The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for a review copy of The Woman who Spoke to Spirits, the first in a new series of Victorian detective novels to feature Lily Raynor and her new assistant Felix Wilbraham.

Lily is trying to build up her business, a private enquiry agency called World’s End Bureau, and gladly accepts a commission from Lord Berwick to investigate the past of Violetta da Rosa, his son’s much older actress fiancée. While she is doing this Felix accepts new business from Ernest Stibbins who says that his wife, Albertina, a medium, has received messages from her spirit guide about a threat to her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Woman who Spoke to Spirits which is a good adventure with an interesting plot and some strong characterisation. The novel has the two plots running concurrently through the novel with Lily taking the lead in the Stibbins’ case and Felix doing most of the work on Violetta da Rosa. They are completely different in nature but both are very Victorian in their theme, suitable marriage and spiritualism. I must admit that I had a good idea from early on where the Stibbins case was going (although I got the motive totally wrong) but it didn’t detract from my reading pleasure as the joy is in the detail. The da Rosa case is different. There are some surprises in her history and how events play out but it’s more an exploration of Felix’s character and Victorian moral standards than crime investigation.

The pairing of Lily and Felix is unusual with a female boss and a male employee. I wonder if it would have worked at the time when men were so much in ascendancy. Whatever, it works well as fiction with the pair of them forming an effective team and perhaps more in future as they seem to have feelings for each other. There are hints of tragedy in Lily’s past and hardship in Felix’s which will be explored in future novels, I assume.

The Woman who Spoke to Spirits is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Woman Who Spoke to Spirits, Alys Clare

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Mystery and Thrillers

I love this kind of historical read, one where I feel I'm part of the setting, can taste the atmosphere, really feel as if I'm there in past times with the characters. It proved t be a light and enjoyable read. This is first in a new series, I've read a couple by Alys and enjoyed those, so was confident I'd like this one.

First books in a series have a hard ask, delivering characters, new settings along with an interesting story, and this book did that really well.
I'm intrigued by Lily's past, we get hints of some awful trauma but I guess that's going to come out more in further books. Likewise her new hire, Felix, has his own somewhat mysterious past. We know some of it, but there seems much more to him that just a down at heel former rich kid. He has so much experience of different things, and I'm keen to know how and where and when he learned all this. He seemed so much older than his actual years.
He and Lily make a good pair, work well together and even though in those times its odd to have a female boss, he makes it work, being deferential without seeming obsequious, and yet standing up when its needed. I feel maybe in further books something might develop between them but there's little here except respect and a possible growing attraction. I want to know more about the guy in the houseboat – forgotten his name, but though he and Lily have only met a handful of times they have something special maybe? Or perhaps I'm reading things that aren't there ;-)

The mystery this is based around is actually two stories, there's the one about the actress, the stage and young Julian, and then the primary one of Albertina and the evil she senses is out for her. That had me completely puzzled, I simply couldn't work it out, though of course after its over I could see the clues Alys had cleverly weaved through. An original tale, not one I've come across before.

Stars: Four, a fun read and a great intro to the series.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

It’s a bit of a novelty in Victorian London for a woman to work as a private investigator, let alone head up the firm, but that’s what Lily Raynor does, with her World’s End Investigation Bureau. In this first in a new series, Lily is asked by Lord Berwick to look into the past of his son’s fiancé, an actress, while her new assistant, Felix Wilbraham, investigates a threat to the life of Albertina Stibbins, a medium, at the request of Albertina’s husband, Ernest. Ernest believes that Felix is the head of the firm – a misconception which Felix does not correct. This charade enables Lily to become involved in a séance conducted by Albertina, an event which unexpectedly relates to an occurrence in Lily’s own life. Their cases, including investigating the disappearance of several prostitutes, take the investigators into many areas of Victorian London, from the affluent to the slums. Descriptions are well-drawn in this engaging period read, with room left for development of the major characters in further installments. Fans of Victorian Era whodunits, strong female characters and atmospheric settings will enjoy this series debut.
I received an advance reader copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher; this is my honest review.

I enjoyed every bit of this book - what a delightful read!

