Magical realism, spirits, and murder from the author of THE LOST APOTHECARY.

Sarah Penner's sophomore novel is atmospheric and full of dark magic, with a writing style that has matured and seasoned from her debut. The plot lines felt better-controlled, and the plucky investigative heroine was given greater depth. I liked the book's LGBTQ+ representation, and enjoyed the extra content at the end, which explains more about mourning rituals and even includes some recipes.

I thought the plot's pacing could've been a little quicker; at times there was a lot of filler, observations of surroundings or characters' thoughts that could've been trimmed down, but I enjoyed this one overall and look forward to seeing how the author's writing style continues to evolve.

Thank you to Park Row Books for the gifted ARC! THE LONDON SEANCE SOCIETY releases March 21!

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I loved that the ending really kept me on my toes, there were so many twists that really surprised me.

I thought that the book was quite slow until the end when it all really picked up the pace. I also thought that a lot of thoughts were repeated which felt like space filler, conversations and scenarios were not realistic (after a violent fight were unrealistically calm), and that more attention could have been given to the relationship between Vaudeline and Lenna which, I felt like, was forgotten about frequently.

I really enjoyed Sarah's writing style and I thought the storyline was fantastic. I don't think anyone could have guessed what would happen in this book! All the characterisations were really well-developed and, again, kept me on my toes. The changes between POVs was really great, and it was really smart that the reader knew what happened before some of the other characters because of the POVs. I love the additions at the front and end of the book, they're really unique, and Sarah's acknowledgements at the end was beautiful.

I would really recommend this book. I haven't read Sarah's debut novel The Lost Apothecary before, but I'm really interested in reading it now!

Thank you again NetGalley, Sarah Penner and Legend Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review has been posted on Goodreads.

Ok this book was super interesting. Really great historical fiction with a dash of suspense. I loved the overload of information on witchy stuff, I've never been a part of one or really even know what goes on in a traditional seance, but I absolutely loved getting immersed in the medium culture. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

A really decent mystery novel - wrapped up in alchemy and apparitions but really a mystery at its core. I enjoyed Lenna as a protagonist, I was always willing her to find the answers about her sister. Weaving the seance element into it worked well, always moving the plot forward while creating a spooky atmosphere. I did find the shifting perspectives a struggle to follow at times but overall enjoyable.

I received this from netgalley in exchange for a review.

Sarah Penner has written an intriguing historical murder mystery combined with spiritualism and ghosts that I really enjoyed. I loved Lenna and Vaudeline, and how their relationship evolved as they learned more about each other. I was glad Lenna took the steps to not being afraid to explore their relationship and that at the end, it seems they will be happy together for some time.

The main plot of the book revolves around the non-connected murders of Lenna’s sister and the head of the London Seance Society - a men’s group that performs seance’s to help London’s grieving community. But are they connected? Is that really what the group is doing? I enjoyed how the plot unfolded until the ultimate reveals - enough of surprise and also expected items to make reading this enjoyable.

Amazing read, I really love anything to do with the paranormal and this didn’t let me down. I really like Evie’s character and her hunt for the truth…
I really enjoyed the pov of both characters Evie and Mr Morley, gives the reader a chance to see what’s happening in the present and a few months before..
For me it read like a cosy mystery, with ghosts and spirits thrown in.
It was like stepping back in time to the Victorian era, with the horse drawn carriage, the lantern’s they used and the way the characters spoke. It’s a must read! Brilliant 5 star historical thriller.

Having adored Penner’s first novel so much, it absolutely kills me to give this one a two-star review. This time around the characters were archetypes with little interesting development, the plot was predictable (trust me, you know what’s going to happen by the third chapter) and somehow the ending still felt rushed with lots of hand waving to make all the details work. Now, I do have to say that some aspects of what I enjoyed about Penner’s previous work shines here. The research is obviously thorough , this is 100% a story written by someone with a passion for history. The atmosphere is pretty spot on, this feels spooky and thriller-like even when the action is lackluster. Penner’s prose shines, the narrative here just fell short for me. Granted, if I wasn't comparing this directly to The Lost Apothecary, it might have been a much higher-rated read. I am hoping this is just a one-off that didn't do it for me and that I get chance to read more from this author even if this one was a miss.

<blockquote>"Established in 1860, the mission of the London Séance Society is to provide clairvoyance and mediumship services throughout the city of London, with the intent of providing peace to mourners and satisfying the populace's growing curiosity about the afterlife."</blockquote>
In Sarah Penner's sophomore novel, "The London Séance Society", we meet one miss Lenna Wickes who is trying to find out who murdered her sister. Despite being a skeptic regarding anything afterlife-related, the need to solve Evie's death sees Lenna becoming renowned medium Vaudeline d'Allaire's apprentice. Under Vaudeline's tutorship, Lenna will find out that another gruesome murder took place the night Evie died; that there's a lot more to the mysterious London Séance Society than it seems; and that the spirit world might be more real, and more dangerous, than she ever thought.

