I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I wasn't sure what to expect because I had really never heard of a mesmerist. It kept my interest right from the beginning. It is a story based on the Bethany Home for Unwed Mothers. It takes place in 1894 Minneapolis. The main characters are Faith, May and Abby. They are all trying to save the Home and stop a murderer. To me, it read like a Victorian Mystery. I liked the dark feel of the story, and the descriptions of the time period. It was an exciting story, and I didn't know what was going to happen next. I also liked the author's explanation at the end where she explains some events in the story. I would recommend this book if you like gothic mysteries. I liked it!
Thank you to Net Galley and Doubleday Books for the chance to read and give my opinion of this book!

🥰Thank you so much to @doubledaybooks for the gifted book!

📖Title: The Mesmerist
✍️Author: Caroline Woods
📅Pub date: September 10, 2024

😶It's pretty rare that I read a book and can't find anything similar to compare it to. Even rarer that I can't even agree mentally on a genre classification. Both are the case in the situation of THE MESMERIST, and that's why I enjoyed it so much! It felt totally new and fresh!

📖It felt like historical fiction meets true crime meets murder mystery with a little bit of magic🪄. Just an overall wild story that got even wilder when I learned how much of the story is actually TRUE! In short, it's the story of the first known serial killer.

📖If I judged the book solely by its synopsis, it doesn't really sound like something that would be interesting to me, but I was hooked on these characters and had to get the bottom of what was going on! I love when a book surprises me and this one did just that!

📖My advice is to go in with an open mind and you may just be pleasantly surprised, too!

The Mesmerist is, on its surface, a mystery with a little bit of witchiness to it. Deeper than that, it's a complex story about female friendships during a time when women, especially poor women or those deemed to be "fallen," had little to no power.

Set in 19th century Minneapolis, it tells the story of three women - Abby, May, and Faith. Abby, who is based on a real past resident of the city, is an older, Quaker woman who co-runs a home for women in "trouble" as it used to be put. May is one of the inmates of the home whose story gets more complex the more we learn about it. Faith is a new girl who has arrived dramatically and who, almost immediately, is considered suspicious and, well, just wrong in some way by the other inmates.

I don't usually like books that create a fictional narrative about real people but I couldn't help liking The Mesmerist. Throughout the book Caroline Woods is careful to be respectful and the author's note at the end does an excellent job of letting the reader know what is and is not factually accurate and directing readers to nonfiction books about those portrayed. I hadn't come across Woods before receiving this book but will be sure to look out for her books in the future!

Finding out this story was loosely based on an actual incident raised it only slightly in my opinion. I was excited by the title, but mesmerism had very little to do with anything that occurred. I found it very slow and it just did not draw me in. It was two thirds of the way through before anything seemed to coalesce. I did not like one of the main female characters so, it made it difficult for me to care what happened to her.

I was hoping the somewhat magical element in the description would be able to pull me into historical fiction, a genre I’ve been wanting to get into, but I this felt slow and had a too many characters for me. I see the appeal for others, but it just wasn’t for me.

With The Mesmerist, Caroline Woods does one of my favorite things that great writers do, which is cross the boundaries of multiple genres giving us fresh ideas that cannot be pigeon-holed. I’m certain that most booksellers will file The Mesmerist under historical fiction, but it is also a dark mystery, a nervous thriller, and a fantasy book with some magical realism aspects. The Mesmerist is not any one thing, but what it is, I exulted in.

Woods is a talented wordsmith and one of the true highlights of this novel is the keen and nuanced language she uses to set scenes and describe characters. The reader is on the cold, dark Minnesotan streets, standing amongst the Gilded Age cast of characters, so acutely in the mind’s eye that I found it very easy to become invested in the intricately woven plot. Clearly, Woods expertly mapped her story and researched the historical perspective because at the end of the novel, the rich details and events come together beautifully for a satisfying finale.

The Mesmerist is an intriguing tale, gorgeously dark and moody, perfect for our upcoming “Scary Season.” I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being one of my favorites of the year. And there is nothing scary about that.

