the spirit world, sees the image of a young woman who may be connected to Alina, and also tries to help Gabe find the serial killer. Moyer brilliantly brings the setting to life, with fascinating details that bolster the historical verisimilitude. Strong characterizations are the icing on this entertaining blend of genres. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Laura Dail Literary.

October 15, 2015

Delia Martin and her policeman husband investigate a ghost, a serial killer, and a woman without a past in 1919 San Francisco. This conclusion to Moyer's paranormal series (after A Barricade in Hell) successfully combines mystery, fantasy, and historical fiction.--MM

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2015
The end of the Great War brings talks of peace, but the aftermath still shadows many. Apprentice magic-practitioner Delia Martin is dealing with the ghosts that circle her, sometimes literally, while her husband, police captain Gabriel Ryan, finds that his latest investigation has taken a spiritual turn. Delia's newest ghost is a European princess who warns Delia to get her loved ones to safety right before a gunman fires into a rioting Saint Patrick's Day crowd. A young woman is discovered after the chaos with no memory of her past except for her name, Alina. Realizing that Alina is the focus of the horrible event, Gabe and his colleagues try to find the mysterious perpetrator. Meanwhile, Delia's search for Alina's identity coincides with some dark memory-dreams from the princess ghost. With multiple deaths haunting both Delia and Gabe, the couple tries to discover the answers before Alina, or anyone they care about, becomes a ghost. Moyer's strong characters and story bring this exciting historical-fantasy series (Delia's Shadow, 2013; A Barricade in Hell, 2014) to a satisfying conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)