While there are many new historical fiction novels published each week, there are some that I am looking out for. If you read my 2023 Historical Fiction novels post, you will recognise that this book was featured on the list, and for good reason. Sarah Penner’s debut novel (The Lost Apothecary) is one of the most engaging I’ve read, and this follows in the same path. I read The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner and it absolutely needs to be on your to-read list!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The London Seance Society, Sarah Penner
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. But as the women 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…
Why You Should Read This…
As with Penner’s debut work, this was an incredible novel. She has woven together so many well-researched themes into a novel that I could not put down- from the start to the finish, I was entranced. (Bit of a seance-themed pun for you!) As an historian, I understand that I may have higher standards for research than most readers. However, she makes her research so readable and engaging- this novel is exciting and time appropriate. (And there are notes at the end!)
This is a complex novel, there were many pieces at play at any given time. In my head, I really see this as a historical mystery rather than purely historical fiction, and it wholly delivers for both genres. Not only was I compelled to keep reading to find out who was behind Evie’s death, I also really enjoyed simply “spending my time” in 1870s London.
If I was going to compare it to a period drama, I would say that it gives me Miss Scarlet and The Duke vibes. (And that is a good thing for me.) I am excited to see what Penner has planned next!
Is The London Seance Society on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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