This was reasonable entertaining but didn't wow me like this author's books usually do. Nothing about the plot or the characters stood out to me. I didn't write a review right away and honestly I don't remember much of anything about the book which is never good imo.


**ARC received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Yep, this was good. I feared this would be a spooky read, which I am not a fan of (and if you are asking "why then did you request a copy?" Because I will read whatever JL publishes.) and so I put this off for the right time - when I felt like I was ready. And this isn't spooky at all, yay! This was quite funny, actually. Artemus is snarky and I like it! 😄 He has good comebacks, bother vocalized and internal. I so very much enjoyed seeing Art figure out what the he'll was going on at his Aunts home. It was certainly a head scratcher, and I am happy with how the mystery was answered.

As for the relationship between Art and Cassidy, it was insta-romance. They did not know each other and Cassidy is a fan of Art and his theatrical (critic) reviews. It seemed over the top obsessed, I mean he is a theater critic not James Bond!, lol, and for Cassidy to be willing to gray the blue line (he is a cop; I don't consider this a spoiler because you Cassidy isn't who he claims, duh) for Art, it seemed so far fetched. Any who, they are a cute couple, Insta aside, and it was not in your face Insta as some books can be. JL is talented like that. 😉

Overall a really fun read with hilarious characters, dubious characters, theatrical characters, and ghostly characters. All is not what it seems, and some things are exactly as they appear. I would happily read this again, and MORE of these guys. 4 stars.

3.5 stars
The story was perfect if you are looking for a creepy read with low angst. I wasn’t blown away by anything but it was enjoyable enough to hold my attention.

ARC received in exchange for review

This was a fun book to read. The author is very good at creating a tense, chilling atmosphere and their characters were well-written and interesting. A quick read to lose yourself in and suspend reality for a while.

Theater critic Artie Bancroft is summoned to his former home in California by Aunt H. Things have been tough for her since her husband, Ogden, passed away. But Aunt H doesn't need Artie because she's sad. It's because their home, which is also the Green Lantern Inn, has been losing clients. Why? Because word on the street is, Ogden is back. And his ghost has a lot to do.

This book was amazing. I haven't had this much fun since Lanyon's Stranger on the Shore. The story is riveting from Artie's early arrival and the frosty reception from the inn's suspicious handyman, Tarrant. But that's not the only mystery Artie needs to solve. There's the new gardener, Cassidy.

Cassidy almost distracted me from the shenanigans of Ogden's ghost. Almost.

...he was not like any gardener I'd ever met before, a feeling reinforced as he reached automatically to shake hands but then realised his were stained with mud... I'd never known one of the gardeners to try and shake hands before.

"I was weeding the dahlias," he said.

... "They're begonias."

Who are you and what are you up to Cassidy? This book has a timeless feel to it. It could've been from almost any period until the mention of cellphones. I love that about it. The best thing about this book is that it's not suffering from Lanyon's latest treatment of her mysteries. Sudden rushed endings. I'm still smarting over the resolution of the conflict in Slay Ride being offered in a newspaper clipping. This book is a perfect trip to OG Josh Lanyon. Noir-ish, hella mysterious and endings that do. not. feel. rushed.

I requested this after seeing it on a friend's page on Goodreads. I...love horror, I love the thought of seances although I myself would never do one. This was a fun, quick book to read especially when during the summer. I mean, duh, summer night is in the title. How could you not read it during that time?

The author is a great storyteller and really knows how to pull you in and not let go until the very end. I can't say anything negative except it started somewhat slow in the beginning but that's fine! It's an amazing book.

Thanks very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

When Artemus Bancroft is uncharacteristically summoned by his Auntie H to the Green Lanterns Inn, the home he grew up in, things take a turn for the bizarre. A cynic and a skeptic, Artemus doesn't buy that the Inn is being haunted, but he's not sure how—or why—a human agitator could be responsible for the chilling events that unfold.

Séance on a Summer's Night was a gripping mystery that had me guessing at what the villain's motivation might be right up until the reveal. I enjoyed the twist on the typical mystery. I found myself identifying completely with Artmemus' skepticism, and guessed early on at the villain, but I, like he, couldn't figure out why or how. It was genuinely an enjoyable and thrilling mystery because of that.

I also enjoyed the romance that developed between Artemus and Seamus. It was so beautifully done. They were wonderful, memorable characters and I know I'll come back to their story.

Really enjoyed this one.


As usual with this Author the writing is very engaging.

Great,atmospheric scene setting.The mystery element completely he'd my attention.

Fantastic secondary characters,if not always likeable.

Overall a great success for me.

Recommend read.