Minneapolis in 1894 was still a raw city, booming and drawing young women from a variety of backgrounds looking for jobs as maids or clerks. Sometimes that didn't work out and they ended up in other jobs, the kind that often result in pregnancy.

That's where Bethany House comes in, a home for unwed mothers where women were able to stay for one year, and keep or give up their babies without judgement. "The Mesmerist" follows the "inmates" of the house and how they got there, the struggle to keep the place open and the mystery surrounding Faith, who arrived soaked and mute, but possibly not pregnant.

Caroline Woods serves up lots of historical detail and a great sense of place, digging into what might be America's first serial killer. She also reveals how the prostitution business worked in a place that was just one step beyond a prairie boomtown. Interest in the supernatural continued after its heyday following the Civil War when mediums sought to contact those lost in the war. Not surprisingly, silent Faith is viewed with suspicion by the other women at Bethany House, something she learns to take advantage of.

In the words of another writer, being a woman is a dangerous business. Woods adds paranormal beliefs into the mix to create a solid historical mystery that will keep readers engaged from start to finish.

Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for a digital review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story based on actual historical figures and events, set in 1894 Minneapolis and focuses on the women at the Bethany Home for Unwed Mothers. I really enjoyed this story and being a Minneapolis resident I could picture the places and streets in my head!

When the new girl shows up with secrets, has she put everyone in danger? I love reading historical mysteries that are not only good stories, but I learned something new while reading. The setting is a home for un-wed mothers at the turn of the century. Everyone has secrets and a backstory, but the new addition, Faith, might also be a mesmerist. Teaming up with another inmate, the two women uncover a murder and a sinister plot. Thoroughly enjoyable read. The author's note at the end was super insightful on the time and the conditions. Highly recommended.

A fascinating novel about Bethany House. A home for unwed mothers in Minneapolis that was known for taking in “sporting girls” and “madams” along with regular women who fell pregnant. Woods captures Victorian America and the majority of her characters are based on real people of the same name. This suspenseful novel centers around Faith, a young woman who arrives at Bethany House mysteriously on a stormy night. Faith’s new roommate, May, is tasked with finding out the circumstances of Faith’s arrival at Bethany House with a dirty purple dress and gold coins. A wonderful page turner for anyone who likes historical fiction filled with suspense!

"The Mesmerist" is excellent historical fiction based on a crime that took place in Minneapolis in 1894. The time period is descriptive and atmospheric, and Woods creates a sense of palpable tension. Recommended for readers of historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
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The Mesmerist paints a vivid world of suspicion, second chances and unfortunate circumstances. This book has planted itself onto my list of favorites.

The Bethany Home for unwed mothers houses young women who are desperately seeking refuge from a turn of events that leaves them with nowhere else to go while they await the birth of their child. When a young girl shows up on their doorstep bedraggled and seemingly mute, rumors start to swirl about who she is and where she came from. Some of the girls say she is a Mesmerist who has been casting spells on them. Others say she is not mute, just pretending to be. Who is she?

This book is based on true events and the author has done some incredible research to bring this story alive. The characters are described beautifully and it’s easy to get immersed in their mysterious lives before and after their pregnancies. If you love great historical fiction, give this a try. It’s a fantastic 5-star read. Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC.

I really liked The Mesmerist. A good read about giving woman second chances. One of my favorite time periods, the Gilded Age. I loved the setting and the characters. An interesting Fiction read based on a real place, with a true crime that occurred in Minneapolis in 1894. This is the second book I've read by this Author, I love The Lunar Housewife. Looking forward to reading more of this Authors work.
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I give The Mesmerist 4 stars for its interesting read.
I would recommend this book to Historical Fiction fans.

I was thrilled to get a eGalley for The Mesmerist because I enjoyed Woods' earlier titles. This one did not disappoint. Part spooky mystery, part historical fiction with great pacing and vivid characters!

I thought this was a great read. The entire premise of the book was something fresh and new, which I really appreciated.