Through the winding streets of Victorian London, and in the hushed backrooms of upperclass houses, this novel takes place in an exquisitely Gothic manner. There's a certain melancholy to Penner's writing, a certain delight in the dark details of the tale, that make this a perfect read for stormy nights in front of a fireplace—or, if you're like me and don't have one, in front of a YouTube video of fireplace ASMR. Filled with ghosts, mystery, and tangled deceit, this was an excellent read for the rainy week we've had where I live, and I was mesmerised by the tale Penner has spun.

Our main character, Lenna, is an exceptionally intelligent young woman who loved her sister enough to plunge into a supernatural world of séances and mediumships she doesn't believe in, if only in case it'll lead her to Evie's murderer. Despite her lack of belief in anything that can't be explained by science, Lenna finds herself growing ever closer to her mentor, the elegant and renowned Vaudeline d'Allaire, who has more than one trick up her sleeve. Even though Lenna and Vaudeline start off student and teacher, they soon develop a much tighter bond, which evolved right before my eyes in a heartwarming way. I was really fond of these two women—but also really intrigued about whether they would get this or that resolution, since more than one character's doings kept twisting reality and messing with Lenna's head. I was really glad to find that, despite being women in a Victorian society that held little to no sympathy towards females, Lenna and Vaudeline didn't allow any man to step on them and their skills. As misogynistic as many male characters were, this book was also filled with strong female characters who stood their ground, and I was absolutely delighted to watch them thrive.

This book has another narrator: mister Morley, one of the most important men in the London Séance Society, who hides a deep insecurity and secrets he would do anything to keep safe. Morley's chapters, unlike Lenna's, were told in first person, and it was really intriguing to go down that path and see things from his point of view. I believe that seeing things through his eyes really added to the mystery, and the eventual unfolding of the truth—no matter how much I disliked him personally, I was really fascinated by him as a character.

Although the story took a bit to truly capture me, once I got into the rhythm of it I was hooked. I felt like I would've liked a slightly broader plot, but everything tied up nicely; and there were a couple of plottwist that, although previsible, nonetheless made me gasp and hold my chest. I was entertained all along, and I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to everyone who enjoys good murder mysteries, spirit world reads, and strong females proving misogynistic times wrong!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC of 'The London Seance Society' by Sarah Penner

I'm going to be honest, I couldn't explain this book even if I got paid to. I didnt know what was going on and I felt my mind was being reduced to mush. It saddens me to write this review because there's probably a mass of people who will love and worship this book but I really didn't enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley and Legend Press for the eARC of The London Seance Society in exchange for my honest review.

I found The London Seance Society quite entertaining once the plot picked up and we got to the thick of it. Victorian London/Paris was the perfecting setting for this murder mystery. I loved the relationship between the women in the novel and how they supported each other throughout it.

The ending was very satisfying the fitting to the entire book! I would definitely recommend if you're a fan of mystery/thrillers

Thank you to @netgalley and Legend Press for the ARC.

Set in London and Paris in Victorian times when the occult, seances, and spiritualism were popular, this one kept me intrigued.

Lenna is essentially a non-believer but she’s studying under Vaudeline, a famous medium who solves murders through seances. Her goal is to solve her sister’s murder. When Vaudeline is asked to return to London to solve the murder of The London Seance Society’s president, Lenna goes with. But something is amiss and soon the two women find themselves in the middle of a messy investigation where characters are not who they seem to be.

Told through alternating POV, the story was entertaining, albeit a bit slow at the beginning. I enjoyed the 2nd half and found the ending to be very satisfying. There are hints of a F/F romance which I didn’t think contributed anything to the storyline and was distracting - I skimmed past those parts. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

2.5 stars rounded up.

Considering I didnt finish The Lost Apothecary, I was wary of this novel. But the occult, Victorian times, London and Paris was too much of a draw.

The elements of the story were good but the execution lacking. Morley was an unreliable narrator but didn't even need to be a POV in my opinion. I'd have preferred Lenna and Vaudeline to be a Medium Sherlockian team..

Overall though, it was a decent murder mystery, with enough intrigue to get you through to the end because even in the predictable there's some twists! And I think ppl who enjoyed Penners other novel will also enjoy this one.

I loved it!

Lenna is looking for answers following the murder of her sister, Evie. Her one hope for finding her sister’s killer is by enlisting the help of Vaudeline, a medium and her sister’s former mentor. Vaudeline engages with the beyond with the goal of solving murders. When Vaudeline is asked by The London Seance Society to channel the spirit of their murdered president, and an old friend, the women are surprised to find out that they may also be getting close to finding out what happened to Lenna’s sister.

I absolutely loved this new novel By Sarah Penner, even more so than The Lost Apothecary! I would recommend this book to any thriller lover who also enjoys a touch of the supernatural. There were many twists and turns and as a result it was a quick read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Legend Press
for this arc in exchange for my honest review. Sarah Penner wowed me with The Lost Apothecary, and The London Seance Society is no different. Sarah is a fabulous story teller and this tale enraptured me from the start. I loved the defiance against society the main character took on and the explanations of life at that time. To sweeten the deal, Sarah included a recipe and information on death and seances at the time period her book is set in. Altogether, this book is a must-read for all those who love the macabre and taboo.