4.5 stars round up.
An excellent creepy 'haunted house' mystery, complete with an engaging lead and love interest. All the secondary characters are either batty or suspicious which plays well with the genre and there are enough clues scattered around that the resolution doesn't come completely out of the blue.
The romance is low key as normal with a Lanyon book, but believable enough for me. I would say that the setting and some of the characters did feel more suited to a period piece.
Recommended.

Well, that was fun… in a totally scary, crazy, unpredictable way. Kinda what I’ve come to expect from this author.

Artemus had no problem dropping everything and coming to his aunt’s side when she needed him. He grew up with her at Green Lanterns so his devotion to her was understandable. That didn’t mean that he supported her theory about a ghost haunting and scaring away any potential guests as well as her staff. It also didn’t mean that he supported every decision that she made.

Then there was Seamus. It was obvious from the beginning (at least for me) that there was much more to the gardener than appeared at first glance. I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I wasn’t disappointed by much in Seance on a Summer’s Night. There were enough twists, turns, danger and just enough romance to keep the pages turning.

This is a fun and engaging romantic mystery. Artemus and Cassidy make a great couple (I would love to read more of their adventures). Aunt Halcyone is loving and supportive, elegant and proud, but not the least stuck up. The mystery kept me intrigued until the last page, and I really liked the fact that, even though Artemus was a skeptic, the possibility of real paranormal activity was left open.

Definitely recommended to anyone looking for a good M/M paranormal mystery romance.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Theater critic Artemus Bancroft isn’t sure what to expect when his aunt summons him home to California with vague but urgent pleas about being unable to cope with “the situation.”

The situation turns out to be the apparent haunting of Green Lanterns Inn—along with alarming rumors that long-suffering Auntie Halcyone may have murdered her philandering husband.

In fact, the rumors seem to have been started by the late Mr. Hyde himself—from beyond the grave.

Séance on a Summer's Night by Josh Lanyon is another one of those complicated paranormal romances that Josh Lanyon does so well.  A terrific mixture of mystery, romance,.. and relationships of all sorts that border on the psychologically insane to the secretive to the familial and everything in between and all with a touch of the paranormal.  How I do love how Lanyon throws in those spooky elements!

In this story it's Artemus Bancroft called back to his childhood home, er mansion, by the aunt who helped raise him.    Auntie Haycyone is clearly in desperate need but why?  Turns out her disposable  and quite dead second  of a philander husband has chosen to haunt said mansion, driving away servants and paying guests.

Not that Artemus is buying into any of this and wonders why his Auntie is and why the estate is in such disrepairs.  And who is that gardener wandering around?

Love the character of Artemus.  Cynical just where he should be, especially of all those crazy guests in residence at the mansion.  Even of his Aunt when her actions start to make no sense.  His is often the only level head of the bunch.  And his investigations proceed accordingly.

This is not a review where you can go into the various characters or much of the plot because other than to say there's a medium involved that says she talks to the dead, hold seances that make for some dramatic and very entertaining scenes, and that, yes, Auntie Halcyone does seem to firmly believe in her,. Everything and everybody else contains potential spoilers.

I will say while all the main characters don't carry the usual Lanyon depth, it's not needed here.  This is a fun, slightly chilling mystery romance romp!  The two men who fall into a romance, one they that establish is HFN and is just realistically getting started, are made for each other.   I would love to know where their romance goes from here. But what I did see of the developing relationship was one that I liked (ok. Their romance moves pretty fast given the circumstances but Lanyon made a good case for that)/

The mystery and several accompanying murders was, as I said entertaining and completely held my interest.  If it still left me with questions at the end after everything had supposedly been resolved....well that accounts for the 4 instead of the 5 rating.  I guess I wanted everything wrapped up a little more neatly, all loose ends gone, which is not exactly the Lanyon way.

Perhaps this isn't the end of this duo and we will be seeing more of everyone, including Green Mansions and Aunt Halcyone too.  She still has those pesky neighbors to content with.

If you enjoy a fun and entertaining mystery romance, then pick up Séance on a Summer's Night by Josh Lanyon.  I definitely recommend it to while away those hote summer nights or any night at all.

Cover art for me isn't a favorite.  Lighted keyhole or crystal ball.  Just blurry enough not to be dramatic

Seance on a Summer's Night by Josh Lanyon is a paranormal cozy mystery perfect for summer nights.

New York's theater critic Artemus Bancroft is summoned by his aunt to urgently come to her house in California. His uncle has died in the previous year and when Artemus arrives he is more than shocked by what he finds. The house is neglected, gardens are overgrown but the worst of all are the occupants of the house. They are terrified, lost and thoroughly convinced that the dead man has come back for them. As sane as Artemus is, there are still some highly strange and unexplained occurrences that will shake him to the core as he tries to solve the mystery of the hunted house.

