This was a fun read delving into the world of seances at a time when they were very popular and also when it proved easy to prey on vulnerable grieving people especially women. At the start we find two women returning to London to hold a seance to discover who killed the top man at the London Seance Society. One of the women, Lenna, is the medium's (Vaudeline) understudy having taken up the role after finding the body of her murdered sister, Evie who was originally studying with Vaudeline. I enjoyed Lenna's scepticism and the insights into seances in all their guises.

The story unravels with the women piecing together what's been happening at the London Seance Society and culminates in a seance to contact the victims and find out who the killer was.

I could almost imagine this playing out as a two part drama on TV with the historical setting as a backdrop and giving the viewer an insider view of the world of mediumship and seances.

My only criticism was it felt a little drawn out at times but I enjoyed the concept and the book overall.

I'm not going to lie, but The London Séance Society was a bit hard to get into and slow. I saw mixed reviews before I started but since I really enjoyed Penner's debut "The Lost Apothecary" I couldn't pass this one up and had to check it for myself. I wouldn't say I regret reading it (or listening to it) - the narrators were excellent. The setting was atmospheric. I only wish I love the characters and story as much as her first novel.

Sarah Penner had an absolute brilliant idea for The London Seance Society and executed it well. It was such an entertaining book to read, even while some things felt implausible, and I could not put it down; much like her first book, The Lost Apothecary. This is a unique, paranormal twist on the much popular whodunnit books today.

This was a really enjoyable read, the stories of the two women were interesting and keep you enthralled with the story. All the twists wrapped up neatly, another good read from Penner

Sarah Penner's newest novel masterfully intertwines historical fiction with supernatural elements, creating an engaging narrative that holds readers spellbound from start to finish. Set against the richly atmospheric backdrop of 19th-century London, the gothic novel follows Lenna Wickes, a determined young woman seeking answers about her sister's mysterious death. Her journey leads her to the enigmatic Vaudeline D’Allaire, a renowned spiritualist and medium, and together, they delve into the murky world of séances, secrets, and society scandals.

Penner's meticulous research and vivid descriptions bring the era to life, immersing readers in a world where the line between reality and the supernatural is tantalizingly blurred. The characters are well-drawn and compelling, particularly the dynamic between Lenna and Vaudeline, whose partnership is complex. (I could have lived without certain parts, but that is only my opinion.) Lenna's skepticism contrasts beautifully with Vaudeline's mystical expertise, creating a tension that drives the narrative forward.

The plot is well-paced, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing. Penner skillfully balances moments of suspense with deeper, more introspective passages that explore themes of grief, trust, and the quest for truth. The novel's climax is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers pondering the fine line between belief and doubt.

Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for allowing me to give an honest review.

While some aspects of the story may feel predictable to seasoned readers of the genre, Penner's elegant prose and the richly detailed setting more than compensate. The London Séance Society is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and supernatural mysteries alike.

Overall, Sarah Penner has crafted a memorable and immersive story that is sure to resonate with readers long after the final page is turned. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking a thrilling journey into the heart of Victorian London's spiritualist movement.

The London Séance Society follows Lenna who has begun to study the art of seances in Paris in order to uncover the truth of her sister's murder. When the murder of the President of the London Séance Society draws her tutor, Vaudeline, to London, Lenna embarks on a mission to understand how the two murders are linked.

The strongest part of this book is its setting of 1870s London, which feels vivid and atmospheric. This made the book a delight to read as you could really get immersed in the world. As well as this, the book is paced very well, which builds suspense into an already spooky and gothic book. Split perspective books rarely work well for me, as I get invested in one character more than the other, but because of the short, snappy chapters and the constant flashbacks to reveal more information, the split timeline works well.
I really enjoyed the mystery elements to the plot even if it was a little predictable. I was also pleasantly surprised to realise this was sapphic, which I hadn't known going into it.
However, I did feel like the relationship between the two women felt a little inauthentic and out of the blue at times. Additionally, the way that Lenna jumped between thought processes felt unnatural and felt like a way to give her character growth later on, even though it didn't feel like an authentic thought in the moment.
Overall this book is a fun time which I would recommend.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Legend Press for the arc.

This one did not live to its potential. I felt it was very boggy and slow. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it, but it just failed to grab me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher!

I was excited to see that this author came out with another book after reading The Lost Apothecary by this author! This was another book unlike anything I’ve read before so I had a fun time reading it! The pacing of this book was well done and the characters were well thought out. I really felt like I was watching a movie reading this!

