Against a Brightening Sky

Murder, ghosts, magical mayhem, and Bolshevik-era Russia combine in the impressive and entertaining conclusion of Moyer's supernatural mystery series (after A Barricade in Hell). Series star Delia and her husband, police captain Gabe Ryan, attend a St. Patrick's Day parade in 1919 San Francisco, where all hell breaks loose as snipers begin shooting into the crowd. Gabe and Delia aren't seriously injured, but they end up helping a young woman, Alina, who has little memory of her past. A series of murders has Gabe looking to labor union leader Dominic Mullaney and his lieutenant, Aleksei Nureyev, for answers. Delia, always attuned to the spirit world, sees the image of a young woman who may be connected to Alina, and also tries to help Gabe find the serial killer. Moyer brilliantly brings the setting to life, with fascinating details that bolster the historical verisimilitude. Strong characterizations are the icing on this entertaining blend of genres. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Laura Dail Literary. (Oct.)