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The Dark Farewell
Don’t talk to strangers, young man — especially the dead ones.
It’s the Roaring Twenties. Skirts are short, crime is rampant and booze is in short supply. Prohibition has hit Little Egypt, where newspaperman David Flynn has come to do a follow-up story on the Herrin Massacre. The massacre isn’t the only news in town though. Spiritualist medium Julian Devereux claims to speak to the dead—and he charges a pretty penny for it.
Flynn knows a phoney when he sees one, and he’s convinced Devereux is as fake as a cigar store Indian. But the reluctant attraction he feels for the deceptively soft, not-his-type Julian is as real as it gets.
Suddenly Julian begins to have authentic, bloodstained visions of a serial killer, and the cynical Mr. Flynn finds himself willing to defend Julian with not only his life, but his body.
It’s the Roaring Twenties. Skirts are short, crime is rampant and booze is in short supply. Prohibition has hit Little Egypt, where newspaperman David Flynn has come to do a follow-up story on the Herrin Massacre. The massacre isn’t the only news in town though. Spiritualist medium Julian Devereux claims to speak to the dead—and he charges a pretty penny for it.
Flynn knows a phoney when he sees one, and he’s convinced Devereux is as fake as a cigar store Indian. But the reluctant attraction he feels for the deceptively soft, not-his-type Julian is as real as it gets.
Suddenly Julian begins to have authentic, bloodstained visions of a serial killer, and the cynical Mr. Flynn finds himself willing to defend Julian with not only his life, but his body.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
29 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
223 books5,418 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
September 2, 2010
We are always, as authors, being advised by Those That Know that to get a book sold and to capture the reader, you need a killer first line. And this book certainly has one:
It sets the scene and intrigues, without being trying too hard. And yet – although this hints at much, this isn’t really even the main plot of this clever, convoluted novella.
This is (embarrassingly) the first book I’ve read of Lanyon’s. My reasons–or excuses–are simple: People generally clamour to review his books for the site before I even know they are out, and with the amount of books I have to read I’m happy to let others cover it. But I found that no-one had picked this one up and I did it myself.
I have to say, I’m impressed, although–having heard my friends’ praise that shouldn’t have surprised me. Lanyon writes very well in a direct, but descriptive manner. The tone reminded me a little of Chandler, with the touches of description and personal opinion, shuttered away behind a tough guy veneer.
It would be entirely wrong to try and tag a label on this book. It is a standalone, but it is to published in The Mysterious anthology (along with Laura Baumbach and Alex Beecroft) and that’s a good way to label it, if labelling is necessary: mysterious. That being said, with it not exactly being a romance and it not being exactly a paranormal – it IS a great whodunnit, with a great cast of characters all of whom could be the guilty party.
What I particularly liked, though, was the way that this didn’t go at all the way I expected. We meet a couple of guys that the protagonists tags with his gaydar, and without spoiling too much I thought things would go otherwise than they did. While I didn’t feel feel ever very close to Flynn–and I think this was deliberate because he’d shut himself off from just about everyone due to the war, and his job, and losses he’d suffered–I fell almost instantly in love with Julian, the spiritualist. “A sissy, if ever he’d seen one” thinks Flynn, and he’s right.
I loved how Flynn disliked Julian – and the reasons why he disliked him. He’s coloured by prejudice against spiritualism, and he hates that Julian is effeminate–because it reflects something in himself that he isn’t able to show openly, something that he’s learned to be disgusted in himself. I loved their first private encounter, and when more was learned about Julian, it made me sad to see Flynn treat him like that.
I think my main complaint about the book would be a purely personal one, and that’s one I’ve often stated with novellas, that this has more than enough material in it to be a full-sized novel, and it short changes itself by being the size it is. It might be this aspect, the pure distillation of so many facets and ideas that made me a little confused at times, and I would rather have meandered along those Illinois byways for a happy 80,000 words without a complaint. Because of the size (42,000 words)
I felt the characterisation was sometimes a bit rushed, we are whizzed around the introductions for everyone in the boarding house for example, the other gay relationship Flynn forms is picked up and dropped rather too abruptly too. There’s so many themes here, the debunking–or not–of spiritualism, antiquated methods of medicine, mine safety, unions, prohibition, and much more. With a novel to play in, Lanyon could have wallowed in the intimate talks with all the other inmates of the hostel, layered the tension, laid more red herrings. But I can’t mark the book down because of what I’d like it to have been!
On the negative side: the cover is pretty misleading, as it looks like naked men in the trenches, which is so not what the book is about–and the blurb within the book itself could have done with an editor. There are two(!) typos in it–and I really hate these jokey warnings Samhain do. Warning: This novella contains phony spiritualists, cynical newspapermen, labor disputes, illicit love affairs, high-calorie southern cooking, and more than fifty-percent humidity! But that’s probably just me being curmudgeonly, I’m sure loads of readers love this touch. To me it smacks of fanfiction (from where these warnings seem to have come) and lessens the worth of the book. It makes it sound like a comedy, and it’s anything but that, and it doesn’t do the book the justice it deserves.
But if you haven’t read this novella, then I strongly recommend it, it was exactly “my kind of book” with enough difference from many other books to keep me reading and reading. I’ll certainly be trying other books of Lanyon’s now on the strength of this.
The body of the third girl was found Tuesday morning in the woods a few miles outside Murphysboro.
It sets the scene and intrigues, without being trying too hard. And yet – although this hints at much, this isn’t really even the main plot of this clever, convoluted novella.
This is (embarrassingly) the first book I’ve read of Lanyon’s. My reasons–or excuses–are simple: People generally clamour to review his books for the site before I even know they are out, and with the amount of books I have to read I’m happy to let others cover it. But I found that no-one had picked this one up and I did it myself.
I have to say, I’m impressed, although–having heard my friends’ praise that shouldn’t have surprised me. Lanyon writes very well in a direct, but descriptive manner. The tone reminded me a little of Chandler, with the touches of description and personal opinion, shuttered away behind a tough guy veneer.
It would be entirely wrong to try and tag a label on this book. It is a standalone, but it is to published in The Mysterious anthology (along with Laura Baumbach and Alex Beecroft) and that’s a good way to label it, if labelling is necessary: mysterious. That being said, with it not exactly being a romance and it not being exactly a paranormal – it IS a great whodunnit, with a great cast of characters all of whom could be the guilty party.
What I particularly liked, though, was the way that this didn’t go at all the way I expected. We meet a couple of guys that the protagonists tags with his gaydar, and without spoiling too much I thought things would go otherwise than they did. While I didn’t feel feel ever very close to Flynn–and I think this was deliberate because he’d shut himself off from just about everyone due to the war, and his job, and losses he’d suffered–I fell almost instantly in love with Julian, the spiritualist. “A sissy, if ever he’d seen one” thinks Flynn, and he’s right.
