Reviewed by Olga Markova for Readers' Favorite
Blame It On the Moon by Lou Pugliese transports us to a haunted 19th-century house in Northern Virginia, Arlington. We meet Richard Eugene Craft, the sole resident of the house. Richard’s great-granduncle and later his brother had owned the house. When Richard's brother died, Richard inherited the house. For a time, he lived in the house with his young family, but his son and wife both died there. Years later, widowed and lonely, Richard retired from his corporate executive career and returned to the house, hoping to write the great American novel. But an unexpected encounter with the ghost of a nineteenth-century slave spurs Richard to adopt Lincoln, a bouncy Sheltie, and sign up for a paranormal research class at the local university. What lies ahead for Lincoln and Richard?
Lou Pugliese’s Blame It On the Moon is a fascinating, suspenseful blend of paranormal adventure, crime, historical fiction, and science fiction. Spooky apparitions, Ouija board spiritual seances, and macabre artifacts awaited me as I investigated the mysteries of Richard’s haunted house. Passionate romance, protective friendship, the adorable Sheltie Lincoln, and hilarious humor balanced the suspense and enhanced my enjoyment of the story. But what fascinated me most were the scientific and theological aspects that transpired once Richard and his friends discovered the secret diaries of his great-granduncle. The breathtaking climax tied all the loose ends together and confirmed some of my guesses. I highly recommend this riveting mystery to adult paranormal fans only. There is graphic intimacy unsuitable for younger readers.