“May mercy be upon the man who finds himself the enemy of a vengeful medium.”

I can definitely say The London Séance Society absolutely exceeded my expectations. What I would call a bit of a slow start is built into a quite intricate and enthralling tale that keeps a wonderful pace throughout. Sarah Penner gives us a story that is extremely hard to put down, taking place only over a few days. Our main characters Vaudeline and Lena have electric chemistry that works it’s way up and down throughout a double murder mystery that will constantly throw you for a loop. What could be better than the nonbeliever and the believer teaming up to take on a boys club as a united front? Penner’s message, stated multiple times, is clear: Women need to stick together. The story is a thinly veiled metaphor about the ways in which men have control in our society, whether we can see it or not. More plainly: Men ain’t shit! This book was truly so enjoyable and I would really recommend getting your hands on it when it hits shelves in March 2023! Thank you to Netgalley for providing this arc!

I was so excited to see this up for request, and even more thrilled when it came through. I'm so grateful. It was absolutely incredible. As a medium myself, all of this fascinates me and to read a story like this had me hooked from the off. The twists and turns, wow! I enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of it so much. One of the best I've read. Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery kept me guessing the entire book, and I did not figure it out until the end reveal. I liked the two different narrators, and I really appreciated a new take on the concept of an unreliable narrator. I thought that this book was very unique in a sea of mystery/thrillers (of which I read many).
I do feel like the love story was unnecessary and added nothing to the story. I don't know if the author's goal was to deepen the character development of Lenna, but I mostly just skimmed those parts because I really just wanted to find out what happened to Evie and Mr. Volckman.
Thanks to Netgalley for the book to review.

This time I really enjoyed this historical fiction by Sarah Penner. She knows how to set the mood, in this case a victorian mood, really well. I could imagine myself in cold, dirty, foggy London, following the characters while they uncovered some unconfortable truths.

Really liked it, and I recommend it to all those that like historical fiction with great characters.

A review will also appear on my blog later this month

https://peixinhodepratablog.wordpress.com/

Without doubt, the subject matter for London Seance Society is compelling. The book is set in 1873, when Victorians were fascinated by the supernatural and when mediumship events were commonplace. The Author has based the novel loosely on the London Ghost Club, who even today investigate spiritual phenomena and the murder mystery element promised to be a real winner for me too. My initial expectations were high - with the promise of mystery, crime, suspense, and a bit of the occult; along with Sarah Penner's exceptional writing in the Lost Apothecary. I think I had too high expectations because unfortunately, this story did fall short of my expectations - it all felt a little flat, with no real feeling of suspense and was told in a way which was pretty predictable, so no surprising twists along the way - when you know what the main characters are thinking, you can't really be surprised in the outcome. The only real surprise is that there is a hint of Female/Female romance.

I am doubly disappointed because this book was one of my most anticipated 2022 reads - The Lost Apothecary being one of my favorite 2021 reads; so I was ecstatic when I got the ARC (thanks NetGallery and Legend Press for approving my request). The book is out on 21st March 2023 and if you don't set your expectations too high, it may be a winner for you.

It’s the nineteenth century, and Lenna Wickes is a young adult studying under internationally acclaimed medium Vaudeline D’Allaire, hoping to learn the art of séances so that she can uncover her younger sister’s murderer from beyond the grave; Vaudeline’s specialty is solving murders by making contact with the dead. The two women are beckoned from Paris back to London, to the London Séance Society, after the organization’s president is murdered and investigators are at a loss. When they arrive, they begin to suspect that something larger is at play at the London Séance Society, and while they prepare for the séance they’ve been instructed to perform, they launch their own quiet investigation, looking for answers.

The positives:
The premise of the book is interesting, and the romance is enjoyable. I liked the discussion of the struggle between believing in science and being spiritual. I also enjoyed the ending.

The negatives:
You know that writing advice, “show, don’t tell?” This book did a whole lot of telling. There was very little that wasn’t explicitly remarked upon, almost like the author didn’t trust her readers to pick up on details if she didn’t spell them out. It’s one thing to be able to hear a character’s inner thoughts, and another to feel like everything is being explained to you as if you’re a child. I appreciate when books make sure I’m not confused, but I also want them to trust that I can make some connections myself, without having my hand held.
My other major issue with this book was the abundance of plot twists and turns. It felt like the author really wanted to create a ‘gotcha!’ moment, but in doing so, every plot twist felt forced and inorganic. Characters went from being good to bad to good again, and then maybe bad again? Then good? It just got confusing, and felt complicated.
I also found the dual POV to be a hindrance to the plot. It just added to the hand-holding aspect of the book— if I know what two of the main characters are thinking at all times, how can I really be surprised in the end? It felt like it made little room for the mystery.

All in all, I think this is a book that lovers of historical fiction and cheesy whodunnit mysteries might enjoy. If you want a story to actually keep you on your feet and immerse you in the writing, though, maybe this isn’t the one for you.