I loved how Flynn disliked Julian – and the reasons why he disliked him. He’s coloured by prejudice against spiritualism, and he hates that Julian is effeminate–because it reflects something in himself that he isn’t able to show openly, something that he’s learned to be disgusted in himself. I loved their first private encounter, and when more was learned about Julian, it made me sad to see Flynn treat him like that.
I think my main complaint about the book would be a purely personal one, and that’s one I’ve often stated with novellas, that this has more than enough material in it to be a full-sized novel, and it short changes itself by being the size it is. It might be this aspect, the pure distillation of so many facets and ideas that made me a little confused at times, and I would rather have meandered along those Illinois byways for a happy 80,000 words without a complaint. Because of the size (42,000 words)
I felt the characterisation was sometimes a bit rushed, we are whizzed around the introductions for everyone in the boarding house for example, the other gay relationship Flynn forms is picked up and dropped rather too abruptly too. There’s so many themes here, the debunking–or not–of spiritualism, antiquated methods of medicine, mine safety, unions, prohibition, and much more. With a novel to play in, Lanyon could have wallowed in the intimate talks with all the other inmates of the hostel, layered the tension, laid more red herrings. But I can’t mark the book down because of what I’d like it to have been!
On the negative side: the cover is pretty misleading, as it looks like naked men in the trenches, which is so not what the book is about–and the blurb within the book itself could have done with an editor. There are two(!) typos in it–and I really hate these jokey warnings Samhain do. Warning: This novella contains phony spiritualists, cynical newspapermen, labor disputes, illicit love affairs, high-calorie southern cooking, and more than fifty-percent humidity! But that’s probably just me being curmudgeonly, I’m sure loads of readers love this touch. To me it smacks of fanfiction (from where these warnings seem to have come) and lessens the worth of the book. It makes it sound like a comedy, and it’s anything but that, and it doesn’t do the book the justice it deserves.
But if you haven’t read this novella, then I strongly recommend it, it was exactly “my kind of book” with enough difference from many other books to keep me reading and reading. I’ll certainly be trying other books of Lanyon’s now on the strength of this.
December 3, 2020
Interesting, intricate classic Josh Lanyon. I was completely surprised (and confused) by the abrupt ending. Audio nicely performed by Max Miller.
May 29, 2016
Josh Lanyon, as always, delivers. That's what I have grown to expect of his books and that's what he does with this.
The clash of an effeminate and a manly homosexual man during the roaring twenties, a background quite meticulously researched and a gentle ghost story--all perfectly meshed into this wonderful tale.
My only criticism, which has become a regular one for some of the best authors I read, is its short length. I wanted to stay with Julian and David for the length of a novel.
The clash of an effeminate and a manly homosexual man during the roaring twenties, a background quite meticulously researched and a gentle ghost story--all perfectly meshed into this wonderful tale.
My only criticism, which has become a regular one for some of the best authors I read, is its short length. I wanted to stay with Julian and David for the length of a novel.
November 28, 2014
2.5
I would have probably liked this more if it had been a bit longer.
Such as it is, you don't get to know much about these characters and you don't really get to like them as you should with the exception of Julian. I like even the idea of Julian. The thing is, that blurb sounds more mysterious and action-packed than the actual story. The 'authentic, bloodstained visions of a serial killer' sounds more interesting than what you get in the story. But, that's just my opinion. A lot of people didn't find anything wrong with it.
David Flynn is writing a follow-up story on the Herrin Massacre a year later. At least that was his plan until a completely different story inserts itself.
Overall, it is an ok story with promising characters and I am rating this based on that promise. Julian is especially interesting. I just wish you got to see him more in the end of the story.
I would have probably liked this more if it had been a bit longer.
Such as it is, you don't get to know much about these characters and you don't really get to like them as you should with the exception of Julian. I like even the idea of Julian. The thing is, that blurb sounds more mysterious and action-packed than the actual story. The 'authentic, bloodstained visions of a serial killer' sounds more interesting than what you get in the story. But, that's just my opinion. A lot of people didn't find anything wrong with it.
David Flynn is writing a follow-up story on the Herrin Massacre a year later. At least that was his plan until a completely different story inserts itself.
Overall, it is an ok story with promising characters and I am rating this based on that promise. Julian is especially interesting. I just wish you got to see him more in the end of the story.
July 28, 2017
I was enjoying this then it became half baked and it was cooking well so slight disappointment there but I enjoyed this whilst it was cooking so........
October 5, 2023
There was a great buildup to this paranormal murder mystery. But then, it ended so abruptly! I would have loved a coda or epilogue for this short set in 1923.
July 16, 2021
Very good and interesting paranormal, murder mystery , historical romance, short story set in the 1920, even the very abrupt ending didn't affect my enjoyment.
Julian and David couldn't be more different in personality, background, professionally yet that's the thing with attraction, one can't help who ones like/love.
By the way , if you want to know - like I did - what's going on with David and Julian one year after the events at the end of their book ; get Merry Christmas Darling (Holidays Codas) . It's worth it.
Max Miller narration was spot on .
4h 3 minutes
Listened to the audiobook through Hoopla .
Julian and David couldn't be more different in personality, background, professionally yet that's the thing with attraction, one can't help who ones like/love.
By the way , if you want to know - like I did - what's going on with David and Julian one year after the events at the end of their book ; get Merry Christmas Darling (Holidays Codas) . It's worth it.
Max Miller narration was spot on .
4h 3 minutes
Listened to the audiobook through Hoopla .
October 7, 2015
Herrin, Southern Illinois. Location of the tragic (and real) Herrin Massacre in 1922 where union miners brutally murdered 20 strikebreaking non-union miners in a cry of outrage over the terrible working conditions in the mines.
David Flynn, journalist for the New York based newspaper The Atlantic Monthly, is traveling to Herrin one year after the tragedy to write a mood piece about the people of Herrin and the aftermath of the massacre. The story is not his only reason to return to 'Little Egypt'. His former mentor, award winning journalist Gus Gulling, who devoted his professional life to supporting the labor union, had passed away recently and David so far neglected to express his condolences personally to Gus' widow Amy, who runs a boarding house in Herrin.
So it is Amy's boarding house where most of this novella takes place. David is not the only guest there, as Amy is also providing board and lodging to the following mysteriously exotic group of people:
Mr Devereux, an elderly expert on spiritualism who frequently publishes articles in his field of expertise.
Julian Devereux, Mr Devereux' 26 year old grand-son, a talented medium, who performs in seance shows at local theaters, traveling all over the country with his grandfather, 'speaking' to the spirits of the dead and allowing his audience to take 'dark farewells' to their beloved ones who have gone before them.
Mrs Hoyt, an elderly lady who lost her son in World War 1.
Joan Hoyt, a repressed young lady who lives with her mother, being fascinated with all things supernatural.
