Sometimes the pleasure is in a tale being told well. There are lots of nice touches in this spiritualist story, but the main joy is in enjoying how it adheres to, and then occasionally sheers away from, the expected archetype. Set in post-Revolution Paris, it has a nice sense of tone and place that sees how the well-off, sometimes noble, families live and the low-level crime that everything sits upon. Our first protagonist is the Baroness Sylvie Devereaux, who receives a visit from her sister, who is quite clearly not of the same station. It quickly unfolds that they are estranged, and part of this is due to their previous profession as spirit mediums. They have a sick father and Charlotte tries to pull her in for one last job. Despite her better instincts she follows, to see Francesca who is being possessed and her family, the de Jaquinots haunted and tormented by the restless spirit of a deceased relative. As is the case with this storyline, there are more secrets under the surface, plus the unthinkable - what if she is really possessed?

This is a pretty standard plot for the faux spiritualist racket, a Nightmare Alley with question marks. Through the story Lowkis unfolds the history of both families, and there is a lovely reversal halfway through the book, which perhaps sets back one mystery, but potentially opens up another (whilst managing to show the story from a different viewpoint whilst remaining fresh). There's nothing groundbreaking here, but the story dances from grand parties to seances, to duels and grand reveals with a nimble touch, and characters who are worth spending time with, and I discovered I had read it in basically one sitting.

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis is a gorgeous novel based in 1866 in Paris, of sisters coming back together to commit a con in order to fund the healthcare of thier father

The sisters are Baroness Sylvie Devereux (the sister made good) and Charlotte Mothe (the disowned sister, a huckster who pretends to be a psychic medium). They come up with a plan to use Charlottes medium act to con the De Jacquinots out of their fortune by pretending to channel the Jacquinots Great Aunt, a spirit who they believe to be in purgatory due to her murder

However, "all good plans" and all that as things start to go a little awry. The con does not play out quite as the sisters intended and things start to get a little twisty, darker and darker and in the mire, long kept secrets begin to bubble to the surface

The atmospherics, character development and descent really enhance the toryline and there is so much to enjoy within these pages. Stunning

This is an outstanding debut novel and certainly an author to watch!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Doubleday and the author Carmella Lowkis for this fantastic ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

i can see why Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis was compared to sarah waters as it has a similar vibe. lowkis' storytelling is a bit lacking in finesse which makes spitting gold a bit mid to be honest

Everything about the cover drew me to this book, and the blurb sealed the deal: I do enjoy a gothic mystery and I was excited to read one that felt very Victorian England, but in a Paris setting. I’m happy I gave in to the urge to click that request button, it really was right up my street.

Spitting Gold kicks off with a prologue set in Saint-Lazare prison and told from the POV of an anonymous woman accused of a crime the reader is yet to discover. I immediately became invested in finding out who this woman was and why she was in prison, even if she seems so very sure she’ll walk free and does not need to fear the guillotine.

The main body of the story is set a few months earlier than the prologue and is made up of two parts: one told from the perspective of Sylvie and one her sister Charlotte’s. These sisters and their parents were once a famous and rather respected spiritist family, but then it all fell apart. Sylvie got out by marrying above her station, while Charlotte remained with her father in humbler living conditions. They haven’t spoken in ages, but now Charlotte needs her sister’s help to pull off one last con.

While it seems obvious at first that the sisters are not real spiritists (if there is such a thing) but just excellent con artists, the narrative had me questioning that fact on numerous occasions, and it did get spooky every once in a while.

The switch to another POV in the second part offers lots of new information and quite another mystery for the reader to get invested in. And I did get invested, even if I was reading this book when I had the attention span of a gnat because of what was going on in my own life, I became invested in these sisters’ lives, and Spitting Gold offered me some much needed reprieve.

I had a great time with Spitting Gold, and if gothic historical mysteries are your bag, I don’t doubt that you will, too. With its evocative writing and its themes of sisterhood (can’t live with her, can’t live without her), spiritualism and 19th century virtues and morals, Spitting Gold is a compelling debut that I’d happily recommend. I can’t wait to see what Carmella Lowkis does next.

Spitting Gold is out now in all formats.

Massive thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

Spitting Gold is the novel of two sisters in 19th Century France - former spiritists who are brought back together for one last con.

Sylvie, the older sister who married up but had to leave her family behind, reluctantantly agrees to help her sister, Charlotte, after learning their father is ill and they need money for his medical costs. Charlotte, meanwhile, is still angry at her sister for her abandonment, especially as it came after she was caught kissing another woman.

