While this is objectively a decent book - good writing, nice pacing, and a well written mystery - it wasn't a book for me in the end and I almost DNF'd it twice. I did struggle with the switching of narratives, and some of the character motives, but I enjoyed the blend of paranormal, mystery and historical fiction elements.

I would still recommend it if you'd like a suspenseful read with a historical fiction setting.

2.5-3 stars

Unfortunately this one didn’t hit the mark for me. I found the story quite slow and I found myself skimming some of the chapters.

I think this was a book that just wasn’t for me.

h my goodness, I LOVED THIS BOOK! I was pretty sure when I picked it up that I was going to enjoy it, but it was really even better than I expected. The Séance Society club element of the story gave it a real ‘dark academia’ vibe which I always really love. Vaudeline and Lenna were both great characters and having them star against the background of an exclusive men’s socitey worked so well. I also thought the contrast of third person perspective from Lenna and first person from a Mr Morley (a high up member of the society) was a really great way to build tension and suspense, and to keep the reader guessing what was going on. And it worked – this book surprised me a bunch of times and I was so hooked that I just had to keep reading to find out what was next.

This was one of those books where I can’t quite put finger on exactly what it is I love so much about the writing, but I just got along so well with it. I actually went right out and bought Penner’s previous book The Lost Apothecary. One other element of the book that I really want to mention is the relationship that develops between Vaudeline and Lenna as they get to know each other and the way we see Leena in particular grappling with what her feelings mean.

If you’re after a fabulous Victorian era ghost-y thriller with a side of sapphic tension then you have to pick this one up!

This is a historical murder mystery, with a generous helping of the supernatural and a dash of romance. The genres blend well to provide a suspenseful and absorbing story.

Lenna has always been a little fascinated by the supernatural, even as she cynically doubts many of the claims she hears. London society in 1873 is obsessed with the supernatural, with seances so common as to be almost obligatory after a sudden death. Lenna’s sister Evie believes all she sees and hears at these events. Indeed, for a time she studied under the famous medium Vaudeline, hoping to start her own business as a medium.

But when Evie is murdered, Lenna herself travels to France to ask Vaudeline to take her on as a student, with the aim of conducting a séance for her sister herself. She could, of course, ask the London Séance Society to perform one. But she’s been hearing some unsettling rumors about the Society…

Those rumors are being heard within the Society too, and Mr Morley has been tasked with finding the members who are sparking the murmurs of fraud through their behaviour. It’s starting to affect the Society’s very lucrative business. Mr Morley also turns to Vaudeline for assistance, and soon the two women return to London with multiple objectives.

I enjoyed this a great deal. The historical detail immerses you in the story, and it’s accurate so far as I know. The writing style is quickly absorbing, written in a style that makes for easy reading for modern readers, but with enough period flourishes and language to keep you in the time and place of the story.

The conflict between belief and disbelief remains topical today. The arguments between the sisters could just as easily occur between two modern day girls. You don’t need to believe in the supernatural to enjoy this novel, although those with some interest in the topic may find this a little more interesting than those without. However, a variety of views are espoused here, and possibilities are explored.

Although Evie is dead, the sisterly relationship, with all its’ conflicts and deep bonds, is central to the story. Both sisters are strongly drawn characters, distinctive and believable. I found Lenna perhaps a touch more believable in her goals, but that’s probably just personal preferences.

Most readers will probably find large chunks of the puzzle solved in their head well before the novel reveals all. However, the strong characters keep you engaged even when the plot becomes obvious. I found it absorbing to the end.

Although not a genre I actively seek out, the strong characters, engaging story, and well written narrative made this thoroughly enjoyable. Readers looking for one or more of these characteristics should enjoy it, even if they don’t normally look to historical novels.

When director of the London Seance Society, Mr Volkman is found murdered, famed medium Vaudeline D'Allaire returns to London to conduct a seance. She takes along her understudy, Lenna Wickes, a non-believer in the spiritual world and together they uncover a raft of secrets in the gentlemen's only club.

Quite dull, not your classic murder mystery, it does invoke the mystical. I struggled to get through it and put it down many many times.

This book kept me up at night. I didn't want to put it down to sleep.
First of all it's QUEER!? No one told me we have a sapphic heroine and it was a lovely surprise. Especially being set in 1873, watching the women pine was beautiful.

Now I liked this plot. And I liked how Lenna who was very scientific was dabbling in spirituality and realising that you can have both.

