Get ready to be transported to the world of London in 1800s and definitely a bonus if interested in topics like afterlife, medium, reaching out to people who passed away and seances of course! Throw in a murder mystery in these settings, and it makes a very intriguing novel. I loved understanding the finer nuances and workings of a Seance society in London and the scams they use to lure people in. But there was also real medium and communication in the plot that helped murder investigation in case of our main character, Lenna as she tries to identify killers of her sister Evie. It was an interesting and intriguing spooky mystery that is perfect for fall season!

I was so excited to see that I was approved for an eARC of this book from NetGalley! I loved The Lost Apothecary and couldn't wait to read Sarah Penners latest book.

The story was definitely an interesting one as it talked about Mediumship, the afterlife and connecting with those that have left us.

I remember when I was 13 and went to my first sleepover and we had ouija board. I remember being was skeptical of using it but when we called upon spirits, the counter did move across the board and spelt out some things... definitely an interesting experience!

I enjoyed reading about the inner workings of seances, the lengths the Society went through to pull scams and , the lengths Lenna and Vaudeline went through to uncover the deceptions and to get to the bottom of Evie's death.

The acknowledgements at the end were so nice to read, especially the message from Sarah's Dad.

This is somehow even better than TLA. Sarah Penner back at it again with these twisty turvy mysteries that have you anxiously awaiting every turn. The way Sarah builds Characters is impeccable and without a doubt you feel deeply connected to them. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Sarah's writing and I hope it is many more novels.

"May mercy be upon the man who finds himself the enemy of a vengeful medium." HOW DOES SARAH PENNER DO IT?!? I was so excited to see that I was approved for an ARC of this book from NetGalley! I loved The Lost Apothecary and would not stop telling people about it when they asked for book recs. Sarah immerses us into the setting of London during the late 1800's. I could hear the horses hooves clacking while I was reading. I felt the fear for Lenna and Vaudeline as I was reading. I sensed the determination Lenna had in trying to figure out what happened to her sister Evie while coming to terms with she may not have known everything beforehand. You can tell that Sarah does her research when it comes to the time periods her books are set in. I tried so hard to stay up and finish this book in one day as I had to know where their journey was taking them in uncovering the London Seance Society. As sad as I am for this book to have ended, I am so looking forward to what else Sarah has up her sleeve!!!

As much as I was excited about the book, the formatting of the ARC made it too difficult to read. I will look for it once it is released and try again, because it truly has a great plot and I was enjoying the characters in the little that I could make it through!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I read Sarah Penner's first book, and I really liked it. I'm sorry to say this book did not live up to my expectations. It was well written, but some of the subject matter was not what I like to read. I' did finish it, and I'm sure others will like it. Just parts of the story were not for me. With that being said, I would still try other books by this author.

The London Seance Society is the next book by Sarah Penner. It is an entertaining book of historical fiction with an air of murder mystery. I was hooked from the start!

Lenna searches for answers about her sister's murder and studies under the famous medium Vaudeline D'Allaire. Vaudeline is invited to the London Seance Society to help solve the murder of the society's president. Lenna tags along hoping to find out more information about her sister.

This was an entertaining read with many twists and turns that keep you guessing and wanting more. I highly recommend this book especially if you like Victorian historical fiction and murder mysteries.

Evie Wickes was found dead by her sister Lenna. Evie was an understudy of a medium by the name of Vaudiline. When Evie died, Lenna took Evies place as an understudy to find out who killed her sister. The London Séance Society is a group of men mediums. Evie was investigating them for reasons we find out throughout the book.

Honestly, this book drug on. I enjoyed the first few pages and the end. The middle was not very interesting to me.

My favorite character is Lenna. She is so loyal. A true detective despite the hurt.

