Sarah Penner

A Novel

London Séance Society

Rebecca Hurd

I quite enjoyed this book!! Can definitely see that this author has a very unique voice it reminded me of another book of hers!! Slow build but great story telling and very interesting characters!!

Patricia Nelson

After reading this author's first novel, The Lost Apothecary, I was really looking forward to this one, and it did not disappoint. The premise is this - set in London in 1873, Lenna's sister Evie was killed and the police have no leads. She sets out to learn how to conduct a seance under the tutelage of Vaudeline D’Allaire, who is well known and respected for her seances that are used only to communicate with murder victims in order to find justice. Vaudeline is invited back to London as a favor to find out what happened to someone, and the story grows from there with suspicious activities happening at the London Seance Society, a gentlemen's club in London. The author's notes at the end of the book are very good and clearly state what is historical custom versus author's imagination. Very well done!

Joy Bush

4.5 
I liked this one better than Lost Apothecary

Vilandra

When I started reading this, I was pleased because it seemed so much better than the Lost Apothecary (which I thought was ok but not great). This was my Book of the Month book and I got it in the hopes that the author had improved with her second book. But this book turned out just ok. Some reworking could have made this a very good story. Like others have said, this book was very well researched. It’s clear the author put a lot of work into the spiritualism parts of the book. The story itself had issues. The main character, who is unlikable, is also an idiot in a lot of the situations she finds herself in. This is also a “men are creepy and terrible” book. When one male character seems to be redeemed, the author makes sure to tell us that, no, he’s really not a good guy after all. The reveals are eye-rolling or unsurprising. There’s no chemistry between characters who are supposed to be romantically involved, after knowing each other all of two weeks. The author felt the need to include cringey “50 Shades Lite” scenes. The main character is an expert in her field, again, after about two weeks. This author has good ideas but her books so far have needed some rewrites. I don’t think I will read another book by this author.

I had heard great things about her first book, and with the stunning cover, I started reading straight away.

- Lenna - apprentice of a famous spiritualist, early 20s, from a well-to-do background, very naive

- Mr. M. Morley of London, vice-president of the Society's Department of Spiritualism, has a blotch on his face and very sore about it. 

The book has short, snappy chapters that alternate. Both characters are underwhelming and frankly annoying. 

The book started off well, but it was SO predictable. I'm sad I didn't like it as there was a lot of potential.

Suzanne

I had heard great things about her first book, and with the stunning cover, I started reading straight away.

The novel has two narrators, 

- Lenna - apprentice of a famous spiritualist, early 20s, from a well-to-do background, very naive

- Mr. M. Morley of London, vice-president of the Society's Department of Spiritualism, has a blotch on his face and very sore about it. 

The book has short, snappy chapters that alternate. Both characters are underwhelming and frankly annoying. 

The book started off well, but it was SO predictable. I'm sad I didn't like it as there was a lot of potential.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

London Séance Society A Novel

Reviews