The killer surprised me. It shouldn't have but it did.

All in all I really enjoyed this book and I think everyone should pick it up.

You do not need to be a ‘believer’ to enjoy this historical mystery novel — in fact, more often than not, it speaks to the sceptics. In The London Seance Society, Penner has somehow balanced tacit ridicule of the charlatans and naivety of the Victorian society that cultivated them with deep compassion for the individuals so grief-stricken that they fell prey to them. But that was not her only choice regarding story perspective that I found curious.

The story narrative alternates between the third-person perspective of an at times feisty, sceptical and grieving Lenna Wickes and the first-person perspective of a London Seance Society member. At first, I found the enforced detachment with the story protagonist alongside the uncommon intimacy with a character of indeterminate alliances unsettling. But I soon realised it was this unsettling tension, along with the electricity between the two women battling multiple forces unseen, that propels this story along.

Read full review at BookloverBookReviews.com

I quite enjoyed this gothic fiction, despite reading some mixed reviews about it. After the murder of her younger sister, Lenna travels to France to work under the guidance of medium Vaudeline who, in a male dominated world, is famous for her skills when it comes to communicating with the dead, despite being driven out of London. Lenna and Vaudeline are both summoned back to England to conduct a seance for the London Seance Society, a male only club led by Mr Morley who seems to be abusing his position. Without giving too much away, Lenna uncovers the truth about her sister's death and who she really is as well as finding out the afterlife does exist. A good read.

The London Séance Society is a historical fantasy novel about people who wants answers about their loved one's death. In 1878 Lenna Wickes visited an abandoned château near Paris for a Séance to find out who killed her sister. However, on arrival, she became involved with a murder. The readers of the London Séance Society will continue to follow Lenna to discover what happens.

The London Séance Society is the first book I have read by Sarah Penner, and I agree it is a fantastic subject and well-written by Sarah Penner. However, I did not engage with this book and will not read another by Sarah Penner. The portrayal of the characters by Sarah Penner is well done, and I enjoy their interaction throughout this book. I like Sarah Penner's description of the settings of The London Séance Society that complemented the book's plot.

The readers of The London Séance Society will learn about a fantastic book called Miss Beecher's Domestic Receipt-Book published in 1862. Also, the readers of The London Séance Society will learn about a club started in 1862 called Ghost Club and the famous people who were part of the Ghost Club.

Thank you to the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.

I don’t usually read paranormal books, but this one intrigued me and I’m so glad I dived between the covers. The London Séance Society is written from the perspective of two main characters, though Lenna Wickes is definitely the main protagonist. Mr Morley, and no, we don’t ever learn his first name, is key to the story, but more by way of showing what’s been happening in the background. I found this story absolutely intriguing. The structure of the séances was fascinating and very well written. The plot was beautifully developed and kept me guessing. I also loved the character development and the way Lenna was manipulated to believe different things through the story. My only criticism is that at times the language used seemed far too modern for the Victorian era setting. Still, this book made for a very good read.

3.3 Stars
One Liner: An entertainer; atmospheric but nothing deep

1873, Paris and London
Vaudeline D’Allaire is an acclaimed spiritualist known to conduct séances for murder victims and help find their killers. She is in Paris after escaping London due to unknown reasons.
Lenna Wickes is her apprentice intent on learning more about the process to find her sister’s killer. She is also struggling to accept the existence of the paranormal since her logical mind refuses to believe in anything she cannot see. However, Evie, her sister, was a firm believer, and Lenna is willing to try anything to discover the truth.
When Vaudeline is requested to visit London and help solve the crime of the founder of The London Séance Society, things turn dangerous quickly. Soon, the two ladies may have only each other and the paranormal to rely on if they want to stay alive.
The story comes in the limited third-person POV of Lenna and the first-person POV of Mr. Morley.

What I Like:
The beginning is a little slow but picks up pace in the second half (after a weak middle part). It’s easy to read and doesn’t require your grey cells to function. In fact, don’t let them be active.
The séances are atmospheric. The book almost carries a dark moody vibe throughout. However, it doesn’t get heavy at any point.
The seven-step process to conduct a séance is among the highlights of the book. I always enjoy such information. You never know when it may come in handy (shh!).
The Victorian setting enhances the plot. The common bias against women and a man’s role in society comes across clearly. I have to mention the author’s notes at the end. Informative, interesting, and useful (it has recipes!).
The climax begins on shaky ground but ends well. I like how it’s done. The epilogue is also well done.