Doctor Pearson, an elderly physician.
Casey Lee, a young handsome traveling salesman, selling medicine and cosmetics all over the country.
David, a skeptic who has his own emotional baggage to carry - he lost his lover Paul in World War 1, does not believe in the spiritual mambo-jambo that the Devereux men are rubbing under his nose. Julian's shows are as fake as they come, with Julian telling trustful strangers the silliest things, coloring them as 'messages from the dead'. David dislikes Julian immediately and even more so when he notices that the young, sleek man takes a liking to David, trying to seduce him rather aggressively. David is gay true enough, but Julian is definitely not his type. He prefers men like Casey: strong, broad-shouldered and blonde - just like Paul. Casey, the young sales man and var veteran is a repressed homosexual who does accept David's advances with enough alcohol to go with them, but his character puts David off pretty quickly, leaving nothing but the dull ache of missing Paul and a strange fascination with the spiritualist kid Julian whose mesmerizing eyes don't leave David's mind.
During one of his shows, Julian suddenly speaks to a spirit of a recently deceased girl whose murdered body is found right after the performance. The people of Herrin are shocked and appalled by Julian's supernatural powers. As she was not the first unusual murder in the area the police are suspecting a serial killer on the loose. Can Julian convince the spirit of the murdered woman to reveal the name of the killer? What is Julian's own secret that he keeps from David, even as their friendship progresses? And what is it that Julian wants to tell David about Paul?
I am absolutely in love with this novella. It's like a play with only a small group of actors within the boarding house. It's a typical whodunnit mystery with supernatural elements strewn in. And as you can imagine, one of these people *is* the insane murderer. The way to finding the truth could cost David more than he is willing to give after falling for the handsome Julian who is so unlike Paul that it took him some time to realize what the mysterious medium actually means to him.
And boy, did that story end abruptly or what? I would love to know what happens next, because the actual plot in this novella is only the beginning of a challenging life ahead.
5 stars!
David Flynn, journalist for the New York based newspaper The Atlantic Monthly, is traveling to Herrin one year after the tragedy to write a mood piece about the people of Herrin and the aftermath of the massacre. The story is not his only reason to return to 'Little Egypt'. His former mentor, award winning journalist Gus Gulling, who devoted his professional life to supporting the labor union, had passed away recently and David so far neglected to express his condolences personally to Gus' widow Amy, who runs a boarding house in Herrin.
So it is Amy's boarding house where most of this novella takes place. David is not the only guest there, as Amy is also providing board and lodging to the following mysteriously exotic group of people:
Mr Devereux, an elderly expert on spiritualism who frequently publishes articles in his field of expertise.
Julian Devereux, Mr Devereux' 26 year old grand-son, a talented medium, who performs in seance shows at local theaters, traveling all over the country with his grandfather, 'speaking' to the spirits of the dead and allowing his audience to take 'dark farewells' to their beloved ones who have gone before them.
Mrs Hoyt, an elderly lady who lost her son in World War 1.
Joan Hoyt, a repressed young lady who lives with her mother, being fascinated with all things supernatural.
Doctor Pearson, an elderly physician.
Casey Lee, a young handsome traveling salesman, selling medicine and cosmetics all over the country.
David, a skeptic who has his own emotional baggage to carry - he lost his lover Paul in World War 1, does not believe in the spiritual mambo-jambo that the Devereux men are rubbing under his nose. Julian's shows are as fake as they come, with Julian telling trustful strangers the silliest things, coloring them as 'messages from the dead'. David dislikes Julian immediately and even more so when he notices that the young, sleek man takes a liking to David, trying to seduce him rather aggressively. David is gay true enough, but Julian is definitely not his type. He prefers men like Casey: strong, broad-shouldered and blonde - just like Paul. Casey, the young sales man and var veteran is a repressed homosexual who does accept David's advances with enough alcohol to go with them, but his character puts David off pretty quickly, leaving nothing but the dull ache of missing Paul and a strange fascination with the spiritualist kid Julian whose mesmerizing eyes don't leave David's mind.
During one of his shows, Julian suddenly speaks to a spirit of a recently deceased girl whose murdered body is found right after the performance. The people of Herrin are shocked and appalled by Julian's supernatural powers. As she was not the first unusual murder in the area the police are suspecting a serial killer on the loose. Can Julian convince the spirit of the murdered woman to reveal the name of the killer? What is Julian's own secret that he keeps from David, even as their friendship progresses? And what is it that Julian wants to tell David about Paul?
I am absolutely in love with this novella. It's like a play with only a small group of actors within the boarding house. It's a typical whodunnit mystery with supernatural elements strewn in. And as you can imagine, one of these people *is* the insane murderer. The way to finding the truth could cost David more than he is willing to give after falling for the handsome Julian who is so unlike Paul that it took him some time to realize what the mysterious medium actually means to him.
And boy, did that story end abruptly or what? I would love to know what happens next, because the actual plot in this novella is only the beginning of a challenging life ahead.
5 stars!
October 22, 2021
3.75 stars
This was an interesting story that held my attention throughout. It has a feeling of a slower moving story but at the same time it moves at a quick pace.
David Flynn is actually quite a boring character even though the story is told from his POV. He is grieving the loss of friends and family as well as his lover from his time in the war. He is a reporter who travels to Illinois for a story. While there he stays with the wife of an old friend and professor at her boarding house. There are a number of other boarders one of them being a medium, Julian Devereux.
Julian is the interesting character of the book since he can see and hear spirits and passes on their messages to loved ones. Unfortunately he is under his grandfathers control and even though a connection forms between him & Flynn the grandfather stands in their way.
I enjoyed how this story unfolded. It was the perfect length even though, in true Lanyon fashion, the ending is very abrupt. This ending, however, is not hard to interpret. If this book was expanded I don’t think it would have worked as well for me. The mystery is on the outer edges of the developing relationship and the reason for why Flynn is in town. It’s not a mystery Flynn is trying to solve, he just happens to be wrapped up in its resolution. This is the novella that Josh Lanyon does best and after reading so much of her work I could appreciate the story.
This was an interesting story that held my attention throughout. It has a feeling of a slower moving story but at the same time it moves at a quick pace.
David Flynn is actually quite a boring character even though the story is told from his POV. He is grieving the loss of friends and family as well as his lover from his time in the war. He is a reporter who travels to Illinois for a story. While there he stays with the wife of an old friend and professor at her boarding house. There are a number of other boarders one of them being a medium, Julian Devereux.
Julian is the interesting character of the book since he can see and hear spirits and passes on their messages to loved ones. Unfortunately he is under his grandfathers control and even though a connection forms between him & Flynn the grandfather stands in their way.
