A captivating gothic mystery filled with gorgeous and gruesome detail. The story follows Lenna, an apprentice to famed spiritualist Vaudeline D'Allaire, as she tries to piece together the mystery of her sister's death, as well as Mr. Morely, a member of the London Seance Society and former secret lover of Lenna's sister, trying to solve the mystery of the Society's president's murder. While the story feels a bit slow in the first half, the dark tone and period elements do a great job of drawing you in. The narrative pacing of these two storylines begins to pick up around the halfway point, leading to a thrilling final act with some good (albeit slightly predictable twists). I loved Lenna and Vaudeline's relationship and Lenna's character progression through this story. I'm excited to see what dark and moody paths Penner will take us on in her next novel.

I gave The London Séance Society 4 stars

1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.

Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. But as the women team up with the powerful men of London’s exclusive Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves…

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I loved Sarah Penner's first book, The Lost Apothecary, and was so happy to receive an ARC for this book. The London Séance Society is set in Paris and England during the Victorian era, a golden age of belief in supernatural forces and energies. As with the first book, the author managed to transfer me back in time and I loved reading about the séances as well as trying to figure out the mystery about the murders.

It was a bit slow at times, but nothing that bothered me. I tend to read a lot of mysteries, and this book is not really a whodunit for reasons I don't want to tell (spoilers). However, I really enjoyed it and even if the mystery part didn't surprise me, the journey to the end was a pleasant one. It was very atmospheric and I really love the writing style. I highly recommend it! Can't wait to see when and where the next book will take place and what the focus will be on.

This book comes out 21 March

Thank you Net Galley and Legend Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNl-Ryr5oe/

Book review
The London Seance Society
By Sarah Penner

Tropes
Sisters
Ghosts
LGBTQIA+
Mystery and murder
Victorian era
Armchair travel- Paris, London
Multiple PoV

Thoughts
Think victorian era paranormal mystery version of Murder She Wrote.
This book reads like a British TV show with a steady pace of breadcrumbs leading the reader to the logical conclusion (with a few twists at the end).

Full of intrigue with a smattering of romance and feminism, Penner’s story touches upon a bit of everything a reader could want.

Overall, Penner pens a good tale, highly entertaining.

Thanks to @netgalley and @legends for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

An intriguing and beautiful read. I expected big things as I love The Lost Apothecary and this delivered but just not on the same level. I was hooked at the 60% mark.

Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for gifting me this ARC! The premise sounded incredibly interesting and I’ve heard good things about this author so I was excited to read this!

This is a historical mystery/thriller with magical realism elements set in 1873. We’re following two perspectives, Lenna a young woman who’s sister was recently murdered and is now learning the art of séances under the famous medium Vaudeline D’Allaire and Mr Morley who is vice president of the London Séance society, a society that only admits men and performs séances and various other clairvoyance around London for families of murder victims. The president of the society has also been murdered, on the same night as Lenna’s sister and so Mr Morley asks Vaudeline to come to London and conduct a séance to find out who killed him. What follows is an intense investigation that only escalates as the novel goes on.

This one really surprised me, I expected to like it but I wasn’t expecting to read it in two sittings. The twists and revelations just kept coming and I couldn’t put it down! I didn’t see many of them coming as well which made the experience all the more enjoyable. As the reader you are constantly kept guessing and you don’t know who to trust and I loved that.

This is also a sapphic book which is an added bonus! The relationship between Lenna and Vaudeline was full of tension and chemistry and I absolutely adored both characters. It was really interesting to explore a sapphic relationship in the 1800s. Mr Morley was awful but he was supposed to be, he was the typical patriarchal man of the Victorian era and I wanted him to take a long walk off of a short pier honestly.

The ending was perfect and although this book is set in the Victorian era it is deeply feminist and explores the domination and power women could exude during séances and how men are not as powerful as they believe themselves to be all the time.

I would definitely recommend this book! It was atmospheric, fast paced and had LGBTQ+ rep, what more could you want? I’m excited to read more from this author! This one is released on the 21st March 2023 so keep an eye out or pre order it now!

Set in London in the 1870s when interest in the occult was high, this is the story of Lenna who is trying to find out more about her younger sister’s death. To do this, she has enrolled as a pupil of the famous spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire as her sister was also a pupil. Lenna hopes that by carrying out a séance, she can find out what happened to Evie even though she herself is a sceptic and only really believes in Science and things that she can see and touch.

Vaudeline is summoned to London to assist in the investigation into the murder of the head of the London Séance Society and Lenna soon begins to realise that her sister was heavily involved with the society.