What Could Have Been Better for Me:
Well, I don’t think the combination of Lenna’s and Morley’s POVs did anything to enhance the plot. Morley is a weak character with a wobbly arc. I’m not sure if it is deliberate (makes sense in a way), but it should have been better established.
Lenna… well… she started strong until she turned whiny, stupid, and silly as the story progressed. It’s only in the climax that she redeems herself. I can see the allure of having a logical character ace paranormal interaction. It could have been better, though. A character jumping to conclusions is hard to empathize with.
Vaudeline is probably the steadiest character in the book. However, not having her POV didn’t help the story. She should have been one of the narrators. In fact, if you think about it, Evie and other women are also intriguing (too bad they don’t get enough space).
The dual POV also means that information is repeated in consecutive chapters. This makes the plot boring and slow. We don’t need to know the same thing from both POVs and go around in circles.
A few developments don’t make sense, especially when they should. This is where you have to turn off your logical side and consider it an entertainer (or a Bwood film). If the issues were handled better, I think the plot would have been enriched with more drama and tension. A wasted chance, TBH.
I don’t know if I should call this a romance. It’s supposed to be slow-burn (maybe) but doesn’t get enough space to grow organically. While I like the darkish touch to the track, I’m not happy with the overall development. It could have been achieved with some care. Removing the repeated content would have created space for this track.

To summarize, The London Séance Society is an atmospheric entertainer and a light mystery with some good and not-so-good points. Read it for fun and don't worry about things that don't make sense.
Thank you, NetGalley, Harlequin Australia, and HQ (Fiction, Non-Fiction, YA) & MIRA, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

📚The London Séance Society - Sarah Penner📚

My book of the year in 2021 was The Lost Apothecary (Sarah’s debut) and so when The London Séance Society was announced I immediately pre-ordered a special edition copy (which I am still yet to receive 🙈) and it immediately went to the top of my highly anticipated releases for 2023. Well let me just say, it did not disappoint, and at this point I would read Sarah’s grocery list if she let me 😂 - I absolutely LOVE her writing and this is easily my top book of 2023 so far! 🥰 I could not put it down and I devoured it in a day - complete page-turner!

The writing is so atmospheric and captivates you from the very beginning, completely immersing you in the historical settings of Paris and London - I truly felt like I was part of the book. It was so alluring and sultry, I loved the spiritual vibes embedded throughout and the development of the strong female characters. The twists and turns kept coming, by the end my heart was seriously racing (I told you I was fully immersed 😂). It had me guessing until the very end and I loved every minute of the final reveal 😱

What you can expect:
🔮Gothic whodunit
🔮Subtle sapphic romance
🔮Spiritual skeptics
🔮Victorian-era
🔮Heart palpitations 🙈😂

It was honestly the best reading experience I’ve had in a long time and I have serious book hangover since finishing it. If you are looking for your next book, please do yourself a favour and pick this one up. I love, love, LOVED it and it will definitely be one I re-read in the future 😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All. The. Stars.

Available to purchase now!

Thank you so much to @netgalley @harpercollinsaus and @sarah_penner_author for sending me this to review 🙏🏻

“You will not find any Ouija boards or planchettes in my possession,” Vaudeline had explained to the parents. “Those are the playthings of children in attics. My séances are apt to take a different, more dangerous, direction.”

When I saw The London Séance Society in this years new releases I knew I had to get my hands on it. Ghosts and crime solving - sign me up!

The London Séance Society is told through POVs of spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire, renowned for conjuring the spirits of murder victims in order to assist investigators in solving those crimes, Lenna Wickes, studying under D’Allaire to solve her own sister’s death and Mr Morley, Vice President of the Department of Spiritualism at the Séance Society.

The start is a bit of a slow burn but the eerie atmosphere and strong female characters kept me engaged. The story really ramps up in the second-half when the mystery begins to unravel and I couldn’t turn the pages faster!

The London Séance Society is a solid work of historical fiction and I particularly enjoyed the Author’s Note on Victorian mourning traditions that are touched on throughout the story.

Thanks so much to @HarlequinAus for this eARC.

Sarah Penner’s writing and topics are bold and edgy, her style distinctive and daring. Her stories contain sizzling suspense, unforgettable characters, unusual pieces of history often filled with controversial secrets. There is no doubt she is a unique novelist with exceptional insight. And her second book bears witness to these observances. Like her debut, it is steeped in mystery, cultural oddities and, makes the reader believe the unbelievable.

