I wanted to love The London Seance Society but sadly, I couldn't get into it. The pacing was good and the characters were well-developed but there was something lacking and I wasn't invested in the story. This is one of those books that the right readers will love it and I look forward to talking about it with others who had finished it. The quality of writing is great and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of novel.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read rage and review this arc which is available March 7,2023.

This was one hell of a wild read. It was lushly written. It’s about seances and murder and two women righting wrongs done to murder victims. Lenna and Vaudeline’s characters are well fleshed out, there is no stereotypical feminine character bs. They are powerhouses. The story unfolds at an organic pace and I was never bored.

Perfect novel

It is 1873, and Lenna is studying under a well known spiritualist to learn the art of seance, with the hopes of conjuring her murdered sister.
London Seance Society follows Lenna as she tries to solve her sisters murder. Using alternate POVs, the story unravels slowly, while still keeping you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed this look into how seance's were performed. Don't skip the author's note at the end. This was a well researched book, loosely based on real spiritualist organizations.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an early copy for review.

Starting this book, I knew it was set in the late 1800’s and had some supernatural elements. It opens with our MC, who is determined to learn how to lead a seance for herself. She is desperate to determine what happened to her sister.

The problem is that she’s not sure she actually believes in seances. The book keeps the mystery of whether the seances are real or not a secret until the very end. Yet, it isn’t really the main focus. The majority of the plot follows two murder mysteries. Our MC’s sister and a VP at the London Seance Society. We learn fairly quickly why we are being told both stories, but I won’t include spoilers.

The novel switches viewpoints frequently. This does not bother me and I found myself anxious to get back to the other side so I could get more information. I like the pacing of the novel and the relationships were well developed.

We really get a very good look at the sisters and their complicated relationship. We also get some interesting side characters that were well developed.

At its heart this is a murder mystery. I like a good plot twist and this book had one. It was not entirely surprising but it did make for a rich story. Ultimately, that’s what I want out of reading.

There is also some representation of a non-heterosexual coupling. There’s no on page descriptions of sex, but there is definite discussion of it; heterosexual and non-heterosexual. For instance, the MC is lesbian and explores her feelings throughout the book. I felt it was well done but I am not the best judge. I felt that any mentions of a sexual nature ultimately served the plot and weren’t just added to give a better picture of the character.

I’m not sure why I didn’t love this story more. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, I just got a little bored with these people. I didn’t feel invested in solving the murder. I was more interested in whether the seances were real. I liked this story. I didn’t love it. It was enjoyable and an easy read. I know many people who would really enjoy it. 3.5* rounded down.

Synopsis: Acclaimed spiritualist, Vaudeline D’Allaire, is known for her talents in conjuring spirits of murder victims in order to identify who killed them. Lenna Wickes comes to Paris to find answers about her sister's death, under the guise of studying under Vaudeline. When Vaudeline is called to London to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna joins her. As the two women go undercover at the all-male and very exclusive London Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect something more sinister is at play...

Thoughts: In requesting to read this book, I knew I was stepping somewhat out of my comfort zone. Generally, I am glad that I took the leap, as this was a solidly enjoyable read. It had a lot of mystery/suspense elements that I like in a story, and the séance and Victorian era components were a fun, yet different backdrop for me. This read as more of a slow burn than an action packed suspense, which worked for this type of plot and setting.

Thank you to Park Row & HTP for my advanced copy

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

This is a thrilling tale about the dark side to seances and the lengths frauds go to to make money off of their unsuspecting victims.

The scene opens on a cold night in Paris at a spooky chateau that was the scene of a murder. Lenna is sitting around a table as an apprentice to the great Vaudeline who is renowned for her work with the supernatural while performing a seance. Lenna has recently lost her sister, Evie, and is learning this art so she can channel her sister's spirit and solve her murder.

This story also follows a Mr. Morley, who is head of one of the departments of the London Seance Society. He soon reaches out to Vaudeline, requesting her to perform a seance in London to learn more about the director's sudden death.

Many secrets are revealed, which only gave me more questions to consider throughout this story, definitely keeping me on the edge of my seat.

I loved the story and the attention to detail about seances at that time. However, I didn't completely love Lenna's character and often had a hard time relating to her.

