REVIEW: The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner

The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner: Set in the 1870 this fictional historical romance explores the spiritualism period in London aptly; a time when mysticism was planting its solid roots in modern middle class society and those who were desperate were open prey.

Picking up after the mysterious death of Evie Wickes, understudy to the renowned spiritualist Vaudeline, Lenna, Evie’s sister begins to unravel layers of a scandal that could ultimately bring about her undoing. As her and Vaudeline embark on the hunt to understand the circumstances surrounding Evie’s death and potentially uncover her murderer, our two female heroes find more than just the answers they are searching for that stirs between them.

Throughout, context and language use was appropriate to the time as well as some assertions on gender and the constructs that continue to shape our present and future; women cross-dressing in disguise to be part of underground societies that were deemed too risqué for the sensitivities of women. And yet, it is Lenna’s bravery and determination to uncover the truth that reveals the fraudulent tricks that sees hundreds of grieving widows become prey to predators perhaps more beastly than your common shark.

With nothing left to do but hold a séance in the underbelly of London, Lenna struggles with the mission, her growing feelings for Vaudeline and the reality that she might not like the truth when she finds it. With some great moments of warmth and tension, and a potential romance that never really blossomed, this one captures the period perfectly and whets the appetite for those who like to dig into the shady side of the British underground.

Book Info:

Publication: 7th March 2023 | Park Row |

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…