This type of writing style can be overwhelming. And with The London Séance Society, the first number of chapters are filled with a lot of detail, making the initial journey into the story a bit harder for the reader to feel connected. But as the plot unfolds ever so carefully and purposely, you are drawn into the web of deceit and disguises. Who can be trusted? What is real and what is a sham?

The battle for belief in the after-world is seen in people like Lenna who has arrived in Paris to seek out answers of what happened to her sister. Was her death tied into or caused by the Society? For Evie was a believer of the supernatural but her sister Lenna is a more logic driven person. This often set them at odds when they were together. Their last fight before Evie’s death is on this very topic and when Lenna realises Evie is gone, she is heartbroken she cannot make amends. The only thing she can do is find her sister’s killer. Lenna is then tossed into a ring of treacherous characters. Her drive to uncover the truth puts her in some dangerous places. But she is not alone. She is accompanied by the popular spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire, who has gained a positive reputation with investigators and grieving widows for her ability to connect with the murder victims and discover who has killed them.

Tension runs high in these passages and Ms Penner knows how to turn up the heat to create nail-biting scenes. There are layers and layers of deception to unravel and everyone ends up a suspect (which is good crime fiction writing). As the story unfolds, the imposters and the genuine are sifted, rendered and eventually revealed, after numerous events happen and all the surprises are shaken down. The truth rises to the top of this mirky drama, exposing the lies to the audience (readers and participants alike) and the story ends with a much sought after outcome—a climax of pristine clarity.

Although this is historical fiction (my favourite genre) and set in the Victorian age (1873), it is laced with numerous gothic elements—a road I don’t travel on too often. But I decided to give it a try. Sarah’s debut The Lost Apothecary was most intriguing so I was curious as to what adventure she would take us on next. Her research skills are strong as it is obvious she drew upon the Victorian Era's fascination with spiritualist movements. I also did a little reading and learned a lot about the selective and secretive Ghost Club of London started in 1862 with Charles Dickens among its members. It ceased for a while when Dickens passed but was revived on all Saint’s Day 1882. If you read its history, there are some eerie comparisons with the fictional London Séance Society (which may have been part of the inspiration behind this story). It was a men’s only club, women were not allowed and it attracted some controversial minds of psychical research of the time such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and later even poet W. B. Yeats. Quite an interesting background read for those interested.

Ms Penner has delivered quite a gothic thriller historical tale and certainly this novel contains chilling images I won’t forget quickly! For the lover of taut suspense, twisty plots, complex characters and bizarre pieces of social history, this is a book for you. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to @HQ (HarperCollins Aus) and Netgalley for my review copy.

I DNF’d this book after the third chapter.

I’ve hidden this whole review because of spoilers (where I can). Please only read if you are willing to have the book spoiled for you.

First chapter: Told in third person. We get the introduction of the main two characters and also told this is a queer norm world, nice. But also told this world is misogynistic…. Ok? I don’t know enough on the two topics to critique this to its full extent but these kinds of worlds make me uncomfortable.

Then we got an odd line comparing murdered women to men who die at war. The main character is thinking about the spirits of the murdered women they’re investigating. “....-these were not the casualties of war, valiant men who’d known what they were getting themselves into. No, these were victims of violence gone too soon. They’d been murdered, every one one of them and worse the killers had gotten away’

I’d argue that men who were conscripted to go to war (this book is based in the late 1800’s) also didn't know what they were getting themselves into, were also murdered and had killers who got away (those in charge). I just found the comparison unnecessary.

Second Chapter: TOLD IN FIRST PERSON. This was so shocking and horribly done. The info dump we got out of this horrid man's brain was uncalled for. I could tell straight away that this douchebag was the murderer. I don't even read many murder mysteries and I called the killer from the moment I met him. Also the cherry on top that confirmed he was the killer was the introduction of his massive birthmark on his face. He describes himself as unmarriageable because of it. And also gives off massive incel vibes. Lets make our villains UGLY so their aggression is warranted…… ew.

Third Chapter: Back to the main two characters. It's getting tense, then we get interrupted from a flashback that lasts for PAGES.

As soon as I saw it was going back to the first person narrative asr the baddie in chapter 4 I had to quit.

First person narratives are a very YA way of writing. If you’re going to give the killer a first person narrative it has to be done SO WELL. This book clearly wasn’t enjoyable for me.