I constantly had the feeling that the story was set in the past, so much so that when modern references were made I was very surprised.
The story is interesting, it has a steady pace. I found it frustrating at times that it was so difficult for everyone to come up with the facts, every little thing had to be dragged out even from his aunt.
Solidly creepy and spooky setting, medium and a sceptic with several people almost out of their minds with fright make a perfect setting for this paranormal story.
Well presented and executed mystery.

As well as history focused non-fiction and fantasy, another of my favourite genres includes mysteries. We follow Artemus as he is summoned back home to the Green Lantern Inn by his aunt who may have murdered her philandering husband. It's a haunted house story with two LGBT characters and a mystery involving subterfuge, ghosts, a seance, money and deception. Before I get into the negatives, I will say that it was a quick and easy read with some fantastically eerie supernatural sections but...it was quite repetitive, drawn out and I didn't like the insta-love. It had a great premise but I just didn't connect with it at all and I was left a little disappointed, if I'm honest.

I finished this on a hot Summer night, outside, and couldn’t have been more pleased with all of it. I ended it with a huge smile on my face.

Oh, I needed this.

Really.

This one got me right from the start. The mystery held my attention, the romance, that as a Fanyon I know will never be enough and always leave me wanting in the best way, was just that, the best. The secondary characters were all interesting even if they weren’t all that likeable. I loved that the house, the gardens and the cars were all a huge part of the story. The house though, because that is just how I am, stole the show. I hope, hope, hope that Artemus and Seamus find their way back to Green Lanterns to stay someday.

I loved the mix of Ghost story and murder mystery and I love how I was guessing until the very end.

I know, I’m such a huge fan, so maybe I am not trustworthy, but I’ll tell you, this was super enjoyable and just what I expect from Josh Lanyon, trust me!

I liked this book but a few things just threw me off. The fact that it's written a lot like a historical book but was really a contemporary. It just had an old fashion feel to it from the way the characters talked at times, to their names and a few other things. I kept having to remind myself this book was set in the present.

I really did enjoy the haunted house and murder mystery tropes and thought the mystery was well written and interesting. I liked that Artemus was skeptical about the haunting and the psychic who is holding seances. The sister, Lily, who is desperate to make contact with her deceased brother was fairly realistic but I was very frustrated with Aunt Halcyone.

The romance with Seamus seemed to come a bit out of nowhere and didn't feel all that realistic to me but Josh Lanyon books are usually light on the romance and heavy on the mystery so I wasn't all that surprised by this aspect.

Overall, it was good and the mystery kept me guessing but it wasn't one of my favorites.

I love the way Josh Lanyon writes a mystery. They are fun and keep you guessing. This was no exception. The setting was great and the mystery ever evolving. The spooky setting and cast of characters gives the whole story the wonderful ambiance of a tale told over the campfire.

I really liked the m/m element of this, and I liked the dynamic between Artemus and Cassidy - I just wish that we got to see more of it, with the two of them outside of the mystery. With so much going on in the book, I feel like we didn’t get to see as much of the romance as I wished. I figured out the ‘twist’ about Cassidy very early on - I, too, have seen “Scooby Doo on Zombie Island,” so the (view spoiler) was pretty glaring, but made for another element in the interesting dynamic with Artemus.

While I enjoyed the characters (to an extent), I found that they were very polarizing - Artemus was very abrasive in how much he didn’t believe in the supernatural, his aunt seemed gullible in the extreme, the way people indulged Liana was ridiculous. Sometimes it became all a bit too much, and very apparent the this was a book. It wasn’t something that I could truly get lost in, as things kept jarring me out of the narrative.

I liked this book but I wasn’t blown away by it, which is okay; Lanyon is a fine author and I like their books and have fun reading them, which is what counts.

Not Josh Lanyon’s best, in my opinion. The plot was delightfully creepy, but the romance didn't work for me. I found the characters to be rather bland, which is rarely a problem I have with Lanyon's heroes. I prefer my romantic suspense reads to be about 50/50 romance and mystery, which may be why this didn't work for me. My reading enjoyment tends to hinge on connecting with the characters, and that just didn't happen for me here. I'd recommend picking this up if you prefer your mysteries creepy, though.

Spoilers: The key with LGBTQIA fiction these days is that they don't always have to do with being LGBTQIA. What I mean is that, while there are romances about boy meets boy or girl meets girl and dramatic coming out stories in less enlightened times or in modern day in front of a disapproving family and society, that isn't all there is to Queer Literature.

