Moon was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1985. Jonathan Donatello, a schoolteacher, possesses a rare psychic sensitivity — he can sense when death is approaching, particularly violent death. When he begins experiencing visions of a series of brutal murders, he is drawn into the investigation and discovers that the killer is connected to a cult whose activities involve child abuse and ritual murder. Donatello’s gift makes him invaluable to the investigation — and a target for the cult.
The novel was Herbert’s most thriller-like work, combining psychic horror with the structure of a serial-killer investigation.
The Psychic Detective
Herbert’s combination of psychic ability with serial-killer investigation anticipated the subgenre that would become enormously popular in the 1990s and 2000s — from Thomas Harris’s Red Dragon to the television series Medium and The Dead Zone. Herbert was among the first British writers to merge the supernatural thriller with the procedural detective format.
Collecting Moon
First edition (Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1985): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $20–$50
- Very good: $8–$20
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Moon have any connection to Herbert’s other novels? No direct connection, though the protagonist — a psychic investigator — anticipates the David Ash character who would appear in Haunted (1988) and The Secret of Crickley Hall (2006). Herbert was clearly drawn to the idea of a rational man forced to confront the supernatural.