I will not be picking up this author again and I will not be finishing this book.

I heard it was sapphic, but NO ONE (that I’ve seen) on queer Booktok has picked up this book, for good reasons.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder, mystery, spirits and seances, revenge and a few things quirky and eerie. You walk the cobblestone streets of London, lit by the old lamps and moonlight, possibly with the spirits of the dead following your every move. Lenna Wilkes’s sister Evie was an apprentice spiritualist, who was murdered. The President of The London Seance Society was also murdered. Whilst Lenna was a sceptic, she became the understudy of Vaudeline D’Allaire (what a name!), a world remounted spiritual medium to avenge her sister’s murder and speak to her spirit, and help solve all of the murders and try to stay clear of danger themselves. We also are privy to a dalliance between Lenna and Vaudeline.
The start of this book did draw me in, after all a séance is a very alluring act! I wished to explore the rogue parlour room trickery occurring via the Society further, especially in relation to the different aims they had to Vaudeline. The romantic and lustful feelings of Lenna were also a secondary story line that seemed to blossom over time. Then there were parts of the book that seemed more like a predicable modern day mystery and felt like an old gothic Victorian pantomime. The use of formal titles for the male characters was significant for the era, and even though Vaudeline was well known; a woman’s status was denied by the men of the time (“gentlemen retreat to the Society to escape their wives … not to consort further with them.”). The eccentric nature of some on the characters was more appealing than the actual story line. Finding out about spiritualism and the concept of London Séance Society as it unravelled through the book was a good exploration of this era: the use of tarot cards, warbler shells, mourning and death rituals and using mediums to speak to those who have crossed over.

France, 1873: Lenna Wickes is a staunch practicalist, believing in only what is tangible. But since losing her best friend Eloise in a freak accident, then finding her younger sister Evie murdered, she is desperate for answers. That's how she finds herself in an abandoned hut, taking notes as acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D'Allaire conducts a private seance. Evie was a devoted follower of Vaudeline and although skeptical, Lenna knows that this is her only chance to find out what really happened to her sister.

When Vaudeline is summoned to the London Seance Society (a high end men's only club) to conduct a seance after the murder of their leader, she is repeatedly warned that she may be in danger. Together, Lenna and Vaudeline begin to realise that there is far more at stake than a few seemingly random murders across London. Are the members of the London Seance Society as innocent as they project? Or is there a far more twisted game at play than either of them realise...

I'll admit, the first few chapters of the book were hard for me. I was interested, but I just didn't feel sufficiently intrigued to continue. It's only because I have read a few really positive reviews on Booksta that I pushed through... and I'm SO glad that I did!
The story was not predictable at all and as more was revealed about the characters, from the dual POV of Lenna and a member of the LSS, the plot only thickened.

Thank you to Author Sarah Penner Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and have been provided freely. Look out for publication on March 22nd 2023 🥳

This was an interesting book set in the late 1800's. Lenna Wickes is working as an understudy for a renowned French medium Vaudeline. Her motive for doing so is hopefully to discover the person behind her sister Evie's murder. Evie had been a student of Vaudeline and intrigued by the London Séance Society which was an exclusively men's club. Rumour has it the Society is using trickery to try and authenticate paranormal contact.
Lenna is firmly a realist and finds it hard to believe that Vaudeline so wholeheartedly believes she can communicate with spirits.
Will Lenna's pursuit of the truth lead anywhere? Will she find answers or a world of smoke and mirrors? What lengths will the Séance Society go to in order to protect its members?
The story really is quite intriguing and explains the process of séance as well as the ways in which it can be used to manipulate the vulnerable or bring peace to distressed families.
I am happy to recommend this novel. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

Set in Victorian England, this was a really enjoyable read about the mysterious murder of the head of the London Seance Society, a men’s club involved in spiritualism. It’s told from two points of view. Lenna, a young English woman, her sister also was murdered and Morley, a man at the society in charge of one of their main departments, organising seances. Lenna’s sister was interested in the whole spiritualist thing and was training as a medium with Vaudeline, a famous French medium. This book was well researched regarding all the Victorian customs, the details added to the atmosphere. There are plenty of twists and as the real motives behind the murders and the role of the society are revealed, I found the book hard to put down. A fun read.

This book fell a little short for me. I loved the premise and found all of the different steps and ways of communicating with the dead really interesting. Unfortunately, I found myself skimming some pages in between the action scenes. It all came together really well at the end, but the middle was a little tedious at times for me.