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Find out what people have to say about Ivan Obolensky and his works
Industry Reviews
Read moreKirkus Book Reviews
In this debut murder mystery, a pair of friends searches for clues in the darkest recesses of the occult. Johnny and Percy grew up as close as brothers. So when Johnny asks Percy to accompany him to his family's luxurious estate in Rhinebeck, New York, he agrees despite some reservations. While rummaging about in the cellar, they stumble upon some personal effects that belonged to Johnny's deceased aunt, Alice, a larger-than-life figure who died under mysterious circumstances.
Eye of the Moon
Clarion/Foreword Review, 4 stars
Set in 1977, the novel has a timeless, eerie feeling. Wealth, family politics, and the occult make for a strangely captivating and exotic brew in Ivan Obolensky's 'Eye of the Moon'. Wealthy playboy Johnny Dodge invites his childhood companion Percy on an extended weekend in Rhinebeck at his family's Gormenghastian country estate. At first, it seems that nothing more sinister is in the offing than the Bertie Woosterish hijinks of rich bachelor boys dodging the slings of omniscient butlers and the arrows of dreaded matrimony.
Eye of the Moon
IndieReader, 4.7 stars, IndieReader Approved
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. When Johnny Dodge knocks on Percy's door and asks him to help uncover whether they've accidentally drunk the bottles of Château Lafite 1959 that Johnny's parents were saving for their anniversary, Percy should have known that more than fine wine would be opened during a weekend in Rhinebeck, the Dodge family estate that always felt a bit peculiar.
Eye of the Moon
Readers' Favorite, 5 stars
In the scintillating supernatural mystery, Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky, two young men battle family discord and the forces of the occult. Percy's parents had no place for him in their busy lives and left him with their close friends, the Dodges. Percy was the same age as the Dodges' son Johnny, and the two boys grew up together as brothers. When they were young, Johnny's Aunt Alice died unexpectedly during a house party. Alice had lived an extraordinary life, and her death was out of...
Eye of the Moon
Feathered Quill
Shadow of the Son is the sequel to Ivan Obolensky's incredible first novel, Eye of the Moon and, if possible, this return to Rhinebeck is even better than our original trip. Percy and Johnny are back, along with all our old friends and a few new ones in another wonderful, mysterious, and captivating weekend that just might hold even more secrets than the first. As this sequel begins, we are all back at Rhinebeck for another gathering full of old secrets, new beginnings, and, of course...
Shadow of the Son
Reader Reviews
Read moreVickie Dorsey
All I want to say is that Ivan Obolensky has done it again with the third installment of Eye of the Moon. When I tell you I couldn't put the book down. It is a must read, but you have to read 'Eye of the Moon' and 'Shadow of the Son' first to get a clear understanding of each of the characters, Johnny and Percy, and what they bring to the story. Reading this one had me on the edge of my seat. It's a gothic mystery/psychological thriller must read. I can't wait to read all three of them again.
Dark of the Earth
Maria Candelaria Alvarez
'Dark of the Earth' is a masterful blend of suspense, elegance, and mystery that grips you from the very first page. Author Ivan Obolensky draws you deeper into his world with each chapter. His descriptions are so well-crafted that you can almost feel the chill in the air and taste the complexity of flavors in each serving and the wines. He transports you to a different world while entangling you in a fascinating mystery. It's a book that keeps you wanting it to never end! Highly recommended!
Dark of the Earth
Craig Houchin
'Dark of the Earth' is the third novel in the Eye of the Moon series about a remarkable family of American aristocrats and their mysterious estate on the Hudson River. As in the previous two novels, 'Eye of the Moon' and 'Shadow of the Son', the story's setting is an old mansion estate on the upper Hudson known as Rhinebeck. It's a place of tranquil beauty, aristocratic order, and ancient mystery that borders on the supernatural.
Dark of the Earth
Hélène Laurendeau
It was a real pleasure to reconnect with Percy, Johnny and the other colorful characters of the previous volumes in this new highly entertaining novel, that brings us back into the rarefied circles of high society. After Johnny is severely injured in a car crash, Percy reminisces about some of their childhood and youth's antics, which makes for some delightful, sometimes hilarious, anecdotes.
Dark of the Earth
Lyn Blair
'Dark of the Earth' captured my attention right from the start and held it throughout. From the get-go, the story takes off as we discover Johnny was injured during a car accident, was hospitalized and now lies in a coma...His doctor suggests that Percy recount some of their past experiences in hopes of stimulating Johnny's memory and awakening him from the coma. I loved reading about their storied adventures, which added layers of dimension to their character development. In fact, I enjoyed many of these anecdotes as much as the main plot. … Was it an accident or a murder attempt? If a murder attempt, based on what motivation? … Wonderful story, artfully crafted and told. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. Anyone who enjoys the allure of a mystery with paranormal undertones will find it hard to resist.
Dark of the Earth