This book plays a lot with the notion of the 'good sister' and the 'bad sister', framed through how each sister sees themself and each other, but also how readers can see that both sisters could be depicted as either, because both are more complicated as people than that simple narrative would allow. This is particularly highlighted by the POV switch halfway through, where it swaps from Sylvie's POV to Charlotte's, shining a different light on the events that had unfolded.

I also really enjoyed the atmosphere Lowkis created, with the portrayal of spiritist's tricks even managing to make me question whether there was a ghost or not (though all is revealed later on...)

Overall, definitely recommend for anyone who wants a historical novel with complicated sisterhood, spiritualism and sapphics!

Spitting Gold is an impressive debut and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next. I love the title and this made me want to read the book. I’ve become a fan of historical fiction over the years and I loved the fact that this book is set in Paris, a city I adore. I really enjoyed the blend of historical fiction and gothic fiction. This is entertaining and well-written, hugely enjoyable. I’d recommend it.

This novel follows the story of two sisters in 19th century Paris. While Sylvie has left her past behind and married a wealthy Baron, her sister Charlotte isn't ready to let it go just yet. They decide (after some persuasion on Charlottes part!) to once again take up their roles as fake spiritual mediums.

I enjoyed this one! The writing style really reminded me (as other reviewers have said) of Sarah Waters and I think that made me enjoy it even more. There are spooky, gothic elements as well as a pretty interesting mystery plot too. I will say that the twists were quite predictable, but that didn't bother me too much! I was happy to be along for the fun ride!

I'd recommend this to fans of historical fiction who enjoy the creepy elements of a gothic novel!

The lives of sisters Sylvie and Charlotte have taken very different directions. Sylvie is married to a Baron and hiding her humble origins. Charlotte lives in poverty and is desperate for money. To help Charlotte Sylvie agrees to return to their former trade as fraudulent mediums. But, inevitably, things don't go as planned and they're left fighting their own horrors.

An intriguing novel very much in the style of Sarah Waters.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this eCopy to review

Spitting Gold is a gothic mystery set in 19th century France. Following 2 sisters on a final con to get money for looking after their father. Sylvie has escaped her life of faking it as a medium by marrying a Baron. However she is unable to say no to her sister Charlotte who desperately needs 1 last con

Told in 2 parts from the points of views of each sister this has a clever plot full of twists, secrets and spookiness, nothing is as it seems.

An excellent account of life in 19th century France full of rich detail

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

This was an often frustrating but genuinely entertaining novel that I couldn’t put down! Frustration at the callous way characters would treat each other even when they were causing real and lasting harm to their lives!

This is a fascinating novel set in France that follows two estranged sisters, reuniting for a final job as mediums to assist with a case of a young woman who has been haunted by a deceased great aunt.

We explore the mystery behind the haunting, the secrets and lies the family tell each other through the lens of the two sisters. This book is heartbreaking at times and this case threatens to destroy the lives and relationship of the sisters the deeper they get into it.

Setting, intrigue and tension were all fantastic. A real page turner with a great premise and theme. I particularly liked the callbacks to a favourite fairy tale of the sisters.

When one looks back upon one’s time on Earth – across the span of years and decisions that have carried one from birth to wherever one is now – it is nigh impossible to point out a single particular moment and say, ‘Yes, here. This is where it all began to go wrong.’ But still one tries.'

Baroness Sylvie Deveraux receives a house call from her disowned sister Charlotte. In fear that her past as a spirit medium has caught up with her, Sylvie decides to join her sister on one last con.

This was a dark, atmospheric read. I did find Sylvie a bit irritating and just really wanted to be listening to Charlotte, which to my suprise came in part two, and from then on, I absolutely loved the book. Mimi was such a great addition to the book I wished we'd seen a bit more from him. I thought the way the book ended was right, and it changed the way I thought about Sylvie.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers @randomhouse @doubledaybooks for the digital copy.

I believe this is the author's debut novel. Spitting Gold is set in 19th century Paris where sisters Sylvie and Charlotte have a history of working as spirit mediums. Now Sylvie is married to a Baron and has put this seedy part of her life behind her. Then Charlotte appears and persuades her to help in one more charade.

I enjoyed the first part of the book written from Sylvie's point of view. The characters were mostly unlikeable but they were strong and the setting was realistic. However there was something wrong, for me at least, in the second half of the book when Charlotte's version took over. I found my mind wandering as I read. I also thought the whole tale was predictable and the prologue should definitely have been omitted.

Nevertheless many people are loving this book. For me it was just okay.

