The Birthday of Eternity

by A.D. Price

This atmospheric mystery is a must-read for fans of L.A. Noir and postwar historical fiction. Author A.D. Price deftly creates a vibrant postwar community of séances, psychics, mystics and their customers. . . . Readers can look forward to a jaw-dropping reveal in the book’s final act.
Mishka Rao for BestThrillers.

The action and dialogues, with the intelligent story-building and narrative, made this book THE PERFECT read.
Wajeeha Bashir for Book Nerdection. A Book Nerdection Must Read.

This is a captivating mystery rich in historical illustrations, con artists, and crime.
Aurora Eliam for Reedsy Discovery.The Birthday of Eternity is a gripping tale of murder, mystery, and crime. A.D. Price's pageturner of a novel stuns you at every turn, with unexpected twists and curveballs you never see coming.
Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite.

L.A. private investigators Kit and Henry become entangled in the city's robust post-WWII occult trade when they're hired to track down Lillian, the estranged wife of a prominent physician, and her spellbinding "spirit" lover Tashin. Fresh from her training in judo and “dirty fighting,” Kit poses as an eager recruit at a Hollywood cult run by the ambitious Reverend, while Henry takes on the city's séance circuit, which has reinvented itself in the wake of war. Assisting them are Kit's psychiatrist lover Luca and her combat veteran brother Stanley, who offer their own brand of expertise in unraveling the tricks of the conmen. Plunged into the strange and deadly world of mediums and gurus, Kit and Henry soon discover that surviving the spirit trade will take all of their cunning and a whole lot of luck.

Genres: Mystery, Ebooks, Fiction

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2023

About the author

Born in Washington, D. C., A. D. Price is an Emmy-winning screenwriter and author. Her publications (as Amy Dunkleberger) include educational books and feature articles on historical and arts-related subjects. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two dogs.

Reviews

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Birthday of Eternity was the second book in the Comfort & Company series by A. D. Price. I enjoyed reading these books back to back. It really gave me a true sense of who the characters were and what they brought to the table and to each other. As in the first book in this series, The Birthday of Eternity took place in Los Angeles in the later years of 1940. Similarly, like the first book, The Birthday of Eternity's chapters alternated between Kit and Henry and a third person who in this case was the missing person that Kit and Henry had been hired to find. She was the much younger wife of a prominent, respected and wealthy doctor. The Birthday of Eternity was fast paced, well plotted and drew me in immediately. I didn’t think that A. D. Price’s second book could come anywhere close to how good the first book in this series was but was I wrong. All the characters I came to love in the first book were back along with a few new ones. The Birthday of Eternity focused on the discovery of a suspicious cult that existed within Kit’s and Henry’s domain of Los Angeles and on seances that were conducted and seemed to attract those who had lost husbands, brothers, sons or daughters in the war. Loved ones craved one more chance to communicate with those that they had lost. Both the cult and the seances that Kit and Henry were tasked to explore relied on deception, deceit and illusions. The deeper Kit and Henry dug into Lillian’s (the doctor’s missing wife) disappearance, the more danger they were exposed to.

I enjoyed knowing that Kit and Luca, the psychiatrist who had previously treated Stanley, Kit’s brother, had given into their attraction they had towards each other and had become romantically involved. Kit deserved to have someone special in her life that doted on her and that she looked forward to seeing. I enjoyed learning about Kit’s obsession with hats. It was easy to visualize the hats she chose to wear. Both Kit’s and Henry’s thought processes were easy to follow as they worked to solve their new case. I was glad to learn that Stanley had made progress in his recovery and had taken an interest in science fiction once again. The Birthday of Eternity was suspenseful and captivating. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Birthday of Eternity that was narrated once again by Elizabeth Schmidt. Her atmospheric voice was perfect for these two audiobooks. I highly recommend this detective mystery highly.

Thank you to Findaway Voices for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Birthday of Eternity by A. D. Price through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

THE BIRTHDAY OF ETERNITY (A Comfort and Company Mystery Book #2) by A.D. Price is a suspenseful historical P.I. mystery set post WWII in Los Angeles, California and features two memorable private investigators. This is the second book in the series, and I feel I understood and enjoyed all the characters and their motivations more by reading book one, After the Blue, Blue Rain, and book two in order.

P.I. Kit Comfort and her partner P.I. Henry Richman have barely recovered from their last case and find themselves quickly drawn into their next. Hired to track down the missing wife of a prominent L.A. physician, they find themselves involved in the world of cults and spiritualists. With the help of Kit’s psychiatrist lover and her combat veteran brother, Kit and Henry soon discover the spirits may be more dangerous than they believed.