To be truly equal means to cover all barriers. One of the ways to do that is to put LGBTQIA characters in genres where their sexuality isn't the most important part of the book. It is essential to their character, but no more so than it would be for a straight protagonist obtaining a heterosexual love interest. The sexuality and gender roles become a subplot in that book.

Josh Lanyon's novel, Seance on a Summer's Night is that type of book. Yes the protagonist, Artemus “Artie” Bancroft is gay. Yes, he spends multiple parts of the book discussing his love life and yes, he obtains a male love interest in the book. However, Artie's sexuality takes a back seat in what is a memorable Gothic Novel and Ghost Story with a witty protagonist who happens to be gay.

Artie is a New York theater critic who is summoned back to Green Lanterns, his childhood home in Russian Bay, California, by his Aunt Halcyone. Halcyone raised Artie ever since his parents died and the two have been close until Halcyone’s marriage to Ogden Hyde, a domineering philandering tyrant. Artie moved to New York to pursue his career and a romance with Greg, a married man. Now, one year after Ogden's death, Halcyone summons Artie back saying that she “can't handle the situation” and that she needs Artie's “cool head and strong shoulders” to help with said situation.

The situation is that Green Lanterns appears to be haunted. Halcyone wants to turn the ornate many-roomed mansion into an inn. However, people report missing items, mysterious footsteps when no one is there, and transparent figures seen out of the corner of one's eye. Staff keep quitting and no guests check in because of fear of ghosts. Ogden's bed ridden sister, Lianna is consulting with mediums. Above all, rumors are spread that Ogden's death was no accident and that he was murdered something that Ogden's ghost has confirmed.

Seance on a Summer's Night is the perfect read if someone is looking for a good Gothic ghost story to curl up with. All the tropes are there. There is the creepy house with dark rooms, secret passages, and dim lighting just waiting for someone to see something spooky pop out of the shadows. (It makes one wonder why anyone would want to visit there but many people like to visit haunted places like Winchester Mystery House. Plus I live near St. Louis where one of the favorite tourist destinations is the Lemp Mansion and Brewery, so who am I to judge?)

If the setting didn't give off a spooky enough atmosphere, then the people who dwell within Green Lanterns certainly will. Everyone appears to be hiding something and has their own private agenda.

Lianna was once a social butterfly but now spends her days lying in bed, reading Tarot cards, and talking to her only friend, medium Roma Loveridge. She also goes on nightly walks looking for Ogden and in one creepy chapter almost falls to her death. Roma herself produces some spooky moments with her séances that may or may not be on the level. She also has a strange psychological hold on Lianna and sometimes Halcyone which makes Artie extremely suspicious.

The remaining servants, Tarrant and his daughter, Ulyanna appear to resent the increased workload and Artie's presence. Seamus Cassidy, a handsome gardener, captures Artie's eye but maybe hiding his true intentions and connection to the goings-on at Green Lantern. Then there's Halcyone who Artie wants to believe is innocent of Ogden's murder but is acting more and more mysterious and keeps dropping hints about how she can't be forgiven for something.

Poor Artie doesn't know who to trust when everyone in Green Lanterns is acting suspiciously, even family members and people he had known for years.

Characterization is Lanyon's strong suit and he gives us a brilliant protagonist in Artie. Artie is very witty and prone to providing sarcastic one-liners. When Halcyone quotes the “more things in heaven and earth” line from Hamlet, Artie replies “That's right, Hamlet. There's fire and water.”

Artie is a fervent skeptic which is why Halcyone contacted him to see if there are any human agencies behind the hauntings. Artie is the type of person who attends a seance and looks underneath the table for strings and flashlights. He proves to be helpful by observing clues for a rational explanation. However, he is so convinced by his skepticism that he refuses the possibility of thw supernatural even when it's right in front of him and all scientific reasoning has disappeared.

Besides being a skeptical cynic, Artie exhibits a softer side. He cares deeply for Halcyone and is protective of her because of the scares and the earlier abuse she received at the hands of Ogden. Even though he doesn't get along with Lianna, he expresses concern for her when she appears to be on the edge of a breakdown.

Artie shows vulnerability when thinking about his love life. He is haunted by the death of one former boyfriend and is still hurting over his breakup with Greg. His moments with Cassidy are sweet but tinged with sadness as Artie finds it difficult to fall in love again and also is suspicious of Cassidy’s true nature.

When Artie encounters the ghosts, he realizes that his one liners, skepticism, and vulnerable nature can't protect him from the secrets and fear that surrounds him.


Seance on a Summer’s Night has a descriptive spooky Gothic setting and a clever well-rounded protagonist. It is a great read for those hot July and August nights when you need a chill down your spine and a good scare.