Dark Moon, Lost Lady

by Elsie Lee

Katie Hume's first indication that something was wrong with her identical twin sister Nyx was the unsigned postcard that arrived in the morning mail. Nyx had finally found the love affair of a lifetime -- and then vanished without a trace. Now the only hope of finding Nyx was for Katie to assume her identity...

When they were young children, Katie and Nyx would delight in confusing friends and relatives by assuming one another's identity. But that was years ago, and Katie wasn't sure that she could pull off their favorite old trick all by herself. And besides, to take on her sister's identity this time, Katie would need to deceive the man who loved Nyx. He was the only man who could help solve the mystery--and he was the only man ever to steal her heart!

Genres: Romance, Gothic, Mystery, Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Elsie Lee (Elsie Lee Sheridan) (1912 - 1987)

Pseudonym/s: Elsie Cromwell, Jane Gordon, Lee Sheridan

Wiki: "I write fairy tales for grownups, principally women... I am better at characterizations than plots, and best with cats who are unanimously adored by my readers... I will not compromise on the quality of vocabulary and grammar in my books... it is a writer's responsibility to TEACH subtly through entertainment..."

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book many, many times since it was first published. It was only with this re-reading in 2018 that the reality of the neo-Nazi uprising of the plot grimly hit home for me as a US citizen. A sad commentary on our times.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books for over 30 years! I re-read this every couple of years, and continue to enjoy it. The heroine's sister disappears, and she tries to find her, by retracing her sister's last known steps. In this, she is helped by the Prince of the castle where her sister disappeared from. They, of course, fall in love, even though she is pretending to BE her sister, and hijinks ensue!

[Anuradha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't figure out the genre of the story till the end. It was meant to be a thrilling suspense thriller. But the tone was too light and frothy to be taken seriously.

If it was meant to be a romance, but then the twin sister tells the hero "Don't fall for me, my sister would work better for you!" - Nope, that's not how passionate romances work. This one was practically arranged from Day 1 !!

And finally there was a whole lot of ESP, and telepathic communication between the twins. A Nobel winning scientist daddy, and whole lot of hocus-pocus. Too much fantasy in a realistic thriller.

The love between the leads crops up, just like that. And he starts to use words like "soul mate" and "looking for you all my life" within a few minutes of knowing each other !!!

Fantasy, not to be taken seriously. Ok for a one time read.

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katie Hume's movie star sister, Nyx, has disappeared, and Katie knows by her ESP that Nyx is alive but in trouble. So Katie, pretending to be Nyx, takes her place at the fabulous German castle where Nyx was being hosted by an aristocratic princess and her two sons, Princes Rupert and Kaspar. Katie solves the mystery and finds true love, as does Nyx.

This book is a guilty pleasure, like that one flavor of hyper-sweetened cereal that you can't resist. It may not work for you, but I love the twin-impersonations, cigarette holders, a manager named Flip "Flippy, darling, would you...?", the single telephone in a massive household, and the whole ridiculous house of cards that manages to stay afloat until the very end. Many happy-happies, darling.

[superawesomekt · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This reminded me of Victoria Holt's and Mary Stewart's post-war European setting suspense-romances. Even includes insta-love and Nazis ... I didn't have nostalgia to sweeten this for me, but it was a pleasant frothy read.

[Tara Magana · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has been a while since I DNF a book. 75 pages in and I am bored, uninterested and slightly confused. Meh at best until I could not "meh" anymore. I did not find the sister sleuthing enough to keep my attention.

[whimsicalmeerkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god, I am so glad I bought it this. It is just proof that my love of batshit crazy romances goes back more than two decades. There are film stars and princes and neo-Nazis. Admittedly, that last bit is far more chilling in 2020 than it was in the late nineties. It hits closer to home. Still, I’m off to thriftbooks to buy more of her books. Also to read more Mary Stewart.

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dated book - 1965 - filled with snobby dialog, super-snobby people, and a very thin plot. After my last book, I needed something completely mindless, and nobody does mindless better than Elsie Lee.