My Five Word TL:DR Review : Hauntingly beautiful,evocative and captivating

I think I used up most of the relevant descriptors in my short review above so you probably don’t need the rest of this write up. But here we go anyways.  I’m absolutely loving Constance Sayers.  Her ability to bring to life on the page amazing characters and surround them with magical backdrops is just wonderful and The Star and the Strange Moon was another success for me.

The story is told in two timelines which is a device that I love.  We flip back in time between two characters.  Gemma Turner, an actress from the 60s whose dreams of stardom seem to be slowly slipping away and Christopher Kent, whose timelines first brings him to us as a young boy and from there he progresses to a young man.   Christopher has been obsessed by the actress ever since his mother experienced a sort of meltdown after seeing Gemma’s picture hanging on a hotel wall. Gemma and Christopher’s lives are set to become inextricably linked and many of the cast floating in their orbit also share connections that will eventually reveal themselves as the story moves forward.

Without doubt this is a layered book and for me the immediate word that springs to mind is obsession.  Gemma is desperately trying to get her career back on track and in her desperation takes on a role with a director who himself seems to be a little desperate (obsessed even in his need to make a groundbreaking film).  Gemma never has a good feel about this new style horror film and her gut instincts tell her to walk away but desperation leaves her little choice (or so she believes).  In a strange twist Gemma disappears, during filming, and is never seen again.  This is one of life’s strange mysteries that in the more modern timeline still fascinates people and in fact this last movie for both her and the director has become something of an obsession with movie aficionados.  A small collection of individually chosen people get together every 10 years to rewatch L’Etrange Lune – two things must you know about this cult status film, each showing is different than the last in ways that are simply not possible, and, speaking to others about the experience is forbidden and holds deadly consequences.

Jump to Christopher.  He has been obsessed with Gemma since his mother became unhinged one time after seeing her picture.  His family try to guide him, to set him on a different track, to put the past behind him and live more in the here and now but Christopher is unable to let go.  He eventually finagles himself a prized ticket to the next screening of L’Etrange Lune and although the film is disturbing for him he continues to dig, even as the mystery and the body count begin to rise.

So, it’s not a spoiler for me to say that Gemma is actually living an almost nightmare existence, transported (for want of a better word) into the very horror film that she is making.  I totally loved this element of the story.  This faux movie set was such a blast from the past.  The scenes and the retakes made me think of old Hammer movies which made me smile and then we have Gemma, stuck in the middle of this older version of France where to an extent her wealth and status, whilst giving her some options, still mean she is restricted by old fashioned customs.  And the movie, or something, is trying to push Gemma – or, well, ‘direct’ her.  I liked Gemma though.  She makes mistakes but she keeps hold of her more modern sensibilities and starts to push this production in a way that she wants.  Its a great concept and really well executed.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (or more modern day America), Christopher finds himself taking on board a job that takes him to France.  Cunningly enough, he may have been incentivised to take this job because it gives him the opportunity to take a stroll through the very squares and streets where Gemma was last seen.

I think this is stunning.  I love the way that so many threads tie in, in fact some of the threads didn’t even feel like threads until they did become tied together!  A captivating mystery, two very easy to read central characters that I was definitely rooting for.  A modern day setting coupled with a throwback to the sixties and a faux 1800s? setting with coaches and bustles and creepy characters.  I wouldn’t call this horror as such but you do need to remember that Gemma is now starring in the strangest horror movie ever and some of the scenes have horror elements as a consequence.

Elements of horror, a tantalising mystery, dual timeline with a historic setting thrown in for good measure.  Magic and monsters.  And, who knew, a romance.  I didn’t even realise I was reading a romance until everything started to come together.

In terms of criticisms.  I don’t really have anything to be honest.  I will say that there is a lot to put forward here and also, with the nature of the story, some repetition as we backtrack and investigate.  It wasn’t a problem for me though because the beautiful writing held me glued to the page.

The moral of the story – be careful what you wish for.

My thanks to the publishers for providing me with a review copy through Netgalley.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 5 of 5 stars