I am really enjoying this historical mystery series. While it has a bit of a noir feel to the private investigation plot, it is not as dark or gritty as some others in this period. It has both Kit and Henry alternating the narrative of the story with the occasional insertion of the missing person’s narrative. It is a unique way of discovering the facts as the investigation gets closer to the solution. (The first book in the series was narrated in a similar way.) The investigation is interesting with none of the current advantages of technology, just plenty of personal contacts, shoe leather, ingenuity, and undercover work with some action interspersed throughout.

While the plots of both mysteries are well paced and plotted, it is the characters that I love. Kit is an emancipated woman for her times and yet she still has a very loving heart towards her brother, partner and friends and she also loves a good hat. Henry has a complicated history and an even more complicated marriage. While he gives off a hard guy persona, I felt so much sympathy for him. All the related characters in this series are fully drawn and believable for the period.

I highly recommend this compelling historical P.I. mystery series.

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh ho! A noir mystery with Kit Comfort so well played. I hope there will be many to come! Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook. I would prefer the audio to be more sultry, like a film noir, but had a cracking good read!

[Pat Fayo Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
This is a new author to me. I didn’t read the first book in the series, but after reading the synopsis for the first, this seems like it can definitely be a standalone book to me.

This book is written post war when con artists preyed on grieving families. So much grief existed post WWII, grieving families were easy targets. The author did a great job with the details of the surroundings and the actions of the con artists. At first, there were so many characters, I had a hard time following but once I got that down,the book totally held my interest. I am not one to believe in or read books onthe occult, seances, or reaching out to dead people etc. But I have to say this book was told as part of history and not a person’s personal beliefs. It has a storyline of a missing person and how the occult came into play. The author made a point of weaving into her book how sometimes people are so filled with grief that they will turn to mediums and psychics to try to contact their dead family members. I would recommend as a book for others to read.

#patfayoreviews
#novelsnlattebookclub
#hudsonvalleyny

Thank you to #partnersincrimebooktours for bringing me on this tour. All opinions are my own.

[Country Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Happy New Year! Today I begin the story of my death. The story of my death and rebirth….” This was a captivating sentence to start the book with for all the readers. I love the start of the story with Daivika telling the story of her grandparents and how they loved in life and even in death😊That is such a sweet story, and it resonates with me and my family as I have a long marriage family history and even my own is still ongoing! Daivika is telling her story from a book excerpt every few chapters from 1948. And there are two other main characters named Kit and Henry who are detectives trying to solve a case. I can clearly resonate with the two MCs as a reader.
Kit and Henry have a new client named Hoyle and his wife left him and served him divorce paper shortly thereafter. The ex-wife has a new in spirt lover and Hoyle just wants to locate her. Kit and Henry must go undercover in some interesting areas of post war times, like a psychic! I love the story that the author told. I love postwar stories and as a reader you can perfectly picture the time that you are in as you follow Kit and Henry around town. And I also love a cult being involved in a book!
I would say that this book is a great read for historical fiction readers, fans of mystery and also paranormal fiction stories.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This atmospheric mystery is a must-read for fans of L.A. Noir and postwar historical fiction.

Set in Los Angeles one year after the end of World War II, private investigators Kit Comfort and Henry Richman have a new client: Hoyle Cooper, a.k.a. the Doctor to the Stars. Cooper wants to find his soon-to-be-ex, Lillian, who left him in March and served divorce papers the following month. According to Cooper, her decision to leave was the idea of her new soul mate, a supposedly reincarnated spirit named Tashin. Cooper will do anything it takes to avoid paying alimony.

The investigation takes Kit deep into the local spiritualism scene. Author A.D. Price deftly creates a vibrant postwar community of séances, psychics, mystics and their customers. After the deadliest war in world history, the entire city seems to be in a period of collective grief. The opportunity to connect with lost loved ones is desperately needed. But the scene is also filled with hustlers (Chief Detective Archie Wetherby: “As long as suckers were still being born, colorful con men were still luring suckers into their lairs”).

And where there’s money to be stolen, murder is never far behind. The deeper Kit and Henry get into the psychic scene, the darker the L.A. underworld becomes. Price inhabits that world with plenty of appetizing characters, not least of which is socialite Sheila Seaver, whose money – Sheila’s husband is a Hollywood movie producer – allows her to thoroughly explore her deep interest in the occult. Known for hosting seances for those in need, she goes to great lengths to create an atmosphere of trust – including swearing attendees to a vow of secrecy.

