I love historical fiction about queer characters living their truths under the weight of heteronormative oppression, so I was immediately drawn to this lush Gothic thriller about a woman, Ellen, who seeks to rescue her dear friend, Harriet, from the clutches of spiritualism after she unexpectedly breaks off an engagement to her brother.

Ellen, a lesbian when there were no words or examples to explain her feelings toward other women at that time, was at one time in love with Harriet, who had teased her with kisses and touches that Harriet felt were merely platonic - and later was unneccessarily cruel to Ellen about the way things were, but Ellen's affections eventually cool to sisterly love. I was grateful this didn't turn into a love triangle.

Beset by grief after her family dies in a shipwreck, Harriet becomes immersed in a spiritualist church in their home of Melbourne, Australia, which holds seances and claims to speak to the dead.

A woman of science and logic, the practical skeptic Ellen resolves to expose the fraud of the spiritualists. But she becomes enamored by the found family of women she finds in the church house, all united in grief and sisterhood, and a maternal figure in Caroline, their leader. And she finds an unexpected heat with Grace, Caroline's daughter, who is rude and unwelcoming at first. Could this time her romantic longings be exchanged with something more than platonic affection?

Thus follows a charismatic leader, family secrets and even murder as Ellen becomes swept up in forbidden love, sapphic yearning and her beliefs about the supernatural begin to shift. The murder mystery bits felt rushed and a lot of the pacing was focused on Ellen's belief and her conversion, but overall I loved the atmospheric, cinematic writing style.

It did not turn out the way I expected at all, either. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending.

A delightful, wonderfully written story and an unexpected find.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

**The Spirit Circle** by Tara Calaby centers around a spiritualist group, often referred to as a Church, that feels somewhat cult-like. The group is led by the charismatic Caroline, who has the reluctant support of her daughter.

The protagonist, Ellen, immerses herself in a community of women who live together and participate in rituals, such as seances, to cope with the grief of losing loved ones. Ellen embarks on a mission to save her friend, Harriet, and to debunk the group's practices, only to find herself questioning what is truly real.

Fans of *Spitting Gold* by Carmella Lowkis, *Affinity* by Sarah Waters, and *Unnatural Vice* by K.J. Charles are likely to enjoy this engaging novel that keeps readers guessing. A special thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.