The historical setting of this story is excellent as we travel along gas-lit streets and into damp cellars. The book is written as a dual POV as we get events seen from Lenna’s point of view and also from Morley, the assistant head of the séance society who has requested Vaudeline’s help. I enjoyed seeing the events from both perspectives especially later in the story when we begin to find out what has been happening.

The book begins quite slowly but picks up pace around the halfway mark and ends with a thrilling climax which kept me turning the pages until late. I loved the spiritualist element and the way in which unscrupulous men could use it to prey on vulnerable women felt very realistic in a society where women had very set roles to play. I really liked Lenna as she tried to find answers and also reconcile the things that she experiences with her scepticism about the occult generally.

This was an atmospheric mystery which was really well-plotted and had surprises right up until the end. I definitely recommend it for lovers of historical fiction with an element of the supernatural.
Thank you to Net Galley and Legend Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Content Warnings: Sexual Assault, Murder, Death of a loved one, Grief, Mild Gore/Injury

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

AAAAAAAAA I WAS NOT EXPECTING HOW AMAZING THIS WAS GOING TO BE????

I like a good ghost story, but not overly into general spirit stuff but the book seemed great and the mystery was super interesting. Unbeknownst to me, the book had pushed a tiny snowball off a very steep cliff that I was just starting to climb as I turned the first page.
When the ginormous snowball hit me face first and caught me up in it I just could not stop reading. I had some very minor issues with the writing (will explain later) but honestly by the end I couldn't see any other deserving rating than a 5/5.

The characters, loved 'em. Sassy, stubborn, quiet, asshole-ish, all sorts thrown in a mixing pot together to create a cast of wonderful characters who played their roles far too damn well. Are they entirely realistic? Not really tbh. Does that matter? Not even slightly.

The only minor issues I had was with a bit of the writing style. At the beginning of the book a few descriptions felt a bit stilted. "Now sit at the desk and go through each item you can see". Later on I realised repetition was getting a bit annoying, one PoV would find out some information about someone, then we'd go to their PoV and that information would be explained in detail again but with just a couple new additions. It was a tad annoying but it wasn't done too often and the new insight and different take was interesting but probably the second PoV didn't need to reiterate the known info.

The bad thing about reading books early, I have no where to post all the absolutely perfect quotes from the ending I have saved! Honestly, going to do that cliche cheesy frame a book quote type things with one of these in particular.

Also as a note, keep reading after finishing the main story. There's so many fascinating things included after the story ends!!

Be gay, do crime - that's for sure! (also goddamn the lesbian and bi rep was so adorable aaaaaaa)

Thanks to Legend Press for the copy of this book.

The Lost Apothecary was a “like” more than a “love” for me, so I wanted to give Sarah’s next novel a try. Plus, seances! This was also a “like” for me - I enjoyed the mystery with twists, feminist themes, seance talk, and dual POV. This book is perfect for people who love Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie and want that with some spirits, brothels, and LGBT themes. I definitely recommend to that crowd - it’s just not a genre that’s usually a favorite for me!

Part slow burn Murder mystery, part sapphic love story, with some mild paranormal aspects! I found the atmosphere of the story to be great, and the portions about the seances to be cool, but it is on the slow side and I found myself skimming at times. It also feels like a YA story rather than adult.

Overall, I wish there had been more excitement but loved the look into seances during Victorian times. If you’re a fan of detective work then this may be appealing. It was slightly too chill for my taste. I am, however, very in love with the cover! So pretty.

Gothic, mystery "whodunit" set in 1800s London. Atmospheric and evenly paced. An immersive story with strong female characters: steeped in the supernatural and paranormal. This novel was a good time.

The story is a gothic mystery that focuses on the spiritualism trends of Victorian London. The characters are complex and several have secrets that slowly come out as the truth is revealed. Lenna wants Vaudeline to help her find her sister's murderer and gets way more than she bargained for when she accompanies Vaudeline back to London. There they are working to find out who murdered the head of the London Séance Society. There are numerous twists and turns with danger around every corner. The ending stuns everyone and what was once thought true, proven to be false. The author adds a lot of extras to the story at the end, which are fascinating to read.

I found this book a little difficult to get into at first, however did enjoy the plot twists towards the end, every time I thought i had it figured out, something else was revealed that changed my mind. Overall I enjoyed the storyline however found it difficult to connect to any of the characters, I didn’t really have any kind of feelings towards any of them which made it difficult for me to fully get into the story, and there were times were i found myself skimming over parts as I felt there was some parts of the narrative that were unnecessarily long and didn’t add much to the storyline.