Seaver’s associates include Madame Zarzinzky, who is known to make objects levitate, and the Reverend, who runs The Temple – a former orphanage that has been transformed to serve the local spiritual community. But as Kit and Henry soon learn, the Reverend doesn’t simply think of himself as a local servant. He has far bigger things in mind. Readers can look forward to a jaw-dropping reveal in the book’s final act.

While The Birthday of Eternity is the second book in Price’s Comfort & Company series, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone story.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the follow up to AD Price's post-war historical noir, After the Blue, Blue Rain, a Comfort and Company series, set in Los Angeles, California which I listened to on audio, once again brilliantly and atmospherically narrated by Elizabeth Schmidt, who skilfully conjures up the turbulent times and the wide ranging cast of characters in this complex storytelling that I became immersed in. It's wonderful to meet the characters I have become familiar with, the determined, hat loving Kit who is adding to her talents by becoming acquainted with judo and dirty fighting, under the guidance of her ex-cop partner, Henry Richman. His troubled wife Bea plays a helpful role in the provision of the luxury items, such as diamonds and mink, for Kit to play her undercover role more authentically.

With the ending of the war, a cloud of grief and loss hangs over the city, contributing to a climate which leads to the growth of mediums, seances, and Hollywood cults, that almost inevitably is going to attract con artists and hustlers looking to benefit financially from the trend. After their challenging last case, Kit and Henry now have a new client, physician to tinseltown's stars, Hoyle Cooper. Looking to avoid alimony payments, he is wanting them to locate his ex-wife, Lilian, who has left him for her new love, a supposedly reincarnated spirit lover, Tashin. Kit and Henry are aided in this dangerous case by Kit's veteran brother, Stanley, and Luca, the psychiatrist with whom she is in a relationship, as they follow leads and delve into the life and background of the corrupt Reverend.

This is turning out to be a terrific post-war historical noir series, which I am loving listening to on audio. The plotting is intricate and the rich details vividly bring the era alive, you can feel the unendurable pain of loss experienced by so many and why people might gravitate towards cults, mediums and seances. Veterans like Stanley do not find the path to recovery easy, although it is a joy to see him rediscover his love of sci-fi. And the thread featuring 'Daivika' relating her own story is fascinating. I look forward with great anticipation to the next in this enthralling series and can highly recommend the audio. Many thanks to Findaway Voices for the ALC

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery and intrigue abound in this climactic book by A.D. Price. Set in the gritty underbelly of postwar occult culture, The Birthplace of Eternity smartly weaves a world where seances are the norm and psychics have their secrets. This is a captivating mystery rich in historical illustrations, con artists, and crime.

The story centers around private investigators Kit and Henry, who are planted squarely in the middle of a thriving postwar paranormal culture. They are hired to find Lillian, who is missing along with her in-spirit lover, Tashin.

There is no shortage of gripping drama, intrigue, and mystery in The Birthday of Eternity. I thoroughly enjoyed the depth of the characters, and the author did an excellent job integrating each story into the whole. The believable and relatable stories make this an enjoyable and spellbinding tale. Readers who are interested in mystery, crime, and seances will enjoy the twists and turns that continually test the limits of the 3rd dimension.

I categorize this as a richly complex story that was enjoyable and thought-provoking. One of my favorite aspects is the description of the postwar time period, which was relevant and easy to imagine. The author added numerous details that set the story up as a captivating adventure for the reader.

While gripping and enthralling as a mystery novel, the interwoven relationships added even more depth to a great story. I would also categorize this as a tidy novel with no plot holes.

Of interesting note, I work as a psychic medium for humans and animals, and I deeply understand the relevance of mediums working today. Those of like-minded fields will see the impact con artists, crime, and mystery have had on the unseen spiritual (occult) world. That being said, readers who love a good mystery will enjoy the deeply immersive storyline.

[Romuald Dzemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original and captivating

The Birthday of Eternity by A.D. Price: A Journey Through Grief and Rebirth is the second book in the entry and a fascinating read that explores themes of death and the afterlife. The key character, Daivika, is a woman dealing with the grief of losing loved ones and the ever-present specter of her past. Set against the backdrop of post-World War II Los Angeles, the story captures the existential struggles of humans, enmeshed in the elements of spirituality and reincarnation. The novel opens with Daivika's introspection and her admission that her tale begins not at the chronological beginning but in a place marked by change and reflection. Daivika symbolizes the search for understanding and meaning in the wake of loss. Her character is beautifully fleshed out as she navigates her revelations about mortality and the desire for connection with those she has lost. A pivotal moment arises during her grandmother's funeral, where a solar eclipse parallels her emotional turmoil, leading her to question the nature of death and the possibility of a life beyond it. The author cleverly employs sensory details to illustrate Daivika's journey—from the oppressive heat of a California summer day to the surreal atmosphere of séances that question the barriers between life and death. The writing is beautiful and littered with thought-provoking passages. For instance, a thought stuck with me: “The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity.” This encapsulates the book's central theme, presenting death as not merely an end but a transformation into a different state of existence. The supporting characters are fully drawn and unforgettable.

