The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

Summary:

1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.

Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. But as the women team up with the powerful men of London’s exclusive Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves…

About the Author: 

Sarah Penner is an American author, whose first book The Lost Apothecary is a New York Times Bestseller. The London Séance Society, published in 2023, is her second book.

Rating:

4 stars - ★★★★☆

Review:

The London Séance Society was a Christmas present from my mum, chosen because she knows how I am interested in mediums, tarot and such. I had been looking forward to reading The London Séance Society. I’m very glad that I waited until I did to read it, as it was the perfect book to read in a weekend after a busy week. It is an excellent balance of gripping and easy to read. It flowed very well and I found that I couldn’t help keep turning the pages. 

The story is written from two points of view: Lenna who is a medium’s apprentice, and Mr Morley who is a member of the London Séance Society. This back and forth between the two is essential to building the mystery, and kept me wondering what people’s relationships and motivations really were.

The action starts right from the first page as we find ourselves in a séance in an abandoned chateau which is perfectly haunting and fantastical. The atmosphere of the entire book is set from this moment and it carries on throughout the story being appropriately creepy.

There were plenty of surprises and twists to keep you guessing. The last séance did have me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen and who would get out alive.

Vaudeline D’Allaire, the medium, was my favourite character, mainly based on her fantastic name and her job description. It was quite fitting that she stayed very much a mystery throughout the book. We don’t get a lot of her backstory and that fits her character very well. I would like to read more about how she became such a famous medium and about the seances that she’s carried out.

The London Séance Society reminded me a little of Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth MacNeal which I read earlier on in the year, mainly because they both explore the role of women in Victorian society. I think we often imagine Victorian women to be quite straight laced, however it’s interesting to see women doing something really different in society and challenging the order of things. 

I would have liked The London Séance Society to have included a few more séances (given the title) because we don’t get a full séance until the very end of the book. I would also say that, although it was very good, this isn’t a book that will stay in my memory. It was gripping, well written and amusing but it didn’t blow my socks off.

It was interesting to read the author’s notes at the end of the book. I will keep saying how much I like to read about the author’s research and any real life stories that inspired parts of the book. It’s these little anecdotes that flesh out a story and make it feel real.

I would read more books by Sarah Penner, I have added both The Lost Apothecary and The Amalfi Curse (which is not yet published as I write this) to my reading list. I’d probably reach for these as a holiday read, or a quick gap filler if I need a reset after a more intellectually challenging read. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mediums and the occult and anyone who is interested in out-of-the-ordinary women in Victorian times.