This novel is set in London and Paris in 1873. Lenna’s sister Evie, who herself was learning to be a medium, was found murdered, so Lenna travels to France learn from famous medium Vaudelaire so she can conduct a seance to try to find out what happened to her sister. But then both women return to London to also try to find out what happened to the president of exclusive male club the London Seance Society. Alternate chapters are narrated by Morley, the vice president of the Society, in flashbacks, as we discover Evie was involved with the Society as well.

I loved Sarah Penner’s first book, The Lost Apothecary, but sadly I found this one very meh. The two narrator audio was good, but sadly despite the story combining mystery, the paranormal, and a little romance, it just all was kind of boring for me.

Sarah Penner’s The London Séance Society is a gripping historical novel set in 1873. The story follows Lenna Wickes, who seeks answers about her sister’s death, and a famed spiritualist as they delve into the mysterious world of séances and Victorian-era intrigue. The novel is atmospheric and suspenseful, filled with twists and rich historical details. While the pacing can be slow at times, the eerie setting and complex characters make it an engaging read for fans of gothic mysteries and the supernatural.

Tells the story of two women and a seance society in London, coming from Paris.

I tried very hard to get through this title. It should have been something I really loved. I liked her last book The Lost Apothecary. But this just didn't have the same feel to me and it didn't seem very well researched either. I know enough about the paranormal where the way things were depicted just didn't ring true to the time period. Really unfortunate.

Thanks for the ARC!

A murder mystery the dead and the living work together to solve! Very English, includes a sapphic romance sub(?)plot.

This historical mystery should have been right up my alley. Not all the characters are perfect, a little spookiness, the Victorian era and, of course, a mystery.

Except...Ms. Penner's writing style felt contrived. I had problems engaging with the characters, let alone the plot. Perhaps with a better editor, I might have finished it. But after three attempts, I am marking it DNF.

Thank you to Net Galley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

I just couldn’t get into this book. I found it boring and just struggled reading it. Unfortunately I only was able to read 30% of The London Seance Society and then put it down and decided this is not for me .

The London Seance Society was the perfect blend of historical fiction and mystery/thriller. When Lenna sets out to find answers about her sister's death, she stumbles into a dark society with murder on it's hands. Told from multiple points of view and flashbacks, the story keeps you on your toes until the very end. Little bit of romance too. Recommended.

In a Nutshell: Great concept, average execution. Entertaining if you can keep your logic aside. This book was supposed to have taken place in 1873, but I just couldn’t connect within anything because it felt so modernized. I was waiting any moment for one of the characters to pull out a cell phone

A world of mysterious possibilities. This story started with fascinating fossils and paranormal phenomena, but unraveling the murder of Lenna's sister, Evie, is what kept me entertained. The resolution did not disappoint, especially the feather and amber moment near the end. It was my favorite part in the story.

The Victorian funeral customs included with the Author's Note were filled with so many bits of fascinating information as well.

I’m happy to have had the opportunity to read and review the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of the previously published The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner; thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.

I loved Sarah Penner’s debut novel, The Lost Apothecary. The London Seance Society, for me, does not live up to the promise of the first unfortunately. The basic question of this book is... Is anyone who they say they are? Everyone has a secret, some more deadly than others. The mystery is entertaining, but the romance (including some graphic scenes) for the sake of having a romance in the book is less so. Sadly, after The Lost Apothecary, this book leaves me wanting a different story.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024/07/the-london-seance-society.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

This was quite fun to read and didn't take long to go through. I think it was a good stand alone novel

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner is a spellbinding tale that will captivate readers who delight in atmospheric, mysterious stories with a touch of the supernatural, exploring themes of spiritualism, the unknown, and the power of women's friendships, making it a perfect fit for fans of historical fantasy and mystery.

Another well-constructed piece of historical fiction, The London Seance Society is an interesting mystery with an intriguing plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel about women who seek answers to two murders using the supernatural/spirits to do so.

The concept of this novel was absolutely exceptional, it checked so many of my reader boxes. Unfortunately, the execution fell very flat for me. I did not click with both POV's, I felt like were not as well developed as they could have been. There were problems with plot holes and underdeveloped characters. Some parts of this novel were just plain silly, and there was no need to add a romance sub plot that relied heavily on seduction. I am sad to say I will not be picking up another book by this author.

The Lost Apothecary was *so* good, I was so excited to dive into The London Seance Society. While I didn't enjoy it as much as TLA, I did still enjoy this winding Victorian mystery mixed with the paranormal and spiritualist movement of the time. A must read author for me!

I loved this author's first book. I absolutely adored it. However, this one was a challenge for me. I started and stopped this book multiple times because I simply wasn't engaged. I recently tried again, and I finally finished the book. Sadly, my opinion didn't change. The story just didn't grab me. The writing was fine, but the story itself felt like a really stretched out short story (e.g., repetitiveness, the plot wasn't moving along at a pace that kept me interested). It might have been better as a short story actually.

I really thought I'd enjoy this one, since I loved The Lost Apothecary so much.... but I just didn't. I do, however, look forward to her next book.

WHAT HAPPENED. The Lost Apothecary was so good! Why was this one such a slog to get through?? I kept putting it down, hoping it was just a case of right book, wrong time but every time I went back, I was suddenly so invested in doing ANYTHING else.

I loved this book! The way the author is telling the story, keeps you wondering what’s next. It’s not my usual thriller but brought the suspense. Can not wait to read more from this author in future.



Thanks NetGalley for this advance readers copy.

I was intrigued by the blurb but was ultimately disappointed by the delivery. The characters started off strong but fell flat. The plot became a little muddled.

Unfortunately this book wasn't what i was hoping for. I feel like if Séance is in the title then there needs to be more ghost-y's and witchy things. This book did not have those things.

Sarah Penner's previous book was fabulous I think maybe I just had to high of expectations.