Book Review: The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

My Rating: 3.5⭐️

Set in 1873, the story begins with twenty-three-year-old Lenna Wilkes in Paris, participating in a séance as an understudy to renowned spiritualist and medium Vaudeline D’Allaire who specializes in establishing contact with victims of violence to help identify the perpetrators, bringing justice and closure for the families of the deceased. Lenna, though a skeptic, “practical” as she describes herself, has her reasons for working with Vaudeline. Her younger sister Evie, an aspiring spiritualist who had trained under Vaudeline was murdered on the last All Hallows Eve in London. Lenna is in the process of acquiring training and knowledge and enlisting Vaudeline’s help to find Evie’s killer. Vaudeline receives a letter from the Vice President of the London Séance Society, Mr. Morley who asks for her assistance to uncover the mystery behind the murder of the society’s President Mr. Volckman who was also murdered on All Hallows Eve. Mr. Volckman had been investigating rumors of fraudulent practices within the society, Lenna accompanies Vaudeline back to London, determined to help solve both murders and figure out whether there was any connection between the two.

Having previously read and enjoyed The Lost Apothecary, I was eager to read the author’s latest novel. I absolutely loved the concept behind The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner. The narrative is shared in alternating chapters from Lenna’s perspective (in the third person) and Mr. Morley (first person PoV). The characters are well-fleshed out and the mystery behind the murders is enticing. I loved how the author describes Victorian society, social norms and taboos and especially the spiritualist movement of the times (DO read the Author’s Note at the end of the novel!). I commend the author for broaching sensitive issues and depicting how women had to suppress their true selves in those times. However, despite its fascinating premise, I found the execution a tad lacking. The beginning of the novel draws you in with its atmospheric and suspenseful vibe. But then the narrative becomes repetitive and long-drawn and it was only after the midway mark did I feel fully invested in the story. The final quarter of the novel is truly riveting with an ending that took me by surprise but I felt that the build–up took too long and I found myself losing interest multiple times throughout the narrative thus detracting from my overall reading experience.

Many thanks to Sarah Penner, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on March 07, 2023.