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

This was an intriguing story about ghosts, both the spooky kind(the existence of which may be up for interpretation) and the line inflicted on people by trauma. This was also a story about sisters.

The comparison to Sarah Waters is apt, though perhaps not quite as clever. Nonetheless, it's a fairly twisty read in its own right, some that I saw coming, and some fairly dark ones that I did not.

The perspectives in the book were well-written and distinct, yet sometimes unreliable. The narrative and relationships felt warped by the characters's personal views. That is why I am still not quite sure where I land on Sylvie's relationship with Alexandre. The relationships of the Mothe family were also warped somewhat and were rather interesting to explore. I was also really surprised by how well-developed the sapphic relationship was, and the love interest was a fantastic character. Honestly, all the characters and relationships in the book were very interesting to explore.

As I've mentioned, the book dives into some dark topics including mentions of sexual assault and different forms of abuse. I wouldn't look up detailed TWs because they can be quite spoilery, but the darkness of the content

Overall, Spitting Gold is a dark and twisty story with fascinating characters and relationships. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in a Sarah Waters-esque historical mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC of Spitting Gold.

I was excited to read this book since it had a gothic lesbian feel to it. I absolutely love queer historical fiction. It is so fun to read about history but with the queer perspective. The first part of this book I really enjoyed. It had a dark and mysterious feel to it. Like a breath on your neck even when there is no one around. When we got to the second half I kind of got bored. It was more of a me problem where I just didn't enjoy going through everything that happened but in Charlotte's point of view. I felt it just slowed down the story a lot. I would've enjoyed finding out more through Sylvie's point of view. Otherwise I quite enjoyed the story and loved seeing the twists.

This review is also posted on GoodReads.

"Spitting Gold" by Carmella Lowkis is a historical fiction novel set in 19th-century Paris, offering a captivating blend of gothic mystery and sapphic romance. The story revolves around Baroness Sylvie Devereux and her estranged sister, Charlotte Mothe, both celebrated and fraudulent spirit mediums.

The narrative unfolds in 1866 when Sylvie, haunted by her past as a spirit medium, receives a visit from her sister Charlotte. Despite their strained relationship, Sylvie is convinced to join forces with Charlotte for one last con. Their target is the de Jacquinot family, aristocrats who believe they are haunted by the ghost of their great aunt, murdered during the French Revolution.

As the sisters embark on the elaborate scheme to exploit the fears of the de Jacquinot family and secure their gold, mysterious and inexplicable events begin to unfold. The narrative takes a chilling turn as the line between reality and the supernatural becomes blurred, and the sisters question whether they themselves are at the mercy of a vengeful spirit.

Against the backdrop of a Parisian setting in upheaval, the novel explores themes of deception, family dynamics, and the secrets that linger from the past. The captivating storyline promises a journey through the shadowy realms of both the human heart and the supernatural, making it an intriguing read for fans of historical fiction, gothic mystery, and LGBTQIAP+ romance.