[Kathryn Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in post-World War II Los Angeles, this is a smoky, atmospheric blend of hard-boiled noir and occult intrigue. It paints a vivid portrait of a city still reeling from war, where collective grief drives the grieving towards séances, psychics, and spiritual conmen. The book richly evokes the era’s tension and yearning for solace.

The plot is taut and meticulously plotted with twists that genuinely surprise. Price blends historical detail with a clever mystery, maintaining a confident pace that neither drags nor races ahead too fast.

There’s a standout exploration of con artistry— one snippet has Kit observing, “Fraud lay at the heart of many of Comfort & Company’s cases… the mind perceived what it wanted to see…” which underscores the theme of belief versus deception.

The novel doesn't just serve up a mystery; it explores how sorrow and hope can be manipulated by those peddling false comfort.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you're into historical mysteries with a noirish edge, a touch of the supernatural, and protagonists who are clever, dynamic and never overly cynical, this is a stellar choice. The evocative setting, razor-sharp plotting, and atmosphere of unease and curiosity make it compelling and thought-provoking. I’d easily call it a must-read for fans of post-war detective fiction with a twist—and a surprisingly reflective view of grief and human longing.

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you A.D. Price and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.

The Birthday of Eternity is the second in the Comfort and Company series. This is my first book by this author, and I am blown away. The writing is excellent while the attention to detail when building scenes is phenomenal. I love good historical fiction set in the US post WWII. Add in L.A. Noir and I am intrigued.

Filled with crime, mystery, and murder, this book had me engaged from start to finish. Set in L.A.’s booming post-WWII counterculture, the author does an excellent job of creating the perfect vibe of seances, psychic, mystics, and their customers. The characters are well written and relatable. I thoroughly enjoy the dynamic between Kit and Henry.

The book takes the reader into the underbelly of cults, psychics, and their eccentric customers. The descriptions are so vivid, I could not put the book down. I had to know what happened. Kit and Henry’s backstories gave the book depth and helped me understand them better.

This book does well as a standalone. However, I will be circling back to read book one! I look forward to reading more of this series.

[Pamela Sewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Sirens eARC. This atmospheric historical noir is set in post-war L.A., a time of adjustment and change as society works to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the war years. Retired homicide cop Henry and his young assistant Kit are building their P.I. agency one case at a time. Their search for a missing wife leads them to uncover other missing persons including a medium. They all had ties to an esoteric cult with a sinister charismatic leader. Their investigation stirs up a hornet's nest as they delve in the dark underbelly of the occult community. Kit and Henry are a duo of opposites making for an odd couple but they work well together. The cast of supporting characters add interest and the author portrays the period and culture well. The plot is solid although the subject is unusual with some unexpected twists. An entertaining read and would appeal to readers who enjoy history.

[Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The combination of an older grizzly ex cop and a young, fairly naive assistant working together as PIs makes for a really interesting read. Set a year or so after the end of WWII in LA, with families still grieving their lost loved ones there is scope for unscrupulous con artists to take advantage, and they are.

The case takes the couple into the realm of Cults, Psychics and charismatic charlatans. All of which gives a nice storyline, although a bit confusing at times. There are nice back stories to both Henry and Kit, the story being told from several POVs, it races along nicely. I hadn’t read the first book in the series, and whilst this is a stand alone read, I think it would have been better to read them in order. However, still a good read. 3 1/2⭐️

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Birthday of Eternity covers the world of seances and trickery. Much of the information shows the pros and cons of believing in seances and following a spiritual guru, and turning over your wealth to this leader. Murder Under the Red Moon by Harini Nagendra follows this same agenda. Maybe more novels will present the dangers of seances and admittance into these spiritual organizations. A D Price’s characters tend to mesh into one another due to Price not correctly labeling the character. Many back stories concerning the two detectives fall flat: Kit and Henry. But the reader only receives bits and pieces of these background stories. I will not continue reading Comfort and Company Mysteries.

[Chaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This detective novel takes place in postwar L.A. There is an entertaining cast of characters that is a little too vast for the needs of a detective novel, but they are all well-drawn and interesting. The format of a detective novel does not require multiple POVs of all the minor characters, and there is some excess narration as well (we really don't need a whole chapter describing Kit's judo lesson). The investigation is interesting, taking us to the back rooms of seances, cult groups, and literary societies. The author excels at setting: LA in the years after WWII really comes to life. There were some twists and turns in the plot that made for fast reading, especially at the end. The different strands of the mysteries come together nicely.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I enjoyed book two of the "Comfort & Company" series. Private Investigators Kit and Henry were hired by a prominent doctor to find his missing wife and her "spirit" lover, Tashin. Drawn into the world of the occult, séances, and cults, this was their most dangerous case yet. The author's portrayal of the times painted a vivid picture of the world. This story was complex and convoluted. I enjoyed the characters of Kit, Henry, Luca, and Stanley. I hope that there will be more stories featuring these characters. Elizabeth Schmidt's narration was great, and her performance maintained the ambiance of the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which reflected my own opinions.

[Katrina Freckleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I read the third book first, I thought it prudent to go back and read the book prior so I could catch up on a few things that I needed to make sense of. I have enjoyed reading about Kit and Henry, both strong characters and then how Kit and Luca slowly came together. I also enjoyed Stanleys interactions, I can imagine him as a cheeky lad. Both books could be standalone but it did make it easier to understand once I read this one. The story flowed quite readily and had a good understanding of the times, set after the war.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting this book to be about spiritualism and seances. I was expecting a full on PI thriller. It was slower than expected but well written and entertaining. A pretty good sense of time and place. The characters are all well described and easily identifiable from their acrtions. I shall probably read the first in the series as that sounds more like the story I was expecting here. And I do prefer to read series on published order. I will read the next in the series as it becomes avaiable. 4 stars
I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader

[Lisa Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader, and as an avid fan of noir and Post War novels, I am glad that I did. This engrossing--albeit a bit long-winded--novel provides an insightful look into the occult societies of Post War LA. The author also manages to keep the suspense, while exposing the fraudulent nature of these cults. Be prepared for a surprise...

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit and Henry are hired to find a missing wife of a posh doctor in Hollywood. It brings them into a world of desperate people and the cult that seeks to enslave and fleece them. A dark novel with some exceedingly interesting characters. The plot is twisty and filled with surprises.
I won a print copy through a LibraryThing giveaway offered by the author. Yea, me!

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging historical suspense mystery . Kit and Henry Private Detectives are hired to find a Doctor’s estranged spouse. A veritable page turner and well described and immersive experience of the era. Well written storytelling.
I was forwarded the book and my review is given voluntarily in my own words .

[William Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with her previous effort, I really liked the author's characterizations. The problem here is plotting. Complexity, including too many characters, multiple viewpoints, alternative names, etc. does not make up for the lack of satisfying story. A simple detective procedural might be good to try on for size.

[Mark Pearce · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well written story but one, unfortunately, that really didn't grab me that much. The characters were quirky but the plot didn't take off for me.
Thank you to The Niche Reader for a chance to read this

[Marie Wikle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read set just after WWII. This murder mystery… looking for the other lover was well written with awesome historical tidbits sprinkled throughout. I received an arc copy from booksirens in exchange for my honest review

[Ruth McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just to be clear, I've not read the first book in this series.
But no matter. It didn't make any difference to my enjoyment of this book. After getting a little bit into the story, I thought that this was going to be a matter of client wants investigator to find missing wife and her supposed "lover".
But this book was so much more. There was indeed an investigation into a missing wife, BUT.... It turned into so much more, with many twists and turns and so much action that I could barely set the book down, eager to know what happened next.
Ruby was a favorite (character) of mine, and helped out in a lot of ways with the investigation.
I can't really give any clues as this is a story you'll want to read for yourself. Trust me.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary and honest review.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give it a 3.5 star rating but it won’t let me do half stars! This book was unique in its plot and format. Having never read the first book in the series, I was unfamiliar with the writers work so it was all new to me! You do not have to read the first book in the series to understand and enjoy this one but some of the characters backstory is not retold so I suggest at least reading a synopsis of the first one. I really enjoyed the time period the book was written in; the author gave a really good descriptions that put me right into the scenes! The inclusion of a spiritual way of living was really interesting to me and through the actions of the characters, it helped shape the mystery into something more sinister than it starts out to be. I did let out a few gasps and vocal responses to the twists towards the end. It definitely didn’t pan out as I expected and I love when a book can trick me! Overall, very good book and I would definitely consider reading the next in this series!

Thank you to The Niche Reader & A.D. Price for providing me a copy of this wonderful book! 😊