Out March 7, 2023!

In 1873, spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire has made quite the reputation for herself in Paris for conjuring the spirits of murder victims and revealing their killers. Although skeptical, Lenna Wickes has come to Vaudeline for answers to her sister's death and agrees to become her assistant. When the pair travel to London to help solve a high-profile murder, they suspect they are being used by the killers.

I really wanted to like Sarah Penner's latest after loving The Lost Apothecary, but I just could not get into it. The beginning was terribly slow, with mind-numbingly boring descriptions of Victorian England spiritualism. Although the narrative finally picked up a bit in the middle, I found I didn't really care too much about any of the characters. Although I enjoyed Lenna's blend of skepticism and desire to believe, I thought Vaudeline was an underdeveloped empty shell and the alternating chapters from Morley's point of view were grating.

Are Séances real? Whether you believe they are or not, by the end of this book you may just believe that they are. The time is 1873 and Vaudeline D’Allaire is the best spiritualist that there is and Lenna is working under her to learn all she knows. But she is after more than just hosting séances.

This book sucked me in and I loved unfolding the mystery of the deaths happening in London. There were a couple of slow parts, but it would quickly pick back up. Sarah Penner will always be a must read for me.

Thank you to the publisher for a free Netgalley of this novel.

Really enjoyed the storyline. The mystery was really good and I felt the plot moved along nicely. I was vested in the story of the sisters and was extremely happy with the reveal at the end. I felt the epilogue was maybe not necessary, but nothing that was disappointing.

*****Publishing March 7, 2023*****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sarah Penner is back, but this time it’s a book about Seances and summoning the dead in order to find out who did it? It’s a fast paced book that will keep you entertained as the President of the London Seance Society is murdered and the experts are called in to discover the truth. Can they figure it out or will it stir up more questions?

This story alternates between Lenna in Paris and Mr. Morley in London 1873.

Lenna is taught by Vaudelline D’Allaire, famously known for being able to hold seances for the purpose of summoning the spirits of those who had been murdered to find out who killed them. Lenna wants to be able to learn how to do this, in order to find out not only find out who murdered her sister, but could make money helping others do the same. Can Lenna learn from Vaudeline and will it turn out the way she expected?

Mr. Morley is Vice President in the Department of Spiritualism at the Seance Society in London. The President of the society was killed at a seance, so it was up to Mr Morley to get things straightened out. Mr Morley asks Vaudelline to come back to London to perform the seance? Can she discover who in fact killed him? Was it a colleague like rumored? What will be discovered as Lena and Vauldelime investigate?

I loved the character development in this book as it makes you think about them in one light and by the end, an entirely different opinion is formed! This makes for page turner as you want to know more as Lenna and Mr Morley reveal the secrets!

Such a well written, and highly entertaining book! Perfect for those who held seances at sleepovers in the 80’s and 90’s.


Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, I was provided an ARC of The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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 skeptical, “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.

I loved Sarah Penner’s first book, The Lost Apothecary, so I was excited to read her newest book. It was definitely a fun story! I liked the gothic atmosphere. The last 25% was definitely my favorite and I liked the unexpected twist! I just felt like it took a little too long to get to the GOOD part, IMO.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The London Seance Society dives right into the world of mediums and gives a great deal of insight into the intrigue surrounding seances in the late 1800’s. I was fascinated to discover if the seances were real or fabricated, and I eagerly read as the novel unraveled the mystery behind Evie’s death. My only critique was that I found the switching of characters to create a little too much overlap at times when retelling a scene from the past. There was some unnecessary retelling of details that I found myself skimming over to get to new information. It kept me guessing right until the end, which I always appreciate in a good mystery. I did not see the twists coming and it made for an exciting, fast paced, read!

Sarah Penner has done it again! This captivating story will transport you to 1873 London putting you right in the middle of the ever popular seances. It's written in 2 points of view, Lenna's and Mr. Worley's, which was easy to follow and helped move it along.

Lenna and Evie are sisters who couldn't be more different. Lenna believes in things she can see while Evie is all about the spirit world. Evie ends up dead so Lenna decides to go to Paris to study under Ms. D'Allaire, a famous medium, so she can communicate with Evie to find out who killed her. Ms. D'Allaire gets a post letting her know a dear friend has died and is requested to return to London to conduct the seance. Lenna decides to go with her and things get complicated and twisted from there.