I enjoyed how this story unfolded. It was the perfect length even though, in true Lanyon fashion, the ending is very abrupt. This ending, however, is not hard to interpret. If this book was expanded I don’t think it would have worked as well for me. The mystery is on the outer edges of the developing relationship and the reason for why Flynn is in town. It’s not a mystery Flynn is trying to solve, he just happens to be wrapped up in its resolution. This is the novella that Josh Lanyon does best and after reading so much of her work I could appreciate the story.
August 22, 2022
3.5 🌟 This is more of a historical romance than a mystery. The story is from Flynn's POV, who is visiting a small coal town in Illinois, a year after the Herren Massacre to write a story about it. I felt awful for knowing nothing about the incident. So, I decided to refer to my fav website on history.
The book has a haunting quality. It's maybe because of the backdrop of the massacre, WWI and other brutal murders being committed in the town. Though, it may also represent Flynn's jaded view of love and humanity. Or it may be because I was feeling super low.😂😂
I think the book has a good balance of paranormal, historical and romance elements though the ending is abrupt. Thankfully I found the Christmas special in the holiday coda and it works as an epilogue.
The book has a haunting quality. It's maybe because of the backdrop of the massacre, WWI and other brutal murders being committed in the town. Though, it may also represent Flynn's jaded view of love and humanity. Or it may be because I was feeling super low.😂😂
I think the book has a good balance of paranormal, historical and romance elements though the ending is abrupt. Thankfully I found the Christmas special in the holiday coda and it works as an epilogue.
February 7, 2011
Loved the book, especially the supernatural part. And the fact that Julian was not the author's typical hero, Julian was namely - as he was called in the book (it was the 20s, don't forget!) - a "pansy" which didn't sit well with Flynn, the other main character, at least at first.
One thing that I didn't like, though, was the abrupt ending. I expected an epilogue, at least.
One thing that I didn't like, though, was the abrupt ending. I expected an epilogue, at least.
December 3, 2014
Well, that was an odd ending.
3.5 stars!
3.5 stars!
December 26, 2021
3.5 rounded up
I haven't read a ton of Lanyon over the past year or two just because their output has been slower (zero shade!) and I've read a lot of their backlog. But my library recently got in a bunch of their ebooks that I hadn't read yet, hence the sudden back-to-back reviews. Most of these books I've been reading have been short stories/novellas, which I think has made the issues I have with Lanyon's work in general even more stark and frustrating. Namely, the endings. I know, I know, I keep going on about it, but it just really, really sucks when the worst part of a novel is the ending, because it leaves you with a sense of dissatisfaction. And Lanyon's work is SO good otherwise, that it's hard for me to just write them off. They really know how to totally immerse you in a setting and a time & place--in this book, 1920s in the Midwest--and to give you a great sense for characters even in very short works. Everything about this was tense and gripping and engaging, and then the mystery is wrapped up in two pages and the book is just... over. And what KILLS me, is that wrapping things up in a more satisfactory way wouldn't take a ton of effort/words. Literally one more chapter, not even a long one, and you're golden. I don't get it. And I'm somebody who doesn't generally enjoy super saccharine, tied-in-a-bow epilogues. I enjoy a bit of open-endedness, but these books don't feel purposefully open-ended. Every time it feels like Lanyon ran up to their deadline, needed to submit the book ASAP, and just... stopped writing. For me, it doesn't feel intentional, it feels rushed and lazy.
So, sorry, friends! I'm probably gonna keep reading Lanyon, because the good parts are good, and I do think their full-length novels are generally slightly better in this aspect. But I'm also gonna keep complaining about the same issues, because even though I *know* it's likely gonna be a problem going into it, it still does detract from my enjoyment, and even knowing that ahead of time doesn't mean I can just ignore it/not mention it when it happens.
I haven't read a ton of Lanyon over the past year or two just because their output has been slower (zero shade!) and I've read a lot of their backlog. But my library recently got in a bunch of their ebooks that I hadn't read yet, hence the sudden back-to-back reviews. Most of these books I've been reading have been short stories/novellas, which I think has made the issues I have with Lanyon's work in general even more stark and frustrating. Namely, the endings. I know, I know, I keep going on about it, but it just really, really sucks when the worst part of a novel is the ending, because it leaves you with a sense of dissatisfaction. And Lanyon's work is SO good otherwise, that it's hard for me to just write them off. They really know how to totally immerse you in a setting and a time & place--in this book, 1920s in the Midwest--and to give you a great sense for characters even in very short works. Everything about this was tense and gripping and engaging, and then the mystery is wrapped up in two pages and the book is just... over. And what KILLS me, is that wrapping things up in a more satisfactory way wouldn't take a ton of effort/words. Literally one more chapter, not even a long one, and you're golden. I don't get it. And I'm somebody who doesn't generally enjoy super saccharine, tied-in-a-bow epilogues. I enjoy a bit of open-endedness, but these books don't feel purposefully open-ended. Every time it feels like Lanyon ran up to their deadline, needed to submit the book ASAP, and just... stopped writing. For me, it doesn't feel intentional, it feels rushed and lazy.
So, sorry, friends! I'm probably gonna keep reading Lanyon, because the good parts are good, and I do think their full-length novels are generally slightly better in this aspect. But I'm also gonna keep complaining about the same issues, because even though I *know* it's likely gonna be a problem going into it, it still does detract from my enjoyment, and even knowing that ahead of time doesn't mean I can just ignore it/not mention it when it happens.
January 4, 2011
I really wanted to like this book, being a fan of Lanyon, but it just didn't do it for me. As always, Lanyon introduced great mystery aspects to his M/M novel, and amazing characterization. I enjoyed the progression of Julian and Flynn's relationship, it was a true journey however, I felt like there should have been... more to the story.
For example, Julian's big revalation of his "disease" went over my head. I was still a bit confused about WHAT exactly this disease meant for the character and his "visions." Did it mean the visions weren't real? That it was a side affect of the visions?
And the revelation of the killer was also disappointing. Not the actual answer, for I was happy it didn't turn out to be Casey Lee, but when the climax of the story came, no answers came with it. Just some madman who the characters knew? Really? Nothing like how it could possibly tie in wiht Julian and Flynn's relationship, escape to act as a way to kill off Julian's angered grandfather. (Nice out of that corner.) Then once the villian has been revealed, and Flynn captures him, the novel ends. Just like that, I was shocked. There should have been more! Does Flynn and Julian get what they want? How does Julian take the unmasking of the murderer? The whole thing just made Julian seem very uninvolved with the story. Espcially since we don't see how young Julian handles the after affects. To me what happens after the murderer is captured is just as important to the rest of the story. I need motivation, I need justice, I need more of happy ending then just "We found him!"
Love love love Lanyon, but did not love this.
For example, Julian's big revalation of his "disease" went over my head. I was still a bit confused about WHAT exactly this disease meant for the character and his "visions." Did it mean the visions weren't real? That it was a side affect of the visions?
