Bones of the Dark Moon

by Richard E. Lewis

During construction on an idyllic Bali seashore, workers uncover skeletons, victims of brutal mass murder. The discovery sets the village of Batu Gede astir. The life of Made "Nol" Ziro, a stalwart member of the community with a little gambling problem, is turned upside down. Could one of those skeletons be that of his schoolmaster father, who disappeared during the massacres of 1965? As Nol sets out to find the truth, his path crosses that of American anthropologist Tina Briddle, who has secrets of her own, and who is determined to give a voice to the unknown bones. She suspects that the key to their mystery lies with Reed Davis, an enigmatic retiree dwelling among the Ubud expat community and rumored to have been a CIA spy. Drawing them together is the mysterious Luhde Srikandi, who fifty years ago whispered her enchantments from the shadows of conspiracy and who begins to whisper again. What happened on that sleepy beach isn't all dusty memory. Secrets are revealed, vengeance is unleashed, and a forbidden love flares to life. Arguably the most traumatic cataclysm of Bali's rich and fascinating history, the massacres of 1965 remain mostly unknown to the island's visitors. Interweaving historical drama with contemporary Bali life, Bones of the New Moon is compulsively readable, a page-turner with unexpected twists leavened with dashes of humor, laying bare the love and hatred, the tragedy and irony, and the joy and despair of our common human predicament.

314 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2013

Reviews

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bones of the Dark Moon begins at a measured pace but gradually unfolds into a gripping and ambitious story. Its great strength lies in how it anchors the narrative in the reality of the 1965–66 massacres in Bali, giving the novel both authenticity and weight. The historical backdrop feels vivid and credible, especially knowing the author lived through that time, and for me it resonated even more after recently visiting Bali.

That said, the book’s pacing felt uneven. At times it rushed through key moments, leaving the ending less impactful than it might have been, and occasionally important elements seemed underdeveloped. Still, despite these flaws, the novel is powerful, thought-provoking, and left me with a deeper human connection to Bali’s past. It’s a story worth reading.

[Susi Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this might turn out to be yet another cringeworthy "Been to Bali Too" book, but boy was I wrong. It's absolutely ridiculous of me to have overlooked the author's name, identity, and unassailable credentials to speak on the subjects he takes on with this book, on the subject of Bali itself and the peculiar ambivalences and ambiguities that stem from it's recent history and still shape Balinese-Bali's self-regard, it's trajectory and its future. I give it four stars, instead of five, only because I am a tough customer who adamantly opposes "ratings inflation".

[Peter Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent novel about the “troubled times” in Indonesia. This novel, based in Bali is an excellent read for anyone whether or not you’re a fan of Bali. Not only does the author, who lived through this torrid time in Bali, give the reader an insight to the Communist attempts to take over Indonesia but keeps the reader enthralled to the end.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. The book really picked up the pace and suspense in the second half. It's some kind of espionage thriller but also mixed with the antics and daily life of common folks. It's an interesting book, fun to read.

[Mark Stubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. I think this one will stick in my head for a while ...

[Ben Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute belter of a book. Mystery and history meet in beautiful Bali.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating historical novel that highlights some dark but fascinating history in Bali during the cold war. It also offers an interesting and educational glimpse into the culture and relationships of this part of the world. It accomplishes all of this while providing a suspenseful mystery.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bored at the beginning, thrilled until the end.. and surprisingly have a happy ending... at least almost to every character..

[Christel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spannend erzählte indonesische Geschichte

[Trish]

loved this true story about the bali massacre set 50 years apart

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, really great read about Bali. Even though it's a novel, the 1965 communist cleansing in Indonesia was very real and the author writes about that. I met the author at BC and he was born in Bali to American missionary parents.