I had a hard time putting it down and when I had to I couldn't wait to get back to it to see where it led.

I absolutely loved The Lost Apothecary and was really looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, I found it disappointing. The characters were hard to connect with and felt shallow.

The main character, Lenna, struggled with her belief in spiritual things which should have been interesting but ultimately it was her only real character trait. Her mood changed wildly for seemingly no reason and it was hard to follow. The romance also seemed shallow to me. The only reasons the characters connected were grief and lust.

The mystery was also quite predictable with twist at the end that I think most will see coming. The story was well paced and engaging and I did want to keep reading to find out if my suspicions were correct.

I do think the author researched the period and history of spiritualism in the Victorian era very well. The atmosphere was well written and the topic is interesting. I think this book could have been great if the characters and romance were given more depth.

I think many people will enjoy this book. It just wasn’t for me.

Sarah Penner sure knows how to write a story that completely transports you. The London Séance Society had me hooked from the first chapter. As a huge fan of The Lost Apothecary, I was extremely excited when I was approved through @NetGalley by @HTPBooks!

Back in 1873, two women are working in a man's world, where women are prohibited and men are out to gain fortunes. With two very strong female lead characters, this of course leads to dangerous situations, both spiritually and physically.

The London Séance Society is a men's only society performing séances for the grieving to reach out to loved ones one last time. This is a dangerous line of work, especially when someone isn't playing by the rules.

This was a beautifully planned story that keeps you enthralled to the very last page.

Between the setting and description, this book promised to have elements that usually have me eagerly reading, but it fell short with unlikeable characters, a lack of subtlety, an underdeveloped romantic relationship and a meandering pace.

The first half of the book creeps along, introducing the three main characters with painful slowness. The "set up" shouldn't take so long. The chapters alternate between using a female main character's point of view (told in third person) and the male main character's (told in first person). There is a dramatic change at the halfway mark in the male's narration that is disturbing. It might have been better to forego his POV completely and let the two female main characters make all the revelations through their sleuthing.

There is an action scene, of sorts, in the last quarter of the book where the female main character seems to be treading into TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) territory.

I was provided a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

It’s February 1873 and spiritualism is at a high point in Europe. Leena Wickes has recently found her sister Evie dead on All Hallows Eve the previous year. Leena does not believe in spiritualism but is willing to do just about anything to discover what happened to her sister. Evie was interested in séances
and studied under the famous medium Vaudeline D’Allaire. Leena is more interested in fossils and tangible objects. However, since Evies death, Lena has decided to study under Vaudeline as well.

Vaudeline has made a few enemies in London, and has escaped to Paris where she is still conducting séances.
She receives a letter, asking her to return to London when the head of the London Séance Society has been murdered.
It is up to Vaudeline to figure out who the murderer was. She and Leena embark on an adventure, and find more than they ever hope to discover in London. There are many things going on in the London, Séance Society and it is up to the women to bring these wrong doings to light.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. Penner’s first novel, “The Lost Apothecary”, was an instant five star read for me. This novel was good, but I found it missing some thing. What, I’m not quite sure, which is why I rated it four stars. It was a very interesting concept that I have not read before and did enjoy.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

Victorian London is the setting for séances, murders, and a bit of romance. The plot was engaging and the characters fairly well developed. There were just a couple of instances where a main character didn’t seem to act/react as you’d expect. I loved the information provided by the author at the end of the book on funeral practices at that time and even recipes for the take home favors given to the mourners.

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row Books for the ARC to read and review.

Penner’s writing is entrancing, moody and eerie, and will send shivers down your spine as you’re fully immersed with these characters as they seek to communicate with the dead while infiltrating an exclusive, gentlemen’s only séance society. What began as a slow burn quickly picked up speed as Lenna and Vaudeline uncovered clues that brought them closer to solving the murders of London’s elite.

I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters, but was very invested in their stories, especially wanting closure for Lenna. The author’s note was wildly fascinating and I enjoyed learning the inspiration behind Penner’s fictional society. This paranormal mystery had me quite captivated!