Unique, quick read. One that ventured into the supernatural and murder mysteries of the 19th century. It was one that touches on power; a woman's place in the world and Victorian society. All things I love to sink into. I do think that it was missing something for me though and perhaps it was just that I absolutely adored the Lost Apothecary so much that I went into this with extremely high expectations. That sometimes happens with a smash debut too.

3.75 stars for the writing and honestly, I'm still going to shout from the roof tops to read her debut because it was fabulous. Recommend this one for HF lovers

Thank you to NetGalley, Legend Press, and author Sarah Penner for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review. The London Seance Society comes out March 21, 2023!

Seance, Mysterious Murders, Sister Conflict, Mediums, and queer love! This perfect mystery takes place in 1873 at the height of the occult movement and is closely based on the real Ghost Club. Lenna Wickes is a skeptic and science lover, but when her sister is brutally murdered, she picks up her sister's career as a medium. She studies under the renowned french spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Together, Vaudeline and Lenna travel to London to uncover the linked murders of her sister and the President of The London Seance Society. This eerie mystery is a perfect read for those that love the occult!

“Men want to feel pursued, but still superior. They want to feel understood, but not exposed. They want control over you, but they want to believe you’re a fool, unaware of it.”

“Your little perch cast that you cannot stop staring at. The fish is dead and gone. Yet the form of him is right in front of you, just as it will be in that clay for all of time. It’s the same of ghosts. We may die, but we are never really gone.”

The London Seancé Society is an enjoyable read that explores the underbelly of the medium and mystical scene of Victorian London. I enjoyed learning more about the cultural aspects of mourning.

Like her previous work, The Lost Apothecary, Penner switches from different POVs, and I felt myself drawn into the mystery and suspense as the two main female characters seek vengeance for those wronged by fraudulent mystics.

London in 1873. Victorians are fascinated by the possibility that they might still remain in touch with their departed loved ones. Mediums are sprouting from every crack in the walls and are eager to help wealthy widows to get in touch with their husbands; who conveniently tell them to get married again, as soon as possible. Ahum...
The society overseeing all that activity is a bastion led by men of good reputation, but lately rumors have spread and the said reputation tarnished. Add in two murders and help from France is called in. The flamboyant Vaudeline d'Allaire arrives together with her protegé Lenna, who happens to be the sister of one of the murdered victims, to investigate.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the setting in London and the detailed eerie atmosphere found on the cobbled streets lighted with hissing gaslights and jumping horse carriages, I just found the mystery to be too predictable and too thin to truly enjoy the book.

A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️

Historical fiction set in the spiritual world of seances which the Victorians were fascinated with. Here it incorporates a murder mystery element too.

Somewhat sceptic Lenna Wickes is mentored by renown spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire who specialises in communing with those who have met a violent premature end to their lives at the hand of another. Lenna is seeking her own answers about her sisters death.

I really liked the premise of the art being used to help solve crimes rather than for just flippant amusement or to help those grieving.

Firstly spiritualism and communing with the dead I’m neither a believer or sceptic.

The language and the descriptions give a real feel for the time.

The author certainly knows how to set up the creepy atmosphere for a seance, it felt really spooky.

I found it the description of explanation of the world of spiritualism fascinating, as well as the con tricks used. It also incorporates the superstitious practices around death and the grieving period of the era which were enlightening.

The 3 main female characters are very different to the stereotypes of the era. All rebelling against societal boundaries in their own way.

I really liked Lenna, rooting for her to both get answers to Evie’s death and to find love.

It’s quite different it combines history, spiritualism, mystery and romance. I found it fascinating, I’m always craving something a bit different.
If you enjoy Historical fiction and spiritualism you’ll love this.
If you enjoy an unusual whodunnit you will enjoy it if you’re open to the element of seances.

This book took me a few tries to get into. I stopped and restarted a several times before it began to grab my attention. The beginning was more slow paced than I am used to and the switching of timelines and POVs took some effort to keep track of.

I liked all the mysticism and mystery surrounding the seances and the goings-on at The London Seance Society. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Lenna and Vaudeline.

The book sort of fell flat for me, but I am sure that others will love it. The last part of the story made it worth the read and I am glad that I did not choose to DNF.

Thank you so much to Legend Press and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book and loved the atmosphere of it. It was a quick and interesting read and I could not put it down.

Set in the late 19th century, a young lady is investigating the death of her sister in this gothic tale of corruption, the spirit world and romance.
I found it quite exciting and I enjoyed the mix of human and spiritual element. Particularly the contrast between the way the men chose to run the society compared to the women.
The characters had quite complicated personalities that kept you guessing their true agendas throughout.