Séances. Spiritualism. Murder.

I recently finished reading London Séance Society by Sarah Penner.

*POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT* Rating: 3.5/5 stars

"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. 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…"

Seances. Spiritualism. Murder. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a killer thriller.

Well…

For a book with “séance” in its title, I expected more paranormal elements woven into the plot and more than one exciting full-fledged séance — which, by the way, doesn’t arrive until the end of the novel.

Set in Victorian London and Paris, the book's title The London Séance Society comes from an exclusive men’s club. Members only, thank you. In case you weren’t aware, the fascination with the occult reached a fevered crescendo during the Victorian Era. Spiritualism, ghost sightings, and séances were all the rage. Even Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Her Majesty Queen Victoria got caught up in the craze.

Enter Mademoiselle Vaudeline D’Allaire, known for her skill in conjuring the spirits of murder victims who reveal their killers and bring some solace to the victims’ families.

Lenna Wickes does not believe in ghosts but she has a mystery to solve: her little sister Evie’s death. Hoping to learn the art of séance herself, Lenna becomes Vaudeline’s apprentice to discover what actually happened to Evie.

Mlle D’Allaire, accompanied by her understudy Lenna, is summoned to London to assist in solving the high-profile murder of the Society’s president and to add a bit of polish to its recently tarnished reputation. Seems the prestigious London Séance Society has begun to resort to cheap parlor tricks and the buzz around town is that mediums and spiritualists are charlatans.

Where the book worked for me:

- In a book that has just 5-6 main characters, it doesn’t take long to guess who the guilty party is. But even as I congratulated myself on being a smart detective, the author kept revealing greater intricacies in the crime, which I simply hadn’t imagined possible. It’s always nice to be surprised.

- The atmosphere, especially during the séances, is suitably creepy. I wish there were more scenes related to the séances though!

- The Victorian vibe is captured accurately, as is the misogynistic attitude of the “gentlemen” of that era.

- Except for Lenna, the women characters are quite interesting, even when they are in minor roles.

- I liked the comeuppance provided at the ending.

- The author’s note at the end of this novel is one of the most interesting I have read in recent times. It casts light not just on the Victorian beliefs regarding the spiritualists but also has a couple of surprises to offer. Don’t miss it!

Where the book could have worked better for me:

- Lenna isn't sketched well and comes across as neither likable nor sensible. She acts on her impulses without considering the long-term impact of her decision, which is quite contrary to her portrayal as a logical woman with a scientific bent of mind. (I didn’t see her using her common sense any time except in the climax.) To add to the irritation, Lenna is written as a character who thinks of physical attraction during any situation, even in the face of danger.

- The middle section is filled with unbelievably silly plot elements.

- Lust-related elements are quite common in the story. While these are justified at times, they are needlessly inserted in many scenes. The romantic track is bland and even superfluous. The connection between Lenna and Vaudeline never feels convincing.

- Many plot points are left unexplained, and some scene transitions aren’t smooth. Plot holes are never welcome, especially not in a mystery.

- The book starts off well but soon becomes too repetitive. It almost drags in between, causing me to feel bored. Thankfully, the final third picks up the pace once again.

- Mr. Morley’s pov starts off well, but soon, it follows a predictable pattern – he begins in the present and then reminisces about some event of the past in a flashback. The transition between the past and present is jumpy at times. Moreover, there is a lot of info-dumping in his pov.

All in all, this did have some entertainment value, but with so many plot holes and exaggerations, I simply couldn’t bring myself to like it more, though it should have worked perfectly for me with its theme. The book will work as a one-time read if you remember not to overanalyze it too much.

While certainly not a nail-biter, The London Séance Society is a fun Victorian whodunnit with a paranormal twist. Dim the lights and let the conjuring begin.

Check out The London Séance Society, and decide for yourself what makes the perfect recipe for a killer thriller.

Happy Reading :)