Star light, star bright

"I am in Hell. You have put me there and you must join me there."So read one of the three threatening notes left for Kalos Daskalos, once astrologer to the famous, now coven master to a house party consisting of the actors, producer, director and writer of a forthcoming film of which the self-styled prophet heartily disapproves.The scene is billionaire Andrew Quist's lavish house in Florida, where Daskalos conducts his prayer meetings at dawn and sunset out on the open beach. His charismatic influence over the cult is enormous, yet someone unmistakably wants Kalos Daskalos dead. Incidents coinciding with the scrappy but unambiguous murder notes urge the seriousness of their Quist's dog has been butchered and the blood-encrusted weapon buried in the door of Daskalos's cottage.Detective Johnny Milano is Quist's unequivocal choice to prevent the murder. He is apparently unaware that Milano's relationship with his beautiful actress wife, Sharon Bauer, well exceeded the professional when she engaged his services in England. Quist is prepared to pay $20,000 for just two days of the detective's celebrated security.As the hour of the murder draws near, Stanley Ellin's taut, subtly intricate and, as always, elegantly constructed thriller builds to a deliciously shocking conclusion.