Thank you netgalley and Legend Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Sarah Penner's The Lost Apothecary and have recommended it to everyone I know. The London Seance Society is a very different novel. The premise of The London Seance Society seems like an interesting topic. It is a subject I know little about, but after reading Penner's novel, I found the topic ponderous and uninteresting. Except at the end of the novel, the whole topic of seance seems more like a con game than reality.

The female protagonists are interesting, but are ultimately redundant and repetitive. The mystery suggests an interesting and intriguing plot--two murders connected by time and possibly location. but before readers get to the heart of the mystery, we must all slog through character descriptions that constantly repeat themselves. The real problem is that I lost interest just as the mystery was getting solved. I no longer cared because I had figured it out long before. It also felt like the author had become tired of the whole thing and decided to wrap it up in a rush and get it over with.

I know that Penner is a talented writer. The Lost Apothecary proved her talent. Unfortunately, The London Seance Society fails to fulfill that talent. I am glad that I read this novel, and will look forward to Penner's next novel. I appreciate that the author and publisher provided this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you also to NetGalley for having providing access to this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. This will appear on goodreads.

Stop here if you don’t want spoilers.

I real Sarah Penney’s book The Lost Apothecary in pre-release as well and loved it! I told everyone I knew to look for it’s release, and shared it with many patrons. I was so excited to read the London Séance Society. My review here, unfortunately might be unpopular.

This book never got off the ground for me. More than half the book was a slow repetitive character build. It lost me a third of the way through but I kept going until half way when I gave up. Other reviews say it picks up at the end but I fear you will lose many readers before they can get there. I did not like the lesbian romance. I feel as though too many historical fiction books are sliding forbidden love into their novels for really no other reason but to have it in there. A hint of it is one thing, but it’s becoming a thing in books now. Because of that, I can’t suggest it to patrons, not knowing their threshold for language, violence, sex, or homosexuality.

Is the book good after half way? I don’t know. I wanted to enjoy this as much as the lost apothecary. I wish the front end of the book was tightened up so it moved better and kept me reading.
2*

Sarah Penner is back with another mystery featuring a strong, but sometimes impetuous, female looking to find her place in the world after tragedy or hardship. In “The London Seance Society,” Lenna is seeking to find the truth about her sister’s murder while still grieving the death of her best friend. Though Lenna is driven by logic and is somewhat dismissive of Spiritualists, she becomes a student of her sister’s mentor, acclaimed medium Vaudeline D’Allaire. The quest for truth pulls Lenna and Vaudeline into the murky inner workings of The London Seance Society, an exclusive men’s club that provides medium services…among other things.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this fast-paced story. Clues as presented throughout, but, as in real life, sometimes the information is interpreted incorrectly by Lenna, leading her deeper into the mystery until she has no choice but to act. The story is told from the dual points of view of two characters.

“The London Seance Society” is great for those who like twisty, turny mysteries as well as those who enjoy stories featuring Spiritualists, the Spiritualist Movement, or the paranormal.

Take the time to read the Author’s Note at the end of the book. Ann Braude’s “Radical Spirits,” referenced in Further Reading, is an excellent read on women’s role in the Spiritualist movement in the 19th century.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Park Row publishers for providing an e-ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own. “The London Seance Society” will hit shelves in March 2023.

**BOOK REVIEW**
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@sarah_penner_author has a way of writing historical fiction that doesn’t bore me. This book was EVEN BETTER than The Lost Apothecary in my opinion.

A dynamic sophomore novel with twists and turns I NEVER saw coming. It was intriguing, exciting and everything I could have ever hoped for. A little mystery. A little queer. A lot of amazingness.

You absolutely want to get this book when it comes out! So thankful to @netgalley for sharing this with me!

#sarahpenner #thelostapothecary #londonseancesociety #netgalley #earc #arc #historicalfiction #spookybooks

This was a fun, different read for me. It is a historical novel which mixes mystery and the occult together. As the title suggests, the story involves The London Seance Society, a good old boy network of mediums who conduct seances which are not well done . (Sorry, I couldn't resist). Its members are entwined in the deaths of Evie Wickes, a young medium and a Mr. Volckman, the president of the society .Volckman's former protege, Vaudeline D'Allaire and Lenna, Evie's sister and now Vaudeline's student, journey to London to solve the mystery of their murders.