An excellent historical fiction set in Paris in XIX mixing mystery, fiction. Entertaining and well plotted.
I enjoyed the story and liked the well developed characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In the shadowed alleys of 1866 Paris, Baroness Sylvie Devereux, ensnared in her opulent manor, hesitantly agrees to a house call from her estranged sister, Charlotte Mothe, despite lingering fears of her tainted past as a spirit medium.

With their father ailing and bills looming, the sisters contemplate one last con to secure their future.

Their target: the dysfunctional de Jacquinot family, haunted by the spectre of their murdered great-aunt from the French Revolution. As they delve deeper into the deception, Sylvie and Charlotte confront eerie phenomena firsthand, leading them to question reality and unearth long-buried secrets.

As the line between truth and illusion blurs, the sisters must confront their pasts and decipher who among them speaks truth or deception. With its intoxicating blend of gothic ambience and sapphic intrigue, Spitting Gold offers a compulsively addictive journey into the dark heart of the Parisian mystery.

If you enjoy the following, you will love this book!

⟡ complex family dynamics

⟡ gothic mystery

⟡ 19th century Paris

⟡ sapphic romance

Thank you so much to the author - Carmella Lowkis as well as the team at Double Day Books for posting me a copy of the book!

4.5 stars This entertaining gothic read had me gripped from the very start, with the intriguingly background of Sylvie and Charlotte enough to pull me in and keep reading.
I loved how we learnt little snippets of their relationship and history as we moved deeper into the story, and I felt the two point of views given showed a clever twist to the events as they unfolded. The sisters relationship was a complex one and I felt that we got to see both their views on the family and the situation they found themselves in.
The atmospheric writing and descriptions of Paris in the late 19th century were so evocative and captured the mood and use of spiritualism of the time brilliantly.
A clever and enjoyable debut I absorbed completely.

What a very enjoyable read. A dark gothic sapphic mystery set in Paris in 1866 centred around estranged spiritualist sisters Baroness Sylvie Devereux and Charlotte Mothe. Told in two parts, both in the first person, the first from Sylvie’s perspective and the second from Charlottes. I read this in one sitting. The short one page prologue dated 15 July 1866 was enough to grab my attention and that was it as the book moved back to 3 April 1866… I was hooked.

Briefly, Charlotte is struggling to pay their fathers medical bills so goes cap in hand to Sylvie to ask her to take part in one final con. The plan is to frighten the aristocratic de Jacquinots family who are haunted by a relative killed during the French Revolution into paying them massive sums in gold. But everything does not go to plan and the sisters begin to believe that there really are spirits at play and they aren’t playing nice.

Beautifully and atmospherically written you can almost imagine yourself walking the streets of 19th century Paris. There is a very emotional thread alongside the main storyline that was really quite unsettling. The plot itself is clever and twisty and I thought the characters were well fleshed. Very entertaining book. 4.5⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The Mothe sisters are well-renowned in the world of Spiritualists but, are they all that they claim to be? I loved the interweaving of folklore tales about the good sister and the bad sister. There were a few twists in this book which I enjoyed but, also wondered about the likelihood of some of the twists. A very enjoyable read that I couldn't put down.

A story of sisterhood, spiritism, and deception, Spitting Gold is a haunting yet entertaining tale of Sylvie and Charlotte Mothe, two sisters who live very different lives. Sylvie has left the profession of being a spiritualist at her husbands insistence. As a Baron, he's able to provide for her in ways that she can only imagine. When her sister Charlotte, who's been left behind, caring for their drunken and often abusive father, finds Sylvie, she asks for her help one last time. One last con.
Told from the Pov of both sisters in separate parts of the book, I found both characters quite intriguing. I did prefer Charlotte's pov, but I think that's because I enjoyed the sapphic love interest of Florence more.
Overall, this was a mixed bag for me. Whilst I did enjoy the setting of Paris, the plot often dragged, and there were parts that felt quite silly and ridiculous. There's plenty of twists and turns, though, which I enjoyed, and there's plenty of drama and suspense. It's not a bad book by any means, but I did struggle with the pacing of this one. It just seemed very long. I enjoyed the ending, though, and found it satisfying. I think fans of gothic, slow burn historical fiction will enjoy this one.

This was an entertaining and slightly different take on spiritualist shenanigans in mid 19th century Paris. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Paris, late nineteenth century. Enstranged sisters Charlotte and Sylvie find their way back to each other when their ill father needs care. Before long the sisters are caught up in a spiritist scam to make money from a family secret.. But in this story nothing is what it seems.
Spitting Gold is a sweet and gentle mystery in a historical setting. Good for a cosy afternoon or evening.