And the revelation of the killer was also disappointing. Not the actual answer, for I was happy it didn't turn out to be Casey Lee, but when the climax of the story came, no answers came with it. Just some madman who the characters knew? Really? Nothing like how it could possibly tie in wiht Julian and Flynn's relationship, escape to act as a way to kill off Julian's angered grandfather. (Nice out of that corner.) Then once the villian has been revealed, and Flynn captures him, the novel ends. Just like that, I was shocked. There should have been more! Does Flynn and Julian get what they want? How does Julian take the unmasking of the murderer? The whole thing just made Julian seem very uninvolved with the story. Espcially since we don't see how young Julian handles the after affects. To me what happens after the murderer is captured is just as important to the rest of the story. I need motivation, I need justice, I need more of happy ending then just "We found him!"
Love love love Lanyon, but did not love this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2013
I'm really conflicted about rating this three or four stars. It has all the hallmarks of an excellent Josh Lanyon read: interesting characters, intensity, romance, mystery, tender moments, add to that a genuinely interesting historical setting and it's pretty much perfection. But, and this really is the blowie in the ointment, it stopped so abruptly I felt like I had fallen off a cliff. Having finally recovered I'm going to take a star off because, really, there is no excuse for braking so hard your readers get whiplash. Great story, pity about the en....
May 16, 2013
Great read--left a star off for the abrupt ending, which drove me nuts.
November 12, 2010
I've been meaning to read more of Josh Lanyon's work for a while. Wanted to grab something for my iPod tonight -- I was going to a gig where I knew I didn't care for the support band -- and ended up getting this from the Kindle store. It's quite a short book -- nine chapters -- and easy to read, though I felt weird about reading the sex scenes while leaning up against the barrier in front of the stage!
Not that it's all about the sex. There's the mystery, of course, in the background, and the supernatural elements, and the relationship which grows between Julian and David. I didn't like either of them much at first -- David is too closed off, and Julian too... flamboyant. But I got to like both of them, even in such a short space.
The mystery itself, I should've seen the end coming more clearly than I did. I got distracted by the misdirection! One part of the end is terribly convenient, really, removing a certain problem from the equation... and I do wish, in some ways, there was more of it, and it went on to show how Julian and David get on. Still, everything wraps up nicely.
There's a pretty good sense of place and time, too. It's not a setting that's particular familiar or resonant to me, being a Brit, although there are aspects that Britain and the US share -- the strikes the characters talked about, and the young war veterans...
Josh Lanyon is pretty good for light reading. I'm tempted to read more of his stuff when I'm on the train, on Saturday, but on the other hand, reading sexy stuff on the train... Hmmm!
Not that it's all about the sex. There's the mystery, of course, in the background, and the supernatural elements, and the relationship which grows between Julian and David. I didn't like either of them much at first -- David is too closed off, and Julian too... flamboyant. But I got to like both of them, even in such a short space.
The mystery itself, I should've seen the end coming more clearly than I did. I got distracted by the misdirection! One part of the end is terribly convenient, really, removing a certain problem from the equation... and I do wish, in some ways, there was more of it, and it went on to show how Julian and David get on. Still, everything wraps up nicely.
There's a pretty good sense of place and time, too. It's not a setting that's particular familiar or resonant to me, being a Brit, although there are aspects that Britain and the US share -- the strikes the characters talked about, and the young war veterans...
Josh Lanyon is pretty good for light reading. I'm tempted to read more of his stuff when I'm on the train, on Saturday, but on the other hand, reading sexy stuff on the train... Hmmm!
September 6, 2021
3.5 stars. I loved the details that made this murder mystery, set in Little Egypt, Illinois circa 1923, come alive. Prohibition is the law of the land, Yes We Have no Bananas is the hit of the day, and a breakfast of ham and eggs, hotcakes and coffee costs 35 cents.
Reporter David Flynn, still dealing with the aftermath of his service in WWI, comes to town to write a retrospective of the Herrin massacre, which occurred the year prior. At his boarding house, he meets Julian Devereaux, a traveling spiritualist / medium and it doesn't take a crystal ball to see that Julian is very attracted to David, and vice versa.
Throw in a series of murders in the area, a traveling salesman, a death in the boarding house, labor unrest, hot nights and cool jazz, add Josh Lanyon's impeccable writing, and The Dark Farewell is a good read ....... until the final chapter, which is far too rushed, and the abrupt ending which is positively criminal.
Reread in 2021: I liked this story better upon a second reading. Again, Lanyon shines with the historical setting and the fine art of giving the right amount of details rather than doing an info dump. Again, the final chapter is just way too rushed, but I like the way we are left with the beginning of an intriguing adventure with Julian and David. 4 stars.
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Reporter David Flynn, still dealing with the aftermath of his service in WWI, comes to town to write a retrospective of the Herrin massacre, which occurred the year prior. At his boarding house, he meets Julian Devereaux, a traveling spiritualist / medium and it doesn't take a crystal ball to see that Julian is very attracted to David, and vice versa.
Throw in a series of murders in the area, a traveling salesman, a death in the boarding house, labor unrest, hot nights and cool jazz, add Josh Lanyon's impeccable writing, and The Dark Farewell is a good read ....... until the final chapter, which is far too rushed, and the abrupt ending which is positively criminal.
Reread in 2021: I liked this story better upon a second reading. Again, Lanyon shines with the historical setting and the fine art of giving the right amount of details rather than doing an info dump. Again, the final chapter is just way too rushed, but I like the way we are left with the beginning of an intriguing adventure with Julian and David. 4 stars.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
September 3, 2014
This was better than the last two historical fiction books I read, but there are very few historical books I do like (the Whyborne & Griffin Series being one of the few I like)...that being said at least I was able to get through this one without wanting to claw my ears (I listened to the audiobook) out...except for a couple of parts.
*sighs* it seems like there has been a surge in the amount of historical and dystopian books and I am not particularly fond of it *sighs*
It's nothing personal, they just generally aren't my favourite...unless they are written really well.
*sighs* it seems like there has been a surge in the amount of historical and dystopian books and I am not particularly fond of it *sighs*
It's nothing personal, they just generally aren't my favourite...unless they are written really well.
November 10, 2024
As usual, Josh Lanyon writes a perfect mood setting historical. During prohibition in the south, reporter from New York,David Flynn meets a traveling spiritualist Julian. I really felt the connection with both characters, the mood of the south, and the chills from the serial killings. Caught by surprise with the culprit at the end. The only thing keeping this from being a five star read was the abrupt ending. I kept flipping the page saying "that's it?". I really wanted to know what happened to Flynn and Julian. I guess it's left to the readers imagination on how they fared.
