4 out of 4 stars
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What happens when love is not reciprocated? Does it find another target? Does it fizzle out? Does its quality change to something dark and destructive? In the surprising novel Dawn's Eerie Light author Roy Ziegler explores the fate of love not returned in kind. Denial, obsession, withdrawal and self-destruction all make an appearance in the book. Part romance, part suspense and part historical fiction, the novel will have you curious about the ending until the very last page.
Matt and Leo are upper class business and romantic partners in New Jersey. Interior designer Riley is the toast of New York high society. Mildred is an elderly, mentally ill waitress consumed by spite, regret and a desire for revenge. Through a kind of "six degrees of separation", these threads and more are woven together to create the fabric of a story you will not soon forget. To reveal more about the story would involve spoilers. You'll just have to read the book!
People who like reading about mid-twentieth century New York will appreciate Dawn's Eerie Light. Written from the third person omniscient perspective, it is set on the east coast in the 1960s and early 1970s. Mr. Ziegler paints a portrait of America's social and financial capital city complete with haute couture, a rock and roll soundtrack and a lifestyle naive to the coming ravages of HIV. The scenes and interactions between the characters are realistic, and reading the book is like taking a time machine back to that radical era in America's history. It is a trip.
Readers turned off by profanity and same-sex romance may not enjoy Dawn's Eerie Light, as it contains both of these elements. Even with the same-sex relationships, however, Mr. Ziegler spins a tale full of emotion and angst experienced by many people regardless of sexual orientation. While some parts may make straight readers uncomfortable, they can relate to at least some of the situations described. Mr. Ziegler is a great writer.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The quick pace drew me into the story from the very beginning; I was 50 pages into the novel without even realizing it. Please note this novel is not for children, as the themes presented are of an adult nature. The professional editing makes Dawn's Eerie Light a polished entertaining work that I recommend to the mature reader looking for a different kind of fiction.
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Dawn's Eerie Light
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