I previously read The Lost Apothecary, and something was missing from that, also for me i'm not the biggest fan of the "American discovering the UK" vibes. This novel I LOVED. I'm fascinated with the idea of Seances, the 19th century is my favourite timer period to read historical fiction of and this was done really well, the ritual building was fantastic. I guessed the villain kinda early but not some of the twists which made me feel like Sarah knew she'd got me the whole time! The characters were all built up really well, and I loved Lenna, she was fantastically written. I have absolutely zero complaints!

I believe that this book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. It ended up being more of a mystery novel, and the parts that focused on the séance were quite disappointing. Overall, it was a challenging read to get through, and I had to push myself to finish it.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC and Libro FM and the publisher for an ALC.

I really loved the first book by this author, but this one fell a little flat for me. I think the cover was gorgeous, but the writing lacked execution. Period. I will continue to read more by this author I think she was very talented and he’s great at writing a good setting.

I’m honestly in two minds about this one. It’s easy to read, there are twists and turns, historical background and some otherworldliness… but essentially, it’s a whodunnit kind of story. And while it’s decently crafted, I’m not a huge fan of those.
It’s a traditional kind of plot in a way of picking the good guys and the bad guys, in seemingly a bit of women against men kind world for the most part.
It’s not particularly original but a quick and rather entertaining read for an evening or a few (depending on your reading speed). That being said I wouldn’t keep this book in my library for revisiting.

Pretty cover but I found the book to be a little lacking. I honestly can't remember that much about it, less than a week later. I didn't like Mr. Morley so I didn't really pay that much attention to his POV chapters. Lenna was fine and I'm all for a historical sapphic romance but the mystery and end result was a bit lackluster and disappointing.

Paris 1873, Vaudeline D’Allaire is a medium, renowned for her abilities to expose perpetrators of violent crimes during Seances. She is joined by an understudy, Lenna Wickes, who, as a student of geology has severe doubts about the veracity of Spiritualism and Vaudeline’s claims. But she is accompanying the Medium because her younger sister Evie, previously studied under Vaudeline. And Evie has been murdered.

The second narrative comes from Mr Morley, the Vice President of the London Seance Society. Mr Morley has asked Ms D’Allaire to return to London to hold a seance to discover who murdered the Society’s President, Mr Volkman, who had been found dead at one of Morley’s soirées, held at his home on All Hallows’ Eve - the same night that Evie Wickes was murdered.

Rumours of fraudulence and wrongdoing surround the Society and it appears that Volkman may have been murdered because he had uncovered the fraud undertaken by some of the Society’s members.

Will Vaudeline be able to uncover the mystery with help from the spirit world or will answers come from more earthbound sources?

I really enjoyed reading about the tricks and illusions that the fraudulent Mediums used to con grieving families for money, prestige and even sexual gratification.
There were enough twists and turns to keep me reading till the end.
But I did reduce my rating as I found the pacing a bit patchy. There were times I picked the book up and read several chapters at a time but at other times, I felt my attention wandering and had to put the book aside for a bit.

This is the second book I’ve read by Sarah Penner, and despite the minor issues I had with the pacing, I would definitely read more of her work.

Did not finished the whole book, was not enjoying the plot and the way it's written.
I get that not everyone was raised on Murder She Wrote, but the main characters lack of self preservation in this book is exhausting.I really liked Sarah Penner's debut novel, The Lost Apothecary, and was excited to pick up a copy of her follow-up, a historical novel that focused on a woman training as a medium in order to solve the murder of her beloved sister. There was so much potential here! But this was just...well, it was bad.

I absolutely loved this novel.
Such a great story with defined characters and a great plot.
What drew me in the most was how fleshed out the characters were
The writing style was fluid and relateable.
The cover was fascinating as well.
A reviting read overall
Definitely recommend adding this to your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Sarah Penner's sophomore novel brings her readers back into a side of London that is not always seen. This story follows Lenna as she apprentices a famous medium as she tries to find the answers she has wanted about her sister's murder. The premise of this book intrigued me, and though it was interesting this story ultimately fell flat for me. I found some plot points to be a bit predictable, and I missed some of the twists and turns that Penner took with her debut novel, The Lost Apothecary. I think this could be a fun read for fall, but it is not anything groundbreaking.

I really enjoyed this book and so many aspects of the novel. The Victoriana, the Spiritualism, the sexuality, the exploration of patriarchy and gender. Really well written, throughly engaging and exciting, and great characterisation. Loved it.

I loved The Lost Apothecary and was thrilled to read this book. I was gripped by the plot of this story and enjoyed it. While there was a slow start, there were many twists to keep the reader engaged. Recommend!

I felt that the author had developed a lot since her first novel and the mystery plot was definitely better thought out and paced compared to the mystery of The Lost Apothecary.

I also felt that Lenna was infinitely more likeable as a character than Caroline from Lost Apothecary.

Overall really enjoyed it and will be reading whatever the author comes out with next.