March 6, 2010
I think this is the first time I find Josh Lanyon's novella as unfulfilling. I like the touch of ghost-like mystery here and I thought David and Julian as sweet. However, the ending is so abrupt, it feels like I'm staring on a book where the last pages have been ripped off. I feel that there are questions left unanswered; it makes me feel unsatisfied.
April 12, 2016
A great historical by JL. An audible version provided a haunting edge to it.
But I must add, had I not been used to JL's endings, I would've been frustrated :)
But I must add, had I not been used to JL's endings, I would've been frustrated :)
May 13, 2016
I know what to expect and yet, Lanyon has done it to me again. Abrupt, unfinished ending. Off to see if there is a sequel or coda.
July 14, 2018
Interesting concept, and I really liked the characters. I just wish it was longer, and the ending not so blunt.
March 28, 2021
This wasn't one of my favorites from this author. A story after the war and pandemic of David going to do a year later story about the murdered scab miners. At a time when homosexual people were jailed and prohibition was in full swing. The story line wasn't great and while I liked the characters the story dragged.
February 25, 2017
Julian looked like one of those French aristocrats from the time right before the people got tired of eating cake and started topping heads
This should have been a novel instead of a novella. And I don't mean that in the sense of 'I loved this and wanted more of it' but in the sense of 'There wasn't enough time to develop the plot, the characters, their relationships and the backstory enough in something that short'. And that's a shame because there was so much potential.
David, a reporter, travels to Illinois because he wants to do a follow-up story on the Herrin massacre a year after it happened. He's surprised when he finds out that pretty much everybody in town thinks the strike-breakers got what they deserved. Even the old friend that David is visiting more or less shrugs it off. When he asks her if her husband, another old friend of Davis who died a few years before the massacre, would have thought so as well she admits that he wouldn't. And that's it. They don't continue this discussion, David soon decides that he wants to write about the recent series of murders instead. The plotline goes nowhere and David could have just as well just gone on holidays there without ever bringing up the massacre.
The mystery isn't really a mystery. Not in the sense that anybody does any sleuthing. David just falls over a clue at the most convenient time to solve the murders and a problem about his relationship with Julian.
Now the relationship was better done than the rest (and felt much more genuine to me than some in the last few Lanyon books I read) but still felt a bit rushed and I wished they had talked about some issues that came up instead of leaving so much in the open at the end.
November 11, 2023
A standalone story set in a rural county in Illinois in the Roaring Twenties and revolving around a New York newspaper man.
My Take
That takes you back. A year when the 19th amendment gave women the right to vote and the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Another take-back is Mrs Hoyt’s views on women, the hussies, using cosmetics!
Lanyon made it hard for me to come down on the side of the strikers until much further into the story, and then forced me to remember that the news can be very one-sided. Sympathy in town is all on the side of the strikers, which only reinforces that one-sided aspect, although, then again . . .
The gay aspect is almost a side note and made me so angry. What business is it of anyone else who someone wants to love? Jerks! More bigotry rears up due to Julian’s coloring — he must be some kind of colored. Oy.
It’s not that long after World War I and bits of that trauma leak over. David had been with Pershing’s American Expeditionary Forces.
It seems hypocritical of David to belittle Julian for being “a sissy”, a “pansy”. I couldn’t blame David for being ticked off at Julian at first. That guy was so forward! He’s also really ticked that Julian is conning people with his medium act. It’s almost a quarter of the way in to the story that we learn the truth about David. Poor guy. He does get to doing quite a bit of introspection in his character arc. It helps that Lanyon uses third person protagonist point-of-view from David’s perspective.
That Grand-père of Julian’s!! What a . . . I can’t even think of something bad enough to call him! The way he uses and abuses his grandson! Some of the negatives come through when Julian speaks of what his dreams are . . . and why they’ll never come true. As for “Grand-père’s take on epilepsy . . . I wanna kill him. I love that Dr Pearson is more realistic about it.
There’s a brief mention of the Ku Klux Klan being seen as lawbringers with David having a thought about it. I do wish Lanyon had delved more into this hate group. It’s a trouble brought about by Prohibition when bootleggers will sell to anyone.
I did crack up about those soft-drink parlors. The soda ingredients were, um, interesting, lol.
Oh, boy, Lanyon does make some good points about Lee’s career and his knowledge. Scary stuff, especially with Joan so vulnerable.
Lanyon paints an emotive picture of the time with its prejudices and culture — I swear I was sweating in the heat! As for Julian’s situation, yeah, I liked the ending, even if Lanyon did go for the trite deux ex machina.
The Story
It’s been a year since the Herrin Massacre and David wants to look back on it, reflect on it, on the aftermath of violence. It's also a chance to see Amy, to grieve Gus.
There is more going on, though, then a long-meant visit, for a serial killer is rampaging through Illinois and Amy's boarding house guests provide even more interest for the cynical Mr. Flynn.
The Characters
David Flynn is a newspaper man for The Atlantic Monthly from Greenwich Village in New York City looking to revisit a miner massacre. Paul, whom David had known at Brown, had been David’s friend, taken during the war.
Herrin, “Bloody” Williamsburg County, Illinois, is . . .
. . . the small town where Gus Gulling, David’s mentor at Brown University who had been a New York intellectual and radical who’d won a Pulitzer, had lived. Amy Gulling is his salt-of-the earth widow who now runs a boarding house. Mrs Greer helps out in the kitchen. Guests include the newly widowed (and obnoxious) Mrs Alicia (?) Hoyt (her son fell in the Battle of the Argonne and “won” a Medal of Honor) and her daughter, Joan; Dr Pearson; and, Mr Devereaux, who is interested in spiritualism, and his forward, illiterate grandson, Julian, who is a medium, a.k.a. the Magnificent Belloc. The Comte de Mirabeau is Julian’s spirit guide. (Julian’s parents had been Count Amadeus and Zaliki the Seer.) Casey Lee is a salesman for the Queen of Egypt Medical Supply Company; that man has a good bit of medical knowledge! (He’d been in the war too with the 5th Marine Regiment at Belleau Wood.)
Julian’s contacts included Mary, Joseph who had been married to Mable Gabbay, Orrin has a suggestion for Henrietta, Dolly wants Peter to remarry, Maggie’s brother Glenn, Angela’s Bill Doyle (William Robert Tucker) has a message for her, Madeline has a reminder for Arthur, Lieutenant Christopher Thompson had been reported missing in battle, Grand-mère Helen, Cyrus wants Maggie taking the old tonic, Patrick is pain-free, and Thomas’ dog has been located.
The Herrin News is the local paper. Tom McCarty is a mine hoisting engineer. Skeltcher’s Tavern is no longer a tavern but a soft drink parlor. Young Dr Anson in Carbondale is pleasant and knowledgable. Milo’s place is a pool hall. Earl is its Hungarian bartender. The Lafayette Hotel is one of the nicest in town. Mrs Muenster is someone’s next door neighbor. Sheriff McFadden is a bigot.
