This seemed to be a fun read for it Gaza’s an interesting premise. Even though it was a short read, this was very hard for me to get through. There are very uncomfortable graphic scenes and disturbing details. Thus, I was surprised by the mature content because I was not prepared for it. I recommend this for those that love Victorian mysteries, but for those who appreciate mature content and graphic scenes.

The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits is a great Victorian detective novel with wonderful descriptive details that pull you into the story. The story is well written and it has great characters. I will read more from this author.

Set in the Victorian era, this story is a mixture of mystery and suspense. The author keeps the reader engaged until the suspect reveal. The undercurrent of sexual tension between the two main characters is also a tantalizing plotline. Can't wait to read the next installment.

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..

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 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.

An enjoyable first book in what I hope will be a new series by this author. I'm a big fan of the Hawkenlye and Gabriel Taverner series so to request this new title was a must. It didn't quite race along at the same pace as some of her previous books and took me a while to get into but I'm so glad I stuck with it. I will certainly be reading another in the series and look forward to finding out a little more about the two main characters.

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

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is not at all what I expected but I was surprised in a pleasant way. Yes, there is a character who “speaks” to spirits but her “gifts” are handled in a satisfyingly objective way. Perhaps she does. Perhaps she does not. But she is in danger. From whom or what no one knows which is why her worried husband has hired a rather unusual investigator to uncover the danger before it causes harm to his wife.
Since this is London in 1879, the World’s End agency is unique. It’s proprietor is a very capable woman named Lily who hired a man to be her clerk. Despite it being topsy turvy in Victorian times to have such an anomoly, they are an exceptional team. They are juggling not only this perplexing mystery but several other cases of a most delicate nature. Lily and Felix are more than up for the job.
The book does an excellent job of describing late VIctorian London with all its charms and dangers. THe characters are fleshed out and well drawn and fascinating in both their current and back stories. I was drawn in and found myself turning the page to see what would happen next. It was highly enjoyable. It had me turning in circles trying to solve the mystery.
Five purrs and two paws up.

I have long been a fan of this Author , especially the Hawkenlye , Gabriel Taverner and Aelf Fen series which were wonderfully atmospheric . So I was looking forward to this new series set in Victorian London .

World's End Bureau is a private investigation business ,which unusually for the times , is owned and run by a woman . Relying on referrals , business is beginning to thrive and Lily has placed an advert for a clerical position . To her surprise the best applicant is a man , Felix Wilbraham …………….. not many men are willing to work for and take orders from a woman . Employing Felix on a months trial they are soon embroiled in several cases ……….. which takes them to various places around London . The world of seances is well established and their newest case soon takes Lily undercover …………… can they solve the case , or will their investigation put them both in further danger .

The book shows the disparity between the different areas and living conditions in terms of wealth and position of the people at this time .
The Author has the skill to draw a reader into the times and places in which she sets her stories , a skill that many others lack .
I found , once I got into the book , that this new story has the beginnings of a very good new series .

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

It's London 1880, Lily runs World's End Investigation Bureau, which for the time is very different. Lily tries always to be professional and now its starting to pay off as by word of mouth she has more work coming in, so Lily employs Felix as her assistant firstly for the office but as the story progresses Felix ends up in the field, with 2 cases running alongside each other.
This is a well written story, I would have like more information on Lily's history in nursing and why she gave it up as its only eluded too.
Two interesting cases running alongside each other that keeps you interested. Will look forward to future books in the series??

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the eGalley of this novel.

Alys Clare is one of my favorite authors so I've read almost all the books in her Gabriel Taverner, Aelf Fen and Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries. I was delighted to see there was to be a series set in Victorian times and eagerly began reading this book. The feel of this one is different and it took me a little while before I settled in with it. There are a few instances of profanity in this one, but not many; the fact that they are there at all definitely caught my attention because I've never encountered that with this author's work. There are also some descriptions of what prostitutes do to earn their money. Frankly, if I had come across these two things in a book by another author I would not have been surprised, I would have just kept on reading. I am including the information so you will have more warning than I did that this historical time period has allowed Ms. Clare to explore subjects kept mostly in the background in other novels she has written.

I think No. 3 Hob's Court, London, the location of the World's End Bureau, has the potential to become an evocative address causing me to link it with pleasurable reading experiences. This is the address where L. G. Raynor (Lily) lives and has her private investigations business. Lily has placed an advertisement for a clerical position and is surprised when one of the applicants, F. Wilbraham turns out to be Felix, a man. They get on well in the interview so Felix begins a month long trial. This was another clue that this novel was going to be taking some chances because this time period would not have had many men willing to work for a woman in this type of job. Lily and Felix immediately find themselves involved in several cases and the novel follows both of them as they work to find facts to present to their clients.

The descriptions of Victorian London are very good and establish the mood the author wants by moving around the city to show different areas and living conditions. The tension is very high when Lily and Felix find themselves, almost against their will, looking for clues into the disappearance of many prostitutes. Officials aren't concerned, the public isn't concerned, but the two investigators quickly find there is definitely danger involved in asking questions about these women who seem to have simply vanished.

This was a good mystery for me because I enjoyed watching the story unfold. Since it is the first in a series I'm hoping there will be a few changes made in the second book but, all in all, it was a good beginning. There is one question I would love to ask the author but it would be a whopper of a spoiler so I'll just keep wondering.

From the 1840's to the 1920's, mediums and spiritualism fascinated many; even the educated and famous flocked to seances in hopes of communicating with the dead.

The Woman Who Spoke to Spirits is set in the 1880's in London. L.G. (Lily) Raynor, owner and only investigator of the World's End Investigation Bureau, needs a clerk to take care of filing and accounts so that Lily can meet with clients and carry on her investigations.

She hires Felix Wilbraham, who is in desperate need of a job and is more than capable of handling the paperwork.

While Lily is out of the office to meet with a client, Ernest Stibbins rushes in, mistakes Felix for L.G. Raynor, and in a frightened manner says someone is threatening his wife with harm--can the private inquiry agent help him? He explains that his young wife Albertina is a medium and holds seances for a regular group of attendees several days a week. Felix doesn't correct the mistaken identity and takes the case.

Worried about how Lily will react to his assumption of her role as head of the agency, Felix dreads her return to the office. Lily, however, is not at all disturbed by the acquisition of a new case. Felix will take the role of investigator, and Lily will find a way to become part of the seance crowd.

When Lily attends a seance, she is shocked to feel a terrible menace directed at Albertina. A sense of dread and a fear for Albertina's safety makes Lily uneasy. And how could Albertina have possibly known about an incident in Lily's own life?

I enjoyed this first in the World's End Investigation Bureau Victorian mystery series and look forward to more. The backgrounds of both Lily and Felix are hinted at and will most likely be developed in future books, but they are already interesting characters in a partnership with many possibilities.

Read in February; blog review scheduled for May 19.

NetGalley/Severn House
Victorian/Mystery. June 1, 2019. Print length: 226 pages.