Penner keeps the plot chugging along and I stayed up late at the end of a long day to reach the surprising ending. I am giving it 4 stars rather than 5 because the author keeps switching the narrator in a kind of clunky and annoying way when the story would have gone just as well without this device. Thanks to Park Row Books and Netgalley for an ARC copy in turn for an honest review

In 1870s London, Evie Wickes has been found dead and her sister, Lenna, wants answers. Lenna moves to Paris to study the occult alongside Evie’s former teacher, Vaudeline. Under Vaudeline’s guidance, Lenna searches for answers about the mysterious London Séance Society in which her sister had ties. As Lenna and Vaudeline grow closer to each other, they also get closer to uncovering the dark truth behind Evie’s death.

Written from multiple perspectives, secrets are shared as the story progresses with some predictability. The London Séance Society is good for fans of ghost stories with a bit of light romance.

Sarah Penner’s second novel sticks to the historical but this time with a slant toward the mystical part of our world.

I enjoyed the sister fighting for justice for her possibly murdered sister plotline-tied into this all-male historical séance society. But overall, this novel was not as enjoyable as Penner’s debut novel. However, her writing style remains on point.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

The London Séance Society 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕/5
“Penner conjures a masterpiece.”

Summary:
1873. After the murder of her sister, Lenna Wickes travels from London to Paris as a Spiritualist understudy to renowned Vaudeline D’Allaire. When shocking news arrives of a murder at the London Séance Society the two swiftly depart for London.
Vaudeline intends to use her abilities to unmask two murders. Twisted truths, malice and a budding romance awaits them.

What I Liked:

- The protagonists are well developed, relatable, strong women.
- Fascinating insight into physical techniques used by mediums. Flame reading, spirit horns, ectoplasm, etc.
- Written in alternating POV’s added mystery and intrigue between the antagonist and protagonist.
- The way Penner researched and conveyed Spiritualism in the Victorian era is perfection.
- The curious, innocent, unapologetic exploration of female sexuality in the 19th century adds texture and beauty to the story.

What Could Have been Improved:

- Less repetitive details from Lenna and Morley’s POV during the final scenes.
- Mr. Morley’s character could have been more aggressive, defiant at the end.

Final Thoughts:
I was naturally drawn to this story from the first chapter since I relish anything supernatural. Sarah’s female characters are always powerful and invoke confidence. The story is not only about death but also the depths to which we go to in our grief to find solace. I felt empathy for a couple characters who were judged, ostracized and ridiculed by a fear induced society. This book is magic.

Thank you Harpercollinscanada, Park Row Books for this eARC.

Set in 1873, Lenna is pairing up with a trained spiritualist to attempt to figure out why her younger sister was killed. The spiritualist, Vaudeline, recently left London for unknown reasons but both are persuaded to return, as Vaudeline is wanted to help solve a the murder of an important man in London. It's clear that Lenna's dead sister was caught up in all of this but not at all clear what the author has planned for the reader. A great story, much like Penner's last book!

The London Seance Society is the second book from Sarah Penner. This one is another historical work and I really enjoy the writing style. I was initially drawn to the beautiful cover art, but the story holds its own. Ive yet to read Jenner's first novel, but I'm excited to dive into it after enjoying this one so much.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

I enjoyed this book. It was a little bit mystery, romance, and spooky combined. I think it is a prefect fall read. The story is told mainly through Lenna’s perspective and I found her likable.

This is very different from The Lost Apothecary, although the writing style is similar. Fans of Penner’s debut novel may be disappointed in this one, which is sort of a murder mystery-spiritualist-lesbian drama. It’s an enjoyable read but somehow less than I expected.