Little Egypt in Jackson County seems to be influencing the treatment of the victims who include Anna Spiegel, Maria Campanella, Millie Hesse, and the lingering Theresa Martin. The Dance and Dine Inn sounds like a lovely place.
The Herrin Massacre had been . . .
. . . a conflict between striking miners of the Lester Mine Company owned by that fool WJ Lester, a.k.a. Ole King Coal, and the actions of the Southern Illinois Coal Company. Harding hates unions. McDowell had been a mine boss. Hugh Willis had been the union president with a warning.
The Messenger is a spiritualist periodical in Boston. General Black Jack Pershing led his American Expeditionary Forces late into World War I. The Ludlow Massacre gets a mention. Edgar Cayce had been a clairvoyant in the early part of the twentieth century. Ellery Sedgwick is David’s editor at The Atlantic Monthly. Mrs Packard is Joan’s aunt and Mrs Hoyt’s sister.
The Cover and Title
The cover is dark, in keeping with the title, with its skull-like and glowing full moon in the upper left corner in the deep, deep blue night sky with its sprinkle of stars. A black crow perches on the silhouetted branch of a tree above a barely there gentle green hill. Spanning the top of the hill is the title in a gradient white with a thin line of pale blue. A fancy horizontal line in pale green separates title from author’s name, which is also in the pale green.
The title is too true on so many levels, for it is The Dark Farewell.
My Take
That takes you back. A year when the 19th amendment gave women the right to vote and the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Another take-back is Mrs Hoyt’s views on women, the hussies, using cosmetics!
Lanyon made it hard for me to come down on the side of the strikers until much further into the story, and then forced me to remember that the news can be very one-sided. Sympathy in town is all on the side of the strikers, which only reinforces that one-sided aspect, although, then again . . .
”. . . the defense’s case as ‘These men were justified in what they did; and besides, they didn’t do it!’”That’s something that always makes me crazy. Why do owners and the company bigwigs figure it’s okay for them to make tremendous amounts of money but niggle about their workers? How much money do they really need? Later Lanyon notes the conditions the miners were forced to work in . . . and ya can’t blame them for striking!
The gay aspect is almost a side note and made me so angry. What business is it of anyone else who someone wants to love? Jerks! More bigotry rears up due to Julian’s coloring — he must be some kind of colored. Oy.
It’s not that long after World War I and bits of that trauma leak over. David had been with Pershing’s American Expeditionary Forces.
It seems hypocritical of David to belittle Julian for being “a sissy”, a “pansy”. I couldn’t blame David for being ticked off at Julian at first. That guy was so forward! He’s also really ticked that Julian is conning people with his medium act. It’s almost a quarter of the way in to the story that we learn the truth about David. Poor guy. He does get to doing quite a bit of introspection in his character arc. It helps that Lanyon uses third person protagonist point-of-view from David’s perspective.
That Grand-père of Julian’s!! What a . . . I can’t even think of something bad enough to call him! The way he uses and abuses his grandson! Some of the negatives come through when Julian speaks of what his dreams are . . . and why they’ll never come true. As for “Grand-père’s take on epilepsy . . . I wanna kill him. I love that Dr Pearson is more realistic about it.
There’s a brief mention of the Ku Klux Klan being seen as lawbringers with David having a thought about it. I do wish Lanyon had delved more into this hate group. It’s a trouble brought about by Prohibition when bootleggers will sell to anyone.
I did crack up about those soft-drink parlors. The soda ingredients were, um, interesting, lol.
Oh, boy, Lanyon does make some good points about Lee’s career and his knowledge. Scary stuff, especially with Joan so vulnerable.
Lanyon paints an emotive picture of the time with its prejudices and culture — I swear I was sweating in the heat! As for Julian’s situation, yeah, I liked the ending, even if Lanyon did go for the trite deux ex machina.
The Story
It’s been a year since the Herrin Massacre and David wants to look back on it, reflect on it, on the aftermath of violence. It's also a chance to see Amy, to grieve Gus.
There is more going on, though, then a long-meant visit, for a serial killer is rampaging through Illinois and Amy's boarding house guests provide even more interest for the cynical Mr. Flynn.
The Characters
David Flynn is a newspaper man for The Atlantic Monthly from Greenwich Village in New York City looking to revisit a miner massacre. Paul, whom David had known at Brown, had been David’s friend, taken during the war.
Herrin, “Bloody” Williamsburg County, Illinois, is . . .
. . . the small town where Gus Gulling, David’s mentor at Brown University who had been a New York intellectual and radical who’d won a Pulitzer, had lived. Amy Gulling is his salt-of-the earth widow who now runs a boarding house. Mrs Greer helps out in the kitchen. Guests include the newly widowed (and obnoxious) Mrs Alicia (?) Hoyt (her son fell in the Battle of the Argonne and “won” a Medal of Honor) and her daughter, Joan; Dr Pearson; and, Mr Devereaux, who is interested in spiritualism, and his forward, illiterate grandson, Julian, who is a medium, a.k.a. the Magnificent Belloc. The Comte de Mirabeau is Julian’s spirit guide. (Julian’s parents had been Count Amadeus and Zaliki the Seer.) Casey Lee is a salesman for the Queen of Egypt Medical Supply Company; that man has a good bit of medical knowledge! (He’d been in the war too with the 5th Marine Regiment at Belleau Wood.)
Julian’s contacts included Mary, Joseph who had been married to Mable Gabbay, Orrin has a suggestion for Henrietta, Dolly wants Peter to remarry, Maggie’s brother Glenn, Angela’s Bill Doyle (William Robert Tucker) has a message for her, Madeline has a reminder for Arthur, Lieutenant Christopher Thompson had been reported missing in battle, Grand-mère Helen, Cyrus wants Maggie taking the old tonic, Patrick is pain-free, and Thomas’ dog has been located.
The Herrin News is the local paper. Tom McCarty is a mine hoisting engineer. Skeltcher’s Tavern is no longer a tavern but a soft drink parlor. Young Dr Anson in Carbondale is pleasant and knowledgable. Milo’s place is a pool hall. Earl is its Hungarian bartender. The Lafayette Hotel is one of the nicest in town. Mrs Muenster is someone’s next door neighbor. Sheriff McFadden is a bigot.
Little Egypt in Jackson County seems to be influencing the treatment of the victims who include Anna Spiegel, Maria Campanella, Millie Hesse, and the lingering Theresa Martin. The Dance and Dine Inn sounds like a lovely place.
The Herrin Massacre had been . . .
. . . a conflict between striking miners of the Lester Mine Company owned by that fool WJ Lester, a.k.a. Ole King Coal, and the actions of the Southern Illinois Coal Company. Harding hates unions. McDowell had been a mine boss. Hugh Willis had been the union president with a warning.