We're in the 1880's in Victorian London where we meet Lily "L.G." Raynor, the woman running the World's End Bureau of investigation. A woman as an investigator - let alone the owner of the business - certainly isn't the norm in Victorian times.. Yet, she's busy enough to need an assistant, so she hires Felix Wilbraham to manage the filing and paperwork. Lucky for them both, he turns out to be a great investigator, too.

The book focuses mainly on the case brought to them by Ernest Stibbins, who is worried for the safety of his wife, Albertina, who works as a medium.. Since he mistakes Felix as "LG Raynor", it allows Lily to go undercover as a participant in the regular seances held at the Stibbins home. What is the malevolent evil Lily feels focused on Albertina during the seances?

As with any good investigative agency, World's End has multiple cases they are managing. Like the background investigation on an actress - is she good enough to marry a Lord's son? And what about the missing women? A series of prostitutes have gone missing and no one except a reporter seems to care. Well, until Felix discovers what's happening.

These are the kinds of books I love reading. Great character that are not just likeable, but intriguing. They have histories we only get a glimpse of, but know they are fascinating. There is also the softness of humor throughout, which relieves the seriousness of the cases.

I've never ready any books by Alys Clare, but I sure will be looking for them now!

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions, of course, are all my own..

I loved this! I am a fan of historical fiction and Victorian historical fiction in particular, so I was eager to give it a try. A few chapters in, throughly enjoying it, I looked up the author and Goodreads and saw that she has written many other books. I wasn’t surprised because the writing was great. I liked her two main characters very much. I liked the author’s use of the present tense. The plot was good and kept me guessing until the end. I like the fact that features of Victorian culture played a part in the mysteries- interest in the Egyptians, mediumship and seances and the Demi monde of the theatre world. I’ve read a lot of Victorian style mysteries and this was one of the best examples I’ve read. I’m really looking forward to reading some of Alys Clare’s other work while I’m waiting for the next in this series to come along. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

I was really looking forward to reading this book but wondered whether I'd enjoy it as much as I'd enjoyed her previous historical novels, as it's set in a completely different period in history. I'm pleased to say I did! Set in the late 19th Century, a young, educated woman, Lily Raynor has set up a private investigation business and employs Felix Wilbrahim, as her Clerk. It quickly becomes apparent to Lily that Felix is versatile and very capable and his role is expanded so that he assists with investigations. There is one main storyline in this novel, with another smaller one running alongside it and it is through both storylines that the reader gets to know Lily and Felix. Their interactions with each other often made me smile and I look forward to seeing how their relationship develops as the books progress. The storylines themselves were well thought out and the main one keeps the reader guessing, the second storyline has a twist right at the end! I like Alys Clare's style of writing. I like her characters, I like the way you can almost touch and feel the period in which it's set. I loved this book.

One thing I hate about reading a book in a series, especially when it’s the first one, is having to wait for the next installment. That is the case with this new series. I’ve not read anything by Alys Clare until The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits. I tend to read books placed within the Regency, Victorian or later time period. However, after reading this first installment in the World’s End Bureau, which does take place in a Victorian time frame, I just might have to jump out of my comfort zone and look up some of her other works. Clare introduces us to Lily Raynor who is the soul owner and proprietor of the World’s End Bureau. Lily’s reputation as reliable and discrete keep her busy and when she hires on Felix Wilbraham as an office assistant, she doesn’t realize what an asset she has acquired. When Ernst Stibbins walks in the door frightened someone is trying to kill his wife, Felix readily accepts the case. Lily has been hired by a Lord to check into the background of an actress who has been stepping out with his son. Together, Lily and Felix begin working the two cases not knowing they are headed into something bigger than they even imagined.

For me, the heart of this story is the dynamic of these two people coming together and finding companionship, friendship and solace in each other. Clare artfully builds their personalities and gives us a glimpse of the background that forged the personalities. She does hint at a major Incident in Lily’s background. but she doesn’t hurry to reveal it. This is my favorite book this year, so far. It was a highly enjoyable read for me and I just wanted it to keep going. You are immediately at ease with characters that she wants you to be comfortable with and uneasy with the more questionable without beating you over the head with their wicked ways. There are a few that you wonder what happened to them and others you know for sure Clare will bring up in later books. At least this reader hopes that will happen. I will be talking about this book to anyone who will listen. Adults and teens alike. I hope this series is a long running one. I want the next one NOW!
#TheWomanWhoSpoketoSpirits #NetGalley