Moondog and the Dark Arches

Moondog and the Dark Arches is a fantasy detective novel first published in September 2020. It is the second in the Moondog preternatural detective series.

These stories centre around Moondog, a preternatural Romani detective who investigates cryptids, magic, and dark paranormal events.

Moondog and the Dark Arches  is the second book in the Moondog preternatural detective series by Neil Mach. Moondog investigates cryptids, magic, and dark paranormal events.

In Moondog and the Dark Arches, the Romani detective is summoned to investigate a strange tragedy: a young woman jumps from a bridge in the secluded, oddly feudal village of the Vale of Amity after fleeing a terrifying pagan ritual and a monster! Mysterious dog deaths have also occurred at the same bridge and under similar circumstances.

Moondog teams up with Janney, a teenage librarian from the village. Janney has the transcendent ability to astrally project and detach her soul from her body. During one of these astral states, Janney realizes she had been temporarily imprisoned inside the body of the mysterious woman who had jumped from the bridge, setting her and the detective on a path to uncover a sinister presence lurking beneath a local parish church.

When a bridge jump, dying dogs, and a secret pagan cult shock a secluded English village, a soul-projecting teenage librarian and a Romani detective work together to uncover what lurks beneath such puzzling incidents...

Moondog and Janney are chased along the Vale of Amity by Agisters from the village in Neil Mach's clean urban fantasy thriller Moondog and the Dark Arches

Core Themes in Moondog and the Dark Arches

Identity, Transcendence, and Consciousness: Through Janney’s astral detachment and her out-of-body experiences, the narrative explores the boundaries of human consciousness, soul connection, and physical vs. spiritual identity.

The Preternatural vs. Secular Authority: This novel contrasts institutional authority and rigid social structures with the wild, intuitive, nature-bound worldview represented by Moondog’s heritage.

Ancient Rituals in Modern/Feudal Spaces: Dark pagan cults, subterranean secrets, and ancient folklore collide with the quiet, seemingly quaint setting of a peaceful English village.

Unconventional Heroism & Belonging: The story pairs two societal outsiders—an illiterate, itinerant Romani investigator and a settled teenage library worker—who find strength and purpose in their shared fight against sinister forces.

Moondog and the Dark Arches

Social Context of Moondog and the Dark Arches

Challenging Romani Stereotypes: A major social aspect of all the books in the Moondog series is the intentional subversion of media tropes surrounding itinerant English Roma communities. In these novels, Moondog is framed as a positive, highly perceptive hero whose nomadic lifestyle, pantheism, and connection to nature serve as his ultimate strengths.

The "Feudal" English Countryside: Set in the "Vale of Amity" in South England, this novel touches on the insular, caste-like structures of secluded rural English villages where traditions, ancient secrets, and old-world hierarchies still persist beneath quiet surfaces.

Author of Moondog and the Dark Arches - Neil Mach

Neil Mach is a prolific English author known for his clean urban fantasy (like his popular 'Moondog' series) and his historical fiction. Neil claims English Roma heritage. He lives in Staines, Surrey and describes himself as a 'Hippy Grandad". As well as his writing, Neil is also a well-known public speaker, and a creativity advisor. Neil has a background in rock journalism. He frequently shares his expertise on writing and the music business with television, radio, and on podcast channels. Since its launch in 2019, his extremely popular Myth & Magic podcast has provided enthusiasts of fantasy literature and fantasy art with over 125 hours of audio enjoyment.

Moondog and the Dark Arches

Buy Now