Thank you to NetGalley and Peony Books for an eARC copy of In the Time of Spirits by Beth Ford.

In the Time of Spirits by Beth Ford delivers a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of the late 19th century, a period rich in both societal change and spiritual exploration. The novel follows Addy Cohart, a resolute young woman who, after the tragic loss of her parents, becomes entangled in the world of spiritualism through her relationship with William Fairley, a charismatic psychic medium.

At the heart of this story is Addy’s journey from a woman determined to remain single to one who finds herself deeply invested in both love and the spiritualist movement. The initial allure of William's purported abilities offers her solace and purpose, but as the narrative unfolds, the line between faith and deception blurs.

Addy’s move from New York to London and Paris provides a vivid, atmospheric backdrop to her internal and external conflicts. The author’s historical detail enriches the setting, transporting readers to a time when spiritualism was gaining traction and societal norms were in flux. This historical context not only grounds the story but also accentuates the tension between personal belief and skepticism.

William Fairley is a fascinating character, both enigmatic and charismatic. His role as a psychic medium and potential criminal adds layers of complexity to the plot. As Addy grapples with the possibility that William’s gifts might be fraudulent, her journey of discovery becomes a gripping exploration of trust, love, and personal integrity.

The novel’s strength lies in its ability to maintain suspense while delving deeply into its characters’ psyches. Addy’s struggle to balance her faith with her growing doubts is portrayed with nuance and empathy. The dynamic between Addy and William keeps readers on edge, questioning not only the authenticity of spiritualism but also the nature of true devotion.

I found Beth Ford's In the Time of the Spirits to be a middle-of-the-road read: not bad, but also bnot good. It lands somewhere in the overlap of the territories of there-was-nothing-I-really hated and there-was-nothing-I-really-loved. The prose is competent, but not lovely. The plotting is workmanlike. Reading it was not painful, but it felt like a bit of a trek.

If you love novels set within the spiritualist movement, you may want to check this title out. Otherwise, it probably won't appeal.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Beth's Ford's "In the Time of Spirits" is such an outstanding read, I couldn't wait to enjoy reading it each night. The author brings you into Addy's fascinating world, and she weaves a compelling story that will pique your interest. Ford is a wonderful writer and this book is a gem.

“In the Time of Spirits” by Beth Ford is set in the fertile 19th Century period when spiritualism was all the rage, and many notable society figures were drawn to explore the spirit world. But the risk of being duped by fraudulent psychics and mediums was a constant danger.

Addy, this novel’s heroine, is a committed believer in spiritualism. She longs to travel and indulge her curiosity about life and develop her fascination with spiritualism. Yet her future seems preordained: her mother makes no secret of wishing to see Addy married to her childhood friend, Arthur. When her parents are killed in a fire, Addy receives a sizeable inheritance, enabling her to travel and pursue her interest in spiritualism. Accompanied by Tiffany, her able companion, Addy travels to New York, where she seeks an introduction to a famous medium, Mrs Alexi. Mrs Alexi’s handsome assistant, William, further stokes her interest. Avoiding further spoilers, suffice it to say that Addy’s journey leads her to London and Paris, and deeper into the business of spiritualism than she’d imagined.

This story quickly gathers speed and is in many respects a charming and highly entertaining read. Addy is a likeable character, although the way she treats her friends doesn’t always reflect creditably on her character. Nevertheless, I was drawn along by the well-paced story and interesting subject matter, including moral dilemmas. Unfortunately, I wasn’t convinced by the author’s development of some key characters, leading to the ending falling flat for me. That’s a subjective opinion, and I did enjoy the story, so if this subject interests you, I recommend you read it and form your own conclusions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

This is a quick read that would be a good starting point for those interested in early Spiritualism. There is no strong paranormal element that is sometimes found with Spiritualism and that might appeal to some.
I did feel as though I was reading a YA book with the plot and character development.

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.]

<I>In the Time of Spirits</I> by Beth Ford follows the rapid descent of Addy, a young woman whose parents die in a sudden accident, into the world of spiritualism. What follows is a whirlwind romance, unpleasant discoveries, and a Europe-hopping trip that may or may not destroy the life that Addy has sought to build for herself.

Towards the beginning of the book, a very petulant Addy quite literally throws ice cream onto the floor of a theater (that she has been brought to by a childhood friend she rejected) and storms off. The book notes, "She was not yet at a point in her life where she was able to discern the fine line between making a point and only making a mess."

Addy's immature behavior in the early chapters of the book--her literal tantrum, her sniping comments, constantly looking down on others (especially women who marry and men in general) along with an extreme helping of naivety--would make one thing that this quote was meant as foreshadowing of her later maturity and development.

But nowhere in the story does Addy ever really mature or learn from her mistakes. If anything, her naivety grows so ridiculous that it's unbelievable and rather sad to see her constantly excusing the dismissive nature of her husband, and not really changing internally despite technically finding out that most of what her husband does is a sham.

But the book never seems to treat Addy's immature behavior as being particularly foolish. Instead, it felt like we're meant to cheer her on, especially in the book's final act. But all I could do was wonder how Addy was missing these massive red flags and why the book didn't seem to care that she was missing them, either.

Another frustration: throughout the book, Addy is dealing with men who treat her as lesser-than. She quickly finds out that her new husband expects her to be an obedient wife, yells at her, keeps secrets and lies to her, puts her on an allowance even though *the entire point of her not marrying her childhood friend* is that she wanted to be an independent person and not lose her independence through marriage.

Women certainly dealt with both institutional and societal misogyny during this era, and the book makes sure we know it, which is fine... except in the end, Addy doesn't actually seem to fight against this misogyny despite the earliest chapters hammering in that she is Not Like Other Women Around Her, and that she won't have her money and independence taken from her etc etc.

I expected that the reveals of William being just like other men would lead to Addy leaving him, but where the novel takes Addy basically cements the strange lack of character growth and immaturity in her character.

Another issue with the book is that it often does not feel like historical fiction. There are moments of dialogue that shook me out, including a moment early on when her father says, "For God's sake, Addy, stop trying to stir up shit."

At first I thought that this may be a case of the "Tiffany Problem," wherein something seems out of place historically but was actually introduced much earlier than people typically believe--the issue is titled after the name "Tiffany," which existed as early as medieval Europe, but which most readers would associate with being from the later half of the 20th century. (And yes, one of the characters in this book is named Tiffany!) But upon further research, no, a man in 1890 would not be telling someone to stop trying to "stir up shit." The earliest known use of this phrase is in the 1970s.

Overall, I thought the premise for this book was really interesting. I find books that delve into historical spiritualism and seances intriguing. But the execution of the story didn't land at all, and the main character of Addy made such baffling decisions that it's difficult to understand why she acts the way she does, particularly in the end.