Only Under Moonlight: A Story of Loss, Betrayal, Revenge, and Redemption in Gilded Age Cincinnati

by Scott Cloud

In February 1863, fifteen-year-old Grace Thorne finds herself orphaned and penniless at a small cabin in the unfamiliar hills of northwest Cincinnati. To survive, she steals food and possessions from farmhouses near Cheviot. Always and only under ample moonlight, she enters the homes without a sound and exits as quietly as she came. When a careless mistake results in her discovery, she narrowly escapes arrest and disappears from Cheviot.

As a child, Daniel Wagner is riveted by his father’s telling of the local thief named Grace and never forgets.

In fall 1884, twenty-three-year-old Daniel finds his young Cheviot farm on the verge of bankruptcy and grows desperate. With two lifelong friends providing cover, Daniel lifts a gold chalice from the traveling Crown Jewels of England exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum and briefly imagines his troubles behind him. Soon after, he looks on helplessly as Grace takes it from him.

When Grace arranges to sell the chalice on the black market, she’s betrayed by an acquaintance who she’s trusted for over twenty years and comes away empty-handed. Determined to recover the object at all costs, she turns to the only person who might prove willing and able to offer Daniel Wagner.

Together, the two become entangled with the chalice’s powerful and mysterious buyer and separately race to leave the city before being captured and killed.

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2025

Reviews

[Sharon L. Geisler]

Entertaining Engaging Read!

Loved the cover. Sets a visual tone for one's imagination as the book's characters spin their webs & carry out their plots. Engaging-- as I kept turning the pages to read on.
Was very entertaining and fun to read a book based in the 1800's in a setting where, I spent 10 years growing up. It was a plus to picture Cheviot as farmland!
It leaves me wondering, Scott -- will there be a sequel? Hope so! slg

[Sol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the characters, story-line and historical bits of information regarding Ohio. The story was developed well and made you want to keep reading. As a first time writer, you can tell the writing got better as the book progressed. The writing to get the story across was well thought out and very creative and descriptive.

Extra special when you actually know the author of the book Can’t wait to read another story! Well done, Scott.

[Danielle Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not very often I can say I know the author, so that made reading this so much more exciting! I loved how thorough the story was and the history of Cincinnati all throughout. I would have loved more of an internal battle with Grace and her moral compass not always pointing due north. So happy to have read this!

[Michael Bissett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific, fast paced heist story with a number of interesting twists. The author also provides some intriguing local history. I found it hard to put down.

[andersons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this creative and fast paced story. Interesting background of mid 19th century Cincinnati added to the enjoyment. Resourceful protagonist has an air of mystery about her.