The London Séance Society - Sarah Penner

The London Séance Society

By Sarah Penner

  • Release Date: 2023-03-07
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
Score: 3.5
3.5
From 255 Ratings

Description

"An atmospheric and evocative whodunnit steeped in suspense, mystery, and illusion." —Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From the author of the sensational bestseller The Lost Apothecary comes a spellbinding tale about two daring women who hunt for truth and justice in the perilous art of conjuring the dead.

1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.

Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. With shared determination, the women find companionship that perhaps borders on something more. And as they team up with the powerful men of London’s exclusive Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves…

Written with intoxicating suspense and sultry prose, The London Séance Society is an entrancing tale that blurs the lines between truth and illusion, and reveals the grave risks women will take to avenge the ones they love.

"Penner brings history to vivid life in this atmospheric and evocative whodunnit." —Nita Prose, author of The Maid

Named a Most Anticipated book by Good Housekeeping, Washington Post, Bookpage, CrimeReads, Readers Digest, Popsugar, LitHub, E! News, Goodreads, and more

Reviews

  • BOTM - Hardcover

    4
    By irokallebanna
    I really wanted to love this book, but certain parts were difficult to mull through—I suppose they seemed like filler. However, I did enjoy the story and the outcome of the events that unfolded.
  • Creative & Astonishing

    5
    By Lads62
    Be sure to read the Author’s Note and all the research she did. Astonishing!
  • Good read!

    4
    By metalchick125
    I found this book through a book club I am in online and couldn’t put it down! I flew through the chapters. I feel bad for not sticking to the chapter requirements of the book club but not bad enough to have stopped reading lol. Only reason I didn’t choose 5 stars is because it was lacking something I can’t quite put my finger on. I think I was hoping for even more romance and more drama, but that’s just a personal preference.
  • Unimpressed

    1
    By sffgh by tc dg
    Some topics that are interwoven into the plot were of no interest to me at all.
  • Incredible read!

    5
    By LovetheLordMore
    I never know what to expect when I pick up a Sarah Penner book. The Lost Apothecary had me sold on this author, but The London Seance Society has gone to a whole different level. This author tells a story with such seamless transitions that you are hooked the moment you pick it up Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, Penner added a “I didn’t see that coming” moment. You can’t help but become immersed in the characters and the story line. Penner transports you through time and space and allows you to feel as if you are watching the story play out. There aren’t enough words to explain just how good Sarah Penner’s books are. You have to read them. You too will soon find you’re hooked and looking forward to the next story she has to tell.
  • Disappointed

    1
    By Kymma.1
    Not interested in reading a romance between two women. Somehow, in my excitement, to read this book, I completely missed that that is an element of this story.
  • Enjoyable reading!

    5
    By MrsLevel
    Supernatural flair, a mystery, and a romance all in one.
  • A Page Turner!

    5
    By akbaird
    Sarah Penner is back, but this time it’s a book about Seances and summoning the dead in order to find out who did it? It’s a fast paced book that will keep you entertained as the President of the London Seance Society is murdered and the experts are called in to discover the truth. Can they figure it out or will it stir up more questions? This story alternates between Lenna in Paris and Mr. Morley in London 1873. Lenna is taught by Vaudelline D’Allaire, famously known for being able to hold seances for the purpose of summoning the spirits of those who had been murdered to find out who killed them. Lenna wants to be able to learn how to do this, in order to find out not only find out who murdered her sister, but could make money helping others do the same. Can Lenna learn from Vaudeline and will it turn out the way she expected? Mr. Morley is Vice President in the Department of Spiritualism at the Seance Society in London. The President of the society was killed at a seance, so it was up to Mr Morley to get things straightened out. Mr Morley asks Vaudelline to come back to London to perform the seance? Can she discover who in fact killed him? Was it a colleague like rumored? What will be discovered as Lena and Vauldelime investigate? I loved the character development in this book as it makes you think about them in one light and by the end, an entirely different opinion is formed! This makes for page turner as you want to know more as Lenna and Mr Morley reveal the secrets! Such a well written, and highly entertaining book! Perfect for those who held seances at sleepovers in the 80’s and 90’s.

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