The Messenger is a spiritualist periodical in Boston. General Black Jack Pershing led his American Expeditionary Forces late into World War I. The Ludlow Massacre gets a mention. Edgar Cayce had been a clairvoyant in the early part of the twentieth century. Ellery Sedgwick is David’s editor at The Atlantic Monthly. Mrs Packard is Joan’s aunt and Mrs Hoyt’s sister.
The Cover and Title
The cover is dark, in keeping with the title, with its skull-like and glowing full moon in the upper left corner in the deep, deep blue night sky with its sprinkle of stars. A black crow perches on the silhouetted branch of a tree above a barely there gentle green hill. Spanning the top of the hill is the title in a gradient white with a thin line of pale blue. A fancy horizontal line in pale green separates title from author’s name, which is also in the pale green.
The title is too true on so many levels, for it is The Dark Farewell.
November 22, 2010
This book could be given a lot of tags: it's historical, there's a mistery and there's even a touch of paranormal, but it has also a beautiful romance.
For once I think that the narrator is not the character we get to know better in the book. David Flynn doesn't let the reader into his thoughts and emotions, there were a lot of occasions in which he could have let himself go, but he barely did that. What happened to him in the war and the loss of his lover are sketched, but never fully told. Even when he acknowledges his attraction and feelings for Julian, the young psychic, he seems detached. I think he feels respect for Julian, maybe also a little bit of pity, a human connection, an unquenchable attraction, but not love. I think the war and his profession caused Flynn to shut off his deepest and most uncontrollable feelings.
On the other hand Julian, whom we see only through Flynn's eyes, is more accessible and he presents himself to the reader (and to Flynn) in all his physical and emotional nakedness. I don't think we would have known more about him if he had been the narrator. He is exceptionally vulnerable, but his vulnerability doesn't depend on his personality, instead it's the result of his illness and the decisions his grandfather made for him. Julian is delicate, but he is not a damsel in distress that needs to be saved by a knight in a shiny armour, he's extremely dignified. What he needs is someone who allows him to spread his wings and the part where he tells Flynn what he wants for himself is very moving.
I agree with one of the other reviewer who said that this book had the potential of a full-length novel. There was a wonderful cast of characters and each one of them could have filled pages of interesting narration. And there were also the fascinating topic of Julian's illness and the repercussion it had on his life. Looking at it through modern eyes, the way homosexuality was considered a perverted manifestation of Julian's illness is chilling.
I also agree that the ending is quite abrupt. While I'm reading, I usually projects in my mind my expectation of the plot, and I was already contemplating all the future developments when the story, in a few paragraphs, finished. I'm still craving for an epilogue, but, hey, I'm allowed to make up what I want, right?
A lovely story and another character I've fallen in love with.
For once I think that the narrator is not the character we get to know better in the book. David Flynn doesn't let the reader into his thoughts and emotions, there were a lot of occasions in which he could have let himself go, but he barely did that. What happened to him in the war and the loss of his lover are sketched, but never fully told. Even when he acknowledges his attraction and feelings for Julian, the young psychic, he seems detached. I think he feels respect for Julian, maybe also a little bit of pity, a human connection, an unquenchable attraction, but not love. I think the war and his profession caused Flynn to shut off his deepest and most uncontrollable feelings.
On the other hand Julian, whom we see only through Flynn's eyes, is more accessible and he presents himself to the reader (and to Flynn) in all his physical and emotional nakedness. I don't think we would have known more about him if he had been the narrator. He is exceptionally vulnerable, but his vulnerability doesn't depend on his personality, instead it's the result of his illness and the decisions his grandfather made for him. Julian is delicate, but he is not a damsel in distress that needs to be saved by a knight in a shiny armour, he's extremely dignified. What he needs is someone who allows him to spread his wings and the part where he tells Flynn what he wants for himself is very moving.
I agree with one of the other reviewer who said that this book had the potential of a full-length novel. There was a wonderful cast of characters and each one of them could have filled pages of interesting narration. And there were also the fascinating topic of Julian's illness and the repercussion it had on his life. Looking at it through modern eyes, the way homosexuality was considered a perverted manifestation of Julian's illness is chilling.
I also agree that the ending is quite abrupt. While I'm reading, I usually projects in my mind my expectation of the plot, and I was already contemplating all the future developments when the story, in a few paragraphs, finished. I'm still craving for an epilogue, but, hey, I'm allowed to make up what I want, right?
A lovely story and another character I've fallen in love with.
August 16, 2012
My first foray into Josh Lanyon. :) I really enjoyed this! Everyone who reads m/m practically worships this author as one of the the genres superstars, so I was actually ready to be disappointed, as one often is. But I wasn't!
The Dark Farewell is a novella set in the mid-1920s. There are murders, there are seances, there are spirits, there is humour, there is sad reflection on loves past and there is some lovely intimacy between the main characters, Flynn, the almost-cynical reporter returned from The Great War, and Julian, the special man who claims to hear spirits.
Lanyon is a terrific writer, if I can judge by this. The atmosphere is perfect, the characterisations right on for people of those times, the plot works, and most importantly, it made me want to read and know more - more about the characters and more stuff written by Lanyon.
In a genre that's so full of crappy writing, it's tough at times to find new authors to add to your list, but I can safely and heartily recommend that you add Josh Lanyon to yours.
The Dark Farewell is a novella set in the mid-1920s. There are murders, there are seances, there are spirits, there is humour, there is sad reflection on loves past and there is some lovely intimacy between the main characters, Flynn, the almost-cynical reporter returned from The Great War, and Julian, the special man who claims to hear spirits.
Lanyon is a terrific writer, if I can judge by this. The atmosphere is perfect, the characterisations right on for people of those times, the plot works, and most importantly, it made me want to read and know more - more about the characters and more stuff written by Lanyon.
In a genre that's so full of crappy writing, it's tough at times to find new authors to add to your list, but I can safely and heartily recommend that you add Josh Lanyon to yours.
July 30, 2012
*blink. blink
It just...ended...
I'm trying to come up with something to say, but it's not coming. I think I'm shocked by how abruptly it ended. Still, a good story. Engaging, but still it seemed like (at least to me) quite a light read, which is interesting considering its topic.
It's not quite as dramatic as the blurb lets on. I mean, I personally thought it really was suddenly and whatnot, but it all seemed...softened. I think I was expecting it to come as a heavier blow, as more of a shock but it all kind of flowed.
It just...ended...
I'm trying to come up with something to say, but it's not coming. I think I'm shocked by how abruptly it ended. Still, a good story. Engaging, but still it seemed like (at least to me) quite a light read, which is interesting considering its topic.
It's not quite as dramatic as the blurb lets on. I mean, I personally thought it really was suddenly and whatnot, but it all seemed...softened. I think I was expecting it to come as a heavier blow, as more of a shock but it all kind of flowed.
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